Tag: Freedom of Religion/Speech

A COVID-Free China Still Isn’t Free

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A COVID-Free China Still Isn’t Free

Recently, police in Hong Kong arrested 53 pro-democracy activists for holding a primary election. The Communist Chinese government made the sweep of political opponents under cover of its new national security law. The same day as these arrests, China-based tech firm Alibaba’s stock jumped 30 percent when word circulated that Jack Ma, Alibaba’s eccentric founder, might actually be alive. Ma vanished two months ago after publicly criticizing China’s banking system. Apparently, stockholders had assumed the Chinese Communist Party killed him…

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News from the PERSECUTED CHURCH

The Voice of the Martyrs

People raising their hands

As India fights to become a purely Hindu nation, our brothers and sisters in Christ there continue to suffer and die. Your prayers are needed as they continue to stand for Jesus in the land of countless false idols and gods.

Family Blessed By Christmas Care Pack

Next Door to the Enemy

Authorities Try to Force Church from Home

On the Run as Converts to Christianity

Permission to Follow Christ Denied

Get a Free 2021 Prayer Guide

Barnabas Fund

Christian Newsline

News updates on the persecuted Church

The following stories and more can regularly be found updated at: barnabusfund.org/news

At least 13 people killed in suicide bomb attack in Cameroon

Pakistani Christian girl raped by Muslim robbers selflessly saves younger sister from assault

Pressure increases on Indian Christian community as prayer meetings come under police scrutiny

A daily prayer request from Barnabas Prayer is available from the “View Daily Prayer” link below. The prayer is also available on Facebook, Twitter, and as an insert in our free bi-monthly Barnabas Aid magazine.

Today: Wednesday 13 January 2021

An evangelical missionary from Switzerland was murdered in Mali by Islamic militants in September 2020. Beatrice Stöckli (59) had been kidnapped and held captive for over four years by a group called Jammat Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM). Three other European hostages and a Malian politician were released by JNIM about a month later, reportedly in exchange for over 100 jihadists who had been captured by the Malian authorities. Beatrice had had an earlier experience of kidnapping in 2012 when she was held for nine days and tortured. On her release, the terrorists warned her not to come back to Mali. Despite this, she decided that she would return to her ministry in Timbuktu. Pray that her many years of work in Mali will bear much fruit in this country where Christians are about 2% of the population.

DAILY PRAYER LINK

Barnabas Prayer January/February 2021

 

News from the PERSECUTED CHURCH

Barnabas Fund

Christian Newsline

News updates on the persecuted Church

The following stories and more can regularly be found updated at: barnabusfund.org/news

Nigerian Christians Murdered as a “Christmas Present” in Terror Attacks on Christmas Eve

Exiles Witness Collusion Between North Korea and China Over Persecution of Christians

Egypt Approves Registration of 62 Churches and Church Buildings

Egyptian Prosecutor Looks to Challenge Acquittal of Muslim Men Charged With Stripping Elderly Christian Woman

PRAYER FOCUS UPDATE DECEMBER 2020

The Voice of the Martyrs

People praying

5 Ways to Pray for Your Persecuted Brothers and Sisters in Christ

With the arrival of the new year, resolve now to pray regularly for persecuted Christians in 2021. Here are five specific ways you can pray:

      • Pray that persecuted believers will be filled with joy and peace that results in overflowing hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
      • Thank God for their faithful testimony as it inspires Christians around the world to boldness and faithfulness. (Romans 1:8–10)
      • Pray that God will comfort believers who are experiencing troubles so the comfort of Christ will overflow into the lives of others. (2 Corinthians 1:3–7)
      • Pray that God will strengthen their hearts, causing their love for one another and for their persecutors to increase and overflow. (1 Thessalonians 3:9–13)
      • Pray that those who are enemies of the gospel and persecutors of God’s people will experience Christ’s love and be reconciled to God. (Romans 5:10)

