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Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 182 | Wed 24 Oct 2012

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TANZANIA: CHRISTIANS THREATENED BY ISLAMISATION
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by Elizabeth Kendal

Tanzania’s population is 31 percent Muslim and 54 percent Christian,
although church attendance is only about eight percent (Operation World
7th Edition). According to the Catholic Bishop of Kondoa Diocese, Bernadin
Mfumbusa, Islamisation is advancing. Since the mid-1980s, itinerant
preachers from Saudi Arabia and the Sudan have been entering the country
and spreading intolerant, fundamentalist Islam. Consequently, Muslims are
becoming more assertive with their political demands and more aggressive
with their verbal attacks. Demands are growing louder for Sharia Law and
Kadhi (Islamic) Courts, for Fridays to be public holidays and for Tanzania
to join the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC). Bishop Mfumbusa
recently told the Catholic Charity, Aid to the Church in Need, that there
has been a marked increase in veiled women and Qur’anic schools
(madrassas), adding, ‘In the church schools, which are also attended by
Muslim children, we must be very sensitive and cautious to avoid any
undesirable incidents.’

As in Kenya, US-mandated anti-terror laws enacted post 9/11 have fuelled
division along religious lines. Christians are generally supportive and
Muslims strongly object, claiming the laws purposely target them. In the
lead-up to the 2005 elections the Christian-dominated Revolutionary Party,
Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), successfully wooed the Muslim vote by promising  to establish Kadhi (Islamic) courts. However, after winning the election  CCM shelved its promise. Religion has since come to dominate Tanzanian  politics. Tensions are rising.

On 10 October Zakaria Hamisis Mbonde (12) was walking home from Qur’anic
school, carrying his Qur’an, when he came across his Christian friend,
Emmanuel Mwinuka (13). When Emmanuel asked Zakaria if he could see his
Qur’an, Zakaria warned him that the Qur’an had the power to turn anyone
who defiled it into a dog or a snake. An argument ensued, prompting
Emmanuel to disprove Zakaria’s claim by urinating on his Qur’an. Naturally
Zakaria’s parents wanted to know what had happened to his Qur’an. As word
spread through the Mbagala Ward of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s largest city,
tensions soared. To appease the mobs police arrested Emmanuel, taking him
to the police station for questioning and keeping him there for his own
safety. After Friday prayers on 12 October masses of enraged Muslims
besieged the police station, demanding Emmanuel be handed over to them so
they could behead him. When the police refused, the Muslims rioted,
setting fire to Mbagala’s Agape Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church
of Tanzania. Over the next few days more churches, including an Anglican
and a Church of Christ, were attacked: two in Kigoma and one in Zanzibar.
Cars were also smashed and burnt. Subsequently, 86 were arrested for
rioting and 32 for destroying church properties. Sheikh Ponda Issa Ponda,
the secretary-general of the Council of Islamic Organisations, was
arrested for inciting the violence which he blamed on the police, saying
that if the police had given the matter ‘its due weight’ then Muslims
would not have felt so ‘sidelined’.

But is it a crime in Tanzania to blaspheme, defile a Qur’an or hurt a
Muslim’s feelings? I (EK) don’t think so! Yet on 23 July 2012 a judge in
the coastal town of Bagamoyo sentenced Christian teen Eva Abdullah (17) to
two years in prison after Islamic fundamentalists falsely accused her of
defiling the Qur’an. Eva, who was driven from her home after converting to
Christianity, had been resisting pressure from Islamic fundamentalists to
return to Islam. After falsely accusing her, these radicals allegedly
bribed the judge to punish Eva. Fear of the Muslims reportedly has kept
local Christians from getting involved. Eva thanks the Lord that he has
provided her with kind and sympathetic prison guards who are caring for
her and protecting her.

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT GOD WILL –

* convict, motivate and embolden Tanzanian leaders, so they will rise to
defend human rights, liberty and rule of law rather than appease the
belligerent for false peace and short-term gain; may they clearly
understand what is at stake.

* bring revival to the Tanzanian Church, so she might ‘wake up, and
strengthen what remains’ (Revelation 3:2), and take the
life-transforming gospel of grace to Muslims before Muslims impose
repressive Islam on Tanzania.

* comfort and protect Emmanuel Mwinuka (13) and his family as they face
mass Islamic wrath over a childish prank, as well as Eva Abdullah (17)
as she suffers purely because of her love for the Lord Jesus; may God
supply their every need.

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SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
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CHRISTIANS IN TANZANIA THREATENED BY ISLAMISATION

Tanzania’s population is 31 percent Muslim and 54 percent Christian,
although only about eight percent attend church. Fundamentalist Islam has
advanced as preachers from Sudan and Saudi Arabia spread their radical
creed. Muslims are becoming more assertive with their political demands
and in their attacks. On 10 October reports spread in Dar es Salaam that a
13-year-old Christian boy had desecrated a Qur’an. To appease the mobs,
police arrested the boy. After Friday prayers on 12 October Muslims
besieged the police station, calling for the boy to be handed over for
beheading. When the police refused, the Muslims rioted, burning five
churches. In July Eva Abdullah (17), a convert from Islam, was jailed for
two years after Islamic fundamentalists falsely accused her of desecrating
a Qur’an. Please pray for Tanzania.

