News to Know: Why is Joshua Chellew less important than Trayvon Martin?

Why is Joshua Chellew less important than Trayvon Martin?
Mableton teens linked to gang are accused in beating death

Racism in any form or on any side is unequivocally wrong––and that includes ignoring stories which are uncomfortable and difficult to spin.

The fact that nobody wants to sell this story as an incident of race-based violence makes me suspicious. Perhaps it's only "racist" depending on who is attacking who. Or perhaps there's less racism than we're lead to believe.

What do you think?

Voice of the Martyrs Friday Prayer report: Laos, Honduras, Syria

Reposted from Persecution.com.

VOM-USA Prayer Update for July 5, 2013

Laos--Elderly Couple Evicted from Home
Source: VOM Sources

Philemon 4:19

Two Christian converts have been evicted from their home for seeking prayers for physical healing, a VOM worker reports. On Jan. 10, 2013, Mr. Sakien and his wife, Dong, went to a church in Intee village, Attapeu province, looking for physical healing. Their son and daughter-in-law had told them that they had experienced healing from prayer. Shortly after seeking healing at the church, the couple embraced the Christian faith. Then, on Jan. 23, the village chief issued an eviction order and stated that the couple would be denied residency in the village because of their conversion to Christianity. Sakien and Dong were told to "find a different place where Christians can live." Sakien is very ill, and the couple is currently taking shelter in an unfinished church building in Intee village.

Honduras--Widespread Violence Affects Pastors
Sources: Fuerza Latina Cristiana, VOM Sources

1 Corinthians 15:53-55

Eight pastors have been murdered in Honduras in 2013 alone. In the most recent attack, on Wednesday, June 19, Pastor Eduardo Mejia was stabbed to death. Pastor Mejia led a church called "God Is Love." The other seven pastors killed over the first half of this year have all died from gunshot wounds. An estimated 600,000 illegal weapons circulate in Honduras, and most are owned by criminals. Honduras has the highest murder rate in the world, at about 85 per every 100,000 people, according to data released by human rights organizations. None of the cases involving the murdered pastors has been solved.

Syria--Christians Hopeful amid Civil War
Source: VOM Sources

Acts 2:21

Christians in Syria remain hopeful despite increasingly difficult circumstances, a VOM contact reports. Syrians still face continual threats from snipers and mortars; from June 8 to June 10, dozens of mortars fell around the building where our VOM contact lives. He said many people are begging, searching in the rubbish and looking for a place to stay and that the value of the Syrian pound continues to drop. But he said Christians still have hope. Our contact's church still holds Bible studies, youth meetings, prayer meetings, medical clinics and church services on Sunday. The church, which VOM helps to support, also distributes packages of food, such as rice, pasta and lentils, as well as hygiene products, such as toothpaste and soap. Please pray that the church will be a house of prayer and a center for peace amid the chaos and that many more Syrians will come to Christ. Also pray for stability in the region.

Cuba--VOM Project

Pray for the recipients of 2 million tracts and 20,000 Bibles that will be purchased and distributed in Cuba.