Iranian police arrest 12 Christian converts

Iran (MNN) — The underground evangelical church is growing exponentially in Iran, and authorities appear to be taking action against it. President of Open Doors USA Carl Moeller says 12 Muslim-background believers were arrested last week. Four are still jailed. Moeller says, “Iranian authorities are recognizing that there’s a mushrooming house church movement going on in Iran. (It’s) doubling in size of the indigenous house church movement there in Iran every six months. So the rate of growth is actually stunning.” The arrests began last week with arrests in airports and homes. Christian radio and television have been embraced by Iranians, says Moeller, because of disillusionment. “This disillusionment with these conservative clerics, and this harsh political hatred creates a tremendous opportunity for the love of Jesus Christ to make inroads into people’s lives. People are searching for real spiritual answers, and they are finding it in Jesus Christ.” Funding is needed for the demand in Christian resources.

Full story: http://www.MNNonline.org/article/11266

Fears of civil war grow in Lebanon

Lebanon (MNN) — Lebanon’s identity crisis may be coming to a head as clashes between anti-government forces and the government intensified last week. SAT-7’s David Harder confirms that the fighting trapped some of their staff and could disrupt SAT-7 KIDS channel broadcasts. “Everyone is worried that the fighting could escalate, literally, becoming much more street-to-street fighting than what we’ve seen already. And that is the fear, that more groups would be drawn in, that the fighting will become more intense, involve more people and really become a civil war.” The instability threatens to disrupt some SAT-7 broadcasts because of distribution complications. Harder asks prayer for the team: “They’re going to continue to try to make programs and, like they have in the past, they’re able to bring in pastors who can speak about what life is like, relying on Christ, in the middle of a crisis. They’re not just speaking about it in theory, they’re living it. Viewers know when it’s real, and people respond.”

• Pray that the tension will not escalate into civil war.
• Pray that the hope of Christ will continue to be broadcast through SAT-7 programs, without interruption.
• Pray for protection and for creative inspiration for the program producers and writers.

source: Mission Network News

Dozens of believers kidnapped in India

India (MNN) — The amount of persecution against Christians in India continues to increase, and there’s no sign of improvement. Gospel for Asia is reporting that nearly 40 Christians were kidnapped last week. The kidnappers reportedly have taken them to a religious temple to try to force them to renounce their faith and turn to the country’s dominant faith. Gospel for Asia Daniel Yahannan says, “They do this to try to scare people from following Christ. It’s kind of like, ‘If you follow Christ, this is what’s going to happen to you.’ But it always seems to backfire because more people get saved after the persecution.” Yohannan says the large number of conversions to Christianity affects the two sides differently. “I think for the persecutors, it confuses them because people co not stop following Christ. For the believers and others who are sharing the Gospel, I think it just gives them so much boldness.” The large number of new Christians means GFA needs more trained leaders to help with discipleship. Your support can help expand the work. Go our Web site to help.

Full story: http://www.MNNonline.org/article/10962

A high-profile kidnapping could hurt the Iraqi church

Iraq (MNN) — Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki has issued an all-out effort to secure the release of Chaldean Catholic archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho who was kidnapped last Friday. The abduction could cause even more Christians to leave Iraq. Open Doors’ Carl Moeller says that while persecution against Christians generally sees the church grow, it’s mixed for the church in Iraq. “The historic Christian church in Iraq has decreased from roughly one-million around the time of the first Gulf War to less than half a million. However, thousands of Muslims are coming to faith in Jesus Christ in Iraq today, and that is a reality throughout the North and even in the South.” Moeller says they’re doing all they can to help the indigenous church. “Our role as Open Doors is to come alongside the church where they are persecuted and to strengthen them so that they can remain there and that they can remain a vital Gospel witness for the sake of the souls of the Iraqi people.” Your financial support can help them do that.

Full story: http://www.MNNonline.org/article/10971

The Bible publisher murder trial is not going away

Turkey (MNN) — Christians and the rest of the world are watching closely Turkey’s handling of the massacre of three Christians last April. Five people face murder charges. IN Network’s Turkey country director Behnan Konutgan says the victims’ families are being represented by 23 top human rights lawyers in Turkey. “Those lawyers support us and defend our case without getting any money just because of human rights. And they are doing a great thing. They want to go deep and see who is behind the killing of our brothers.” Good has come from the murders. many Turks have been open to hearing about Christianity, and some have turned to Christ. Konutgan says they desire to share the Gospel with every Turk. “We want to tell them the truth. So through IN Network ministry we want to reach them through evangelizing, through the Web site and giving seminars everywhere. We will continue evangelizing because it is our right.” Prayer and financial support are needed.

Full story: http://www.MNNonline.org/article/10953

Jordan acknowledges deporting Christians

Jordan (MNN) — Christians in predominately-Muslim Jordan are facing a bit of uncertainty. This comes following Jordan’s acknowledgment that they’re expelling foreign Christians for preaching the Gospel. This action is a surprise to many evangelicals, including “Carlos” with Partners International. “They have been trying to really strike a balance between their internal security and everything else that’s happening around the world. And, I think in this particular case they are taking a measure to extremes that we haven’t seen before.” Carlos says churches have been closed, believers interrogated and deported all to preserve peace between Muslims and Christians. Is it intended to be blatant persecution against Christians? Carlos says, “I wouldn’t call it blatant persecution. I would just call it a desperate measure by a well- intended but ill-informed government.” This may be a sign of violence to come, which could affect tourism, says Carlos. Despite this, Partners has renewed their commitment to take the Gospel to the Jordanian people.

