Christians are targeted — by independent groups or governments — in some 131 countries world-wide

JewishWorldReview.com | At the height of the Nazi Holocaust, the wretched human cargo spilling out of cattle cars onto the platforms of Auschwitz was immediately subject to a brutal selection by the infamous Dr. Josef Mengele, whose flick of a finger to the left meant immediate death in a gas chamber; to the right, slave labor and slow death from starvation or disease.

Fast forward to 2012 Nigeria, where a latter-day incarnation of selection has been used—this time not against Jews, but against Christians.

Nigeria is the most populous black nation on earth. Among its chief blessings are oil and a large array of religious, tribal and language groups. Yet conflict, violence and terrorism are part of reality there, too.

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Continue ReadingChristians are targeted — by independent groups or governments — in some 131 countries world-wide

‘Militant Islam’ Greatest Threat to Middle Eastern Christianity, Says Think Tank

By Michael Gryboski , Christian Post Reporter – December 26, 2012

A British think tank has released a lengthy report claiming that militant Islam is the greatest existential threat to Middle Eastern Christianity, bringing Christian communities in the region “close to extinction.”

The London-based Civitas, also known as the Institute for the Study of Civil Society, published the report in December. “Christianity is in serious danger of being wiped out in its biblical heartlands because of Islamic oppression,” reads a statement from the group issued Sunday.

“But Western politicians and media largely ignore the widespread persecution of Christians in the Middle East and the wider world because they are afraid they will be accused of racism.”

Titled “Christianophobia” and written by reporter and Religion Editor for The Times Literary Supplement Rupert Shortt, the report details the persecution of Christians in Burma, China, Egypt, India, Iraq, Nigeria, and Pakistan.

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Persecution of Christians in 10/40 Window Up by 400 Percent, Says GFA

By Jeff Schapiro , Christian Post Reporter – November 1, 2012

The persecution of Christians in the 10/40 Window has increased by 400 percent over the last 10 years, which is why Gospel for Asia (GFA) is calling on Christians to spend an entire day, not just a few minutes, fasting and praying for the persecuted church.

“Americans who have not experienced persecution do not fully understand what it means to have their lives threatened, homes destroyed, rights violated and loved ones imprisoned, all because of embracing faith in Jesus Christ,” said K. P. Yohannan, GFA founder and president, in a statement. “In the 14 countries we serve, persecution of this sort has become a normal way of life, especially for those directly involved in mission work.”

The 10/40 Window is a section of the world – between 10 and 40 degrees north of the equator – that encompasses those nations that have been least reached with the Gospel message. These nations include China, India, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Sudan and Nigeria, just to name a few.

On Sunday, Nov. 4, churches across the U.S. took time to pray for persecuted believers around the world as a part of the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP), but GFA says a simple “nod” toward the problem isn’t enough.

The organization hopes churches will do more than say a brief prayer as a part of their morning worship services on Sunday. Instead, GFA wants them to intercede for their Christian brothers and sisters for the entire length of their services. The organization is also encouraging those who are physically able to fast for the persecuted church, and, if possible, take a day off from work to spend time in prayer.

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Najib: Christians not Forgotten (Malaysia)

Posted on Thursday, December 27, 2012 – nickcarraway

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has urged the Christian community to join in the journey of change and renewal for a better Malaysia.

Najib said he understood that the members of the community might have felt the Government was not doing enough to engage them.

He reaffirmed his commitment to the Christians, adding that they should not feel that they had been forgotten.

“The countless personal interactions I have had with church leaders show I have not forgotten the Christian community as some have alleged.

“In fact, every community, be it an ethnic or religious community, is important to my government and me because we cannot exclude anybody,” he said at the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) Christmas reception, which was hosted by the Lutheran Church on Tuesday.

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Outrage over ‘fatwa’ forces mosque to pull down website post

December 24th 2012 – Rachel Olding, Natalie O’Brien

AUSTRALIA’S biggest mosque has backed away from its fatwa against Christmas after harsh criticism from the Muslim community and a tirade of racial abuse.

The Lakemba Mosque posted the religious ruling on its Facebook site on Saturday morning, warning followers it was a ”sin” even to wish people a Merry Christmas.

It followed a lecture during Friday prayers in which the head imam, Sheikh Yahya Safi, told the congregation they should not take part in anything to do with Christmas or New Year’s Eve.

Samier Dandan, the head of the Lebanese Muslim Association, which oversees the mosque, said the fatwa was unsanctioned and did not reflect the views of the association or the mosque. It is understood the association’s youth co-ordinator, Bilal el-Hayek, copied the text from another site and posted it after receiving messages from members asking for guidance on celebrating Christmas.

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It’s Official: Muslim Population of Britain Doubles

by Douglas Murray  – December 21, 2012 

The strange thing about this “multicultural” society is that it can celebrate every imaginable culture except the one that allows all these cultures to co-exist alongside each other — and all the time with enthusiasm from pundits and politicians, busy trying to pretend that this is all the most wonderful result imaginable.

If in 2001 the British Prime Minister had said to the British public that over the next decade he intended to double the number of Muslims in the country, he would most likely never have been returned to office. But of course he did not say that, any more than any of his successors or predecessors did.This last fact is perhaps one of the least considered of the census so far. Doubled? Surely not. This has to be the claim of Mark Steyn or some other demographics-obsessed nut. Well no, it isn’t, and it is now official: between 2001 and 2011 the Muslim population of the UK rose from 1.5 million to 2.7 million.

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Seven Egyptian Christians sentenced to death for anti-Islam video

Posted on Wednesday, November 28, 2012 by Deacon Benjamin – Times of India

CAIRO: A Cairo court on Wednesday sentenced to death seven Egyptian Christians tried in absentia for participating in an anti-Islam video that was released on the Internet in September and prompted violent protests in Muslim countries.

“The seven accused persons were convicted of insulting the Islamic religion through participating in producing and offering a movie that insults Islam and its prophet,” Judge Saif al-Nasr Soliman said.

The low-budget video, produced privately in California, denigrated the Prophet Mohammad and triggered anti-US protests and attacks on Western embassies around the Muslim world.

The convicted persons included Egyptian-American Nakoula Bassely Nakoula, who is currently serving a one-year-jail term in Los Angeles after an American court convicted him of probation violations that stemmed from his role in the movie.

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Why Christian Persecution Is Islam’s Achilles’ Heel

November 30, 2012 By Raymond Ibrahim Comments 

Which of the following three headlines is most difficult for the media—including the usual array of liberal pundits, apologists, academics, and politicians—to whitewash or rationalize away?  Which most exposes Islam’s inherent intolerance?

A)   “Allahu Akbar” screaming Muslims fire rockets into Israel

B)   “Allahu Akbar” screaming Muslims riot and commit acts of violence in Europe

C)   “Allahu Akbar” screaming Muslims torch a Christian church in a Muslim country

The answer is C—Christian persecution.

Why?

Because in both scenarios A and B, Muslims will always be portrayed and seen as the “underdogs”—and hence always exonerated for their behavior.  No matter how violent or ugly, no matter how many Islamic slogans are shrieked—thus placing their behavior in a purely Islamic context—Muslim violence against the West and Israel will always be dismissed as a product of the weak and outnumbered status of Muslims—their status as underdogs, which the West tends to romanticize.  And so they will always get a free pass, without further ado.

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The Spiritual Avalanche That Could Kill Millions

12/11/2012 Steve Hill – Charisma Magazine

 This is coming to you from a man who has just passed through the valley of the shadow of death. Since my close call with eternity just a short while ago … everything has become clearer. I can hear His whisper. Unabated obedience has become my mandate. That is why I’m writing this word from the Lord.

A few days ago, after enjoying quality time with Jesus, I was surprised by an alarming vision. I saw a massive, majestic mountain covered in glistening snow. It reminded me of the Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps. Its peaks were sparkling white and I was amazed by God’s attention to detail. It was so realistic I wanted to go skiing! But I sensed that there was more that the Holy Spirit was about to reveal. As I closed my eyes, I was in a winter wonderland bustling with thousands of vacationers. The ski lodge, condos, hotels and cabins were at full capacity at this popular resort.

Day quickly turned to night as the skiers, snowboarders and sports enthusiasts were settling in. Anticipation grew as the snow began to fall. Everyone headed to bed believing tomorrow would be a day of sheer enjoyment on freshly covered slopes. For an avid skier, the exhilaration of being the first one to race down a new blanket of snow is a dream come true.

Throughout the night, winter storms dropped several feet of new snow on the slopes. The night ski patrol was put on full alert. Their mission was clear. With the potential of killer avalanches they took to their posts.

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Over 100 Million Bibles Have Been Printed in China

By Jeff Schapiro , Christian Post Reporter – November 9, 2012

The only printing company authorized to print the Bible in China announced Thursday that the nation has now printed over 100 million copies of the Christian scriptures.

Qiu Zhonghui, chairman of the board of Amity Printing Co. Ltd., said the 100 millionth copy was printed back in July, Xinhuanet reports. His company has printed 60 million Bibles (including nine separate ethnic minority language editions) and provided 40 million copies in more than 90 languages to about 70 different countries and regions around the world.

Amity Printing has been publishing the Holy Bible since 1988, when the company was started as a joint venture between the United Bible Societies (UBS) and the Amity Foundation.

On Tuesday, UBS leaders and a number of Bible Societies donors joined government officials from the State of Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) and the Chinese Christian Council/Three-Self Patriotic Movement (CCC/TSPM) for a ceremony celebrating the over 60 million Bibles that have been distributed throughout China alone.

