The Light of Christ Shines in a Violent World

Nigeria — From Persecution to Transformation

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. (Ps 46:1)

JOS — What began as a Theological College has now ‘exploded’ into a ministry caring for hundreds of orphans, training 2,000 ex-Boko Haram fighters and imams who have become evangelists….Kent Hodge of Christian Faith Ministries, says that all the children have stories of rescue from suffering: the smallest still cringe when they hear any clash of metal, afraid it may be gunfire. “They are so happy now, attending school each day, learning to play again, so sincerely thankful for the blessings they have. “

One of the older boys was kidnapped by Boko Haram (BH) and forced to become Muslim. Two years later he turned up, very bitter and aggressive. His father had been killed and his mother was unable to cope. He was sent to the ministry for help, and his whole life has changed. He is among those helping to care for the younger children; he leads in singing and prayer and soaks up Bible studies. “ One of Hausa students is from Attagara which was attacked by BH two years ago. Christians then attacked Muslim villages. BH returned and killed all the men. He hasn’t heard from his father or mother since that attack. Some of the mothers and younger siblings died in their hard trek over the Mandara Mountains as they fled into Cameroon.

People from a Muslim background who have recently come to know Christ need a lot of nurture and patience. Drugs are also a major problem. “We love these students and yearn to continue raising them up in effective lives and service. Children at the Bukuru school aspire to become doctors, pilots, lawyers, and some soldiers, farmers, pastors and teachers. It's great to see children thinking about their future. We told our students: ‘Spend one year studying only Jesus, and put what he said into practice in our relationships with everyone in our communities’. Now we are interpreting Scripture through the eyes of God, not through our own cultures.” Christian Faith Ministries International BSB: 032870 Acc. 207255

The EU Report on Freedom of Religion highlights state-sanctioned persecution of Christians and other minorities in 53 countries, and horrific human rights abuses inflicted by terrorist groups in the Middle East and Africa. The report states: “the 2,000-year-old Christian community in Iraq is facing extinction”, decreased from 1.2 million to just 260,000. Christians are forced to convert to Islam, pay the jizya (protection tax) or face execution. Women and children are subject to “forced conversion and marriage, sexual assault, slavery, torture and murder”. “In Nigeria Christians have been forcefully brought before sharia courts which prescribe cruel punishments: flogging, amputation or death by stoning for ‘offences’ including blasphemy. Minorities, especially Coptic Christians in Egypt, still face sectarian abuse and discrimination in their own land. Christian girls are abducted “and the government’s inability to respond over several years has made the situation worse.”

In Saudi Arabia apostasy, blasphemy, and peaceful dissent are punishable by death. In Iran Christians are increasing, but over 90 are subjected to a ‘significant increase’ in assault in prison.

In Aleppo just 60,000 of the original Christian population of 400,000 remain. The European Parliament has called ISIS’ brutal ethnic and religious massacres of Christians in Syria a “genocide”, but like the UN, has failed to take action. The Co-chair of the EU group stated, “The EU….continuously compromises its human rights agenda”. The June 30 report is a stark reminder of the scale and breadth of persecution, and calls on the EU, UN and the Security Council to end atrocities. As Islam targets Christians for extinction, and retreats into the hatred which is fueling genocide and destroying nations, parts of a deeply troubled world are being reshaped by Christians turning to God. Instead of diminishing as secularists predicted, 60% of Christians (1.3 billion) now live in the developing world. Vibrant churches are springing up in the global South. In ‘The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity’, Professor Philip Jenkins chronicles the explosive growth of Christianity in Africa, Latin America, and Asia which goes far deeper than changing demographics—whole communities are being transformed by Christians who are morally conservative and faithful to Biblical teaching. Their growth repudiates the belief that Christians must compromise to remain relevant in a modern world. African missionaries are re-converting their brethren in the West, while churches that have lost their Biblical moorings and moral compass languish. God is at work!

