California Court Ruling Affirms Christian Schools

Attacks on faith are an opportunity, says Cameron

A well-known Christian actor says it should come as no surprise that Christianity is under attack in America.Kirk Cameron is co-host of The Way of the Master,a 30-minute television show aired weekly to more than 100 nations via the Trinity Broadcast Network, FamilyNet, Sky Angel, the Christian Television Network, and several other outlets. Along with co-host Ray Comfort, Cameron teaches Christians how to witness biblically and effectively. Cameron, who as a teenager starred on the hit TV series Growing Pains, says it is clear that assaults on the Christian faith are increasing in the public square.But Christians should not react with hostility, he advises; instead, he suggests they should view the attacks as an opportunity to share and spread the gospel of Christ."Mankind wants to suppress the truth-and people love their sin," notes Cameron. "And there's enough people out there who are really irritated enough about the truth of God and the fact that you're going to be accountable to God one day that they want to try and squash all of that so they can have as much fun as they can now." The outspoken Christian understands that attitude. "You know, if I was an atheist, I would imagine I'd be going along the same lines," he shares, "because if this life is all there is, why not just go all out and take everybody out of the way who's trying to keep you from having all your fun?" But as Cameron points out in his testimony, a life of belief in Christ brings joy beyond measure. "I can honestly tell you," he says, "...that of all the places I've ever been, of all the people I've ever met, of all the fun and exciting things I've ever done, absolutely nothing compares to the joy of knowing Jesus Christ, of knowing that my sins are forgiven, and that I'm in a right relationship with God." The third season of The Way of the Master has been released.
By Allie Martin and Jody Brown - OneNewsNow
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=400206
As in the days of Noah....

College Dumps Restrictive Speech Policy

Yuba Community College in Marysville, Calif., has agreed to end its policy that required students to obtain a permit to exercise "free speech" during allotted hours.The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) represented Ryan Dozier, who was threatened with arrest and expulsion if he continued sharing the Gospel on campus between classes."Christian students shouldn’t have to face jail and expulsion for expressing their beliefs on a public college campus," said Heather Gebelin Hacker, ADF litigation staff counsel. "We are pleased that Yuba College officials have finally agreed to recognize that its campus policies cannot strip away the free-speech rights of students with religious viewpoints."Prior to the settlement, the college allowed "free speech" only on Tuesdays and Thursdays between noon and 1 p.m., with permission required two weeks in advance.

By Jennifer Mesko
http://www.citizenlink.org/content/A000009185.cfm

As in the days of Noah....

Iran: Three Christians arrested, held without charges, whereabouts unknown

“We are quite sure that these arrests are part of a bigger operation from the government.”"Iran: Three Christians Arrested From Homes In Tehran," from Compass Direct, January 23:
LOS ANGELES, January 23 (Compass Direct News)-Three Christians from two different families were arrested from their homes Wednesday morning (Jan. 21) and are being held without charges, sources told Compass. Authorities took Jamal Ghalishorani, 49, and his wife Nadereh Jamali from their home in Tehran between 7 and 8 a.m., about a half hour after arresting Hamik Khachikian, an Armenian Christian also living in Tehran. Ghalishorani and his wife are Christian converts from Islam, considered “apostasy” in Iran and potentially punishable by death.Christian sources told Compass that Ghalishorani converted to Christianity 30 years ago, and his wife received Christ about 15 years ago.They have one child, a 13-year-old daughter, while Khachikian has two children, a 16-year-old son and an 11-year-old daughter. Authorities have not told the families of the charges against those arrested or their whereabouts....The arrests come as part of a tsunami of arrests in the past several months, the sources said.“We don’t know why the pressure is continuously high, but we see that it is increasing,” said one source.“The government does it to the Baha’i people as well-there are more arrests in the last several months among them than in maybe the whole 30 years before.” Arrests and pressure on Christians from authorities have ramped up even further in the past few months, the source said, adding that the reasons were unclear.Another source, however, said the arrests are part of a concerted, nationwide government plan.“We are quite sure that these arrests are part of a bigger operation from the government,” the source said. “Maybe up to 50 people were arrested. In Tehran alone already some 10 people were arrested – all on the same day, January 21.”Sources noted that whereas past waves of intense harassment and arrests of Christians eventually have subsided, recent pressure has been “continuously high,” with reports of arrests in almost every month of 2008.“In the past there have been waves of incredible pressure, but then it seemed to calm down a bit sometimes,” said one source. “Then we had the feeling pressure came and went, but now it is continuously ongoing.”...The arrests are particularly disturbing in light of the Iranian parliament’s approval last September of a new penal code calling for a mandatory death sentence for “apostates,” or those who leave Islam. In the past death sentences for apostasy were issued only under judicial interpretations of sharia (Islamic law).Under the new penal code, male “apostates” would be executed, while females would receive life sentences. The new code was to be sent to Iran’s most influential body, the Guardian Council, which will rule on it. The council is made up of six conservative theologians appointed by Iran’s Supreme Leader and six jurists nominated by the judiciary and approved by parliament. This body has the power to veto any bill it deems inconsistent with the constitution and Islamic law.The last Iranian Christian convert from Islam executed by the Iranian government was Hossein Soodmand in 1990. He was accused of working as “an American spy.” Since then at least six Protestant pastors have been assassinated by unknown killers.
Posted by Robert

http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/archives/024584.php

PS:Please keep these three precioius christians and their families,friends and churches in your fervent prayers!!!!

