VOM’s Todd Nettleton was interviewed Friday by a reporter from Mission Network News about the current situation in North Korea. Here is the resulting story:

North Korea (VOM/MNN) ― North Korea is setting a megaphone in front of the saber it's rattling.

On Friday, the North Korean government said it would not be able to guarantee the safety of embassies after April 10, and suggested that Russia, China, and Great Britain consider evacuating their diplomats.

Tensions have been on the rise since the United Nations imposed harsher sanctions following Pyongyang's third nuclear test on Feb. 12. The rogue state expressed fury over ongoing U.S.-South Korean military exercises and threatened a nuclear strike against the U.S. It also scrapped the Korean War armistice, began moving missiles, and restarted a plutonium reactor capable of producing more fuel for nuclear bombs.

One concern is that North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, has something to prove. He's still tightening his grip on power and is something of a military unknown.

While the situation appears to be serious, governments are playing down the rhetoric from North Korea, assuming it represents yet another tantrum by a regime starving for attention, legitimacy, and economic aid. Spokesman for the Voice of the Martyrs USA Todd Nettleton describes the typical pattern. "The world community makes some concessions. They deliver some food or they lower the sanctions or they deliver some oil, and the crisis magically goes away until the next time North Korea needs something."

Nettleton connected on Friday with VOM contacts working with North Korean Christians. According to them, "When North Korea needs something, when they need concessions, they create a crisis. They do a lot of saber rattling and a lot of press release about how terrible it's going to be for all the aggressors against them."

The situation is still fairly rhetorical. Nettleton says they're taking their cues from their national partners, some of whom are North Korean defectors. He goes on to say that because the poverty and hunger situation is desperate, it's unlikely the threats are little more than talk. He explains, "The surrounding nations are comfortable with the status quo. Maybe at times it's a little irritating, but it is seen as a better alternative than to see the regime fall and North Korea fall into complete chaos with those surrounding nations left to clean up the mess."

North Korea is the worst perpetrator of persecution against Christians in the world. Christians are tortured, imprisoned, and murdered. Private, non-state-sanctioned religious activity is prohibited. Anyone discovered engaging in clandestine religious activity is subject to arrest, torture, or even public execution.

As many as 100,000 believers are thought to worship secretly. Possessing a Bible, saying the words God or Jesus, and meeting together are all offences punishable by death. VOM reports estimate that of the hundreds of thousands incarcerated in labor and concentration camps, about 30,000 are Christians.

Yet there are still requests for help. VOM supports Gospel radio broadcasts into North Korea and participates in balloon launches that carry the hope of Christ into the country. "Pray that North Korean Christians will remain faithful, that they will remain encouraged. The other thing we can pray is for the delivery of Gospel materials, for the these balloons, for these radio broadcasts, for other Gospel work that is going on into North Korea, that the Gospel message will get in there, that it will be received, and that there will be fruit."

Learn more about the history of the church and persecution in North Korea by reading VOM's book, Restricted Nations: North Korea. Order your copy online.

If there has been one nation on my heart this year, it is Nigeria because of the intense persecution of Christians by Boko Haram.  We even saw the Jubilee Campaign petition President Obama with the hopes of getting enough people aware of the terrorism of Boko Haram so that the United States State Department would defund Boko Haram.  Sadly, that hasn't happened yet.

The following is from Mission Network News:

Nigeria (MNN) ― Boko Haram, a Nigerian militant Islamist group, had their bloodiest year in 2012, responsible for over 750 deaths.

General Aziza, Nigeria’s former national security advisor, says the upscale in Boko Haram’s terrorist attacks may be linked with the upcoming 2015 Nigerian presidential elections.

When President Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian, was elected president of Nigeria in 2011, a series of Boko Haram killings followed. Boko Haram made threats on the president to resign or else turn Nigeria into an Islamic nation.

Rae Burnett, the Africa Director for Christian Aid Mission, explains, “I do believe that it’s spiritual warfare, but it’s definitely the desire to see that Islam is the world religion. They start where they are, and these guys are Nigerian, so they want to be empowered in Nigeria.”

