Persecuted Church News: 11/6/11

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Welsh-born singer Kevin Gould urges Christians to ‘Shatter the Silence’ this Sunday

He has made a special music video to played in churches during Sunday’s International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries

NAPLES, FL (ANS) -- It was in October 1997, when Welsh-born pastor and singer, Kevin Gould, received a package through the mail announcing that the second Sunday in November would be the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP).

Kevin Gould performing

The date happened to coincide with a concert that was scheduled to take place at his church featuring Kevin and his longtime friend, fellow recording artist, Barry Bynum.

After reading through the “IDOP” literature, Kevin was moved by the horror stories about the persecution of believers in different parts of the world and immediately began to write a song.

“We had this concert arranged for the Sunday night of the day of prayer and I felt that one of the best ways to draw attention to the persecuted church and the way in which believers all over the world are suffering, was to write a song.”

The theme and title for the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church that year was “Shatter the Silence” and Kevin used that as the inspiration for the song.

“I felt that it was not only a great title for a song but was perhaps the most succinct and effective way to describe the intention and motivation to pray and make others aware of what Christians are going through in many countries.”

Kevin finished the song in time for the concert and performed it that night in November 1997 to a very responsive audience. However when the concert was over the song was put away and did not see the light of day for many years.

A clip from the Shatter the Silence video

He explained to the ASSIST News Service, “It was as if the song was written for that special occasion and because I wasn’t touring any more, the opportunities to sing it were pretty limited. To be honest, after a while, I almost completely forgot that I’d written the song. Both the melody and the lyrics faded from my memory.”

That was the case until 2009 when Kevin needed songs for a new album that he was doing with guitar great Phil Keaggy.

“Through a mutual friend I got connected with Phil Keaggy who expressed an interest in producing a new album for me. Obviously I was delighted," he said. "Phil and I go back to the same ‘Jesus Music’ era of the seventies but I had never met him until our friend brought us together.”

Gould, who is now the pastor of Naples Alliance Church in Florida, went on to say, “His idea was that I should write six new songs for the album and that we should take six of my old songs and do completely new versions of them. I liked that idea and so I submitted a whole bunch of songs for Phil to take a listen to and, based on his assessment, we chose the ones that he wanted to use.”

Phil Keaggy and Kevin Gould

The album was getting close to completion but Kevin was still one song short of having a finished product.

“We had chosen five old songs we were going to use and I had written six new ones. I was having a hard time deciding on what to use as the final song. I started going over all the songs that I’d written a long time ago but that had never been recorded to see if there was something that would fit. Suddenly, I remembered ‘Shatter the Silence’.

"Although, by now, I had pretty much forgotten how it went I remembered that I was really pleased with the lyrics and that the persecuted church was certainly a worthwhile subject to record a song about. I had to get out the VHS tape of the concert in 1997 to re-learn the song. After that I played it for Phil Keaggy.”

The song, he said, passed the “Keaggy Test” and it was decided that they would record it as the twelfth and final song on the album.

“Although I hadn’t planned it this way, I found when reviewing the material on the album, that most of the songs were about Christian love,” said Gould, who for many years was the pastor of Clover Pass Community Church in Ketchikan, Alaska, before moving to Naples, Florida.

“There were songs about Love for the Lord, the love of the Lord and the believers love for one another. I decided on the title ‘Roots of Love’ for that reason. ‘Shatter the Silence’ spoke of our love for those who are suffering for being Christians and so it fitted the album perfectly. Actually, the song became a duet between myself and Phil Keaggy who sings a couple of the verses and harmonizes on the choruses. That was a blessing too.”

Yousef Nadarkhani

In October 2011, Kevin heard the news that Iranian pastor Yousef Nadarkhani had been sentenced to death for his refusal to turn from his faith in Christ and back to Islam. His immediate response was to ask his wife Sheila to take the song “Shatter the Silence” and build a video around it.

“I wanted to combine the lyrics of the song with visual images in order to draw attention to this urgent need for prayer and support for the persecuted church,” he added.

The song “Shatter the Silence” is powerful. The lyrics are a commentary on the great need as well as a call for Christians to pray for our brothers and sisters living under persecution. It is a reminder that we are the body of Christ. We cannot turn deaf ears to the cries for help from our persecuted brothers and sisters, neither can we remain silent in their time of need.

Phil and Kevin mixing the music

This Sunday night, on the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, Kevin will be singing the song in concert again. Amazingly, although it was never planned this way, he and Barry Bynum will be doing a concert together, just as they did in 1997 when the song was performed for the first time on this corresponding day back then.

Says Kevin, “It makes you think even more so that the song was written for a reason and that the Lord has a plan for it to be heard. My prayer is that many people will hear it, see the video and pray for the persecuted church.”

I will also be featuring the song during my presentation about the persecuted church at the two morning services (8:30 AM and 10:30 AM) this Sunday at Hosanna Christian Fellowship in Bellflower, California. (For directions, go to:www.hosannachapel.org.)

