Christian Woman in Darfur, Sudan Arrested for Evangelizing

Posted on May 29, 2011 by thomas

KHARTOUM, Sudan, May 24 (CDN) — Sudanese National Security Intelligence and Security Service agents have arrested a Christian woman in a Darfur camp for displaced people, accusing her of converting Muslims to Christianity, said sources who fear she is being tortured.

Abdalla has yet to be officially charged, but authorities have accused her of possessing and distributing Bibles to others in the camp, including children. Sources said she could also be tried for apostasy, which carries the death sentence in Sudan.

Abdalla has been transferred to an unknown location in Khartoum, sources said, adding that they fear she could be tortured as she was detained and tortured for six days in 2009. Intelligence agents, they said, have been monitoring her movements for some time.

The arrest comes as northern Christians become more vulnerable to official and societal pressure with South Sudan set to split from the predominantly Muslim north on July 9.

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Nigerian Pastor’s Wife, Children Killed in Attack

Posted on May 15, 2011 by jacob

Pastor James Musa Rike lost his wife, Dune James Rike, and 13-year-old daughter, Sum James Rike (in back), in Islamic attack in Kurum village, Bauchi state.

Muslim extremists attacked Kurum village, in the Bogoro local government area of Nigeria’s Bauchi state, killing Pastor James Rikes wife and two of this children in a rampage that began May 4 at midnight. Pastor Rike heard the cries of his 13-year-old daughter, Sum James Rike as they where fleeing, “I rushed to my daughter, only to discover that she was cut with a machete on her stomach.” “I held her hand and began to pray, knowing she was about to die. She told me that the Muslim militants told her they would kill her and “see how your Jesus will save you.” The girl told her father that she responded by telling them that Jesus had already saved her, and that by killing her they would only be making it possible for her to be with Him. Pastor Rike prayed for her as she died. Shooting and setting homes on fire, the Muslim extremists killed 12 other Christians in the attack. Bauchi police reported 16 people dead – one man, three women and 12 children. Full Story

Dozens of Christians Arrested in Beijing

Posted on May 8, 2011 by jacob

Shouwang church members

On Easter Sunday, April 24, Shouwang Church attempted to hold an outdoor Easter service, but the congregation were met by police who were waiting for them. At least 36 Christians were taken to the police station. For some this was the second or even third time they had been arrested in less than a month. On Sunday 10 April, some 200 Christians met at the agreed meeting place but the police, alerted to the plans, taped off the area and took people away. The authorities confiscated mobile phones and interrogated the Christians, ordering them to write statements of repentance. Many refused and were held in custody, where they sang hymns until their release later that night. A number of church elders and pastors had also been kept in their homes by police to prevent them from attending the Sunday morning service. Twenty-four hours after the mass arrest, most of the Christians had been released, with just the pastor and two others remaining in custody. Full Story

Muslims Beat Evangelist to Death

Posted on May 1, 2011 by jacob

(ICC) has learned that on April 21 four Muslims beat an evangelist to death and assaulted his pregnant wife in Worabe, Ethiopia. The Muslims lured Evangelist Abraham Abera from Kale Hiwot Church at 9:30 p.m. telling him that his friend was sick and needed immediate attention. Abraham left with the men; they turned on him and began to beat him with rods. The minister’s pregnant wife, Birtukan, saw the men attack her husband and ran to intervene, but the Muslims beat her as well. Abraham died on the spot and his wife was left unconscious in the street. She was found and taken to a hospital in Butajira, where she regained consciousness. Birtukan said she knew two of the attackers and as the Muslims were beating her and her husband, they told them, “You (Christians) are growing in number in our area. You are spreading your message (the gospel). We will destroy you.” Though sustaining injuries to her midsection, the unborn baby survived. Full Story

Reaching the Rakhine tribe in Burma

Posted on April 10, 2011 by jacob

VOM Newsletter March 2011 – In east-central Burma lies a lake near Mandalay that is considered a Buddhist stronghold. “Luke” the son of a Buddhist monk has walked from village to village preaching the gospel to people of the Rakhine tribe ever since giving his life to Christ years earlier. The Rakhine tribe is the most unreached people in Burma. Luke was arrested, beaten, and thrown in jail for speaking out against Buddhism, the nation’s dominant religion. Police had already burned Luke’s bible and now placed him in jail with thieves, rapists, and murderers. For the next nine months Luke lived on a cup of water a day and food that was nearly inedible. But Luke saw his imprisonment as yet another way to share Christ. “At first I was afraid to go in because I knew these people inside the jail are very cruel and they will beat me and treat me bad,” said Luke. “But when I was inside there, I worried about them more than myself. I always had concern for them.” Luke led six prisoners to Christ.

