Assyrian Church Bombed in Baghdad, Iraq - Another Christian Leader Arrested in Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan
by Staff
May 30, 2007
(christiansunite.com) - A group of armed Muslim men set fire to the St. George Assyrian Church in Dora district of Baghdad on May 18, according to a May 22 report from Compass Direct. The Muslims poured gasoline on the church before setting it on fire. This church was bombed in a series of attacks on Assyrian churches in 2004. Over the past four weeks, the threats against the Iraqi Christian community in Dora have intensified. Many Christian families have fled the area or sought refuge in local churches.
Pray that those who seek to hinder the work of the Church in Iraq will come to repentance and respond to God's grace (Acts 9:1-19). Pray for church leaders as they provide encouragement and hope to their congregations in this difficult time.
For more information on the persecution facing Christians in Iraq, go to www.persecution.net/country/iraq.htm.
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Another Christian Leader Arrested in Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan
Yevgeny Potolov (36), who leads a Council of Churches Baptist congregation in the city of Turkmenbashi, was detained on May 19, according to a May 22 report from Forum 18. Police have refused to tell his wife why he is being held and said that his case is being handled by the Ministry of State Security secret police.
He is currently being held at a local detention center.
Potolov's arrest comes just five days after Christian leader Vyacheslav Kalataevsky was sentenced to three years in a labour camp for his religious activities (see www.persecution.net/news/turkmenistan18.html for more details).
Potolov and Kalataevsky both had their local residence permits stripped from them in June 2001 in punishment for their religious activities with an unregistered Baptist congregation.
Pray that Yevgeny will be released. Pray that Christians facing charges and harassment from authorities in Turkmenistan will continue to trust in the Lord (Revelation 2:10).
For more information on the persecution of Christians in Turkmenistan, go to www.persecution.net/country/turkmenistan.htm.