To view this RLPB with hyperlinks visit
http://rlprayerbulletin.blogspot.com.au

• MARRIAGE THE BEST ANTIDOTE TO CHILD POVERTY
• MUSLIM CLERIC TEARS BIBLE AT CAIRO PROTEST
• FRANCE SET TO BAN WORDS MOTHER AND FATHER FROM OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS
• PRO HOMOSEXUAL MARRIAGE POLITICIANS DEFEATED IN NEW YORK ELECTIONS/VOTER BACKLASH BEGINS
• CHURCH MEMBERS URGED TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT SEXUAL ABUSE
• LEADING HOMOSEXUAL ADMITS HE WOULD PREFER TO BE BROUGHT UP BY A MUM AND A DAD
• JESUS DRAMATICALLY CHANGES LIFE OF VILLAGE PRIEST

MARRIAGE THE BEST ANTIDOTE TO CHILD POVERTY

Marriage remains the strongest anti-poverty weapon, yet it continues to decline. A new report verifies that marriage is the key to family and attempts to circumvent or replace it are failing. The principle cause of child poverty is the absence of married fathers in the home. Marriage remains America’s strongest anti-poverty weapon, yet continues to decline. As husbands disappear from the home, poverty and welfare dependence increases, and children suffer as a result. Marital decline drives up child poverty and welfare dependence, and the poor aspire to healthy marriage but lack the understanding, and skills to achieve it, so it is reasonable for government to take steps to strengthen marriage.

Government should assist people form and maintain healthy marriages and delay childbearing until they are married and economically stable. Clarifying the shortcomings of the “child first, marriage later” philosophy in lower-income communities should be a priority. Many lower-income women who have a child out of wedlock do not feel it is important to be married before having children. Roughly 50% of non-married mothers were cohabiting with the father at the time of birth, but these relationships are usually of short duration and unstable. Commitment is often lacking, and although the couples may think and speak favourably about marriage, most tend to drift apart after the child is born.

Low-income non-married parents are not hostile to marriage. Most highly esteem marriage and have traditional family goals; they hope to have a husband, children, a car, and a house in the suburbs. Few however have a life plan that will enable them to realize their goals. A major obstacle is that most low-income women plan to marry after having children, not before. Their life plan is the exact opposite of the normal, where a man and woman become attracted to each other; a relationship develops and at some point deliberately choose to become lifetime partners; emotional bonds deepen; they marry and after a few years have children.

For those in low income communities, this traditional sequence of family formation and childbearing is now explicitly reversed. Women first have children and then seek to find a stable relationship that will eventually lead to marriage. Most low-income single mothers do not see marriage as an important part of childrearing nor as an important element of financial security. Instead, marriage is seen as a symbolic event that should occur later in life as a celebration of one’s eventual arrival in the middle class. Low-income single mothers “believe that marriage, not children, is what requires the years of careful planning and preparation and that childbearing is something that happens along the way.”

While conceiving a child with a man you have known only a few months is not a problem, most non-married mothers believe they should get to know a man steadily for four or five years before marrying him. The idea that you should carefully select a suitable partner and diligently build a successful relationship with him before conceiving a child is a foreign concept. In many communities, the pattern of children first and (hopefully) marriage later is so entrenched that couples have difficulty understanding an alternative; but as a means for building long-term loving relationships and nurturing homes for children, this pattern is a disaster.

Sadly, their choice to have children before marriage and before forming a stable committed relationship with the child’s father usually leads to   lives of poverty and struggle. The strong desire to have children coupled with the belief that it is not important to be married before having them explains the dramatic rise in out-of-wedlock childbearing in lower-income communities. Non-marital pregnancies are not deliberately planned, but also not seriously avoided. Children are usually born into unstable, uncommitted relationships that fall apart a few years after the children are born. Marriage needs to be encouraged and strengthened not ignored or undermined.

Source: The Heritage Foundation

MUSLIM CLERIC TEARS BIBLE AT CAIRO PROTEST

During a demonstration which was held in front of the American Embassy in Cairo recently, a Muslim cleric named Abu Islam tore and burned the Holy Bible in front of thousands of Muslims. His action was met with applause and anti-Christian cheers from the demonstrators. According to Mary Abdelmassih in a story carried by the Assyrian International News Agency, the cleric, before leaving the demonstration and getting into his car, told the crowds “next time I will urinate on it.”   Abdelmassih went on to report that Dr. Mustafa Maraghy, professor of law and Islamic law at Cairo University, filed a complaint with the Attorney General against the cleric, whose real name is Ahmed Abdullah.

