Persecution Blog

Overcoming Heresy Among Former Muslims with Todd Nettleton

Recently, Todd Nettleton visited The Christian Broadcasting Network to discuss the growing problem of heresy within the church.  Listen in as he offers important solutions to this ever growing problem.

Fear and inexperience can often present struggles for churches when ministering to former Muslims -- especially in Islamic nations.

Because of this, many Muslim background believers, or MBBs, are uniting to worship in their own way, where they feel accepted and comfortable.

But this can sometimes lead to misleading information or a mix of Christianity that still includes Islamic practices.

Christian World News spoke with Todd Nettleton, with Voice of the Martyrs, about the issue of heresy, as well as his advice on how churches can reach out to the MBB community and ensure these believers aren't led astray.

Turkmenistan: Fined for Having a Bible

Four Protestants in Turkmenistan were arrested and fined in late February after police discovered Bibles in their possession. Although the judge initially refused to hear the case against the four Christians, citing a lack of evidence, she later changed her position and fined them for “violation of the law on religious organizations.”

The Bibles were discovered when police searched a home where three believers were staying with a fourth Christian. During the search, a police officer found a Bible in each of the three visitors’ bags. He confiscated the Bibles and took all four Christians, who asked not to be identified, to the police station.

An official questioned them about their religious activity, shouted at them and accused them of bringing “illegal” religious literature into the city. He also threatened to have drugs planted on them. “Then you’ll be in another charge,” he warned.

The believers were taken to a detention facility, where they were locked in a room holding 17 prisoners but designed for only four. After an hour in the cell, the Christians were taken before a judge. She refused to hear the case, saying police had presented no proof of wrongdoing, so police let them go after warning them not to leave the city.

One week later, the believers were summoned to the court again for a trial before the same judge. “Perhaps there had been pressure on the judge to force her to change her stance,” said a believer familiar with the case. The four were found guilty of violating the law on religious organizations and fined the equivalent of $125. Though they felt they had done nothing wrong, the four reluctantly paid their fines. Refusal to pay could have resulted in a 15-day prison sentence. According to Forum 18 News, the Christians’ Bibles were never returned to them.

Source: Forum 18 News Service

VOM-USA Prayer Update for March 30, 2012

Thank you for praying for this weeks prayer requests and please share them with your friends, church and pastor.

Iran--Arrests Continue as Government Clarifies Position on Nadarkhani Case
Sources: Middle East Concern, ChristianPost.com, VOM Contacts

Acts 20:23-24

As Iran celebrates the Iranian New Year, Iranian Christians face an ongoing wave of arrests that began last December. Several believers were released in March, but at least 27 remain in detention. Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who was arrested in October 2009 and subsequently sentenced to death, remains a matter of international concern. The Christian Post reported on March 15 that an Iranian envoy told a human rights investigator that Nadarkhani was guilty of "offending Islam." The envoy said Nadarkhani was inviting juveniles into his home to preach Christianity, that he had an illegal church in his basement, and that by preaching Christianity he had offended Islam. Previously, the Iranian government had said Nadarkhani was charged with rape, extortion and Zionism. The United States, Brazil, Netherlands, Germany, Mexico, France, Great Britain and the European Union have all called for Nadarkhani's release. Pray for all Iranian Christians who are persecuted for their faith.

Egypt--Christians Seek New Leader After Coptic Pope's Death
Sources: VOM Contacts, Compass Direct News, Assist News Service

Matthew 5:13-14

The leader of Egypt's Coptic church has died, and Egyptian Christians ask for prayer as they choose their next leader. Pope Shenouda III, who led the Coptic Christian Church in Egypt for more than three decades, died on March 17 at age 88. Shenouda led the church through some of its most challenging times, often coming into conflict with the government. He spent three years in prison in 1981 for his criticism of then-President Sadat. His death comes at a time when the church is battling the worst persecution in its history. Salafist Islamist leaders publicly celebrated Shenouda's death. The church now faces the daunting task of choosing a new leader. "We need to pray that God might choose the right man ... who could unify all the different denominations in the country against the expected persecution," wrote our VOM worker in Egypt. "Many Christians have left the country already..., but we pray for those true believers to remain as God's salt and light."

