#646 (9/20) "New LGBT Protection Law Criminalizing Believers?"

URGENT PRAYER REQUESTS:

NEWS FLASH: "Syrian Rebels Execute Christian Villagers," - CBNNews.com, September 12, 2013; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/September/Syrian-Rebels-Execute-Christian-Villagers/ -  Syrian rebel fighters apparently executed three Christians fleeing the fighting in Maaloula this week, Britain's Sky News reported. Hundreds of Christians held a funeral in Damascus for the men, who were cousins. Sky News reports the men were trying to escape the Christian town of Maaloula, which has been under attack by rebel troops. The men reportedly were killed by forces with the al Qaeda linked Jabha al-Nour. Mourners say two of the victims had their throats cut and another was shot. Most of the mourners are also refugees from Maaloula, one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. [PRAY for the Christians throughout Syria who face greater persecution should rebels, particularly Islamists along the line of the Muslim Brotherhood, end up in charge of the country.]

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST: "Syrian Christians Brace for Strike, Ask for Prayer," - by Gary Lane, August 31, http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/August/Syrian-Christians-Brace-for-Strike-Ask-for-Prayer/"As Syrians brace themselves for a possible U.S. military attack, many of the county's Christians are praying for divine intervention. They say military action against the Assad regime will only bring them greater hardship and suffering and they're asking Christians worldwide to pray that God intervenes to bring peace to their nation. They believe the collective prayers of Christians around the world could reverse an escalating conflict..."

[EGYPT - Continue to pray for the tense situation in Egypt and especially for the Christian believers who are being targeted with violence by Muslim Brotherhood members.]      

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST- Update on Kenneth Bae: "US Ready to Bargain with N. Korea for Bae's Release,"-  CBNNews.com,  Aug 14, 2013  http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/August/S-Ready-to-Bargain-with-N-Korea-for-Baes-Release/  - The United States is willing to engage North Korea to secure the release of imprisoned American Christian Kenneth Bae. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said the United States is "willing to consider a number of different options" to bring him home.In a video recently released by a North Korean newspaper, Bae requested the United States send a high-ranking official to North Korea to seek his pardon. It is unclear if he spoke of his own volition in the video. Bae, 45, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for sharing his faith. He suffers health problems such as diabetes and is currently hospitalized.[PRAY for 1) God's healing of and presence with Pastor Bae, 2) His earliest release by the North Korean government, and 3) God's comfort for his family and friends.] 

SEPT 19TH UPDATE: Pastor Saeed: 'Don't Make My Children Orphans' - CBNNews.com, September 19, 2013  http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/September/Pastor-Saeed-Dont-Make-My-Children-Orphans/   Saeed Abedini, the American pastor imprisoned in Iran for his Christian faith, is pleading directly with Iran's president to not let his children become orphans. Saeed appealed to the new leader for his freedom in a letter he wrote from his prison cell. President Hassan Rouhani claims to be more moderate than his predecessor. "Considering the fact that I came to Iran to serve the orphans, please do not let them make my children orphans and my wife without a guardian," he wrote, according to the American Center for Law and Justice.

The ACLJ has launched a letter writing campaign to Iran's president on Pastor Saeed's behalf. You can join the initiative by sending a pre-written letter, or you can write your own words to the Iranian president at the Be Heard Project: Saeed Abedini.(http://beheardproject.com/saeed#write

UPDATE: Iran Rejects Saeed's Appeal, Family 'Devastated' , CBNNews.com, August 27, 2013   http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/August/Iran-Rejects-Saeeds-Appeal-Family-Devastated/ "By keeping the 8-year prison sentence in place, Pastor Saeed, now potentially faces additional beatings and abuse inside Evin Prison -- treatment that has significantly weakened him during his first year in prison,"....{

“Abandoned” For Christ" - Graham Calls On White House To Support Abedini - By Dr. Tom Askew, Aug.8,  http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/opinion

Franklin Graham is the latest to join the chorus of voices calling for U.S. State Department and White House officials to take a more vocal role in protesting the Iranian imprisonment of American pastor Saeed Abedini. September 26 will mark the one year anniversary of Abedini’s imprisonment for allegedly “endangering the national security” of Iran.