Christians massacred by Fulani Muslims in Nigeria– Christian Today

http://www.christiantoday.com/article/report.on.freedom.of.religion.shows.horrific.persecution.of.christians.worldwide/89668.htmhttp://www.clarionproject.org/glossary/sharia/http://www.clarionproject.org/glossary/sharia/http://www.clarionproject.org/glossary/sharia/http://www.clarionproject.org/glossary/sharia/http://www.clarionproject.org/glossary/sharia/http://www.clarionproject.org/glossary/sharia/http://www.clarionproject.org/glossary/sharia/

Genocide of Christians in the Nuba Mountains Continues

The Heiban Massacre, May 1 (Elizabeth Kendal) Photos from Sudan’s South Kordofan conflict zone – specifically from Heiban in the Nuba Mountains where six children were slaughtered (three from one family) – provided irrefutable evidence that the Government of Sudan continues to perpetrate crimes against humanity. The assault on Heiban is not an isolated incident. Rather, it is but one episode in the genocidal jihad against the non-Arab and mostly non-Muslim peoples of Sudan’s “New South” – Abyei, South Kordofan and Blue Nile. This genocidal jihad has just entered its sixth year. On 9 January 2005, the Government of Sudan (GoS) and the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM) signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), ending 20-years of civil war / Islamic jihad. The CPA gave the GoS seven years in which to “make unity attractive”. After that, South Sudan would be entitled to hold a referendum on self-determination; and the three contested non-Arab and SPLM-aligned regions would determine their own futures: Abyei (which straddles the North-South border) was supposed to get a referendum; while South Kordofan and Blue Nile states (both in the north) would be entitled to popular consultations.

Instead, on 19 May 2011 (7 weeks ahead of the referendum) GoS troops stormed into Abyei, driving out some 20,000 Christian Dinka Ngok. On 5 June 2011, GoS spread its war into the Nuba Mountains of South Kordofan – launching the second attempted genocide of the mostly-Christian Nuba in a generation. On 9 July 2011, South Sudan voted to secede from the north, and on 1 September 2011, the GoS spread its war into Blue Nile (mostly Muslim). These regions are being ‘ethnically cleansed’ by means of aerial bombardments, scorched earth warfare/jihad and the denial of humanitarian aid. Today, as the Christian Nuba – the legacy of Australian pioneer missions – face the existential threat posed by genocidal, state-sanctioned racism and Islamic jihad, they are abandoned to their fate. Why is their plight of such little interest to the West? Are the Nuba too black? Is their plight too politically incorrect? Are they too Christian at a time when Western “progressives” are dreaming of a post-Christian age? This genocide will continue until (1) GoS achieves its aim and repopulates its resource-rich “New South” with Arab Muslims loyal to Khartoum, or, (2) nations of conscience act together to force Khartoum to stop the genocide and abide by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Elizabeth Kendal’s submission with photographs of victims of the bombing have been sent to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and other authorities. CFF implores the Australian government to take a lead on this serious issue, especially as Omar al-Bashi’s murderous regime will soon be further emboldened by funds from EU nations desperately seeking the co-operation of GoS and other African nations to prevent illegal immigrants pouring into Europe. A delegation of Nuba Christian leaders, led by Rev Shadrakh Abdulrahman Basha (a former Muslim) from the Sudanese Church of Christ, Mojahid Kome (who runs a Bible College in the Nuba Mountains), and Shamson Elamin whose father (a pastor) and his congregation were burned alive or shot on the orders of the criminal Islamic regime in Khartoum, met at the office of Christian Faith and Freedom on May 23rd to discuss the relentless jihad in the Nuba Mountains. All have experienced persecution for their faith, exposure to the aerial bombardment inflicted on their people. Their personal

experience, backed by photographic evidence of persecution, provides invaluable knowledge on which CFF advocacy initiatives are based. Like persecuted Christians from all ethnicities and denominations, the Nuba display amazing grace, faithfulness, courage and resilience—their eyes firmly fixed on the Lord. In Prayer, Petition, Proclamation and Provision we stand in solidarity beside them.