There is still time for any churches to view and download this wonderful video by going to: www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHhL2GIkIzw

To find out more about this important day of prayer, please go to: www.idop.org

Here are the lyrics:

Shatter the Silence

With love in our hearts let’s lift up our voices and shatter the silence we hear
All over the world our brothers and sisters are suffering for the name we hold dear
Just people like us that are part of His body living where God’s word is hated and scorned
For loving the Lord and being His children they are beaten imprisoned disowned

But the light still shines on ever bright
Though the darkness has tried to put out His Light
The Light of the World shines on through the night
By His truth He will guide and with love win the fight

With love in our hearts let’s lift up our voices and shatter the silence with prayer
The battles we fight on our knees end in victory as the burdens of others we share
We may never know what it’s like to be living in places where our witness may cost us our lives
But we cannot be deaf to the needs of our family as in prayer we continue to strive

But the light still shines on ever bright
Though the darkness has tried to put our it’s light
The light of the world shines on through the night
By His truth he will guide and with love win the fight

Remember the words of our Master when He said they hated Me and they will hate you
The Holy Son of God was despised and rejected His disciples suffered those same things too
He said “Go into the world and tell them the Good news” the task is before us whatever the cost. So let’s lift up or voices and shatter the silence for the Lord for the gospel for the lost

And the light still shines on ever bright
Though the darkness has tried to put out the light
The light of the world shines on through the night
By His truth He will guide and with love win the fight

Note: To read a story written by Rebecca English about Kevin Gould’s extraordinary story, please to to: www.assistnews.net/Stories/2007/s07020087.htm

Dan Wooding, 70, is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for 48 years. They have two sons, Andrew and Peter, and six grandchildren who all live in the UK. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS) and was, for ten years, a commentator, on the UPI Radio Network in Washington, DC. He now hosts the weekly “Front Page Radio” show on KWVE in Southern California which is also carried throughout the United States. The program is also aired in Great Britain on Calvary Chapel Radio UK and also in Belize and South Africa. Besides this, Wooding is a host for His Channel Live, which is carried via the Internet to some 200 countries and also provides a regular commentary for Worship Life Radio on KWVE. You can follow Dan Wooding on Facebook under his name there or at ASSIST News Service. He is the author of some 44 books. Two of the latest include his autobiography, “From Tabloid to Truth”, which is published by Theatron Books. To order a copy, press this link. Wooding, who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, has also recently released his first novel “Red Dagger” which is available this link.

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Help Free Asia Bibi Now -- Join in a Call For Mercy

‘“Our Christ sacrificed His life on the cross for our sins. ... Our Christ is alive‘ -- Asia Bibi

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries

BARTLESVILLE, OK (ANS) -- The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM), based in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, has launched an online petition -- www.CallForMercy.com -- to free Asia Bibi, the Pakistani Christian mother of five, who has been sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy.

Asia Bibi (Photo: VOM)

In Pakistan alone, more than 150,000 Christians have signed a petition demanding justice for persecution victims, including Asia Bibi. Now you can join with The Voice of the Martyrs and our Pakistani brothers and sisters in a call for mercy.

“We hope to gather 1 million signatures on behalf of our sister Asia, who now sits in prison awaiting the Lahore High Court's ruling on her appeal,” said a spokesperson for VOM.

VOM has supplied this case history of Asia Bibi which follows:

Asia Bibi, a Christian wife and mother in Pakistan, was arrested by police on June 19, 2009, and charged with blasphemy after she engaged in a religious discussion with co-workers. Many of the local women, including Asia, worked on the farm of Muslim landowner Muhammad Idrees. Her family was one of only three Christian families in a village of more than 1,500 families. During their work, many of the Muslim women had pressured Asia to renounce Christianity and accept Islam.

On June 19, 2009 there was an intense discussion among the women about their faith. The Muslim women told Asia about Islam, and, according to VOM sources, Asia responded by telling the Muslim women that Jesus is alive. “Our Christ sacrificed His life on the cross for our sins...Our Christ is alive.” She told them. Upon hearing this response, the Muslim women became angry and began to beat Asia. Then some men took her and locked her in a room. They announced from mosque loudspeakers that she would be punished by having her face blackened and being paraded through the village on a donkey.

Local Christians informed the police, who took Asia into protective custody before the Muslims could carry out their plan. Christians urged the police not to file blasphemy charges, but the police claimed they had to go forward because of pressure from local Muslim leaders.

After a lengthy trial, on Nov. 8, 2010, Asia Bibi was sentenced to death by a judge. The judge also fined Asia $1,190 (U.S.) and told her she had seven days to appeal the decision. Her attorneys filed the appeal promptly, and now wait for the Lahore High Court to rule. If the appeal is rejected, Asia would be the first woman to be lawfully executed under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. She remains in prison, waiting to hear the high court’s ruling.

On Jan. 4, 2011 the governor of Punjab province, where Asia lives, was assassinated by a member of his security team. Though a Muslim, Salmaan Taseer had spoken out repeatedly in favor of a pardon for Asia Bibi and for a reexamination of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. Governor Taseer also met with Asia in prison. On March 2, 2011, Shahbaz Bhatti, the only Christian member of Pakistan’s cabinet and another person who had spoken out on behalf of Asia Bibi, was also assassinated for his support of her.

Asia's husband, Ashiq, and daughters, Isha and Isham, pray for her release (Photo: VOM)

The Voice of the Martyrs has supported Asia Bibi and her family since the time of her arrest. In July, 2011, VOM launched www.CallForMercy.com in an effort to gather 1,000,000 signatures from around the world asking for Asia’s release.

VOM says, “Invite your friends to visitwww.CallForMercy.com and add their names to the petition as well. VOM will deliver the petition, along with the list of signers, to the Pakistani Embassy in Washington DC.”

So far, VOM says that some 476,816 signatures have been collected for the petition, which have included 186,945 from the United States.