Graham pointed out that, in contrast to Iranian accusations, “Pastor Saeed was in Iran trying to help children. With the permission of Iran’s government, he was working to build an orphanage. But his humanitarian mission led to an arrest on bogus charges and nearly a year of inhumane treatment, simply because he loves Jesus Christ.”...

Behind the scenes, more than 600,000 people around the world have signed a petition sponsored by ACLJ in support of pastor Abedini. A concerted movement this past May brought together Christians from many nations to set aside Pentecost to pray for Abedini. On June 13, demonstrations were held at Iranian embassies in at least six countries to protest Abedini’s treatment. And, on July 29, Arizona Republican Representative Trent Franks spoke on the floor of the House to urge other Congressmen to join him in “adopting” Pastor Abedini through the bipartisan Defending Freedoms Project.

Saeed’s response…and yours - Through his family living in Iran, Pastor Abedini has been made aware of these efforts on his behalf, and is grateful. “I heard that the persecution, my arrest and imprisonment has united churches from different denominations, from different cities and countries. That the churches have united together in prayer to put one request (my freedom) on one day (Pentecost) before God,” he wrote in a letter.

The story of Saeed Abedini, the jihad against Syrian Christians, the attacks on Coptic Christians in Egypt, and the ongoing desecration of churches in Nigeria and India should cause every American to reflect on the blessings of freedom still enjoyed in this nation.

PRAY: - For comfort and peace for Saeed’s wife and children here in the U.S.

- For a strong witness and testimony from Pastor Abedini in the prison where God has placed him

- For Christians around the world who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ

- BOLDly (Beside Our Leaders Daily) for leadership from the White House and State Department in defending the freedoms of Abedini and other Americans

Go to SaveSaeed.org to sign a petition over 600,000 others asking for his immediate release.

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"New LGBT Protection Law Criminalizing Believers?" - by Heather Sells, September 19, 2013 http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2013/September/New-LGBT-Protection-Law-Criminalizing-Believers-/  

[AS I SEE IT: Three things worth noting about the following news report: 1) Many laws have been passed recently initially saying  that religious institutions would be exempted from those laws but those laws end up being interpreted by some court as not protecting the religious rights of individuals. In other words, what voters think a law says can easily be interpreted as more restricted later by some judge, who in effect ends up making new law; 2) If this can happen in what was considered a rather conservative city, and that it is happening in so many (180 and counting!) other cities, is YOUR city the next to have this happen?; and 3) This article notes that religious leaders admit that the religious community had been "asleep at the wheel" with only around 7 percent voting in the last mayoral election. Sadly, even in national elections and not just local ones, Christians are too often guilty of not caring enough about their community to do not just their civic but their Biblical duty to be good citizens. It makes you wonder if Christians will only wake up to the danger around them when it finally comes right to their doorstep. Let us pray that Christians will become more alert to the dangers posed by the society around them not just to themselves but for the generations who follow us. - Stan]

SAN ANTONIO -- More than 180 cities across the country have now passed LGBT laws that suppress the views of Christians. Dubbed "nondiscrimination" by LGBT activists, the ordinances provide new protection for sexual minorities while also severely curtailing religious liberty.

So far, the laws have gone largely unnoticed. But a measure passed in San Antonio Sept. 5 has drawn national attention, both for its scope and for passing in this large, Hispanic-majority city traditionally known for its family values.The ordinance forbids discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Although hundreds of believers across San Antonio attended a city council hearing to protest the ordinance; it passed easily with an 8-3 vote, backed by Mayor Julian Castro, a rising star in Democratic politics.The Sunday after the vote, CBN News visited churches across the city where believers expressed shock over the vote and fear about what it would mean.

