Month: May 2013

Disappearing Christians – Re-Blog Open Doors

Disappearing Christians – opendoorsusa.org
May 22nd 2013

Long before Christianity entered Europe, it was thriving in the Middle East and Asia, according to Baylor historian Philip Jenkins’ book The Lost History of Christianity. Jenkins traces the powerful Middle Eastern and Asian church from its peak in the sixth and seventh centuries to its near extinction today.

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For two thousand years the idea has been unimaginable, but now it seems more likely that Christians will no longer have a home in the region that gave birth to their faith. From the beginning of the church to the turn of the 20th century, Christians were a powerful force from Africa through Palestine and into central Asia.

One word I use to describe attacks on Christianity, as well as other religious groups, is “religicide” – the “intentional, systematic, and institutionalized effort to eliminate a religious belief and its followers from a country or region.”

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom reported “the flight of Christians out of the region (Middle East) is unprecedented and it’s increasing year by year.” In our lifetime alone “Christians might disappear altogether from Iraq, Egypt and Afghanistan.

Continue reading “Disappearing Christians – Re-Blog Open Doors” →

Traveling Tips

Thank you – we are all sojourners in a “land of my affliction” until Jesus comes again. Maranatha!

Stacy's avatarStacy J. Edwards

We live in a fickle world.  The one who praises you today may persecute you tomorrow.  Partnerships dissolve. Friendships end.  People forget.

Joseph experienced all of these things.  He was betrayed by brothers, falsely imprisoned and forgotten by the cupbearer who promised to remember him.  He found himself in a season that he referred to as the land of my affliction (Genesis 41:52 HCSB.)

Sometimes, it seems as if we are all alone in our land of affliction.  People who were sympathetic in the beginning have moved on to other things.  Often, people do not even recognize that we are in a place of trial. So, how do we maneuver through this place?

Tips for Traveling Through the Land of Afflictionmaps

  1. We must remember that we are not traveling alone (Genesis 39:21.) The Lord was with Joseph on every step of his journey.
  2. Do not view your current location as…

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Morning Reading: Luke 24.50-53 NLT – great joy and praise

The Ascension by Benjamin West, 1801
The Ascension
by Benjamin West, 1801

Reading: Luke 24.50-53 NLT

Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. So they worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. And they spent all of their time in the Temple, praising God.

Prayer:  “Te Deum” – English Translation (Wikipedia)

We praise thee, O God, we acknowledge thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth worship thee the Father everlasting.

To thee all the angels cry aloud, the heavens and all the powers therein. To thee cherubim and seraphim continually do cry – Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth;  heaven and earth are full of the majesty of thy glory.

The glorious company of apostles praise thee. The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise thee. The noble army of martyrs praise thee.

The Holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge thee; the father of an infinite majesty; thine honourable true and only Son; also the Holy Ghost the comforter.

Thou art the King of Glory, O Christ. Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father. When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man, thou didst not abhor the Virgin’s womb. When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

Thou sittest at the hand of God in glory of the Father. We believe that Thou shalt come to be our Judge.

We therefore pray thee, help thy servants, whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood. Make them to be numbered with thy saints in glory everlasting. O Lord save thy people and bless thine heritage. Govern them and lift them up for ever. Day by day we magnify thee; and worship thy name, ever world without end.

Vouchsafe, O Lord to keep us this day without sin. O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us. O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us, as our trust is in thee. O Lord in thee have I trusted let me not be confounded.

_________________________

Note: Sung by the Monks of the Grande Chartreuse. This hymn that is said to have been chanted by St Ambrose and St Augustine, is part of the midnight prayers, the Matins, and is chanted in nights before Sundays and feast days.

 

Morning Reading: Luke 24.35-49 NLT – joy and wonder

Reading: Luke 24:35-49 NLT

Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread.

And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!

“Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt?  Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.”

As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet. Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder.

Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”  They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he ate it as they watched.

"Forgiven" by Thomas Blackshear
“Forgiven”
by Thomas Blackshear

Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.”  Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day.  It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’  You are witnesses of all these things.

“And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – I join all your followers down through the ages in joy and wonder at your amazing love. While we were yet sinners, you died for us. Fill us with the power and authority of your Spirit to tell the whole world, ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ You are my King. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Amazing Love” – Newsboys

Please pray for Christians in Turkmenistan – World Watch List #19

PERSECUTED CHURCH in TURKMENISTAN – World Watch List #19 (Open Doors)

Turkmenistan "Caucasus and Central Asia"
Turkmenistan
“Caucasus and Central Asia”

Population: 5.2 million (95,000 Christians)
Main Religion: Islam
Government: One-party state
Source of Persecution: Dictatorial paranoia/Organised corruption

The state exerts strict control in order to avoid the emergence of any independent economic, social or cultural groups – which includes churches. All unregistered religious activity is illegal and the government uses the ‘Council on Religious Affairs’, police and the secret services to keep the church under surveillance. The frequency of raids, even on registered churches, has increased and obtaining registration is nearly impossible. Formal religious education is almost totally banned, as are all religious publications.

Turkmen woman and childPLEASE PRAY:

  • For Muslim-background believers who face more problems than other Christians, including physical attacks
  • That government officials will be willing to register churches
  • Give thanks that Pastor Ilmurad was released from prison in 2012; he must now report to the police each week.

PERSECUTION DYNAMICS

Delegates attend a session of Turkmenistan's Halk Maslakhaty (People's Assembly) to decide who will succeed late President Saparmurat Niyazov in Ashgabat December 26, 2006.
Delegates attend a session of Turkmenistan’s Halk Maslakhaty (People’s Assembly) to decide who will succeed late President Saparmurat Niyazov in Ashgabat December 26, 2006.

Turkmenistan is one of the most corrupt countries in the world. It is very rich, mainly due to large gas fields, but the riches only benefit a small minority. Muslim-background believers face pressure from both their families and the community. All Christians are treated with mistrust yet Muslim-background believers face significantly more problems in this regard, including being physically harmed.

All unregistered religious activity is strictly illegal and registering a church is nearly impossible. The Russian Orthodox Church faces less problems in this regard. Formal religious education is almost totally banned and all religious publications are forbidden. Former President Niyazov’s book ‘Ruhnama’, which links Turkmen identity with Islam, continues to have an influence and is reportedly still used in school and university curricula. Arbitrary treatment, raids, fines and court charges will go on as long as the ruling elite perceives every group it cannot control as a threat to their absolute power.

ANECDOTAL REPORT – Begjan Shirmedov

turkmenistan-manA group of about six officials – two of them in police uniforms – raided Begjan Shirmedov’s home in Dashoguz in the North of Turkmenistan on Sunday 23 September. They arrived during a house meeting of his Baptist congregation, Path of Faith Church, attended by about 15 church members.

The officials told them that religious activity without state registration is illegal. The believers replied that they have been attempting to obtain registration in vain since 2004.

Police searched every room in the house and confiscated all Christian literature and CDs. When they asked where the literature had come from, family members insisted they had collected the books over many years as they have been Christians since the mid-1990s.

About 15 church members, women and children included, were taken away to be questioned. According to a Forum 18 report “Begjan Shirmedov was dragged out of the house by his collar”. Begjan is 77 years old, an elderly man who according to the Turkmen tradition should be treated with more respect. “They treated an elderly man like a tramp in front of his wife, his children, church members and neighbours without fear of having to answer for their actions.”

Meanwhile the other church members were fingerprinted and questioned about their religious activity. Later that day they were released.