persecuted-church

Chad rebels free U.S. missionary after 9 months

2008-07-25T23:19:00.000-07:00

N'DJAMENA-Chadian rebels have freed a U.S. missionary after holding him hostage for more than nine months in the remote north of the central African country, his U.S. evangelical organization said on Friday.Steven Godbold, who was captured by rebels in October while helping a local organization transport equipment to drill water wells, was freed late on Thursday, The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM), based in Wheaton, Illinois, said in a statement.Godbold, 49, was held by Chad's rebel Movement for Democracy and Justice in Chad (MDJT) on suspicion of being a spy for the Chadian government. Godbold had worked in Chad since 1991 and is married and has four children, TEAM said.The rebel group was formed in Chad's mountainous north in the late 1990s but has been eclipsed in recent years by eastern rebels battling Chadian President Idriss Deby from bases near the border with Sudan's Darfur region."Godbold was released by his captors in Chad on Thursday evening, July 24th. He was released near the town of Bardai in northern Chad, and is presently a guest of local officials in Bardai," TEAM said.It said arrangements were being made to send a plane to Bardai to evacuate Godbold to N'Djamena. "From there he will travel to the United States via Europe for reunion with family and colleagues, debriefings and medical checks," it added.Chad's Communications Minister said he could not confirm Godbold's release but added that "there will be a meeting about this matter tomorrow".He said the meeting would be at the Interior Ministry, but declined to give any details.At the time of his seizure, Godbold was working on a humanitarian assistance project drilling water wells in the Zoumri region, funded by the U.S. Department of Defense. MDJT leader Aboubakar Choua Dazi told Reuters within a fortnight of Godbold's capture that the movement would soon free him, and the MDJT has suggested several times since that he was about to be freed, but to no avail.In January the MDJT said its inquiries showed that Godbold was not working for the Chadian government as it had originally suspected."Godbold was ultimately released following extensive negotiations between his captors and TEAM. TEAM emphasizes that Godbold's release was unconditional and that no ransom was paid and no concessions of any type were made to secure his release," the evangelical group said.

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL527499920080725

As in the days of Noah...

Chad Rebels Release Stephen Godbold After 9 Months

2008-07-25T23:14:00.000-07:00

The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM) is very pleased to announce the release of Cash Stephen Godbold, a missionary held captive in northern Chad for more than nine months. Godbold was released by his captors in Chad on Thursday evening, July 24th. He was released near the town of Bardai in northern Chad, and is presently a guest of local officials in Bardai. Arrangements are in process to send an aircraft to Bardai to evacuate Godbold to N'Djamena. From there he will travel to the United States via Europe for reunion with family and colleagues, debriefings and medical checks. Godbold was captured on October 10, 2007 in Zoumri in the Tibesti region of Northern Chad. He was assisting a Chadian non-governmental organization transporting water well drilling equipment into the Tibesti in order to provide clean and safe water to residents of the region. He is 49 years old and has served in Chad since 1991. He is married and has four children. The Movement for Democracy and Justice in T'Chad (MDJT) claimed responsibility for Godbold's captivity. Mr. Choua Dazi, the President of the MDJT, made numerous statements to the international media and others during the months of captivity, reporting that Godbold would be released as early as last November. No explanation for the failure of the MDJT to honor those promises has been provided. Godbold was ultimately released following extensive negotiations between his captors and TEAM. TEAM emphasizes that Godbold's release was unconditional and that no ransom was paid and no concessions of any type were made to secure his release. Dr. Charles Davis, International Director of TEAM, expressed gratitude and appreciation for the efforts of many organizations and individuals in Chad and the United States: "Governments, the church, other faith-based organizations and individuals worked together to make sure that Steve was kept safe and ultimately released. We are so very grateful for this assistance and praise God for every person and agency that helped bring Steve home." Additional information will be provided as it becomes available during the repatriation and debriefing processes. http://www.teamworld.org/PRAY/godboldInfo.aspx
As in the days of Noah....

Islam Court Stands Behind Kidnapping, Forced Conversion and Rape of Christian Girls...

2008-07-23T11:54:00.000-07:00

A Christian father in Pakistan is trying without success to gain custody through the courts of his two pre-teen daughters who were kidnapped and made to convert to Islam - writes Anto Akkara.On 12 July 2008, a judge in Pakistan's Punjab province ignored pleas that Saba Younis, aged 12, and her 10 year old sister, Anila Younis, who went missing on 26 June from the small town of Chowk Munda, had been kidnapped while on their way to their uncle's residence and ruled that their conversion to Islam was legal.The kidnappers, who had married the girls, had also filed for custody of the girls at a local police station on 28 June, asserting that the sisters had converted to Islam and their father no longer had jurisdiction over them."We are shocked by this court order," Anita Maria, a lawyer and a spokesperson for a Pakistani Christian group told Ecumenical News International recently. "Poor Christians in remote areas have to live with that." Maria said that in some cases young women who have been abducted are charged with adultery if they refuse to convert and marry their abductors.The police had been unable to trace the girls, and members of the local Christian community were shocked when their abductors came forward to claim that the girls had converted to Islam and that they had married the girls.The Muzaffargarh district court on 12 July said the disputed conversion of the girls was legal, and it was this ruling that left the local Christians stunned."We will move the [Lahore] high court to challenge this order," said Maria, who works as the programme coordinator for Pakistan's Centre for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement.The Pakistan Minorities Concern network said in a statement that Younis Masih, the father of the kidnapped girls, was threatened by the local police when he went to complain about the kidnapping of his daughters. The statement noted that the village has only a few Christian families living among 150 Muslim families, and said that police refused to support the Christian family. The network pointed out that in 2005, nearly 50 Hindu girls and 20 Christian girls were kidnapped and the majority had been forcibly converted to Islam."This is a travesty of justice. But unfortunately, this is the practice here," lamented Victor Azariah, general secretary of the National Council of Churches in Pakistan, which groups four Protestant churches. Azariah said, "The courts never help us."

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=179_1216816400

As in the days of Noah....