The Nuba Delegation (L—R): Hashim Adam Babikr, Rev. Shadrach Abdulrahman Basha, Farouk Ko Ko, Mojahid Kome, and Shamson Elamin at the CFF office.

Nuba children shelter in a bunker Photo: Peter Moszynski

CFF 2016 Conference and Biblical Worldview Course

It was a privilege to welcome Dr John Stewart from the US, Dr Darrell Furgason from Canada, and distinguished Australians: Elizabeth Kendal, Rev Dr Mark Durie and Pastor Adem Xhafer as guest speakers. Their knowledge and wisdom increased our faith, inspired our prayers, and strengthened resolve to uphold Christian values .and freedom.

Topics : Theological Illiteracy: A Modern-Day Human Rights Scourge’;

‘The Eschatological Crisis in the Qur’an and the Islamic State: Implications of Theology for Human Rights’;

‘The Differences Between Islam and Christianity’;

‘Understanding the Christian Crisis in the Middle East’;

‘Redefining Religious Liberty: The Situation in our Asia-Pacific’ Region’;

‘Islamic Political Ideology: Facts and Features the West Needs to Know’;

‘Political Correctness: a Co-conspirator in the Rise of Sharia Law and the Decline of Western Civilization’

DVDs of the conference and the 2-day course are available: Please contact: admin@cffreedom.org; phone (02)62853116.

Mentoring Christian Leaders of the Future

“After Saturday Comes Sunday—Understanding the Christian Crisis in the Middle East”

Elizabeth Kendal’s second book, based on 17 years of research as a professional religious liberty analyst, is reviewed by acknowledged authorities on the persecution of Christians: "In her latest book, Elizabeth Kendal opens the eyes of her readers in compelling fashion to the tragedy that has befallen Middle Eastern Christians. Her extensive experience as a religious liberty analyst has informed this work, which is at once an insightful survey of past historical and political events, and a call to action on behalf of persecuted Christians. No reader could fail to be moved by this power study." -- Peter Riddell, Vice Principal, Melbourne School of Theology "Anyone concerned with the atrocities inflicted upon minority Christians in the Middle-East today will treasure this book. Kendal confronts the readers with a current reality that cannot be avoided. A very pertinent and timely book." — His Grace Bishop Anba Suriel, Coptic Orthodox Bishop, Diocese of Melbourne; Dean of St. Athanasius Coptic Orthodox Theological College.

"In After Saturday Comes Sunday, Kendal gives us a penetrating insight into a world that hides behind a cloak of religious righteousness. In other words, after the Jews come the Christians. This book profoundly resonates with the Assyrian Christians of the Middle East who have suffered and continue to suffer greatly. Elizabeth Kendal has unveiled the truth." Hermiz Shahen, Deputy Secretary General, Assyrian Universal Alliance, Australia "Kendal's book is a godsend to anyone who is at a loss to understand what lies behind the suffering in the Middle East. Drawing on authoritative voices from the region, her clear-eyed analysis untangles the conflicts with the heart and insight of a prophet. She gives a sobering account of the West's complicity in the atrocities -- and what we can do to bring healing in a crisis as appalling as the indifference to it." -- Jeff M. Sellers, Editor, Persecution News Service, Morning Star News.

For more information, including purchasing options, please see www.ElizabethKendal.com

What can we achieve with this knowledge?

Led by CFF Director, Dr Roy Barton,

conference participants responded to the question: “Can we……..?”with suggestions of practical ways to awaken the community — to raise awareness in the church, the media, the government, and academia of the causes and extent of the current humanitarian crisis.

‘Ambassadors’ in each church could

distribute newsletters, lead prayer groups, encourage letter-writing, and raise funds

which would lead to a significant increase in prayer, advocacy and aid.

The suggestions will soon be posted on our

new website to inspire creative action!

CFF Radio Program

CFF is very grateful to 1 Way FM (91.9) in Canberra for this program, enabling Elizabeth Kendal to share her knowledge of Christians

facing persecution in different parts of the world, and to interact with listeners.

It will go to air at 1.30 pm every Tuesday.

