Religious freedom policies forthcoming following briefing

President of Russian Ministries
Sergey Rakhuba addresses briefing in Washington, D.C..

USA (MNN) ― Christians from all over the former Soviet Union were in Washington, D.C. Wednesday for a briefing on Religious Freedom issues in that part of the world. It was hosted by Russian Ministries and their partnering organizations.

President of Russian Ministries Sergey Rakhuba says 90 people attended: more than anticipated. "It shows that a lot more people--many different leaders, even people from the State Departmen--are very much interested in discussing the issue of religious freedom in the former Soviet Union."

Some of the leading evangelical Christians in the region made presentations. "We brought some experts from Russia and Belarus, and we read some reports from Uzbekistan about all the freedoms that have been stripped from people there," says Rakhuba.

It's like going back to the days of the cold war, he says. "Evangelical churches are not allowed to do anything outside of their homes, even inside their homes. If they gather together for prayer meetings they are punished and are penalized. Many pastors have already been thrown into prison there."

While it's reminiscent of the days of communism, Rakhuba says, "This is a new wave of persecution that's based on radical Islamism, on nationalism, and even mainline churches like the Orthodox church...is the reason for persecution of local believers in Russia and Ukraine or other Slavic countries."

The information presented will help create a policy guide for Christians in the region to help fight laws that are meant to fight terrorism. "Based on those laws, evangelical Christians--for their most humble actions--are punished just for having prayer in their own home. So, we'd like to create some policies and to encourage governments to change it."

Rakhuba is hoping politicians will use the policies to help press for those changes so the Gospel can be shared freely.

U.S. Representatives demand intervention for persecuted pastor

(Image courtesy of ACLJ)

USA (MNN) ― U.S. Congressmen are demanding more action from national leadership on behalf of Pastor Abedini, an Iranian American pastor from Boise, Idaho.

While "protecting human rights around the world is central to U.S. foreign policy," as stated on the U.S. State Department's Web site, it remained silent following Abedini's arrest in September 2012. The governmental body didn't issue a peep during the pastor's subsequent months of imprisonment in Iran's notorious Evin Prison.

Last Friday, the State Department commented on Abedini's situation in a daily press briefing.

"We remain very concerned about U.S. citizen Saeed Abedini, who is detained in Iran on charges related to his religious beliefs," said spokesperson Victoria Nuland. "We call on the Iranian authorities to respect Mr. Abedini's human rights and to release him."

Two days later, the persecuted pastor received an 8-year sentence from the Iranian courts. His crime? "Planting house churches that are intended to undermine national security," Abedini's lawyer told Mohabat News.

"In the Middle East, they react by strength. You show weakness, they react against weakness. When you show strength, they, in many cases, back off," says Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger.

He adds, "If you have the President of the United States come out and [make] it obvious and evident that he's paying attention to what's going on..., it makes it hard for a nation to put them in a facility...that is known for torture and terrible conditions."

In December 2012, Fox News brought Abedini's story to light when his wife expressed hope that a media campaign would help set him free. Nearly a month later, the State Department made its first comments on the situation.

In mid-January, Kinzinger and his fellow Congressmen wrote a letter of appeal to Secretary of State Clinton, calling the U.S. to intervene on Abedini's behalf.

"The administration has seemed to be hesitant to engage, concerned they might offend Iran or something like that," says Kinzinger. "But it's important to engage at this level. So we sent this message, and hopefully it hit home loud and clear."

Overall, says Kinzinger, the government's response to this cut-and-dry example of persecution is lackluster at best.

"It's been pretty disappointing to me, frankly, how the State Department has not engaged on this issue. This is something very serious," he states.

But despite America's rocky relationship with Iran, Kinzinger believes a happy ending is possible.

He says, "It's important for the administration to come out and stand tall, and say it's time for the pastor to be released. I think we can see a positive end to this."

Encourage your friends to sign the petition for Pastor Abedini, and keep him in your prayers. Pray that President Obama would take a stronger stand on this issue.

The 2013 World Watch list is out

USA (MNN) ― A priority for Open Doors is keeping track of the world's countries according to the intensity of persecution Christians face for actively pursuing their faith. Today, Open Doors released the 2013 World Watch List, and there are a few surprises.

The most notable trend Open Doors researchers found was the increase of persecution in Africa. Fundamentalist variations of Islam rapidly gained influence on the continent. On the one hand, this was due to focused attacks, such as Boko Haram in Nigeria (#13). On the other hand, the influence of Islam increased through infiltration in different social and economic areas. Open Doors saw a similar pattern in several African countries.

According to Paul Estabrooks with Open Doors, "There were five newcomers on the top 50 list. In fact, one of them jumped all the way to Number 7 in the top ten. That was a huge surprise. That was Mali. The other four are Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and Niger."

Why are they on the list now? Eastabrooks says, "These countries of Africa are experiencing Islamism more significantly than they have before, and it's resulted in challenges for Christians in those countries and a deterioration of that situation."

Tanzania (#24), Kenya (#40), Uganda (#47) and Niger (#50) also moved onto the World Watch List, and Ethiopia is one of the strongest risers (from #38 to #15) on the list. In addition, the small African country of Eritrea made the Top 10 for the first time at #10. Libya climbed from #26 to #17.

