Though just a bit ago the news was good, things quickly grew difficult after our last report.  Today, I have the grave task of reporting that our good mother was lost to us January 28th at 1:40 PM CST. Thank you all so very much for your kind prayers and petitions to our Lord and Savior on behalf of this young woman.

ST Paul, The Apostle speaks to us now.

"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our
Lord."

Romans 8:38-39


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(On January 24th, we prayed with gratefulness for a little bit of respite):

Heavenly Father!

We thank You for answering our prayers for this good soul.  Praise Your Holy Name!  She is now off of her respirator, breathing on her own.  She is out of her coma and speaking with members of her family.  The best result of your intercession, is that the 'cancer' is only suspected and has not been confirmed at this time.  We continue to pray in earnest for a beloved mother.  May her family and all of her caregivers also remain under Your Great and Holy Care.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, Our Lord and Savior, we pray...

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(On January 15th, we asked for our Father's intercession):

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You for all of our blessings, today and every day. 

We come before You with solemn hearts in need of Your intercession. We pray that the cancer that has come into the life of a beloved mother soon fades into quick remission.  We believe in your capacity for miracles, and ask for one on behalf of this good soul.  You are the Great Physician, and we ask that You do Your Good Work for this young woman.

Thine is the Kingdom, the Power, the Glory Forever and Ever.

In the name of Jesus we pray our heartfelt prayer.

Amen.

Dear Father, Who Art in Heaven,

Praise be Your Holy Name.  We thank you today for the ministry of Rashid Mehmood in Pakistan.  We are grateful for his strength and bravery, for he reached out into a dark world and brought his fellows to Jesus Christ, and he did this because he loved You.

We ask today that you comfort those who have lost a beloved preacher in Pakistan.  We ask for understanding, for it is difficult to cope with such a devastation.  We petition You to bring peace and hope back into the hearts of Rashid's congregation.  Please reach out to this community and increase the boldness of strength and love.  We ask You to release the hatred from those against Christians in Pakistan.  Please bring Christ into their hearts.  Your Will Be Done.

In the name of Jesus Christ we humbly appeal to You.


"Friends of a popular Pakistani preacher killed by a hit-and-run driver suspect he may have been murdered because of his conversion from Islam.

"Rashid Mehmood, 33, came from a rich, influential Muslim family but turned to Christ in 2005. Though he trained as a lawyer, he decided to become a pastor and to preach the Gospel, despite strong opposition from his relatives..."
 
"...Two days earlier, Rashid had preached about Jesus being the only true and living God and the embodiment of God's love, quoting from the Koran at some points. Release partners say Rashid was a role model for other Christians with a Muslim background and that his death 'broke people's hearts.' "

Please read Pakistan: Christians Devastated by Killing of Preacher at Release International.

Father,

as Alimjan suffers in prison, innocent of the crimes for which he is accused, we pray Your hand of healing and protection to rest upon him. Grant him opportunities to share the gospel with other inmates and to minister the Word to other believers that this time might not be in vain. Strengthen his wife, Gulnur, as she provides for her family, and grant her wisdom in these current conflicts with a business partner. Wash over them both with Your peace that is greater than all of their troubles.

In the name of Jesus, in whom we place all our trust, Amen.



"Alimjan Yimiti, a Uyghur Christian imprisoned in China, is reportedly ill, though his exact medical condition is unknown. The former house church leader was sentenced in 2009 to 15 years in prison for allegedly “instigating separatism and revealing state secrets.” Those close to the case maintain that he was imprisoned because of his Christian faith and witness among the Uyghur people. They assert that there was never any proof of wrongdoing, and that Yimiti, an agricultural worker, would not have had access to state secrets..."

"...Prison life has held many challenges for Alimjan, though he reportedly generally does well considering the conditions. He is allowed to see only one visitor for 20 minutes per month, as is customary in Chinese prisons. Usually his wife, Gulnur, or his mother visits him. Gulnur and the children have also faced numerous difficulties during Alimjan’s time in prison. Family members blamed Gulnur for Alimjan’s imprisonment, and she suffered from depression for a time, but fortunately it has lifted. As the family’s sole breadwinner now, she runs a small business. Recent problems with a business partner have caused her a lot of additional stress. Please continue to pray for Alimjan and Gulnur."

Please read Alimjan Yimiti Physically Unwell, by David, at Open Doors Blog.

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Our Father,

We have great tears of gratitude and our hearts are full of Praise for You today.  We thank you for your intercession on behalf of David Alijani, recently released from Karoon Prison in Iran.  We are so very grateful that this Christian's torment is coming to an end.  Reports are that his wife, Shahnaz Jayzan, is still imprisoned, and set to be released soon.  Please intercede on her behalf also, and reunite this couple to do their loving work for You.

In the name of Your Son, Jesus, we pray.

Amen.


"A pastor at the Assemblies of God Church of Ahwaz, imprisoned for his faith in Iran has been released.

"According to a story by Mohabat News, Davoud Alijani (also known as David), was released from Karoon Prison on Jan. 13, after spending 257 days locked up..."
 
"...Sabokrouh's wife, Shahnaz Jayzan is still in prison. However, unconfirmed reports indicate that she will be released in the next several days."

Please read Iranian Pastor Freed from Prison, from Mohabet News, at Christian Today.

Our Heavenly Father,

We thank you for all of our blessings.  In faith and trust we come to You today. 

We wish to ask for protection for those persecuted Christians that remain in Iraq.  We do not understand Your plan for everlasting redemption, but we ask that You give those who believe in You strength and the perseverance needed to survive war and strife in their daily world.  Every day is a heartbreak, a struggle, a hungry time.  Our tears go out with this heartfelt prayer.  In faith, we continue to depend and rely upon You and You alone.  We understand the day will come we will all honor and bow down to You, together, in love and in peace.

In your Son, Jesus, we believe and pray.

Amen. 






"Greg Musselman, spokesman for Voice of the Martyrs Canada, says daily violence in Iraq calls for daily prayer..."

"...“Unfortunately, many people will lose their lives, and Iraq could descend into a civil war.”

"Exact figures are hard to come by, but Musselman says over a million Christians have fled Iraq.

" “The Church, in terms of the visible Church and the number of Christians in Iraq, has greatly decreased,” he says. The pastors who remain are dedicated, Musselman notes, but perseverance is difficult.

" “Because so many have left, there’s just not the encouragement that there was before 2003,” says the spokesman."

Please read Daily Violence in Iraq Calls for Daily Prayer, by Katy Hearth, at Mission Network News.