House Church Leader Arrested in Iran

On May 31, house church leader Mohsen Namvar was arrested by eight police officers in his home in Tehran, Iran.

According to Compass Direct News, "The officers confiscated a number of Namvar's personal belongings including his computer, printer, CDs, books and money. He was given no official explanation for the arrest, and his current location is unknown." Compass Direct added, "According to an Iranian pastor residing outside the country, Namvar had anticipated that police would come for him since hearing that he had been implicated during police interrogations of Christians in the city of Amol in April.

He had been warned by a friend that authorities were keeping him under close watch. Namvar was previously held and tortured for baptizing Muslim converts to Christianity in the spring of 2007."

Pray for Namvar's release. Pray that he will act as a faithful witness for Christ during his detention. Pray that his wife and children will rely on the Lord for comfort and strength.

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16

Source: Compass Direct News

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Worldwide Christian Persecutions

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matthew 5:11-12

"In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it," 2 Timothy 3:12-14

"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." 1 Peter 5:10

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." James 1:2-3

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The Story of Faninus - Italy, 1550

In the 1500's, Christians throughout Europe who read copies of the Bible in their own language, instead of Latin, were condemned to die as heretics. Faninus was one of the first martyrs to die in Italy.

Faninus, a "learned layman", read illegal Christian books translated into Italian and was converted to the knowledge of Christ. He began to secretly teach the Gospel, but was soon caught and thrown into prison. While in prison, however, his wife, children and friends all visited him and finally convinced him to renounce his faith to obtain his release.

Once free from confinement, however, Faninus found that he actually was not free at all and reports state that "his mind felt the heaviest of chains; the weight of a guilty conscience." He reaffirmed his dedication to Christ and began publicly preaching the gospel all throughout the country with great fruit and effect in places that he went.

Not surprisingly, Faninus was arrested a second time in 1547, and this time he did not waver in his faith. When asked how he could leave his wife and children in distress, he replied, "I shall not leave them in distress; I have recommended them to the care of an excellent trustee."

"What trustee?" was the question, to which Faninus replied, "Jesus Christ is the trustee I mean, and I think I could not commit them to the care of a better."

After more than two years in prison, he was condemned to death for heresy. On the day of execution, an observer noted that Faninus was amazingly cheerful and told him, "It is strange you should appear so merry upon such an occasion, When Jesus Christ himself, just before his death, was in such agonies, that he sweated blood and water." This was Faninus' reply: "Christ sustained all manner of pangs and conflicts, with hell and death, on our accounts; and thus by his sufferings, freed those who really believe in him from the fear of them."

The executioner strangled Faninus three hours before dawn, so people would not see him nor hear him speak. His body was burnt, and believers later scattered his ashes throughout the territory where he had evangelized.

Source: VOM

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John and Elizabeth Freeman - Executed in India, 1857

The "Mutiny of India" in 1857 was an uprising of Muslims and Brahmins (high caste Hindus) against the British government and particularly Christianity. It took the lives of all eight American missionaries of the Mission at Futtehgurh, including John Edgar Freeman and his wife, Elizabeth.

The Mission at Futtehgurh began 20 years earlier and included an orphanage and a Christian school. As more and more Indians came to Christ over the years, the area around the mission became a Christian village.

John Freeman manage the tent-making ministry of the mission. During his first years in India, he suffered the personal loss of two daughters and soon afterwards, his first wife. A colleague writes that John's "ministering consolation and calmness" during the dark time, was to "show the excellency and power of an inner life, fed and sustained from above."

John Freeman met his second wife, Elizabeth, while on furlough in America. Her letters from India reveal a sense of humor and an exceptional ability to evangelize and teach. Elizabeth was encouraged that the orphans to whom she taught Scripture would grow up to marry and settle in the Christian village of the mission.

In the last months before their martyrdom, the Freemans heard various reports about the "Mutiny" in other parts of India; entire congregations were being massacred. They feared for their own native Christians, but constantly renewed their hopes in the Lord. At the last possible moment, the group of eight Futtehguhr missionaries fled by boat down the Ganges River, encountering hostile villagers and military on both banks. Finally, low water prevented them from travelling further, and they slid into an island at Cawnpore.

For four days, they survived on the island until they were captured by Muslims. They were then bound and marched past exhaustion to a nearby village. June 13, 1857, they were shot at 7 a.m., execution style.

Clearly, these Christians were prepared to "part with life for Christ and His cause" if necessary, and had already counted the cost. In her last letter, Elizabeth Freeman wrote, "I sometimes think our deaths would do more good than we would do in all our lives; if so, 'His will be done.' Should I be called to lay down my life, do not grieve, dear sister, that I came here, for most joyfully will I die for Him who laid down His life for me."

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Persecuted for Christ

Note: To watch the video, please click the "pause" button on the upper right hand corner of the music box first.



This is the story of Hani, a young man who was born in a Christian family in Upper Egypt. He was proud of his Christian heritage. He was also proud of his name, which means "joyful" in Arabic. He treated people kindly; they could see joy and the love of Christ in his sparkling eyes. His Christian lamp was filled with oil and shone brightly for all to see.

During Hani's time of required military service, his commanding officer began to pressure him to convert to Islam. Though the officer and other Islamists attempted to lure him with promises of material wealth, Hani refused.

"I'll never leave the Lord, "he insisted. "I love Him. I was born a Christian, will remain a Christian and will die a Christian."

Hani was brutally murdered. His assailants may have killed him, but they didn't kill his soul...and they could not remove Jesus from his heart.

Jesus said all men would hate his followers because of Him (Matthew 10:22), but we rejoice in knowing Hani "stood firm until the end." His body was broken, he was brutally tortured, but Hani's lamp was not extinguished. His life and witness is the oil that keeps his lamp glowing now through others-- through those who hear his testimony.

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Christians Blacklisted in China

I've read from a Christian magazine that some time last year the Chinese Government secretly released a document entiled, "Notice on Strict Background Check on Applicants for the Olympic Games and the Test Events." The said document includes a list of 43 types of people in 11 categories who will be barred from the Olympic Games this coming August. One of the 11 banned categories of people is "Religious extremists and religious infiltrators," which defined as:

1. Members of illegal religious organizations both in China and abroad.
2. Members who have been caught by Chinese authorities for engaging in illegal religious activities.
3. People who have given illegal sermons.
4. People who illegally distribute religious publications and video/audio materials.
5. People who have illegally established religious organizations, institutions, schools, sermon sites and other religious entities.

Some critics say that China will go to great lengths to keep out potential "troublemakers" during the games.

TROUBLEMAKERS? Christians are making lots of troubles in China according to them. But this is not a shocker at all. Things like these have been going on for so many years, even centuries. And China is not the only country that "hates" Christians.

So what are they going to do if they capture these so-called "troublemakers"? If China will go to "great lengths" to keep out "troublemakers", this must mean that those who will be captured will receive harsh punishments, right? Let me guess - house arrest, imprisonment, torture or maybe even death!

You might not hear about it in the news, but many Christian evangelists and missionaries are imprisoned in China and many other countries today for preaching the word of God.

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