‘The fourteen-week internship program offered by the Lachlan Macquarie Institute addresses issues of urgent Christian concern. It aims to develop a communal network of strategic, redemptive leaders to see a shift in politics, in the news and entertainment media, law, academia, and the broader culture to acknowledge Biblical truths and principles on which both national law, and international human rights law are based.

To uphold freedom on a societal level, as well as communicating the freedom of Christ, we need to raise up effective, faithful and grounded leaders. We are grateful for the partnership of groups like Christian Faith and Freedom.’ For more information, please visit www.lmi.org.au.

http://www.lmi.org.au/homehttp://www.ElizabethKendal.comhttp://www.lmi.org.au

Mass in Teheran: Reuters

PTM

VIETNAM

Nguyen Van Dai: Christian, Human Rights Lawyer, Religious Liberty Advocate, Prisoner

On 8 April 2006, Vietnam’s internationally acclaimed human rights lawyer, Nguyen Van Dai, put his signature on “Manifesto 2006” – a document on Freedom and Democracy for Vietnam signed by 118 Democracy Activists inside Vietnam. In November 2006 he founded the Committee for Human Rights in Vietnam. Dai, a committed Christian and religious liberty advocate, was brimming with optimism, believing Vietnam was moving in a very positive direction.

On 6 March 2007, Nguyen Van Dai was arrested and charged with violating Article 88 of the Criminal Code by "propagandising against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam." According to sources, one of the accusations levelled against Nguyen was that he had "consorted with certain extremist elements to gather what is called 'evidence that Vietnam suppresses religion' to distribute to enemy forces and to reactionaries residing abroad." Dai was sentenced to 5 years in jail in Hanoi (later reduced to four years). Released in 2011, Dai – no longer able to practice law – was confined to house arrest until March 2015. Upon gaining his “freedom” Dai was, on more than one occasion, assaulted by Communist Party security personnel while attempting to meet with colleagues.

On Sunday 6 December 2015, Dai was returning home to Hanoi after running a human rights information session in Nghe An Province when plain-clothed security personnel ambushed his car, and violently dragged Dai and his three colleagues onto the ground. Although his colleagues escaped, Dai (the main target) was severely beaten and left on the side of the road until he was rescued.

On 16 December 2016, Dai was arrested and charged with "propagandising against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam". Detained without trial, Nguyen Van Dai (47) awaits his day in court. If found guilty, he could be sentenced to between three and twenty years in prison.

Denied access to her husband for over six months, Mrs Vu Minh Khanh has addressed authorities in Europe, the USA and Canada, seeking support for democracy and religious freedom in Vietnam, and for her husband’s release. CFF was greatly encouraged that on 18 April, Chris Hayes MP raised the plight of Nguyen Van Dai in the Federal Parliament.

Hosted by Vietnam Voice, Khanh has met Parliamentarians and human rights advocates in Australia. In Melbourne, she was encouraged by a meeting with Elizabeth Kendal who has included a strong protest against the injustice suffered by Dai in the CFF submission to the Australia-Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue. The submission draws attention to the new Law on Belief and Religion in Vietnam which treats religion as a threat to national security. In Canberra, Khanh

met with DFAT, and was interviewed by the ABC. CFF arranged, and accompanied her to an interview with a prominent journalist. Khanh was detained by authorities for seven hours on her return to Vietnam on July 6, and there are fears that she will be subjected to continual harassment.

IRAN: Christian Returned to Prison Before Completion of Medical Treatment

Maryam Naghash Zargaran who left Islam and converted to Christianity, was arrested in January 2013 in connection with her work at an orphanage with Saeed Abedini who was also imprisoned, but released in January this year. Maryam has served nearly three years of a four –year sentence in Tehran’s Evin prison for “acting against national security”. Maryam had gone on a hunger strike to protest against the prison’s refusal to allow her to receive treatment for a heart condition, nausea, severe headaches and pain in her ears, though the prison medical authorities recognised the severity of her condition and advised hospital care. Even before the hunger strike, she had lost over 25kg. Middle East Concern reported that some of her fellow prisoners decided to forgo family visits on 29 May to show their support.