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Islamic Republic daily Denies Tendency to Christianity among Iranian Youth!

Reports of Revolutionary Guards turning to Christianity or are seriously investigating the Christian faith

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries

TEHRAN, IRAN (ANS) -- Following a report by Iranian Christian News Agency, Mohabat News (http://mohabatnews.com) concerning the spread of Christianity among Iranian youth, the government supported daily, Jomhouri-e-Eslami (Islamic Republic) has reacted by saying that the report is a claim made by the “Western political clique!”

The battle between the cross and the press in Iran
(Photo: Mohabat News)

The Tehran-based daily Jomhouri-e-Eslami (meaning Republic of Islam) claimed, “While western media keep reporting that people in Europe and America are converting to Islam, the agents of western political cliques claim that Iranian youth show a sincere interest in Christianity. These claims are being made to cover up the fact that western people are coming towards Islam.”

This government supported daily also said in another part of its article that, “A person who introduced himself as the spokesman of the Iranian church of Europe said in an interview with a Farsi website that Iranian youth are learning about Christianity through the Internet and Christian Television Channels. He even claimed that people in the religious cities of Qom and Mashhad are showing more interest in Christianity than people in other cities.”

A portion of an article published on Sunday, November 6, 2011 by Mohabat News states “The broad range of Iranian people [are] watching Christian television programs or accessing Christian websites, in addition to the number of contacts that people, especially from religious cities of Iran, make with Christian media, shows nothing but a growing interest of Iranian people in converting to Christianity.”

A spokesperson for Mohabat News said, “Obviously, the editor in chief and writers for Jomhouri-e-Eslami are willing to close their eyes to this clear fact and are seeking to portray an image of Iranian society from their own preconceptions and impressions. It’s completely understandable that they publish stories prepared by people who are more interested in their salaries than a desire to report facts.

“This prompt and immature reaction of Jomhouri-e-Eslami reflects a nervousness among the writers and leaders of the media who serve the regime. They do not accept Iranian society as it now is.

“However, the word of God clearly says ‘Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:32)”.

An Iranian Christian being punished for his faith

The spokesperson went on to say, “Some pro-regime news media quote Jomhouri-e-Eslami daily in reporting that nothing is going on in the religious cities and that all reports to the contrary are only rumors, but the domestic media, judicial and security authorities and Islamic clerics tell a different story.

“Contradictions among government supported media are not hidden from anyone. According to Jomhouri-e-Eslami, two weeks ago, Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani, Chairman of the Council of Guardians and considered one of the main pillars of the Regime before the controversial election in 2009, seriously warned the authorities about the turning of Iranian youth away from Islam. He asked all the wise men and clerics to make serious efforts to prevent this trend in society from spreading and to do a better job in this area!

“The Jomhouri-e-Eslami daily is calling the spread of Christianity a rumor while on Saturday, 2 October 2011 the government supported news website, Javan-Online (backed by the Revolutionary Guards) acknowledged the tendency of society towards Christianity and also reported that the number of house churches in the religious city of Mashhad is growing. Javan-Online reported that two hundred churches have been discovered in Mashhad in a period of months.

“More importantly, the movement of Iranian youth to Christianity has even penetrated and spread among children and families of high authorities of the regime. Certainly, the publishers of Jomhouri-e-Eslami remember how news of the conversion to Christianity of a son of one of Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi’s assistants shook both the foreign and domestic media.

“The anxiety over the increasing spread of Christianity among Iranian youth has grown to the extent that even Ayatollah Vahid Khorasani, a well-known religious guidance source in the Islamic regime, complained about this situation during a meeting with seminary students and Islamic clerics of the grand mosque of Qom. He warned about statistical evidence reflecting this tendency of youth toward Christianity even in the city of Qom.”

The spokesperson then added, “Beyond all these reports, anxiety over the growth of house churches has even affected speeches of the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei and has become one of his concerns. This worry caused him to make an unsolicited confession during a speech in the city of Qom some time ago. He said that ‘the purpose of the “enemies of Islam” is to weaken our religion in society by spreading false mysticism, the Baha'i faith and house churches’.

“The Jomhouri-e-Eslami daily must know there are many more acknowledgments of the growth of Christianity by Ayatollahs and security authorities of the regime. They have no option but to accept it. Heydar Moslehi (Head of the Ministry of Intelligence) made a remarkable statement in this regard in a meeting with the heads of education of Iran. He warned them about the spread of Christianity in schools and among students and called it “one of the elements of the ‘soft war’ against Islam”.

“In this connection, we can point to various acknowledgments including statements by Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi Mesbah Yazdi about the spread of Christianity in some provinces of Iran. Ayatollah Sobhani spoke of the conversion of 600 people to Christianity in the city of Neishabour.

“A specialist on religious issues also warned about the increasing interest of Iranian citizens in Christianity and their determination to obtain a copy of Bible in spite of all the prohibitions against the publication and distribution of Christian books inside Iran.

“These quotations and statistics are not provided by a Christian news website but are excerpts from speeches of high level religious and non-religious authorities of Iran. These people serve in senior positions in the Iranian theocracy and play a significant role in the regime. These quotes are from people who know very well what is taking place in the country. The result of all these acknowledgments or confessions today is nothing but enthusiasm among the people of Iran for gaining access to the truth that is found in the words of the Gospel.”

Information available to Mohabat News indicates that the pace and scope of the spread of Christianity in Iran is so “fast and broad” that “even among members of the armed forces and the Pasdaran Army (the Revolutionary Guards) many have turned to Christianity or are seriously investigating the Christian faith.”