Believers Shocked - "The right for us to speak out and say, 'I disagree. It doesn't sound right.' Now we're labeled a hater, a bigot, homophobic," Jacob Herrera, with Faith Outreach Center International, explained."It criminalized what you thought about the LGBT community and I don't think that's right," Rosalie Astran, a fellow church member, said."My faith, my belief and how I've raised my family -- I can get in trouble for that because they don't agree with that," Leonard Pena, at Abundant Life, said.

Councilman Carlton Soules, one of the "no" votes, questioned the ordinance's supporters repeatedly during the public hearing. He later told CBN News he thought the measure was acted on too quickly."We didn't put the ordinance up on the website," he said. "It was fast-tracked through. Anytime we are going at light speed to do something that's unpopular that throws a lot of red flags."

Red Flags - For San Antonio's faith community there are several red flags. The ordinance criminalizes those with a biblical view of sexuality as it forbids bias against homosexuality or bi-sexuality. Those charged and declared guilty by the city will face a Class C misdemeanor on their record and fines of up to $500 a day. Also, the ordinance forbids appointed officials on city boards from showing any bias.

Allan Parker, president of The Justice Foundation, a San-Antonio-based Christian legal non-profit, has worked to analyze and explain the ordinance for San Antonio's churches. He said the ordinance is vague and unclear but he believes it can and will be used against Christians, especially those in the business world who disagree with unbiblical sexuality. "The leverage of the city to pressure any business to caving in is enormous under this," he explained. Even Councilman Soules is warning people of faith. "I believe if you're a small business owner, operating within the city limits of San Antonio, or you're a business owner that wants to do business with the city, you need to tread carefully," he said.

Church Asleep at the Wheel -  CBN News spoke with key church leaders who protested the ordinance. Until now, they say, the city's faith community has been asleep at the wheel. Case in point--less than 7 percent of registered voters turned out for May's city election. "Politics in San Antonio has always been low-key and there have never been any troubles, so most people had quit voting," Pastor Steve Branson, with Village Parkway Baptist Church, explained. After jump-starting opposition to the ordinance but failing to persuade the council, Branson and other pastors and their congregations are motivated to push back. "We're starting to speak," Branson said. "I can guarantee you it won't be quiet anymore."

Haunting Comparisons - For African-American churches, there's outrage over gays equating their issue with civil rights. "What we have is very cherished laws of anti-discrimination, hewn out of the heat of civil rights. These laws, everyone values. Now the activist, the homosexual, lesbian, gender-confused community has activists that they want to insert into those laws and then use them against people of faith," Pastor Charles Flowers, with Faith Outreach Center International, explained.

Pastor Eli Bonilla, with Abundant Life Church, said for Latino churches, overflowing with immigrants, the new ordinance is a haunting reminder of what they left behind in their native countries. "We have some that are budding business people and all of sudden they feel themselves with the same angst that they felt when they came from their countries, where evangelicals have always been put on the side, on the periphery," he said. "They tell me that that's the same gut feeling they get when they hear this ordinance," he said.

What Now, Pastor? -  Abundant Life youth pastor Gabriel Colmenero said his high school students, many who lead Bible clubs in their public schools, are now unsure about what they can and cannot say. "They are asking me, 'What do we do now, Brother Gabe?'" he said. "Well, we're going to start praying about that, how to teach them what to do, how to confront their friends who may be homosexual."

If LGBT laws can pass in cities like San Antonio, well-known for its churches and conservative values, there's concern that they can pass anywhere. For many pastors in San Antonio, there's awareness that the spotlight is now on their city and that now is the time for them to speak out against the ordinance."I've had emails from 50 states," Branson said. "I've had people say we're praying for you --'please keep this up.'"

Those who oppose the ordinance may push for a city-wide referendum on it or a vote to recall council members that voted for it-or both. Lawsuits are also expected from both sides."If we don't fight this thing with everything we've got, our rights will be taken away and our mouths will be muzzled and that just can't happen, here in the land of the free,"  Herrera said.

What's not escaping Herrera and others is the fact that this battle is taking place in the city that still remembers the Alamo, a city known for fighting for its freedom against all odds.

[bold, italics, and underline emphasis mine]