Ministries advance amid growing tensions

The son of ICDI staff member Albert
 Yahimi was shot to death in April by
 troops in the Central African Republic.
 (Image, caption courtesy HCJB Global)

Central African Republic (MNN) ― Rebel violence is rising in the Central African Republic.

Nearly 400,000 people are now internally displaced according to the Geneva-based Assessment Capacities Project, or ACAPS. That figure almost doubled within the span of a month.

Jim Hocking with Integrated Community Development International (ICDI) works in the CAR with Living Water International and HCJB Global.

"What we're seeing on-the-ground is pretty much the collapse of the government," says Hocking.

That leaves people on their own against armed and dangerous Seleka militants.

"Because of that, people are leaving their homes, even in the capital city; I was there two weeks ago," Hocking reports.

"It's kind of a 'Catch 22,' in a sense, because although they're scared for their lives...they still have to live, they still have to provide for their families."

Central African legislature and civil society members met last week in Washington, D.C. to discuss the situation.

"The crisis that has been brought about by Seleka is now turning into a conflict between Christians and Muslims," Rev. Nicolas Guerekoyame Gbangou said through a translator.

Nearly all Seleka factions follow Islam, Gbangou explains, and approximately two-thirds of the group comes from countries outside the CAR. He says they're targeting Christians and trying to force their religion, customs, and traditions on communities and individuals.

"As they proceed through the country, they tend to destroy everything that is Christian," Gbangou states. "We've come to a point where people have had enough. They no longer are willing to tolerate these massacres and torture. People are starting to form self-defense groups.

"They're starting to buy machetes so they can defend themselves against aggressors, and we're now starting to take the path of Rwanda, if you will," he continues. "And maybe that's what it's going to take for the international community to finally intervene."

Along with leading a church in Bangassou, Gbangou is Chairman of the Regional Association of Evangelical Churches.

Despite growing religious tensions and rising violence, Gospel work continues.

"It has been difficult, but we have been able to accomplish actually MORE since May 1 than we have normally [during] this time of year," says Hocking.

ICDI teams have drilled 72 wells and performed over 400 maintenance visits. Hocking credits the success to ICDI's national staff, who dedicate their lives to sharing clean water and the Living Water of Christ. To this end, Living Water International is a crucial component.

"Living Water is a huge help with our maintenance program," Hocking states. "We're trying to keep the maintenance going on over 500 wells in the country, and keep the water flowing for the people in that country."

While Hocking was in the CAR recently, he attended training sessions for national ICDI workers with Jerry Wiles, President Emeritus of Living Water International. He says Wiles was teaching staff how to share the Gospel with villagers using orality.

"We trained all of our trainers and our maintenance teams that travel around," Hocking explains. "18 people had a follow-up training [so they could] become trainers, to help train even more people in the villages how to use Gospel stories, because it is an oral tradition there in the [CAR]."

The Gospel is the only glimmer of hope in a nation coming apart at the seams.

"Villages are continuing to receive Gospel tracts [and] receive encouragement from our staff," Hocking says. "Basically, a little touch of hope comes back to them that [there are] still people in the country who care about them."

It's up to you to keep hope alive in the CAR. By financially supporting the work of ICDI, Living Water International and HCJB Global, Hocking says you're helping them stay in the troubled nation.

"These organizations are what are giving hope to people in the Central African Republic," states Hocking.

The most important way to help is through prayer. Please keep praying for the Central African Republic. Pray for an end to religious tensions in northern CAR. Ask the Lord to bring peace to this troubled nation.

"Your prayers are going to make a difference in that country," says Hocking. "There isn't anything else that can really solve it."

Wave of persecution sweeps across the Middle East and North Africa

(Image courtesy Open Doors USA)

Nigeria (MNN) ― Believers in northeast Nigeria are reeling after Islamic militants killed their pastor and his son, and set fire to their church building and five homes.

The Associated Press reports Islamic militants attacked the church in Yobe state just before dawn yesterday; the incident went unnoticed by nearly all major media outlets.

Dr. David Curry, President and CEO of Open Doors USA, points to the attack as the latest in a rising tide of persecution sweeping the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

"We've had situations in the last three weeks in Iraq, in Syria, in Pakistan, and now last night in northern Nigeria, where people are targeting believers," says Curry. "My greatest concern is that there won't be any pressure to follow-up on this attack.

"Attack after attack on Christians seems to go by the wayside."

Thousands have fallen in Nigeria alone at the hands of the Islamic terrorist group, Boko Haram. Their name means "Western education is sinful," and their four-year-old terror campaign seeks to rid northeast Nigeria of all who follow Christ.

Yobe is one of three northeastern states currently under emergency rule, as Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan tries to quell Boko Haram insurgents.

"The threat of terrorism in a few states in the northeastern part of our country has proven to be a challenge to national stability," Jonathan told UN leaders earlier this week. "We will spare no effort in addressing this menace."

Terror goes by a different name in the nearby Central African Republic: Seleka. This band of Islamic terrorists rose to national power in March following the ouster of former President Francois Bozize.

Their primary target soon became the Church.

"The various atrocities that preceded, accompanied, and followed Seleka's rise to power have been specifically aimed at the Christian population," states a letter from the CAR Evangelical Alliance to Seleka Islamist leader and CAR President Michel Djotodia.

"Churches and Christian institutions have been desecrated and plundered, priests and pastors have been assaulted, and nuns raped."