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Turkey’s Armenians Reconsecrate 16th Century Church Building

Ethnic Armenians who grew up as Muslims baptized in Diyarbakir.

By Barbara G. Baker

ISTANBUL, November 11 (Compass Direct News) – Just hours before a deadly 7.2 earthquake struck Turkey’s southeast on Oct. 23, well over 3,000 visitors crowded into an ancient Armenian cathedral in nearby Diyarbakir for Sunday mass.

The mass was the first worship service in decades in the ancient St. Giragos Armenian Apostolic Church, which had fallen into serious disrepair in the early 1980s. Built 350 years ago and still the largest Armenian church building in the Middle East, it once served as the metropolitan cathedral of Diyarbakir.

In a private ceremony the following day, 10 ethnic Armenians who had been raised as Sunni Muslims were baptized as Christians in the restored sanctuary. All from one extended family, the Armenians returning to their faith said that their ancestors had converted to Islam during the Ottoman era (1299-1923).

“We have been ostracized by both Sunni Muslims and Armenians,” one of them told Hurriyet Daily News. “It is a very emotional moment for me, and I’m a bit upset, because unfortunately we do not belong to either side.”

For security reasons, the baptisms were closed to the press and outside visitors.

According to one source at Istanbul’s Armenian Patriarchate, it is estimated that at least 300,000 Armenian and Syriac Christians converted to either Sunni or Alawite Islam after 1915 to avoid forced deportation.

“This means there could be as many as a half million ethnic-background Christians in Turkey today who carry ID cards stating they are Muslims,” the cleric observed.

Over the past decade, both Armenian and Syrian Orthodox church centers in Turkey have quietly baptized individuals and families from the eastern regions of the country who had Muslim IDs but wished to return to their Christian roots.

“I wish this church had always been open,” one of the newly baptized Armenians told the online Massis Post website. “It is unbelievable to be together here with people from all around the world with whom I share the same origins.”

Although political dignitaries representing a number of foreign embassies attended the Oct. 23 mass, along with Armenian spiritual leaders from around the world, most of the congregation consisted of Armenian pilgrims from Armenia, the Netherlands, Germany, Syria, Lebanon and the United States.

“It was like they were returning from exile!” one Diyarbakir resident who attended the Sunday mass told Compass. “Here were these elderly Armenians who used to live here, walking through the streets of Diyarbakir, weeping and looking for their old homes and places they remembered. They all still spoke Turkish and Kurdish, as well as Armenian.”

Anatolia’s ‘Jerusalem’

Located in the city’s Gavur (Turkish for “infidel”) district, the newly restored St. Giragos cathedral is just a few minutes’ walk from St. Peter’s Chaldean Catholic church (also undergoing restoration), a mosque, the Diyarbakir Protestant Church and a synagogue, with construction plans for places of worship along the same street for Alawite and Yezidi (blending local Kurdish and Sufi Muslim beliefs) adherents.

“This is an historic enterprise,” declared Abdullah Demirtas, Diyarbakir Sur’s district mayor. “Diyarbakir will become Anatolia’s Jerusalem!"

Complete with seven altars and multiple arched columns in the sanctuary, St. Giragos was virtually abandoned after the massacre and deportation of its congregants in 1915. The building was confiscated during World War I as a headquarters for German army officers, used for a time as a stable, and later turned into a cotton warehouse in the 1960s.

According to Taraf newspaper columnist Markar Esayan, the church building was still intact until 1980, after which “because of hate … in modern times” it was attacked, looted and fell into disrepair, with just the walls and arched columns remaining.

“When I saw the condition of the church at that time, I thought it would never return to its former state,” Esayan wrote on Oct. 24.

Costing US$3.5 million, the church’s two-year restoration project was funded largely by Armenian donations from Istanbul and abroad, although a third of the costs were donated by the Diyarbakir municipality.

At the conclusion of the Sunday mass, Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir addressed the congregation, declaring first in Armenian, and then Kurdish, Turkish, English and Arabic: “Welcome to your home. You are not guests here; this is your home.”

“We all know about past events,” he said, pointedly referring to 1915, “and our wish is that our children will celebrate together the coming achievements.”

By raising private funding, the Armenian church has regained this ancient building for its own use as a consecrated sanctuary, rather than a Turkish government-controlled museum like the 10^th century Akdamar Church in Van, where only one religious ceremony is permitted annually.

Although no Armenian community still exists in Diyarbakir, a priest has been named by the Armenian Patriarchate to conduct occasional worship services for visiting clergy and Christian groups within Turkey and from abroad.

According to Vartkes Ergun Ayik, a businessman of Armenian origin who spearheaded the project funding, the restored church property will also be used for classical music concerts and exhibitions in the city.

“Our expectations are good,” the new priest told Compass. “Even though Armenians are not living in the city today, we are praying that God will use our church to bless Diyarbakir in a very positive way.”

www.compassdirect.org

END

*** A photo of the Oct. 23 service at the restored St. Giragos Armenian Apostolic Church building is attached for subscribers, to be used with credit to Compass Direct News. A high resolution photo is also available; contact Compass for transmittal.

**********

Sudan's Islamist/Arabist Regime Renewing Attacks on Refugees, South

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Armed forces of Sudan's Islamist regime have crossed international borders and dropped bombs on two states in the new nation of South Sudan for two consecutive days, including a camp of northern Sudanese refugees from the Nuba Mountains.

