Demonstrations of Christians that are far from hypocrites, but stand for what they know is true. They stand for the Jesus, the Saviour of their heart!

Eygpt

Hany Samir Tawfik, 28, a Christian jailed without charges for 19 months, has become emotionally disturbed and lost vision in one eye from torture and lack of medical treatment. Tawfik was arrested because he refused to spy on an evangelical Christian pastor. Despite direct appeals by his widowed mother, authorities refuse to release him or make public his alleged "crimes."

Pray international publicity about this case will force Egyptian authorities to release Tawfik. Pray God in His mercy will make Himself known to Tawfik with a very real sense of His presence and encouragement. Pray the Lord will give Tawfik's mother a supernatural peace to comfort her heart and build her faith.

China

In August 1970, it was reported that Vladimir, a Christian, was arrested in Shanhai. In prison  they put iron tubes around his legs and tightened them with screws. Then they beat on the tubes with a hammer until the vibrations broke the bones in both legs. All this to make him confess to imaginary crimes against the government. He did not confess. Several Communist police officers then went to his home and told Vladimir's wife, "If you don't sign an accusation against the prisoner [her husband], we will smash the head of the child." She refused not believeing any human being would do that. The woman police officer smashed the baby's head against the wall several times, killing it.

Romania-1975

Florea died in Gherla Prison in Romania. He had been beaten until both arms and legs were paralyzed because he refused to do slave labor on the Lord's Day. the Communists would not take him to a hospital to be treated, but left him in a cell where there was no running water, no bedding, nothing with which the other prisoners could help him. They had to sppon feed him, but they did not have a spoon, so they used their fingers. Yet he was the most joyful among them. His face shown. When the other prisoners sometimes sat around his bed brooding about their sorrows and complaining that their future outlook was so bad, he would say, "If the outlook is bad, try the uplook."
  After one of the prisoners was released, he went to see Florea's family. He told Florea's nine-year-old son about his father, and that his father had told him he wanted hisson to grow ip to be a good Christian man. The boy replied, "I would rather become a sufferer for Christ like my father."

 China

Amelio Crotti, who had been a prisoner in China wrote about his experiences. Among oher things he wrote this:

From my cel I heard a mother speak soothing words to her child of five, whose name was Siao-Mei. She had been arrested with the child because she had protested against the arrest of her bishop. All the prisoners were indignant at seeing the suffering of the child. Even the prison director said to the mother, "Don't you have pity on your daughter? It is sufficient for you to declare that you give up being a Christian and will not go to Church any more. Then you and your child will be free."

In despair, the woman agreed and was released. After two weeks she was forced to shout from a stage before 10,000 people, "I am not longer a Christian."

On their return home, Siao-Mei, who had stood near her as she denied her faith, said, "Mummy, today Jesus is not happy with you."

The mother explained, "You wept in prison. I had to say this out of my love for you."

Siao-Mei replied, "I promise that if we go to jail again for Jesus I will not weep."

The mother ran to the prison director and told him, "You convinced me to say wrong things for my daughter's sake, but she has more courage than I."

Both went back to prison. But Siano-Mei no longer wept.

Lebanon-1991

Mary Khoury was 17 when Damour, her village in Lebanon, was raided by Muslim fanatics who were bent on converting everyone to Mulim by force. She and her parents were given the choice: "If you do not become a Muslim you will be shot."

Mary knew Jesus had been given a similiar choice: Give up His profession of being the Son of God and the Savior of the world, or be crucified. He chose the Cross. So she replied, "I was baptized as a Christian and His Word came to me: 'Don't deny your faith.' I will obey Him. Go ahead and shoot.' A Muslim who had just killed her father and mother shot her and left her for dead.

Tow days laterthe Red Cross came into her village. They found Mary and her family where they had been shot-- she was the only one alive. But she was now paralyzed, the bulet had severed her spinal cord. Her paralyzed arms were extended and bent at the elbows, reminiscent of Christ st His crucifixion.

At first Mary was depressed, not knowing what she could do. The the Lord spoke to her and she knew what she must do with her paralyzed life. "Everyone has a vocation," she said. "I can never marry or do any physical work. So I will offer my life to the Muslims, like the one who cut my father's throat, stabbed my mother while cursing her, and tried to kill me. My life will be a prayer for them."

I couldn't bring myself to put more up. There are stories far worse then even this. If you want to read about other persecuted Christians. I challenge you to sign up to "Voice of the Martyrs". It tells about persecuted Christians of today! The article is free! Go to www.persecution.com to sign up for it! Or buy the book "The New Foxe's Book of Martyr's".

If you read them, you will have a different perspective on Christians. Certainly American Christians are dull in our faith! We are not challenged like these other Christians. We don't know what it is like to be truly persecuted.

Persecution-

1. The act or practice of persecuting on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or beliefs that differ from those of the persecutor.
2. The condition of being persecuted.

Persecute-

1. To oppress or harass with ill-treatment, especially because of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or beliefs.
2. To annoy persistently; bother.

Americans are never persecuted! We may be pushed around a bit... or mocked. But that isn't true persecution. We have freedom of speech, and freedom of worship. We are not Physically tortured! We can not take what we have for granted, but use it for God's glory! We become so comfortable in our little world! We become so selfish at times. We need to step out of our comfort zone, and worship the Lord the way the persecuted Church does! Stop putting emphasis on things that are not worth it. But continually press towards the prize that awaits you in heaven!

I'm guilty of taking for granted what I have. I'm guilty of staying in my comfort zone. Surely, it would be easier to stay her in American where I am safe and can witness to people here. Yet, the Lord is telling me to step out of my comfort zone, to go beyond the easy stuff. And witness to people in China! Go to a place where Christians are physically totured! What would happen if I am caught? Yes, staying in a comfort zone would be far easier!

Sometimes I ask myself, "Lord, why do you let this happen" but I know the answer. He has told us. It is not because he wishes it to happen. Because he does not make us do things. We do it out of our will. Human nature is sinful... and evil! The evil in some non-believers is so distinct that they harden their hearts to the hurt they see. And willingly persecute Christians!

I challenge you to step out of your comfort zone! In fact, I have the first step for you! Go here and write to prisoners! http://www.prisoneralert.com/vompw_writing.htm

Do not be selfish! But try stepping out, and realizing that you are in your comfort zone and you are BLESSED... but their are people that are suffering! And a letter can brighten their day and encourage their walk with the Lord! May God Bless and Keep you!