Release International

At the start of a new year, we invite you to stand with us in declaring God's lordship over all the earth and in praying that His peace and His presence will be with the persecuted church. Thank you for your continued support and prayers.

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A bishop has been left blind in one eye and suffering severe burns after Islamist extremists threw acid over him.

Bishop Umar Mulinde, a former Muslim, is recovering in hospital in Kampala after the attack on Christmas Eve outside his Gospel Life Church International in Namasuba, six miles from the Ugandan capital. Doctors say they are fighting to save the sight in his other eye.

The 37-year-old bishop was attacked just before his church was to host a party after a seven-day revival – inviting 'hundreds of new converts to Christianity', reports Compass Direct news agency.

Bishop Umar says that he was approached by a man who called out, 'Pastor, pastor,' and then threw acid over his face. Others then threw acid on his back. His attackers fled, shouting Allahu akbar ('Allah is greater'). A fatwa had previously been declared against Bishop Umar.

The bishop has received many threats and suffered several life-threatening attacks for leaving Islam and for his vocal opposition to Sharia (Islamic law) courts in Uganda. Bishop Umar, who had recently relocated for his family's safety, has vowed to continue his campaign for the religious rights of those who leave Islam.

NEWS UPDATE:
Local Islamists and Muslim Fulani herdsmen wielding firearms and machetes killed five Christians and left six more wounded in a raid on Ungwan Rami village in Kaduna state, Nigeria, on December 19. The assault came just nine days after a deadly attack on the Christian community of Kukum Gida in the same area (Prayer Alert, December 23, 2011). Nigerian Christians are still reeling from extremist bomb attacks on churches on Christmas Day (Prayer Alert, December 28, 2011). One of the targets – St Theresa's Church in Madalla, near Abuja – has become a focus for national mourning. A suicide bomb planted at St Theresa's by Boko Haram extremists killed at least 45 people.

(Source: Compass Direct)

• Pray God's supernatural healing over Bishop Umar. Ask God to protect him and his family – and fill them with His perfect peace.
• Pray for Christians in Kaduna state, Nigeria, especially those in Ungwan Rami and Kukum Gida who have suffered recent attacks. Pray God's peace over His church across Nigeria, particularly Christians in central and northern areas facing extremist threats.

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