Hello.
This is long, but worth it. It was sent to me by my missions prof.
And yes, it is genuine.
>===== Original Message From Paul Borthwick <73314.3240@...> =====
THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO READ THIS
-------------Forwarded Message-----------------
"Defender"--an Update on Religious Liberty and Persecution prepared by the
World Evangelical Fellowship Religious Liberty Commission.
MARCH, 2000
SRI LANKA
The Evangelical Fellowship of Sri Lanka, a member of WEF, reports that a
church in the village of Makola off the coast of India, was attacked and
destroyed by Buddhist extremists on January 15. The likely reason for this
attack is the belief held by Buddhist extremists that Sri Lanka is a Sinhala
Buddhist country and the Christian Protestant minority, which is only 0.92%
of the population, should not be allowed to exist and convert Buddhists. The
church stands on the pastor's own family land. The monk vowed he would never
let a church exist in that area.
Pray: Protect your people as they follow your command to "Go and make
disciples of all nations."
QATAR
The news release read "The way is now clear for establishing the first
Christian church in Qatar." This is another sign of Qatar opening up to new
vistas of freedom and religion reports the Gulf Times. The small oil
producing peninsula jutting off the east coast of Saudi Arabia has prohibited
the public practice of any religion except the strict Wahhabi interpretation
of Islam. The decision is another democratic first for Qatar's young emir,
Sheikh Hyamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.
Pray: You are Lord of the Nations. We praise you for this new opportunity to
share your Word in Qatar.
SUDAN
The militant Islamic government of northern Sudan bombed a hospital on March
7 for the second time in a week. No fatalities have been reported in the
attack on the Samaritan's Purse hospital in the southern city of Lui, but a
raid the March 1 killed two people and injured many others. The National
Islamic Front (NIF) government bombers killed 13 children in February in a
bombing raid that destroyed a school in the Nuba Mountain region. Large
concentrations of Christians reside in the Nuba region. A British
Broadcasting Company correspondent reports no military targets exist nearby.
Nearly 2 million people have died since 1983 in the war against Christians
and animists in the country's south.
Pray: Lord, you are in the midst of those who believe. Comfort our brothers
and sisters in Sudan with your never-failing love.
CHECHNYA
Since the Soviet Union crumbled, Chechnya has become a very
dangerous place-particularly for Christians.
**Four people have been kidnapped from the 100-member Baptist church in the
past year.
**In January, 13-year-old Anja Hrykin was found by Russian soldiers after she
had been held for 3 months by Muslim extremists who beat, raped and starved
her. She is now recuperating in the care of other refugee members of the
church.
**Pastor Vasili Luppov, 24, of the First Chechan Full Gospel Church was
kidnapped four years ago. He is in "special danger" now due to the end of
fighting in Chechnya.
**Russian Orthodox priests have been kidnapped.
**Majority of the church's members evacuated to neighboring cities.
**Many Chechens will return from refugee camps to a destroyed homeland.
Therein lies a new ministry for the church.
Pray: Join with believers who say: "We want to return to Grozny and show
people we don't hate them for what they have done. We love them and want to
help them."
TURKMENISTAN
SPECIAL SITUATION REPORT
"The most repressive police state of the former Soviet Union." -- In January
members of the Helsinki Commission met with government officials and
religious leaders. Commission Chairman Christopher Smith, a US Congressman
from New Jersey, called Turkmenistan "the most repressive police state of the
former Soviet Union." Smith charged that President Niyazov's regime
"violates all human rights commitments the country has committed itself to
observe." There is no freedom of the press, no freedom of assembly or
association, and the government jails anyone who voices the slightest
criticism of official policies.
No Road Work in Site --In November, the WEF Defender reported the destruction
of the Adventist church in the capital city of Ashgabad. It is widely
regarded that the destruction of this church was the defining moment of
Turkmenistan's suppression of its religious minorities. Visitors report "The
building remains a pile of rubble with no indication that road work continues
on the site. No other buildings have been destroyed." The church was
demolished to make way for a new road.
"You have made your choice." -- Dimity Melnichenko wrote on December 18
following his arrest during a raid on his pastor's home in Asghabad. "I was
at the home of Brother Vladimir Chernov when 15 people climbed over the
fence. They tied my hands and kicked me. They said I was in the house to
steal. At the police station there were more beatings. They pressured me to
give names of believers. I refused. They said, 'You will suffer.' I replied,
'For me life is Christ, and death is gain.' He replied, 'You have made your
choice."
