UGANDA: TWO CHRISTIANS KILLED

Islamists are suspected of the murder of Samson Nfunyeku, whose body was found close to his home in eastern Uganda on 23 September after he had taken part in a church-organised debate with Islamic scholars. The discussion had to be cut short after tempers flared.

Islamists threatened Samson after a similar discussion four months ago. “They gave a warning that such debates were not good for Muslims,” one participant said.

Samson’s body was found with head injuries; he is believed to have been strangled. He was 59, had seven children and was the grandfather of 16.

Then, on 19 October, his brother’s wife was also killed. Mamwikomba Mwanika, mother of eight, died en route to a hospital after Muslims dragged her from her home at about 9pm and assaulted her.

Strangers approached Mamwikomba while at home, asking for her husband. When she stated he was away, they told her, “Your husband has followed the religion of his brother, and we had warned you people to stop these activities, but our message has landed on deaf ears.”

“The attackers dragged our mother outside the house as she screamed and cried for help,” said her 13-year-old child.

Soon afterwards, Mwanika’s husband arrived, and they found her unconscious in a pool of blood 100 metres away. They rushed her to the hospital, but she was declared dead upon arrival, her husband said.

Sources: International Christian Concern, Morning Star News, Release International

Prayer Points

• Please pray for Samson and Mamwikomba’s families and friends, especially their young children, during their time of mourning.
• Pray that Christians in Uganda will continue to love their Muslim neighbours and not become fearful of sharing their faith.
• Pray for Muslims who are coming to Christ; many face hatred and hostility from their communities.

INDIA: CHRISTIANS FEAR BAN ON RELIGIOUS CONVERSIONS

Lawmakers in India are planning to introduce a bill that will ban religious conversion, prompting Christians to express concern that the proposed law will lead to further attacks and persecution targeting them in the mainly Hindu nation.

The legislative proposal, ironically called the “Religious Freedom Bill,” seeks to “prohibit conversion from one religion to another by the use of force or allurement or by fraudulent means.”

Indian parliamentarians plan to define “force” to include the threat of injury “including threat of divine displeasure.”

Under this definition, the bill will outlaw basic Christian doctrines, such as salvation, heaven and hell.

Many Christians fear that the law will be used to target Christian leaders and as a way to justify attacks on Christians after the fact. In states where similar laws are already on the books, attacks on Christians using the anti-conversion laws are common.

Source: International Christian Concern

Prayer Points

• Ask God to prevent this new bill from being passed by the Indian government.
• Pray that Indian Christians will not be deterred from sharing the good news of the Gospel with others and for encouragement and perseverance for those who have already suffered persecution for their witness.
• Pray that many Hindus, in a culture of many gods, will be drawn to Jesus Christ and eagerly accept His truth.

MEXICO: CHRISTIAN FAMILIES LEFT TO STARVE AFTER RAID

On 15 October, local government officials and community leaders raided farmland in the remote village of Mariano Matamoros as part of an ongoing effort to expel a small Protestant Christian community from the region.

According to sources, 158 Christians in the village, located in the state of Chiapas, were left almost entirely without food after the raid resulted in the theft of 6 hectares (approximately 15 acres) of crops from land owned by the Protestant Christian community.

Since 2012, Protestant Christians in Mariano Matamoros have been the target of repeated attacks by local leaders intent on forcing the Protestant community to “reconvert” to Catholicism or leave the village, according to local sources. Members of the Protestant community say that these incidents include the confiscation of property, physical attacks, and denial of access to public utilities. As recently as 14 June, village leaders cut off water and sewage services to members of the Christian community.

Rights groups in Mexico say that authorities at the State level in Chiapas have repeatedly refused to take action in the Mariana Matamoros case, despite being presented with evidence of illegal conduct. Requests by the local Protestant community for compensation for stolen goods and destruction of property have also been ignored.

Source: International Christian Concern

 Prayer Points

• Pray for an adequate provision of food for the Christian families and their children who have had their crops stolen.
• Pray that Mexican authorities will be unable to ignore these incidents but will initiate justice and protection for the many in similar situations.
• Pray that the Christians will respond in such a godly way that their persecutors will see God’s power in them.