Several of the Muslim-majority Northern states began declaring themselves under Sharia law after the 2011 elections. Of the 32 Nigerian states, 12 currently are govern by Islamic Sharia law. 2015 will be Muslims’ next chance to gain power in Nigeria’s political arena.

However, Boko Haram grew quiet on the large-scale attack front earlier this month. The fact that Christmas was approaching—the biggest Christian holiday of the year—wasn’t lost on anyone and created an eerie silence. Attacks were expected, especially since Boko Haram has declared intent to eradicate Christians from Nigeria.

And Boko Haram militants have the means to back up this desire. With ties to Al-Qaeda and funding for weapons, they fight in pockets and avoid any clashes with the Nigerian military. They’ve gotten bolder. According to Burnett, “They do whatever is in front of them. If it’s a school bus, they’ll blow it up. If it’s a school, they’ll blow it up. They’re trying to make people afraid.”

Because of the disjointed nature of Boko Haram’s fighting tactics, several smaller attacks still occur weekly in Northern Nigeria, but they are largely unreported.

Burnett shares, “Once, I read [about another attack] and called my friend [in Nigeria] and said, ‘Why didn’t you tell me about this?’ He said, ‘Look, if I tell you about every terrorist attack, we would be on the phone all the time.’ They’ve become so common place that they are happening every day. We don’t hear about them.”

The attacks have gotten so bad in the state where Christian Aid’s headquarters are located that they need to move to a safer site. But Christian Aid can’t do it without the funds. Out of the $40,000 needed, they only have $10,000—enough to buy the land and lay a foundation. Christian Aid still needs $30,000 to finish the headquarter buildings and residences.

“They really need to move from the state where they are now,” says Burnett. “Two and three times a week, they are suffering terrorist attacks.”

But despite the danger, the 120 missionaries in Nigeria associated with Christian Aid are staying in the ministry field. “They are committed to making the Lord known and dying for Him if need be,” says Burnett. “They’re doing wonderful work, and many people are coming to Christ.”

Pray for Christians in Nigeria to persevere and hold fast to their hope in the Lord. Pray for many others in Nigeria to come to know Christ and for church leaders to advance their ministry.

 

Source: Mission Network News

 

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China (ODM) ― Christmas is a time of tension for many churches in countries where Open Doors works. The same is true for churches in China. The cult "Eastern Lightning" is causing the tension. According to Eastern Lightning, Friday the 21st of December, the end of the world will occur.

Eastern Lightning is a cult offshoot of Christianity in China. They believe that God has returned to earth as a woman, "born to an ordinary family in the Northern part of China" to guide mankind for the third and last time.

The Chinese government lists the group as a "cult" and has actively tried to suppress it, (which is different from the softer treatment on house churches), especially since its millenarian theology tends to take an explicitly anti-government stance. In the past, the members have kidnapped Christians and others, and forcibly tried to convert them.

Now, the Chinese government has launched full-force actions to wipe out this cult. Some local governments have warned Christian churches to keep a low profile and to not arrange large-scale meetings at Christmas, as there may be actions to suppress such meetings in case they are related to this cult.

This will affect the work of the Chinese Church. Many are planning evangelistic events during the Christmas season.

Churches have not indicated they'll stop working, so pray that they'll have wisdom as they gather to fellowship and worship. Pray that believers will stand firm in their faith. Also, ask God to reveal Himself to members of Eastern Lightning.

Source: Mission Network News

International (MNN) ― In years past, a hanging Christmas Day threat against Christians emerged in countries like Nigeria, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, Iran, and India.

Todd Nettleton, a spokesman with Voice of the Martyrs USA, says it's the one time of year Christ is openly part of community celebrations. "In a lot of those countries, a Christmas morning worship service is a very common thing. It's a part of the Christmas festivities; it's a part of the Christmas morning." It's also a time of increased threats, harassment, and fear, he explains. "You have the church gathered together; http://www.biblegateway.com/they have a worship service. The challenge is: that can become a target."

