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27-Aug-2002

Mission Network News has these persecution incidents to report.

Colombia:

Rebels claim Americans are at war with them.

New threats against Americans in Colombia are affecting Christian work there and in neighbouring countries. Latin America Mission’s Ken MacHarg reports. "Charging that Americans have declared war on Colombia, a rebel leader says that Americans in the country must be attacked. LAM missionary Nick Woodbury says that such threats are nothing new, however US missionaries should be careful. And, LAM’s Alvin Gngora in Bogot says while he worries about the security of U.S. sisters and brothers, Colombians are the ones who are being singled out, targeted,harassed and killed. Meanwhile, violent spill-over into neighbouring Ecuador is affecting missionary work. Southern Baptist missionary Dan Batchelor reports that missionaries have had to curtail some work with indigenous groups when villagers told them they shouldn’t be in the area due to guerrilla activity.

Eritrea:

Churches closed by government.

Although the late May closures of the evangelistic churches in Eritrea is not a new story, the reasons behind the stunning move may yet cause a stir amongst believers. International Needs Network’s Dave Culross. "It was a surprise move on the part of the government. The Christian community is a great threat to the Communist teachings, as we all know. They suspect it’s because there were so many in the military who had come in contact with evangelical Christians during the war with Ethiopia and had turned to Christianity." This comes in spite of the Eritrean constitution, which guarantees full freedom of religion and good,until recently, inter-religious relations. Culross says this could also portend trouble for missions work in the future. "They [Christians] can be imprisoned, they can be exiled from the country, they can be put to death.They [the government] can pretty much do anything they want to, if this edict is allowed to stand."

Vietnam:

Government orders Christians exterminated by December.

Hmong listeners to Far East Broadcasting Gospel radio programs are explicitly reporting the severe persecution they are experiencing. In fact, if something is not done, Hmong Christians will continue to face a singling out that intensifies and increases as a deadline for wiping out Christianity looms nearer. FEBC’s Melinda Cheng says they are alarmed by the reports. "In addition to fines, beatings, we’ve also heard of poisonings. In addition to all those things, we’ve also heard reports from them that they’ve been threatened that the government plans to wipe out Christianity by December 2002."

Cheng says this is where other believers can strengthen the body of Christ in Vietnam. "We can contact our government officials and we can put in our word and say, "Hey, let’s do something about this—let’s stop it." Of course, pray, I mean, that’s the one thing that they request most of all is, "Please pray." "

Middle East:

Palestinian Christians under pressure from both sides.

In Bethlehem, Palestinian police were back on the streets after Israeli forces left the town as part of a trial that could lead to further Israeli withdrawals in the West Bank. The volatility in the area has not stopped believers’ work. Erich Bridges of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. "There are people who are trying to minister to the majority of the people on both sides, again, who are just trying to survive. And that work will be on going, and it’s making progress." Bridges adds that the harsh conditions can wear at the faith of even the staunchest Christian. "The Palestinians who live in these areas are trying to live their faith and share their faith under pressure from militant Muslims who are questioning their commitment to the Palestinian people, under pressure from the Israelis who view them in the same light."

Indonesia:

New strife between Christians and Muslims.

Tensions are flaring anew between Muslims and Christians in Indonesia’s troubled region of Central Sulawesi. Violence grew over the weekend with the advent of Indonesia’s Independence Day, raising fears of a concerted jihad against believers. Voice of the Martyrs’ Todd Nettleton. "The main threat that we heard of was that the town of Tentena would be attacked on Saturday, which was Indonesian Independence Day; and we have not heard any confirmation of if that did, in fact, happen. We do know that thousands of people were praying for the believers there. The town of Tentena seems very much in the sights of those Jihad warriors." Nettleton says Christians are taking precautions, but beg prayer support. "They are doing whatever they can to set up defense mechanisms for themselves, they’re also asking the government to provide some type of military presence that will hopefully offset this attack when and if it comes, but they are very much relying on the Lord because really, that’s the only hope they have." (Philippines)--Next, DXAS Zamboanga has been in Christian broadcasting in the Southern Philippines for more than three decades. However, the radio station is going off the air for three to six months in order to refocus their strength in ministry. Far East Broadcasting Company’s Jonathan Mortiz explains. "Before, the focus of DXAS became so much of reaching [an ]evangelical audience. However, right now, we are expanding its outreach to more marginalized Muslim communities." Mortiz says once they get back on the air, they’re hoping to open new doors for the Gospel in these communities and asks believers to pray for: "God’s leading for the FEBC management team, as they consider a new thrust to reach more marginalized communities in the Zamboanga and Basilan areas in the future; and then, God’s provision for the needed people and resources at the soonest possible time so the station can begin afresh."