B.C. couple brutally attacked in Kenya to return home

2008-07-21T23:32:00.000-07:00

John Bergen, and his wife, Eloise Bergen, are seen resting in a Nairobi Hospital earlier in July after they were attacked at their guarded residence in Kenya. (Sayyid Azim/Associated Press)

A Canadian missionary couple recovering from severe injuries sustained in a vicious attack in Kenya will be returning home soon, said their daughter-in-law.John Bergen, 70, was attacked on July 9 by a gang of robbers armed with machetes, suffering broken arms and a skull fracture.His 63-year-old wife Eloise was tied up and sexually assaulted. The couple had moved from Vernon, B.C., to Kenya in March to do missionary work and run programs to feed the poor.Seven people have been arrested in the attack, including two security guards hired to protect the fenced-in compound where the couple live in the volatile region of Mount Elgon.Initially, the couple said they wanted to stay in Kenya. But Robin McGeogh, the Bergens' daughter-in-law, told CBC News that they have been convinced to come back to Canada because of extent of their injuries and the better care they can receive at home."Canada's got the really good rehab, and the faster you get home and start a good rehab, the faster you can get out and do things like … end up back in Kenya," McGeogh said from her home in Chestermere, Alta., east of Calgary.Her son and two of the Bergen's sons flew over to Kenya after the attacks to be with them.
Plans to visit, pray for accused assailants in jail

The Bergens say they suspect their attackers may have been connected to some security guards they recently fired and may have been seeking revenge. Theft was also likely a motive since the couple's laptop and cash were stolen during the attack.McGeogh said her father-in-law may get out of the hospital in Nairobi on Saturday, but that doesn't mean he'll get on the plane the next day.She said he plans to visit the men charged with the crime in prison to pray and forgive them. "I know that John and Eloise would not want them to go for, on death row or anything like that, so that might cause even more delay because that might keep him there to protest that," she said.The couple plans to spend some time in Calgary before returning to Vernon, McGeogh said.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/07/17/kenya-couple.html

As in the days of Noah....

President of Chinese House Church Alliance Forced to Live on Streets For meeting with American Congressional Delegation

2008-07-21T13:18:00.000-07:00

Beijing- CAA has learned that on July 6, 2008 Pastor Bike Zhang , chairman of the Federation House Church and his wife, Xie Fenglan, were forced to leave their home in Chaoyang District by Beijing PSB officials. The couple was able to find shelter in the home of a friend, Niu Bei until officials again found the home and forced the Zhangs to leave. Zhang and his wife were forced to move into a hotel in Guo Xian town, Tongzhou District, and were allowed extended residence by the owner. At 16:00 on July 14 Tongzhou PSB officials threatened the owner of the hotel to evict the couple or face incarceration. The couple then decided to find residence in Changping, but were stopped by police officials while on their way and taken to the Town Government office. Police proceeded to interrogate the couple rotating them on a one on one basis without food, drink, or rest. At 6:00am Xie Fenglan collapsed due to the stress of the torture but was not taken to the hospital until 11:00am. The couple was released from the government office and stopped at a local hotel on their way out of town. While local police officials again drove the couple out of the hotel and forced them to leave. After a short while of living in Tongzhou, the couple were again accosted by local police and forced to move. Zhang begged the PSB officials to allow his sick wife to stay in the location and rest overnight. The officials rejected this plea and forced Zhang to send his wife to her sister’s residence in Sanhe, Hebei for recovery, while Zhang found residence in a local hotel. On July 16th, while going out to buy medicine for his wife, local police officials followed Zhang and forced his wife to move out from her sister’s home. Both Zhang and his wife are now forced to live on the streets and are not able to find shelter. When asked why the couple was being expelled from Beijing, officials responded, “Because Bike Zhang met the Americans, and destroyed the harmony of the Beijing Olympic Games.”This egregious treatment of one of China’s most respected and well-loved house church leaders is a shocking and outright violation of basic human rights and rule of law. The Chinese Government has shown neither remorse nor discretion in violating UN and international mandates to grant citizens basic human liberties such as shelter and protection. The acts against Pastor Bike Zhang and his wife are unjust and unlawful. This type of behavior exhibited by the CPC is reflective of a dictatorship with no regard for the wellbeing of its citizens and not a world leader worthy of the honor of hosting the Olympic Games. We urge the international community and those concerned to voice their objection of these acts to the Chinese Government.

To voice your concern, please contact:

Chinese Embassy in Washington DC Address:

2201 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.,

Washington D.C. 20007

Tel: (202) 338-6688, (202)5889760

Fax: (202) 588-9760

Attn: Chinese Ambassador to the US, Mr. Zhou Wenzhong

http://www.chinaaid.org/

PS:Please PRAY,PRAY,PRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As in the days of Noah....

Court says 'gay' rights trump Christian rights:Dismisses free-speech case filed by Philadelphia 11

2008-07-18T15:48:00.000-07:00

The Philadelphia 11 included (Front, L-R) Arlene Elshinnawy, Susan Startzell, Lauren Murch, Nancy Major, Linda Beckman. (Back, L-R) Gerald Fennell, Mark Diener, Dennis Green, Michael Marcavage, James Cruse, Randall Beckman

A federal appeals court dismissed a civil rights complaint by 11 Philadelphia Christians, ruling their First Amendment rights were trumped by the First Amendment rights of homosexuals at the city's taxpayer-funded "Outfest" celebration in 2004. "The city has an interest in ensuring that a permit-holder can use the permit for the purpose for which it was obtained," this week's opinion from the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said. "This interest necessarily includes the right of police officers to prevent counter-protestors from disrupting or interfering with the message of the permit-holder."The decision upheld a lower court's dismissal of the civil action against the city of Philadelphia and its police filed by the "Philadelphia 11," as they have come to be known.Ted Hoppe, a lawyer allied with the Alliance Defense Fund, had argued in the appeal that speech "cannot be silenced simply because another person or group does not agree with it. City officials must be held accountable for their decision to violate the First Amendment rights of Christians who wanted nothing more than to engage in peaceful assembly on a public street."Marcavage, founder of Repent America and organizer of the protest, said the lawyers were reviewing the appellate ruling and deciding whether there are further open doors for the plaintiffs.Members of the "Philadelphia 11" were arrested Oct. 10, 2004, after quoting the Bible and expressing their views against homosexual behavior on a public street during "OutFest," a publicly funded celebration of homosexuality.The protesters were jailed overnight, but a judge later dismissed any criminal counts as having no basis in fact. The individuals then filed the damage lawsuit against the city.U.S. District Judge Lawrence Stengel had concluded in dismissing the civil rights claim that a "permit" granted by the city to the homosexuals allowed police to silence the Christian activists' message on public streets."It is without question that Judge Stengel's decision has set a precedent to eliminate the First Amendment rights of others by citing that a 'permitting scheme' can be used by police and event organizers to 'exclude persons expressing contrary messages' in public areas and at public events," Marcavage said earlier.Marcavage told WND today the issues of speech rights should have been left to a jury."It's very interesting the court affirmed our rights to be at Outfest, but it should have been left to a jury to decide whether or not our presence was disruptive," he said.He said the appellate opinion cited as fact issues a jury should have been allowed to determine, since the 11 were charged with both felonies and misdemeanors in the original criminal case – but not being a disruption, which was cited in the ruling.A video of the arrest has been posted on YouTube:

