Category: News Briefs

Source: Jubilee Campaign, January 30, 2020

It has been a five-year-long ordeal, with lack of food, poor living conditions, and abuse in prison, with two of the 42 suspects dying in custody in 2017. After five years however, the Youhanabad Christians are finally released [after being acquitted by the Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court].

[The] forty Pakistani Christians [have] been on trial for the murder of two men during a violent protest following Easter suicide attacks on two churches in Youhanabad [which left 17 dead and 80 wounded]. Two others, arrested with them, have already died, allegedly due to a lack of access to medical treatment.

Following the [2015] attack, Christians took to the streets to protest. The crowd collectively determined that the two suspects were responsible for the bombings.

While there are many interpretations of the event circulating in the news, one of which stated that Christian protestors killed these two suspects… Witnesses reported that the suspects were actually killed by a Muslim radical to stoke violence.

Regardless, the Punjab Chief Minister filed three First Information Reports which placed collective blame on Christians for the death of Hafiz and Barber and permitted police officials in Lahore to trespass—at random—into the homes of Christians which led to the arrest of the 42 Christian men who they then transferred to prisons where they have remained since 2015 until their release on January 29, 2020.

» Read full story.

» See also 40 Pakistani Christians Freed After Almost Five Years in Prison on Trial for “Terrorism” (World Watch Monitor). It reports the acquittal came on the same day well-known Pakistani Christian Asia Bibi published her biography (in French).

Source: International Mission Board, January 28, 2020

Malagasy Baptist leaders invited IMB personnel to participate in an inaugural event: Baptists from Madagascar taking first steps toward sending their own indigenous missionaries. IMB representatives led the group through discussions on topics such as a biblical overview of missions, recognizing those who are called to go, training methods, and facets of support.

Malagasy Baptist church planters know well the extreme hardships of going to the unreached in difficult places. Bush taxis may bounce, lurch and throw passengers against each other for ten long hours to cover only 90 miles. Where the bush taxis can’t go, the church planters pedal hard-seat bikes countless miles. Where bicycles can’t go, they walk rough paths. Some travel four days on foot and pass through dangerous forests rife with criminals to reach their target peoples. Where they cannot walk, they paddle dug-out canoes.

» Read full story.

Source: Christian Post, January 31, 2020

Government officials from the United States and several countries will convene in Washington, DC, on the eve of the [February 6] National Prayer Breakfast for the inaugural meeting of the new International Religious Freedom Alliance.

US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback told reporters on Wednesday that the alliance is essentially like an “activist club” of countries that are serious about pushing religious freedom globally.

The alliance was first announced by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last July and touted by President Donald Trump at the United Nations General Assembly in September. It is said to be the first-ever alliance of nations devoted to confronting religious persecution around the world.

The alliance comes at a time when most of the world’s population lives in countries where religious freedom is limited in some way.

» Full story says at least 17 countries have committed to the alliance.

Source: Open Doors, January 30, 2020

Partners in Bangladesh are asking for prayer following a violent Muslim mob attack on a group of Rohingya believers who left Islam to follow Jesus.

At least six believers were hospitalized. It’s also believed that three Christian men were kidnapped and may be facing torture in captivity. There are also unconfirmed reports that one or more of these men have already been killed for their faith.

On Monday morning, January 27, a mob of hundreds of people attacked believers and looted their homes. Eighteen homes and a house church building were destroyed.

The mob is most likely connected to the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), a Muslim insurgent group that, to date, hasn’t pledged allegiance to any foreign Islamist groups, such as Al-Qaeda or Islamic State.

Our field tells us that while area police have been pressured to investigate and work for the release of the kidnapped Christians [but] say that the Rohingya first need to file a case. However, because Rohingyas are refugees in Bangladesh, they don’t have citizenship—making filing a crime report almost impossible.

» Read full story. See also an article from Barnabas Fund about this attack and a longer one from Benar News.

Recently, Open Doors met with Chinese church leaders so they could listen to each other’s stories and encourage one another during this season of escalating persecution. See story below.

In this issue:

Source: Open Doors, January 18, 2020

A sister from Central China shared how the police had shut down all the house churches in the region, warning pastors not to hold any more meetings.

“We are constantly on edge,” she said, “but our faith has grown and we are more determined than ever to see Christians in the area stand strong and not compromise their faith in Jesus. We have started many smaller meetings now, and more and more brothers and sisters are putting their hands up to act as mini house church leaders.

“The situation is tense, but we know God is on the move in spite of the restrictions. We held a regional leaders meeting and agreed that when one of us is arrested, another will pick up the work. We also decided to respond to the police respectfully and in love even if they yell at us or use physical force [in attempts to] make us surrender the names of other believers.”

» Full story includes comments from other Chinese Christian leaders and a video report from Open Doors CEO David Curry.

» Open Doors recently released the 2020 World Watch List Report about the top 50 countries where being a Christian comes with the highest cost and risk. Related stories include the Ten Most Dangerous Places for Christians and an article comparing the causes and results of persecution in the top two, North Korea and Afghanistan.