Please see http://www.mnnonline.org for links on these stories, mission news reports, and a weekday audio broadcast.

Keston News Service reports these incidents.

Russia:

Religious freedom for sale?

Russia’s 1997 law on religion was hailed by Patriarch Aleksi II as "effective protection of both the individual and society against the arbitrary actions of destructive pseudo-religious cults." But today religious groups identified by the Moscow Patriarchate as dangerous sects mainly function freely. Groups identified by the Moscow Patriarchate as sects are far more likely to face opposition of an indirect nature, such as termination of rental agreements, or vitriolic articles in the local press. Why has the 1997 law failed to achieve what its proponents intended? Local officials dealing with religious organisations insist that it is due to respect for religious freedom taking root in Russia. Some Orthodox spokesmen maintain that the reason is due to corruption amongst local officials.

Uzbekistan:

Uzbeks "not allowed to have Bibles"?

Keston News Service has learnt that in Nukus on 9 August police without a search warrant searched a flat, seized religious literature including a Bible, and claimed that Uzbek citizens were not allowed to have bibles. The 13 Protestants present were subsequently fined between 5 and 10 per cent of the minimum wage. The police chief denied that his officers had said that Uzbek citizens were not allowed to have Bibles. The Karakalpakstan authorities have adopted a harsh attitude towards Christians in the Protestant churches. It is all but impossible for communities to register, and many Protestant leaders have been subjected to fines (see KNS 18 June and 29 July 2002).

Please check http://www.keston.org to learn more about these stories of persecution in communist and post-communist lands.

Pakistan:

Remember Those in Bonds.

With the acquittal of Ayub Masih last week by the Pakistani Supreme Court, hopes were raised that other Christians facing blasphemy charges will also receive favourable rulings by the courts. The Voice of the Martyrs especially urges prayer for Christian schoo l master, Pervez Masih. Pervez has been in jail on blasphemy charges since April 1, 2001. He was charged with blasphemy when Mohammad Ibrahim complained to police that he had heard from two students that Masih had uttered blasphemous words against the Prophet Mohammed during a lesson earlier in the year. Ibrahim operates a private Muslim high school that he founded almost two years ago in the same vicinity as the private school that Masih founded and has operated for 15 years in Chailayke village. Local sources suggest that Ibrahim has been seeking various means of closing the rival school and that this accusation of blasphemy against Masih should be seen in this light. On June 17, Pervez was attacked in his cell by a fellow prisoner and was badly cut with a broken glass near one of his eyes. His attacker also ripped his Bible. Since the assault, for his own safety, Pervez is now kept in a separate cell with limited contact with other prisoners. VOM sources say that he is in good spirits and has been allowed to have several Christian books and a Bible with him. He expresses his gratitude for the prayers and assistance of God’s people but asks that we continue to remember him in prayer as his case continues before the courts.

Libya:

Students Arrested for Converting.

Twelve female and two male students from Nasser University in Tripoli are currently on trial for converting to Christianity, according to are port recently received. Their names, and how they became Christians are not known. A Libyan national who saw the students being transferred from one prison to another reported that they were blindfolded and bound to one another. In a report by the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, a Christian worker familiar with the area commented, "The students are presumably in this for the long haul." If the students were released from prison, presumably they would be killed by their families for disgracing the family." Other students arrested for converting to Christianity at the same time gained their freedom by reciting the Muslim creed (indicating conversion back to Islam). Libya is very closed to any religion other than Islam.

Please go to http://www.persecution.net to learn more about persecuted Christians and what can be done to help them.

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Yours,

Bruce Atchison.

ve6xtc@telusplanet.net

http://gideon.www2.50megs.com

http://help-for-you.com

   

email: ve6xtc@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca