Training for Service in Bangladesh | 20th May 2010

Christians make up less than 1% of the 153 million people of Bangladesh. Islam is the state religion, and Christians are very vulnerable to persecution.
In 1979 Biswanath Chowdhuri – a former Indian nuclear scientist who became paralyzed as a result of an accident at work and was converted while in hospital, together with his wife Vijaya – founded the Christian Discipleship Centre (CDC) in Dhaka, the only full time residential, non denominational Christian teaching centre in Bangladesh.
Additional subjects include children’s ministry, primary school teaching, adult literacy, basic health care, and income generation skills. 621 discipleship graduates and more than 1,372 special skills graduates are serving all over the country, and over 500 churches have been planted by CDC graduates, plus many medical clinics and schools for poor children. Villagers are delighted that they are being helped in the things of daily life that really matter to them. These courses have opened the door to their hearts and the Gospel is taking root among them. This is truly a God-inspired initiative.

Source: World Outreach UK

BIBLE STUDY: 2 Timothy 1:8-10

PRAISE: God for such a sound Gospel vision that is taking root and benefitting many of the poorest. Pray for the spread of the Gospel in this needy nation.

http://revivalmedia.org/2010/05/19/training-for-service-in-bangladesh-20th-may-2010/

Training for Service in Bangladesh | 20th April 2010

Christians make up less than 1% of the 153 million people of Bangladesh. Islam is the state religion, and Christians are very vulnerable to persecution.
In 1979 Biswanath Chowdhuri – a former Indian nuclear scientist who became paralyzed as a result of an accident at work and was converted while in hospital, together with his wife Vijaya – founded the Christian Discipleship Centre (CDC) in Dhaka, the only full time residential, non denominational Christian teaching centre in Bangladesh.
Additional subjects include children’s ministry, primary school teaching, adult literacy, basic health care, and income generation skills. 621 discipleship graduates and more than 1,372 special skills graduates are serving all over the country, and over 500 churches have been planted by CDC graduates, plus many medical clinics and schools for poor children. Villagers are delighted that they are being helped in the things of daily life that really matter to them. These courses have opened the door to their hearts and the Gospel is taking root among them. This is truly a God-inspired initiative.

Source: World Outreach UK

BIBLE STUDY: 2 Timothy 1:8-10

PRAISE: God for such a sound Gospel vision that is taking root and benefitting many of the poorest. Pray for the spread of the Gospel in this needy nation.

Can the Apostasy Laws be Abolished? | 13th Mar 2010

Islam is a one-way street. You can convert TO Islam, but you are not allowed to convert FROM Islam. Apostasy is seen as a “crime” against the rest of the Muslim community – often it is the family of the convert – not the State – that imposes the death penalty. This can happen even in non-Muslim nations where sizeable Muslim communities live.
“Hannah”, in Britain, has been forced to move house 45 times since she was converted to Christ at the age of 16. The reason? Her Muslim family has vowed to kill her unless she “returns to the fold.”
But things can change. On 22 August 2007 Christian and Muslim groups in Norway signed a joint declaration affirming the right to convert from one faith to another without fear of harassment or violence. Barnabas Fund has been campaigning hard to see an end to these attitudes the world over. It won’t be easy – old attitudes die hard! But, since the Norway declaration, others have begun to follow suite:
In 2008 a group of British Muslim academics and religious leaders began meeting in Cambridge to consider traditional views of Islam and certain aspects of Sharia. In October 2009 they published a report, Contextualising Islam in Britain. It reflects a strong and very encouraging commitment on the part of mainstream Muslim leaders in Britain to an adapted and modern Islam.
Islam does not normally distinguish between religious sins and crimes against the State. But the report argues that this distinction must be drawn and even apostates must not suffer discrimination. These are positive beginnings; it remains to be seen whether they will gradually take hold, particularly as more Muslims are absorbed into Western societies.

Source: Barnabas Trust; Revival Media

BIBLE STUDY: Matthew 22:21

PRAISE: God for small signs of change. Pray that these may snowball, and that Christians may know how to reach out to Muslims with the love of Christ.

http://revivalmedia.org/2010/03/12/can-the-apostasy-laws-be-abolished-13th-mar-2010

Can the Apostasy Laws be Abolished? | 13th Feb 2010

Islam is a one-way street. You can convert TO Islam, but you are not allowed to convert FROM Islam. Apostasy is seen as a “crime” against the rest of the Muslim community – often it is the family of the convert – not the State – that imposes the death penalty. This can happen even in non-Muslim nations where sizeable Muslim communities live.
“Hannah”, in Britain, has been forced to move house 45 times since she was converted to Christ at the age of 16. The reason? Her Muslim family has vowed to kill her unless she “returns to the fold.”
But things can change. On 22 August 2007 Christian and Muslim groups in Norway signed a joint declaration affirming the right to convert from one faith to another without fear of harassment or violence. Barnabas Fund has been campaigning hard to see an end to these attitudes the world over. It won’t be easy – old attitudes die hard! But, since the Norway declaration, others have begun to follow suite:
In 2008 a group of British Muslim academics and religious leaders began meeting in Cambridge to consider traditional views of Islam and certain aspects of Sharia. In October 2009 they published a report, Contextualising Islam in Britain. It reflects a strong and very encouraging commitment on the part of mainstream Muslim leaders in Britain to an adapted and modern Islam.
Islam does not normally distinguish between religious sins and crimes against the State. But the report argues that this distinction must be drawn and even apostates must not suffer discrimination. These are positive beginnings; it remains to be seen whether they will gradually take hold, particularly as more Muslims are absorbed into Western societies.