Full story: http://www.MNNonline.org/article/10941

Christians expelled from Jordan; Open Doors is concerned

Jordan (MNN) — Jordan has permitted Christian activity in the recent past. Reports, however, suggest that’s changing. In 2007, Jordan denied residence permits to at least 27 expatriate Christian families and individuals, most of which were working with local churches or studying at a seminary. Jordanian authorities claim illegal proselytism. Open Doors’ Al Janssen isn’t surprised. “Muslim authorities will always use that. Are they going out on the street and evangelizing? I find that hard to believe. But what if someone asks you in the privacy of a conversation, ‘I want to know more about what you believe as Christians.’ Is that proselytizing?” Some believe it is. Janssen is concerned for two reasons. “Does this mean that Jordan is going to become more of a radical Islamic country? The other thing that would concern me is that other Islamic countries might be encouraged by this example of Jordan and decide they might start cracking down on Christians are well.”

• Pray that the Jordanian government will end its antagonism toward Christians.
• Pray also that believers will be given residency permits and visas so the work in Jordan can continue.
• Pray that God will allow non-Jordanian Arab believers into the country so they can get much-needed theological training.

Land of the Kruds

150 million Muslims in India

Where else in the world can you find over 150 million Muslims as the minority
Map of India

religion? Only in India! Where else can you find over 400 different Muslim people groups, based on occupation, geographical location or shade of Islamic believe? Only in India! (Watch the MPG video for more…)
India is Accessible

Yet even with these facts considered, many Christians around the world seem to ignore or give scant attention to, the needs of this huge group of Indian Muslims. We can also say that the Muslims of India are perhaps the largest accessible Muslim population in the world. This is due in part to India’s pluralistic framework and secular constitution. Opportunities for open Christian witness abound and there are open doors for many kinds of Christian ministry.

Islam was introduced to India by conquest and grew through the successful efforts of Muslim missionaries and high birth rates. Today India is the second largest Muslim nation in the world.
Hour of Opportunity in India

Some of the largest Muslim people groups in India include the Bengalis, the Biharis, Jat, Pathan, Julaha, Shaikh, Rajput, Kashmiri, Ansari and the Labbais.

Having read this article, so far, we could conclude that there must be hundreds, if not thousands, of Christians sharing the love of Christ regularly with their Muslim neighbours in India, right? WRONG!

Alas, as of this date there are perhaps not more than 150 workers (including both Indians and expatriates) in full time witness to Muslims. There are some very encouraging developments happening, however, with more unity between churches and organisations reaching Muslims in India. There are also continued reports of Muslim leaders receiving visions and dreams of Jesus!

It is the hour of opportunity for the Muslims of India – may we not miss it!
Prayer for the Muslims in India:

* Pray for the religious freedom in India to continue. It is under threat from certain groups in the nation.

* Pray that the Muslims of India would each have an opportunity to hear, and see, the Gospel in a culturally relevant way.

* Pray for the many large indigenous Indian Missions organisations, that they will “tithe” some of their people for Muslim work.

* Pray for continuing and new training initiatives to train workers and church planters for Muslim ministry.
Background on India (World Factbook)

The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world, dates back at least 5,000 years. Aryan tribes from the northwest infiltrated onto Indian lands about 1500 B.C.; their merger with the earlier Dravidian inhabitants created the classical Indian culture. Arab incursions starting in the 8th century and Turkish in the 12th were followed by those of European traders, beginning in the late 15th century.

By the 19th century, Britain had assumed political control of virtually all Indian lands. Indian armed forces in the British army played a vital role in both World Wars. Nonviolent resistance to British colonialism led by Mohandas GANDHI and Jawaharlal NEHRU brought independence in 1947.

The subcontinent was divided into the secular state of India and the smaller Muslim state of Pakistan. A third war between the two countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. Despite impressive gains in economic investment and output, India faces pressing problems such as the ongoing dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir, massive overpopulation, environmental degradation, extensive poverty, and ethnic and religious strife.
Languages of India

English enjoys associate status but is the most important language for national, political, and commercial communication; Hindi is the national language and primary tongue of 30% of the people; there are 14 other official languages: Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Sanskrit; Hindustani is a popular variant of Hindi/Urdu spoken widely throughout northern India but is not an official language.

Muslim clerics want evangelistic work restricted in Algeria

Algeria (MNN) — Disconcerting news is coming from Algeria and Afghanistan.

Glenn Penner of Voice of the Martyrs’ Canada says Islamic scholars there are calling for a crackdown on Christians. “This head of the Islamic Association is claiming that a convert gets paid over seven thousand dollars if they become a Christian. So all you have to do is start spreading these lies around enough, and the government might say, “We probably should do something about this.’”

Penner believes the Islamists are spreading misinformation to stir nationalist sympathies. As to whether this will curb evangelism, he says, “They take what is a very innocent act and give it serious implications. For those who are in the ministering in that country, both nationals and expatriates, certainly they’re going to be looked at with more scrutiny and suspicion. We need to be praying for them that they’ll continue to operate with integrity and yet continue to operate fearlessly as they try to win men and women to Christ.”

* Pray that those to whom they reach out will see Christ in them.

* Pray that Roshan will be able to reach out to his persecutors.

source:
Greg Yoder, Executive Director
Mission Network News

Mission Network News is dedicated to keeping Christians informed about missions and evangelism around the world. Our goal is to help you become engaged in missions through praying more effectively, giving or going to the field short or long term.