January 8, 2014 – Missions Catalyst

Missions Catalyst News Briefs

In This Issue: Holidays, haram, and South Americans “going for more”

Greetings!

This edition includes a number of stories about suffering Christians. The last year has been a newsworthy one for global persecution, says the Christian ministry Open Doors – which publishes an annual World Watch List of the top 50 countries where Christians face the most persecution.

“Hundreds of churches have been attacked in Nigeria. Entire Christian towns have been destroyed in Syria. And in North Korea, at least 80 people were allegedly killed for owning a Bible,” writes Open Doors.

As the writers also point out, however, many people are coming to Christ in some of these countries.

For an overview, read The 2014 Watch List Is Here and follow links to other resources and ways to respond.

Thanks for praying!

About Us

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!

Pat Noble has been the “news sleuth” for 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. You can connect with her at www.whatsoeverthings.com.

COLOMBIA: Guerrilla Group Bans Worship Services

Source: Morning Star News, December 18, 2013

Christians in southern Colombia are living in constant danger from a guerrilla army that has banned worship services in rural areas under its control.

An estimated 150 churches have been forced to close since July, when the 32nd Front of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP in Spanish) launched a repressive campaign against Roman Catholic and evangelical churches in the department (state) of Putumayo.

The FARC-EP has prohibited celebration of the Mass and Protestant worship in most small towns and villages. Only congregations that have express permission from the rebel group are allowed to hold services without fear of retaliation.

Christians at greatest risk are the members of house churches and the itinerant evangelists who serve them.

“Every time my husband or another church leader leaves to go preach in the countryside, I can only ask, ‘Lord, continue to watch out for the safety of every one of them,'” Jeanet Ortiz Pinto, wife of itinerant evangelist and radio speaker Angel Pinto, told Morning Star News. “My heart is saddened to see what is happening around us.”

» Read full story.

» Here’s some good news from Colombia: Biggest Christian Gathering in South America “Going for More” (Christian Today).

SOUTH SUDAN: Cry Out to the Lord

Source: Window International Network, January 4, 2014

“South Sudan is the only Christian nation in our beloved 10/40 Window,” writes Windows International Network (WIN). “We must cry out to the Lord God Almighty to stop the demonic forces trying to annihilate the people in this Christian nation. Cry out to the Lord on behalf of our brothers and sisters!”

A pastor in Juba wrote to WIN [on January 4]:

“Today conflict erupted in two areas, Lui and Jumbo, where by soldiers began shooting [into the] air to protest the lack of food and supplies from the government. That created a lot of fear among the residents of these three towns and they fled to the forest. Meanwhile the soldiers begin to loot the shops and take the goods. This incident has created a lot of fear among the locals of those particular areas.

“As I’m writing now, there is a lot of gun shooting in South of Juba and the sky is full of flying bullets. It’s nighttime, and we don’t know whether the shooting will continue until morning, but please [pray] with us for protection of all in Jesus’ name. I have to go now because the gunshots are too much and getting closer. God, please cover us by your mighty arms in Jesus’ name.

» Combined from two WIN articles, South Sudan in Trouble and Cry Out to the Lord for South Sudan (which contains detailed prayer points).

» Also read Q&A: Violence in South Sudan (SIM workers Nate and Ginna Killoren) and check out this useful infographic, Untangling South Sudan Violence (Al Jazeera).

KAZAKHSTAN: Fines for “Extremist” Books

Source: Forum 18, January 6, 2014

After raids on a Baptist church and a Christian center in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, in October 2012, a court in December 2013 fined two Protestants the equivalent of nearly four weeks’ state-calculated average wage each for having “extremist” materials. Only one of seven confiscated items is known to have been banned as “extremist” through the courts.

Protestants have repeatedly rejected accusations by state bodies that works confiscated from them are “extremist” and deserve to be banned. An Astana court is due to rule on January 13 whether a text by Salafi Muslim Mohammed ibn Abdul-Wahhab is “extremist” and should be banned.

Because court hearings to rule whether materials are “extremist” take place unannounced and because no published list of banned books appears to exist, people in Kazakhstan remain unaware of what has and has not been banned. “Extremism” bans are part of a harsh system of state-imposed religious censorship.

» Read full story. Also from Forum 18, in Turkmenistan, Singing About God Here Is Banned.

IRAQ: Government Declares Christmas a National Holiday

Source: Asia News, via Assyrian International News Agency, December 24, 2013

In a new and important step towards the Christian minority, the Iraqi government accepted a request by the Chaldean Patriarchate to recognize December 25 as an official day of celebration and a national holiday for all of the country’s citizens.

In Karrada, a neighborhood on the eastern bank of the Tigris River where Christians, Shias, and Sunnis live peacefully together, the authorities had already set up a five-meter Christmas tree.

As a show of “solidarity,” the decision sends a signal meant to curb an exodus that has decimated the Christian community in the past ten years.

It comes after His Beatitude Mar Raphael Louis Sako I wrote a letter to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki last week, asking him to make December 25 a “day of rest for all Iraqis.”

For the patriarch, such a recognition would be a way to acknowledge the value and importance of a community that has for centuries actively contributed to the development of the nation.

In his letter, the Chaldean Patriarch explained that “Jesus did not come just for Christians, but for everyone,” stressing the “special respect” Muslims “have for him.”

» Read full story.

» Listen to this very inspiring interview with the Anglican pastor called “the Vicar of Baghdad” (Compassion Radio).

» Other places have banned Christmas events. See Somalia Bans Christmas Celebrations (AINA) and, from Banda Aceh, Indonesia, Christmas and New Year Are Haram (Worthy News).

EVENTS: Additions to 2014 Calendar

Source: Missions Catalyst

Readers have sent us word about more missions events to add to our Missions Events Calendar. Take a look!

January 15, CityReaching Diaspora Initiative Phone Conference (online). This month’s focus: How cities are mobilizing for disciple-making using T4T principles.

January 25-26, Business for Transformation Training (Houston, TX, USA). Reaching the least reached through business; led by Patrick Lai. Organized by Nexus B4T and OPEN Network.

February 17-19, Mission America Coalition Leadership Consultation (Charlotte, NC, USA). Loving America to Christ.

April 11-12, T4T Training (Lebanon, TN, USA). Learn effective practices for church-planting movements at home and around the world.

April 14, Global Day of Prayer for the 4/14 Window (global). Praying for the world’s children, aged 4-14.

April 19-23, Christian Community Development Conference (near Stuttgart, Germany).

April 24-46, iSpectra, Igniting Multicultural Discipleship (Los Gatos, CA, USA). Bay Area’s first global multiethnic discipleship conference, in conjunction with The Harvest Group.

May 16-18, The Journey Deepens (Fort Washington, PA, USA). Retreat for those considering missions. Sponsored by MissionNext.

May 31 to June 8, Darshan: Training in Outreach among Hindus (Chicago, IL, USA). Classroom training and daily guided Hindu community interaction. Provided by Christar.

August 3-23, Manarah: Training in Outreach among Muslims (Dearborn, MI, USA). Intensive course on Islam and daily guided outreach with seasoned mentors from Christar.

» View complete calendar.