For example, the Nigerian church bombings carried out by the Boko Haram (an Islamist group linked to al Qaeda), the church bombing in Alexandria, Egypt, and the attacks on church gatherings in India were all meant to disrupt services and create enough fear to keep people away. It makes perfect sense to Islamic militants, says Nettleton. "If you don't like Christians, and if you want to make a statement about that, Christmas Day--a holy day, a day when the world is talking about Christmas, is talking about Christians, what could be better than to target Christians on that day and to generate a lot of attention to that?"

However, rather than engender people to the cause, it has sometimes created the opposite effect. "I think the folks who are attacking are very much in the minority, even within their own countries, within their own cultures. These are radical Muslims who want to strike out at Christians. In many cases, they would like to see Christians eradicated from their country. "

In fact, the paradox of persecution has driven many people into the church to understand the God Christians are following. "For outsiders looking in, they say, ‘Wow! Those Christians are able to love the people and forgive the people that attacked them. How do they do that?' That obviously is an open door to say, ‘That is the holy spirit. That's Jesus working through me.'"

Nettleton notes that in the last two years, warnings and threats were on the rise in the days approaching Christmas. And yet, in a year of uprising and frequent attacks on Christians, there has been silence.

It's an eerie stillness, like the calm before the storm. Nettleton offers a theory on that: "It may be that these countries are already on high alert, they're already watching out. That's one possible answer to that, but I don't know if that's the correct answer, and I don't know how to interpret that exactly." It also doesn't mean that there won't be attacks coming. Regardless, "There are faithful believers who are meeting every Sunday. They will meet on Christmas." Nettleton says believers are undeterred. A VOM team recently bet with Christians in Northern Nigeria who had survived their church being burnt down. Asked if they would leave, the Christians made this statement: "They will have to kill all of us if they want this church to stop being here."

Increased security is already in place at some Christian churches around the world, given past threats and current hostilities. What can you do? Nettleton says, "What I hope American Christians will remember during this Christmas season, is to pray for the protection of our brothers and sisters who are celebrating Christ's birth in countries where they don't have the same freedoms and they don't have the same protection that we have here."

For the majority of the persecuted church, rather than be silenced, they will use this time to proclaim the peace of Christ, as do the Nigerian believers. Nettleton was touched by their dauntlessness. He shares their sentiment. "As long as we're alive, we will meet. We will continue to be the church. We will continue to meet together for worship. So the threats obviously make people concerned. They make people nervous, but in the vast majority of cases, the Christians say, ‘This is our home. This is where God has placed us. We will gather together, and we will worship.'"

Source: Mission Network News

This year we have shared countless stories about the persecution of Christians in Orissa which is considered the "Hindu Heartland".  Mission Network News along with Morning Star News share a report that is stunning to any American who may not realize that the police in India do not necessarily aim to protect and serve like the police do in America.  The contrast is very striking.  Consider praying for the police in India as you read how they are joining in persecuting Christians in India.

Click here to read the full story at Mission Network News.  Here's an excerpt:

However, reports of police helping Hindu extremists attack Christians in Madhya Pradesh is a little disconcerting. Usually, Stravers explains, extremists go to police before they engage in violence against believers; then when the attack is reported and police are called in, they often arrest the Christians.

"This is the first time I've heard a case that confirmed police officers were part of the attackers," Stravers says.

A church pastor told Morning Star News that at the end of November, four police officers broke into his church during worship service and ordered Christians to leave. Close behind was a mob of Hindu extremists who told the leader "Jesus' name will not work in Madhya Pradesh" and warned against future mention of His name.

"The extremists further threatened to kill us, cut off our legs, burn down our houses. and expel us from the village if we speak the name of Jesus again and conduct meetings in the future," the church leader said.

When a church member tried to file a complaint at the local police station, an officer slapped him twice in the face.

 

 

Egypt (MNN) ― The clash was inevitable.

After days of protests where thousands of people vented their spleens over President Mohamed Morsi's power plays and the passage of a Sharia-based draft constitution, Morsi's supporters came out en masse.