As in the days of Noah....

Persecution Groups unsure about new U.S. president

USA (MNN)History was made yesterday, when Barak Obama was sworn into office as the first African-American president of the United States. While many are excited about the change an Obama administration brings, some Christian organizations are concerned.President of International Christian Concern Jeff King says it could be a new day under an Obama administration. "Bush, no matter what you think of him, was a great friend of the persecuted church. He stood up for them. He would intervene. He would talk to government leaders of other countries. With Obama, I'm not so sure."King expects to see hate speech legislation pushed through congress. "While these laws on the surface sound good and they sound like they're going to tap down hatred, the whole point is it's going to be a tool to shut down Christians. We will no longer be able to speak our mind or talk about what the Bible teaches."King says hate speech isn't their only concern. He says access to lawmakers and other government leaders could be at risk. "Bush was a great friend, and that filters down through the state department, through the halls of Congress, [impacting] the ability for groups like ours and others to get attention on cases of persecution. With the new president, I'm not so sure, and I'm a little worried about hate speech laws."While the situation isn't encouraging, King says we need to pray, because this isn't someone crying "wolf." He says,"It is an absolute danger. Most people are asleep on this. The Christian community probably doesn't know it's coming. The threat has been that in the first 100 days, this will be pushed through."Pastors have been arrested and tried in Australia under hate speech laws for simply teaching Christians about Islam and helping Christians to be more effective in sharing their faith with Muslims.
Pray that God would give wisdom to the Obama administration and that he would allow religious freedom to continue in the United States.
http://www.mnnonline.org/article/12195

As in the days of Noah....

Death toll higher in India's anti-Christian attacks

India (MNN)In August, a Hindu leader in India was killed by Maoists. Christians were blamed, and riots broke out across the state of Orissa, displacing thousands of Christians. The death toll is still unknown, but officials estimate it to be around 90.Josh Fisher with Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Mission India just returned from a fact-finding visit to the region, and he says the damage was catastrophic. "One of the villages we were in was a totally Christian village. It had 58 homes. At the end of the road, it dead ended into the village church. The mobs came in and destroyed everything. "Fisher says this happened in many locations. A government insider says the official death toll isn't correct."He himself consigned 200 dead bodies found from the jungles to flames, after getting them collected in a tractor. And as for his estimates, he based the intensity and the pace of the killings numbering over 500. Clearly something happened that is being reported accurately."According to Fisher, these attacks have affected their partners. "At least 30 of our partners have been affected by this. That means their programs have been stalled or postponed. 15 of our ministry partners had to suspend operations. They lost their churches. They lost their homes. We have church planters that were in training that are living in relief camps and they're unable to finish their training at this time."While the government-run relief camps are helping some, many more are in private facilities. "These people are not receiving enough assistance. Many of them don't have enough food and clothing and warm blankets. It's winter time in Orissa now. Especially in these camps in the mountains, it's very cold."That's why Mission India is committed to raising enough money to help 2,000 people with relief kits "containing valuable survival items such as clothing, bedding, blankets, cooking utensils, medicine and food.The cost is just $35." Fisher is pleading with you to help, because they've given it all up for Christ. "People are being allowed back to their villages, but there's this ultimatum waiting for them everywhere, which is, 'Come back as a Hindu, or face your death.' So they've decided to leave everything behind and start over."While this short-term assistance is needed, Mission India is already looking ahead to long-term help. "Of these people who died, many of them were pastors. There's going to be a great need to train more pastors in this area. They've lost hundreds of pastors. So pastoral training will be important."

Source:MNN

As in the days of Noah...

How can your family encourage the persecuted church?

Every day, missionaries from your church, friends working overseas and even new Christians right here in the United States are in danger because of their faith.
While God doesn't call everybody to the mission field, we're all called to stand in the gap for families worldwide-and it's easier than you might think.
4 ways to bless believers...
1. Pray!We serve a God who is mighty to save--and eager to answer. Ask Him to protect persecuted Christians and their families at home and overseas.
2. Adopt a missionary family from your church.Ask your pastor for ideas and contact information--as well as a list of needs and prayer requests.
3. Talk to your kids. Knowing that other children around the world are standing for Christ can help them stay firm in their faith at school.
4. Share stories.Take time to be challenged and inspired by the stories and updates of families just like yours. Discuss with your family how you can apply their example of faith to your everyday life.
http://www.focusonthefamily.com/?refcd=IM08LEVOM&tvar=n

As in the days of Noah...

PAKISTAN:Three Christians Attacked by supporters of the Pakistan Muslim League

Bos News Life has reported that three Christians were attacked by supporters of the Pakistan Muslim League in late November. The attack happened during a welcome procession for the Provincial Minister of Punjab for Minorities Affairs and Human Rights. Mushtaq Gill, one of the men attacked, is a Christian member of the local Assembly of Punjab’s Sargodha Distric.After the attack, Mushtaq Gill was left with a fractured left leg and serious head injuries which were almost fatal.The other two Christians hurt in the attack were Yasser Maseh and Asif Masih. According to an investigation by the World Council of Churches this attack was the latest in a series of incidents targeting Christian leaders and individual believers.
Pray for the protection for all Christians in Pakistan and especially their leaders as the country drifts into a period of uncertainty.
Pray for the physical healing for Messrs Mushtaq Gill, Yasser Maseh and Asif Masih from the injuries received in this attack.
Pray for God’s blessing upon Mushtaq Gill as he takes a public stand for Minorities and Human Rights in his area of Pakistan.

