AUSTRALIAN PRAYER NETWORK NEWSLETTER

* CHRISTIANS FACE BACKLASH IN PAKISTAN OVER RUSHDIE KNIGHTHOOD

* CHRISTIANS WHO FLEE IRAQ, FIND SYRIA ‘RUTHLESS’

* NEW ZEALAND CANDLELIT VIGIL CELEBRATES CHRISTIANITY

* IRAQI GOVERNMENT FAILING NATION’S CHRISTIANS

* ECUMENICAL STUDY SHOWS WHY CONGREGATIONS GROW

* UNOFFICIAL NUMBERS INDICATE 130 MILLION CHINESE CHRISTIANS

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CHRISTIANS FACE BACKLASH IN PAKISTAN OVER RUSHDIE KNIGHTHOOD

Current Pakistani protests over the British knighthood of author Salman Rushdie have raised fears over the future of Christians in the country. Pakistani Religious Affairs Minister Ejaz-ul-Haq told Parliament that the British honor amounts to “insulting Islam” and may lead to terrorism.Meanwhile, a mob attack on evangelicals last week appears to be symptomatic of religious hatred which seemingly has heightened. On June 17, approximately forty Muslim men armed with guns, axes and wooden sticks attacked several believers while they were preparing for an evangelistic meeting at a Salvation Army church in the village of Bismillahlpur Kanthan.Glenn Penner of Voice of the Martyrs describes it as a matter of constant harassment. “Pakistani Christians face this on a daily basis-not being able to get decent work or facing discrimination in the workplace, if they can find jobs at all. Persecution isn’t just incidents; it’s an environment as well, and Pakistani Christians feel very much under pressure.”Christians injured in the attack were forced to leave the hospital after only a few hours of treatment, and doctors under-reported their wounds due to pressure from the militants. Police initially refused to file a complaint against the attackers and did so only after lobbying efforts from local Christians.Several Christians have fled the area in fear of further attacks.Penner urges prayer that Christians in Pakistan will not give in to fear. “The Christians were attacked because they were involved in evangelistic work. They had been threatened. They had been told to cancel this evangelistic meeting. When they refused to do so, they were attacked. This is, unfortunately, not uncommon in Pakistan.”Pray that the victims of this attack will display the love of Christ to their Muslim neighbors and trust God for justice.

Source: Intercessors Network

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CHRISTIANS WHO FLEE IRAQ, FIND SYRIA ‘RUTHLESS’

For Iraqi Christians, the choice is – staying in Iraq and dying, or taking your chance in Syria. As a result on many taking the option to flee to Syria the Iraqi Christian population estimated at 1.2 million before the war now is now down to around 500,000.

But their new home also holds “ruthless” positions against Christianity which range from life in prison for talking about your beliefs to death for a Muslim who converts. “It’s better than Iraq, but it’s no bed of roses for sure,” Jim Jacobson, president of Christian Freedom International, told World Net Daily. “The Christians there are stuck between a rock and a hard place.” While Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Iran and other Middle East nations are well-known for persecuting Christians, Syria’s actions are of a lower profile. But it is listed among other nations around the world such as North Korea, Vietnam, Egypt and China that persecute Christians. And a special report from The Voice of the Martyrs listed Syria among three dozen or more nations where Christians face “arrest, imprisonment, physical torture and death.”

In Syria, the constitution requires the president to be a Muslim and specifies that Islamic jurisprudence is a principal source of legislation. And sharing your Christian faith with someone carries a penalty of up to life in prison. “For Christians, one of the core tenets is the ability to share their faith, but in Syria that can lead to arrest and persecution,” Jacobson said.

Reports put the population of Syria at about 18 million, with the Christian population at about 10 percent of that. It is estimated that 350,000 Christians have fled Iraq for Syria, many now living with extended families in one-room apartments on leftover savings or charity.

Source: World Net Daily

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NEW ZEALAND CANDLELIT VIGIL CELEBRATES CHRISTIANITY

A group of New Zealand intercessors has called the nation to stage a silent candlelight vigil honouring New Zealand’s Christian heritage. This follows the publishing of a National Statement on Religious Diversity by a government agency, describing New Zealand as a diverse nation where all faiths are equal.

Bethel Ministries spokeswoman Bronwyn Hallot, said the vigil would symbolise the unity of the Church in recognising the role God has played in the country’s history. We simply believe that our nation has a strong Christian heritage, and why should we not acknowledge that?” she asked. “We are not ashamed of our Christian beliefs and we are happy to say we are Christians.”

