Monday, May 19- Matthew 5:11-12

hey,

May 8th Bangladesh News: Muslim villagers in Mymensingh district eager to rid the area of the Christian work of a local pastor have gang-raped his 13 year old daughter, the girls father said. Pastor Das of United Bethany Church said that around 3 a.m. on May 2 the villagers sexually assaulted his daughter and left her unconscious in front of his house in attempt to drive him and his Christian ministry out of their village. Local residence have long been angry with him for his ministry and evangelism and he has received many death threats.
"I did not pay attention to any of the threats or hindrances- I continued evangelical and pastoral activities with prayer, " Das says. "When nothing stopped me, they wanted to leave me scarred for life, so that I would be upset and not be able to show my face, and therefore I would leave the village." Das, who became the first Christian in the area in 1986 and has been key in an increase to more than 250 Christians and development of 12 churches, said the brutal attack was pre-planned and calculated to stop further expansion of Christianity in Bangladesh. Das' daughter was always being teased by her fellow students, she was the only Christian in the school. "Five people lying in ambush in the pitch-dark near the outdoor toilet- where she was headed- snatched her by gagging her mouth, taking her about 400 meters from her thatch home, where they gang raped her, " said investigating officer. Das said he suspected friends of the rapists and perhaps the rapists themselves observed them as they went to the police station to file charges, as they later threatened to harm them if they did not withdraw the case. The family took the threats seriously and resided in the police station for two days. The daughter then identified two of the rapists. Fearful for his life and the lives of his family, Das along with his family relocated to the home of a friend. Das is being urged to leave his village.

This is but one recent story of a family being persecuted for their faith in Christ. There are over 35 regions all over the world that are in constant threat of persecution, America is not included. Christians being arrested, imprisoned, killed, tortured, assaulted, and taken from their families all for their belief in Jesus. These Christians are converts from many religious backgrounds and are shunned by their government, communities, and friends.

Do we know what persecution is? Not from experience, not the way the rest of the Christian world experiences it- and the way the early church mentioned in The New Testament knew it.
Who are we to be nervous about what someone may think if they find out if we are Christians? We hang our heads in embarrassment or all of a sudden forget what God has done for us. We might get laughed at, hear jokes about us, or a friend might treat us a little different. That all pales in comparison to the life Das has to live every day in his Bangladesh village or the thousands, perhaps millions of others like him.

Lets take a moment and pray for Das and his daughter, Elina, today. Lets also pray for God to help us rise above our insecurities in regard to our witness and strive to live in boldness with the light of Christ flowing out of us- with no reservation, no hesitation, and no regard for what others around us may think.

I love you guys and pray for you constantly,
Pam S.