Around the world

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.                                                  1 Peter 4:12-16 

Egypt

Since last year's "Arab Spring" hostility towards Christians has been increasing. October 9, 2011 in Cairo, Egyptian Christians were killed and hundreds more wounded when the military opened fire on a group of believers, of the Coptic Church(one of the most ancient Christian groups). The group was protesting a Christian church burning by Muslims. At first the Christians were pelted with rocks. But the violence escalated when the army began shooting into the crowd and ramming riot-control vehicles into protestors. Christians account for 10% of Egypt's population. Around 93,000 Coptic Christians have fled the country since last march.

Nigeria         

In the central Nigerian city of Jos, on Sunday February 26, 2012 a suicide bomber drove at top speed, crashing through a gate as he detonated explosives just outside a packed church. Three worshippers were killed including one child. 38 others were wounded in the attack. Radical Islamists took credit for the attack. Their ultimate goal is to overthrow the government and establish an Islamic theocratic state. The same group taking responsibility for this attack previously launched simultaneous attacks on Christian churches throughout Nigeria in December as Christians met for worship on Christmas Sunday. In those attacks one church suffered 40 deaths.

Somalia

In recent months, three Christians have been beheaded by an Islamic insurgency militia. The militia supports establishing Shariah law and ridding the country of all Christians. (Shariah law is a harsh form of Isalamic fundamentalism that mandates moral/social standards that infringe on many modern principles of human rights, religious freedom, and equality of all before the law). Zakaria Hussein Omar, 26, who worked for a Christian humanitarian organization was murdered on January 2, 2012. Militants also murdered 17-year-old Guled Jama Muktar at his home as the Christian student prepared for school. Juma Nuradin Kamil, a Christ-follower for just three years, was kidnapped and later his body was found decapitated.

Pakistan        

At a Salvation Army open-air prayer meeting, a group of Muslim youths interrupted the service playing loud music to deliberately disrupt the worship celebration. The group taunted the female church members as they walked to the prayer service. When some men of the church approached the intruders a struggle broke out. When police arrived, the intruders scattered but then returned with guns and opened fire on the crowd. They killed Younas Mashih, 47 and Jameel Mashih, 25. Two others were wounded in the attack. Just 20 days before this attack, Christian politician and leader Shahbaz Bhatti was assassinated. Just a few months before his death, Bhatti was interviewed. In that interview he said:

"I want to share that I believe in Jesus Christ, who has given his own life for us. I know what is the meaning of the cross. And I am following the cross."
 

From Jesus in Matthew 16: Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."