Get a Free 2021 Prayer Guide

More Prayer Tools

Have you resolved to pray more in 2021? The Voice of the Martyrs offers a variety of resources to help you pray daily for persecuted Christians. Consider these tools that will help you pray specifically for your persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the year:

      • 2021 Global Prayer Guide — Provides background information on hostile areas and restricted nations where VOM is working, along with the current situation for Christians in each country.
      • VOM Global Prayer Journal — Features country information from the 2021 Global Prayer Guide, along with ruled pages on which you can write out prayers or note others’ prayer needs.
      • iCommitToPray.com — Sign up to receive weekly emails with new, updated prayer requests. Also includes a feature that enables you to share your prayers online with other Christians, including your brothers and sisters living in hostile areas and restricted nations!

Be Equipped to Pray

 

Here’s How COVID-19 Restrictions Curb Religious Freedom

Here’s How COVID-19 Restrictions Curb Religious Freedom

Photo

What happened when the Supreme Court last week blocked New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s limits on religious gatherings? Heritage Foundation’s Zach Smith explains…

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News from the PERSECUTED CHURCH

Pray for the Persecuted Church

Remember those in prison, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily Hebrews 13:3 (CSB)

Acordaos de los presos, como si estuvierais presos juntamente con ellos; y de los maltratados, como que también vosotros mismos estáis en el cuerpo RVR 1960

International Day of Prayer for persecuted Christians

This year’s International Day of Prayer for Persecuted Christians (IDOP), Sunday, Nov. 1, is fast approaching. Be among the first to watch The Voice of the Martyrs’ new IDOP video, Janette: Central African Republic.

Free IDOP Resources

The Voice of the Martyrs

Front-line workers in Vietnam

They Go Where We Can’t

Bao and Chi, a husband-and-wife team, work on the front lines of Christian ministry in Vietnam, training and discipling believers from 10 different tribes.

Authorities have arrested them numerous times, trying to end their ministry work in Vietnam’s rural areas. But each time they are released from jail, Bao and Chi get on their motorbikes and return to their work.

Bao and Chi are two of the more than 40,000 front-line workers The Voice of the Martyrs serves as they risk everything to share the gospel. We invite you to help equip these workers with the tools they need to advance God’s kingdom in restricted nations and hostile areas.

Support Front-Line Workers Today

Men driving motorbikes

Your support for those advancing God’s kingdom on the world’s most difficult and dangerous mission fields equips faithful workers with tools like these:

  • motorbikes that help evangelists increase their ministry outreach from one or two villages to 10 or more
  • outreach tools like DVDs, digital memory cards and solar-powered projectors to help Christian workers reach more people with the gospel in hostile areas and restricted nations
  • Retreats for pastors that provide training and encouragement as well as fellowship with others risking their lives to spread the gospel

When pastors, evangelists and other front-line workers receive these ministry tools, they are reminded that they are part of God’s global family and that they are not serving alone.

For Stories on the Persecuted Church Please Go to: icommitTOPRAY 

Barnabas Fund

Christian Newsline

News updates on the persecuted Church

The following stories and more can regularly be found updated at: barnabusfund.org/news

Chinese Communist Party rewrites Gospel story to depict Jesus Christ as “killer and sinner

China’s extreme surveillance, forced sterilization of non-atheists in camps “much worse” than Soviet gulags

Chinese Christian leader calls for prayer as surveillance pressure on Christians escalates

Indian Christians in “fear and shock” after extremists warn leave faith or die

Indian Christians beaten, humiliated, forced to chant Hindu affirmation in Jharkhand

Indian government freezes bank accounts forcing human rights charity to halt work

Pakistani Christian acquitted of “blasphemy” after six years on death row

Indonesia’s ban on Bible app contradicts religious tolerance philosophy of Pancasila

Prayer Focus Update October 2020

 

News from the PERSECUTED CHURCH

Pray for the Persecuted Church

Remember those in prison, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily Hebrews 13:3 (CSB)

Acordaos de los presos, como si estuvierais presos juntamente con ellos; y de los maltratados, como que también vosotros mismos estáis en el cuerpo RVR 1960