Yemen--Al-Qaida Claims Responsibility for Death of Development Worker
Sources: Newser.com, NewYorkTimes.com, The Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era

Psalm 116:15

A 32-year-old American English teacher was gunned down in the central Yemeni city of Taiz on March 18, and al-Qaida members have claimed responsibility. A Pennsylvania newspaper identified the victim as Joel Wesley Shrum, a former high school football star who moved to Yemen in 2010 to work for International Training Development Centre, a nonprofit organization. Two men on a motorcycle approached Shrum's car and opened fire as he was on his way to his job as an English teacher at the center. Text messages later circulated saying "holy warriors" had killed a "senior missionary." The school has denied that Shrum was a missionary. He leaves behind a wife, Janelle, and two young sons.

India
VOM Program

Pray for the family of "Matthew," who was martyred for his faith, and especially for 19-year-old Roger, who received an auto rickshaw to help support the family.

Kids of Courage: Rocks in Church and a New Roof

If you haven't visited our Kids of Courage website recently, I'd like to encourage you go click here and go check it out.  The website is loaded with a lot of extremely valuable information to help parents educate their children about Christian persecution, in an age appropriate manner.

Today, the Kids of Courage blog is highlighting the following story:

Rocks in Church and a New Roof

A team of Christians recently traveled to a country where Christians are not always treated well by the government or by non-Christians. A report from the team said:

“At one church we visited, they did not have a roof. The neighbors would go up on their taller building and throw rocks into the church. The rocks hit the Christians during their worship services. The team of visitors bought metal for a roof, and the church had a new roof the next day!”

“It is incredible to see how much they appreciate such small things we take for granted!” the report said.

(Sources—Story: Vision Beyond Borders / Photo: Steve Shattuck, Flickr.com)

To Think About: Would you keep coming to church if rocks were falling on you during the service?

Isn't that a great illustration and wonderful question to consider for all of us?  This is why, I want to highly encourage you to visit Kids of Courage often and use the materials on the website for your edification and child's education.

What Restricted Nation Are You Praying for Today?

It's been some time since I've asked you to consider praying for a specific restricted nation, and since April is right around the corner, I thought now would be a good time to ask you to consider picking one or a few restricted nations on our Restricted Nations page and praying for them during April.

With all the persecution happening in Nigeria, I've been praying more for believers in Nigeria recently. 

Here's some information about Nigeria from our Restricted Nations page:

Sectarian violence has resulted in 50,000 deaths since 1999, when one-third of Nigeria’s states implemented the Islamic penal code. Punishments handed down by Shariah courts include amputation, flogging and death by stoning. Greed and corruption consume all levels of the government. For many non-Muslims in northern and central Nigeria, daily life consists of a veneer of normalcy over a barely concealed reality of chronic discrimination and tension that periodically erupts into deadly, but organized, violence. Sixty-seven of the 523 people groups are unreached by the gospel.

Category: Hostile Nation
Religion: Christian 51.3%, Muslim 45.1%
Ideology: Islam
Head of State: President Goodluck Jonathan (who is a Christian)

Christians in northern Nigeria complain of discrimination by the Muslim controlled government. In some cases, young women are kidnapped, compelled to convert to Islam and forcibly married to Muslim men. The kidnappers are protected by Shariah courts. Because of the extreme tension between Muslims and Christians, religious riots are common in northern Nigeria. Churches, mosques, schools, homes and businesses are burned and destroyed by angry rioters during these outbreaks of violence, which often involve both sides. In 2011, violent protests broke out in April after presidential elections. More than 500 people were killed and more than 31,000 were displaced. In addition, 150 churches were burned.

Good News! Gao Zhisheng's Family Visits Him in Prison

Many of you are familiar with Gao Zhisheng, a prisoner in China, who we have been advocating for since he was taken captive.  If you're not acquainted with his case, you may learn about him at www.freegao.com and also sign the petition to help him.