Source:ICC

http://www.persecution.org/

As in the days of Noah....

GAMBIA:Scottish Missionaries in Prison

David Fulton, 60, a Scottish missionary, and his wife, Fiona Fulton, 46, are currently in prison in the West African country of Gambia according to BBC News.They are accused of sedition, or undermining the government, a crime that carries up to 25 years of imprisonment.They have pleaded not guilty to the charges but thus far have been unable to post the high bail required.The Fultons were arrested on November 29th and are being held in different prisons. Mr. Fulton has not eaten and it is not known if he is intentionally not eating or is unable to eat.At the time of the arrest, David Fulton was writing a book of his life story.He has lived in Gambia for 12 years, and has been working as a chaplain for the Gambian army.However, their main focus has been teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gambian people.Their two-year-old adopted child was taken from them when they were arrested. Gambia has a secular constitution, but its population is 90% Muslim.
Pray for the quick release of the Fultons and the dropping of all charges against them.
Pray for supernatural strength for the Fultons while they are in jail, and for David Fulton to get the nutrition he needs.
Pray for the salvation of the Gambian people.

Source:ICC

http://www.persecution.org/

As in the days of Noah...

Iranian Secret Police Harrassed Christians before Christmas....

Before Christmas,many Iranian Christians were summoned to the Information Ministry (Islamic Secret Police) and forced to sign written guarantees not to celebrate with Christmas gatherings and New Year celebrations.Also, as reported by the Farsi Christian News, some heads of house churches in Tabriz, Sanandaj, and Shiraz were summoned to the Information Ministry, and have been accused of spying for the foreigners.With severe violence they are forced not to have any contact with the other heads of Iranian churches, both inside or outside of the country.
Pray for divine protection over all Christians in Iran and especially their leaders.
Pray that God will perform a miracle for Iranian Christians and they will be able to celebrate the miracle of Christ’s birth without government harassment.
Pray that the Gospel will go forth in Iran despite the government’s attempts to stamp it out.

Source:ICC
http://www.persecution.org/

As in the days of Noah...

INDIA:Attacks against christians in two different states

There have been reports in early December from two separate states in India that attacks against Christians occurred, according to Evangelical Fellowship of India.The first attack occurred in Sangur, Punjab, where two Operation Mobilization workers, Pani Garhi and Kitan Bhai, were attacked by Hindu extremists as they were distributing gospel tracts. The extremists took the men to the police station accusing them of forceful conversation, but authorities refused to file charges against them. The second attack occurred in Bangarapet, Kolar, and Karnataka on December 14th during a Christian function held by Helping Hands, an organization which helps rural women and children. Hindu extremists barged into the Christian function, burned the gospel tracts, and then dragged the director of Helping Hands, Samuel Moses and his accountant, to the police station accusing them of alluring the people to convert to Christianity. Mr Moses and his accountant were detained for nine hours then released although an investigation is on going to confirm whether they are guilty of forceful conversions.
Pray that Samuel Moses and his accountant will not be charged with any wrong doing so they can continue their work for the Lord in India.
Pray that all Christian ministries in India will boldly continue to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in spite of the Hindu extremist attempts to weaken and bring fear among Christians.
Pray against the spirit of darkness which covers India in order that the message of the Gospel will go forth, and bear fruit.

Source:ICC

http://www.persecution.org/

As in the days of Noah....

Officials Allow Muslims to Demolish 30 Christian Homes for Stable

The Washington-DC based human rights group, International Christian Concern (ICC) http://www.persecution.org
has learned that a powerful Muslim village elder and his nephews forcibly evicted about 30 impoverished Christian families from their homes in order to make way for a stable for their livestock. While the stable will keep the Muslims' animals warm and dry, these 30 Christian families are now homeless in their village of Kotla Punjubaig in Sheikhupura district near Lahore, Pakistan.In an interview with ICC, a local Christian elder of Kotla Punjubaig, Boota Masih, said, "This land was given to our forefathers by the British Rulers before the Indo-Pak partition in 1947 and we had been living here since then."Masih described what happened as follows: "A few days back the hard-line Muslim head of our village, Muhammad Mansha, and his nephews, Akbar Ali, Arif, Asgher Abbas and Muhammad Yousaf, armed with deadly firearms, invaded our homes and forcibly threw us and our household things out of our houses."Masih said sadly, "And they left us homeless and shelter-less by demolishing our sweet homes."Boota Masih and other victims added that Muhammad Mansha and his nephews had occupied their homes to build a stable for their livestock with permission from officials of the local Land Requisition Department.Masih said that when they pleaded with Mansha over why he was doing this to them, Mansha replied coldly that the land was allotted to him by the Land Requisition Department. As these families have no other place to live, their belongings are currently strewn along the streets and alleys of the neighborhood (photo of belongings on street left). Muhammad Mansha and his nephews refused to comment on this matter, despite ICC's repeated efforts to contact them.Masih claimed that police officials had not taken any action to prosecute Mansha or his nephews and had not yet attempted to find the Christians alternate housing, despite the fact that he had appealed to Punjab's Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif (Fax: (0092) 42 - 5881383) to intervene and provide them homes.
Please contact the Pakistani embassy in your country and ask them to protect the rights of Christians and all religious minorities.
Pakistan Embassies:
USA: (202) 243-6500,
info@embassyofpakistanusa.org
Canada: (613) 238-7881,
info@embassyofpakistanusa.org
parepottawa@rogers.com
UK: 0870-005-6967,
hoc@phclondon.org
Source:ICC
http://www.persecution.org/
As in the days of Noah...