The complaint cited Abdullah, who is the owner of the TV channel the Islamic Nation, for contempt of religion, disturbing public security and peace. Dr Maraghy, who is the chairman of the Coptic Coalition, said that tearing and burning the Holy Bible, which all Christians in the world believe in, is a “villainous and barbaric act.” He added that it is not permitted at all to defame religions. “The same hurt feelings we felt by the film which insulted the prophet is the same that we felt by this criminal act,” he said. He vowed that the Coptic Coalition will not ignore such “ignorant people” but will prosecute them.

The Maspero Coptic Youth Union has called on President Morsy to intervene immediately to put an end to any efforts which would kindle the fire of sedition between Muslims and Copts. Another complaint was also filed against Abu Islam by Karam Gabriel, lawyer with the Copts of Egypt Coalition, for his recent burning of the Holy Bible as well as his previous insults to Christianity through his books and through his Islamic Nation TV Channel. Abdelmassih then stated that the Coalition, which has among its members Muslims and Copts, has issued an official statement condemning the film insulting the Prophet of Islam.

Magdy Saber, a spokesman for the Union, condemned Abu Islam’s tearing of the Bible in front of the Copts who were present in front of the US Embassy, where they had gone in support of their Muslim brothers regarding the prophet’s film. Saber demanded officials to take necessary measures to prevent sedition among the Egyptians. “If we condemn the film-makers of the prophet film who live outside Egypt,” he said, “we should also condemn this disgraceful act in Egypt, stressing the need to punish Abu Islam for his irresponsible actions.” Abu Islam said “I tore it apart and threw it to the demonstrators to step on it with their shoes. Next time I will make my grandson urinate on it.”

Commenting on the fact that the film producers did not represent all Copts or the mass of the American people, Abu Islam said “if one does something, everyone bears the guilt and bears the outcome. Did not all Muslims bear the pain of what Osama bin Laden did? Did not all Muslims bear the pain of Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman being described as a terrorist? Let them taste from the cup the Islamic world had to drink.” Coptic activist Mark Ebeid said, “Until now we have not heard any condemnation from any Muslim organization, as our church did in condemning the Prophet film.”

Source: Assist Ministries

FRANCE SET TO BAN WORDS MOTHER AND FATHER FROM OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS

France is set to ban the words “mother” and “father” from all official documents under controversial plans to legalise homosexual marriage. The move, which has outraged Catholics, means only the word “parents” would be used in identical marriage ceremonies for all heterosexual and same-sex couples. The draft law states that “marriage is a union of two people, of different or the same gender”.   It says all references to “mothers and fathers” in the civil code  ¢â‚¬“ which enshrines French law  ¢â‚¬“ will be swapped for simply “parents”. The law would also give equal adoption rights to homosexual and heterosexual couples.

Justice Minister Christiane Taubira told France’s Catholic newspaper La Croix: “Who is to say that a heterosexual couple will bring a child up better than a homosexual couple, that they will guarantee the best conditions for the child’s development?   What is certain is that the interest of the child is a major preoccupation for the government.” The head of the French Catholic Church Cardinal Philippe Barbarin warned followers   that same sex marriage could lead to legalised incest and polygamy in society. He told the Christian RFC radio station: “Same sex marriage would herald a complete breakdown in society with innumerable consequences. ¢â‚¬ 

Leading French Catholics have also published a ‘Prayer for France’, which says: “Children should not be subjected to adults’ desires and conflicts, so they can fully benefit from the love of their mother and father.”   Pope Benedict recently invited 30 French bishops to Italy to urge them to fight against the new law. He told them: “We have there a true challenge to take on. “The family that is the foundation of social life is threatened in many places, following a concept of human nature that has proven defective.” New President Francois Hollande pledged in his election manifesto to legalise same sex marriage. The draft law will be presented to his cabinet for approval on October 31.

Source: The UK Telegraph

 

PRO HOMOSEXUAL MARRIAGE POLITICIANS DEFEATED IN NEW YORK ELECTIONS/VOTER BACKLASH BEGINS

Roy McDonald and Shirley Huntley, two incumbent state senators who voted to redefine marriage in New York, have been soundly defeated. What ¢â‚¬â„¢s more, Neil DiCarlo, a National Organization for Marriage (NOM) backed challenger to Stephen Saland, was locked in a razor-close battle and expects to defeat the incumbent when final absentee votes are counted. “Marriage was redefined in New York because of six turncoat senators, and we vowed we would not rest until they were removed from office,” says Brian Brown, NOM’s president. “We’ve now taken out four of the six who betrayed marriage, and we’re going to finish the job with the remaining two.”

Sen. James Alesi was driven from his re-election race by NOM’s pledge to defeat him. Sen. Carl Kruger was forced to resign, and NOM helped elect pro-marriage Republican David Storobin to replace him. McDonald was defeated in the Republican primary by pro-marriage candidate Kathy Marchione. NOM was a major supporter of Marchione, sending two district-wide mailers and launching thousands of telephone calls. And Huntley was defeated in the Democratic primary by pro-marriage candidate James Sanders. NOM also sent two mailers and thousands of telephone calls opposing Huntley.

