MOROCCO: Christian Jailed for “Shaking the Faith of a Muslim”

Source: Worthy News, September 12, 2013

A Moroccan Christian has been fined and jailed for “shaking the faith of a Muslim.”

Spreading Christianity is prohibited under Article 220 of the Moroccan Penal Code; the maximum sentence for this offense is three to six months’ imprisonment, but in a September hearing, Mohamed el Baldi was convicted and sentenced to two and a half years.

Baldi was arrested after his house was raided on August 28 and all his religious belongings were confiscated, according to World Watch Monitor.

Baldi, who converted to Christianity almost seven years ago, confessed that he attended Christian meetings in the towns of Meknes and Rabat.

During his hearing, Baldi’s mother was said to have asked Allah to exact revenge on whoever tampered with her son’s mind.

» Full story here.

Missions Catalyst 9.11.13 – Practical Mobilization

In This Issue: One practice that may catch fish but kill the pond

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!

Shane Bennett writes and speaks for a great organization called Frontiers. Lately he’s wondering about how Muslim immigrants in Europe might fully experience God’s blessing.

He’s also working with some buds to leverage a $49 a month smart phone plan to raise a ton of money for cross-cultural workers. Email him for info on the plan or the vision.

 

 

Catch a Fish, but Kill the Pond

fish pic

By Shane Bennett

Introduction

Sometimes I make people mad. Now if I were saying this from a pulpit somewhere, I might claim it happens because I take tough stances on controversial issues or because I get all John the Baptist-y on people and point out their sin. Since it’s just us, I can be honest and say that usually when I make people mad it’s because I do dumb stuff. Spend money I haven’t earned yet. Commit to things I haven’t the time or skill to do. Lose track of one of my own kids. You know, stuff we all do, right? So a life goal of mine is to do less dumb stuff with increasing frequency.

This also applies to my efforts to encourage people to give their best for those currently without access to the gospel. Here’s a quick look at some events from my mobilization hall of shame:

  • I told one of my staff she had to use her sick leave to go care for her dying father.
  • I took a couple of men who had hardly been out of their state to four Asian countries in nine days, dragging them through some of the toughest neighborhoods on the planet, asking them to eat food they hadn’t even seen on the Travel Channel.
  • I promised a friend I’d research the Afghans of his city in too little time and with too few people. It was a dismal failure.

In an effort to be less dumb, I’ve been wondering lately about how I motivate people to give their valuable time, energy, and money to the unreached and unengaged. And not just how I do this, but how we do this or things like it.

Inviting People to Join God’s Purposes

Think for a moment about what motivations you appeal to when you invite people to join you in God’s purposes. Do you ask people to respond to great need with great compassion? Certainly a valid motivation. What about guilt? You know, “How many Bibles do you have gathering dust on a shelf, when [name the people group] have none?” It’s hard to argue with that logic. But the guilt fails to carry the water when home is a long way from the well.

The particular motivation I want to think about with you today is summed up nicely in the inspiring but perhaps problematic call of Francis Xavier to “tell the students to give up their small ambitions and come eastward to preach the gospel of Christ.” It’s the “what I’m doing is more important than what you’re doing” motivation. And I think it may be pretty dangerous.

Catching One Kind and Killing the Others

When we, with genuine hearts, call a group of people to join in what we believe God is doing, establishing his name among all nations, we may inadvertently imply that what they’re currently doing is somehow subpar. In fact, we sometimes explicitly declare this! God knows, perhaps what people are doing is subpar, but it’s arrogant on our part to say so.

It’s one thing to communicate this to my daughter, son, or pastor. I know them. We can discuss it. But to say such to a group of people or broadcast it by print or web is risky. It will certainly appeal to some. I wonder though, if we get our few at the cost of alienating most. Because most will be dishonored by the implication that their jobs, vocations, and visions are not really what God is up to. Some will respond with slight aggression. Most will simply ignore us. It’s like fishing with a type of bait that catches one species, but kills the rest in the process!

Did Jesus Do This?

Now it seems that Jesus may have used this precise motivation when he called some of his guys to leave their fishing nets and follow him, saying he’d make them fishers of men. Was our wise Father Francis simply paraphrasing Christ? I don’t think so. Jesus knew these guys. He was addressing novice disciples and calling them to the next step in a rabbinical process they were privileged to participate in.

Conclusion

Feel free to push back on this with comments and corrections (below). As I said, I’m wondering about these things. We need hundreds of thousands of laborers thrust out into the harvest field. Particularly given that the nations have moved in to our neighborhoods in the past few years! It won’t do to celebrate a few dozen (even a few hundred) missionaries if in the process of calling them, we offend everyone else to the degree they don’t participate at all.

» Related articles from our archives explore top ten myths about missions and four ways we motivate people to engage the world. Be sure to check out the insightful reader comments, too!

