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

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

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.

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.

The possibilities at Annapolis bring hope to the Middle East

Middle East (MNN) — Syria’s presence at the Annapolis Summit this week could help ease tensions in Lebanon. The country is divided by a leadership vacuum and political standoff. SAT-7’s David Harder says on the one hand, their team in Lebanon doesn’t have high expectations for the talks. On the other hand, “Having a conference where the Syrians are sitting down at the same table with the Israelis and Americans is a good thing, and hopefully the talks can lead to some real positive steps in the future. I know that will be a wonderful possibility for our staff, particularly in Lebanon, who are very concerned about the future.” The network’s broadcasts are bringing messages of peace across the region, but the tenuous situation is challenging to their team. “If people could pray that in Lebanon, a peaceful situation would be worked out politically, that would be wonderful, because having peace enables churches to do the kind of ministries that they want to do and enables us, as a Christian broadcaster, to produce the types of shows that we want to produce.”

Full story: http://www.MNNonline.org/article/10625

Five on trial in Turkey Christian workers’ slayings

Turkey (MNN) — Five men accused of murdering three Christian workers went to trial in central Turkey last week. At stake is Turkey’s willingness to tackle persecution. Voice of the Martyrs Canada’s Glenn Penner explains: “If the killers are allowed to simply get away with lesser charges, or it’s seen that these murders were somehow justified on the basis that these Christians were involved in missionary activity, then Turkish Christians are certainly going to feel that they’re not equal members of society, and that their religious activities are going to continue to be under threat.” Trial resumes January 14. Pray for opportunities for Christians in Turkey to share the truth of Christ. “The church is continuing to move forward, and Christians are continuing to witness. But, of course, it does cause some anxiety. There have been a number of attacks on evangelicals in the last two years and they’re wanting to know, ‘Will our government stand up for us? Will they defend us? Or will they allow us to be shot, killed and attacked with impunity?’”

Full story: http://www.MNNonline.org/article/10623

There’s been a break in the Gaza Bible store manager murder

Gaza (MNN) — A senior Hamas militant is suspected of torturing and killing the manager of a Christian bookstore in the Gaza Strip who was found dead last month. That’s an alarming development, says Open Doors USA’s Carl Moeller, because Hamas has previously provided a certain degree of protection for the Christian community. “The most disappointing aspect of this discovery is that not only is this a Hamas person who committed this crime, apparently, but also that despite the assurances right after the murder that they had nothing to do with it, they haven’t distanced themselves from him and in fact have sent him on a pilgrimage to Mecca.” Moeller says Christians are asking prayer for boldness. “Believers who continue to promote their faith evangelistically, despite their commitment to the general welfare of Gaza, and their commitment to the people of Gaza to serve them, that there will be increasing threat against their existence in Gaza as a result of this.”

 

Full story: http://www.MNNonline.org/article/10568

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