A Time of Opportunity for Libya | 309 | Report 7 & 8

Will a new Libya respect human rights and religious freedom? How will Christians fare in the country? CBN News had a rare look at the church in Libya. Most Christians in Libya are foreign workers – most had come to work in the oil fields and other industries, many being Coptic, Catholic or Orthodox Christians. An Egyptian surgeon CBN News interviewed has worked in Libya for 15 years. He said though he is a Christian, the Muslim majority has treated him well. However, what might the future hold once Libya’s new government is in place?

Todd Nettleton is with the Voice of the Martyrs. “Ninety-seven percent of the people in Libya are Muslims. So even a government that is elected by the people could be a heavily Islamic government that wouldn’t necessarily be friendly to Christians and wouldn’t be friendly toward religious freedom,” he explained. Gadhafi – for the most part – expressed tolerance for foreign Christians if they remained in their churches. But Christians who shared their faith with Muslims were either jailed or expelled from the country.

Nettleton says there is a small indigenous church in Libya, even though few foreigners have met them. “They are meeting together. They are serving Christ. They are spreading their faith. But they obviously have to do that in very cautious and careful ways. CBN News witnessed the recent baptism of a Libyan convert. She wouldn’t allow it to be shown on television, but she explained that she had come to Christ after watching a Christian programme on satellite television. Nettleton says that’s not surprising: “One of the key factors in the growth of the church in Libya is satellite television. A lot of the evangelism – a lot of the discipleship activities that are happening are happening over satellite TV from outside the country, because it’s very difficult for Christians to gather together – particularly Muslim converts within the confines of Libya,” he explained.

And many of the secret Libyan Christians feel abandoned by the world and, though their numbers are small, maybe only several hundred, they desire recognition and prayer support. Nettleton says Libya’s Christians – both indigenous and foreign – will need a lot of prayer in the days ahead. These are also days of opportunity, he says: “As there is so much upheaval, there are also people who are asking questions of a spiritual nature, questions about eternity.”

“This can be a great time of planting the seeds of the Gospel and we need to pray for our brothers and sisters to have opportunities to do that and to have boldness to take advantage of those opportunities,” Nettleton added.

Source: CBN News

BIBLE STUDY: Luke 13:23-36

Report  7 – PRAISE: God for the small Church in Libya, and for the opportunities in times of uncertainty.

Report  8 – PRAY: That the seeds of the Gospel may be sown and that many Libyans may know the Saviour.

North Koreans Give Lives for Christ | 304 | Report 9

Every year, thousands of North Koreans flee to China in a dangerous bid for freedom. Refugee Tae escaped North Korea twice. The first time, Chinese authorities sent him back. He was imprisoned and his wife was forced to divorce him. “I lost my identity as a citizen of North Korea, I was considered to have rejected my country and my parents after I left North Korea,” he said. But it was there in prison that Tae came to faith in Christ. That was a worse offense: worshipping Christ over worshipping the state. Tae escaped again and made his way to South Korea. He has enrolled in Seoul’s Underground University, a ministry of Voice of the Martyrs Canada.
Another refugee, Jung began to wonder why North Korea tried so hard to control and oppress Christianity. He witnessed the public execution of three Christians who smuggled Bibles into the country. “There was one woman and two men. The men were about 22 or 23 years old,” Jung said. “The public executions actually made me want to know more about Christ and the Bible,” he said. After four years in South Korea, Jung wants to return to evangelise his people.
After their year of studies at the university, the students expect to head back north, not knowing whether they will return or not. But they say they are willing to sacrifice their lives to help bring spiritual freedom to their countrymen who may never have a chance to escape the hermit kingdom.

Source: CBN News

BIBLE STUDY: Psalm 71:19-21

PRAISE: God for these modern day martyrs and for the many coming to Christ in North Korea. Pray the day will come when they can freely proclaim Christ.

Laotian Christians Stand Firm in Faith | 28

Fourteen Khmu Christian families in Laos are standing strong in their faith, despite the Communist government forcing them to relocate to another village and their homes and church building being destroyed, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. This is the second time they have been moved from their village. In spite of the hardship endured, and the Communist government treating them like second-class citizens, these families remain strong in their faith. Although their bamboo church had its roof tops ripped off, they are still holding worship three times a week with joyful hearts. “They love God and are willing to die for Him,” a VOM contacts said.

Source: Voice of the Martyrs

BIBLE STUDY: Romans 8:18-27

PRAISE: God for the humble faith of these Christians. Pray for these courageous families, that they may know God’s daily protection and provision.