China:40 Christians Arrested in Nanyang,16 Sentenced to Administrative Detention;Police Forcibly Escort Pastor 'Bike' from Beijing

Chinese police raided a Christian leaders' gathering in Henan on Tuesday (December 16), detaining over 40 Christians.Some were released after paying a 1000-2000 yuan fine,but 16 were sentenced to 10-15 days administrative detention.It has also been reported that well-known Pastor 'Bike' Zhang was forcibly escorted from Beijing by Public Security Bureau officers (December 18).
This is the second time he has been forced out of Beijing. Full Story.
For more general information please go to ICC's webpage on China.
Source:ICC
http://www.persecution.org/
As in the days of Noah....

Vietnam: Authorities Destroy New church Building

A new wooden church built in September by Hmong Christians in Vietnam has been destroyed by local government officials. Hundreds of Christians who rushed to protect the building were forced back by police wielding electric cattle prods. Five people were injured, including one child and a pregnant woman who was stabbed in the stomach with a cattle prod. Villagers fear she may miscarry. Full Story.
For more general information please go to ICC's webpage on Vietnam.

Source:ICC

http://www.persecution.org/

As in the days of Noah...

China Pastor Lou Yuanqi's Daughter Beaten at Trial

Pastor Lou Yuanqi, arrested by Chinese police on May 17, stood trial Monday, but the court has still not reached a verdict. It was reported that his daughter, 18, was beaten by court police when she attempted to speak to her father as he was being put in the car with police. Full Story.
For more general information please go to ICC's webpage on China.

Source:ICC

http://www.persecution.org/

As in the days of Noah....

Christians Attacked in Two States of India

Hindu extremists allegedly belonging to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) attacked a Christmas function and accused the Christians of forceful conversion on December 14 in Bangarapet, Kolar, Karnataka. Full Story.
For more general information please go to ICC's webpage on India.

Source:ICC

http://www.persecution.org/

As in the days of Noah...

Indonesia's Seram Island in Maluku Region Tense After Riots

A Christian teacher's comment that agitated one of his students evolved into several days of rioting. Dozens of homes, shops and places or worship have been damaged or destroyed.The teacher and the student are both being considered "suspects," and the teacher could be charged with up to five years in prison for his comment. Full Story.
For more general information please go to ICC's webpage on Indonesia.
Source:ICC
http://www.persecution.org/
As in the days of Noah.....

China Sentences Christian to Labor Camp

Mao Minzi, a 55-year-old Chinese Christians has been sentenced to a year of re-education through labor for "organizing an illegal religious gathering" in China. He may be able to appeal the sentence with the aid of a Christian attorney from ChinaAid's Legal Defense Fund.
Full Story.
For more general information please go to ICC's webpage on China.
Source:ICC
http://www.persecution.org
As in the days of Noah....

Nigeria:Six Pastors Killed,40 Churches Razed in Violence in Jos

The murderous rioting sparked by Muslim attacks on Christians and their property on Nov. 28-29 left six pastors dead, at least 500 other people killed and 40 churches destroyed, according to church leaders. One man asked, "Why were churches and clergy attacked and killed? Why were politicians and political party offices not attacked, if it was a political conflict?" Full Story.

For more general information please go to ICC's webpage on Nigeria.

Source:ICC

http://www.persecution.org/

As in the days of Noah....

Prisoner Alert:Sandul Bibi--Pakistan

Location: Pakistan

Arrested: October 2008

Twenty- year-old Sandul Bibi is in prison in Pakistan, charged with violating section 295-B of the Pakistani legal code, the “blasphemy” law. Sandul is falsely accused of ripping pages from the Quran. On Oct. 9 a large crowd of Muslims attacked Christian families at a church, throwing stones and firing guns. They were shouting, “Kill Gulsher and his daughter Sandul.” Sandul and her father, Gulsher Masih, were arrested after a mob from the local mosque surrounded their house. Loudspeakers from different mosques broadcast accusations that Christians had disgraced the Quran, calling Muslims to attack and burn their homes. The angry crowd threw stones at Sandul’s home. Christians believe Sandul and her father were targeted and arrested because they were aggressively winning villagers to Christ. Sandul has written several letters to her family from prison. In her latest letter she says, “I am praying a lot that God releases me from here and I can meet you, but I don’t know when. He will give answers for our prayers. Please pray for me.” If convicted, Sandul faces at least four years in prison. She and her family desperately need your prayers and encouragement.Also write a letter of encouragement to Sandal’s father, Gulsher Masih, who is being held at the same prison.