“When marriage was redefined, Andrew Cuomo and his billionaire friends like Paul Singer and Michael Bloomberg said they’d protect anyone who voted against marriage from political harm. Now look at the political carnage they have wrought,” says Brown. “The people of New York have sent a clear and unequivocal message ¢â‚¬”they will not tolerate politicians, Democrat or Republican, who redefine marriage. It’s laughable when groups like the Human Rights Campaign say that nobody has ever lost a race for supporting same-sex marriage. The landscape is littered with the failed political careers of such politicians, including now these four (soon to be six) incumbents in New York.”

Source: Charisma News

 

CHURCH MEMBERS URGED TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT SEXUAL ABUSE

Sharon Daugherty, pastor of a Tulsa, Oklahoma megachurch that has been rocked by allegations of teen rape, is urging her congregation to speak out about incidents of sexual abuse in their midst. Five employees allegedly waited two weeks to report a 13-year-old girl ¢â‚¬â„¢s rape claim and were arrested, along with the girl ¢â‚¬â„¢s suspected attacker. “I want to personally say, that if anybody here is aware of any child being neglected or abused, physically or sexually, that you should please inform the authorities immediately,” Daugherty told the congregation during Saturday services. “Our children are precious, and we owe them our full protection.”

Police report that Daugherty, pastor of the 17,000-member church and global ministry whose messages reach more than 200 countries via satellite television, also knew about the abuse. She thought employees, which included her son and daughter-in-law, were reporting the incidents. Daugherty has not been charged with any crime. “I was briefly told of an incident involving two … employees and members of 24/7 (a youth group) … and was told it was being reported but did not receive any details on the specific allegations,” Daugherty said. “I was extremely disappointed to later hear of the delay in the time it was first reported.”

A then Church employee allegedly raped the girl at the church. He was fired and the police were notified. He was charged with several felonies, including first-degree rape, forcible sodomy, lewd molestation and use of a computer to facilitate a sex crime. A former Church employee meanwhile is facing felony charges for allegedly making a lewd or indecent proposal to a child and using a computer to facilitate a sex crime. He turned himself into Police last week.  ¢â‚¬Å“Prior to their hiring, both men had passed a screening process that included personal references and a nationwide background check. No history of any criminal activity was found, ¢â‚¬  the church said in a statement.

 

Source: Charisma News

 

LEADING HOMOSEXUAL ADMITS HE WOULD PREFER TO BE BROUGHT UP BY A MUM AND A DAD

Rupert Everett was once a trailblazer for gay actors after he came out as a homosexual 20 years ago. Everett has now stunned the homosexual community by declaring that he “couldn ¢â‚¬â„¢t think of anything worse” than having two homosexual parents. Everett said that although his mother Sara had met his boyfriend, she “still wishes I had a wife and kids. She thinks children need a father and a mother and I agree with her,” he said.   “I can’t think of anything worse than being brought up by two dads.” Ben Summerskill, from the homosexual rights group Stonewall said, “There is no evidence that the kids of homosexual parents suffer in how they are brought up or in how they develop.”

Everett’s mother said she wished her son was not a homosexual. She said, “I’d like him to have children. He’s so good with children. He’d make a wonderful father. But I also think a child needs a mummy and a daddy.   I’ve told him that and he takes it very well,” she added. Everett said in 2009 that he wished he hadn’t come out because it had hurt his career. Everett said. “It just doesn’t work and you’re going to hit a brick wall at some point. You’re going to manage to make it work for a certain amount of time, but at the first sign of failure they’ll cut you right off.” During his career Everett has starred in Shakespeare in Love, My Best Friend’s Wedding and The Next Best Thing.

Source: Sunday Time Magazine

 

JESUS DRAMATICALLY CHANGES LIFE OF VILLAGE PRIEST

Najeev Chakmawasa was a respected priest in his local village. People came to him with all kinds of problems. They paid him money to conduct ritual prayers to heal their sicknesses, help them financially or promote family harmony. Yet underneath the religious fa ƒ §ade, Najeev was a fraud who was addicted to alcohol and drugs. But Najeev did not know what to do. All he had ever done was serve at the temple which he had dropped out of school to do. But then he had an encounter with a Gospel for Asia film team. A pastor of a local church had invited the film team to show their movies about the life of Christ. The pastor had become good friends with Najeev, so naturally he invited him to see the movie.

While Najeev was watching the movie, he began to realize Jesus is alive and offers true forgiveness. He had never heard of a God who is able to do all this. Najeev chose to receive Jesus as his Saviour that very day. He no longer works in the temple. Najeev also quit drinking alcohol and taking drugs. This former village priest is now a member of the local Christian church. His legacy of faith is lasting long after the film team has gone on to another village. Najeev’s Pastor friend is praying that this former priest’s family will come to know Jesus in the same way that Najeev does and that Najeev will stand firm in his new found faith.