On 30th May Maryam was taken to hospital, but was returned without treatment. Her condition deteriorated, and she was becoming comatose. She was released on medical furlough on June 6th after her family paid a bond of £74,000. On June 19 the court ordered Maryam to return. With Maryam still weak, unwell and receiving treatment, her family applied for an extension to her medical leave. The court refused, and on 27 June Maryam was escorted back to Evin Prison.

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Bishop Demands Justice as Attack on Coptic Grandmother Stirs Egypt

Bishop Angaelos of the UK Coptic Orthodox Church said: "The ethos of the Coptic Christian community in Egypt has always been one of forgiveness, evident in its reconciliatory response to the burning of over 100 churches in August 2013, and the brutal execution of 21 Coptic men in Libya, (but) there is currently a rejection of conventional ‘reconciliation meetings’ as they have been used as a cosmetic short-term solution, without addressing root causes or preventing the recurrence of similar incidents. There is an immediate and pressing need for tangible solutions, leading to true reconciliation and social cohesion.

Mob Violence Destroys Home: On 17 June, following Friday prayers at the Qaryat Al Bayda mosque, Alexandria, hundreds of Muslims destroyed a home under construction owned by a Christian, Naeem Aziz. A visit from a priest triggered rumours that it would be used as a church. In the ensuing pogrom, building materials were destroyed, several Christians were beaten and ten Coptic homes were looted. A Coptic priest was attacked when he rushed to the scene, but was rescued by concerned Muslims. The police arrested six Muslims (who were released almost immediately) and six Christians, including Naeem Aziz and his brother who were bailed the next day. Charged with holding prayers without permission and building without a permit, they will be forced to choose between 'reconciliation' or a trial. Either way, there will be no justice.

Christians Face Heightened Danger During Ramadan: Fr Raphael Moussa (46) was killed in “a hail of bullets” outside The Church of the Martyr of St George in Sinai on June 30. On July 4, Coptic pharmacist, Magdy Attia (33), was stabbed 9 times and then beheaded by Salafi Muslims. Many verses in the Qur’an prescribe death to ‘infidels’.

Abduction of Christian Women: There have been repeated upsurges in abductions since President Anwar Sadat introduced fundamentalist ideology in the 1970s, encouraging the rise of radical Islamic groups. International Christian Concern reports resurgent kidnappings in Upper Egypt: Christian girls are abducted from their homes, schools, and public places, violated and assaulted, and forced into Muslim marriages and conversion to Islam. Most are never heard of again. Their distraught families are given no help from unwilling, inept or criminally complicit police. Many Christian families are forced to search hospitals and alleyways, hoping to recover their loved ones. Occasionally one escapes to tell of harrowing ordeals, but the perpetrators are not prosecuted, leaving other women in danger. Morning Star News

Slavery, Slave-like Conditions and People Trafficking The abduction of Christian women in Egypt was the focus of one of the CFF submissions to this 2012 Parliamentary Inquiry. Another focus was sex-slavery in South Asia.

Minya — The attack on a seventy year old Coptic grandmother, Soad Thabet, who was assaulted, stripped naked, publicly paraded, vilified and humiliated by an enraged Muslim mob exemplifies the continuing injustice suffered by Copts - with the complicity of Egyptian officials.

Bishop Makarius of Minya has urged the prosecution of all the perpetrators of this outrage which has aroused national media attention. On local TV Thabet recounted her ordeal, incited by the rumour of an affair between her son, Ashraf, and a Muslim woman: "On 20 May….our home was stormed. They beat my husband severely. They dragged me out into the street, repeatedly beat me and stripped me of my clothes. They were heavily armed..."

A Muslim neighbour risked his own safety to move her across adjoining rooftops to a Christian home.

Another Coptic woman was injured in the same attack; Christian property worth tens of thousands of pounds, and five homes were destroyed. The Muslim woman insists her estranged husband spread the allegation to get a free divorce. On national TV she said, "God is my witness, there is nothing between me and Ashraf."

