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2016-05-26

  • Rescue of Missing Schoolgirls Raises Hope


    Some of the kidnapped Chibok girls.

    Nigeria's army has rescued a second Chibok student, two days after rescuing 19-year-old Amina Ali Nkeki, the first of the 219 kidnapped girls to be found alive in a forest close to the Cameroon border. "We are glad to state that among those rescued is a girl believed to be one of the Chibok Government Secondary Schoolgirls that were abducted on April 14, 2014 by the Boko Haram terrorists," announced Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman, the army's Acting Director of Public Relations, shortly after Amina was located.

    BBC further reported that Amina, who had a child with her, was found during a routine daily patrol by a pro-government vigilantes group set up to help fight Boko Haram. At the time, it was noted that all the other missing girls were still in the forest, except the six who had died. The vigilante leader explained that when Amina was reunited with her mother "she gave her the biggest hug ever, as if they were going to roll on the ground." He added that Amina told her mother: "I never thought I would ever see you again.... God has made it possible for us to see each other...."

    The second Chibok student, Serah Luka, who is believed to be the daughter of a pastor, has been receiving medical attention at a health facility in Borno state since her rescue. Also rescued during the operation were close to 97 other women and children who were being held captive by Boko Haram in the Damboa Local Government Area of Borno. Recent military operations by Nigerian forces have led to territorial gains and paved the way for reconstruction efforts. More information on persecution in Nigeria, including online video reports, can be found at our Nigeria Country Report.

    We thank God for your faithful prayers over the years on behalf of these brave girls, and for their unwavering faith in His protection during their many months of suffering. Continue to pray for the release of the remaining schoolgirls from captivity and that, as they await deliverance from their present situation, their trust will remain steadfastly in Him. May each of them fully recover from their ordeal so they can experience renewed wholeness and freedom.
  • New Findings in Case of Mysterious Abduction


    Please pray for Marriam
    Photo: Release Internationa

    A 24-year-old Pakistani Christian woman was abducted on May 12th while walking with her 11-year-old brother. Marriam Mushtaq was suddenly snatched by four unidentified suspects in Bahar Colony, Lahore. For the past year, she had been studying adult education at Excel Educational Institution, and was on her way there with her brother Youhan at around 2 p.m. when a white car pulled up next to them. A man with his face covered got out and dragged Marriam inside the car before it sped off.

    Yohan further explains that Marriam tried to escape from the abductors, but then one of them placed a piece of cloth over her mouth and she became unconscious. The alarmed young brother began shouting -- calling out for help. A few people gathered and boys on motorbikes started following the car; however, as it was speeding so fast, the perpetrators' vehicle hit a young girl who was crossing the road. (As a result of this accident, the hit-and-run victim is suffering from serious leg injuries.) The local boys followed the car on their motorbikes until it vanished out of sight.

    Marriam's family visited the local police station to register a complaint, but the police initially did not respond. Only after the family and local Christians staged a protest, blocking the road for two hours, did the police agree to register an FIR against the unknown abductors.

    Two days after Marriam's mother filed a complaint with the police, she received a phone call from officers who stated that her daughter had not been kidnapped, but was married. A 32-year-old man named Muhammed Ali, who Marriam's family claim is her kidnapper, attended the police station and presented a marriage certificate.

    Members of the young woman's family believe she would never voluntarily marry a militant Muslim, stressing their concerns that she has been forced into marriage and is now being held against her will. Reports on similar incidences involving the abduction of Christian women in Pakistan are available here.

    Please pray that Marriam will be safely reunited with her distressed family. During this unwarranted separation, may God provide each one of them needed comfort and encouragement, reassuring them of His strengthening presence. Also intercede for the young girl who was seriously injured by the getaway car, praying that she will know the Lord's presence, peace and healing in her life as well. May the convicting power of the Holy Spirit come upon the abductors, helping them to realize that wrongfully committed acts such as forceful marriage and conversion -- in addition to holding a person hostage -- is contrary to God's ways and will result in consequences...unless there is genuine repentance.
  • Pastor of State-Run Church Released!


    Zhang Chongzhu
    Photo: ChinaAid

    The pastor of a state-run church in China's coastal Zhejiang province was released at noon on May 9th after an eight-month detention. Authorities took Zhang Chongzhu, the pastor of Pyongyang Three-Self Patriotic Movement Church, into custody on September 8, 2015. The detained Christian leader, who spent most of the year resisting a government-backed cross demolition campaign, was charged with "stealing, spying, buying, or illegally providing state secrets or intelligence to entities outside China."

    This same charge was given to Zhang Kai, a human rights lawyer who legally defended churches affected by the demolition efforts. Both men had been scheduled to meet with the U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Freedom, David Saperstein, causing members of Zhang Chongzhu's church to suspect a correlation between this meeting and his detention.

    To review a report on the recent release of Zhang Kai, click here. For previously posted reports on the cross demolition campaign, you may also wish to check this page.

    Rejoice with us over the release of these steadfast brothers in Christ, who have suffered in prison for standing up for our God. It is not an easy task to remain firm in one's beliefs when trouble arises, but we are reminded in His Word that believers who do so will be rewarded in eternity. Please pray for those who wish to remove all signs of Christianity from China’s landscape. May they witness the strength and compassion of Jesus Christ through the lives of His children and, as a result, personally experience His transforming love as well.