PERSONAL NOTE: Praise God with me as today marks 40 (yes, FORTY!) years since the night I prayed to receive Christ.(John 3:3) Please join me in thanking God for proving Himself again and again to me these many years to be faithful and worthy of all trust There have certainly been many twists and turns in my journey with Him, many valleys as well as mountain tops, but through it all, as the song says, "I have learned to trust in Jesus, learned to trust in God." - Stan
NOTE: TODAY IS also the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. I do hope YOUR church - at least on this one day a year - stopped to pray for our hundreds of thousands of our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world - 400,000 in North Korea alone - who are imprisoned for their faith. Sunday's post will focus on them. Rather than ask for release from their difficult circumstances, many instead ask FOR PRAYER that they be strong in the midst of their difficult time and be used of God to be witnesses for Him and for His glory. (Rev. 2:10, Jn. 15:18-19) AS I SEE IT: As we look around America today (as many articles I've posted on this blog have given evidence), believers in Christ are increasingly persecuted for their faith in ways we would not have imagined just a few years ago. Praise God the opposition is not as severe as it is in most countries of the world (NOT ONE of the scores of countries with Islamic majorities do not actively persecute Christians; even Hindu and Buddhist dominant countries have also begun persecution of Christians). But as the opposition to Christians increases - and I believe it is certain to - may we be able to be as steadfast in our faith (I Cor. 15:58) as our brothers and sisters throughout the world. - Stan]
IRAN - Vigils Mark One Year Imprisonment of Pastor Saeed - CBNNews.com, Thursday, September 26, 2013 - Today marks one-year that American pastor Saeed Abedini has been held in an Iranian prison. He is serving an eight-year sentence because of his Christian faith. It has been a year of torment as he has suffered beatings, physical pain from untreated medical conditions, and separation from his wife and two children... The suffering has not dampened his passion for Jesus. Pastor Abedini has led more than 30 prisoners to Christ during his time in prison. This afternoon, thousands of Americans from coast to coast will pray for his release. Events will be held in 40 states at capitols, city halls, parks and churches. Thousands more will join from 15 nations around the world
NOTE: TODAY IS also the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. I do hope YOUR church - at least on this one day a year - stopped to pray for our hundreds of thousands of our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world - 400,000 in North Korea alone - who are imprisoned for their faith. Sunday's post will focus on them. Rather than ask for release from their difficult circumstances, many instead ask FOR PRAYER that they be strong in the midst of their difficult time and be used of God to be witnesses for Him and for His glory. (Rev. 2:10, Jn. 15:18-19) AS I SEE IT: As we look around America today (as many articles I've posted on this blog have given evidence), believers in Christ are increasingly persecuted for their faith in ways we would not have imagined just a few years ago. Praise God the opposition is not as severe as it is in most countries of the world (NOT ONE of the scores of countries with Islamic majorities do not actively persecute Christians; even Hindu and Buddhist dominant countries have also begun persecution of Christians). But as the opposition to Christians increases - and I believe it is certain to - may we be able to be as steadfast in our faith (I Cor. 15:58) as our brothers and sisters throughout the world. - Stan]
IRAN - Vigils Mark One Year Imprisonment of Pastor Saeed - CBNNews.com, Thursday, September 26, 2013 - Today marks one-year that American pastor Saeed Abedini has been held in an Iranian prison. He is serving an eight-year sentence because of his Christian faith. It has been a year of torment as he has suffered beatings, physical pain from untreated medical conditions, and separation from his wife and two children... The suffering has not dampened his passion for Jesus. Pastor Abedini has led more than 30 prisoners to Christ during his time in prison. This afternoon, thousands of Americans from coast to coast will pray for his release. Events will be held in 40 states at capitols, city halls, parks and churches. Thousands more will join from 15 nations around the world
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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Brave Christians Need Support, Prayers - Oct 29 2013; http://www.opendoorsusa.org/press/2013/October/Brave-Christians-Facing-Unprecedented-Persecution-Need-Support-Prayers
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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Brave Christians Need Support, Prayers - Oct 29 2013; http://www.opendoorsusa.org/press/2013/October/Brave-Christians-Facing-Unprecedented-Persecution-Need-Support-Prayers
Brave Christians Need Support, Prayers - Oct 29 2013; http://www.opendoorsusa.org/press/2013/October/Brave-Christians-Facing-Unprecedented-Persecution-Need-Support-Prayers
SANTA ANA, CA (Oct. 29, 2013) – “If I would go to Iraq today bringing 350,000 visas to go abroad – one for every Christian in Iraq – 300,000 of them would take them. I have seen many Christians fleeing to northern Iraq and from there they try to go abroad. But to go abroad you need money, a visa and the right connections. Not everyone has that.”
