URGENT PRAYER REQUESTS:
NEWS ALERT: Oct. 23: "Christians Fleeing IRAQ Area Once Considered Safe," - CBNNews.com, http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/October/Christians-Fleeing-Iraq-Area-Once-Considered-Safe/ "Increased violence in northern Iraq is pushing Christians out of that part of the country. The Kurdish north was considered a safe area for Christians fleeing from violent persecution in the central and southern regions. But bombings in recent months are causing panic and many are fleeing the country. Al qaeda has claimed responsibility for several of those attacks. Some Christians have been told by local police that they "should not be in Iraq because it is Muslim territory." The Christian charity Open Doors International is urging people around the world to pray for Christians in Iraq. They say that if the persecution continues, there may be no Christians left in Iraq by 2020.[PRAY that believers in Iraq will know God's protection and provision; that believers will know[ whether they are called to flee or remain and persevere; and that their persecutors may come to hear the gospel and come to faith in Christ. - Stan]
"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..."
"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..."
Continue to Pray for 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.]
Oct. 14, NORTH KOREA -"Kenneth Bae, Mom Meet; Release Not Guaranteed" - CBNNews.com, http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/October/Mother-Visits-Missionary-Jailed-in-North-Korea/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.]
Oct. 14, NORTH KOREA -"Kenneth Bae, Mom Meet; Release Not Guaranteed" - CBNNews.com, http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/October/Mother-Visits-Missionary-Jailed-in-North-Korea/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.]
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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"Religious Freedom or Persecution? "- MoralityInAmericaSymposium defines struggle between faith and freedom; By Diann Noles; http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/morality-in-america
Do you feel persecuted? According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, “persecute” means: To treat (someone) cruelly or unfairly especially because of race or religious or political beliefs; to harass or punish in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict; specifically: to cause to suffer because of belief; to annoy with persistent or urgent approaches (as attacks, pleas, or importunities), to pester.
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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"Religious Freedom or Persecution? "- MoralityInAmericaSymposium defines struggle between faith and freedom; By Diann Noles; http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/morality-in-america
"Religious Freedom or Persecution? "- MoralityInAmericaSymposium defines struggle between faith and freedom; By Diann Noles; http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/morality-in-america
In America today, anyone can claim to be persecuted. Some people feel this is often taken to extremes, as witnessed by the current social climate that pits conservative Christians against liberal secularists, particularly those supporting same-sex marriage, abortion and socialized medicine. Just a few years ago, the gay, lesbian and transgender communities claimed they were being persecuted – especially by Christians – because of their sexual orientation. However, as their cause was taken up by the media and Hollywood, the pendulum shifted to the opposite side; now many Christians feel they are being persecuted by a society and government that is increasingly favoring secular views. But is either group really being persecuted?
The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission recently held a symposium on “Faith, Culture & Religious Freedom in the 21st Century” where the panel of five Christians of various denominations and beliefs discussed religious freedom as it pertains to America and the world at large.
To begin with, you need to understand that there is a difference between “freedom of worship” and “religious freedom.” According to Dr. Timothy Shah, Associate Director of the Religious Freedom Project of the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs (and one of the five panelists), religion is about more than worship. “Religion is about practice,” he said, “it is about community. Religion touches all aspects of life…many religious people really take it to be a duty, to conform the entire pattern of their life in accordance with their basic religious convictions.” He argues that the First Amendment goes out of its way to not protect freedom of worship, but rather to protect free exercise of religion.
Exercise of religion often conflicts with civil rights. Shah believes that protections for religious freedom need to become more important than civil rights. Citing the phenomenon of the Arab Spring becoming an Arab Winter, he warns that “societies destroy themselves when they don’t maximize protections for religious freedom.” Os Guinness, author of The Global Public Square: Religious Freedom and the Making of a World Safe for Diversity agrees. “A civil right (which is conferred by some society) should never trump a human right like religious liberty (which is inherent in human nature),” he said in an interview with Christianity Today. “When that happens, the effect is to undermine all rights altogether, and turn politics into a mere power struggle.”
Today’s Christians are witnessing that power struggle as they walk a fine line between civil rights and religious freedom. With the passage of the Health and Human Services Abortion and Contraception Mandate, you see businesses and organizations like Hobby Lobby, Tyndale Publishing and Wheaton College on opposite sides of the government, having to defend their religious beliefs. Other businesses and business owners such as Jack Philips, owner of Colorado’s Masterpiece Cake Shop, Barronell Stutzman, a Washington florist, and Elaine Huguenin, a New Mexico photographer, have lost their incomes – and potentially their businesses – after they refused to participate in homosexual “weddings.”
As America moves towards secularism and civil rights as opposed to religious freedom, Christians need to be reminded that they are not isolated in losing religious freedom. Dr. Russell Moore, President of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, said at the symposium, “I think that one of the mistakes that Christians have made in past years is this kind of majoritarian understanding, [that] we’ve got to fight for our own rights here and maintain our own rights without being very diligent and making sure that we are fighting for religious liberty for all persons.” Shah agrees, claiming “…there is an appalling lack of engagement of Christians on the issue of religious freedom…we live in a world of the most grotesque, outrageous and escalating religious persecution. There is no outrage about this.”
In your prayers this week, please intercede:
- For the people and businesses in America that are being persecuted by the U.S. government for their beliefs;
- For those throughout the world who are enduring physical persecution for their faith
- That Christians in America will stand firm in their faith
[bold and italics emphasis mine]
Diann Noles is a former editor and writer for Christian publications in Tucson, AZ and Portland, OR. She now serves as Public Relations Director for a major Christian non-profit organization. She and her husband Bill live in Tucson, AZ and have two sons and four grandchildren.
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