Source: Gospel for Asia

Have you visited our Web site?  Australian Prayer Network  

Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 180 | Wed 10 Oct 2012———————————————————
PHILIPPINES: RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN BANGSAMORO
plus UPDATES on Iran and Saudi Arabia
———————————————————by Elizabeth KendalOn Sunday 7 October the Government of the Republic of the Philippines
(GRP) agreed to a ‘framework agreement’ with the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF). This framework is not a ‘peace deal’ inasmuch as it is an
agreed commencement from which the two parties will work towards a
comprehensive peace. The agreement will be officially signed on 15
October. As President Benigno Aquino III said, ‘The work does not end
here. There are still details that both sides must hammer out.   Promises
must be kept, institutions must be fixed, and new capacities must be built
nationally and regionally in order to effectively administer the
Bangsamoro.’ ‘Bangsamoro’ is the name of the new entity that will replace
the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).The Philippines Government created the ARMM in 1989 while it was engaged
in a struggle with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). When the
MNLF put down their weapons in 1996, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF) – hardline Islamists who had split from the MNLF to pursue an
independent Islamic state – rejected peace, rejected the ARMM and fought
on. Until now, the closest the GRP and the MILF have ever been to peace
was the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) of July 2008.

 

 

The MOA-AD would have replaced the ARMM with a greatly expanded MILF-ruled  Bangsamoro Judicial Entity. After learning that they would soon be living
in an Islamic sub-state, local Christians petitioned the Supreme Court
which ruled the MOA-AD unconstitutional, scuttling the deal. MILF
responded with a wave of violence against Mindanao Christians that left
400 dead and some 750,000 displaced. In her quest to add ‘peace-maker’ to
her legacy, President Arroyo and those who supported the MOA-AD had shown
little concern for thousands of Christians who did not want to wake up one
morning in an Islamic ‘Judicial Entity’ under MILF rule.The new ‘framework agreement’ is different in that MILF does not make the
same territorial demands. Associated Press reports: ‘A new autonomous
region will take shape in the south, with Moro rebels giving up their
quest for independence in exchange for broad powers to govern themselves.’
However, as AP adds, while ‘Bangsamoro’ is ‘broadly based on an existing
autonomous region, the rebels want it expanded’. Furthermore, the MILF
will not be governing ‘themselves’ but everyone who lives within
Bangsamoro, Christians included. According to the ‘framework agreement’,
Sharia Courts will be strengthened and their jurisdiction expanded,
although (it is assured) Sharia will be applied only to Muslims. So will
Muslim citizens of Bangasmoro be free to appeal to the Supreme Court for
their constitutional rights or will the Islamic Courts have jurisdiction
over all matters pertaining to Islam?In every state where two systems of law operate, Muslims routinely find
their constitutional rights rendered illusory by Islamic courts that
retain jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to Islam. These include
whom Muslims can marry, what Muslims can drink, how Muslims must dress,
with whom Muslims can mix and suchlike. Would Bangsamoro Muslims be free
to leave Islam – a right guaranteed them in the Philippines Constitution –
or would leaving Islam fall under the jurisdiction of the Sharia Court, as
it does in Malaysia which is mediating the talks? Concerning religious
freedom, the ‘framework agreement’ states that all citizens are guaranteed
the right to ‘freedom and expression of religion and belief’; the right to
‘freedom of speech’; and the right to ‘freedom from religious, ethnic and
sectarian harassment’. As harassment is not defined, this ‘right’ will
doubtless function as the basis for laws that will stifle Christian
witness.As per the ‘framework agreement’ a 15-member ‘Transition Commission’
(TransCom) will be created to flesh out the details, propose changes to
the constitution as required and then draft a law creating the new Muslim
autonomous region. The process is expected to take at least two years. In
the meantime the MNLF, believing it has been betrayed, is threatening to
sue and is ‘warning’ of unrest. Along with this, the Bangsamoro Islamic
Freedom Fighters has split from MILF vowing to continue the jihad.[Watch Religious Liberty Monitoring for updates.]

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT GOD WILL –

* expose deceptions and deny the devil a foothold in the transition
process, so that peace does not come at the expense of religious
liberty and security.

* use this opportunity to make Muslims aware of the great value of
liberty, a human right which frees them up to seek truth and follow
their conscience – something they will be deprived of if they are
placed under Sharia Law.