Source: Barnabas Trust; Revival Media

BIBLE STUDY: Matthew 22:21

PRAISE: God for small signs of change. Pray that these may snowball, and that Christians may know how to reach out to Muslims with the love of Christ.

Iran Drops Charge Against Women | 1st Jan 2010

Iran has dropped a major charge of conducting activities against the state against two Christian women who have been detained since March because of their faith. 27-year-old Maryam Rustampoor, and 30-year old Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad were told by a court to renounce their new-found Christian faith and return to Islam. But they have refused. They were arrested on three charges: anti-state activity, propagating the Christian faith, and apostasy – leaving Islam. According to Middle East Concern a judge at the Revolutionary Court has now dropped the charge of carrying out activities against the state.
Their case will now be transferred to a general court, where the other two charges will be considered. In Iran it is illegal for Muslims to change their faith. And legislators are considering mandating the death penalty for Muslim men who change their religion – the penalty for women would be life imprisonment.
Maryam and Marzieh are now back in prison, awaiting their next hearing. Both are said to be in poor health.
‘This is good news that Iran has dropped the unfounded charge of carrying out activities against the state,’ says Release CEO Andy Dipper. ‘What it indicates is how Iran confuses personal matters of faith with national security.’
‘Christians are wrongly regarded as being anti-government in Iran and are heavily persecuted. The state must move to grant full freedom of religion to its citizens.’

Source: Release International

BIBLE STUDY: Acts 16:25-30

PRAISE: God for this important breakthrough, and the faithfulness of Maryam and Marzieh. Pray that they will know the Lord’s comfort each day, and stand firm despite pressure to renounce their faith.

Iran Drops Charge Against Women | 1st Dec 09

Iran has dropped a major charge of conducting activities against the state against two Christian women who have been detained since March because of their faith. 27-year-old Maryam Rustampoor, and 30-year old Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad were told by a court to renounce their new-found Christian faith and return to Islam. But they have refused. They were arrested on three charges: anti-state activity, propagating the Christian faith, and apostasy – leaving Islam. According to Middle East Concern a judge at the Revolutionary Court has now dropped the charge of carrying out activities against the state.
Their case will now be transferred to a general court, where the other two charges will be considered. In Iran it is illegal for Muslims to change their faith. And legislators are considering mandating the death penalty for Muslim men who change their religion – the penalty for women would be life imprisonment.
Maryam and Marzieh are now back in prison, awaiting their next hearing. Both are said to be in poor health.
‘This is good news that Iran has dropped the unfounded charge of carrying out activities against the state,’ says Release CEO Andy Dipper. ‘What it indicates is how Iran confuses personal matters of faith with national security.’
‘Christians are wrongly regarded as being anti-government in Iran and are heavily persecuted. The state must move to grant full freedom of religion to its citizens.’

Source: Release International

BIBLE STUDY: Acts 16:25-30

PRAISE: God for this important breakthrough, and the faithfulness of Maryam and Marzieh. Pray that they will know the Lord’s comfort each day, and stand firm despite pressure to renounce their faith.

Egypt: Cleric Speaks Up for Churches | 3rd Nov 09

Sheikh Khaled al-Gindi, a senior Islamic preacher in Egypt, has called on his government to allow Christians to build churches. Speaking in July he said, “As we demand that the West allows us to build mosques, we have to do the same here (in Egypt) with churches.” He added that “all citizens have the right to practice their religious rights”. Christians in Egypt struggle with an insufficient number of church buildings because it is very difficult to get permission to build new ones.

Gindi went on to say that the tension between Muslims and Coptic Christians in Egypt does not mean there is a sectarian strife but rather communication problems… “These problems have always existed, but did not come to the surface before. Extremists who incite hatred are more dangerous to Muslims than they are to Copts,” Gindi said, adding extremists were behind the clashes that have erupted over the years between Muslims and Copts. “Extremists have caused the Muslim mind to be afflicted with psychological disorders. Therapy is what Muslims need now. Islam has become torn between the ignorance of its followers and the helplessness of its scholars,” Gindi – who is regarded as a moderate – said.

Source: Prayer Focus Update

BIBLE STUDY: Joshua 18:1

PRAISE: God that Sheikh al-Gindi has defended Christian rights. Pray for more voices like his, and that President Mubarak, who must personally give permission for any new church, will take notice.

