Please pray…
Christians in north-west Pakistan are demanding government protection following threats of bomb attacks if they do not become Muslims.
An unsigned letter received 10 days ago said they had to convert by Thursday.
The article below and the title of this post come from a Bridges for Peace newsletter. We must continue to pray for the peace of Israel. We must continue to seek the God who created the Heavens and the Earth to move on behalf of Christians who are suffering because of their faith in Him:
Muslim fundamentalists, aligned with Al-Qaeda, bombed a Christian bookstore and two Internet cafes in Gaza on Saturday [April 14], following previous attacks on churches as part of its religious crusade to replace the secular Fatah faction.
The “Sword of Islam” terrorist group took responsibility for the bombings of Internet cafes and music stores, which they consider an offense to the Muslim religion because they represent Western society.
The same group has issued warnings to Gaza women not to hang out in Internet cafes. The Sword of Islam has bombed more than a dozen Internet cafes in several weeks and destroyed the vehicle of one young man who was playing his radio tape at high volume. It also ordered women to wear a full-face veil. Muslim courts in the Palestinian Authority [PA] increasingly operate as the moral authority over local areas, and one town in Samaria barred a music-and-dance festival.
The Muslim crusade has spread across the ocean to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where the local Community and Technology College last week was accused of promoting religion because it acceded to Muslim demands for foot-washing basins used by Muslims before prayers. The Minneapolis Star Tribune noted that the same college removed a coffee cart from the campus because it was playing music related to Christmas.
College president Phil Davis explained that the foot-washing basins were allowed because “it is like when someone comes to your home, you want to be hospitable.” When asked about the lack of a room for Christian prayers, he replied that the cafeteria served fish to Christians for Lent.
The Muslim activist organization on US campuses, the Muslim Student Association, tells its members, “As Muslims, we are a nation elected by God to lead humanity.” However, the Muslim crusade in Gaza works directly against Christians.
PA police two months ago seized the six-story Gaza Baptist Church as an observation deck in violent clashes against Hamas. Police broke windows and broke down a door after church officials refused to give them the key.
Several months ago, another Muslim group attacked seven Gaza churches, including a 1,400-year-old Greek Orthodox structure, after Pope Benedict stated that some of the teachings of the Muslim prophet Muhammad are “evil and inhuman.”
“Every place relevant to Christians will be a target,” said a statement from The Army of Guidance. In Kalkilya, adjacent to Kfar Saba, the local Young Men’s Christian Association headquarters was gutted by arsonists.
Muslims have become the majority in the formerly Christian cities of Nazareth and Bethlehem, where non-Muslims have suffered constant persecution and discrimination, causing a further exodus of Christians. Last year, Muslims went on a rampage against Christians in a Galilee town, setting cars and stores on fire.
(By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu, Arutz Sheva, April 17, 2007)
Please pray for the families of these Christians. According to Benjamin Harvey, in a news article titled: 3 Killed in Turkey Bible Attack, “The attack is the latest in a string of attacks on Turkey’s Christian community, which comprises less than 1 percent of the population.”
The Christians in this country need our prayers. God is the God who answers the prayers of the righteous. Pray.
The following article speaks of what seems to be a hopeless situation for our family in Nigeria. We must ask ourselves if where we live we were able to see a week’s time standing between us and our “religious freedom” what would we want? I truly believe the answer is faith-FUL prayer. We think we can see the full picture but guaranteed only He can. Let’s pray.
Religious freedom at risk as Nigerian elections draw near.
Nigeria (MNN) — Presidential elections in Nigeria next week could have negative implications for Christians in that divided African nation. President of Open Doors USA Carl Moeller says term limits prevent President Olusegun Obasanjo from running again. Moeller says Christians are fearful. “If there’s a Muslim-elected president — and the two leading candidates are both Muslim — Christians’ rights in that country will continue to suffer. We know that Nigeria is the home to some of the largest and fastest growing churches in Africa. However, there’s also a great deal of persecution going on in the northern states.” Moeller says there’s a reason for that. “Twelve states are governed by Islam Sharia law, and the Christians in those states, of course, have to follow it. It is very harsh in its treatment of Christians. Christians have died, and…churches have been burned in the thousands.” According to Moeller, Christians worldwide need to pray that religious freedom will be preserved.
Full story: http://www.MNNonline.org/article/9799
This Monday evening is the Eve of Passover. All over the world, observant Jews will be removing yeast from their homes in accordance with the scriptures. We, too, are commanded, by Paul, to keep the Festival of Passover and to remove the yeast of malice and wickedness. (1 Cor 5.6-8)
As we remove yeast from our kitchens, lives, and hearts—
let us remember.
As we gather with families and friends—
let us remember.
As we break the unleavened bread and drink the wine—
let us remember.
While we in our freedom are remembering the Exodus from Egypt and the salvation from sin—
let us remember.
While we in our homes are remembering the God of Israel and the Israel of God—
let us remember.
While we celebrate God’s epic story of redemption through the Messiah Jesus—
let us remember.
Let us remember the untold tales of those in modern slavery.
Let us remember, pray, and do righteousness deeds on their behalf.
Let us remember to help abolish slavery. http://www.iabolish.com/passover/
jay