Iraq leadership pledges to protect Christians

Iraq (MNN) — Iraq’s prime minister pledged Saturday to protect and support the Christian minority that has been fleeing the chaos and sectarian violence in the country. Open Door USA’s Jerry Dykstra says, “This is a long overdue sign that they want to stop the outflow of Iraqi Christians. We’ll just have to see if this vow to protect and support the Christian minority will be followed through, and we pray that it will be.” It’s believed that only 400,000 Christians remain in Iraq. Dykstra is hoping this pledge will help stem the tide of Christians leaving Iraq. He says it’s important for them to remain. “Christians need to have a voice not only in the emerging government, but for ministry to go on we need the Christians to stay there.” A pastor in Iraq says the church is growing, and Dykstra reads from his letter: “Many in our church now are new believers, and in the past four months we have baptized six people.” He also mentions a terrorist who came into his office and asked, “How can I get peace?” Financial support is needed for literature, which is in high demand.

 

Full story: http://www.MNNonline.org/article/10517

Interview of Jack Harris from Fox News

Awesome interview! Click here to watch

Christian bookstore worker martyred in Gaza

Gaza (MNN) — Gaza’s minority Christian community was badly shaken over the weekend after 29-year-old Rami Ayyad was found beaten, stabbed and shot to death. He was the director of the only Christian bookstore in Gaza, run by the Bible Society. He was also a member of Gaza Baptist Church. E3 Partners works with the church. E3’s Tom Doyle reports: “He was kidnapped Saturday after he had closed the Bible Society. He was taken away by a group, and the next morning his body was thrown out somewhere around the Bible Society. He had been killed.” The murder of Rami Ayyad came six months after the bookstore was bombed. Doyle thinks he knows why Christians are being targeted. “I do believe that some of these groups doing these things across the Middle East are responding to people’s interest in the Middle East. The same thing is happening in Iran. The young people are open to Jesus.” Ayyad is survived by his wife who is pregnant, and two sons. Find out how to help this family by going to our Web site.

Full story: http://www.MNNonline.org/article/10440

Gazan believers essential to peace in wake of brutal murder

Gaza (MNN) — After the brutal murder of a prominent Christian book store manager this weekend, Gaza’s small Christian community is fearful. Many fled when they had opportunity, but Open Doors’ Carl Moeller says it’s essential that believers remain there as the solitary light in the dark. “In the midst of all of the fighting between radical Islam and Israel, the Christian community sits as a beacon of hope and peace. And if it gets squeezed out completely from that place, well, where will the peace come from?” Though investigations are underway, it is doubtful that answers will come quickly, if at all. Despite being in the spotlight of this tragedy, believers are committed to keeping the bookstore open. Besides book sales, the store offered reading and computer classes. Moeller says this weekend’s murder was a direct threat. “The reality is, it’s targeted at the Christian community, the most visible symbol of the Christian community there in Gaza, for a reason. They want the Christians to get the message and leave.” Moeller says Christians can pray that their brothers and sisters in Gaza do not succumb to fear.

Full story: http://www.MNNonline.org/article/10442

Dr. John Holland went to be with the Lord

Dr. John Holland
Went home to be with the Lord
Tuesday October2, 2007, 5:05pm

A great man of God has left us. Dr. Holland has been a great leader, servant and friend of Praise Chapel. Our prayers and love go out to Doris Holland and all the family.

Time and Location of Services will be posted as soon as possible.

Here a few quotes that I have been able to find on the internet, and the impact that Dr. John Holland has had:

When the Worldwide Church of God started making significant doctrinal changes in 1987, they were introduced to Dr. John Holland, president of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel.

“From the very beginning, Dr. Holland has been a gracious brother to us. A few years after he got to know us and to understand the changes taking place within our church, he invited us to his denomination’s 1996 convention at the Pasadena Civic Center. In one plenary session he told a bit of our story, thanked us for standing up against the state of California when it wanted to begin regulating churches, warmly welcomed us as brothers, and asked me to briefly address the large audience. I was both awed and thrilled as five thousand Foursquare representatives energetically applauded and cheered my brief remarks. I even got a very public hug! … It was John Holland who opened many of the doors for us into the evangelical world. Without his help … we might still be struggling with a difficult publications problem.” – http://www.wcg.org/lit/booklets/truth/trans4.htm
“In 1974, several Foursquare Pastors were beginning to set patterns of explosive growth and spiritual renewal. Dr. John Holland was one of these four men. These would powerfully challenge the entire Foursquare movement, and helped the Foursquare Church experience a remarkable numerical growth and spiritual awakening.” – http://victoriafoursquare.ca/history.htm

On May 31, 1988, Dr. John R. Holland was installed as the Third President of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. - http://victoriafoursquare.ca/history.htm

On May 30, 2006 Pastor Jack Hayford acknowledged Dr. John Holland & his wife Doris Holland, former presidents of The Foursquare Church. – http://www.foursquarechurch.org/articles/158,1.html

Pray for Dr. John Holland

As most of you know that Dr. John Holland has been a great friend to Praise Chapel Christian Fellowship, and has been such a blessing to many of us especially Pastor Larry Neville.

I ask that you all take some time and pray for him and his family as he has taken a turn for the worst.

Couple of photos I took at the 2006 Praise Chapel World Bible Conference