To write them a letter.click on the URL below:

http://www.prisoneralert.com/qry/vp_writeletter.taf?pfilid=189&_UserReference=E7CA03801FD65E8F4977EB6D&_nc=239c48ca1989a0e82e885bbf42d0b72a

Source:

http://www.prisoneralert.com/

As in the days of Noah...

Muslims Set Church on Fire During Christmas Preparations

The Washington-DC based human rights group, International Christian Concern (ICC) http://www.persecution.org
has learned that unknown Muslims entered a church, poured kerosene on the pulpit and set it on fire in the small village of 'Chak 77-RB' near the city of Faisalabad, Pakistan. In addition, the attackers left a letter behind threatening the Christians with eternal damnation if they refused to become Muslims. According to Pastor Asif Mukhtar (photo left, holding the threatening letter),Christians in the village were cleaning the church in preparation for Christmas on December 17. There are 80-100 Christian families in the village, and they are split between Catholics and Presbyterians. However, they both share the St. Paul Church building and have never had religious disputes. At noon the church work-team took a break for lunch and left the church open. While the work-team was away, some young boys started shouting that someone had set fire to the church. Javed Masih immediately ran to the building."I was the first who reached into the church," Masih said. "I saw the Bible and other holy books burning there…and a bottle of kerosene oil and a few papers nearby.""In the meantime, other people also reached there and we took out the burned books. Fortunately, we reached in time. If not the fire may be spread in the small church," he added.According to Father Yaqoob Yousaf, the Catholic Priest who shares responsibility for St. Paul Church, the full text of the letter left behind was: "All you Christians! Embrace Islam, the true and everlasting religion, and quit Christianity since it is a false religion. You will enjoy the life here and after death also, if you believe in Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), the last Prophet, otherwise you would be put into hell." The writer reportedly neither mentioned his name nor the organization he belonged to, but simply signed the letter, "Servant of Islam."In addition, Father Yousaf commented, "The writing style and the language used shows that [the author] could be a student of a lower grade in the school or a seminary, however provoked by someone for this act."
Rapid Response
Christians informed the local police who responded quickly by sending someone to inspect the scene of the crime.The same evening, church members registered a first information report (FIR) against unknown persons, under section 295-A (blasphemy laws) of Pakistan Penal Code in Khurrarianwala police station.The work-team also told the whole village about the incident. In response, the Christian villagers gathered in the church to express their solidarity, and even some of their Muslim neighbors came to express their support for the church.Father Yousaf advised the Christians to have patience, but urged the authorities to "provide practical protection to the Christians, arrest and punish the culprit and take firm action against the religious fanatics." He said the incident has caused fear among the local Christian community. Christians are especially afraid that this person will disrupt Christmas Day services. Father Yousaf added, "We would stage a country-wide protest on the roads, if the administration does not arrest the culprit and fulfill our demands."Father Yousaf said that when the Bishop of the Diocese, Joseph Coutts, was made aware of the incident, he responded by condemning the attack and asking the faithful to remain united and pray for peace and religious tolerance in the society.
Please contact the Pakistani embassy in your country and ask them to protect the rights of Christians and all religious minorities.
Pakistan Embassies:
USA: (202) 243-6500,
info@embassyofpakistanusa.org
Canada: (613) 238-7881,
info@embassyofpakistanusa.org
parepottawa@rogers.com
UK: 0870-005-6967,
hoc@phclondon.org
Source:ICC
http://www.persecution.org/
As in the days of Noah...

Pastor Bike--CHINA

Pastor Bike speaks about the support China has received from western Christians...

Unrest continues in the Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo has been plagued by suffering and unrest.The weakest members of society are the victims of massive human rights abuses and cannot access resources to fulfill their most basic needs."You think of all the suffering that's going on, people being displaced over and over again," said Sam Vinton, president of Grace Ministries International. "There's a calm there at this time, but the people who are inciting the problems or having the rebellion are still there, so it's always something hanging over the people."A recent report by the United Nations has accused Rwanda of supporting Tutsi rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo."People in Congo are very, very concerned about the way Rwanda, they feel, is helping," Vinton said. "Whether this is completely true or not, we do not know."Despite the situation, the ministry continues to go forward. GMI is launching an initiative in partnership with Book of Hope to reach every child in its over-200 Congolese schools with the Book of Hope and the GodMan film."If we waited for things to come down to 100% peace in Congo, I think we would have left many years ago," Vinton said."But we really feel the Lord has put these 40,000 students especially right where we can reach them."Grace Ministries International trains leaders for over 500 churches in the Congo, and the national church operates 75 high schools and 145 grade schools. Many of the schools are in remote locations, and they are very difficult to reach...

PS:Remember to pray for the Church in Congo,for protection and provision for every project,they are praying for.

Source:MNN

As in the days of Noah....