Today, Russian-built Sudanese Antonov bombers attacked South Sudan's Unity State's Yida refugee camp, run by the Christian aid organization Samaritan's Purse, reportedly killing 12 people and wounding 20. These refugees from the Nuba include both Muslims and Christians persecuted by Sudan's Arabist regime. The day before, the Sudanese bombed Upper Nile State, also in South Sudan, killing 7 people. At least 15,000 people had sought refuge at Yida, just over the border from Sudan.

Attacks by the Islamist regime began in June on the Nuba Mountains of South Kordofan and on Blue Nile State in September. South Sudan President Salva Kiir warns that Sudan may be preparing to invade South Sudan soon. John Prendergast, co-founder of the Enough Project, said the regime in Khartoum, Sudan's capital, is attempting to provoke South Sudan into restarting a war.

McDonnell announced that IRD's Church Alliance for a New Sudan was now working with dozens of other advocates to strengthen U.S. policy to stop Khartoum's genocidal war in a new alliance, "Act for Sudan."

IRD Director of the Church Alliance for a New Sudan Faith J.H. McDonnell commented:

www.TheIRD.org

Friday, November 11, 2011

Afghan mother, daughter stoned and shot dead

Afghan mother, daughter stoned and shot dead:

'via Blog this'

US commission: Pakistani schools teaching intolerance of non-Muslims, increasing militancy - The Washington Post

US commission: Pakistani schools teaching intolerance of non-Muslims, increasing militancy - The Washington Post:

'via Blog this'

Operation Mobilization Announces ‘The Freedom Climb’ Global Campaign to Combat Injustices Affecting Women and Children

By Michael Ireland
Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

Mount Kilimanjaro

ATLANTA, GA (ANS) -- It is estimated that there are 27 million slaves in the world today, trapped in various forms of bondage and abuse. Three out of 4 are women. Eight hundred thousand people will be sex-trafficked this year. Eighty percent will be female and 50 percent will be children.

Now, 47 women from around the world have volunteered to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, in an effort to raise awareness and funds to combat oppression, slavery, exploitation and global trafficking, in what is being called ‘The Freedom Climb.’

The event was chosen as a symbol for the challenging climb that marginalized women face while climbing out of oppression and into freedom, according to a media advisory obtained by ANS.

According to the news release, the vision for the Freedom Climb began with a deep desire to be a voice for those who have no voice and a burden to do something about the global oppression of women and children.

Cathey Anderson, whose ministry was teaching sustainable farming to African nationals in Malawi, had the vision to get a small group of friends to climb Kilimanjaro…and make a difference.

In just a few months, that vision has grown to 47 women from all over the world, ranging in age from 18-73, who are committed to raising their voices and funds through their networks of friends and family.

“I talk to friends here in the States, and they say ‘what can we do with such a huge problem?’ I tell them ‘we can all make a difference for one women and one child at a time! We can cry out on that woman’s behalf and try to meet her needs—and see freedom for her!’” says Anderson.

She added: “That will change not only her future but all the generations after her! We know we will not end slavery and human trafficking with this climb. We can, however, bring hope and an opportunity for freedom to women and children who currently have none.”

Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highest free-standing mountain in the world, towering over Tanzania at 19,340 feet. The mountain’s summit is known as Uhuru Peak. Uhuru is the Swahili word for “freedom,” and the climb is symbolic of the hope that women and children worldwide can be free of their circumstances. The climb is scheduled for January 11, 2012, which is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day in the United States.

The physicality of the climb itself is extremely challenging. At this high altitude the human body is operating on about 50 percent oxygen which makes for difficulty in breathing and easy exhaustion.

Recently, in an effort to prepare, the group of women climbed Pike’s Peak in Colorado Springs, CO. At 14,000 feet, the Pike’s Peak climb was a reality check for the climbers and made them determined to continue to be in the best physical condition to prepare for the Mt. Kilimanjaro Climb. This was the first time many of the women were together as a group to solidify their commitment.

A South African climber (who is working to give opportunities to village women), Suria Scholtz says, “It is for me personally a very special journey. It is my prayer that women will be able to identify with their oppressed sisters in various parts of the world and that God will create compassion in their hearts to become involved in their climb to freedom.”

In response to Anderson’s vision and its longstanding passion against injustices to women and children, Operation Mobilization launched The Freedom Climb. The hope is to draw much needed attention to these highly at risk communities. The Freedom Climb hopes to create a global movement of women who will rise up to be the voice for those who have no voice in order to see emancipation in these communities; transforming the lives of women and children, breaking the cycle of poverty, and providing freedom from oppression and slavery.

The Freedom Climb is focusing on two specific existing OM programs that empower women and children to be free from their oppressive conditions. The first facet is rescuing and restoring those that are being oppressed. Our teams will help those who have suffered these injustices to find emotional, spiritual and physical freedom by providing long term counseling and life skills to help them thrive in their freedom.
The second aspect is prevention: OM says that if we are to see true freedom for all women in our generation, we will need to see massive systemic changes.

The release states: “The reality is that for every woman rescued there are many who can take her place. We need to stop the flow. We need to remove the reason why a parent would sell their daughter to a trafficker. We need to give women another source of income so they do not have to sell their bodies or work bond slaves.”