* sustain, preserve, protect, bless and build his Church in the Southern
Philippines. ‘The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul
who seeks him.’ (Lamentations 3:25 ESV)

~~~~

SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
———————————————————–

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN BANGSAMORO, PHILIPPINES

On Sunday 7 October the Government of the Republic of the Philippines
signed a ‘framework agreement’ with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF). A 15-member Transition Commission will be established to flesh out
the details. It will work towards a comprehensive peace deal and the
creation of an Islamic sub-state, to be known as Bangsamoro. It is
essentially in the area already known as the Autonomous Region of Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM). Sharia Courts will be strengthened and their jurisdiction
expanded, seriously curtailing the human rights and religious freedom of
both Muslims and Christians. The transition is expected to take several
years. Unrest is highly probable. Pray that religious freedom is not
traded for a tenuous peace with committed Islamists. Please pray for the
Church in Southern Philippines.

—————-

UPDATES

* IRAN: INJUSTICE AND REPRESSION PREVAIL

Iranian authorities have released Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani but they did
not release his heroic Muslim lawyer. Rather, on 29 September, Mohammed
Ali Dadkhah was transferred to Ward 350 of Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison
to commence a nine-year sentence. Dadkhah is charged with ‘aiding and
abetting’ the enemy, spreading propaganda and threatening national
security. (Dadkhah provided pro bono legal representation to persecuted
religious minorities.) Dadkhah advocated for Nadarkhani. Now we must
advocate for him with prayer to the highest authority.

* SAUDI ARABIA: APOSTASY TRIAL ON 14 OCTOBER

Maryam (28), a Saudi convert to Christianity, remains in hiding in Sweden.
Her Christian boss, Lebanese expatriate Henna Sarkees (50), along with his
Saudi ‘accomplice’, will face court in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday
14 October. Sarkees is charged with abusing his position of authority to
coerce Maryam into converting to Christianity. His Saudi ‘accomplice’ is
charged with facilitating her flight out of the country. Pray for Henna
Sarkees and his Saudi associate. Pray also for Maryam. Pray for awakening
in Saudi Arabia. (Ephesians 3:20,21)

————–

To see this RLPB with hyperlinks go to
http://rlprayerbulletin.blogspot.com.au

~~~

• ISLAMISTS THREATEN GERMANY
• EIGHTY PER CENT OF MISSING PERSONS IN INDIA TRAFFICKED TO BROTHELS
• WHY MEN ARE DRAWN TO ISLAM AND NOT CHRISTIANITY
• HALLOWEEN BECOMING BIG BUSINESS
• NEW ZEALAND LAWMAKERS BACK SAME SEX MARRIAGE
• MORE THAN 40 KILLED IN NIGERIAN COLLEGE MASSACRE

ISLAMISTS THREATEN GERMANY

Germany has seen its share of radical ideologies over the years. Now the nation faces a new threat: Salafism. It’s an extreme brand of Islam that preaches hatred of Christians and Jews. Salafism is growing in Germany. In June, 1,000 police targeted the homes, schools, and mosques of Salafi Muslims. Salafis adhere strictly to Islamic sharia law. Their ideology encourages violent jihad and is shared by al Qaeda and many other Islamic terror groups. It’s now taking hold among a small but growing number of Germany’s 4.3 million Muslims. “We have a really dynamic growing Salafiscene,” German journalist Franz Feyder said. “Some of the security officers tell us that we have about 5,000 Salafis in Germany.”

Feyder said “The Salafist movement in Germany is creating an environment for violence and radicalization. Not every Salafist is a terrorist, but every terrorist is a Salafist.” Numerous Salafists have been arrested in Germanyon terrorism related charges since 9/11. Still more have left Germany to wage jihad abroad. “We can see that a lot of jihadis with Salafist backgrounds are going to Afghanistan and to training camps in Pakistan,”Feyder said. “And what we can see as well is that a lot of jihadis are passing through the Horn of Africa,” he continued. “They are going to fight in Somalia, going to fight in Yemen, going to fight in Kenya.”

Sheikh Abu Adam runs the Darul Quran Mosque in Munich. He dislikes the term Salafi and said he’s simply a Muslim. German authorities believe he’s much more than that. They’ve visited his mosque to investigate. In an exclusive interview in his Munich apartment, the sheikh showed CBN News government documents that he said identify him as a radical Salafi and anti-Semite. He denies the charges and said he’s worked with the German government to fight extremism. “Why are they saying that about your mosque?” CBN News asked Adam. “I don’t know,” he replied. All of my students, all – I don’t have anyexception – are fighting against terrorism and they are very integrated in the society.

The Egyptian native said he travels to Pakistan and other hotspots to preach against terrorism and debate jihadists. He’s been targeted with death threats and his bodyguards were present for our interview. “I try to convince them to leave jihad, to leave radicalism, to leave bomb attacks,” he told CBN News. Although the sheikh, his 10 children, and three wives receive welfare benefits, he told CBN News he wants to leave Germany. “So you no longer have any communication with the German government?” CBN News asked. “I’m sacrificing myself and my family and my scholars. I’m fighting against the terrorists,” Adam replied.

Yet the sheikh has engaged in violence of his own. In 2010, he made international headlines when he was accused of brutally beating one of his wives, breaking her nose and shoulder. He reportedly yelled Koranic verses during the attack and refused to let police enter the apartment. The wife would not press charges. Also last year, a German television crew filmed Adam presiding over sharia courts in his mosque that operate outside of German law. “The Salafi people, they tell the truth,” counter-jihad activist Michael Sturzenberger said. “They say, ‘We want to have Sharia law in Germany, we want to have a caliphate.'”