According to Repent America, the Christians on that day "were confronted by a militant mob of homosexuals known as the 'Pink Angels' who blew loud whistles and carried large pink signs in front of them to block their message and access to the event, while others screamed obscenities." "The Philadelphia police, under the direction of Chief Inspector James Tiano, the city's 'police liaison to the gay and lesbian community,' refused to take any action as the Christians were continuously followed, obstructed and harassed, even though they respectfully cooperated with police, obeying orders to move, short of being directed out of the event," the group said.The Philadelphia 11 spent 21 hours in jail and faced criminal counts that could have resulted in prison terms of 47 years and $90,000 fines before the counts were dropped.The civil rights complaint then followed."While, in its decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit did ultimately side with the city of Philadelphia, it did make some important rulings which should serve to support the rights of Christians to speak in the public square. In its decision, the appeals court rejected U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence F. Stengel's decision from earlier this year in which he ruled that the Philadelphia 11 should have been prohibited from engaging in their constitutional rights on the public streets and sidewalks because 'once the City issued a permit to Philly Pride for OutFest, it was empowered to enforce the permit by excluding persons expressing contrary messages,'" Repent America said.Repent America said the appeals court found that despite the fact that the event organizers had a permit, the Philadelphia 11 had a constitutionally protected right to be present on the public streets and sidewalks within the event area and convey their message.The court's justification for supporting police actions against the Christians was based on "the court's perception that the Philadelphia 11 were 'disrupting the event,'" the organization said. "The court came to this conclusion even though the Christians were not charged, arrested or even threatened with arrest for being 'disruptive.'"Hoppe said that result is "concerning.""We believe that a review of the video footage of the event clearly shows that the Philly 11 went out of their way to be cooperative and not be disruptive themselves. The only disruption that occurred, if any, was due to the crowd's reaction to the message that the Philly 11 was conveying," Hoppe said."It is encouraging that the court affirmed the rights of Christians to go into the public square and engage in free speech activities. However, it does seem somewhat contradictory to say that, on the one had the Philly 11 had a constitutionally protected right to be present at the event and to speak, but then to also say that if the crowd does not like their message, the Philly 11 can be removed."

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=69881

As in the days of Noah...

Kidnapped Christian girls, judge ratifies marriage and conversion

2008-07-18T12:31:00.000-07:00

The district of Muzaffargarh rules in favour of the Muslims, rejecting the request from the family that wants to bring home the two sisters - 13 and 10 years old - kidnapped last June 26. Christian associations charge that they could end up as prostitutes...

Islamabad-District judge Mian Muhammad Naeem, of the section of Muzaffargarh, has ruled that the two Christian sisters "have converted in a legitimate manner to Islam", and for this reason they cannot be "restored to their family of origin". Setting aside the request from their father to regain custody of his daughters, the judge also admitted the "validity" of the marriage of the girls to two Muslims.Saba Younas, aged 13, and her sister Anila were kidnapped last June 26 in the village of Chowk Munda, in the province of Punjab, where they had gone to visit their uncle, Khalid Raheel. This is the same uncle who in recent days reported their kidnapping, asking for help from news organisations and human rights groups. According to Raheel's account, a Muslim fruit vendor named Muhammad Arif Bajwa kidnapped the girls, and then handed them over to a friend, Falak Sher Gill, who then organised the marriage between his own son and the older of the Christian sisters, Saba. In court, moreover, father and son both stressed the "complete willingness of the girl to contract marriage".The girls' uncle does not conceal his preoccupation, and denounces to AsiaNews that the Muslims involved in the kidnapping are acting as a "gang", recruiting the girls in order to "make them work in a bordello".This alarm has also been heard by the Catholic commission for justice and peace (NCJP) in the country, which confirms the words of Khalid Raheel: the kidnappers are believed to be human traffickers linked to prostitution, known to the police and under the protection of some local politicians."For these unscrupulous people", charges Naeem Asghar, local coordinator of the NCJP, marriage is a pretence in order to control the girls, run their lives and exploit them for their own business purposes".The Catholic community continues to uphold the cause of Saba and Anila, and promises that the family will not be left to itself. Expressing the hope that the girls will be brought back home, the coordinator of the NCJP emphasises that "an appeal will soon be presented to the high court of Multan, to contest the decision of the district judge" and have the girls "restored to their parents".

by Qaiser Felix

http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=12771&size=A

As in the days of Noah...