Source: International Mission Board, January 7, 2020

Prayer strategy leaders in Japan long to see the nation transformed by the hope of Jesus, and they’ve committed to pray daily for the nation. There is excitement and enthusiasm for what they see God doing. Rather than yielding to the darkness, they are invigorated by the light of the gospel. Across Japan, [we] are hearing reports of God doing amazing things that offer hope of what may come:

• A church in the heart of a bustling shopping and social hub in Tokyo has been languishing. This church’s leaders wanted to know why Tokyo Baptist Church was healthy and growing. When they approached the church for answers, God opened the door for the leaders to speak of the importance of standing on the authority of Scripture and yielding to the lordship of Christ. Through ongoing discipleship efforts and prayer, this church could soon be revitalized and play a key role in reaching the city.
• A healthy church near Yokohama has been holding festivals with remarkable results. The festivals allow local residents to meet Japanese Christians and see the joy they have found in Jesus. This has prompted people to visit the church following the festivals to learn more about what they have seen and heard. The pastor of the church is praying for God to reach ten million Japanese people by 2024.
• Japanese people are choosing to listen to and believe the gospel as it is proclaimed during international sporting events, at ongoing festivals, and through personal relationships. Additionally, Japanese business people are learning from Christian business leaders how faith and business can intersect.

Increasing prayer, churches working together, and more people hearing and responding to the gospel through the church’s desire to engage the lost have all been precursors to spiritual awakenings in past generations. The signs point to a growing spiritual awakening in Japan.

» Read full story. The Olympic Games will come to Tokyo this summer; visit the Prayer page of IMB’s Olympic ministry website.

» For some perspective on urban Japan, see Every Country Highlighted on This Map Has a Smaller Population Than Tokyo.

Source: Morning Star News, January 21, 2020

The Rev. Lawan Andimi had a treasured life—a loving family, an affectionate congregation, respect from his colleagues.

The kidnapped district chairman of the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria (EYN) in Michika County, in northeast Nigeria’s Adamawa state, had stated in a video that he trusted in God should he lose his life to Islamic terrorists of Boko Haram. The rebel militants executed the father of eight children on Monday [January 20], the head of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) confirmed [Tuesday, January 21].

Ahmad Salkida, a Muslim journalist who has been a primary means for Boko Haram to release information, reported in a tweet that the group beheaded Pastor Andimi on Monday afternoon.

CAN President Samson Ayokunle today confirmed in a comment to the Nigerian newspaper the Daily Post that Pastor Andimi had been executed.

Pastor Andimi had said in a Boko Haram video released by Salkida on January 5 that he hoped to be reunited with his wife, children, and colleagues.

“If the opportunity has not been granted, maybe it is the will of God,” he said. “I want all people close and far, colleagues, to be patient. Don’t cry, don’t worry, but thank God for everything.”

Pastor Andimi, who also served as chairman of CAN’s local chapter, was kidnapped on January 2 when Boko Haram attacked two Christian communities in the area.

» Read full story. Heartbreaking. We were ready to publish a report highlighting the pastor’s January 5 statements when we saw the news that he had been killed. Please be in prayer for his family and community.

» Meanwhile, in Iran, a prominent Christian rights activist has disappeared.. This is a great time to pray for Iran (Prayercast).

Source: Barnabas Fund, January 6, 2020

The United Wa State Army (UWSA) in control of the Wa Special Region in Myanmar (Burma), bordering China’s Yunnan province, has allowed at least 50 churches to reopen.

Local church leaders issued a plea for prayer when the China-backed, Communist influenced separatist group closed more than 100 churches in northern Shan State in 2018, demolishing some and banning the construction of new church buildings. At least 200 Christian leaders and workers were “investigated” and detained. All have since been released.

A Bible school was also shut down and 41 of its students arrested and forced into hard labor as military porters.

Local church leaders welcomed the reopenings and reported that most church buildings in the towns of Panghsang, Hopang, Kho Pang and Namphan are now open for worship, leaving only one church and a school building still closed.

[The region] is home to several ethnic groups including Wa, Kachin, Ta’ang, Lahu, Lisu, Kokang, Shan, Chinese, and Burman. Christians form the largest religious group in the region, estimated to be 30 percent of the population.

» Read full story or check out what seems to be the source of this report, which clarifies some details (The Irrawaddy).

Source: Mission Network News, January 7, 2020

Small groups typically revolve around local communities and churches, but technology is opening a window of connection.

The program is based on Whatsapp, a free messaging, video, and voice application. Sammy Tippit Ministries provides daily videos, resources, and training for small-group leaders to share. It’s up to the group leader to form and operate the group.

“We’re not providing the technology but we’re taking already existing technology and taking small groups and saying ‘form those groups where you can actually communicate on a daily basis,’” said Founder Sammy Tippit.

He doesn’t see these virtual groups as replacements for in-person small groups. The groups are intended for believers who are separated by distance to supplement traditional weekly in-person gatherings.

Currently, a group of believers in China who are unable to meet physically are using these resources to meet weekly for devotions and prayer.

» Read full story.

» Read about another trend affecting global ministry, the migration of Christians and rise of diaspora congregations (The Gospel Coalition).