Missions Catalyst 04.06.11 – World News Briefs

In This Issue: Praying with Believers in Mexico, Bangladesh, and Beyond

• NORTH AMERICA: Cinco de Mayo Prayer Initiative
• IVORY COAST: Christians Targeted
• NIGERIA: Muslim Cleric Assassinated for Speaking against Islamist Militia
• ISRAEL: Messianic Jews Persecuted
• IRAQ: American Pastor in Kurdistan
• BANGLADESH: Judge Exonerates Christian Bookseller

Missions Catalyst is a free, weekly electronic digest of mission news and resources designed to inspire and equip Christians worldwide for global ministry. Use it to fuel your prayers, find tips and opportunities, and stay in touch with how God is building his kingdom all over the world. Please forward it freely!

NORTH AMERICA: Cinco de Mayo Prayer Initiative

Source: Christian Post, April 4, 2011

In answer to cries from people on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, faith leaders are launching a joint prayer and fasting initiative this month to seek divine intervention in resolving border problems and the drug cartel violence and trafficking that plagues the region.

The Cinco de Mayo Initiative is being spearheaded by Mark Gonzalez, founder of the Hispanic Prayer Network. Beginning April 15, participants will be convening for 21 days in Dallas, Mexico City, and at the border for prayer.

“God is supernaturally breathing up on this,” said Gonzalez. “Something supernatural is about to take place that has never been seen, I believe, with both countries. But they’re both going to have to … give God the glory because God’s about to do something that to this day neither government has been able to do.”

The 21 days have been marked out with a prayer guide, with the first day being a “day of cleansing” which includes dealing with stereotypes and racism on both sides.

>> Full story. Learn more and download a prayer guide from the Hispanic Prayer Network.

IVORY COAST: Christians Targeted

Source: Mission Network News, March 21, 2011

Christians are now a major target in violence which is teetering Ivory Coast on the edge of civil war. When the post-election violence began in November, believers were almost immediately at risk. Laurent Gbagbo refused to step down from his post as president when candidate Alassane Ouattara was [elected], despite international recognition of Ouattara as the country’s new president.

“In the city of Abidjan, there’s a call by Islamic clerics against the Christians,” confirms Carl Moeller with Open Doors USA. “The fact of the matter is, in this part of the world, politics and religion are very difficult to separate.”

Where does religion fit in? Gbagbo calls himself a Christian, and Ouattara calls himself a Muslim. Many Muslims associate believers with Gbagbo whether they actually support him or not. Christians’ prayers for peace in Ivory Coast are seen as further evidence of Gbagbo loyalty. As a result, Christians have been targeted directly.

>> Full story with picture. See also Up to 1 Million People Driven from Homes by Violence, UN Reports (AllAfrica.com) and in-depth analysis Cote d’Ivoire: The Forgotten War? (Aljazeera).
Another African nation has a presidential election April 9 and needs our prayers. See Nigerian Election … Crucial for Country (Open Doors) and the CSW story below.

NIGERIA: Muslim Cleric Assassinated for Speaking against Islamist Militia

Source: Christian Solidarity Worldwide, March 15, 2011

A prominent Muslim cleric was assassinated on March 13 in Maiduguri, Borno State, by members of the Boko Haram Islamist militia.

Imam Ibrahim Ahmed Abdullahi, who advocated non-violence and decried the religious sectarianism currently afflicting parts of northern and central Nigeria, regularly spoke out against Boko Haram’s activities and ideology. He was shot five times by gunmen who fled in a jeep as he sat outside his home, which was next door to his mosque.

CSW Advocacy Director Andrew Johnston said: “CSW condemns the assassination of Imam Abdullahi, and we send our sincere condolences to his family. Our prayers are with them and our hope is that his death will not deter peace-loving people from both religious communities from speaking up for justice and bridging the religious divide.”

>> Full story.

ISRAEL: Messianic Jews Persecuted

Source: Worthy News, March 22, 2011

Representatives of a Messianic Jewish community in the southern Israeli town of Arad said they face “increased persecution” by ultra-Orthodox Jews who accuse the believers of missionary activities and want them to leave Israel.

Among those targeted is widow Polly Sigulim, a Jewish mother of three Israeli soldiers. Last week, a crowd of some 200 Orthodox Jews gathered in front of her home shouting that she and other Messianic Jews should “leave Arad and Israel, a Jewish state.”

“We hope that after we will be here and demonstrate and really speak from the heart, we won’t need to return again for demonstrations because the Messianic Jews, as they call themselves, will be erased from Arad,” [a] demonstrator was heard saying.

>> Full story with video.

IRAQ: American Pastor in Kurdistan

Source: ASSIST News, March 21, 2011

Dave Gonzales, senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Cerritos, California, has just made the move of his life – despite serious health issues. Along with his wife Jenny and son Andrew, [Gonzales] has moved to Kurdistan to start a Calvary Chapel in the city of Dohuk.

However, the move was nearly hijacked when Gonzales discovered that he had a serious kidney illness.

“My kidney function has now dropped to 12% … [I] still have the symptoms of the kidney failure, but doing much better physically than when I was in USA!”

[Now settled in Iraq], he went on to say, “This week I will be having at least two young men over to the apartment to share the gospel with them and prayerfully and hopefully begin a weekly time to meet with them. I have asked them to bring friends. There is risk in this but that’s our heritage.”

“I miss my family at Cerritos and look forward to both seeing what God will start here and what he will do after I have left Iraq. The opportunities are boundless for Christ. But there is much opposition. Pray for us.”

>> Full story with pictures.

BANGLADESH: Judge Exonerates Christian Bookseller

Source: Compass Direct News, March 31, 2011

A judge this week exonerated a Christian sentenced to one year in prison for selling and distributing Christian literature near a major Muslim gathering north of [Dhaka], his lawyer said.

[25-year-old Biplob] Marandi was selling Christian books and other literature when he was arrested near the massive Bishwa Ijtema (World Muslim Congregation) on the banks of the Turag River near Tongi town on January 21.

“Some fundamentalist Muslims became very angry with him for selling the Christian books near a Muslim gathering,” [attorney Lensen] Gomes said. “His release proves that he was innocent and that he did not create any trouble at the Muslim gathering.”

“I am delirious with joy, and it is impossible to say how happy I am,” said his brother, a pastor in northern Bangladesh’s Thakurgaon district. “I also thank all those who have prayed for my brother to be released.”

>> Full story.

Editor’s note: The Bishwa Ijtema is an annual event sometimes compared to the haj pilgrimage. It typically attracts several million men who come to pray and listen to Muslim scholars from around the world.

Pat Noble has been the “news sleuth” for the Missions Catalyst since 2004. In addition to churning out the news, she is working to create a SWARM (Serving World A Regional Mobilizers) in Northern New York using the NorthernChristian.org website. A mission leader in her local church, avid reader, and follower of world news, Pat is also a Northeast Regional rep for ACMC (Advancing Churches in Missions Commitment).