Mrs Hallot said she wanted it to be made clear that the vigil was not in support of making New Zealand a Christian nation, or Christianity a state religion. We are celebrating our heritage while we acknowledge the diversity of this country,” she said. “We want to come together in a gentle unity.”

The group decided on the plan after three of its members received visions of candles lit across the nation. They decided God wanted them to take up the challenge and call the nation to light a candle for Christ. “It’s totally based on Christian love. There is no personal agenda at all. It’s about gently shining his light. He’s worth it.” Group member Raj John said there would be no placards, no petitions.

Those who live in the Wellington region, are asked to go to the Parliament buildings with a candle to light. Those living in other areas of New Zealand were asked to pull their curtains back, light a candle and place it in the window. “We have contacted many people across the country and this is really touching people,” said Ms Hallot.

Source: Challenge Weekly and ASSIST News Service

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IRAQI GOVERNMENT FAILING NATION’S CHRISTIANS

Five London-based Iraqi church leaders have denounced the “reprehensible failure” of the Iraqi government to protect Christians from persecution. In a letter sent to the British Prime Minister and the Queen, the leaders said, “Iraqi Christians have been targeted by a wave of attacks on their persons, churches, monasteries, homes and businesses.” The letter went on to say that Iraqi Christians expected their government to ensure their “safety, security and justice.”

The letter stated that since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, there had been “thousands of attacks” on the country’s Christian minority. It also said Christians in Baghdad were being made to choose between converting to Islam, paying high taxes or leaving their homes.

“Terror is being incited by a number of imams in the mosques and other fanatics against the ‘Christian infidels,'” the letter said. “The developments that follow will be even more serious,” it said. “We ask the United Nations, all peace-loving governments, human rights organizations and individuals to help the Christians of Iraq. The reprehensible failure of Iraq to guarantee religious freedom, justice and accountability toward Christians simply amounts to an invitation to continue the same in the future,” it added. The letter was signed by leaders of the Syrian Orthodox Church, the Assyrian Church of the East, the Chaldean Catholic Mission, the Ancient Church of the East and the Syrian Catholic Mission. Christians are understood to be fleeing Iraq at the rate of 50,000 a month. “At this rate, there will be no Christians at all in Baghdad, Mosul or Basra a decade from now,” said one of the leaders. “The situation is very, very miserable.” Figures from the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees revealed last year that about 44 percent of Iraqi refugees are Christian, although Christians account for just 4 percent of the total population of Iraq.”

Source: Assist News Service

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ECUMENICAL STUDY SHOWS WHY CONGREGATIONS GROW

A plan to recruit and incorporate newcomers, clarity of mission and ministry, contemporary worship, involvement of children inworship, geographic location, a website and the absence of conflict are key factors that distinguishes growing congregations from others.

A survey of United States faith communities sponsored by the Cooperative Congregational Studies Partnership (CCSP), found that wanting to grow is not enough. Congregations that grow must plan for growth. Congregations that developed a plan to recruit members in the last year were much more likely to grow than congregations that had not,” according to the survey.

The survey showed that the average so-called “mainline” congregation was less likely to grow than non-denominational, evangelical congregations. More surprising to many people is that Roman Catholic congregations are not growing in a way comparable to the increased number of Roman Catholics in the United States.

Source: Episcopal News Service

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UNOFFICIAL NUMBERS INDICATE 130 MILLION CHINESE CHRISTIANS

According to China Aid Association (CAA), the local police in Baoding city, recently attacked a Christian Bible Study held in a Communist Party School. CAA reported, a group of Christians had gotten together in an office in the Party School (where key members of the Communist Party in the area are trained), to study the Bible. However, the meeting was raided by local law enforcement officials. According to CAA, more than 40 attendees were subsequently interrogated. Most of them, CAA reported, were not released until 6 p.m. that night. The host of the Bible study, Professor Geng Sude, who is the vice-president of the Party School, was reportedly released after several days of investigation. She, CAA reported, is a closet Christian intellectual in the Chinese House Church and is now under tight surveillance.

Recently the director of the Chinese State Administration for Religious Affairs, said that the number of Christians in China has now reached 130 million. This number is much higher than official government statistics that often underestimate the number of Christians. “The unprecedented growth of the Chinese church has happened under ceaseless persecution,”said Bob Fu, the President of CAA. “Please pray that China will realize true religious freedom soon”.

Source: Intercessors Network

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