World's Former Only Hindu Country Opens to Christianity

2008-07-15T18:40:00.000-07:00

The world’s former only official Hindu country is now open to the preaching of the Gospel, a Christian missionary working in the country shared this past weekend with joy.Formerly, Christians were reportedly arrested and imprisoned for preaching the Gospel in Nepal. Speaker Narayan Sharma, Gospel for Asia’s Nepal country leader, said at the GFA “Renewing Your Passion” Conference in Dallas, Texas, on Friday. He recounted when he himself was arrested and put into a dungeon-like prison cell because he shared his faith.“In all this darkness, there was no imagination that the country would ever be open,” Sharma said.But in April, Nepal held its first election for a new legislative assembly, and in May lawmakers legally abolished the monarchy and declared the country a republic.The king was previously considered to be a god.Newly elected officials also promised to allow religious freedom in the government. Now, Gospel programs are aired over the same government-owned radio stations that used to carry reports of Christians being arrested, Sharma said.“The Bible says that after the night, joy comes in the morning, and morning has come to Nepal!” Sharma told the audience of more than 1,000 people. Missionaries from Myanmar (also known as Burma), Sri Lanka, India, and the United States also spoke.The Myanmar missionary shared about how locals saw the heart of God when missionaries and volunteers brought them food and supplies after the recent cyclone disaster.“Buddha did nothing while we were suffering. But your Jesus loves us,” the missionary recalled a family telling him.“Now every Sunday they are coming to church and worshipping the Lord,” he added.Following a message about the importance of prayer, GFA leaders and attendees held a late-night prayer vigil on Saturday.GFA says it has 16,500 native missionaries working in about 11 south Asian countries.The “Renewing Your Passion Conference” began on Friday with GFA president and founder K.P. Yohannan greetings and ended on Sunday.

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080714/world-s-former-only-hindu-country-opens-to-christianity.htm

As in the days of Noah....

Free Video Download and Prayer Guide to Help You Pray for China during the Olympics

2008-07-15T18:25:00.000-07:00

In just a few weeks—on August 8th, 2008—the Olympics will begin in China. It's a strategic opportunity for Believers all over the world to pray for China.The church in China has experienced incredible growth in the past 30 years. Yet at the same time Chinese Believers have faced much suffering and persecution; in some cases they have even lost their lives for their faith.While officially tolerating religion, the Chinese government has done much to control and restrict the growth of Christianity. Over the past 12 months leading up to the Olympics, the pressure has intensified. Visas for foreign workers have also been cancelled and greater restrictions imposed on tourist visas. Despite this, thousands of Christians will be working in creative ways to share the message of God's love through their actions and attitudes during the Olympics.During the same period, we would love to see tens of thousands of Christians around the world praying that God's Kingdom purposes would be established in China. Can you and your church join in bringing this flood of prayer before God's throne? We have materials ready for you, which you can download at www.am-ccsm.org/olympics:
• An Olympic Prayer Guide (in English, Spanish, German, simplified Chinese, and traditional Chinese)
• A 4-minute and 6-minute Olympic Prayer Video (in low, or hi-resolution)
Here are 3 ways you can help:
First, join with churches around the world to pray for three minutes during your normal service on Sunday, August 3. You can show the 3-minute video, which features short messages from a Chinese pastor and a past Australian Olympic athlete. After watching the video, you can spend 3 minutes praying for China with the help of the Olympic Prayer Guide. Second, copy the Olympic Prayer Guide for each member of your congregation and include it with your church bulletin. Rather than just being spectators to the various Olympic events, encourage people to participate in God's agenda by keeping the prayer sheet close to the television and spending time praying during the commercial breaks.
Third, organize a combined churches prayer meeting some time during the week leading up to the opening ceremony on Friday, August 8.
The people of China need our prayers at this important time in history. Let's stand with them.
Source: Australian Director - Chinese Church Support Ministries

As in the days of Noah....

Zimbabwe's Christian churches reject Mugabe victory

2008-07-15T10:28:00.000-07:00

Robert Mugabe ralling supporters

Mugabe's Inauguration Ceremony

Victim of violence:11 months old Blessing Mabhena whose legs an feet were broken by Mugabe loyalist soldiers with the ZANU-PF.Doctors doubt he will ever walk...

Victim of ZANU-PF violence Angela Campbell still unconcious after the severe beatings

Victim of ZANU-PF violence farmer Ben Freeth

Victim of ZANU-PF violence farmer Mike Campbell

HARARE-Zimbabwe's Christian community has rejected President Robert Mugabe's re-election last month as marred by violence and intimidation and expressed support for efforts to form a government of national unity.In a statement obtained by Reuters on Tuesday, the heads of all the churches in the predominantly Christian country said the race between Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was marked by the worst violence since independence in 1980.Tsvangirai pulled out of a run-off ballot last month, citing a campaign of intimidation and killings by Mugabe supporters that Western governments said made his re-election illegitimate.U.S. President George W. Bush said on Tuesday he was disappointed Russia and China had vetoed broader sanctions against Mugabe and other Zimbabwean officials, but said the United States may impose tougher penalties of its own.In their statement, the Zimbabwean churches said they were "ready and committed to partner with all efforts that will result in a transitional authority and subsequently a government of national unity, to bring peace stability and reconciliation within the nation.The Heads of Christian Denominations said the torture, murder, abductions, displacement and psychological trauma had fatally undermined the election."Our conclusion is that the will of the people of Zimbabwe was not given authentic expression during these elections," they said, adding that the violence was continuing.Mugabe, 84, in power since the end of British rule, blames the opposition for the bloodshed.Tsvangirai has demanded the government halt all attacks on his supporters as one of several pre-conditions to negotiating with Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF.
POWERSHARING DEAL
Preliminary talks between Tsvangirai's MDC, a smaller faction of the party and ZANU-PF appear to have stalled despite the efforts of South African mediators to get all three to agree to a framework for more substantial negotiations.An opposition source said on Tuesday the talks were set to resume on Wednesday.Tsvangirai topped the first round but failed to get the absolute majority needed to avoid a second ballot.He wants an African Union envoy named to help mediate talks, something South African Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad rejected on Tuesday.South Africa and other AU members are pressuring Mugabe and Tsvangirai to accept a power-sharing deal similar to the one that ended post-election violence in Kenya earlier this year.African leaders see a unity government as the way to avert a spread of violence and total economic collapse in Zimbabwe, which has the world's highest inflation rate, estimated at more than 2 million percent, and chronic food and fuel shortages.The United States and Britain, among Mugabe's fiercest critics, have called on African nations to take a tougher stand on his government and Bush said Washington could act alone."I think the thing we need to do now is for us to analyze whether or not we can have some bilateral sanctions on the regime leaders," he said in Washington.

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL1567545720080715

As in the days of Noah....