It adds: “OM is working to transform lives and communities by providing job skill training and micro loans in order for women to provide for their families and start small businesses. With their ability to work and earn money one major reason to sell themselves or their daughters is removed. Work brings an increased degree of dignity. OM’s goal for 2012 is to impact 10,000 women and children worldwide by providing these solutions.”

To learn more about The Freedom Climb: see the projects, sponsor a climber, get involved or give support, please visit www.thefreedomclimb.net. To schedule an interview with one of the Freedom Climbers or a representative from OM’s Freedom Climb, please contact Renaissance Communications.

Operation Mobilization (OM) is the founding organization for The Freedom Climb. OM is an international Christian organization that has been operating for over 50 years, now serving in 118 countries and addressing many global injustices.

With 6100 workers around the world, OM teams have the experience, knowledge, and local language advantage to make a lasting impact. Their commitment is to long-term, relational ministry which meets spiritual needs and addresses the earthly bonds of oppression.

** Michael Ireland is Senior Correspondent for ANS. He is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London (United Kingdom) newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB UK, a British Christian radio station. While in the UK, Michael traveled to Canada and the United States, Albania,Yugoslavia, Holland, Germany,and Czechoslovakia. He has reported for ANS from Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Israel, Jordan, China,and Russia. Michael's volunteer involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department -- 'Michael Ireland Media Missionary' (MIMM) -- of A.C.T. International of P.O.Box 1649, Brentwood, TN 37024-1649, at: Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International where you can make a donation online under 'Donate' tab, then look for 'Michael Ireland Media Missionary' under 'Donation Category' to support his stated mission of 'Truth Through Christian Journalism.' Michael is a member in good standing of the National Writers Union, Society of Professional Journalists, Religion Newswriters Association, Evangelical Press Association and International Press Association. If you have a news or feature story idea for Michael, please contact him at: ANS Senior Reporter

Christian Human Rights Group Encourages Government of India to Be Vigilant Against Communal Violence after ‘Inflammatory Speech’

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries

NEW MALDEN, SURREY, UK (ANS) -- Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), a UK-based human rights group, says that is concerned by recent “inflammatory statements” in India about the sensitive issue of religious conversion, noting that such statements have previously led to worsening attitudes and increasing violence against religious minority communities.

Praveen Togadia

During the Akhil Bhartiya Dharmaprasar Karyakarta Sammelan event in Gujarat this week, Praveen Togadia, General Secretary of the extremist group Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), called for India’s Constitution to allow for “anyone who converts Hindus to be beheaded”, and made a series of inflammatory statements against India’s Muslim community. His remarks were widely reported.

Previously, Swami Agnivesh, a widely respected social activist of the Hindu revivalist group Arya Samaj, wrote a letter to Pope Benedict XVI calling for a moratorium on the conversion of “unlettered tribals” and others. His letter was a response to the Pope’s Diwali message, which urged Christians and Hindus to work together for religious freedom, including “the freedom to change one’s own religion”.

In July, an article by Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy sparked countrywide controversy for its comments about Muslims. It also recommended a “national law prohibiting conversion from Hinduism to any other religion”.

CSW’s Advocacy Director Andrew Johnston said, “India’s pluralist pedigree is once again under concerted fire. Inflammatory remarks such as Togadia’s can be a spur for prejudice and violence against Muslims and Christians: for example, communal attacks against Christians in India are often linked to unsubstantiated accusations about conversions. Any activities which lead to religious conversions should of course be carried out with the utmost respect and sensitivity.

“But international jurisprudence on this issue is very clear: the right to have or to adopt a religion includes the freedom to change religion, and the right to manifest a religion includes the right to share religious beliefs with others.

“The UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief reiterated these points after her 2008 visit to India, and we encourage the Government of India to be vigilant against any rise i n communal violence that may be ignited by these statements. We welcomed Home Minister P Chidambaram’s letter to chief ministers in October urging them to guard against communal violence, and we continue to applaud the Government’s ongoing commitment to pass an effective law to prevent, control and deal with the aftermath of communal violence, and encourage them to make this as effective as possible.”

For further information or to arrange interviews please contact Kiri Kankhwende, Press Officer at Christian Solidarity Worldwide on +44 (0)20 8329 0045 / +44 (0) 78 2332 9663, emailkiri@csw.org.uk or visit www.csw.org.uk.

Note: Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is a Christian organisations working for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights, in the pursuit of justice.

Iranian Court to Issue Apostasy Sentence Decision in One Month if the Ayatollah Does Not Respond

Nadarknani Verdict Expected in Mid-December, But May Be Delayed Until Christmas

By Michael Ireland
Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

RASHT, IRAN (ANS) -- Sources close to the Yousef Nadarkhani apostasy case have informed Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) www.csw.co.uk that Pastor Nadarkhani’s lawyers have been told to expect a decision from the Supreme Leader in mid-December, occasioning fears that it may be issued to coincide with the Christmas season in order to avoid an international outcry.

Pastor Youcef and his wife. (Photo courteys of Present Truth Ministries).

CSW says the court in Rasht has sent two letters regarding the case to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, but is still awaiting a response.

According to CSW, other members of Pastor Nadarkhani’s denomination are also facing difficulties.

CSW has been informed that the Revolutionary Court in Shiraz has asked three Church of Iran members to surrender themselves to the authorities to begin prison sentences.

Pastor Behrouz Sadegh-Khanjani, Mr. Mohammad Beliad and his wife Nazly Beliad were part of a larger a group that is due to serve one year sentences for ‘crimes against the order’ following an unsuccessful appeal earlier this year.