The two sides pelted each other with rocks, firebombs, and fought with sticks. There seemed to be little military or police intervention as the president's supporters fought with the opposition in the streets.

Despite the unrest, plans for a December 15 referendum on the draft will go move on schedule. Critics say the Upper House of Parliament rushed the draft through passage and there are growing concerns that it does not protect political and religious freedoms and the rights of women.

Christian Aid Mission Africa director, Rae Burnett notes that "most Egyptians are actually secularists. Then, of course, they have a wide Christian community which has been suffering for years but hasn't really said anything because they weren't killing them. They were just keeping them out of the mainstream of society."

In terms of trading one dictator for another, Burnett says under the old regime, "At least they were able to function as churches and do some evangelism as long as they didn't get into the Muslim community, but now they are really afraid because Sharia law is brutal. It's horrifying, and it's not something that secular Muslims want either because it infringes (totally) on their lifestyle."

The more recent moves will change the face of Egypt for a long time. "Our situation here is getting worse day by day," reports an Egyptian ministry leader supported by Christian Aid. Indigenous ministries are growing more concerned each day as they watch radical Islam gain control in Egypt.

In a communique shared Wednesday with Burnett, he wrote, [sic] "The expected war has begun. Right now, while I'm writing, there is a war between the brotherhood army and the protesters. It is expected for many to die in a sea of blood. They attack them and call the victorious shouts of wars as if they attack enemies. And they're throwing gas bombs and fire on the protests. Also one of the Islamic elders call on satellite channels to take revenge from Christians as they are the reason for not applying Sharia until now. Situation is so dark and desperate. Please pray for us."

Every day there is more and more evidence of what life could look like if Sharia takes over. Sharia calls for one thing: "Either conversion or death to the enemies of Islam, which is anybody who is not a Muslim. It's very scary because Egypt is a very large and influential country." Although Christians have already been suffering economic and educational persecution for many years, this is different. Burnett explains, "The native Egyptian ministries are really asking for our prayers and also our help, because they're really in financial difficulty."

Many Christians face economic and educational discrimination. However, Burnett says the people they help "have no means of support. They don't work (they're missionaries anyway), but even if they wanted a job, who is going to hire a Christian to work in an Islamic society? They [Muslims] don't do it."

The ministry leader shared that in an earlier demonstration, "Mobs were chanting, 'We want Islam,' and one demonstrator noted, 'It is our country, and those who do not like our law or decisions should leave.' [The demonstrator] then led the crowd to insult badly those who oppose Sharia, singling out and threatening Christians though they were not present"

Tens of thousands of Christians have fled the country due to the increasing danger of being attacked or killed, or their homes and businesses ransacked or set on fire. There have been numerous accounts of attacks where Christians face not only the physical violence of being attacked, but also being arrested for the attack.

Burnett, however, says most of the Christians they're helping are determined to remain. "The people that we're helping don't have any buildings, they don't have any properties, (other than we've enabled them to buy a flat), and they are not denominational. They are independent, indigenous ministry leaders. They have no thought, whatsoever, of leaving."

Aside from helping them financially, Burnett says they're asking for prayer. How can we pray? "I would say, just the way I always want people to pray for me: that I would grow in strength of my relationship with the Lord, that I would have His will and His power to be light and life before people, that I would be willing to lay down my life."

The ministry leader adds, "There is widespread talk of continuing the revolution for democracy. Some have even declared they will not be satisfied unless they get rid of that president like they did before. We continue our work of discipleship and neighborhood evangelism, and we are so grateful for all of your prayer and financial support in these dangerous times. It is keeping us alive. Please relay our thanks to all who are helping us."

Source: Mission Network News

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North Korea (MNN) ― For the 10th straight year, North Korea tops the Open Doors World Watch List as the country where Christians face the most severe persecution.

North Korea leader Kim Jong-Un hasn't made any essential changes in the year after the death of his father, Kim Jong-Il. He has been too preoccupied with building his image and tightening security to make changes.