Police response: Fearing violence, Thabet had previously reported the threats to police who gave no protection; they denied receiving the reports and treated Thabet with contempt.

Coptic Pope Tawadros II echoed the call for "law to be enforced before conciliation can take place". Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi condemned an "offence against an Egyptian woman", and vowed wrongdoers will be held accountable, no matter how numerous.

For decades, Copts have been subjected to repeated mob attacks. Despite the predictable nature of such attacks, authorities fail to protect Christians — most of whom are descended from Egypt’s original inhabitants. The spectre of ‘consequences’, or ‘dangers’ to children and businesses, raised during ‘conciliatory meetings’, force victims of crimes to accept ‘humiliating terms’ which deny them their legal rights, and reward the perpetrators with impunity.

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Christianity in West Papua, introduced into the Highlands by Australian and US missionaries in the 1950s, is seriously at risk from relentless, strategic, well-funded Islamisation which began in the 1970s. The transmigration of Indonesian Muslims with high birth-rates has ensured a huge demographic shift with profound political, social, economic, cultural and religious ramifications for indigenous Papuans. Videoed atrocities committed by Indonesian military have met with international indifference. Activist Benny Wenda laments: “For the last 50 years we have struggled for freedom, but nobody knows that West Papua is a prison, that we are slaves to the Indonesian military, and that at least 500,000 men and women have been killed in a genocide”. Thousands have been exiled, many living as refugees in PNG which has expressed concern over human rights abuses. National statistics predict that by 2030 only 15% of the population will be indigenous Papuans. The 1969 ‘Act of Free Choice’ which gave sovereignty to Indonesia is contentious, decided by musyawarah — a consensus of 1,026 hand-picked elders. UN observers recognized that many were placed under duress, coerced into voting for union. Independence activists continuously protest for a fresh referendum for every West Papuan, but Indonesia will never voluntarily relinquish control over the resource-rich territory. Islamisation continues through the 'Green Movement' (GM) which facilitates marriages between Muslim men and indigenous Christian women. GM claims their mission is to stop the ‘Free Papua Movement’. Lured by scholarships and promised job opportunities, thousands of Papuan children are taken, often without parental knowledge, to madrassas in Java to be indoctrinated in Islam, and return to Islamise their own people. The children of pastors and Christian elders are encouraged to become active members of fundamentalist Islamic parties. In the guise of Christians, some re-enter church leadership meetings to identify strategies of evangelism only to divulge them to fellow party members. Islam is spread through TV and radio evangelism, Qur’an distribution, the building of hundreds of mosques, and Islamic schools to which Muslim teachers are recruited. Thousands of Islamic leaders are trained, mentored, and commissioned. Islamic parties offer loans for new businesses—an ‘entry point’ for recruitment. Muslim officials dominate public policy: regulations require the building of mosques, and church building is often banned. The churches in West Papua urgently need support: Many lack strong teaching, mentoring, and discipleship. Different teachings dilute the purity of the Gospel, and the small number of missionaries in West Papua are mostly self-supporting. Challenges include disunity and distraction—at least 30% of theology graduates become government officials, lured by wealth and power rather than focusing on God and community work. Churches need to unite, respond strategically, and engage in strong evangelism to advance the Kingdom, and empower Papuans to overcome the misery caused by poverty, illiteracy, drinking, gambling, pornography and prostitution. Strong Papuan leaders are communicating their deep concern over escalating state violence, hoping to attract essential support from churches in Indonesia and beyond. Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin , 19 June 2013, Indonesian Statistical Report 2005 and 2011, Hengky Monim, Gereja Kemah Injil Indonesia Klasis Dafonsoro (thanks to Yulia), Evangelism and Commissioning Unit, 26 May 2016.

