 Source: Reuters At 6:00 p.m. Christian Believers began to assemble inside the church building in Yemen. After greeting each other, they started their worship service with prayer, praise, and singing. As they were singing and worshipping God, seven people charged into the church brandishing guns and machetes. The devout worshippers scrambled for cover as gun-carrying men yelled that the service stop immediately. As people huddled together, these angry extremists pointed their guns and weapons at them. They threatened to kill these Christians if they continued to worship Jesus Christ. One man wrathfully shouted that Yemen is an Islamic nation and he will not allow any Christians to worship there.
Later, they went around the church breaking everything they could lay eyes on. They took away all the Bibles. They destroyed expensive musical instruments, microphones, speakers, and sound mixers. They even vandalized the church's mini bus. In addition, they demanded that everyone turn in their mobile phones. Having destroyed and damaged the church building, they pilfered the belongings of the Believers. They left, but not before wreaking havoc, and issuing a blood curdling warning. These violent men said they would return and kill Christian Believers if they continued to worship in the church.
Though visibly shaken by the traumatic experience of being held to a knife's edge, these Believers are grateful to God for His protection over their lives. They praise God for sparing their lives even as they stared death in the cruel glint of the frenzied extremists' eyes.
This recent attack is among a series of attacks on Christians in this largely Islamic nation. In March extremists killed a Christian teacher from the United States. They claimed to have killed him because he was "one of the biggest proselytizers" in Yemen.
Islam is the state religion and Sharia law (Islamic law) is practiced. The government prohibits conversion or proselytizing of Muslims. When a Muslim becomes a Christian Believer, he/she comes under attack and is persecuted by society, even by family. In spite of the oppression and hardships, Believers continue to worship and share the Gospel with those around them. http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001PBN5GihL-Jg_VhwrdgS878BXQIYDp X6LLS7IZ3h1xe1sn5E1vWBB7PnjynFLYsUxfufghjGLk78n1-2BcUoqRaWKA yLEvtanyqJXJU980bkTBlbfHrniVRtp6bR3gv_arqvIj-GeEXIr5xC3SJBo9 CdYHdvjBM4aDTa9Md_7LmB0C_ZR7Zb7uFUrsTCtcMw7xCyZoOy9qws=" shape=rect target=_blank ?_blank?=" - Open Doors reported that the number of Muslim Background Believers has grown from 500 to 1,000 Christians.
These Christians are incredibly courageous. They choose to worship God even when machete-wielding mobs threaten and terrorize them. The Pastor of the church said that no ploy of the enemy would thwart their devotion to Jesus Christ. He said they have worship service daily at 6:00 p.m. and they will not give up until Christ returns in glory.
Praise God for His protection over these Christian Believers who were attacked by extremists (The Bible, http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001PBN5GihL-JhtPH6FCl1kg6N2kNnzP oxPJn7tWLYyJ1zVofA37syGAR1VLLS9zL5neDQdTLVaEn-1bepLH0933PB-v xTTyUbaA6bbSo7OIqXbO1gN3SuEkbvKpNvxEl9i2ifGuuEvqldCO-Op89hpU 1mxnXEXkOsg9Jw5Ycs_GdXzqQkyZTH67wWIYCed-9z2" shape=rect target=_blank ?_blank?=" - Psalm 121:7 ).
Pray that these Believers find another, safer location to conduct worship services (The Bible, http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001PBN5GihL-Jg1yTM1fB4G4iKZV4aEL wEf9SYOogEYuEtq8mzYJqil-6Xcvb_-V8BIKsTeF540ca_hHiA4kVqt8m3_C JHFgZyWamU6bJ7wtyoyhNtDp5uoveExhno-GtDS64WFA8ewD98HqycQ2Nsz_ U1q7v_H9pvZlAqWtc-GdGd1gaeukhiM1OOBUOlwKAj-" shape=rect target=_blank ?_blank?=" - Psalm 36:5 ).
Pray for continued protection for Believers as they meet to worship God in the face of the many threats and warnings (The Bible, http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001PBN5GihL-JgOCnQr2UOdg1ZYPpHXb dXWBOAaw4Atic6-3fw8Ga0YgOP3SESRy2GRK3M7ysVNs7ndt7YVijnfYyk71 drsNlRaM5riKciGGWjU9disbOq0DMXBaOJfHD-j7kuyb-65ntIClvNKJGdyu WWFsAb7mYlLmcZfMT_0ck9f-FtCF9L85k6zW0pbk6j7" shape=rect target=_blank ?_blank?=" - Psalm 27:3 .)
Pray God gives back to Christians, who are persecuted for His name's sake, all they have lost (The Bible, http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001PBN5GihL-JjIuQMfsWvyoTSSxkAgC LdGdv8LZdPOIpJk0mdlATtgsrKOWcfPF0lzJ6s8VAd4dk13wbfa9cfS112xj fmIpJZc4uh538e0p4cxRlyJUls-qS5XQO9e8Wu4_OIowJsE9HMdhemmcUtGl 1B9S0C7RQ4AJOVqDHx-jm5t0hWcCtyxe6jrJQsoW_IY" shape=rect target=_blank ?_blank?=" - Habakkuk 3:19 ).
Pray God works in the hearts and minds of these extremists, so they will acknowledge Christ, the Son of the Living God, as their Savior (The Bible, http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001PBN5GihL-Jh1Ib_zZrY2Z3GbenYAn TRnUi9ZxzGFrvP0ux6bS4Vtli1qCDVKluySrlSOZ9_saVgheug9nTiXyli3P 78Ebv4qRS4xi4teYzPVtvgy6HYfNvnk1GApW836rZjFWJFAmQIVDmr1crKXR OmoYJ9xRRdAhm9ezS3QROmZF6PHeqGQhw9aNZTi31fa" shape=rect target=_blank ?_blank?=" - Romans 5:8 ).
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