Category: News Briefs

Source: Baptist Press, July 31, 2013

He is difficult to find and even then is barely visible, but he’s there. Green Man, a symbol of ancient pagan religion, stares down from the nave of Norwich Cathedral. In a way, his presence is symbolic of how it has always been, and still is, in this [once] medieval city.

Norwich has the unique distinction of being officially classified as England’s most ungodly city. Its “ungodly” status comes from the 2011 census, [which shows] Norwich leading the way in a national shift away from Christianity, with 42.5 percent in the city saying they have no religion, against a national rate of 25.1 percent.

“Norwich is kind of a microcosm of England,” [Pastor Marvin] Lucas said. “As far as Christian history is concerned, England used to be more pagan. It’s kind of come full circle, I believe; back to paganism.”

» Read full story.

Source: Simon Guillebaud, August 13, 2013

The amazing work continues in Burundi! There are six days to go, and this will be the last update from me until the full results come in a few weeks from now, but it’s just so encouraging to share, and key in terms of prayers yielding fruit. Here’s the latest from Onesphore, who writes:

“Here is one of many stories reaching us. In Kiremba, one of our teams met a family whose seven-year-old girl was blind, crippled, and her tongue hung limply outside her mouth, so she was unable to speak. They washed her and prayed for her, whereupon she immediately got her sight back, began speaking, and was able to walk. The whole village ran to see the miracle. Her family and 25 others in the village gave their lives to Christ.

“At Busoni, where earlier in the week the deaf/dumb man was healed, two of our groups were seriously beaten up by the sons of witchdoctors who saw them as a threat to their business. We are trying to encourage them. Pray for their perseverance. The enemy is obviously not happy with all the fruit.”

» Read full story. See Simon’s blog for additional reports and context.

Source: Mission Network News, July 4, 2013

Lesotho’s shepherds spend weeks at a time in difficult conditions in the highlands, tending their employer’s flocks of sheep and goats and spending their nights in simple rock shelters. It’s a job that keeps them isolated and marginalized.

Africa Inland Mission (AIM) is trusting God to bring together a team of eight single young men to live among these least-reached shepherds and introduce them to Christ. The project is part of AIM’s Training in Ministry Outreach program.

“I believe that the shepherd community of Lesotho offers extraordinary opportunities for incarnational witness,” says AIM missionary John Barry, who has served among them. “While conditions are difficult, and the population density very low, relationships [among shepherds] are intense. I think this offers the perfect opportunity for genuine discipleship.”

» Read the full story, and watch the beautiful five-minute video Set Apart. See also two previous AIM reports, The Shepherds of Lesotho and The Shepherd Evangelists.

Source: Baptist Press, July 3, 2013

Thousands have fled their homes in northern Nigeria amid Islamic extremist attacks on Christians, partly in retaliation for the government’s state of emergency and the destruction of extremist bases.

The violence was attributed to ethnic Fulani Muslims and to the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram, indicating the latter has regrouped and retaliated against Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan’s state of emergency and corresponding destruction in May of Boko Haram bases in the Sambisa Games Reserve in Borno.

Boko Haram is blamed for killing pastor Jacob Kwiza and attacking five Christian communities in Borno’s Mandara Hills area, Morning Star News reported. Fulani Muslims are blamed for killing Toma Vongjen, a Christian in the Wase area of Plateau State, and destroying church buildings in four villages there, the persecution monitor reported.

The thousands who fled their homes had been warned by Boko Haram to flee within a week or face death, area Christians said, the Associated Press reported.

Dinfa Lambda, a pastor in Jos, told Morning Star News whole villages have been displaced in northern Nigeria and that Christian fellowship and evangelistic outreach efforts are no longer possible.

“There are Christian villages that have been completely wiped out by these Muslim terrorists,” Lambda was quoted as saying.

» Read full story, as well as another Baptist Press story making the case that Nigerian Islamic Terrorism Transcends Religion.

» See also, Boko Haram Begs for Forgiveness, Signs Ceasefire Deal (Vanguard News) and Why Nigeria Matters (Julian Linnell, Anglican Frontier Missions).

Source: United Bible Societies, July 5, 2013

Ramez Atallah, General Secretary of the Bible Society of Egypt, asks for prayer during “these momentous days.”

“The real picture of what happened during the demonstrations is radically different from what you imagine. More than 17 million people across the country participated (the largest turnout in our history and possibly a world record, too), but it was mostly peaceful, despite the numbers involved. As I and my family walked through the crowds of people – old, young, men, and women – we felt proud to be Egyptians and to be united with so many of our countrymen – both Christians and Muslims. It was exhilarating to see people’s enthusiasm and love for our great nation.

“It was when Egyptians realized that they could not depend on foreign powers to resolve their crisis that a small group of young people started this grassroots movement designed to force the president’s resignation. The fact that this is truly a movement by and for the people was reflected in the sheer numbers who took part in the protests.