Genocide in West Papua—From Mission Field to Killing Field

The Communist party is progressively suspicious of Christianity’s significant growth. A report published by China Aid in May alleged that persecution against Christians in China has increased sevenfold since 2008, and that more Christians are harassed, beaten and tortured than ever before as the government seeks to replace "Christ as the head of the church with submission to the Communist Party". Up to 1,700 churches have been demolished or had their crosses torn down over the past two years. According to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, the Chinese government last year "stepped up its persecution of groups deemed to be a threat to the state's supremacy, and the maintenance of a socialist society”. A report by the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission entitled “The Darkest Moment: The Crackdown on Human Rights in China 2013-2016”, addresses freedom of religion..., the deteriorating political situation in Hong Kong, the crackdown on human rights lawyers, and related issues. On the 27th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre Christians were detained for holding a prayer meeting to remember the hundreds of pro-democracy protesters who died. The Chinese government considers such protests 'counter-revolutionary riots’, and commemoration is forbidden. In Zheijiang province a new law forces churches to surrender all their tithes and offerings to authorities. China Aid

Growth of Christianity in China Deemed a Threat to Communism

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musyawarah

Preparing My Daughter for Persecution in Iran

What would happen to your child if you were taken away and incarcerated for your faith? An Iranian mother shares how she prepared her daughter for the day persecution arrived at their door.

“I knew the day would come… Although everyone around me thought I was a housewife, I was, in fact, involved in full-time ministry. The authorities were bound to find out.

“We started preparing our daughter for persecution when she was still in primary school: ‘When they come and take Mum and Dad away, don’t

worry”, we told her. “The Bible tells us it is normal to be persecuted as believers. They will take us to prison, ask us questions, and hit us. Then we will come back.’”

“It was an early winter morning when the authorities came. Lily was 12 and had already left for school. They started searching everything. While we were being taken to prison, I knew what Lily would do when she was picked up from school by my sister—she would pray for us. And when she was afraid, she would pray more.

“In prison, my husband and I were split up. I was allowed to call Lily four times a week. I was interrogated daily and soon they found my weak point — my little girl. I told them everything they wanted to know about myself, but I refused to give the names of others. “As long as you won’t give names, you can’t call your daughter.”

The Fear of Separation — “I was devastated. Back in my cell, I couldn’t stop crying. I knew that I did the right thing, but how could I live without knowing how my daughter was? How could she be comforted without hearing my voice?

The ‘Joy of the Lord’— “While I was praying, I felt a warm wind stroking my cheeks. ‘Take it in,’ I heard the Lord saying. With every breath of warm air, I felt my body being filled with joy — I had to dance for joy and praise God!

Placing My Daughter in His Hands – “All night I was dancing for the Lord, until the next morning (when) I had the strength to put my beloved daughter into the hands of God. Not long after, I was released, as was my husband….

“I was very happy to see my little Lily again. She told me she had been praying a lot for us. Spending these times in prayer and trusting the Lord in everything was a completely new experience. Looking back, she says that she never grew more in her faith then during that time we were in prison. I put my Lily in the hands of the Lord, and He had taken care of her.” Christian Persecution

Torchbearers for Christ—Overcoming Persecution to Shine His Light in Dark Places “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.” Matt 5:17

The Grace of Giving

“Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matt 10:8) There can be no harvest until seed is sown, and we are asked to give according to our means, with a willing heart, in response to the blessings we have received from God who “so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) Generosity is modelled on God Himself, and on Jesus who willingly gave His own life: “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself.” (John 10:15) Christian generosity is therefore: motivated by love; manifested in action; obedient to the word of God: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house (Malachi 3:10); trusting in the promise of the Lord God Almighty: “Test me in this…and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room for it.” (Malachi 3:10) measured and valued by the spirit in which gifts are offered (the widow’s mite); multiplied in the release of blessings —shared wealth empowers ministries to express the love and compassion of God by providing everything that brings life and hope to the poor and oppressed.

“..whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you,

so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” (2 Cor 9: 6-9) (Above: CFF’s youngest donor (7)—inspired by the example of his parents’ generosity, and motivated by his own concern, he sent a tithe from his pocket money to help persecuted Christian children.)