Hope for Orphans in Myanmar

2008-07-14T22:37:00.000-07:00

Iran shows defiance; believers forced underground

2008-07-13T21:08:00.000-07:00

Iran-Iran is playing a dangerous game with diplomacy and nuclear arms and now faces fresh sanctions.Iran successfully test fired nine long and medium-range missiles on Wednesday.The existence of a nuclear program has sparked a war of words and more threats.Iran expects talks on its disputed nuclear program to begin within days.All of this, says Open Doors' Carl Moeller, puts believers in a precarious position."The government itself is actually responding to this internal political pressure and the external realities of Christian influence in Iran with greater repression."Although foreign missions are not allowed to enter Iran,many agencies are cooperating with the existing church.As a result, as more Muslims have become disillusioned by their religion, a growing number have converted to Christianity.That often leads to more oppression.According to a recent Compass Direct report, a newly converted Christian couple was arrested by police for holding Bible studies with Muslims in their home and attending a house church.31-year old Makan Arya and 28-year old Tina Rad were seized from their home in east Tehran after one of Makan's relatives informed security police of the couple's Christian activities. Eventually the couple was pressured into signing a statement claiming they had not changed their religion from Islam and promising that they would stay away from their house church and other Christians.Christians make up less than one-half of one percent of the population and the persecution has forced believers underground.Iran is considering a change in their penal code that would mandate the death penalty for apostasy from Islam.In spite of that, officials at many ministries working to reach Iran say they've been flooded by the increase in the response from Iran.Many believers though, are cut off from fellowship and have limited access to resources that will help disciple them.Moeller says that's why they can't give up."Organizations like Open Doors that are committed to serving persecuted believers within Iran find it more difficult to do the things that we do.Let's just say that the impact of increasing Bibles, and the teaching and evangelism programming, is profound."He urges prayer."It is important that we remember that it's a spiritual battle and that we engage the forces of the enemy that would seek to use these political pressures and these tortures and these arrests to stop the growth of the church. But when God moves, no force on earth can stop it."

Pray for strength for those who come to Christ, despite the threats and dangers.
Pray that the government will be open to change and allow full rights and protection for non-Muslims.

http://www.mnnonline.org/article/11425

As in the days of Noah...

Local church leaders help rebuild

2008-07-13T20:58:00.000-07:00

China Quake Aftermath:Sichuan Province Refugee Camp
Cyclone Nargis Aftermath:Myanmar Irrawadi Delta Refugee Camp

Asia-Christian leaders in China and Myanmar plan to help with long-term rebuilding after the recent natural disasters, and Partners International is committed to supporting them."Our desire as Partners International is to help brothers and sisters in Christ who are already reaching their neighbors long before these disasters occurred, and helping them to strengthen their outreach and ministries in practical ways," said Howard Amland, Vice President, Resource Partners, of Partners International.Thousands died, and millions lost their homes in the 8.0-magnitude earthquake in Sichuan Province, China on May 12. Cyclone Nargis left 50,000 dead and hundreds of thousands homeless in Southern Myanmar on May 2-3. It also wiped out the rice harvest in the Irrawaddy Delta, a region that was poor even before the cyclone, and destroyed the fishing boats."A long-term presence is needed in order to...rebuild those communities into viable places in which to live and work,"Amland said."In farming communities and fishing communities, individuals can't really make a living right now.Entire areas...won't be able to be replanted for quite some time to come."Ministry partners are building houses and providing basic necessities like plates, bowls, and shoes in Burma.In China, its partners are helping with construction projects, counseling, caring for orphans and the elderly, and developing micro-enterprise projects.Partners International works with about 100 ministry partners, primarily in the 10/40 window.Many of these partners live in economically-depressed areas and must rely on outside assistance to grow their ministries."Many of our partners, particularly in the difficult areas, they're just doing ministry: they're reaching the lost, which is very admirable," Amland said. "But in order for them to grow beyond those initial beginnings and one-to-one ministry, they'll need resources and training in how to better communicate, particularly with the Western world."Ministry partners also receive biblical training and mentoring in stewardship and board governance. In China, they are involved in church planting, theological training, poverty relief, and reaching unreached people groups. Ministry partners in Myanmar have been involved in church planting, leadership training, youth centers, orphanages, child sponsorship, drug rehabilitation, and training local missionaries.Servant partnership, Amland says,"is partnership done in the spirit of our Lord's agape love, not to seek fulfillment or personal satisfaction.It's done with the primary desire to help accomplish the objectives and fulfill the vision of the other partner.""Those of us who have the privilege of living in the resource-rich area of the West need to reach out to our brothers and sisters in the non-western world who have opportunity-rich situations."
Pray that God will strengthen His church in Myanmar and Sichuan Province.

http://www.mnnonline.org/article/11429

As in the days of Noah...

Nepal's new government vows not to harm Christians

2008-07-13T20:50:00.000-07:00

Nepal-Christians are hopeful now that Nepal has a new government.As of May 28, Nepal became a democratic republic,ending 200 years of being the world's only Hindu monarchy. Through the years, Christians in Nepal have paid a heavy price:threats, beatings, ridicule and even imprisonment-for choosing to love and follow Jesus.Now much of Nepal-Christians included-is hopeful at the news of this new government. During recent months, a Maoist leader initiated a meeting with Nepal's major Christian leaders, expressing that the Maoists would guarantee religious freedom in Nepal and vowing not to harm Christians.The Maoists have also made verbal promises to work toward peace in the nation.There is a certain expectancy that Christians will enjoy more freedom-and, with it, more opportunities to share the Gospel of hope. Gospel for Asia's Nepal regional leader, Narayan Sharma, clearly recognizes this."The Lord had His eyes on Nepal from the beginning of the formation of this nation and people," Narayan says. "We see how God is fulfilling His promise, ‘I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.' A nation which was hostile to the Gospel had to change its Constitution and laws to accept Nepali Christians as their fellow citizens with respect. We believe that Nepal will change continuously from past history to new reality...from darkness to the light of the Gospel. It is true: what was sown in tears is now being reaped with joy."GFA's work in Nepal began in 1988. The ministry includes personal evangelism, church planting, ministry to children, Bible schools, Gospel literature distribution-the largest in Nepal, film ministry and radio broadcasts in Nepali and Sherpa.The first order of business for the new governing assembly is to draft a new constitution. Narayan requests earnest and faithful prayer for his nation during this critical time as a new government and constitution are formed simultaneously, and for the believers in this country that they can continue to "spread the influence and fragrance of the Gospel in this beautiful nation."

