A Ministry to Persecuted Christians

Pray for Alex and his family as they live for Christ in a hostile land.

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On the Front Lines

(CDN) — In Nigeria’s increasingly dangerous northeast, Muslim extremists in Yobe state helped members of the Islamic terrorist sect Boko Haram destroy five church buildings, while previously in neighboring Bauchi state Islamic radicals killed four Christians, including three girls. 

Boko Haram members’ weekend rampage in the town of Geidam destroyed all Christian-owned businesses, as area Muslims pointed them out for the sect raiders, according to local Christians. Five of the eight church buildings in town were ruined, and the violence displaced about 700 Christians, sources said. 

When Compass visited the town, only two of the eight pastors remained. The other six pastors and their families had fled. The Rev. Amos Ajeje, 48, vice chairman of the Geidam chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, told Compass that local Muslims assisted Boko Haram members in carrying out the attacks on Christians. He said the attack by Boko Haram, which seeks to impose a stricter version of sharia (Islamic law) than that already in place in northern Nigeria and expand it to the rest of the country, had driven all other Christians from town. 

“There are no more Christians in this town,” Ajeje said. “All shops belonging to Christians have been looted and then destroyed by these Muslims. Many of these Christians who fled into bushes when the attack was going on have never returned.” ...... 

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Pray for Christians in Nigeria in their great distress.

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries

 (ANS) -- This month marks the final withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, but according to Jack Harris, founder of the Hands of Hope Foundation International (HOHFI) “It's also an opportune time for the Islamists to flex their muscles in Northern Iraq.”

Harris told the ASSIST News Service that last Friday “there was an incident in Zakho where one of our churches is located.”

He went on to say, “The local Imams stirred up the anger of those attending the Mosques; the result was a mob of angry young men and the burning of a number of Christian shops.”

He then shared an initial e-mail report from a pastor in the area who said, “The Christians are in danger. They (the Islamists) burned places belonging to Christian people in Zakho then they moved to Duhok.

“The President of the KDP (Kurdistan Democratic Party) is here, the Peshmarga (Security Forces) are in the street. The Churches have asked for Guards from the Government to protect them. Please pray for us, they've attacked a Daycare just like ours in Duhok. So now we have to spend time to protect it.”

Harris then said, “In Duhok the reaction to this assault was a protest by other Kurdish Muslims who attacked and burned the Islamic Centre. This clearly demonstrates that there is a division between the radicals and the moderate Muslims who do not want radical Islamic control of the area.”

He added that the pastor had just called him to ask that people in the US (and around the world) would pray for “our people” in the area.

Harris told ANS, “The Kurdish Security Forces have warned Christians to guard their Churches and stay in their homes on Fridays(Imams seem to incite their followers on Fridays).

“This a frightening time for our people in Iraq and a test for the autonomous Kurdish Democracy that governs there. The ruling KDP Party opposes radical Islam and has tried to protect it’s Christians. We need to stand with our brethren and believe God to turn these things. 2012 is going to be a critical year for the Middle East and for that matter the whole world. What we do or do not do now will have impact for generations to come should the Lord tarry.”......

Pray for strength for Iraq's Christians, pray for the Muslims to realize the truth of Jesus Christ.

The Word of God

I looked at the boxes piled high in the lobby of the Jerusalem hotel and wondered to myself if, in fact, we could sneak all of it across both Israeli and Palestinian checkpoints along a ½ stretch of “no man’s land” into the Gaza Strip. We would be sneaking “gifts” into an area few Christians would dare go. The plan was to go to our hotel rooms, empty out our suitcases, and then bring them to the lobby. 

Cloistered and hushed in the center of the hotel we transferred bibles, Muslim testimonial tracts and some educational textbooks into our luggage. My suitcase was one of the largest and the last to be packed.   As usual when God is involved, the books fit perfectly into the dozen or so suitcases that would be carried by my fellow workers.

I was part of a “tour group” to the Holy Land during the current intifada, which began in October 2000.  This intifada, which literally means, “the shaking off” has been particularly deadly for both sides.  Our real purpose in coming to the Holy Land was to encourage the remnant population of Christians that are still living there. These Christians are mostly forgotten and voiceless among the strident voices belonging to both the Arab Muslim and Jewish majorities.

It was now Saturday in Jerusalem and our “tour” bus arrived at 8 am.  We all dragged our bags to the entryway.  In the entry, we met Max, stout Egyptian with a broad perpetual smile.  Max would be our “guide” for the day.  He also ran the only Bible Store in Gaza City and this store was the destination for our trip.

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