Our friends at China Aid released the following news yesterday:

(Shaya, Xinjiang—March 28, 2012) ChinaAid has confirmed that relatives of prominent Chinese human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng were finally allowed to visit him in prison last weekend, putting to rest fears that the pioneer in the growing Christian legal defense movement in China had died during the two-plus years of his forced disappearance into police custody.

Gao’s older brother and his father-in-law were permitted a half-hour meeting with Gao on March 24 at the Shaya prison, in a remote part of Xinjiang in far western China. They were able to see each other through a glass window and converse using a prison phone.

Gao’s wife, Geng He, telephoned ChinaAid’s founder and president Rev. Bob Fu on Tuesday night confirming the meeting and providing details. She said that her husband broke into tears when her father told Gao, “My health is greatly improved now that I have seen you.” Gao, who has disappeared into police custody several times since 2006, was last seen by his family members in April 2010 when he briefly resurfaced after a previous long period of disappearance.  During that time, he gave an extensive interview to the Associated Press, an American wire service, in which he gave a detailed account of brutal torture inflicted on him by Chinese police.

Gao’s wife said he looked fine during the weekend prison visit, which was conducted under the watchful eye of prison officials and Public Security Bureau officials. The PSB instructed Gao’s family members not to talk to the outside world about the visit.
PSB officers from Gao’s hometown in Shaanxi province had accompanied Gao’s older brother, Gao Zhiyi, on the entire trip from central China, a journey of more than 3000 kilometers (more than 2000 miles) to Shaya.

During their half-hour visit, Gao asked his brother to deposit 600 yuan ($100) into his prison account. Gao also asked about wellbeing of his family.

Gao’s brother cried a lot and said to Gao's wife, “I am relieved after finally being able to see that he is at least alive.”

Geng He expressed her deep gratitude to ChinaAid for its advocacy and legal and financial support.

ChinaAid’s Fu said, “We are glad to finally get this good news.” But he added, “For the sake of true justice and the rule of law in China, the Chinese government should immediately release attorney Gao without any conditions. Gao is totally innocent.”

Gao was sentenced on Dec. 22, 2006, to a three-year suspended prison term for “subversion” and was placed on probation for five years. On Dec. 16, 2011, just days before the end of the five-year probation period, China’s central government announced through the official Xinhua News Agency that the Beijing No. 1 Intermediate People’s Court had sentenced Gao to a three-year prison term because he “had seriously violated probation rules for a number of times, which led to the court decision to withdraw the probation.”

Please read the full story here.   Please keep praying for Gao and his family and this situation.  God is listening!

Egyptian Military Kills Christians

Every month The Voice of the Martyrs posts special content on our Media page that corresponds to the monthly newsletter.  April is right around the corner and the following material is posted because it ties back to the theme in April's newsletter of Scars of Faith.   As you consider the video and the suffering taking place in Egypt, please pray for our brothers and sisters who are living under these circumstances.

 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. Matthew 5:38–40

October 9, 2011: Cairo, Egypt. During a Christian protest of the destruction of a church, the Egyptian military attacked and killed 27 believers. Many were beaten by batons, and some were run over by an armored personnel carrier. Video courtesy of CBN News.

Officials in Laos Arrest Five Christians Over the Weekend

Many of you know that Laos is one of The Voice of the Martyrs restricted nations and because it's a nation that is restricted, we can expect stories like the one I'm going to share with you today.

Laos is about 3.5 percent Christian, almost 60 percent Buddhist and 35 percent indigenous religions.

Laos is also a communist country and one of the most volatile areas for Christians to live. Even though Laos allows Christianity, the reality is that Christians are routinely tortured, harassed, and discriminated against in housing and education.

Compass Direct, Worthy Christian News and Eurasia Review have all reported on the arrests of at least five Christians who were taken into custody over the weekend while they were at a worship service and praying.

There were two men arrested and three women.  The two men were Phosee and Viengsai who are from Phosai village and the women are Alee from Phosai village, Poon from Pone village and Narm from Natoo village.