Pray that Christians will be allowed to worship freely.

http://www.mnnonline.org/article/11427

As in the days of Noah...

Bible Publishers Sued for Anti-Gay References

2008-07-13T18:21:00.000-07:00

A Michigan man is seeking $70 million from two Christian publishers for emotional distress and mental instability he received during the past 20 years from versions of the Bible that refer to homosexuality as a sin.Bradley LaShawn Fowler, a gay man, claims his constitutional rights were infringed upon by Zondervan Publishing Co. and Thomas Nelson Publishing, both of which, he claims, deliberately caused homosexuals to suffer by misinterpretation of the Bible.Fowler, 39, is seeking $60 million from Zondervan and another $10 million from Thomas Nelson.According to a USA Today report, Fowler’s two separate suits against the publishers claim the intent of the Bible revisions that refer to homosexuals as sinners reflect an individual opinion or a group's conclusion.Fowler says the deliberate changes made to first Corinthians, chapter six, verse nine caused him "or anyone who is a homosexual to endure verbal abuse, discrimination, episodes of hate, and physical violence ... including murder."Fowler, who is representing himself in both lawsuits, claims the publishers are misinterpreting the Bible by specifically using the word homosexuals, which made him an outcast from his family and contributed to physical discomfort and periods of demoralization, chaos and bewilderment. “These are opinions based on the publishers and they are being embedded in the religious structure as a way of life," he tells a local NBC TV station affiliate in Grand Rapids.Fowler admits that every Bible printed is a translation that can be interpreted in many ways, but he says specifically using the word “homosexual” is not a translation but a change.Fowler says Zondervan Bibles published in the ‘80s used the word homosexuals among a list of those who are “wicked' or unrighteous and won't inherit the kingdom of heaven.”Zondervan, for its part, issued a statement to the Grand Rapids press stating it does not translate the Bible or own the copyright for any of the translations it publishes.“We rely on the scholarly judgment of the highly respected and credible translation committees behind each translation and never alter the text of the translations we are licensed to publish,” the statement reads.“We only publish credible translations produced by credible Biblical scholars.”U.S. District Judge Julian Abele Cook Jr., who will hear Fowler’s case against Thomas Nelson, says the court “has some very genuine concerns about the nature and efficacy of Fowler’s claims."

By: Rick Pedraza

http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/man_sues_bible_publishers/2008/07/10/111626.html?s=al&promo_code=65BF-1

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PAKISTAN:Christian Shepherd Boy Dies of Rabies After Muslim "feudal lord" Refused to Provide Medical Treatment

2008-07-13T18:16:00.000-07:00

Impoverished Christian parents in Pakistan’s Punjab province were still awaiting justice more than 2 weeks after their teenage son died from rabies while working as a shepherd, because a Muslim “feudal lord” allegedly refused to provide medical treatment.Nasir Masih, 15, perished June 10 after the landowner kept the severely sick boy at his farmhouse to work and concealed his illness for 41 days, as reported byBosNewsLife.It is not uncommon for Christian teens and younger children to be held in slave-like conditions in this Muslim country. Struggling families in rural areas often send their children to landowners as they have no means to provide for them. After Nasih’s death, the landowner allegedly warned the parents to not inform police or he would file a case of “blasphemy against Islam” against the them. Rights and church groups say that current blasphemy laws have often been misused to settle disputes.

Pray that local authorities would take action against this landowner and that Pakistan would become a land that respects religious minorities.

Pray that authorities would see through the misuse of these blasphemy laws, and they would lose their power to intimidate and subjugate Christians, and other minorities.

Pray for Nasih’s family, and other’s like them who have been bereaved, and that they would experience His healing presence and power to love their enemies

Source:ICC
As in the days of Noah....

COLOMBIA:Pastor Receives Death Threats

2008-07-13T18:04:00.000-07:00

A series of death threats against Wilmer Ribon, 31, pastor of Rivers of Living Water Church in Belen Rincon, a paramilitary-controlled neighborhood with a high violent crime rate, has prompted Wilmer and his family to flee to Colombia’s capital, according to a report by Compass Direct. During his 3-year tenure at the church, Ribon has launched a number of public outreach programs, including weekly evangelistic services when the two-month series of death threats began.The threats continued until Wilmer felt compelled to leave with his family until things settled down.A Christian worker in Colombia said this type of “expulsion” is occurring elsewhere also as paramilitary groups attempt to regain control of areas from rebel guerrillas.“Pastors are always targeted by these groups because pastors preach about peace, which does not suit these groups,” the worker said. The Ribon family is now living in a cold, windowless warehouse.

Pray for the Ribon family that they will be sheltered in His care and will know what God would have them do next.

Pray that these paramilitary groups would not be successful in their attempts to drive out Christian workers and that God’s people would be protected under His wings.

Pray that God’s Spirit would hover over this country where drug-induced violence has long held sway, and bring a supernatural peace that will cause the Gospel to prosper.

Source:ICC

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Christians bear brunt of violence in Sri Lanka

2008-07-11T16:24:00.000-07:00

Sri Lanka -Voice of the Martyrs' Canada reports more violence against Christians in Sri Lanka.The faithfulness of believers in the face of opposition is evident in that there has been a significant growth of evangelical Christianity since 1980.Local monks, threatened by the loss of power and the growth of the church, have been stirring up increased opposition with militant Buddhists. Many churches have been burned, and Christians have been beaten and stabbed.Regular attacks come against those who are in Christian work. The National Christian Evangelical Alliance reported on two recent situations.In Middeniya, several militants opposed to an Assemblies of God church pastor's outreach began threatening him. Then, on July 3, someone burned his house down. The family managed to put out the blaze before it caused extensive damage, and no one was injured.Three days later, a mob attacked Calvary Church in Colombo after false rumors about Christians attacking a temple spread. According to Voice of the Martyrs, five Buddhist monks charged into the church building during a worship service and demanded that the service cease.The monks told the pastor that there was no need for Christians in the village and threatened to destroy all local churches. Fearing violence, the pastor sent his congregation away.The mob then attacked the building, and beat the pastor and at least five others with clubs and rods. They did survive, but with serious injuries.While the Constitution supposedly guards freedom of religion, many Christian activities are seen to violate the law. Amendments to existing laws and the introduction of a new anti-conversion law would only serve to further hinder religious freedoms within Sri Lanka.
Pray that the faithfulness of Christians in Sri Lanka will be a light that draws others to Christ. Pray that the Gospel message will continue to grow and that many will come to Christ.
Pray for protection for Christians as they are confronted by opposition

Source:MNN

As in the days of Noah....