» Know someone who would be interested in this article? Forward this email to them.

SUBVERSIVE MOBILIZATION: Failure of Imagination

Today we soberly commemorate the twelfth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks which destroyed the World Trade Centers, killed 2,996 people and led to devastating wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Early this week a friend recalled hearing the attacks attributed to a failure of imagination. That phrase landed on me like a ton of bricks. Most of us didn’t even dream this could happen.

Twelve years on, I wonder in what ways my imagination may be failing today. What is ahead that I don’t see? What does God have in mind that I’m not even remotely hoping for? How about you? How big is your dream for God’s kingdom in your life, in your city, or maybe even among Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists?

My prayer for me and you is that God would give us grace to imagine not every bad thing that might happen, but rather the fullness of his coming kingdom, his unobstructed, winsome, complete rule in our lives and throughout his creation.

» Comment on this article below. See also a previous 9/11 article on replacing fear with love and hope.

Missions Catalyst 9.4.13 – Special Edition

In This Issue: Special Edition on Egypt

Dear Readers,

This week we bring you a special edition. The two opinion pieces below, from Answering Islam and Operation Mobilization, offer different angles on the situation in Egypt and its spiritual implications. May they help you pray!

See also John Piper’s meditation on Isaiah 19, What God Says to Egypt, and the Windows International Network article, The Lord Will Bring Egypt from the Brink of Self-destruction.

Quotable:

In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together.

In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. The Lord Almighty will bless them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance.”

Isaiah 19:23-25

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

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.

 

 

Are Diabolic Forces Undermining Egypt?

Source: Roland Clarke, Answering Islam, August 2013

Egypt is embroiled in its worst crisis in thirty years. What does all this bloodshed mean? It seems significant numbers of Egyptians have woken up to the fact that their aspirations for freedom have been hijacked by radical religionists.

Under Morsi’s sharia-driven regime, Muslims attacked churches and Christians with impunity. Not only so, no sooner did the military start disbanding obstinate camps of protesters than a series of attacks broke out against Christians. Within a week, six dozen churches were burned, vandalized, or attacked. Morsi’s supporters also attacked several dozen Christian schools, businesses, and institutions. Among these were two Bible Society shops which were completely destroyed.

During this same period of rage, an article was published online showing pictures of Islamists vandalizing a church (This Is What It Looks Like Just Before the Muslim Brotherhood Jumps You). What makes this incident so astonishing is that it evoked a backlash within the Muslim Brotherhood ranks and caused them to deep embarrassment.

[Another article,] Egyptian Churches Burn as the Muslim Brotherhood Shows its True Face, quotes a Twitter statement by the Brotherhood spokesman, Gehad El-Haddad: “We will always be non-violent and peaceful… Our peacefulness is our strength and we will never be dragged into violence. We unequivocally reject all forms of violence/vandalism.” However, the burning and looting of dozens of churches [tells] a different story.

On August 16, I received a letter from an evangelical church leader in Egypt that voiced similar concerns. Speaking as an insider, he gives a very different picture to reports in the mainstream media.

“I speak with absolute certainty when I say that, for the vast majority of Egyptians, the military are finally doing what the people have been asking – this is not part of a military coup but rather a restoration of control to the majority of Egyptian people. Although the huge number of mortalities is both tragic and regrettable, they could have been avoided, had the MB (Muslim Brotherhood) entered into peaceful productive dialogue with the transitional government, as the military so often invited them to over the past six weeks.”

[In Understanding the Present Situation in Egypt, another respected Egyptian leader, Ramez Atallah (General Secretary for The Bible Society of Egypt), confirms what my friend wrote:

“Many of us involved in Christian ministry in Egypt are appalled at the misunderstandings about the situation in Egypt being propagated by even normally balanced international media like the BBC, and the way it has, in general, portrayed the Muslim Brotherhood as the victims of injustice…

“In November 2012, he [Morsi] illegally gave himself new sweeping powers to act without censure and rushed through a new pro-Islamic constitution despite the protests and boycotts from liberals, moderate Muslims, and Christians, and then he refused to call for new elections – as had previously been agreed to do after a new constitution had been adopted.”

It seems that more and more peace-loving Muslims feel anguish and deep embarrassment at the never-ending atrocities (as well as pervasive deceit) perpetrated in the name of Allah. The bloodshed in Egypt and Syria – indeed, across the Muslim world – is causing many Muslims to feel disillusioned and to yearn for real peace.

» Full story here.

» Feel free to ask Roland Clarke any questions related to this article. You may also be interested in these articles he mentions: Egyptian Ambassador: ‘It Became Necessary to Finish This Thing Today’, Muslim Brotherhood Kills Its Own, and Inside Egypt’s Terrorist Camps: Torture, Rape, Mass Murder.

Egypt: Breaking the Fear Barrier!

