Algeria Recognises Evangelicals | 308 | Report 18

After years of discrimination, Algeria has become the first Arab nation to give legal recognition to the Evangelical Church (AEC). Until now – in this Muslim nation – the only Church to have legal status was the tiny Roman Catholic Church. At the end of July, the Ministry of the Interior told pastor Mustafa Krim – president of the Algerian Evangelical Church – that it had made the welcome decision.

Founded in 1974, the Algerian Evangelical Church is small, with only about 30 congregations and a few thousand believers, almost entirely converts from Islam. It is an entirely native church which has grown because people are seeking alternatives to aggressive Islam.

“The decision by the Ministry represents a change of heart by the authorities,” says Tizi Ouzou, treasurer of the AEC, “but now we have to see how this works out in practice. Will we be allowed to practice our faith without hindrance, give our children Christian and not Muslim names, build churches and open Christian bookshops?” he asks. “In theory, yes, but the proof is in the pudding!” he adds. Algerian evangelicals are also seeking the repeal of a 2006 law that punishes anyone who leads a Muslim to a faith other than Islam.

Source: Radio Armonia; Revival Media

BIBLE STUDY: Acts 2:44-47

PRAISE: God for this breakthrough in the Arab world. Pray that the spirit of the law may be upheld and that many Algerians may come to know Jesus.

Pray for the Church in Azerbaijan | 306 | Report 23

In 1991, when Azerbaijan declared its independence from the Soviet Union, it is estimated that there were only a handful of Azeri believers. There are now some 8,000 worshipping in 50 churches and congregations. But how have the people of Azerbaijan and its government reacted to these Azeri Muslims who are turning to worship Isa Mesih (Jesus Christ)?
Practising what could be viewed as a ‘benevolent’ form of Islam, Azeri society has on the whole been tolerant of those who follow Christ and, unlike other parts of the Muslim world, Azeri families are unlikely to disown members who choose to become Christians. However, the government has not accepted the notion of religious pluralism so readily.
Azerbaijan’s Constitution guarantees religious freedom for all its citizens, but in reality there is a history of government interference and control, and it is common for government bodies to deny legal status to new religious bodies, and many pastors have been detained and imprisoned for no apparent reason other than meeting together.
Nevertheless the Church continues to grow, often with the help of expatriate workers who have met Christ while overseas, and returned to contribute positively to church life.

Source: People International

BIBLE STUDY: Psalm 93:1-5

PRAISE: God for the growth of Christian faith where there was none. Pray for freedom to worship without harassment, and for Godly leadership.

Urgent Prayer for Iranian Christians | 305 | Report 19

At the time of writing it is impossible to know where upheaval in North Africa and the Middle East will lead to. In some cases it may provide ordinary people with the democratic rites they have been starved of for years. In other cases it may give hardline Islamists the opportunity to seize power and impose Sharia Law on all citizens. What many commentators believe is that the Iranian regime will try to seize the moment to widen its power and influence on the Arab nations.
In late February Iranian naval vessels sailed the Suez Canal en route to Syria, the first time in three decades that Tehran has been allowed to send military ships through this strategic waterway. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu viewed the move ‘with gravity.’ After days of violent street protests in Teheran, opposition websites have been shut down and Opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi have been placed under house arrest.
Many Christians continue to be imprisoned for their faith as they grow bolder in proclaiming Christ, and the house churches grow exponentially in number. With around one million professing Christians, what happens in Iran may be decisive for the whole of the Middle East, and could eventually facilitate the spread of the Gospel in the whole region.

Source: Prayer Alert; Revival Media

BIBLE STUDY: Psalm 118:8-9

PRAISE: God that He is sovereign over all the events and pray that this may indeed be a time when Islamist dogma implodes and the Lordship of Jesus is proclaimed throughout the whole region.

Son of Hamas Granted US Asylum | 4th September 2010

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.

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