Fear hangs over Christians in India

India (MNN)-About 2,100 Christian families driven from their homes in India's Orissa state are finally receiving badly-needed relief supplies.Tens of thousands of Christians were forced from their homes after riots in August following the murder of a Hindu swami and four of his followers. Hindu extremists blamed Christians and mounted mob attacks on churches, as well as homes and villages populated by Christians.Though arrests have been made in the murders, thousands of believers are too frightened to return home. Many evangelical mission agencies are calling the pogrom an effort to exterminate Christians completely.As a result, thousands have fled to camps operated by the government, police officials and private groups.However, because of extremist threats, Tom Dudenhofer with Audio Scripture Ministries says not everyone is getting what they need to survive the deteriorating conditions. "It's cold there now, and the families are suffering. The kids, especially, need blankets and clothing. However, attempts to take supplies to these people have been rejected by the state authorities who say that they don't want to give this material to the Christians because they'll only use it to force conversions on other people."Though some try to return home, extremists are forcing them to make a choice: reconvert to Hinduism, die, or leave.Dudenhofer is encouraged that it appears many believers are refusing to recant.The anti-Christian brutality spread from Orissa into Karnataka state.However,ASM has seen a unique evangelistic opportunity.Dudenhofer says their partners in Bangalore say, "There's nothing else that these people have to turn to. There is no hope; there is no promise of any material blessings or anything coming out of this situation. Our directors in Bangalore tell us that all of a sudden, a huge increase in requests for Scriptures in audio has been coming out of this area."
Keep praying for those who are in ministry in these dangerous areas.

Pray that their faith will not waver.

And pray that God will sustain and provides for their needs....

Source:MNN

As in the days of Noah...

'Catch 22' custody crisis for Christian mom

A Virginia mother is fighting off attempts by her former lesbian partner to gain visitation rights to a child.Lisa Miller, a former lesbian and now a born-again Christian, faces jail time for refusing to surrender her daughter to her ex-girlfriend in Vermont.WorldNetDaily reports that Miller could go to prison for refusing to allow her daughter to spend an unsupervised Thanksgiving holiday with her former lesbian partner Janet Jenkins. When Isabella Miller, Lisa's daughter, was 17 months old, Lisa left the homosexual lifestyle and became a Christian. However, when Miller gave birth to Isabella, she was in a civil union with Jenkins. Miller allowed Isabella to visit Jenkins a couple of times after their separation, but she then determined it unhealthy for her daughter and refused to let the unsupervised visitations continue. The U.S. Supreme Court has decided not to hear the case, but there are additional hearings next month and another chance the case will go to the high court. Liberty Counsel's Mat Staver wants the court to take the case because Virginia and Vermont are struggling with competing marriage laws."And more important, people like Lisa Miller and her Christian daughter Isabella are hung in the balance, and their lives are really torn back and forth between these states that want to impose homosexuality or same-sex unions into another sister state," he points out. Staver contends Lisa Miller is caught in a lose-lose situation. "She either protects her child and does not permit unsupervised visitation in an activist lesbian household in Vermont, or she protects the child and faces the fear of a court order to take the child away and putting her in the custody of an activist homosexual-and that's a 'Catch 22' no parent wants to be in," he concludes.

By Charlie Butts and Marty Cooper

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Legal/Default.aspx?id=355646

As in the days of Noah...

Letter from North Korea Defector

This is a narration of a letter from a North Korean underground church teacher, accompanied with photos of North Korea and its people....

Colo. Megachurch Reflects One Year after Shooting

Slain sisters Rachel (16)and Stephanie Works (18) New Life Church,Colorado

Tiffany Johnson 26 and Philip Crouse 24, killed at Youth With a Mission-Arvada,Colorado