Those words from a veteran field worker in the Middle East reflect the deteriorating conditions for believers in countries such as Iraq, Syria and Egypt. Due to intentional and systematic persecution of Christians in the Middle East and North Africa, the number of believers living in those countries makes up only 4 percent of the inhabitants, compared with 20 percent a century ago. The area is now 93 percent Muslim. Christianity in the Middle East is near extinction.
But there is a powerful way Christians in the West can show their support for the millions of persecuted Christians in the Middle East and around the world – prayer. Millions of Christians will be gathering in churches, small groups and homes this Sunday for the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP). IDOP began in 1996 and today is one of the largest prayer events in the world.
The top 10 persecutors of Christians on the Open Doors 2013 World Watch List include North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Maldives, Mali, Iran, Yemen and Eritrea.
To download Open Doors USA IDOP materials, go to www.OpenDoorsUSA.org or www.OneWithThem.com. To order by telephone, call 888-5-BIBLE-5 (888-524-2535).
"Egypt Copts Still Threatened by Islamic Insurgency" - By George Thomas, November 01, 2013; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/November/Egypt-Copts-Still-Threatened-by-Islamic-Insurgency/
An Islamic-led insurgency threatens one of the world's oldest Christian communities.Four months after Egyptians chased their president out of office, radical Muslims still blame Christians for the uprising. Now Egypt's Coptic Christians face almost daily attacks.
..."The Muslim Brotherhood believed Morsi was going to bring back the glory of Islam, purify Egypt of non-Muslims and turn it into Islamic country," he said.... Samir Abaskhiroune, a prominent Egyptian Christian and an Assemblies of God superintendent, believes Morsi's removal was nothing short of a miracle."Christians felt like a heavy burden had been removed from our nation. We could never have imagined that such an outcome was possible, but we prayed and God answered," Abaskhiroune said.But then came the Islamic threats.
"We started hearing messages on television, in mosques and on the streets -- people saying they were going to kill Christians for protesting against Morsi and the Brotherhood," Georgas recalled. "They said our family, our children, our homes and businesses would be targets." It turned out Egyptian Christians had every reason to be concerned.
..."The day was Aug. 6, around 7:15 in the evening. Jessi had just walked out of church having finished nine days of a 10-day Vacation Bible School. She had walked down this very street, came to this spot that I'm standing at and then one single shot to the heart ended her life," her mother said."Jessi was our only little child. She was a wonderful person," Georgas cried.She was only 10 years old...Though no one has claimed responsibility, Jessi's parents believe that she was killed because of her faith."Because we supported Morsi's removal and the army's crackdown on the Brotherhood, radical Muslims are like bombs ready to explode against Christians," Georgas said.
That fury exploded days after Jessi's murder.On Aug. 14, hours after the army violently broke up two Brotherhood protest camps in Cairo, Morsi sympathizers launched revenge attacks against Christians.When it was all over, they had destroyed more than 200 Christian-owned properties. Some 43 churches were seriously damaged. Shops, businesses, cars and homes belonging to Christians were also targeted. Most of the attacks happened in central Egypt. It was the worst organized violence against Christians in 700 years.
Dr. Sameh Sadik, a Regent University grad and native of Egypt, said authorities did little to stop the attacks, or to identify those responsible.Sadik is based in the United States and travels frequently to Egypt. CBN News met him in Cairo while he ministered to pastors who had lost church buildings during the assault.