 Barnabas Fund

Christian Newsline

News updates on the persecuted Church

The following stories and more can regularly be found updated at: barnabusfund.org/news

Pakistani Christian couple’s appeal hearing against “blasphemy” death sentences rescheduled for 24 September

Eritrean government releases on bail 69 Christians imprisoned for their faith

Russia’s new draft law barring pastors trained overseas from preaching deals “powerful blow” to religious freedom

Indonesia’s ban on Bible app contradicts religious tolerance philosophy of Pancasila

Wounded Nigerian pastor shot dead in cold blood while raising alarm of Fulani militant attack

AND MORE…

The Voice of the Martyrs

Burnt out truck; woman carrying items on her head

Thousands Displaced in Mozambique

Elisa arrived home just in time to see Islamists murder her father and her husband, who was a pastor. Her uncle had already been beheaded. Grief-stricken and fearing for their lives, Elisa and 18 members of her family headed south, joining more than 200,000 others fleeing the Islamists’ advance.

Though Islamic insurgents have been active in northern Mozambique for the past three years, this year the group — which has pledged allegiance to the self-proclaimed Islamic State (ISIS) — has launched repeated, devastating attacks. The thousands displaced by these attacks have fled to other parts of the country where conditions are crowded and resources are stretched. Front-line workers have reported the burning and destruction of churches, schools, clinics and police stations. As Christian workers provide comfort and food to the displaced, they are also offering Bibles (supplied by VOM), giving hurting people the hope of Jesus Christ.

VOM workers are evaluating the best ways to help persecuted Christians in Mozambique. Pray for Christians delivering aid and help, as well as for an end to the ongoing violence. Pray also that many enduring this trauma will gain hope and eternal life through faith in Christ.

For Stories on the Persecuted Church Please Go to: icommitTOPRAY 

 

International Day of Prayer for persecuted Christians

This year’s International Day of Prayer for Persecuted Christians (IDOP), Sunday, Nov. 1, is fast approaching. Be among the first to watch The Voice of the Martyrs’ new IDOP video, Janette: Central African Republic.

Free IDOP Resources

News from the PERSECUTED CHURCH

Pray for the Persecuted Church

Remember those in prison, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily Hebrews 13:3 (CSB)

Acordaos de los presos, como si estuvierais presos juntamente con ellos; y de los maltratados, como que también vosotros mismos estáis en el cuerpo RVR 1960

The Voice of the Martyrs

Susan’s Costly Choice

Susan Ithungu

When Susan Ithungu placed her trust in Christ at age 13, her father was so furious that he beat her and locked her in a room for six months. If her brother hadn’t secretly given her food and water, she would have died. Eventually, neighbors became concerned and told police, who rescued her from the home.

Susan was unable to walk or talk. “Her hair had turned yellow, she had long fingernails and sunken eyes, and she looked very slim, less than 45 pounds,” said a local pastor who visited her in the hospital after her rescue.

Susan required extensive medical care and repeated surgeries. VOM provided help with hospital expenses as well as living expenses for her and her caretaker. After recuperating, Susan began to attend school at one of the few institutions equipped for her special needs, and VOM helped make necessary adaptations to her room.

The six months Susan spent locked away left her with long-term medical needs. And VOM has continued to stand with Susan and help provide the care she needs. According to her doctor, Susan will have her last surgery when she turns 21.

Now 20 years old, Susan places her hope firmly in Christ and is grateful for the help she has received from the global body of Christ:

“My life has been a challenge to me since I accepted Christ in my life. It has given me so many lessons about Christianity. With all I have gone through, nothing can take me away from Christ. Through pain and moments in hospital, I have seen the love of God through the caring people like you who have prayed for me, supported me financially and offered time to be with me.”
For Stories on the Persecuted Church Please Go to: icommitTOPRAY 
International Day of Prayer for persecuted Christians
This year’s International Day of Prayer for Persecuted Christians (IDOP), Sunday, Nov. 1, is fast approaching. Be among the first to watch The Voice of the Martyrs’ new IDOP video, Janette: Central African Republic.
Free IDOP Resources

Public School … In a Church?