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Live Nativity Scene Staged in Front of US Supreme Court

Charisma News  – Ann Carroll – 12/5/2012 

“The Nativity Project” is a nationwide campaign to share the message of Christmas and also to confront the erosion and hostility toward public expressions of faith especially during the Christmas season.

The Christian Defense Coalition gathered with live actors and animals in front of the Supreme Court and past the U.S. Capitol Building in order to demonstrate that displays such as these are protected by the First Amendment.

The Nativity Scene, sponsored by Faith and Action and The Christian Defense Coalition, was held Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. in Washington, D.C. in response to other courts banning nativity scenes in some parts of the country.

“Sadly, we are seeing an erosion and hostility toward public expressions of faith in the public square. This is especially true during the Christmas season., the Rev. Patrick Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition, said.

“’The Nativity Project’ is a reminder that our Constitution provides freedom of religion not freedom from religion. By encouraging people of good will to publicly display nativity scenes all across America, we are not only supporting religious liberty and First Amendment freedoms but we are loudly proclaiming the powerful message of Christmas. That timeless message needs to be heard now more than ever: ‘Peace on earth and goodwill toward man.’

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Plan for mosque draws anti-Islam sentiment

ANGER at plans for a mosque and evangelical church to be built side-by-side in Melbourne’s east has spilled over amid claims Islam ”directly contravenes our freedom values”.

It was standing room only at the City of Casey chambers in Narre Warren on Tuesday night at one of the last meetings before the council debates a proposal to build a mosque and community centre on a vacant industrial lot in Green Street, Doveton.

The mosque would be next to the church and headquarters of Catch the Fire Ministries, run by controversial anti-Islam Pastor Danny Nalliah who was acquitted of a racial vilification charge brought by the Islamic Council of Victoria in 2006. The church has already been approved by council and construction is expected to begin within weeks.

Residents at the meeting cited traffic concerns, noise pollution, and fears the mosque would be used to preach hate speech.

Mayor Amanda Stapledon repeatedly asked the gallery of about 50 people to be quiet amid booing, cheering and heckling.

”This is not Afghanistan, have some guts for a change!” one man yelled at councillors. Another carried a sign that read: ”We love the Moslems but do not accept the teachings of the Koran”.

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Council erupts over proposed Mosque next to Catch The Fire

Dear family & friends in Christ,

We at CTFM are so thankful to everyone who signed the petition against the building of a large Mosque right next to our newly planned CTFM church in Doveton, Victoria. We received more than 1000 signatures and very successfully submitted them to the City of Casey Council yesterday at the Council meeting.

The Casey Council was packed out with more than 100 people, including some holding placards calling on the Mosque project to be rejected by the Council and not to give the building permit. This included CTFM church members, local residents & factory owners.

In total there were more than 1600 signatures against the Mosque submitted by 4-5 different petitions by local residents, factory owners and CTFM supporters, of which many made their voice known at question and answer time.

The Councillors seemed quite shocked at the community outrage against the Mosque, as many people shouted out from the gallery at the different Council members, asking them to vote against the Mosque application in February 2013, when it comes up for voting.

The Deputy Mayor Sam Aziz, originally from Egypt, who is a Coptic Christian, took a very bold stand with the support of another Councillor Rosalie Costani and challenged the Mayor and the other Councillors to take a good look at Islam and the Koran’s teachings, before voting for or against the Mosque.

Councillor Aziz wanted to do a presentation on Islam and the Koran’s teachings, with a power point and video presentation, but unfortunately the Mayor blocked it.  Nevertheless, he still was able to present his case very well, while speaking about the submitted petitions.

Councillor Costani also took a very bold stand and spoke out against the dangers of Islam. The people from the gallery clapped and cheered them on.  On numerous occasions, the Mayor aggressively called the gallery to silence, but then backed down and let them continue.

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Pr Daniel on 2CC Radio Canberra / RUAP on Channel 9 Win TV

Dear friends and family in Christ, 1) You may click the following link to listen to Pr Daniel’s recent radio interview (7 min) with Mike Welsh of 2CC Canberra, regarding…

Continue ReadingPr Daniel on 2CC Radio Canberra / RUAP on Channel 9 Win TV

‘Hands-off Christmas and Good Friday’

INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS – 10th Nov 2012

Johannesburg – A group of Christian demonstrators handed over a memorandum to Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor on Saturday to oppose a proposal to remove Good Friday and Christmas as public holidays.

“Hands-off Christmas and Good Friday,” said the group outside Constitution Hill in Johannesburg.

The group of around 100 protesters which were led by head of the African Christian Democratic Parties Reverend Kenneth Meshoe delivered a memorandum of understanding to Pandor to oppose a motion by the Commission for the Protection and Promotion of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities.

The commission was allegedly exploring the idea of requesting government to scrap Good Friday and Christmas from the national calendar. They alleged that the celebrating of the two Christian holidays discriminated and excluded other religious denominations.

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