Indonesia Church in West Java Bulldozed

2008-07-11T16:20:00.000-07:00

Public Order officials on June 26 demonlished a church building in West Java, Indonesia to make way for a new shopping mall and bus terminal after church leaders failed to convince authorities that they owned the land on which it was built. Full Story.

Source:ICC

As in the days of Noah....

China (ChinaAid) Heilongjiang House Church Persecuted in Coordinated Effort by Chinese Federal Agencies

2008-07-11T16:16:00.000-07:00

Another house church member and missionary was detained in Heilongjiang province early this month. 20 government officers and policemen forcibly escorted the member to the police station and threatened that if the house church meetings continued he would be re-arrested and placed under detention. Two female members of the house church were also taken in for questioning.Full Story.

Source:ICC

As in the days of Noah...

Egypt (Watani) Coptic Christians Attacked in Town of Tamiya

2008-07-11T16:13:00.000-07:00

An illiicit affair between a young Coptic man and married Muslim woman in Egypt resulted in Muslim demonstrations and the torching of the Copts' property last week. Two stores and a kiosk were torched, an attempt was made to set a gas station aflame, and two young men were attacked.In Egypt, where Christians are minorities, fanatic Muslims often find excuses to attack Christians and ransack their properties. Full Story.

Source:ICC

As in the days of Noah.....

Missionaries Arrested and Beaten by Hindu Radicals in Orissa State, India-

2008-07-11T15:59:00.000-07:00

Orissa Police arrested Christian missionaries as they were distributing gospel tracts in a VIP Rental Colony area of Unit-8, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, on Wednesday, July 2. The pastors unknowingly distributed tracts to 12 youths who belonged to a Hindu radical group.The extremists reacted immediatly by assaulting the pastors and calling the police who arrested the seven beaten missionaries. Full Story
Source:ICC
As in the days of Noah...

Update: Widow of slain evangelist progresses toward self-sufficiency on the road to recovery from tragic loss

2008-07-10T22:50:00.000-07:00

On the morning of October 11, 2006, Meskele Dhaba and her children witnessed the brutal murder of their husband and father, Michael—an Ethiopian evangelist.Muslim extremists tried to force Michael to convert to Islam, but when he refused, they murdered him with a machete. Since that time, Open Doors has been working to encourage the devastated family left behind and help them work toward self-sufficiency. The following is an update from our staff members who had the privilege of visiting Meskele and her family in April and seeing the progress that they’ve made:

While visiting Meskele, our staff saw some of the encouragement cards we had delivered on a previous visit. They were all grouped together on a wall in her house, a constant reminder to her that she is not alone on her journey of faith.We praise God for the update that Meskele shared with us about starting her own catering business and how we were able to help. In addition, Open Doors has been providing support for Meskele to build a new home for their family.Please lift Meskele and her family up in your prayers and consider sending them a letter to let them know that you are praying for them.
For more information on how you can send a letter of encouragement to Meskele, or other families that have been affected by persecution, please visit our website.
Please Pray:
*For Meskele and her children to continue to receive God’s love and encouragement. (2 Corinthians 13:11)
*For the Muslim attackers to see God’s love first hand by the witness of Meskele and her family. (2 Corinthians 4:4)
*For Meskele’s story to be shared worldwide so that her testimony help open hearts that were once closed, open their eyes that were once blind, and open minds that were once filled with deception and lies. (Mark 10:27)

http://www.odusa.org/

As in the days of Noah...

U.N. scheme to make Christians criminals:Sharia-following Islamic nations demanding anti-'defamation' law

