I wasn't able to include this in the sermon yesterday, but I'd like to share it with you. Ron Thomas, executive director of ACGC shared this with me. More examples of how the nations stand against God and his anointed.
"In Myanmar (Burma) our pastors have been harassed by the oppressive military dictatorship. One of our pastors has shared his frightful experiences with us as he has reported and sent photos of his beating after his encounter with the police. We have had our pastors arrested, interrogated, beaten and even imprisoned. To congregate in groups of more than five or six will draw attention and government informants (snitches) can report such gatherings which again can mean harassment and arrest. Our churches have been forced to meet secretly and move from house to house to avoid the attention. In India, we have had pastors beaten and threatened with death by militant Hindus. We have national pastors serving in the state of Biahar, also known as the “graveyard for missionaries. Our work in Thailand is slow and difficult as any convert to the faith will face ostracism from his or her family. They will be denied access to employment and even school. Children who choose to follow Christ will be the target of harassment and bullying. For a person to publicly proclaim a faith in Christ, truly means giving up everything to follow Him; friends, family, any hope for the common means of making a living."