In CAR, 50% of the population is Christian and 15% are Muslim. Despite outnumbering the followers of Islam, Christian communities in CAR claim their Muslim neighbors are joining Seleka’s violent campaigns.

"It’s not like Christianity is a minority religion, but ever since the coup in March, the Muslims have increased their persecution of Christians," said Open Doors spokesman Jerry Dykstra in a July 5 article.

To the north, a similar situation unfolds as violence against Christians in Egypt reaches historic levels. Members of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) were quick to blame Coptic Christians for the July removal of MB proponent and former President Mohamed Morsi from office.

It was a summer of rage for many believers as they endured beatings, their homes and businesses were looted and destroyed, and churches were set aflame. In August, one church was forced to close its doors for the first time in 1,600 years.

And yet, most believers and secular media alike remain unaware of the deadly trend.

"Open Doors has been trying to raise this awareness among Western believers and the media in general," says Curry. "We believe it's worthwhile asking the question: 'Are these attacks coordinated?' Certainly they seem to be intentional and directed at believers.

"Over the last decades…the population of Christians in the Middle East has gone from 20% to 4%. Why is that? It is because there is a concerted effort to force Christians to convert. There is a concerted effort to persecute Christians, to drive them from their home."

As the plight of believers in the MENA continues on, largely unnoticed, you can take action.

"There are so many ways we can support the Persecuted Church," Curry states, "but you won't know how until you get this International Day of Prayer packet, an IDOP packet."

The International Day of the Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) gathers believers worldwide in continuous prayer for those who are persecuted. This year, IDOP falls on November 3.

"What we're asking is that every believer in the Western world that worships in freedom takes part on November 3rd in praying and supporting the Persecuted Church," explains Curry.

"We're not a political organization, but what we can do is rally believers to defend and to pray and support their brothers and sisters in the Persecuted Church."

Suicide bombers leave more than 80 dead, 100+ wounded

Protestors flooded the streets following Sunday's
 attacks in Pakistan.
(Image courtesy 8thirty8 via Facebook)

Pakistan (MNN) ― Many are calling Sunday's blast the "deadliest assault" against Pakistan's Christians.

A pair of suicide bombers blew themselves up outside the historic All Saints Church in Peshwar after Sunday's service was dismissed. Explosions rocked the area as hundreds of people, many of whom were women and children, left the church building.

Witnesses reportedly heard two blasts, the second more powerful than the first. Over 600 people were inside for Sunday's Mass, reports Reuters.

So far, the injured exceeded 120, and the death toll soared past 80. Voice of the Martyrs USA spokesman Todd Nettleton says it probably won't stop there.

"Our contacts in Pakistan are telling us by the time everything is said and done...the death toll will likely go over 100 for this attack," states Nettleton.

Two Islamic militant groups, both with past links to the Taliban, are claiming to be behind the attack, according to BBC News. Reuters says one of the groups, TTP Jundullah, claimed responsibility within hours.

Reuters quotes the group's spokesperson, Ahmed Marwat, as saying, "They are the enemies of Islam, therefore we target them. We will continue our attacks on non-Muslims on Pakistani land."

Following Sunday's assault, masses reportedly took to Peshwar's streets, burning tires and protesting the government's apparent inability to protect religious minorities.

"They knew it was a potential target. Peshawar is a city where there is a lot of radical Islamic activity, so that's one of the questions and one of the complaints from the Christian community there in Pakistan: how did this happen?" Nettleton says.

"I think underneath that question is the grief and the shock of so many people being killed so quickly in, really, a senseless attack."

While some are taking to the streets in protest, Nettleton says other believers are reacting with violence against Peshwar's Muslim community.

"We need to pray against that; we need to pray for peace; we need to pray for the Christian community to have a spirit of forgiveness and understanding and grace," he says.

Pakistan's Christians are the second-largest religious minority group behind Hindus, representing around 1.6% of the mostly-Muslim population. One lawmaker says about 200,000 believers live in the north-western province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Islamic militants often target religious minorities in their campaigns for power, but sectarian violence in Pakistan has primarily involved two parties: Sunni and Shia Muslims. While sporadic bouts of violence do occur against Christ-followers, most persecution results from Pakistan's blasphemy law.

While the source and cause for Sunday's attack remain unclear, Nettleton says there may be a silver lining.

"Potentially, maybe there are some slivers of hope in this as we see the government, even Muslims within the government, respond to this attack and say, 'This is unacceptable,'" he states.

He adds that recent statements from Pakistani leaders--"This is not true Islam. This is not acceptable under any religion to attack women and children like this"--are an encouraging sign.

"Again, those are words," Nettleton says, "but we wait to see what actions will be taken and what will be done to practically provide protection for the Church there."

Your prayers are needed as Pakistani believers grapple with this tragedy. Please pray for those widowed or orphaned by Sunday's attack. Ask the Lord to meet each of His followers in a deeper way during this time.

"Pray for the pastors who are working in this situation and trying to minister hope and help and encouragement to the Christian community there," asks Nettleton. "One of our contacts there is a pastor. When we spoke with him, he had already done five funerals yesterday--five burials for those killed in the church."

Pray for supernatural grace to fall upon each heart impacted by this tragedy.

"In a situation where grace is completely NOT the natural response, we need to pray that God will provide supernaturally for them to respond with forgiveness," Nettleton says.