"Most of the pastors affected are so poor, so the Lord helped us through our friends in America to meet some of their financial and physical needs," Dr. Sadik said. "The pastors are grateful that people in the U.S. stood beside them during their time of trial."
Four months after Morsi's removal, people were still worried about an Islamic-led insurgency against Christians and the new government.On Oct. 21, a masked gunmen riding a motorcycle pulled up to a Christian wedding at a church in Cairo and killed three people, including an 8-year-old girl.
"Our life is in the hands of God and we thank the Lord for everything," Georgas said.With the specter of Christian violence still rising, Georgas and his wife resolve to minister to their countrymen. "After Jessi's death, God gave us an even bigger desire to pray for the terrorist and our country -- not just for Christians -- but for Muslims, too," Zakrya said. "Only God can open hearts and eyes to see truth and experience His love." [NOTE: As I have prayed daily for our soldiers in Afghanistan and the nation of Israel, God has led me to ALSO pray for those who come against them, that they would hear the gospel and possibly have a revelation through dreams and visions as so many Muslims these days we are told are experiencing. - Stan]
[bold and italics emphasis mine]
"Syria Christians Caught in Brutal Islamic Civil War," - By Mark Martin and Dale Hurd; November 01, 2013; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/November/Syria-Christians-Caught-in-Brutal-Islamic-Civil-War/An Islamic-led insurgency threatens one of the world's oldest Christian communities.Four months after Egyptians chased their president out of office, radical Muslims still blame Christians for the uprising. Now Egypt's Coptic Christians face almost daily attacks.
..."The Muslim Brotherhood believed Morsi was going to bring back the glory of Islam, purify Egypt of non-Muslims and turn it into Islamic country," he said.... Samir Abaskhiroune, a prominent Egyptian Christian and an Assemblies of God superintendent, believes Morsi's removal was nothing short of a miracle."Christians felt like a heavy burden had been removed from our nation. We could never have imagined that such an outcome was possible, but we prayed and God answered," Abaskhiroune said.But then came the Islamic threats.
"We started hearing messages on television, in mosques and on the streets -- people saying they were going to kill Christians for protesting against Morsi and the Brotherhood," Georgas recalled. "They said our family, our children, our homes and businesses would be targets." It turned out Egyptian Christians had every reason to be concerned.
..."The day was Aug. 6, around 7:15 in the evening. Jessi had just walked out of church having finished nine days of a 10-day Vacation Bible School. She had walked down this very street, came to this spot that I'm standing at and then one single shot to the heart ended her life," her mother said."Jessi was our only little child. She was a wonderful person," Georgas cried.She was only 10 years old...Though no one has claimed responsibility, Jessi's parents believe that she was killed because of her faith."Because we supported Morsi's removal and the army's crackdown on the Brotherhood, radical Muslims are like bombs ready to explode against Christians," Georgas said.
That fury exploded days after Jessi's murder.On Aug. 14, hours after the army violently broke up two Brotherhood protest camps in Cairo, Morsi sympathizers launched revenge attacks against Christians.When it was all over, they had destroyed more than 200 Christian-owned properties. Some 43 churches were seriously damaged. Shops, businesses, cars and homes belonging to Christians were also targeted. Most of the attacks happened in central Egypt. It was the worst organized violence against Christians in 700 years.
Dr. Sameh Sadik, a Regent University grad and native of Egypt, said authorities did little to stop the attacks, or to identify those responsible.Sadik is based in the United States and travels frequently to Egypt. CBN News met him in Cairo while he ministered to pastors who had lost church buildings during the assault.
"Most of the pastors affected are so poor, so the Lord helped us through our friends in America to meet some of their financial and physical needs," Dr. Sadik said. "The pastors are grateful that people in the U.S. stood beside them during their time of trial."