2008-07-10T22:29:00.000-07:00

Dozens of nations dominated by Islam are pressing the United Nations to adopt an anti-"defamation" plan that would make Christians criminals under international law, according to a United States organization that has launched a campaign to defend freedom of religion worldwide. "Around the world, Christians are being increasingly targeted, and even persecuted, for their religious beliefs. Now, one of the largest organizations in the United Nations is pushing to make a bad situation even worse by promoting anti-Christian bigotry," the American Center for Law & Justice said yesterday in announcing its petition drive.The discrimination is "wrapped in the guise of a U.N. resolution called 'Combating Defamation of Religions,'" the announcement said. "We must put an immediate end to this most recent, dangerous attack on faith that attempts to criminalize Christianity."The "anti-defamation" plan has been submitted to the U.N. repeatedly since about 1999, starting out as a plan to ban "defamation" of Islam and later changed to refer to "religions," officials said. It is being pushed by the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference nations, which has adopted the Cairo Declaration of Human Rights in Islam, "which states that all rights are subject to sharia law, and makes sharia law the only source of reference for human rights."The ACLJ petition, which is to be delivered to the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights, already had collected more than 23,000 names in just a brief online existence.The ACLJ's European division, the European Center for Law & Justice, also has launched its work on the issue. It submitted arguments last month to the U.N. in opposition to the proposal to institute sharia-based standards around the globe."The position of the ECLJ in regards to the issue of 'defamation of religion' resolutions, as they have been introduced at the U.N. Human Rights Council and General Assembly, is that they are in direct violation of international law concerning the rights to freedom of religion and expression," the organization's brief said."The 'defamation of religion' resolutions establish as the primary focus and concern the protection of ideas and religions generally, rather than protecting the rights of individuals to practice their religion, which is the chief purpose of international religious freedom law." "Furthermore, 'defamation of religion' replaces the existing objective criterion of limitations on speech where there is an intent to incite hatred or violence against religious believers with a subjective criterion that considers whether the religion or its believers feel offended by the speech," the group continued.Interestingly, in nations following Islam, the present practice is to use such laws to protect Islam and to attack religious minorities with penalties up to and including execution, the brief noted."What should be most disconcerting to the international community is that laws based on the concept of 'defamation of religion' actually help to create a climate of violence," the argument explained.For example, just two months ago an Afghanistan court following Islam sentenced to death a 23-year-old apprentice journalist who had downloaded an article from an Iranian website and brought it to his class, the ECLJ said. Other instances include:
*Award-winning author Mark Steyn has been summoned to appear before two Canadian Human Rights Commissions of vague allegations of "subject[ing] Canadian Muslims to hatred and contempt" for comments in his book, "America Alone," the group said.
*In Pakistan, 15 people were accused of blasphemy against Islam during the first four months of 2008, the organization said.
*Another Pakistani man sentenced to life in prison for desecrating the Quran was jailed for six years before being acquitted of the charge.
*In Saudi Arabia a teacher was sentenced to three years in prison plus 300 lashes "for expressing his views in a classroom."
*In the United Kingdom, police announced plans to arrest a blogger for "anti-Muslim" statements.
*In the United States, a plaintiff sued his Internet service provider for refusing "to prevent participants in an online chat room from posting or submitting harassing comments that blasphemed and defamed plaintiff's Islamic religion."
The ECLJ said, "The implementation of domestic laws to combat defamation of religion in many OIC countries reveals a selective and arbitrary enforcement toward religious minorities, who are often Christians. Those violations are frequently punishable by the death penalty."The newest "anti-defamation" plan was submitted in March. It specifically cites a declaration "adopted by the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers" at a meeting in Islamabad "which condemned the growing trend of Islamophobia and systematic discrimination against adherents of Islam."It also cites the dictates from the OIC meeting in Dakar, "in which the Organization expressed concern at the systematically negative stereotyping of Muslims and Islam and other divine religions."It goes on to cite a wide range of other practices that "target" Islam, but does not mention any other religions, and urges all nations to provide "adequate protection against acts of hatred, discrimination, intimidation and coercion resulting from the defamation of any religion."
According to published reports, the U.N. Commission on Human Rights' 53 members voted to adopt the resolution earlier this year, with opposition from the United States and the European Union.At the time, Cuba's delegate, Rodolfo Reyes Rodriguez, said: "Islam has been the subject of very deep campaign of defamation.""They're attempting to pass a sinister resolution that is nothing more than blatant religious bigotry," the ACLJ said in its promotion of its petition. "This is very important to understand. This radical proposal would outlaw Christianity … it would make the proclamation of your faith an international crime.""In his recent dissent on the Supreme Court's ruling on Guantanamo Bay, Justice Scalia said, 'America is at war with radical Islamists.' Never has this rung more true than today. Never have Christians been more targeted for their religious beliefs. And never have we faced a more dangerous threat than the one posed by the OIC," the ACLJ said.On the Grizzly Groundswell blog, the author described the situation as, "The United Nations: 160 cannibals and 17 civilized people taking a majority vote on what to have for dinner."The U.S. State Department also has found the proposal unpalatable."This resolution is incomplete inasmuch as it fails to address the situation of all religions," said the statement from Leonard Leo. "We believe that such inclusive language would have furthered the objective of promoting religious freedom. We also believe that any resolution on this topic must include mention of the need to change educational systems that promote hatred of other religions, as well as the problem of state-sponsored media that negatively targets any one religion."

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=69163

As in the days of Noah...

Iran detains 2 Christians who converted from Islam

2008-07-10T21:52:00.000-07:00

ISTANBUL-Iranian authorities have held two converts to Christianity in the southern city of Shiraz for eight weeks on suspicion of "apostasy," or leaving Islam. In Iran, apostasy is a crime that can be punishable by death.Compass Direct News, in a July 9 report, said Mahmood Matin, 52, and Arash Bandari, 44, have been imprisoned in a secret police detention center known by its address, Sepah Street 100, since their arrest May 15 in Shiraz, a city of more than 1.75 million people.A draft penal code under discussion in Iran's parliament may make the death penalty obligatory for those who leave Islam or use the Internet to encourage others to do so.(Under sharia Islamic law, apostasy is one of several offenses that can be punishable by death, although Islamic court judges are not required to hand down such a sentence, Compass has noted. The draft of the penal code under consideration explicitly sets death as a fixed punishment that cannot be changed.)Matin's wife was able to speak with him for five minutes during a June 24 visit as officials listened in, a source told Compass Direct News. Matin, seated in a dimly lit room behind a glass window, told his wife that there had been a misunderstanding and he could not teach Christianity anymore."They are pushing me to tell them that I am connected to a church outside Iran and that I am receiving a salary, but I told them that I am doing it on my own," Matin told his wife, according to a source who requested anonymity for security reasons.Despite Matin's claims that he was being well treated, his wife told the source she believed otherwise."He was just trying to make me calm; that's what I could see, because he's my husband and I know his face," Matin's wife said, according to the source. Matin was not aware where he was being held until his wife told him during the visit, the source reported. The June 24 meeting was the first and only face-to-face contact Matin's family has had with him since his arrest in May.Matin and Bandari were detained with 13 other Muslim converts to Christianity while meeting together in a park in Shiraz. Police confiscated the group's cell phones and "temporarily" released everyone except Matin and Bandari over the subsequent days. According to the source, the 13 have been told they have an ongoing court case against them. They remain under house arrest and have been called in for questioning about alleged political activity and Christian faith.Officials have not informed the 13 released Christians of the specific charges against them. But the nature of their questioning has led them to believe they are suspected of apostasy and political crimes against the government.Matin telephoned his wife several weeks after his arrest to tell her that he had been charged with apostasy and to request that she retain a lawyer to take his case. But on June 22, she received a call from an official telling her that her husband did not need legal representation and inviting her to visit Matin in Shiraz."The caller did not say who they were, just that they were from the secret police and that the family could visit Matin on June 24 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.," the source told Compass. He said that Matin's wife traveled 17 hours by bus from her home in Tehran to visit her jailed husband.Matin has had no further contact with his wife and three children, ages 22, 18 and 12, since the June 24 jail visit.

Source:Compass Direct News

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28444

As in the days of Noah...