Sanctioned Religions -- The government has sanctioned only Islam and the
Russian Orthodox Church. Along with attacks on Christians, the government
destroyed a Hare Krishna ashram.
Pastor Imprisioned -- Amnesty International reports that Shagildy Atakov, a
37-year-old ethnic convert serving as a protestant preacher remains in prison
for refusing to participate in a required daily oath of loyalty to
Turkmenistan president Saparmurat Niyazov. Atakov is sentenced to four years
in prison and fined $12,000. The average monthly wage is about $30. His
brother, Chariyar Atakov, was arrested on March 3. Local church members say
he was arrested because he is a Christian.
Private Home Raided -- Turkmenistan's political police, the National Security
Committee (KNB) raided a religious meeting held by a Protestant Christian
group in a private home on February 23. During the raid in the town of
Bezmein, twenty kilometers west of Ashgabad, KNB officers were accompanied by
police officers and local authorities from Bezmein and Ashgabad. All were
interrogated, names and addresses recorded, and told not to meet again.
Christians Deported -- On December 23, the government deported two couples
accused of holding church meetings in their home -Pastor and Mrs. Vladimir
Chernov and Mr. and Mrs. Aleksandr Yefremov. Non-Turkmenistan Christians are
being deported, even though they have residence and work permits.
Follow-up -- Suggestions for follow-up action are mixed. Christian Solidarity
Worldwide recommends that due to the sensitivity of the situation, action not
be taken now. On the other hand, Keston News Service maintains that
Turkmenistan is engaged in "religious cleansing" (the equivalent of "ethnic
cleansing). They recommend pressure be brought to end punitive measures
against members of religious minorities. Contacts:
** The Embassy of Turkmenistan
2207 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20008
Phone: 202-588-1500
Fax: 202-588-0697
** Petition Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to expel
Turkmenistan if it does not improve its human rights
record.
Fax: +43-1-53185-213
E-mail: AbtI3@...
Pray for Turkmenistan: Lord, help us not to remain silent concerning
suffering brothers and sisters. Protect your servants just as you protected
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace.
NIGERIA
In a nationwide broadcast on March 1, President Olusegun Obasanjo called for
reconciliation between Christians and Muslims following bloody clashes that
left many dead. He voiced the cry "We must return to the fundamental faith
that life, all life, is sacred. We have lost our sense of outrage and moral
sensitivity."
In clashes beginning February 20 over the implementation of Sharia, the
Islamic legal system, over 1,000 people died, thousands were left homeless
and at least 36 churches were destroyed, along with several mosques.
On February 29, the government suspended the implementation of Sharia
proposed by several northern Nigerian states. Diffusing the tension is
difficult for President Obasanjo, a southern Christian eager to balance the
sensibilities of the north, which has felt left out since the shift in power
it had held during a succession of military rulers.
Sharia family law is part of Nigeria's constitution but not the Islamic penal
code, which allows floggings, amputations, and beheadings.
Pray: O God, give wisdom to Nigerian leaders to speak the truth in love.
CHINA
The US State Department plans to introduce a resolution condemning China for
its human rights record at the United Nations Human Rights Commission meeting
in Geneva in March. Spokesman James Rubin said "Over the past year, the
government of China intensified its crackdown on political dissent, initiated
a campaign to suppress the Falun Gong, and intensified controls on
unregistered churches and on the political and religious expression of ethnic
minority groups, especially Tibetans." In mid-January, the third highest
Tibetan Buddhist religious authority-the seventh Karmapa Lama-fled to India.
On January 11 the Chinese Communist Party called for greater control of
religions in order to "guarantee political stability."
Forty-five-year-old house church leader Li Dexian was detained on February 22
for the tenth time since October. Each Tuesday over 1,000 Christians gather
at the church despite attempted disruption of the prayer gatherings by
Chinese officials.
However, on February 5, the day before the Chinese New Year celebrations, one
of China's most prominent house church leaders, Zhang Rongliang, was quietly
released from prison in Fangcheng City, Henan Province.
Pray: We join Paul as he writes in Thessalonians 3:1 "Pray for us that the
message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored."
BULGARIA
The Bulgarian parliament is debating proposed restrictive legislation similar
to that passed in Macedonia and Romania. The Bulgarian National Assembly
approved a first reading of the bill in early March, to create a two-tiered
system giving only the Orthodox Church full religious freedom. The Bulgarian
Evangelical Alliance, a member of WEF, is working with other religious groups
to prevent the law from passing. Copies of the proposed legislation are
available from WEF (630-668-0440) or WEF-NA@....
