KENYA

David and Bobbie Tinnion, Alun Taylor, Sue Boyle and Sammy Millar return to the UK this week having been at the Elim Revival Kenya national conference and speaking in churches. Pray for safe travelling.BURKINA FASO

28 people from Burkina, Mali, Niger, Benin and Nigeria attended last month’s Fulani Ministries discipleship and church planting training course in Burkina. Pray that they will be guided and led by the Holy Spirit to be successful in leading people to Jesus and planting new churches.

Praise God eight adults, including the daughter of the village Imam, decided to follow Jesus at last Sunday’s service. Pray for Boureima and Susanna as they disciple them and pray their faith will grow deeper and stronger in the days ahead.

HONDURAS

The gang who robbed our Missions Team when they visited Honduras in July are causing problems. They recently wounded one of the teens connected to Elim’s youth ministry and shot another dead when they gate-crashed a birthday party. Pray for protection and wisdom for John and Rachel, for Pastor Carlos and for everyone connected with Elim’s ministry. Pray God will miraculously break through to the members of the gang and they will commit their lives to Him.

PAKISTAN

An estimated 20 million people have been affected by the devastating floods in Pakistan with signs that the crisis is worsening as waters continue to surge south. Continue to pray for people who have lost everything. We have a close relationship with a church and Bible School in Pakistan and all funds we receive will be sent through this reliable source.  If you would like to contribute, send cheques payable to Elim International Missions marked ‘ERA Pakistan’ or you can give online through www.elimmissions.co.uk/pakistanappeal

A few months ago we sent a DVD to churches about a visit to our partner in Pakistan and if you would like a copy of this, do get in touch.

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Elim International Missions, Elim International Centre, De Walden Road, West Malvern, WR14 4DF

Tel: 0845 302 6750   Direct Line: 01684 588 940   Fax: 0845 302 6752

www.elimmissions.co.uk

Elim Foursquare Gospel Alliance charity number 251549 (England) SC037754 (Scotland)

“When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their witness.” Revelation 6:9 [NLT]Somalia

Christian killed and his children kidnapped

Open Doors recently received confirmation that a Christian man named Abdullah had been murdered on 21 July in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu. Suspected al-Shabaab rebels entered Abdullah’s house and gunned him down in front of his wife and children. When the attackers left, they took the wife (who was later released) and the children with them.

It appears that Abdullah was killed for his faith. Sources described him as an influential member of his community. Over recent years a number of Somalis suspected of leaving Islam to follow Christ have been murdered.

The extremist al-Shabaab movement has vowed to topple Somalia’s shaky transitional government and impose a strict version of Islamic law.

Sources in Somalia reported that the situation in the country had been very tense in the lead up to Ramadan, the month of Muslim fasting, which started on 11 August. Al-Shabaab rebels were said to have ordered residents to hand over their televisions and satellite dishes in preparation for Ramadan. Anyone who refused would be considered a spy – an accusation al-Shabaab rebels deem deserving of death.

Al-Shabaab are known for their reign of terror in the areas under their control: amputating the legs of youngsters for theft; decapitating Christians for ‘espionage’; and claiming responsibility for blowing up a nightclub in the Ugandan capital Kampala in July, killing more than 70 people, apparently because of the country’s participation in peace-keeping operations in the war-torn Horn of Africa.

Source: Open Doors, Reuters News Agency

Names to go up soon:

Data Team (Sandown High); Mackensie-James, A VA, Sascha, Kay, Dylan; Grace & Jacob; Bobby P; Mainy; Dumpy; Paige & Dumpy tbc; Honey-Leigh; Ella-Louise; Sophie W; Jack Raw-Caw; Philippa (Gina); Mainy (Paula); Fall of Arcadia (band); Jesska- Louise (band); Burger Baz (local); Tiff & Tano (wedding 21/8) Graham (23/9)

“Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will protect them from those who malign them.”