The Christians were arrested and held on charges of "leading religious movements without official approval" according to Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom.

The government  of Laos frowns on small house churches and targets those who worship in these fellowships, because they are seen as a threat and deviate from the government-approved Lao Evangelical Church.

Please pray for Christians in Laos today.

 

Islamic Sect Violence Growing in Nigeria

Nigeria (MNN) ― A shootout in northeast Nigeria Sunday claimed six lives, three of them members of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, suspected of cultivating links with Al Qaeda.

Boko Haram's war against the government now includes an ominous new front: a war against schools. On Friday, extremists planted a bomb at a local primary school, although no one was injured in that attack, but at least eight schools have been firebombed in recent weeks. 

Embattled President Goodluck Jonathon tried to pursue diplomatic means of settling differences, but following the breakdown in talks, Boko Haram threatened to intensify its bombing campaign. Voice of the Martyrs Canada spokesman Greg Musselman says, "Obviously, they want to enter talks because the military/the resources they have to control the Boko Haram is difficult. I guess they have to be open to the option of it. In reality, it's just a collision of ideology."

Musselman also observes that it's no longer just Christians in the cross hairs. "It's becoming more and more dangerous, not only for those doing work like the Voice of the Martyrs and other organizations like ours that work with persecuted Christians, but those working in the oil field or on the outside, and also for the Nigerian citizens themselves."  

The insurgent violence stalking northern Nigeria now includes a long list of official targets: police and army officers, elected officials, high-ranking civil servants, United Nations workers, and other perceived supporters of the Nigerian government.  

More and more governments are taking notice. The 2012 report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has recommended that Nigeria should be designated as a "Country of Particular Concern" (CPC). Over 14,000 Nigerians had been killed in religiously-related violence between Muslims and Christians since 1999. That is expected to intensify, says Musselman. "They [Boko Haram] have given basically an edict to the Christians to get out or they will be killed--or they'll burn down their churches, businesses, those kinds of things."

The USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. Federal Government commission with principal responsibilities to review the facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom internationally and make policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress.

Nigeria--which had been on USCIRF's Watch List since 2002--was first recommended for CPC status in 2009. Presently, 10 countries--Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Uzbekistan--are designated as CPCs by the State Department.

The question now is: what kind of impact does the threat of violence have on evangelism? Musselman says, "If [Christians] are meeting, they're going to meet where you've got security and they can at least be somewhat aware of what's happening around them and try to prevent these suicide bombings and attacks on the churches."  

The other effect has been unity. "The church's desire to focus on Christ is strong, and their desire for evangelism has increased. In fact, one of the things that many of the leaders told us is that the reason the attacks have intensified against them is because they are doing evangelism and people are coming to Jesus Christ."

Pray for a peace that surpasses all understanding for those living amidst the ensuing violence. Pray that God will give Nigerian Christians the patience to entrust true justice into the hands of God. Musselman adds, "We need to be praying certainly for the church in Nigeria: 'Thank you for not forgetting about us' I think was one of the messages that was clearly said. But we also need to be praying that the Lord will give the Nigerian church wisdom on security and protection."

Source: Mission Network News

113 More Letters Written to Pastor Youcef, Have You Written Yet?

Last week we challenged you to join us in helping us write 12,000 letters to Pastor Youcef who is in prison and has received a death sentence for being a follower of Jesus Christ.  This week I am happy to share that 113 more letters have been written to Pastor Youcef and I'm convinced we can reach our goal.

Will you help us to continue to put pressure on Iran and keep them aware that the world is watching what they do with Pastor Youcef?  I hope you do.

For more information on Pastor Youcef's situation, please read our latest prayer bulletin from our Be-A-Voice-Network.  Click here for the PDF.

Please write a letter to Pastor Youcef using our Prisoner Alert page.   Please get your friends and family involved and your church Sunday school class or bible study.  Now is the time to stand with your brother.

CLICK HERE TO WRITE YOUR LETTER NOW