Sturzenberger hopes to rally Germans against this movement. He called a recent drive by a Salafi imam to place a Koran in every German home a much-needed wakeup call. “They want to spread this message all over Germany,and they printed 300,000, and they gave it for nothing,” Sturzenberger told CBN News. “They gave it in every city in Germany to the people, the message of Allah, and they want to Islamise Germany,” he said. Authorities also fear the growing Salafi presence will not only make Germany an even more attractive al Qaeda target, but an exporter of terror as well.

Source: CBNnews.com

EIGHTY PER CENT OF MISSING PERSONS IN INDIA TRAFFICKED TO BROTHELS

A newly-released report from India reveals that 8 out of 10 missing persons are sold to brothels. Three years ago, human rights watchers said more than 1.2 million children in India were sold into prostitution, and as many as 100 million people in India are involved in trafficking-related activities.That number has only gone up. The most likely victims of human trafficking are those living on less than $1 a day. C.H. Dyer with Bright Hope International notes that, “People in extreme poverty will go to great measure to find security, food, and the basics of life.” He said desperation drove local churches to Bright Hope to ask for help.

They knew there was widespread prostitution and a lot of young girls being forced into prostitution in their community and wanted to know what to do to make a difference?'”   Bright Hope developed a network of churches in India to raise awareness and build strategic partnerships to be part of the solution. The three-pronged approach included awareness, rescue, and rehabilitation. An anti-trafficking program developed that included training for those who were involved in the rescues and rehabilitation programs for the rescued. The program hasn’t been without its challenges. Building trust takes time.

“Getting them out of the brothels, working with local authorities, working with the police to gain their confidence, going into the brothels to pull out the minors and offer the older women the chance to come out was all new to them.” It’s a responsibility they don’t take lightly with so much at stake, says Dyer. “You take your time, you pray, and you get the advice of those who have gone before you.” In fact, the success rate has been encouraging. “The agencies we’re working with have documented lower rates of prostitution in those communities where they have done this with good planning, and that’s what we’re bringing to this: proven solutions and a proven God who changes lives.”

However, a successful rescue means there’s an angry pimp or gang lord. “Certain pastors and leaders that are involved with our team have gotten death threats already and threats of violence against them.” Taking on human trafficking means a church is entering the spiritual fray. Dyer says often,there are drugs or idolatry involved. “It is dangerous. It is the front line against evil. We need to partner with them in prayer specifically, that the power of the Lord would come upon them and protect them and lead them as they do these good works in His name.” Then, there’s the question of whether slave rescues actually perpetuate the cycle of slavery.

In cases where people were rescued from slavery in Ghana, it was found that many of them found their way back in later, or new slaves were taken. Rehabilitation is focused on healing through professional Biblical counselling to regain strength, hope, and faith in God and His ability to restore them. Opportunities to earn a liveable wage must be given. Through job skills training, girls can have well-paying jobs as they rebuild their lives. Dyer explains that “These kinds of programs really can help people rise above their economic and spiritual situation. So we can create a pathway out where others will want to follow.”

Source: Mission Network News

 

WHY MEN ARE DRAWN TO ISLAM AND NOT CHRISTIANITY

A speaker asked a group in upstate New York the following question. “Why do men flock to Islam while avoiding Christianity?” In response one woman blurted out, “If Christianity required women to walk behind their husbands and wear burquas, then we’d have a church full of men.” So is male dominance the key to Islam’s growth? Must a religion oppress women to attract men? I posed these questions to David De Meo, professor of Middle Eastern and Arabic studies at Harvard. I sum up his response this way: Islam is a religion that delivers results for men. Too often, Christianity does not.”Because Islam delivers what fathers and husbands want for their families, strong men gravitate towards it.

The professor believes that Islam’s emphasis on responsibility and accountability is attractive to men. “It imposes clear behavioural demands and holds men to account in areas that society today bemoans a lack of responsibility – alcohol, sex, parenting, etc. I think this explains why the religion is growing so much among populations that are seen as beset by moral crises in these areas -prisoners, lower economic classes, and minorities” Di Meo said.   Professor Di Meo believes Islam’s unbending moral code, its five strict pillars and even its reputation for ferocity are attractive to men at a gut level.   A man thinks, “Here is a faith that’s going to hold me to a higher standard.   Men are dying for this.”

Furthermore, Islam appeals to the kind of man who is repulsed by the soft, accepting and relational faith pushed in many churches today. So the question for Christianity is this: Can our faith “deliver” for men without oppressing women in the process? Here are some ideas:

1. A clear mission for every church. Most church mission statements are rambling and non-specific. Men are drawn to clarity and brevity.   If they’re going to give up their weekend, they want to know why.

2. High moral standards. Men are looking for a church that’s different from the world they see on TV. This is why conservative churches are growing and liberal ones are dying. Few men are drawn to squishy morals. They want a church built on a firm, time-tested bedrock.

3. Men need help and back up enforcing morals at home. Children today are bombarded with immoral messages. Men feel powerless against MTV, South Park and the Internet. Churches should train men how to deal with these situations -how to say no to sin in a loving way.