Source: Debbie Meroff, OM News, August 18, 2013

A lot more is happening in Egypt these days than is apparent on our nightly news. A Christian worker on the ground in Cairo, whom we will call John Nyalls to protect his security, reports a groundswell of excitement among the Christian population who are involved in reaching Muslims. He declares, “One year of Morsi’s government has done more to advance Christianity in Egypt than all the decades before it.”

Media attention to Muslim Brotherhood demonstrations gives the impression that this group is much bigger than it actually is. John estimates that only about one-half to one percent of the population are avid pro-Brotherhood and up to five percent may be ultra-conservative Islamists. But after Morsi failed in his promise to represent all the people rather than the Islamist faction and [passed] an Islamist-favored constitution, the vast majority of Egyptians made it clear they’d had enough.

So unpopular is the Muslim Brotherhood these days, observes John, that many shopkeepers are refusing to serve men with long beards (the usual Brotherhood trademark), and taxi drivers are refusing to pick them up. Some Muslims have shaved off their beards in self-defense.

Christians – especially young people from the churches – have become proactive, handing out thousands of copies of Bibles, New Testaments, [copies] of the JESUS Film, and other material. Very few Arabic Bibles are refused. Believers add that they’ve even observed some covered Muslim women, after receiving Bibles, lift the book to their lips in a reverent kiss.

It hasn’t all been easy for the Christian population, however. Ultra-conservative Muslims have retaliated against what they called Christian support for Morsi’s removal. A number of attacks have been launched against churches and Christians, particularly those who live in Brotherhood strongholds.

“Now,” says John, “the wolf – the Brotherhood – is no longer pretending to be a sheep. Members are now unbridled in going after churches and Christians. And this is turning more moderate Muslims against them.”

He pointed out the astonishing fact that tens of thousands of Bibles are being downloaded each month in the Muslim world. The website aljazeera.net published an interview with Ahmad Al Qataan, an important Islamic cleric, who said that every year six million Muslims convert to Christianity. Unfortunately, most disillusioned Muslims will turn to atheism rather than Christianity unless more people seize the day. John reports that Christian Egyptians who have been reaching out are coming across a significant enough number of atheists; they are feeling the need for specific training on how to reach them.

» Full story here.

Missions Catalyst 8.28.13 – World News Briefs

In This Issue: From all the world into all the world

For additional news stories, follow us on Twitter.

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

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.

 

 

CHILE: Motivation for Missions

OM Chile photo

Source: OM News, August 16, 2013

Rob Minderhoud, a worker with OM Chile involved in church mobilization, recently had the opportunity to go on a two-week trip to promote OM Chile and share about missions in the north of the country.

“Together with the leader of another missionary organization, we traveled more than 4,000 kilometers visiting numerous of churches, youth groups, radio stations, and taking advantage of all the opportunities God put in our path,” he shared. “We stayed two to four days in every place, and by God’s grace we were able to contact and get to know many pastors and people interested in missions, resulting in several church invitations to provide them with mission training.”

Chile is a “Christian” country, with about 15 per cent of the 17 million inhabitants being evangelical Christians. Chileans are passionate about their faith in Jesus, and OM sees huge potential to send Chileans into missions.

“Many churches still lack vision and knowledge regarding missions,” said Rob. “But it is great to see how God is opening doors and is working in the hearts and minds of many Chilean believers.”

During the trip, God also faithfully provided food and places to stay. “We experienced a lot of love through Chilean brothers and sisters,” Rob said. “Some people told me they had been praying for a long time for a missionary organization to come and visit their church and share about missions.”

» Read full story. See also Mixed Languages, Cultures, and Experiences, about Chileans and foreigners being trained in missions together. (Photo above is from that story.)

HONDURAS: Paying It Forward

Source: Email from Don Rumbaugh, serving in Honduras

Three Honduran medical students have been working in an under-served rural area of Honduras and will be participating in a clinical internship in Africa in March 2014.

The students’ school expenses are paid for by an initiative called “Honduras to the World” (sponsored by the Christian and Missionary Alliance’s Marketplace Ministries). Upon graduation from medical school, the students will “pay forward” this sponsorship by living and working among unreached and/or unengaged people groups in Africa.

Resources for “Honduras to the World” come from the repayment of micro-enterprise loans given to Honduran businessmen and women. Once the businesspeople repay their “Honduras to the World” loans, this money is then used to train and send Hondurans to “unengaged” lands, i.e., those without established churches.

“Honduras to the World” teachers and doctors have been and will be engaging the world’s unengaged with Jesus’ love, joy, and truth.

» Watch this short interview with Don Rumbaugh as he explains how God is changing Honduras from a mission field to a mission force.

» See also another story from Honduras, Ben’s Kidnapping and the Power of Prayer. Be encouraged by Ben’s story and pray for missing Ukrainian leader, Julia, who disappeared July 4.