INDIA:Case against ministry workers drags on...

India--Last August, we told you the story of an attack on ministry workers in Karnataka State, India.On August 11, 80 ministry partners in the state of Karnataka gathered at a 4-day training for the Year-Long Children's Bible Clubs. Around midnight, after everyone had gone to sleep, a mob of 20 Hindu extremists broke in, beat the trainees, and held them against their will for at least 14 hours. Police arrived on the scene and promptly arrested 8 of the Christians.In spite of the injustice of the arrests and jailings, their team never wavered from their purpose. Dave Stravers with Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Mission India says they did what Paul and Silas did while in prison: "They had more than 100 prisoners in their area. They started prayer meetings and worship services, and they had converts"...

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The hands of persecution tighten in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan--Mission Network News has discussed the possibility that Christian refugees fleeing to Uzbekistan from chaotic Kyrgyzstan may be running into disaster. This appears to be the case.Although there have not been reports of refugees receiving increased persecution in Uzbekistan, if they plan to stay in the country, they should probably expect it. According to Slavic Gospel Association, the Uzbek government has cracked down on Christians again.An Uzbek member of the Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists (UECB) was recently fined nearly $2,000 under charges of "teaching religious beliefs without specialized religious education and without permission from a central religious organization" and "teaching religious beliefs privately." The victim, Valery Konovalov, was not even given a chance to defend himself....

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Elections may mean change for Christians in Somaliland

Somaliland--Christians may soon experience much more persecution in the republic of Somaliland. Despite the protests of an Islamic group, Somaliland, located in the northwest of Somalia, held presidential elections Saturday.Though a small clash after the elections resulted in the death of one observer, the polling was peaceful, surrounded by tight security according to CNN.That elections even took place was a victory over al-Shabaab, an Islamic group from southern Somalia whose leader, Sheik Mukhtar Abdirahman Abu Zubeyr, warned, "Those who take part in those so-called elections will face the consequences," according to AFP. He also called democracy "the devil's principles" in an audio message to local media....

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Kyrgyzstan approves parliamentary constitution

Kyrgyzstan--Kyrgyzstan's referendum has passed, following Sunday's vote. With a new government, will tensions ease and ethnic violence cease?Joel Griffith of Slavic Gospel Association shared the implications of the new constitution: "This referendum did indeed pass in Kyrgyzstan. They've approved the new constitution. It sets the stage for the first parliamentary democracy in Central Asia. Voters backed the new constitution by about 90.6 percent." Since Kyrgyzstan's former president, Kurmanbek Bakiev, was ousted in April, the interim government fervently pushed for the referendum vote and October elections, despite ethnic violence flare-ups during the month of June....

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Indonesian Muslims Told to Prepare for Religious War:Group forms militia-training unit to visit mosques...

Washington, D.C. (June 29, 2010)–International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that in Bekasi, Indonesia, hard-line Muslims are taking steps toward an impending religious war with Christians.A call to form religious militia units was made this weekend at the second Bekasi Islamic Conference, a gathering of 2000 representatives from regional Islamic organizations. Nine of the attending organizations joined to create a group called Bekasi Islamic Presidium tasked with preparing local mosques for a war against “Christianization.”
“Apparently [Christians] want to test our patience. We are planning to invite them for a dialogue to determine what they really want. If talks fail, this might mean war,” stated Murhali Barda, General Secretary of the Bekasi chapter of the Islamic Defender’s Front (FPI) to The Jakarta Globe. Murhali went on to claim that Christians are actively baptizing Muslim converts and “are on to something.”
The head of the Bekasi Islamic Congress, Saleh Mangara Sitompul, issued a number of recommendations to the Bekasi government in line with Sharia law and recommended that every mosque in Bekasi form its own paramilitary unit. “We hope that the recommendations to the government could be a guide for them so that there will be no religious defamation or inter-religious conflicts,” stated Saleh.
One FPI leader, Abdul Qadir Aka, said the paramilitary units were necessary: “When the need arises we will have units that can be mobilized…We have hundreds and even thousands of mosques in Bekasi. Imagine what we can do together.”
These statements are the latest in rising tensions in the Bekasi area. On June 20, the Pondok Timur Indah Church in Bekasi was shut down “because the congregation held prayers in a place where they were not supposed to.” Last May, a Catholic school named St. Bellarminus was attacked by a group of Muslims for a blog entry that reportedly defamed Islam. In February the Bekasi Galilea Church was closed over allegations of converting Muslims.
ICC’s Regional Manager, Logan Maurer, stated, “These recent events in Bekasi, Indonesia, expose a very frightening trend where radical Muslims are willing to go to any length to silence Christians. The fact that they are threatening to use paramilitary action and that they are also taking concrete steps toward forming militias shows the degree to which Christians, and ultimately religious freedom, is in danger.”
Please contact the Indonesian embassy in your country and politely ask the Indonesian officials if they are aware of what is occurring in the Bekasi area and to protect religious freedom.
Indonesian embassy contact info:

(US) 202.775.5200,

(UK) 44.171.499.7661,

(Canada) 613.724.1100

SOURCE:ICC

Open Doors World Watch List 2010

The World Watch List is a ranking of 50 countries where persecution of Christians for religious reasons is worst. First of all, the scope of the list is persecution of Christians of all denominations in the entire country. The scope is also limited to those persecuted for their faith, not for political, economic, social, ethnic or accidental reasons.
Find out more how you can be on watch for the persecuted church

Moroccan Christians Targeted on Facebook

Muslim extremists in Morocco are now using the social networking site Facebook to expose and vilify Christians. Sadly, they are using images and derogatory tags such as “hyena evangelists” or “wolves in lamb’s skins” that are trying to “shake the faith of Muslims.” Dozens of Christians have been called to police stations for interrogation, many of them verbally abused and threatened with jail or death.

Most Moroccan Christians that spoke to Compass News said their Muslim relatives’ attitudes had shifted, and many were kicked out of their homes or chose to leave “to not create problems” for their families.
Efforts against national Christians have been gaining momentum in Morocco. Abdel Adghirni, a Moroccan lawyer, said that “The government is trying to dominate.” Since March, the government has expelled more than 100 foreign Christians for alleged “proselytizing.” Adghirni added that he believes Morocco cannot survive and develop economically without national diversity saying that, “We can’t be free without Christians. The existence of Christians among us is the proof of liberty.” But, amid a media campaign to condemn Christians in Morocco, more than 7,000 Muslim clerics signed a statement denouncing all Christian activities and calling foreign Christians’ aid work “religious terrorism”...

Source

An Open Letter from the Afghan Christian Community to the Body of Christ Worldwide

KABUL,AFGHANISTAN-(ANS)-Christians in Afghanistan have written an 'Open Letter' to believers around the world calling for help in defending those who are being persecuted for their faith.ANS has received the following letter written by missionaries in Afghanistan, one of which is a “fellow prisoner” for sharing his faith in Christ.
"Our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan are in such a bad place right now they are willing to go public and are crying out for prayers and support from the body of Christ," said Kevin Turner, founder and president of Strategic World Impact (SWI), a Midwestern-based Christian ministry which works in areas where disaster, war, or persecution of Christians occurs."Please let us not forsake those who are being persecuted for their faith, particularly in the nation of Afghanistan. Let us stand with them in prayer and fasting," said Turner, who also received a copy of the letter.
In the introduction to the letter, the Afghan believers say: "We need your help to stop the Afghan government from arresting Afghan Christians and condemning them to death by public execution!"...
By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
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Afghan Parliamentarian Calls for Execution of Christians