4. Men need the support of other men. Most churches offer nothing in the way of men’s ministry or small groups. What a tragedy.   Although it’s initially hard to engage men in a small group, once they do get involved, they’re usually hooked. Their faith deepens. Their lives change. We don’t need to put women in burquas to bring men back to church. But we do need to deliver what we promise. Men need to know that Christianity works, at least as well as the alternatives.

Source: Church for Men

 

HALLOWEEN BECOMING BIG BUSINESS

Not just for kids anymore, Halloween has shifted into a celebration for adults looking for an escape from the everyday, and with this shift, the Halloween industry is booming. “It is an escape from reality for a day,”says Kelly David, spokesperson for Spirit Halloween, the largest seasonal Halloween retailer in the country. “For adults, you can put on a Halloween costume and forget about work, the bad economy, and other pressures.” With the absence of a life in Christ, the human spirit looks for something to fill that void of real companionship, and Halloween is falsely attempting to fill that void for some.

In the past few decades, the Halloween industry has grown. Temporary Halloween stores are on the rise and other retailers have expanded their offerings for the October 31 celebration. Halloween is the second-largest commercial holiday, with Christmas being the first.   According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), 148 million Americans will take part in some sort of Halloween celebration this year. In its 2010 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, the NRF found that Americans will spend $66.28 per person on costumes, candy, and decorations, up from last year’s $56.31 and comparable to the $66.54 spent per person in 2008.

The tourism industry is showing signs that Halloween is morphing into an empire. Cities and towns all over the country host Halloween-related events and activities, some which span weeks. Travel agencies and attractions are even taking the opportunity to offer special Halloween travel packages. Salem, Massachusetts, known for being the location of the Salem Witch Trials in the late 1600s, has used its witchy history to become a popular tourist destination around Halloween. Universal Orlando Parks in Orlando, Florida feature haunted houses and “scare zones” where actors in scary costumes jump out at visitors at any moment.

Please pray:

*   that those who are in search of eternal life will find Jesus in their journey. Pray that there would be no need to find solace in pagan practices. Pray for an increased awareness of the fallacy of pagan practices played out in Halloween. “Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 19:31).

Source: Intercessors for America

 

NEW ZEALAND LAWMAKERS BACK SAME SEX MARRIAGE

InternationalA bill to legalize same sex marriage has passed the first of three readings in the New Zealand parliament by a margin of 80 to 40, creating the likelihood of passage into law early next year.   Both the Prime Minister John Key and the Opposition Labour leader, David Shearer, backed the legislation, and MPs were free to vote according to their conscience, rather than along party lines. Mr Key said he was stunned and excited by the support. “It was an overwhelming result and I think it puts the bill in a pretty strong place to potentially become law, given you’ve had two-thirds of parliament voting for it,” he said. The Labour politician behind the bill, Louisa Wall, had been hoping for 61 votes.

After the vote New Zealand’s Roman Catholic bishops reaffirmed their opposition to redefining marriage. “To propose any alternative definition will have implications in law, and family structure which throughout history has been seen as the fundamental unit in every society,” Archbishop John Dew said. However an Anglican Vicar of a city Parish in Auckland has erected a billboard, portraying the top of a wedding cake with two bride dolls kissing. It states, “We don’t care who’s on top.” Vicar Glynn Cardy said he considered commitment more important than gender. “Such prejudice is contrary to the good news of Jesus,” he said.

But Anglican bishops say they do care “who’s on top.” “The billboard is a confusing message trading on cliches that I don’t think his congregation actually stands for,” Auckland Bishop Jim White said.   Former Presbyterian minister David Clark, currently a Labour Party parliamentarian, spoke in support of the bill.   However AFFIRM, a conservative Presbyterian group, dismissed supportive views of Presbyterians as “isolated voices,” saying same sex marriage was “spiritually offensive” to many Christian people. The bill will now go to a select committee, and will have to pass another two votes before becoming law.

Source: Ecumenical News International

 

MORE THAN 40 KILLED IN NIGERIAN COLLEGE MASSACRE

At least 40 students have been confirmed dead in a massacre at a college hostel in the Nigerian town of Mubi. Men in military uniform went door-to-door shooting students or cutting their throats with machetes, calling out names from a list, in what is a predominantly Christian neighbourhood. The attackers left bodies in lines outside the hostel, the BBC reports. Some sources said the attackers demanded students recite lines before killing them; others said they were asked to confirm their names from a list. Sources say the final death toll may be more than 50 and are describing it as a ‘religiously motivated attack’ linked to attempts to impose radical Sharia law in northern Nigeria.

Some media reports have linked it to fiercely contested student union elections. Police said the dead included several Muslims and two security guards. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack – though many suspect Islamist militants Boko Haram or sympathisers. Last week 156 suspected members of the group were arrested in Mubi – and a senior leader killed. Police recovered homemade bombs and assault rifles at the college student halls the previous week. One source told Release the attackers impersonated security forces carrying out a further search for arms at the college. Mubi is now under curfew and the college  closed.   Some students have fled the area.

Source: Release International

 

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