U.S. CONSIDERS TAKING NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES - RFA

The United States is considering admitting for resettlement some North Korean refugees in hiding across the border in China, RFA's Mandarin and Korean services report. Human Rights Watch estimates that as many as 300,000 North Koreans are living underground in China.

10:31:39 PM    

UNICEF SAYS 2.5 MILLION VIETNAMESE CHILDREN AT RISK - RFA

Rapid economic growth and reform in Vietnam has led to social changes that could put up to 2.5 million Vietnamese children at risk from exploitation, violence, neglect, and abuse, RFA reports.

10:28:50 PM    

BURMESE JUNTA MAKES NO PROMISES AHEAD OF ASEAN MEET - RFA

Burma's new prime minister told RFA's Burmese service that the junta is "preparing" to convene a new National Assembly that will include the country's ethnic minorities. But Khin Nyunt, whose country is likely to dominate this week's ASEAN summit in Bali, gave no details and made no promises regarding Burma's worsening political stalemate.

10:26:30 PM    

TIBETAN MONK KNEW HE WOULDN’T LIVE LONG - RFA

The Tibetan monk who died last week while serving a prison term for putting up anti-Chinese posters has left behind a letter, obtained by Radio Free Asia (RFA), in which he describes torture he suffered at the hands of his Chinese jailers.

10:24:52 PM    

UZBEKISTAN: Baptist "mob" banned from worshipping -
Forum 18 News Service
 
Anti-terrorist police officer Alisher Kurbanov, who banned an unregistered Baptist church in Navoi from meeting for worship, has dismissed Baptist complaints about the move. "This is not a church at all, just a religious mob," he told Forum 18 News Service. "Under Uzbek laws a church is not allowed to operate without registration, but the Baptists refuse to register." The ban came after Kurbanov confiscated books from a mobile Baptist street library on 27 September and threatened library organiser Nikolai Nikulin with criminal prosecution. Nikulin has already served a ten-day prison sentence for his work with the church. The ban on the Navoi Baptist church is the latest move to forbid the activity of unregistered Protestant churches in Uzbekistan.

9:35:30 PM    

PrayforChina Prayer Request 10/07-10/13

Tuesday
Everyone is on vacation as the nation celebrates the 54th Anniversary of the Republic. The 7-day national holiday is the second busiest holiday, next to Chinese New Year. A million Chinese will vacation abroad in Asian countries. We pray many fruits for the ministries handing out Jesus Film and targeting specifically the Chinese tourists.
Wednesday
It is common for grandparents to assume the care of their grandchildren, to allow the young couple to work. However, many parents are leaving their child for full time care in a neighbor's or unrelated caretaker's house. Lack of parental attention in the early stage is not healthy. Let us pray for a generation of children growing up, not seeing their parents for years.
Thursday
Hundreds of handicapped children were treated to a circus performance in Beijing. For most, this is their first encounter with animals and entertainment. Because of the one-child policy, having a mentally or physically handicapped child is socially stigmatized. Let us remember all the Christian agencies, orphanages and their staff who care the "Forgotten Kids" of China.
Friday
"Chinese Like Medicine." Traditionally, people buy medicine to treat all kinds of ailments. Government is now cracking down all the counterfeit medicine that have become widespread. Self-medication is common because so many medicines have bogus and exaggerated claims. Let us again pray for the Real medicine China needs, the Gospel of Jesus.
Saturday
Six Chinese joined the "Fortune Magazine's Top 40 Richest People Under 40". The oldest is only 39. All of them were self-made billionaires, coming from working class families. In a "Money Is Every Thing!" society, we pray for all the young people who are going against the trend and are studying to be in full time ministries.
Sunday
Cost of healthcare has skyrocketed since the economic reform of 1980. Government no longer provide universal medical coverage and major illness and long term disability easily bankrupt a working family. Let us pray for the salvation for the millions of stroke sufferers, the leading killer among Chinese.
Monday
Chinese economy will face increasing pressure in the coming months as foreign governments intensify their campaign to force a revaluation of the Yuan. Resetting the currency rate is the biggest issue now. Let us pray for wisdom for the authorities. Stronger Yuan will mean less money flowing from the West into China ministries.

9:25:08 PM    

‘GOD’S SMUGGLER TO CHINA’ COVETS PRAYERS FOR MEDICAL CONCERNS

NORTH BEND, WA  (ANS) -- Doug Sutphen, the American ex-marine who led a daring expedition to smuggle one million Bibles into South China in 1981, continues his prolonged health battle. Sutphen was rushed to the hospital five times in recent months due to painful attacks of angina and also faced eye surgery two weeks ago.

9:20:24 PM