Churches Targeted in Iraq Blasts

Report from BBC News

January 29, 2006
Churches targeted in Iraq blasts
Car bombs have exploded outside the Vatican embassy and near four churches in Iraq, killing at least three people. The apparently co-ordinated attacks took place within 20 minutes of each other, Iraqi police said. Three of the bombs went off in the capital Baghdad, while a further two were detonated in the northern oil city of Kirkuk. All the fatalities reported were in Kirkuk, while at least nine people were wounded in the blasts.

'Co-ordinated spree'
In Kirkuk, three civilians were killed and one wounded in the attack on the Church of the Virgin, and six civilians were hurt in the blast outside an Orthodox church. Both explosives-packed vehicles were detonated by remote control, according to a police spokesman. In Baghdad, car bombs exploded outside St Joseph's Catholic church in the suburb of Sina'a and an Anglican church in the eastern Nidhal area. There were no casualties reported in the attack on the Vatican embassy building in the east of the city. Earlier on Sunday, at least 10 people were killed in a bomb attack outside a shop in a town south of Baghdad. The blast occurred in Iskandariya, a predominantly Shia town about 40 km (25 miles) from the capital.

Christian targets
Churches in Iraq have been the target of previous bombings.
In August 2004, at least 12 people were killed and dozens injured in a spate of bombings in Baghdad and Mosul. It was the first significant strike against Iraq's estimated 800,000 Christians since the US invasion began in 2003. Christians make up just 3% of Iraq's 26 million people.

View Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4660104.stm

PRAYER FOR LABORERS TO GO!

I would like us to pray today for the Lord of the Harvest to send laborers to His Harvest fields. Breaking Borders has some strategic missions awaiting to be filled by those the Lord quickens to go this summer.
All three missions are strategic in building relationships with muslims. All embrace the challenge to share in the afflictions of Christ as we encourage our brothers and sisters in the underground. All three require for each team member to embrace " For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" Phil 1:21. They require believers who see that risk taking for the gospel is a worthy risk to take.

Please join us in the following prayers:
1. That God may quicken believers around the world to put feet to their faith and go to the most unreached, most restricted, most un God glorifying places & people of the world and restore His glory.

2. That God would call forth a generation like in the Student Volunteer Movement from the late 1800's, that would count the steadfast love of the Lord better than life- ps. 63:3

3. That God would amply supply for every need in the advancement of His Word.

4. That God would grant favor to family members, employers, authorities, airlines, government, and supporters for those called to go.

5. That God would strengthen our brothers and sisters being persecuted for the cause of Christ in North Africa and the Middle East, that they may remember Christ in His afflictions.

Egyptian Christians: PERSECUTION

REPORT FROM BBC NEWS

Thursday, 19 January 2006
Egyptian church clash injures 12

At least 12 people were injured in clashes in Upper Egypt when a group of Muslims attempted to stop Christians converting a house into a church.

Security officials said the Muslims set fire to building materials for the building in Odaysat, near Luxor. Several members of both communities were reported injured in the subsequent clashes, as well as two policemen.

It is the latest in a series of violent sectarian incidents in Egypt in the past few months.
A security source quoted by Reuters said the Christians did not have official permission to build the church.

Police arrested 10 young men and the owners of the house, reports say. Correspondents say curbs on building churches have been one of the main grievances among Copts, although these restrictions have been eased recently by presidential decree. The Coptic Christian community is believed to make up 10% percent of Egypt's population of about 70 million.

View Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4628168.stm

Prayer for the Peoples of NorthAfrica/Middle East

Oh God we pray that you would open their eyes to your truth. Father in the precious name of Jesus we ask that the lies of Islam would be exposed and the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ would shine in their hearts. Father we ask that you would raise missionaries to go to the uncharterd fields in North africa and the Middle East for your great glory. That your fame and your renown would be restored in the hearts of your people in these lands. Glorify your great name! Amen

Prayer for the Muslim world

Lets remember to pray today for the Muslim world. Over 1 Billion Muslims live without a true understanding of Jesus Christ. Many have been raised culturally to believe and trust in the Koran without question. Pray today that God would move accoss the nations and quicken souls to Himslef. That the Holy Spirit would break the stronghold and deceptive lie of Islam and hearts would be awakened to the truth of Jesus Christ. The Harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. May we beseach the Lord of the Harvest to send laborers to His fields...