PastorKhanjani is also known to have been tortured during a previous imprisonment in Shiraz. Their lawyer has advised them not to present themselves until a written request has been issued.

Pastor Benham Irani of the Church of Iran is currently serving a five year sentence, whilst Farshid Fathi Malayeri, who belongs to a different denomination, remains detained without charge nearly eleven months after his arrest.

Church leader Noorollah Ghabitizadeh, who was arrested on Christmas Eve in 2010, is still being held in Ahwaz and, according to Mohabat News, has been verbally informed he may receive a death sentence. Like Pastor Nadarkhani, he too has been asked to recant his faith.

CSW’s Team Leader for Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa, Dr Khataza Gondwe, said, “It is worrying that the Supreme Leader has delayed a decision on Pastor Nadarkhani’s case, leaving the pastor and his family in a distressing state of limbo. We continue to urge a swift decision, and to call for a full acquittal and release, since the verdict is in violation of Iranian law, and of the spirit of article 23 of the Iranian constitution.

“The Supreme Leader now has an opportunity to demonstrate Iran’s commitment to work within its own civil law code, where apostasy is not a codified crime, and its obligations as a signatory of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which allows for freedom of religion and belief. The international community must remain vigilant in order to ensure that the Iranian authorities cannot use a hiatus to issue a negative ruling. Iran must also be urged to cease the detention of individuals without charge, and to uphold the rights and freedoms of members of minority faiths.”

Jason DeMars of Present Truth Ministries www.presenttruthmn.com says Pastor Nadarkhani remains in Lakan Prison in Iran’s Gilan Province.

“He continues to stand strong in his faith and remains in good spirits and health,” DeMars told ANS.

DeMars said the 11th circuit court in Gilan is awaiting a response to their two letters that were written to the supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khameini.

“One of Youcef’s attorneys stated that the court will wait for one month for a response. If they do not have it, they will issue a ruling sometime in mid-December,” he said.

Continue to pray for brother Youcef, that God would sustain him and give him courage and boldness to testify to those around him, “Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Ephesians 6:18-20).

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is a Christian organization working for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights, in the pursuit of justice.

For further information or to arrange interviews please contact the Press Officer at Christian Solidarity Worldwide on +44 (0)20 8329 0045 / +44 (0) 78 2332 9663

Egyptian Government Report Absolves Army of Maspero Massacre of Coptic Christians

By Michael Ireland
Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

CAIRO, EGYPT (ANS) -- The fact-finding commission of Egypt's National Council for Human Rights, NCHR, the official body which oversees human rights in the country, last Wednesday issued its report on the events of October 9, titled the "Maspero Massacre," where 27 Coptic Christian protesters were killed and over 329 more injured outside the State TV building in Maspero, Egypt.

According to Egyptian journalist Mary Abdelmassih, writing for AINA -- the Assyrian International News Agency(www.aina.org) -- the NCHR report drew angry responses from Copts and was blasted by NGOs and human rights activists as a white wash of the military's role in the Maspero Massacre.

"The report of the commission as it stands ensured that the army is absolved of any responsibility of firing ammunition," said Dr. Naguib Gabriel, head of the Egyptian Union of Human Rights Organization EUHRO.

"NCHR provided evidence of innocence, in advance, for the army, without having the evidence to prove it."

In its report, AINA say some activists argued that the NCHR report is invalid since it was issued by a commission of National Council for Human Rights, formed by a decree from the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), which is considered a subject of investigation in the Maspero incident.

AINA says the main controversy in the NCHR report was putting the blame of firing live ammunition on "unidentified" civilians who targeted both the peaceful protesters and the military police, asserting that no live ammunition was fired on the protesters by the military, as the army only fired blanks in the air to disperse the protesters.

"Those assailants could not be identified, but we described them as civilians because this is how they were dressed," said a member of the NCHR committee at the press conference on November 2.

EUHRO issued a statement rejecting these claims as they were not based on technical reports from the criminal lab and forensic medicine. EUHRO said in its statement "...how did the committee determine that the shooters of live ammunition were civilians without conducting an investigation in this matter, or were they military personnel in civilian clothes?"

Magdy Khalil, member of Coptic Solidarity International, an NGO representing Coptic activists from all continents, blasted the report in an article, pointing out its contradictions and the lack of answers to many vital questions. "It committed itself strictly to the framework set out by the SCAF press conference of October 13 and to the strategic objective of acquitting the military."

AINA says that in its own breakdown of the events, NCHR's report described the procession as peaceful, according to the consensus of witnesses, and protesters carried crosses of wood or plastic together with flags of Egypt and banners condemning the demolition of churches and demanding a unified law for building places of worship.

"However, in the next page of its 14-page report, NCHR says the demonstrators hurled stones at the military police at the beginning of the march," said Magdy Khalil, "and on page 3 it says that some of the demonstrators were carrying clubs, swords, and knives -- corroborating what was said at the SCAF press conference on October 13. In one part of the report it says that the demonstrators jumped on one of the army armored vehicles and set fire to it, while in another part, it says that the ‘unidentified civilians’ were the culprits."

AINA says in its report that Copts expected the Coptic Orthodox Church to criticize the report.

Bishop Bassanti of Helwan said: "I only care about what the report said, that the demonstrators did not carry weapons at all. I believe they should have been protected by the army instead of the army being their opponent." He added that all losses suffered by the demonstrators in these events are the responsibility of the state.

