Always pray for our brothers and sisters, persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ, pray for the persecuted church.

--------------------------------------------------------------------Iran – In our recent Iran video alert we requested prayer for Ramtin Soodmand, an Iranian believer arrested on August 21 in Mashad. Ramtin is the son of pastor Hussein Soodmand who was martyred in 1990. We are delighted to report that he was released from prison on October 22 and reunited with his wife and two children (aged 10 and 4). Ramtin may still face formal charges in court. Iranian Christians thank us for our prayers. Let us continue to pray that the family will be free of further harassment and that they will experience the joy and peace that comes from the Holy Spirit.

China – There have been recent reports of intensified religious persecution from across China. In Beijing, prisoner of faith Pastor “Bike” Zhang Mingxuan and family members have been evicted from their home, beaten and arrested. In Shandong province, Pastor Zhang Zhongxin was sentenced to two years of re-education through labour, while a pastor from a house church group in Lingbao city that is part of the “Born Again Movement” was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment, which is the harshest sentence against a house church leader in recent years.

Eritrea – Release is receiving reports that Eritrean officials imprisoned about 20 Christians belonging to the underground Faith Missions Church on October 12, 2008, in Deki-Zeru, a town 30km from the capital, Asmara. The believers were holding a Sunday morning worship service when Eritrean security forces raided the church. Those arrested, including some elderly, are still in prison.