Egypt: Cleric Speaks Up for Churches | 3rd Oct 09

Sheikh Khaled al-Gindi, a senior Islamic preacher in Egypt, has called on his government to allow Christians to build churches. Speaking in July he said, “As we demand that the West allows us to build mosques, we have to do the same here (in Egypt) with churches.” He added that “all citizens have the right to practice their religious rights”. Christians in Egypt struggle with an insufficient number of church buildings because it is very difficult to get permission to build new ones.

Gindi went on to say that the tension between Muslims and Coptic Christians in Egypt does not mean there is a sectarian strife but rather communication problems… “These problems have always existed, but did not come to the surface before. Extremists who incite hatred are more dangerous to Muslims than they are to Copts,” Gindi said, adding extremists were behind the clashes that have erupted over the years between Muslims and Copts. “Extremists have caused the Muslim mind to be afflicted with psychological disorders. Therapy is what Muslims need now. Islam has become torn between the ignorance of its followers and the helplessness of its scholars,” Gindi – who is regarded as a moderate – said.

Source: Prayer Focus Update

BIBLE STUDY: Joshua 18:1

PRAISE: God that Sheikh al-Gindi has defended Christian rights. Pray for more voices like his, and that President Mubarak, who must personally give permission for any new church, will take notice.

Swine flu stats worry, Pope urges morality at G8, and Muslim teacher banned because of veil

Weekly News Review from a Christian Viewpoint.  Patrick Woodward talks to freelance journalist Hazel Southam, (pictured) about the latest news from a Christian standpoint. Today,  should we be worried about the vast numbers of people expected to get Swine Flu?  Will anyone take notice of the Pope when he speaks out at the G8, and is there too much fuss about Muslims and the veil?

(apologies for the poor sound quality in this week’s edition)

Story Links:

Swine flu:

telegraph.co.uk  Cases of swine flu ‘could top 100,000 a day by August’

guardian.co.uk Uk Swine Flu can no longer be contained

direct.gov.uk  Official advice site

Pope and G8:

cafod.org.uk Pope and rock stars call on G8

timesonline.co.uk Pope’s new encyclical date may be delayed until the start of G8

Muslim veil:

dailymail.co.uk Catholic school bans Muslim teacher

telegraph.co.uk Muslim pupils and teacher ordered to remove veils

Much Still to do in Afghanistan | 21 and 22

There were several Christian dioceses in Afghanistan before the Muslim invasions of the seventh century. Pockets of Christianity survived for some time afterwards, and an Armenian Christian community endured in Kabul until late in the nineteenth century. The last remaining church building was destroyed in 1973. Now, after the years of Taliban rule, the Christian population is estimated to number under 5,000 (many of them foreigners) out of a population of 24 million.

Although the Taliban were ousted from government in 2001, they remain in control of vast areas of the country. They continue to target anyone propagating Christianity, and most Afghan Muslims take the view that the death sentence is an appropriate punishment for converts from Islam. Consequently, all Christians remain vulnerable. Nevertheless, the number of Christians has increased in recent years, through a small number of conversions in the country and through the return of refugees who became Christians while outside Afghanistan.

For Afghan Christians, living in the country it “is absolutely unsafe,” said Mark Morris, pastor for missions at Germantown Baptist Church in Germantown, Tennessee. Morris visited the country for 10 days in late April and early May 2008. “If family members fi nd out that you’re Christian, they will force you to leave the faith or kill you.” Last summer, Taliban terrorists claimed to have slit the throat of Maulawi Assadullah, a Muslim cleric they accused of “propagating Christianity”.

There are, however, exceptions. One Christian interviewed by BBC reporter Tom Coghlan said, “Most of my friends know that I am a Christian. I have many friends who are mullahs… Some of them say they like me more these days. Before I was a liar, I was cheating people and many other things. I don’t do that now.” Non-Afghan Christians, however, are treated much better, except in the south and east, where the Taliban are strong. In the rest of the country, Mark Morris said, foreigners “are received well. The Afghan people are so open and readily converse about religious matters. They love to talk about God. It’s very natural to discuss religious values.”

He recommended that foreign Christians move to Afghanistan to serve as teachers, administrators, and relief and medical workers. A British Christian living in Afghanistan told the BBC’s Tom Coghlan that the compassionate actions of Christian-based aid agencies during the civil war and Taleban era in Afghanistan had impressed many Afghans. Morris agreed with this, saying Christians should “preach it through actions and attitudes… I do it by saying I am a follower of Jesus. I don’t use the word Christian… Jesus is a very attractive and compelling person to them.”

Source: Barnabas Fund; BBC website; Christianity Today

Bible Study: Luke 7:1-10

Day 20 – PRAISE: God that Afghans are hungry for Jesus, and for the testimony of Christians service.

Day 21 – PRAY: That Afghan Christians will stand firm and share Jesus with their neighbours.

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