Washington, D.C. (June 2, 2010) – International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that an Afghan parliamentary secretary called for the public execution of Christian converts on the parliament floor.On Tuesday, the Associated Free Press reported that Abdul Sattar Khawasi, deputy secretary of the Afghan lower house in parliament, called for the execution of Christian converts from Islam. Speaking in regards to a video broadcasted by Afghan television network Noorin TV showing footage of Christian men being baptized and praying in Farsi, Khawasi said, "Those Afghans that appeared in this video film should be executed in public, the house should order the attorney general and the NDS (intelligence agency) to arrest these Afghans and execute them.”The broadcast triggered a protest by hundreds of Kabul University students on Monday, who shouted death threats and demanded the expulsion of Christian foreigners accused of proselytizing. As a result, the operations of Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and U.S.-based Church World Service (CWS) have been suspended over allegations of proselytizing. The Afghan government is currently undertaking an intensive investigation into the matter. According to Afghan law, proselytizing is illegal and conversion from Islam is punishable by death.ICC sources within Afghanistan have reported that many national Christians are in hiding, fearful of execution. Under government pressure during investigations, some Afghans have reportedly revealed names and locations of Christian converts.Aidan Clay, ICC Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, “It is absolutely appalling that the execution of Christians would be promoted on the floor of the Afghan parliament. Khawasi’s statement sounded a whole lot like the tyrannical manifesto of the Taliban, not that of a U.S. ally. American lives are being lost fighting terrorism and defending freedom in Afghanistan – yet Christians are being oppressed within Afghan borders. This comes after billions of U.S. dollars have been invested in the war effort, and millions more have been given in aid. The U.S. government must intervene to protect the religious freedoms and human rights of all Afghans. The U.S. is not a mere outside bystander – but, is closely intertwined within Afghan policy. Intervention is not a choice, but a responsibility, as Afghan policies reflect the U.S. government’s ability and commitment to secure a stable government in Afghanistan.”

Source:ICC

A NOTE TO ALL MY READERS...

I thought today would be the day to write you all in a way I haven't done before.

First of all I want to thank all of my followers.Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for visiting and wanting to be part of this blog.God Bless You for your interest on our brothers and sisters that suffer daily for their faith.God will reward ya'll...!

As you can see I have been innactive for a while.There is a reason that I would like to share with you,since you are part of this blog.

Last year on March 21st my pastor Gary Norris at age 46,passed away after a short battle with cancer.That literally devastated my life,and broke my heart.He was to us more than a pastor...he was a friend and believed in the ministry the Lord had commanded us as a family.We shed many,many tears,because after many fastings and prayers,he was gone.I will never forget him.We will never forget him.

Why do I tell you all this...?

Because Bro.Norris was my biggest inspiration to start this blog.We would sit and talk sometimes about the persecuted church and he had such a genuine burden for them...We would pray for them at church,I had a weekly updated prayer bulletin at church for the persecuted church,he would offer materials,anything I needed to make this blog and the prayer bulletin known to whomever has a burden for them.

When he died many things inside me died and were gone with him.It was a hard effort for me to keep up with this blog,cause everytime I logged on,I remember how he used to cheer me to keep on going,even though I faced lack of interest from our own congregation in the matter... He used to tell me not to give up,that there were those that would be truly interested and would help me pray,and give and would get involved in this ministry.He knew it was God's Will for me to continue on with this endeavour.

The mourning is still going on in my heart,even though life seems to go on.Bro Norris' death was a big stop for me to continue on this blog.

May be you that are reading cannot quite understand why I would feel that way,may be you have lost a loved one and understand...Either way all I can tell you is that I was overcome with sorrow,deep sorrow.These last 5 years I've lost so many close loved ones that every funeral seems a little more difficult for me than the previous one.

Many things changed since his death:there is a new church we're attending and Praise God my new pastor is interested in praying for the Persecuted so I restarted my weekly prayer bulletins and from little to old,everybody gets a copy and share it with their children,and families and pray and are getting involved in serving the Persecuted.God has blessed me.

I've been struggling with some health issues too and that slowed me down a lot.

But it's time for me to wipe the tears and continue with this ministry--with God's help--in the form of daily updates,because of those that need our prayers,help and involvement and because also persecution is increasing everywhere at an alarming rate.

I know it is His Will for me to do this and to let people know everywhere about the sufferings that many of our brothers and sisters are living daily.

I found out that there is a lack of information in many churches in different countries,and when I start talking about the issue they get interested right away and beg me for info--even-- in other languages.Up to this point I should need at least a staff of 3 or 4 to translate all the info I have and post it....!

But for now it's in english.If any would like this info in a different language or has info that wanted me to include in my posts,you can always email it to me.Go to my personal info section and you'll find it.

I appreciate each one of you and want to thank you again for your support.

I would appreciate also your prayers for this blog and for my health.

Keep coming back and recommend this blog if it has blessed you.

In Jesus

As in the days of Noah....