“So rejoice with us for the remarkable events taking place in our country. Pray that the unprecedented unity expressed between all Egyptians who reject the forceful imposition of political Islam will result in a new Egypt where people with different persuasions can live alongside one another in harmony. This is the Egypt I remember from my youth and the Egypt most people yearn for.”

» Read full story.

» See also: Christians and Muslims Come Together to Share Ramadan Meal in Egypt (Christian Post).

Source: ASSIST News, July 12, 2013

“Whom did you cast your vote for?” I asked my tailor, a hardworking man in his early forties who works in his shop in a peaceful locality in Lahore where I have been living for the last 23 years. He stared at me and replied [with anguish], “No one. Our leader told us not to, because we have no rights in the country and we are treated like animals.”

He caught my confusion and added, “I’m an Ahmadi. You might have heard about us?” The hurt on his face left me speechless. It was the first time he revealed his identity, confiding in me knowing well I am a Christian [and therefore also] a minority in Pakistan.

Pakistan is the home to the largest population of Ahmadis in the world and in 1974 became the first and only state to declare Ahmadis “non-Muslims.” In 1984 the Pakistan military dictator further issued an ordinance of imprisoning those Ahmadis calling themselves Muslims, using public prayer rooms, or using traditional Islamic greetings in public.

» Read full story.

» See also: Pakistan’s Ahmadis Face Rising Persecution, Violence (Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty).

Source: Barnabas Fund, July 8, 2013

A young Christian man who has turned his home in Belarus into a shelter for the homeless is facing up to two years’ imprisonment after being accused of leading an unregistered religious organization.

Aleksei Shchedrov, 28, is being investigated on criminal charges following police raids on the shelter in the village of Aleksandrovka, Grodno Region, in February and April.

The authorities have taken issue with a prayer room, which is used by residents and local villagers, at the site, but Aleksei insists that he is running a charity, not a religious organization.

He said, “I am a Christian and I help those who are in need. I give them food, a bed, a bath, and clothes, and I pray together with them.”

Aleksei set up the shelter in December 2011 and estimates that he has since helped almost 100 people.

He is being investigated under Criminal Code Article 193-1, which punishes “organization of or participation in activity by an unregistered political party, foundation, civil, or religious organization.” Violators face a fine or up to two years’ imprisonment.

» Read full story.

In This Issue: Praying for celebrity diplomacy and translations that transform

• SIERRA LEONE: Violence Erupts at Orthodox Mission Run by Former Australian Rock Star
• CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: New, Modern Bible Translation
• VIETNAM: Rare Religious Rights Success
• NEPAL: Tibetan Mother Believes, But Cannot Count Herself a Christian

Greetings!

In February Dennis Rodman visited North Korea. Last month Jennifer Lopez performed in Turkmenistan. Celebrity diplomacy is not new. It’s what Shirley Temple did when she grew up, and Charles Lindbergh and Jane Fonda visited the enemies of their times. Many celebrities get a hefty payout from these wealthy dictators. If stars are going where missionaries are not welcome, how might we pray for these forays?

I almost dismissed this news as having little or nothing to do with God’s kingdom, but then I came across the story of former rock star Themi Adams, who went from being idolized in the seventies to serving and worshiping Jesus in West Africa today. Read some of his story below.

I asked how we might pray. I’ll give it a go. Lord, may you teach celebrities about true worship and somehow use them in the hard places to advance your kingdom.

If celebrity diplomats don’t convince you of globalization’s reach, read Bagpipes Play Up A Storm in Pakistan’s Boom Town. There must be a prayer for this one, no?

blessings,
Pat

Source: ASSIST News, June 29, 2013

A revolt broke out recently against the clergy and mission staff at Waterloo Mission in Freetown, Sierra Leone, which is run by a former Australia rock star who once toured with the Rolling Stones.

Themi Adams, who left the rock world and now heads the [Greek] Orthodox mission in the trouble-torn West African country of Sierra Leone, is accustomed to adversity, and understands very well what could [be] fueling the passion for hostility.

“This community that we are assisting is caught between two ideologies,” said Brother Themi. “They oscillate between peace and violence according to the situation at hand and who is their leader.”

“People do what they know to survive,” said Themi. “If they know ‘bad things’ they will do them. This is what we are here for: to help and get them back on track. And, at times, this can be to our own detriment.”

“There is a tendency to romanticize missionary endeavors. The Orthodox Church and its priests, many here believe are living comfortable lives, but the truth, however, is that the Orthodox Church in Africa is at the frontier, regularly facing life-threatening situations for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Adams says that, since his move to Sierra Leone, his life has been “imminent danger” on at least 50 occasions, but added, “My escape each time was due solely to the grace of God.”

» Read full story. You might also be interested in watching a 2012 video interview with Brother Themi in which he describes his journey “from rock star to reverend” (Vimeo video, InFocus).