AINA went on to explain that although the report acknowledges that 12 Copts were run over and crushed under the wheels of armored vehicles, it asserts this was not deliberate, saying the armored vehicles were used to disperse the demonstrators, but because of their extremely high speed in the midst of the crowds, this led to the death of 12 citizens.

"The report does not clarify who is responsible and describes it as non-deliberate mistakes," said Khalil.

"The report criticized the performance of the Egyptian television coverage of events, calling it professional error, not crimes of incitement," says a statement by the Maspero Coptic Youth Union (MCYU), a Coptic activist group and organizers of the protest on October 9.

MCYU also criticized the use by the fact-finding committee of the term "unknown civilians"

opening fire on the military police and civilian demonstrators, which it views as in attempt not to directly charge anybody in particular. They confirmed the presence of video footage which clearly shows the perpetrators of the attacks on Coptic demonstrators (this video shows army snipers hiding in the TV building).

MCYU called for an independent fact-finding committee to investigate the incident, away from the influence of military courts. They also demanded that the Information Minister and Egyptian State TV officials be made accountable for lying in their coverage of the incident, "which almost caused sectarian strife."

The NCHR report called for an immediate investigation by an independent civilian fact-finding committee, as well as the punishment of perpetrators.

AINA reports that Judge Amir Ramzi, member of the National Commission for Justice, said that the fact-finding report of the NCHR lacks investigative techniques, and got no cooperation from the authorities, however, some of its recommendations were reasonable.

According to El Wafd newspaper, Ramzi said that next week he will present a detailed report of the events of Maspero, supported by video and audio footage, to the Military Council, the Council of Ministers, and the fact-finding commission of the Ministry of Justice.

A fact-finding commission was formed by the Cabinet in the wake of the events, headed by its minister of Justice.

Freedom of religion and belief in Russia under growing pressure

A veteran human rights campaigner has warned of growing restrictions on religious freedom in Russia, and urged Western governments and churches to do more to address the issue - writes Jonathan Luxmoore.

"Although the [officially atheist] Soviet Union collapsed 20 years ago ... religious believers still face serious problems," said the Rev Michael Bourdeaux, president of the Oxford, UK-based Keston Institute, which studies religion in Russia and Eastern Europe.

"What really worries me is that no one is holding Russia to account. The right and duty to monitor each country's human rights record, established in the 1970s, seem to have been forgotten," he said.

Russia's 1990 law on religious freedom was "probably the most liberal in world history," but it was replaced by "disgraceful legislation" in 1997, he told ENInews in an interview on 8 November 2011.

The 1997 law, the result of pressure from hardline politicians and the predominant Orthodox church, discriminates against religious associations judged "non-traditional."

Bourdeaux noted that "there were Lutheran churches in Russia in the early eighteenth century and Catholic communities in medieval [times], so to rule them non-traditional can't be justified by any legal logic."

Human rights groups have urged Russia to protect religious rights and comply with rulings by the European Court of Human Rights after a recent spate of arrests and house searches involving the Jehovah's Witnesses and other small religious groups.

Some of Russia's 3,500 registered Protestant associations, including Lutherans and Baptists, have also complained of police raids on allegedly unauthorised services, while Russia's 600,000-member Roman Catholic church protested when a Moscow charity house belonging to Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity was bulldozed in September and a Catholic parish in Pskov barred from finishing its church because of "legal technicalities" in October.

In October 2011, the director of the Brussels-based Human Rights Without Frontiers International, Willy Fautre, said another law, the 2002 law on fighting extremist activity was being "misused to target minority religious faiths."

He added that pamphlets used by Jehovah's Witnesses and followers of Turkish Muslim theologian Said Nursi had been placed on a "federal list of extremist materials" by the justice ministry, making their storing or distribution "liable to criminal prosecution."

Fautre, who will host a European Parliament hearing on religious freedom in Russia on 15 November, urged the country to revise the 1997 law and issue guidelines for the implementation of the criminal code on national, racial and religious incitement.

Bourdeaux said he believed pressure on religious minorities had been fuelled by restrictions on democracy, including the scrapping of direct elections for Russia's regional governors. He added that state officials routinely consulted their local Orthodox bishop when considering requests from Protestants and Roman Catholics to hire or purchase facilities for church worship, making minority faiths "dependent on Orthodox goodwill."

The US State Department, in its Annual Report on Religious Freedom, published on 13 September, said the Russian government's "level of respect for religious freedom" had declined over the past year, with criminal cases brought for the first time against "individuals in possession of banned religious literature or associated with an illegal religious group."

Particular problems were experienced, the report said, in registration of religious organisations, access to places of worship and visas for foreign religious personnel, as well as in "government raids on religious organisations and detentions of individuals."

However, the report was dismissed as "half-baked and tendentious" on 16 September by a Foreign Ministry spokesman, Alexander Lukashevich, who told reporters the State Department's experts had not bothered "to explore the peculiarities of inter-confessional relations in the Russian Federation."

Meanwhile, a senior Russian Orthodox priest vowed that his church would continue to develop close relations with the state. "We live in a secular state, which is normal; but our society is largely made of Orthodox Christians. Therefore, the symphony of the church, state and society is a natural thing - it is a relationship within one body, not between things of differing nature," Vsevolod Chaplin, head of the department for church and society relations, said on 7 November, according to Russia's Interfax news agency.

[With acknowledgements to ENInews. ENInews, formerly Ecumenical News International, is jointly sponsored by the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Communion of Reformed Churches and the Conference of European Churches.]

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