The "Dear Leader" Kim Jong-Il told the people three years ago that in 2012, North Korea would once again be a strong and prosperous country. He died in December of 2011, leaving the country to his son, Kim Jong-Un.

Open Doors USA reports, "The regime tried to model this young leader after his grandfather. His appearance and public speeches mirror North Korea's 'Eternal President.'" There are still many differences. Kim Jong-Un's attendance of performances with Disney figures, female musicians, and an orchestra playing music from a Rocky movie were widely televised. However, the dream of a strong and prosperous nation is still far from reality.

The number of trained North Korean spies in China is growing. Border patrol has been taken over by the National Security Agency, which puts pressure on captured smugglers to disclose information about Christians helping refugees.

In at least one region of North Korea, citizens are pressured to confess their crimes. A person told a reporter from DailyNK.com, "They are gathering people by factory, school, and people's units and telling them to write letters confessing precisely what foreign media they have viewed up to now. When they give you the paper, they warn you, saying they know everything anyway so just write it down: when, where, and what you saw; where and from whom you got it; and your impression of it."

Open Doors contacts that live in North Korea have reported no changes in their circumstances. There is no sign that Kim Jong-Un will improve religious freedom. Some arrested Christians were tortured and then released in order to betray their brothers and sisters or to serve as bait.

One Open Doors co-worker in North Korean said, "It's so dangerous to help Christians who have been released by the government. Some have been tortured so severely they cannot walk anymore. Often we cannot help them, because that would bring too much risk to us. We can pray for them. We know that Jesus will not leave them, nor forsake them."

Pray for the Christians who are being persecuted on a daily basis. Ask God to be with those who are being tortured. Pray that God's Word will continue to be shared.

Source: Mission Network News

Egypt (MNN) ― Violence toward Egyptian Christians is about to get worse.

Following the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak, persecution escalated. Persecution has intensified even more in recent days.

An Egyptian ministry leader supported by Christian Aid Mission said, "Our situation here is getting worse day by day." Ministries are growing more concerned as they watch radical Islam gain control in Egypt. Christians in Egypt believe that dark days of persecution are approaching.

On Tuesday, tens of thousands of secular and Christian believers protested in Tahrir Square.

Most recently, judges from the country's highest appeals court and its sister lower court are on an indefinite strike.

The standoff began when President Morsi issued decrees that gave him near-absolute powers and gave himself and the Islamist-heavy assembly immunity from the courts. This open-ended strike took place on the day it was supposed to rule on the legitimacy of two key assemblies controlled by allies of the Islamist leader.

The judges will remain on strike until Morsi rescinds his decrees. Without a functioning justice system, Egypt will be plunged even deeper into turmoil.

Though unlikely, the ministry leader writes, "We pray that this common protest will restore the bridges between Christians and Muslims as it was in the days of the revolution."

Tens of thousands of Christians have fled the country. There is an increasing danger to being attacked or killed, or their homes and businesses ransacked or torched.

The ministry leader remains and continues to share the Gospel. "God has given us the grace to form friendships with Muslims and show them the love of Christ in practical ways. We ask for your prayers and financial support during this terrible time, which will only grow worse. Our most pressing need is to support our coworkers as they labor in the shadow of this darkness."

If you would like to help this persecuted Egyptian ministry, click here. Continue to keep Christian leaders working in Egypt in your prayers.

Source: Mission Network News

Somalia (MNN) ― As if in answer to the capture of 300 Al-Shabaab members last month in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, the attacks on civilians have gotten more extreme and more public.

The latest attack came last Friday when Islamic extremists brutally murdered a Christian in the city of Barawa, in broad daylight. Voice of the Martyrs USA spokesman Todd Nettleton explains, "In this case, it is a 25-year-old man named Farhan Haji Mose. He apparently became a Christian in 2010, out of a Muslim background."

Nettleton goes on to say that Mose "had a business in Somalia which required him to travel to Kenya. It's thought that he met Christians while he was in Kenya, received the Gospel, and received Christ." Muslim extremists then tracked Mose for six months, to confirm his Christian activity before catching him and accusing him of being a spy and leaving Islam, Christian and Muslim witnesses said.