This is a brilliant cooperative idea, and the churches and ministries participating are to be commended. I just wonder however if they can open their doors why the schools can’t? – Mike

BreakPoint Daily

Today’s BreakPoint: Public School … In a Church?

BP 8 27 2020

JOHN STONESTREET WITH MARIA BAER

Most public schools across the country are either attempting to hold school remotely or, in some hybrid form, brings kids back in the classroom in a limited way, keeping the numbers low. And that’s just for now. The plan has already changed in many districts and will likely change again before all is said and done. The only sure thing, when it comes to this school year is that it is not going to be a normal one.

For a group of churches and ministries in Ohio, this is an opportunity to, in the words of the prophet Jeremiah, seek the welfare of the city. A few months ago, public school districts in Columbus asked local churches to provide additional space for students who have working parents, and whose school would not be opening for in-person instruction. Looking for places where students could access tech devices and the internet, be under adult supervision, where food could be provided, churches in Columbus opened their doors…

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News from the PERSECUTED CHURCH

Pray for the Persecuted Church

Remember those in prison, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily Hebrews 13:3 (CSB)

Acordaos de los presos, como si estuvierais presos juntamente con ellos; y de los maltratados, como que también vosotros mismos estáis en el cuerpo RVR 1960

 

 

BreakPoint Daily

Break the Silence, Stop the Slaughter in Nigeria

 

The Voice of the Martyrs

A Prayer for Our Indian Brothers and Sisters 

When we don’t know what to pray, the Spirit intercedes for us (Romans 8:26–27). But we also have God’s Word to help guide us in prayer. Using Scripture as a guide, join us in prayer for our Christian brothers and sisters in India, who are increasingly targeted by Hindu nationalists.

Join us in asking God

  • to provide shelter, food, education, opportunities to fellowship, places to worship and a daily wage (Philippians 4:19)
  • heal the divisions between friends, neighbors and brothers that still fester from the 2008 riots in Kandhamal (James 3:16–17)
  • provide for widows and orphans, and help them know Jesus’ comforting presence; meet them in their loneliness through His Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:3–4)
  • strengthen the faith of those who have given up or wandered away; provide Bibles, good teaching and sound leaders for those who are searching (Hebrews 13:9)
  • restore family relationships weakened by distance and time (Romans 15:13)
  • create a longing in the hearts of many in the region to know the transformative power of God’s Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 8:19)
  • rekindle the desire for worship and prayer in the lives of Christians there (Psalm 107)
  • remind our brothers and sisters of their value in His eyes, despite what society tells them (Hebrews 12:2)
  • turn what the enemy intends for evil into good for God’s glory (Genesis 50:20)
For Stories on the Persecuted Church Please Go to: icommitTOPRAY 

 

Barnabas Fund

Christian Newsline

News updates on the persecuted Church

The following stories and more can regularly be found updated at: barnabusfund.org/news

Jihadi militants take 100s hostage in north-east Nigeria raid on Christian community

Pastor and wife flee Iran after final appeal against 15-year combined prison sentence fails

Erdogan orders second historic Turkish Christian church building to be turned into a mosque

Nigerian Christians say “our lives matter” in protest against Fulani militant killings outside London High Commission

 

 

No Christianity, No “Human Rights”

…The only secure basis for human rights, of course, is the Christian belief that humans are created in the image of God…

BreakPoint Daily

Today’s BreakPoint: No Christianity, No “Human Rights”

human rights

JOHN STONESTREET WITH ROBERTO RIVERA

In July, the U.S. State Department’s “Commission on Unalienable Rights” released a draft report that attempted to provide a grounding for our country’s commitment to human rights. Fundamental among those rights, the report declared, are freedom of religion and the right to private property.

The Commission sought comments from the public, and they’ve gotten them. While the part about property rights garnered little response, the insistence on religious liberty has sparked a firestorm of protest, including from a “group of academic and religious leaders.”…

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