...Dedicated to the courage of all Christian parents facing persecution — ‘Torchbearers for Christ’ —whose names we may never know, but whose faith leads them to surrender their precious children into the hands of God — just as He gave His Son to save us. It is also dedicated to the trust of their children: “for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these”. (Matt 10:14)

During his imprisonment, he was visited by representatives of the Swedish government and US officials who called for his release. He was ultimately pardoned by Kim Jong Un 735 days after his arrest. “I’m thankful every day, and grateful for so many people that were involved in trying to get me home. 735 days in North Korea was long enough. But I’m thankful.”

He said that he is not bitter at the North Korean government, but rather sees his time as an opportunity to share his faith. “I was just there to love the people; let people know that God cares about them, and the rest of the world cares about them.”

MALAYSIA—Sharia Law Alarms Non-Muslims

An amendment to a bill, approved for debate in the Malaysian Parliament in October, aims to tighten the implementation of Sharia law. The proposal has provoked an outcry, for it may include “hudud” punishments, such as lashes for adultery and hand amputation for theft.

Non-Muslims have reacted strongly, claiming the Prime Minister is under pressure from the Islamist party due to forthcoming by-elections. They fear that the amendment, introduced by the President of the Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party, Abdul Hadi Awang, could eventually apply nation-wide.

The proposed bill is inconsistent with the Malaysian Federal Constitution, but in Southeast Asian countries like Brunei and Indonesia which have enforced Sharia law, non-Muslims, including Christians, have also been adversely affected. A church leader warned: “The Islamist party has been fighting to implement Sharia since its inception, and may succeed in the future. Only in strengthening believers to face persecution can we ensure the survival of the Church in Malaysia”.

Malaysia ranks 30th on the 2016 World Watch List of 50 countries in which the persecution of Christians is most severe. Christians comprise nearly 10% of Malaysia’s 30 million people.

Rev. Joseph Kurah of The Evangelical Church Winning All, in Nasarawa state, was killed on his farm by Fulani herdsmen after an earlier dispute with a Muslim farmer over the ownership of the land. The nephew of the murdered pastor reported chilling details with graphic photos of the severely mutilated body of Rev Kurah who had been stabbed nine times before being decapitated. “We have become preys that are hunted by marauding beasts in our land. I will keep shouting till justice is done. For how long will we suffer? “

Fulani herdsmen pose the greatest threat to Christians and overall security in Nigeria. While the vicious crimes of Boko Haram—responsible for the murder of over 15,000 people in six years of military offensives—are highlighted, the Global Terrorism Index of 2015 accredited 81% of deaths in Nigeria’s Middle Belt to Fulani militants. International Christian Concern reports that survivors of attacks claim that the militants are armed with AK-47 assault rifles and machetes, and enjoy almost complete impunity.

Photo: Asia News

Kenneth Bae, a South Korean-born U.S. missionary who served two years of a fifteen-year sentence with hard labour in North Korea before being freed, says his missionary work was deemed a “threat” to the atheist government.

“They said, ‘You attempted to overthrow the government through prayer and worship’. They really took prayer as a weapon against them. One of the prosecutors told me I was the worst, most dangerous American criminal they had ever apprehended since the Korean War: ‘Not only [did you come] to do mission work, you asked others to join.’”

Bae was arrested in November 2012, accused of spying and planning to overthrow the government. Prayers to God, and photographs of impoverished North Korean children found on his computer were used in evidence against him.

Hard labour impacted his health: “I had to work from 8am to 6pm six days a week—doing farming labour, carrying rock and shovelling coal. All of those things were physically demanding and very difficult.” He also endured disparaging comments aimed at demoralising him: “No one remembers you. You have been forgotten by people, your government. You’ll be 60 before you go home.”

Bae told CNN that he spent his days depending on God, trusting that He would be his rescuer, and holding onto the promises of Scripture. As his mission was to share Christ with the lost, he says he took his imprisonment as a blessing, rather than a curse, telling himself, “Remember, you are a missionary. This is what you are here for”.

North Korean Government Views Prayer as a ‘Powerful Weapon’

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NIGERIA— Christian Leader Brutally Murdered

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