"We do not necessarily distinguish one overall plan from one source in the whole of Africa. However, we do see that radical Islamic groups are patiently waiting for the right time to show their power," says Jerry Dykstra, a spokesman for Open Doors. "Apart from the pattern of violent attacks, we see that radical Muslims are infiltrating into politics, business, and the judicial power, such as introducing Sharia family courts. On a number of occasions, Muslims were ready to step into a power vacuum: take Mali, for example, where Touareg rebels and Muslim fundamentalists gained power in April 2012."

"Mali used to be a model country," says Dykstra. "The situation in the north used to be a bit tense, but Christians and even missionaries could be active. Currently, the situation in northern Mali is somewhat similar to Saudi Arabia. Christians are simply no longer allowed to be there."

A pastor from the northern part of Mali told Open Doors that he was informed that Muslim fundamentalists were planning to kill all Christians. He warned all the members of his congregation to leave. That happened. Hundreds of Christians fled from the north to the south of the country or neighboring countries.

North Korea is still #1 when it comes to persecution of Christians. For the 11th consecutive year, the hermit communist country heads the World Watch List. Possessing a Bible alone can be a reason for a Christian to be executed or sent to a prison camp along with three generations of his or her family. It is estimated that between 50,000 and 70,000 Christians suffer in horrific prison camps. The intense persecution has continued under new leader Kim Jong-un. The number of defectors to China greatly decreased in 2012, and half of those who try to defect do not make it.

"Nothing much has changed under new North Korean leader Kim Jong-un," says Dykstra. "In fact, persecution of Christians has increased. Reportedly one labor camp alone could hold up to 6,000 Christians."

Apart from North Korea, the Top 10 on the World Watch List consists of eight countries where extreme Islam poses the largest threat for Christians. They are (from #2 to #9): Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Maldives, Mali, Iran, and Yemen. Worldwide, Open Doors reports an increase in the persecution of Christians.

Outside of Mali, Syria made the largest jump on the World Watch List. The country is 11th on the list, compared to 36th in 2012. For years under the regime of President Assad, Christians were allowed the freedom to worship but not evangelize. Estabrooks says, "Many Christians have fled the country because the opposition to the Assad Regime is predominately Islamic. They are Islamists. They are strong believers that Islam should dominate all of society, and they have very little tolerance for Christians."

Is there good news? Yes. China continued its descent on the World Watch List. Estabrooks says, "Five years ago, China was in the top 10 countries where persecution was severe. Now, China has dropped significant. Last year it was #21. 

This year it has dropped down to #37." However, house searches, arrests, and the confiscation of Bibles and Christian books no longer occur on a large scale. Instead, the government forces many church leaders to keep an accounting for their whereabouts--a way to keep them subdued and under control. At least 100 Chinese Christians are still in prison.

Egypt has also descended on the World Watch List, going from 15th to 25th. Nevertheless, the country's score does not show any improvement. The drop is a result of Open Doors' change in methodology to monitor and chart the persecution of Christians. The Christians with a Muslim background are facing the most serious problems. Apart from that, Egypt is going through a difficult stage. Islamist groups, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, are gaining more power after the election of Mohammed Morsi last summer.

More than ever before, the World Watch List provides an insight into the overall spectrum of the persecution of Christians in all spheres of life (private, family, community, national, and church.) The freedom to come together and the degree in which Christians are exposed to acts of violence are also included in the monitoring. This results in a balanced scoring, taking into account both the impact of violent incidents and less visible, structural developments threatening the position of Christians.

To get the entire World Watch list, click here.   

Police chaplain in USA told how to pray

USA (MNN) ― In some places in the United States, it's getting more difficult for Americans to freely exercise their faith in Christ. Many places across the country are taking action against Christians for praying in public, or praying in Jesus' name.

Case in point -- Pastor Terry Sartain. According to Fox News, he's been ministering to police officers in Charlotte, North Carolina for the past seven years. When he prayed at the request of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, he prayed in "the name of Jesus."

But he can't do that anymore.

Volunteer chaplains in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department will no longer be allowed to invoke the name of Jesus in prayers at public events held on government property. Major John Diggs heads up the chaplain program. He says it respects people of all faiths.

Sartain, the pastor of Horizon Christian Fellowship, was scheduled to give an invocation at a promotion ceremony. Before the event, he received a telephone call from his superior major telling him not to pray in Jesus' name on government property. It's something he's done consistently at department events.

Sartain says he's sad that as a pastor he can't give the one thing he has to offer: the life and person of Christ.

In an interview with Fox News, he said, "It brings about a very real concern about where we are heading as a nation. I serve a God who loves people unconditionally, who died for their sins on the cross, who wants to reconcile Himself to them and love them where they are. And now I'm told I can't bless people as a result of that."

The police department wanted him to deliver a "secular prayer." Sartain said he didn't know there was such a thing. He says it's apparent that "Christians, for the most part, are targeted in these days that we exist in...we want the same rights and privileges as everybody else," he said. "Let the playing field remain level."

As Independence Day approaches July 4th, pray that God would remind Americans about their freedoms. Pray also that Christians will be bold in their witness of Christ in and around their neighborhoods.