WASHINGTON — One-hundred percent of Christians in 21 countries around the world experience persecution for their faith in Christ as over 215 million Christians faced “high levels” of persecution in the last year, a leading human rights watchdog group reports. Continue reading “100% of Christians Face Persecution in These 21 Countries | re-blog CP World by Samuel Smith”
Tag: Qatar
Church in northern Arabia longs for ‘place to worship’
By Adelaide Mena
Washington D.C., May 30, 2013 / 04:05 am (CNA).-
As he oversees the missionary territory of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, apostolic vicar Camillo Ballin outlined Catholics’ need for religious toleration as well as a physical home for ministry.
A native of Italy, Bishop Ballin set out to study Arabic and Islam in order “to discover another world” after his ordination as a priest of the Comboni Missionaries.
In a May 29 interview with CNA, he noted that his travels have taken him to Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Sudan, and eventually to his 2005 appointment as apostolic vicar of Kuwait. His vicariate – otherwise known as an ecclesiastical jurisdiction within the Church where a hierarchy is not yet fully organized – was expanded in 2011 to include the whole of the Northern Arabian Peninsula, which oversees Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
The area has supported a Christian population since before the advent of Islam, a fact that many Christians in the area look to for inspiration, Bishop Ballin said. As an example, he pointed to church within the vicariate that is dedicated to St. Arethas and the 400 martyrs that were persecuted and killed over a century before Islam came to the area.
Today, ministry within the vicariate focuses upon the spiritual sustenance of 2.5 million Christians in the area, Bishop Ballin said.
Continue reading “Church in northern Arabia longs for ‘place to worship’”
Please pray for Christians in Qatar – World Watch List #20
Persecuted Church in QATAR (Wikipedia) – World Watch List #20 (Open Doors UK)
Population: 1.9 million (90,000 Christians)
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Republic
Source of Persecution: Islamic extremism/Dictatorial paranoia
The state religion is conservative Islam and nearly all Qatari citizens are Sunni or Shia Muslims. Christian worship is only allowed in designated religious complexes, of which there are only two at the moment, which makes them easier to control and monitor. Many expat labourers are denied access to these complexes as they live too far away or are prevented from attending by employers. A Muslim who converts is considered an apostate and may face the death penalty. Foreign workers who evangelise non-Muslims are frequently deported.
PLEASE PRAY:
- Thank God that a new Christian complex is to be completed this year and other places of worship are being built
- For printed and digital Bible resources in Qatari and Asian languages to become available
- That foreign Christians will have opportunities to share the love of Jesus
PERSECUTION DYNAMICS
Christianity entered Qatar in the early centuries AD, before being driven out. Over the past 100 years, expats (including Christians) have arrived. Public worship of religions other than Islam was prohibited until recently. There are some Christian places of worship. Most Qataris are unhappy with this, yet no explicit opposition has been displayed.
at Catholic Church in Qatar
There is, however, a flip side – as Christian worship will only be allowed in a designated religious complex, there is a risk of ghettoisation. The concentration of Christian activities in one spot provides opportunity to control and monitor Christians.
There are more than 100 informal fellowships gathering in homes and generally tolerated by authorities. The Qatari Constitution declares that ‘freedom to practice religious rites shall be guaranteed’ yet in reality, expat Christians are restricted. The government prohibits proselytizing of non-Muslims and foreign workers who evangelize are frequently deported. Fear is a significant factor and a Muslim who converts is considered an apostate and may face the death penalty.
_____________________________
What Life Is Really Like For Christians In Qatar
This tiny country along the Arabian Peninsula is home to the Al Jazeera news agency, Continue reading “Please pray for Christians in Qatar – World Watch List #20”
Please pray for – networking in Qatar
August 25-26 | Qatar Please pray for a Christian brother who longs to have fellowship with a Qatari believer. Pray also that he will remain strong in his faith.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42)
Form more information about believers in Qatar, please click here.
The Peanut Gallery 