Ethiopia: Churches Set on Fire

Posted on March 13, 2011 by jacob

An unidentified group of angered Islamist extremists have burnt dozens of churches and homes at a Christian neighbourhood in Ethiopia’s vast Oromya region. It is believed to be a retaliation to allegations that Christians desecrated a copy of the Koran by tearing it up. Unconfirmed sources said that at least one Christian was killed and thousands of Christians have reportedly fled since the attacks erupted few days ago around Asendabo district in the Jimma area. Thousands of Islamic extremists are said to have been engaged in the attacks which, according to sources, also has led to the burring down of 59 churches and at least 28 homes of Christians. Residents of Jimma confirmed to Sudan Tribune the incident occurred however they said that they have no idea to the motive behind the unusual attack. “They have gone wild burning churches, homes of Christians and their properties” said a Christian eye witness. Full Story

Pakistani Christian Teaches Women

Posted on March 6, 2011 by jacob

Fazeelat Bibi’s face lights up when she talks about sharing the gospel with women and teaching them to read it on their own. Fazeelat, now 46, has been teaching other women, in her village in Pakistan, since 2002. “Before [my] marriage, when I was living with my parental family at a Muslim majority village, … I started preaching [the] gospel and adult education teachings when I was 20 years old,” Fazeelat said. “I feel sad when I see Christian[s] cannot read the Bible and Christian literature. That’s why I started teaching a women’s group for adult education.” Fazeelat works with some of her friends to lead 30 women in a prayer group. “About 90 percent of women are uneducated,” she said. “All belong to financially poor families, and most of them face hardships and difficulties in their families. [During the prayer meetings] we discuss the family problems and pray for the sisters who are facing [challenges].” Pray that Fazeelat will courageously continue living for Christ and ministering to others in her village. Full Story

Pastor in India Attacked

Posted on February 20, 2011 by jacob

Pastor Ninama told Compass that he was visiting his daughter Galadh Mangiya Bujh in Ambarunda village when her neighbor, Lasiya Bujh, requested he pray for his sick child. Ambarunda is 17 kilometers (nearly 11 miles) from Pastor Ninama’s home village of Aamliya. “As I sat praying, a group of at least 10 men interrupted the prayer and started to beat me,” Pastor Ninama said. The pastor said they stripped him after taking him to the main road outside the village. “They hit me again and again mercilessly with wooden clubs and their hands, fists and legs,” he said. “They stole my mobile phone, diary, some documents, wristwatch and 500 rupees (US$11). Threatening to kill me if I continue to spread Christianity, they left me naked on the road and fled.”

Pastor Hari Shankar Ninama

A farmer, Pastor Ninama converted from Hinduism to Christianity 12 years ago. He and his wife have six daughters and two sons. He leads a house church in his home for about 40 people from his own and nearby villages, including the village where the attack took place. Though feeble, Pastor Ninama told Compass that he will continue to evangelize in area villages and pray for people wherever and whenever called. Full Story

Afghan Christians in Prison

Posted on February 13, 2011 by jacob

Said Musa (45) and Shoaib Assadullah (25), are being held in prisons in Afghanistan because they have left Islam to follow Christ. Said, a father of six, was arrested in May 2010 as part of a crackdown against Afghan converts to Christianity. He has been tortured and abused in Kabul prison, and his case has been repeatedly delayed. A lawyer said it was impossible to fight such a case in Afghanistan and that if Said faced a judge he would be given three days “and after that he will execute you”. Shoaib was arrested in October 2010 for giving a New Testament in the national Dari language to another Afghan. He was offered his freedom if he would deny Christ, but he refused. At one court appearance, the judge gave him one week to renounce Christianity, otherwise he would be killed for his faith. Shoaib has stated that he has given his life completely into the hands of Jesus, saying, “Without my faith I would not be able to live.” Full Story

Islamic Somali Militants Confiscate Farms

Posted on February 6, 2011 by jacob

(ICC) has learned that members of Al-Shabaab, an Islamic Somali extremist group, confiscated farm lands owned by Somali Christians. The Islamists have confiscated eight farms since January 19. A Somali church leader confirmed to ICC that five of the farms were owned by Somali Christian converts from Islam and three were owned by Muslims who attended Bible study groups to learn about Christianity. Most of the landowners fled their homes and remain in hiding. The Islamic group has vowed to cleanse Somalia of any Christian influence. Since January 2009, Al-Shabaab has killed 23 Christians, most of whom were church leaders. Al-Shabaab has also desecrated three Christian cemeteries in Mogadishu and destroyed a Christian library in the Luuq district. The Somali church has demonstrated remarkable growth despite intense persecution from Muslim radicals. Full Story

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Category Archives: Persecution