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP)-After a year of accolades that followed her shooting of a gunman who killed two teenage sisters at her church, security guard Jeanne Assam remains "low key" and says she thinks of the family of gunman Matthew Murray."He didn't start off to be mixed up and confused. He started off to be a good person but he went down a wrong path," Assam said during a news conference after a church service Sunday. A former police officer, Assam said that now she is hoping to join the Colorado Springs police department.Assam shot and wounded Murray after he opened fire at New Life Church on Dec. 9, 2007. Murray then killed himself, ending a spree that killed four people in two cities.Assam said volunteering as an armed security guard at the church remains the highlight of her week.In the year since the shooting, Assam said, she has received an award from a Second Amendment group, as well as other accolades that include a resolution in the state Legislature. She also met President George W. Bush."I don't feel bad about what I had to do," she said. "I'm sad that people died...I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. It still feels a little surreal for me for some reason."Murray began his shooting spree at the Youth With a Mission center in the Denver suburb of Arvada just after midnight Dec. 9. There, he killed Tiffany Johnson, 26, and Philip Crouse, 24.Hours later, he drove 65 miles south to New Life Church in Colorado Springs and began shooting as worshippers left a Sunday service. Sisters Rachel Works, 16, and Stephanie Works, 18, were killed. A memorial that includes a stone bench and two blue spruce pine trees will be dedicated on Tuesday, the one-year anniversary.A candlelight vigil is also planned Tuesday in Chisholm, Minn., Johnson's hometown."I can't explain why I'm here and two wonderful daughters and sisters aren't here," the teens' father, David Works, told 9,000 people at a service Sunday, with wife, Marie, and daughters Laurie, 19, and Gracie, 12, on stage with him. "All I know is God was with us then and he's with us now."David Works, who was shot just above the waist and in the leg, has recovered and has returned to work as an IT specialist. After the service, Works said he has written a book in tribute to his daughters."You have to rebuild your family again," he said.
He said he misses watching Stephanie play chess with Gracie every night, as well as long philosophical talks with Stephanie.He also misses Rachel and her movies."There's no playing chess in the evening anymore," Works said, adding that counseling has helped him to not assign his surviving daughters the former roles of Stephanie and Rachel.During his sermon, Pastor Brady Boyd talked about mourning and how the congregation has had to grieve the death of the Works' sisters and the loss of founding pastor Ted Haggard, who resigned two years ago amid a homosexual sex and drug scandal."Where death happened, life will spring up," Boyd said, later adding: "The best is yet to come at New Life."After the service, Boyd and parishioners said Assam's heroics were miraculous. Boyd called it a "David and Goliath" moment.Wearing a trench coat and carrying an assault rifle, Murray opened fire in the church complex's parking lot and headed into the church. He walked past a playground, which church spokeswoman Amie Streater said was empty that day because it had been snowing, and entered a hallway that led toward the sanctuary past a children's worship area.Outgunned and stationed near the children, Assam stepped out from a doorway, confronted the gunman and then fired 10 shots from 63 feet away, hitting Murray once in the wrist and twice in a leg. Murray died in the hallway barely 40 feet from where he entered."There was no earthly reason why more people shouldn't have died," said June Gordon, 51, with tears welling up as she recalled the horror of the day. "I just know it was God.""There were too many things to happen that went right for there to have been a coincidence, an accident," said her husband, Russ Gordon. "We really believe that was divine."
In addition to David Works, two others were wounded at New Life. A gray column in the hallway where Murray fell has slight discolorations where Streater said bullet holes had been patched.
Assam has said she is writing a book about the role forgiveness has played in her life, but she didn't talk about it Sunday. In the days after the shooting, much was made about her single status, which Boyd said resulted in a flood of e-mails to the church from interested men.When asked if she had met anyone, Assam replied, "No, I have not yet, which is just fine."
By Associated Press Writer
P. Solomon Banda

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20081208/colo-megachurch-reflects-one-year-after-shooting.htm

As in the days of Noah....

Bible movies show Mongolians the Gospel

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (BP)-In an Ulaanbaatar conference room, five Mongolian men ages 26 to 57 sit around a table, fanned out like spokes of a wheel. One is a former Buddhist artist. Another served as an army officer for 26 years. Along one wall is a map of Mongolia with pinned-on yellow triangles. The plain ones stand for ministry sites visited.The 10 with an adorning cross represent new, indigenous churches. Lines partition the Mongolian region into five slices-one for each of the men gathered around the table. For two years, these men have traveled the countryside together, bringing the Gospel to isolated, nomadic communities. Now they will ride out separately, each carrying the Good News to one of the outlined regions.These are the men of Steppe-by-Steppe (named after Mongolian prairielands, called steppes). Each month these believers travel to the outlying areas of Mongolia, showing Bible movies and discipling believers to establish churches and strengthen existing ones. Under the discipleship of Southern Baptist worker Will Everett,* the men have shown movies to more than 25,000 Mongols in 84 communities since 2006."These guys blow me away with what God's done in their lives," Everett said. "More than anybody else in the country, these guys know its pulse. They are the experts of Mongolia."These men are not the first to travel to Mongolia's outer aimags (provinces). When the country opened up in the early '90s after communism, American believers trekked to the countryside to show the JESUS film on ger (tent home) walls and at other venues. Many accepted Christ through the campaign.A decade later, a survey of the country's churches found discipleship to be lacking. Driven by the success of the JESUS film, believers identified a set of 10 movies about the Bible, from Genesis to the New Testament. The men trek to the nomadic areas one to two weeks monthly, showing a movie each night and using the story to bridge the discussion to "Who is Christ?"They offer Bible studies each morning and either filter new believers into existing churches or disciple them to form their own. Sometimes the team's efforts are met with anger: chairs flying when the movie doesn't work, antagonists pulling the plug during a showing. Yet there are also stories about people flagging down a ride to the movies. Others have followed the team to the train station, walking in snow for miles to see them off on their continuing journeys. One member recalls digging a hole in the Gobi desert for a spontaneous baptism.Distrust often can turn to hope when these believers tell the difference Christ has made in their lives. Tumen,* a former military man who once struggled with alcohol, shared his story with alcoholics in a community marketplace.Approximately 60 men cried at the end of his talk. Building seminars from such experiences, the team is addressing villagers' needs-and providing material that can be repurposed for prison ministry."Ministry to those outside the city is new ground," Southern Baptist worker Marie Dawes* said. "Even Mongols are asking, 'How do we do this?' It's going to have to be nomads to nomads.They are in the most unreached area."

by Dea Davidson

*Name changed.

Dea Davidson is a writer for the International Mission Board.

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29481

As in the days of Noah...