Al Shabaab members caught up with Mose in the coastal city of Barawa in Somalia. He was accused, and convicted by the impromptu "court," while a crowd assembled to witness the sentence that comes with an apostasy conviction. Nettleton clarifies that "in the minds of a radical Islamic militant, these people are apostates. They've left to follow another religion. The just punishment is execution."

Mose was summarily beheaded, and then his body was desecrated as a warning for others. "Their goal is to rid Somalia of Christianity," notes Nettleton. The number of Christians who have been tracked down and murdered has been growing over the last couple of years. What's more, he adds, is ominous news that the religicide isn't held to Somalia's borders. "We've heard reports that Al Shabaab literally has a list of people they are looking for who are suspected of having left Islam and being Christians."

Chaos normally creates more chaos. "The goal of Al Shabaab is to create fear, to create control. What better way to do that than to show publicly what happens to somebody who leaves Islam to follow another faith?" Al-Shabaab is enforcing a harsh interpretation of sharia in the territories it controls. This militia was strongly radicalized through the external influence of al-Qaeda in recent years.

In the confusion of a failed state and the presence of uncontrolled militias, the result is anarchy. Christians are extra vulnerable these circumstances. This is where Voice of the Martyrs can help. While they can't reveal everything they're doing, says Nettleton, "One of the things that we are doing is providing safe houses for Christian converts. As we talk about this case, the Muslims who come to faith in Christ know very well the risks they face. So sometimes, having a place to go where they're safe--not only where they can be safe, but where they're discipled--is an incredible blessing."

Safe houses means someone needs them, which means Al Shabaab has not wholly succeeded in stopping the Gospel or ridding the country of Christians. Muslim-background believers (MBBs) do not have organized church groups because of the risk. They exist as individual secret believers and can only know a few others to make an underground group. According to reports from Open Doors, the largest known group in Somalia is composed of five believers.

What can you do? Prayer is the first defense. It's often the only thing a church under fire requests. Ask the Lord to give wisdom to authorities in Somalia. Pray that the Lord will bring an end to Al Shabaab's activities and influence in Somalia and in bordering nations. Pray that Christians will not retaliate in anger, but will show Christ-like love and forgiveness to their persecutors.

Source: Mission Network News

 

Egypt (MNN) ― 61-year-old Bishop Tawadros is officially enthroned as the 118th Coptic Patriarch. SAT-7, a Christian satellite television ministry to the Middle East and North Africa, aired the occasion in a special live broadcast.

The Coptic Patriarch is a highly-respected spiritual leader of about 8 million Coptic Christians living in Egypt. His role is significant for Christians seeking to cope with religious and social discrimination as the Islamist-majority parliament drafts a new Egyptian constitution.

The day before Tawadrous was officially installed as patriarch, acting Pope Pachomious officially withdrew the church from the nation's 100-member constituent assembly, which is responsible for drafting the post-revolution constitution.

This has brought fear in the church. They fear it will limit civil rights and deepen the influence of Sharia law.

In March, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, passed away at the age of 88. Dr. Terence Ascott, CEO of SAT-7, said, "His holiness Patriarch Shenouda was elected in 1971. Since then, the Coptic Orthodox Church has become much more international. Because of this and the fast changing political landscape in Egypt, the new Patriarch will face a very different set of challenges than his late predecessor. He needs, and has, our prayers!"

The enthronement comes at very uncertain times for Egypt's Christians. Sectarian attacks against Coptic Christians and churches in Egypt have increased since the fall of Hosni Mubarak last year. Many Christians are concerned about the rise of Islamist political forces.

Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi did not attend Sunday's enthronement. He promised tolerance and respect for all faiths in Egypt after he was elected, but that pledge has been honored in the breach.

Since then it seems pressure on Egypt's Copts has increased. Thousands are fleeing Egypt rather than choosing to live among Muslim extremists who take any opportunity to attack them.

Ask God to give the Pope grace and wisdom in his new position. Pray that the Christians in Egypt will see God's hand working in their lives.

Source: Mission Network News