The Cost of service

In more than 40 nations around the world today Christians are being persecuted for their faith. In some of these nations it is illegal to own a Bible, to share your faith Christ, change your faith or teach your children about Jesus. Those who boldly follow Christ—in spite of government edict or radical opposition—can face harassment, arrest, torture and even death. Yet Christians continue to meet for worship and to witness for Christ, and the church in restricted nations is growing. Areas of the world where Christians face persecution include: Afghanistan Egypt Libya Somalia Algeria Eritrea Malaysia Sri Lanka Azerbaijan Ethiopia Maldives Sudan Bangladesh Gaza and the West Bank Mindanao, Philippines Syria Belarus India Mauritania Tajikistan Bhutan Indonesia Morocco Tibet (China) Brunei Iran Nepal Tunisia Burma (Myanmar) Iraq Nigeria Turkey Chiapas, Mexico Jordan North Korea Turkmenistan China Kuwait Oman United Arab Emirates Colombia Kyrgyzstan Pakistan Uzbekistan Comoros Laos Qatar Vietnam Cuba Lebanon Saudi Arabia Yemen Location: China Arrested: July 2007 Days Imprisoned: 984 In July 2007, 42-year-old Li Mei and nine house church leaders were arrested, when they were discovered having a Sunday worship service. They were charged with singing Christian hymns to villagers, showing the JESUS film in a nursing home and praying for healing for a disabled elderly man. The nine were sentenced to re-education through labor for 12 to 18 months. Li Mei served part of her one-year sentence in a hospital with both hands chained to her bed. Repeated beatings and torture caused her to require a hysterectomy. She is currently serving the remainder of her sentence at home under house arrest. Location:Iran (Islamic Republic of) Arrested:December 2009 Maryam Jalili, Mitra Zahmati and Farzan Matin, are imprisoned in Iran following their arrest while gathered at a house church to celebrate Christmas. On Dec. 24, Maryam, Mitra, and Farzan were among 15 Christians arrested by security forces in Pakdasht, Iran. After a week without information, family members contacted authorities and demanded to know where they were being held. Officials told the families that the Christians would be released the same day, but instead they were secretly transferred to the notorious Evin prison in Tehran. Twelve of the believers were released on Jan. 4. Security officials have also raided the imprisoned Christians' homes and confiscated their books, computers, phone directories, CDs, DVDs and Christian literature. IRAN (ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF) Country Info