Pray for 7 Christians Arrested in Nepal.

June 16, 2016

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that seven Christians in Nepal have been arrested for distributing handkerchiefs and Bible handbooks to 885 students in the Dolakha district of Nepal.

Young Nepalese Christians praying together; they are part of a student ministry which Barnabas Fund helps support

According to reports, Nepalese authorities are charging the Christians with attempting to convert people to Christianity, something that was made illegal in the constitution Nepal adopted in 2015.

A relative of one of those under arrest told ICC, “The police arrested seven Christians on June 9th. [They] treated them as if they were criminals, placing everyone in handcuffs. The officer who is in charge of this arrest refuses to listen to anyone and is making the Christians’ lives hell.”

According to another source, “The police promised to release the prisoners if they sign a document that admits that distributing the handbooks is a violation of the law and then promise to never engage in similar activities. The Christians refused to sign the document. The police have extended the detention by five days until a formal charge can be filed against them.”

Nepalese authorities are pressing charges against the Christians, stating that they have violated Article 26 (3) of the 2015 Nepalese Constitution. This article prohibits any attempt to proselytise others, stating, “No person shall, in the exercise of the right conferred by this Article, do, or cause to be done, any act which may be contrary to public health, decency and morality or breach public peace, or convert another person from one religion to another or any act or conduct that may jeopardise other’s religion.”

This is the first time that the article has been used to arrest anyone for proselytising since Nepal adopted the 2015 Constitution.

“The Christian community in Nepal believes that this is a very serious case,” a Christian pastor from Nepal told ICC. “Although we are working hard to release the prisoners, the people here are nervous after hearing about this case. We feel that we have to be careful about everything that we do.”

Pray for the Nepalese Christians who were arrested. Pray for their protection while in police detention, for charges to be dropped and for a speedy release from custody.
Pray for Christians in Nepal in the light of these arrests. Pray that the perfect love of Christ will cast out fear, and that they will continue to have courage to witness to their faith to their communities.
Pray for the Nepal government to maintain and uphold freedom of belief for all people in Nepal.
Pray for a move of the Holy Spirit over this nation, to strengthen and encourage the Nepalese Church and to bring many across Nepal to know the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Colossians 4 vs 2 – 3: “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. At the same time pray for us as well that God will open to us a door for the word, that we may declare the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison.“

Source: http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/, http://www.persecution.org

Pray for 7 Christians Arrested in Nepal.

Pray for 7 Christians Arrested in Nepal.

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