Bill Targets Religious Discrimination in Okla. Schools

OKLAHOMA CITY-The first House bill filed for the 2009 legislative session seeks to clarify where the line is drawn on allowing religion in public schools, but opponents say the bill is an ideologically driven measure that will create more problems than solutions.House Bill 1001, authored by Oklahoma City Republican Reps. Sally Kern and Mike Reynolds, is titled the “Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act.”
The bill allows students to express religious viewpoints in the classroom or in assignments without discrimination and prohibits students from being penalized or rewarded for the religious content of their work.The measure also allows religious groups or clubs to have the same access to school facilities as secular groups and requires school districts to adopt policies on student speakers that does not discriminate against expressions of religious viewpoints.Reynolds said the goal of the bill is not to create any new policies for districts to follow, but simply to codify into law what already has been decided by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding religion in schools.
“There’s nothing new about this bill,” Reynolds said. “It makes it very clear that we agree with the Supreme Court.“The second thing it does is provide for a model policy for school districts to adopt so they don’t have to hire lawyers to come up with these policies.”If a district adopts the model policy contained in the bill, Reynolds said the state attorney general’s office would be required to defend the district if it were sued over the policy.But some lawmakers, including Rep. Ed Cannaday, a former teacher and school administrator in eastern Oklahoma, described the measure as a “cotton candy bill.”“It’s tasteful and you enjoy it, but it does nothing for you,” said Cannaday, D-Porum.Cannaday said the bill also could open the door for radical religious groups to demand equal time in Oklahoma schools.“What’s more dangerous is that this cotton candy has been laced with arsenic,” Cannaday said. “The radical, non-Christian fringe groups who want to undermine our faith will use this to disrupt and to distract from our spiritual base.”
A nearly identical bill last session passed the House and Senate, but was vetoed by Gov. Brad Henry.In his veto message, Henry said students already are allowed to express their faith and that the bill could subject school officials to “an explosion of costly and protracted litigation.” “While well intended, this legislation is vaguely written and may trigger a number of unintended consequences that actually impede rather than enhance such expression,” Henry wrote.Kern, also a former public school teacher, disagreed with Henry’s take on the bill, saying the measure would provide more clarity for schools.“That is totally bogus,” Kern said of Henry’s veto message. “I doubt he even read the bill.”Dr. Richard Broughton, an associate professor of zoology at the University of Oklahoma and the president of Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education, said he opposed the bill last year and plans to do so again this year. Broughton thinks the bill is an attempt to inject religion into science classrooms, a move the group adamantly opposes.“We think that only science should be taught in science classrooms,” Broughton said. “It doesn’t deal with specific science or content, but the implications are pretty clear about what kind of things could happen if the bill passes.”With Republicans now controlling both the Oklahoma House and Senate, Broughton said he fears more bills will be introduced that are driven by ideology than good public policy.“I really hope we don’t see them, but we’re concerned,” Broughton said. “Those kinds of bills have died in the past, but could re-emerge in the political environment we have now.”

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20081203/bill-targets-religious-discrimination-in-okla-schools.htm

As in the days of Noah...

Church Ad Banned for Being Offensive to Gays

An advertising watchdog has banned a newspaper ad-run by a Belfast, Ireland, church-condemning homosexuality. The Advertising Standards Authority ruled that the ad was offensive and indecent.Sandown Free Presbyterian Church ran a full page ad entitled “The Word of God against Sodomy” in the Belfast Newsletter to coincide with Belfast’s Gay Pride parade.The ad states that homosexuality is an “abomination” and warns of “God’s judgment upon a sin.” It also says that it is “a cause for regret that a section of the community desires to be known for a perverted form of sexuality.”The church said it had been “obliged under God to publicly challenge the vices of this generation.” The Belfast Newsletter said that not publishing the ad would have been an “infringement of freedom of expression on a matter of public interest.”The Advertising Standards Authority upheld complaints from seven members of the public who felt the ad was homophobic, ruling that it had “caused serious offense to some readers.”The ASA determined that the ad went “further than the majority of readers were likely to find acceptable,” although the Rev. David McIlveen of Sandown church said there was no evidence of this.It also rejected some complaints that the ad would incite hatred and violence against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community."The ad did not in itself incorporate language likely to incite a violent emotional response," the ASA ruled. But it went further to say the ad should not appear again in its current form.McIlveen said ASA’s ruling on this point was “a vindication of the true spirit in which the statement was formulated.”“However, we believe that the part of the adjudication in which the ASA upheld the complainants position shows a basic and fundamental ignorance of the teaching and application of God's Word on the subject of sodomy,” he continued.“By adjudicating on what is in effect the message of the bible on the code of decency is, in our opinion, the setting of a very dangerous precedent.”He also rejected ASA’s ruling that the ad was indecent.“Many thousands of people throughout the UK are in possession of scriptures that declare sodomy as an abomination, a perversion of sexuality and a sin before God.“Therefore by determining that quotations of bible texts and their application have breached CAP Code clause 5.1 (Decency), the ASA is taking the view that the printing and publishing of certain biblical texts is indecent.”He continued: “This is an offense to every bible believer. It is ironic that an authority that seeks to prevent others from being offended appears to have no scruples in offending those who hold to the plain teaching of the word of God.” McIlveen said it would not heed ASA’s recommendation that it seek advice from its copy team before publishing material in the future.“We see as an unwarranted interference into church affairs. It is totally unacceptable for any church to look to an outside body for their approval to print gospel tracts that are based on the word of God. This we cannot and will not do.”

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20081203/church-ad-banned-for-being-offensive-to-gays.htm

As in the days of Noah...