Pray that decisions be made that will not prohibit free worship of you.
AZERBAIJAN
In a deliberate loosening of religious freedom restrictions, the government
of Azerbaijan (located east of Turkey) approved two Protestant churches'
long-standing applications for registration--the Cathedral of Praise and the
Nehemiah Church.
A number of recent events back up the public pledge President Haidar Aliev
made to US Ambassador Stanley Escudero in early November.
**Visas were issued for a German Lutheran pastor and a Polish Catholic priest
to continue serving their respective congregations in Baku.
**In early January, the Azeri congregation of the Baku Baptist Church applied
for separate registration, apart from its mother congregation of Russian
Baptists. It will become the next test case. Two Azeri pastors from this
congregation were jailed last September when authorities claimed it was an
"illegal" church.
**On January 21, Jehovah's Witnesses were notified of their registration as a
religion.
Pray: Thank you precious Savior for hearing the prayers of your people.
Strengthen and uphold your Church in Azerbaijan.
INDONESIA
The Muslim-Christian war in the Maluccas is a serious flashpoint in the
world. Although it may be considered a civil war, it has profound
ramifications for Muslim-Christian relations worldwide.
According to the New York Times "The fear is that the violence in places like
Ambon will spread. Already there are copycat clashes in the resort island of
Lombok, attacks on churches in Jogjakarta and rallies in the capital of
Jarkarta.
Once freed from the 32-year regime of its former dictator, President Suharto,
whose sheer force was used to repress differences in a nation of 13,000
islands, society lost its ability to resolve differences in a peaceful way.
Pray: In this desperate situation, people cry out "Is God still there?" Let
them know that you are the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow-a very present
help in time of trouble.
TURKEY
Two Turkish Christians, Ercan Sengul, 38, and Necati Aydin, 28, were arrested
March 1 while selling and distributing Christian literature outside of the
city of Izmir. Both men are employees of an official book distribution
company, registered in Turkey since January 1996. Both are changed their
religious identity from Muslim to Christian on their permanent identity
papers.
Pray: Put your hand of protection around believers in Turkey. Turn what man
intends for evil into good for your kingdom.
INDIA
On March 8, under pressure from national leaders, the western Indian state of
Gujarat withdrew a controversial order concerning its relationship to a
hard-line Hindu organization.
The controversy deadlocked India's parliament the first week of March. The
parliament came to a standstill over the nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP)-ruled western Indian state of Gujarat's order in January allowing its
employees to participate in activities of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
(RSS), a militant Hindu youth organization tied to the BJP. Religious
minorities claim that activists allied with the RSS are responsible for a
wave of persecution against religious minorities since 1998. As recently as
February 27, Hindu communal forces demolished a church in the Surat district
of Gujarat where 25 tribal Christian families attend services.
Pray: Help us to truly put our trust in you when you tell us in Philippians
4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
VIETNAM
Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thuy will be granted an appeal on March 10. She was sentenced
in December to one year in prison for "interfering with an officer" while she
hosted a Christian meeting. The legal brief charges the authorities with
denying Thuy her freedom to practice her religion as guaranteed by the
Vietnamese constitution. This is significant,
WEF's correspondent in Vietnam says, because "the government's ploy has been
to steer clear of the religion issue."
Pray: Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven!
SAUDI ARABIA
Four Filipino Christians arrested in early January by Saudi religious police
remain jailed and under interrogation in the capital city of Riyadh. The
three wives and five children arrested with them for conducting Christian
worship in a private home have all been released. It is believed that the
ongoing Saudi Ministry of Interior (MOI) investigation of the four men is
aimed at receiving details about the network of secret meetings for Christian
worship in Riyadh and throughout the country. It is expected they will all be
deported. Saudi law does not allow non-Muslims to meet for public worship.
Pray: Lord, open the hearts of the captors so that they might hear and
believe.
Sources:
Amnesty International, Associated Press, Baptist Press, Compass Direct,
Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, Evangelical Fellowship of Sri Lanka, Gulf
Times, Jubilee Campaign, Keston News Service, New York Times, Newsroom,
Religion Today, Rueters, WEF Religious Liberty Commission.
World Evangelical Fellowship
P.O. Box WEF, Wheaton, IL 60189
Phone: 630-668-0440
Web: www.worldevangelical.org
Johan Candelin, Director
WEF Religious Liberty Commission
Kathi Graham, Editor
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steve brown
S.D.G.