Egypt

Christian blogger released following change in Emergency Law

A Coptic Christian blogger arrested on false charges of insulting Islam, then held for almost two years without charge under the country’s Emergency Law, has been released from prison.

Hani Nazeer, 31, a school social worker, was arrested on 3 October 2008 after posting a link to a Coptic website on his web log, ‘The Preacher of Love’. The Coptic website contained a link to an online copy of a controversial book written in response to Azazil, a novel critical of Christianity.

During his imprisonment Nazeer was beaten, pressured to convert to Islam and exposed to constant deprivation. He spent most of the time housed in a single cell with 30 convicted felons. Nazeer speculated that authorities placed him there to put pressure on him. “One prisoner told me, ‘If you convert, you will be out in two days’,” he explained.

Nazeer was released on 22 July because of recent reforms to Egypt’s Emergency Law. The Law, passed in 1981 following the assassination of President Sadat, was designed to be used to detain terrorists and others who violently opposed the state. In practice, however, it was also used to silence opposition to President Mubarak’s regime and persecute those outside of the religious mainstream – such as Muslims who convert to Christianity, or members of Islamic groups considered to be heretical. In May, Egypt amended the Emergency Law to stipulate that only people suspected of committing terrorist acts or selling illegal narcotics could be arrested.

Azza Taher Matar, a member of the International Relations Unit at the Arabic Center for Human Rights Information, said it is likely that the reforms to the Emergency Law will lead to authorities filing more charges of religious defamation against people in an effort to work around changes to the law.

Source: Compass Direct

Open Doors has launched a global petition for religious liberty. For more information and to sign the petition please go to www.opendoorsuk.org/rtb

Please pray:

1. Since his release, Nazeer has been concerned about his safety. Pray for protection for him and his family
2. Praise God for the change to the Emergency Law. Pray for further changes to Egypt’s laws that will bring greater religious freedom
3. Pray that many people would sign Open Doors’ global petition for religious liberty and that the UN would extend rather than restrict religious freedom as a result.

MOZAMBIQUE

The Kane family are returning to the UK having successfully completed their five-year assignment working with Elim Mozambique. Sharon, Nathanael, Josiah and Samuel arrived back on 17^th August, Gregory and Daniel arrive back on 2^nd October. Pray for the family as they make this massive change. Pray that the right schools will be located for the boys. Pray for all the leaders and pastors of Elim Mozambique as they continue to build the ministry there.

SWAZILAND

Jane Bradshaw has been in the UK for a break and returns to Swaziland on Monday 23^rd August. Pray her last few days here will be relaxing and refreshing so she is ready to take up the ministry again on her return.

TANZANIA

A team of 24 from Elim Kingstanding go to Tanzania on 23^rd August, returning 8^th September. They will be visiting hospitals, orphanages, churches and holding outreach events. Pray for safe travelling and that they will be conscious of God leading and guiding them in all they do. Pray too for the people they will meet, that hearts will be open to receive the good news of Jesus.

SPAIN

Pray for Howard & Sue and Dave & Naomi as they continue to reach out to people on the Costa del Sol via radio and a new television programme. Pray that many will be reached and respond to the gospel.

CONGO

Nick and Kym Delport are going to the hospital at Lwamba this week to help with maintenance and repairs. The roads they will be travelling on are atrocious so pray for safe travelling. Pray they will be able to get everything done that they need to while they are there.

UGANDA

Pray for safe travelling for Sian Davies who flies back to the UK on Tuesday 24^th August.

PHILIPPINES

Marjorie Baxter had a biopsy earlier this week. She sees the consultant again on 27^th September – please pray the results will be clear.

PAKISTAN

Heavy monsoon rains have caused the worst floods in Pakistan in living memory. Pray for families who have lost homes and livelihood and for those in mourning. Prayer for the government to have wisdom in dealing with the relief operation. Pray that aid will get to the right places and that Christians will not be discriminated against.  If you would like to contribute, send cheques payable to Elim International Missions marked ‘ERA Pakistan’ or contact us for bank details to make a direct transfer.