Four months after Morsi's removal, people were still worried about an Islamic-led insurgency against Christians and the new government.On Oct. 21, a masked gunmen riding a motorcycle pulled up to a Christian wedding at a church in Cairo and killed three people, including an 8-year-old girl.
"Our life is in the hands of God and we thank the Lord for everything," Georgas said.With the specter of Christian violence still rising, Georgas and his wife resolve to minister to their countrymen. "After Jessi's death, God gave us an even bigger desire to pray for the terrorist and our country -- not just for Christians -- but for Muslims, too," Zakrya said. "Only God can open hearts and eyes to see truth and experience His love." [NOTE: As I have prayed daily for our soldiers in Afghanistan and the nation of Israel, God has led me to ALSO pray for those who come against them, that they would hear the gospel and possibly have a revelation through dreams and visions as so many Muslims these days we are told are experiencing. - Stan]
[bold and italics emphasis mine]
'Christians in Syria are under increasing attack by Muslim rebels -- the same rebels fighting against President Bashar al-Assad's regime...Many Christians have fled Syria; others are standing their ground, risking their lives to attend church."Even when they hear bombs and shelling, as you see, there are many people in the churches because they see the only hope in the prayer," Armenian Bishop Armash Nalbandian told CBN News. Christians are one of the largest religious minorities in Syria. They make up about 10 percent of the country's 23 million people and have found themselves caught in the middle of a brutal civil war.'
'... Youssef said the jihadists shouted, "Anybody who wants to convert to Islam is good; otherwise they will be killed." At least 32 people have been killed and dozens injured in recent weeks in the Christian district of al-Qassa.At the start of the civil war, many Christians tried to stay neutral. But as rebel forces have become dominated by Muslim jihadists, Christians often have to side with the government.'
Murdered Pastor Was Still Holding Bible in His Hand -CBNNews.com, October 25, 2013; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/October/Murdered-Pastor-Was-Still-Holding-Bible-in-His-Hand/ " A pastor in Mombasa, Kenya, was shot to death while praying at his church this weekend, according to Morning Star News. Charles Matole had received threats after many converted to Christianity during revival services in a coastal area of the country.
Members his church, Vikwantani Redeemed Gospel Church, found him slumped in one of the church's plastic chairs Saturday night. He was still holding a bible in his hand."His skull was badly damaged," the church member said.On Sunday, another pastor, Ebrahim Kidata of East African Pentecostal Church, was strangled and left in some bushes 30 miles north of Mombasa.
The murders come after angry Muslims rioted earlier this month over the killing of sheikh Ibrahim Omar and three others on a road near Mombasa.Muslim youths from the Masjid Musa Mosque shouting "Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greater)" set fire to the Salvation Army Church building the following afternoon.Omar reportedly regularly "issued incendiary sermons against non-Muslims," The Standard newspaper reported.
"Bangladeshi Christians Told to Close Church, Convert to Islam" – from World Watch Monitorhttp ://www.worldwatchmonitor.org/2013/10/article_2735367.html/
A local government official in central Bangladesh has halted the construction of a church, forced Christians to worship at a mosque and threatened them with eviction from their village unless they renounce their faith. The Tangail Evangelical Holiness Church in Bilbathuagani village, Tangail district, about 70 miles north of Dhaka, was started Sept. 8 by a group of about 25 Christians who had been meeting secretly for three years. However, local council chairman Rafiqul Islam Faruk joined around 200 demonstrators Sept. 13 to protest against the start of the building of the church. The following day, the Christians were summoned to his office. More than 1,000 Muslims waited outside, following an announcement at all local mosques to gather at the chairman’s office. Mokrom Ali, 32, told World Watch Monitor he was forced to accept Islam. “The chairman and the imams of the mosques interrogated me for accepting Christianity. They asked me why I had become a Christian. It is a great sin to become a Christian from Islam,” Ali said. “If I did not accept Islam, they would beat me, burn my house, and evict me from the society. Their threats chilled me to the bone. That is why I pretended to accept Islam, but faith in Christ is the wellspring of my life. Now I am no longer a Muslim; I am a Christian.”
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