Mob attacks church in Sri Lanka

The charred shell of the parish priest's car UCAN Photo

Approximately 200 suspected Buddhists armed with weapons stormed the Our Lady Rosa Mystica Church building in Croos Watta, Sri Lanka on December 6. The assailants destroyed construction materials and the interior of the building. They also attempted to attack the priest. He was able to escape the scene unharmed, but his vehicle was torched in the violence. As word spread of the attack, approximately 500 local believers blocked the nearby main road in protest, demanding that police arrest the culprits. At last report, one arrest had been made. Local Christians believe the attack was due to the growing number of believers in the area and the recent resumption of a construction project to expand the church. Last year, the Supreme Court overturned a police decision to ban the construction. The church has been attacked twice in recent years by suspected Buddhist militants -- once in 2006 and again in 2007. (Source: Union of Catholic Asian News)

Thank the Lord that no one was injured in the attack. Pray that these church members will exemplify the love of God through consistent love and prayer for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:43-48). You can post a prayer for members of this church on our Persecuted Church Prayer Wall.

For more information about the suffering of God's children in Sri Lanka, go to the Sri Lanka Country Report.

Relief Agencies Work Multiple Disasters in South East Asia

Christian Today reports that humanitarian groups have only begun to provide relief in South East Asia, where disaster after disaster has rocked the region. According to Tearfund, in some Indonesian villages, 90 percent of houses were destroyed, leaving thousands homeless. "They are eating food that they can find from within their collapsed houses or what we are giving them," said Ranto Sibirani, Executive Director of Tearfund's partner agency KOTIB. "The mosque is currently the food distribution centre because that is one of the few buildings that has not collapsed. There are still some people buried in houses but many areas are inaccessible by vehicle because of the many landslides, especially in the hill areas away from the coast." The agency is working alongside Cafod, Christian Aid and World Visionin the region, which includes disasters in Vietnam and the Philippines.

Christians targeted and threatened in Bangladesh

The Voice of the Martyrs received several reports in recent weeks from AsiaNews about attacks on Christians in Bangladesh by militant Muslims.

William Gomes interviewing Photo from AsiaNews

On September 25, Muslim militants attempted to kill a convert from Islam to Christianity, along with his wife and child, by setting his home on fire. In the days before the arson, militants had threatened William Gomes with death for intervening in an assault on his cousin by a Muslim man. Gomes, a journalist and human rights activist, had sought protection from police following the threats. However, it was only after the fire that they guaranteed police intervention.

Anup Rodrigues (25) was brutally beaten on September 27 by members of an Islamist group after attending evening Mass. Rodrigues was waiting at a park for friends when four men dressed in traditional Muslim clothes attacked him from behind with iron rods and bamboo sticks. They accused him of insulting Muhammad and said Christians were a "curse on the nation" who wanted to convert Muslims. Rodrigues was eventually able to escape his assailants. The week before, he was threatened by a Muslim man who overheard him speaking with friends about the prophets of different religions. The Muslim stated that he belonged to an Islamist group and that they had the duty of carrying out jihad to punish people like Rodrigues.

Pray for safety for William Gomes, Anup Rodrigues and their families. Pray that they will not be fearful but will trust God (Revelation 2:10). Pray that attacks on Christians in Bangladesh will cease.

Go to the Bangladesh Country Report to find out more about the trials Christians are facing in Bangladesh.