In the face of intense persecution, believers stand their ground

More than 680 people have died in Boko Haram attacks,
 according to AP. (Image courtesy Compass Direct)

Nigeria (MNN) ― Four believers perished in a suicide bombing thought to be associated with Boko Haram.

Nearly 50 were injured in the attack on St. John's Catholic Cathedral Church, located in the state capital of Bauchi. 

Several were quite severe, and the death toll is expected to rise. According to the Associated Press, drive-by attacks and church bombings initiated by the Boko Haram have killed over 680 people this year.

Yet, believers are standing firm, says Emily Fuentes with Open Doors USA.

"Their faith is just unshakeable," she said.

The Boko Haram is bound and determined to wipe Christians off the face of the Nigerian map. Their regular and persistent attacks can certainly make evangelism a daunting task.

"When you're dealing with people who are this extreme," Fuentes explained, "it seems almost impossible to witness or share the Good News."

The fact that these believers remain is a living testimony. They're not backing down, and that sends a message louder than any words could say.

"Despite the hardships, these Christians are remaining strong," said Fuentes. "I think that really is one of their strongest witnesses."

In a recent trip to Nigeria, Fuentes got an inside look at the perseverance of these believers. They shared their stories and experiences with Open Doors--not to gain pity or donations, but prayer.

Fuentes recounted one tale that created an others-centered passion within a 24-year-old Nigerian believer. In January, members of Boko Haram infiltrated this young man's village disguised as policemen. One stopped the believer and asked for his name, then shot him in the arm because the young man was named after an apostle.

"God kept me alive for a reason, and I have to live to share His message," he told Fuentes after sharing his story with her. "I have to use this story to encourage other Christians and bring more to Christ."

His testimony had a profound impact on the Open Doors worker.

"It was amazing to hear his perspective," Fuentes shared.

Many Nigerian believers share the drive to make their stories known. Many were encouraged to hear fellow Christians knew about their situation and were praying for them. It gave them further reason to share their accounts with Open Doors. Teams shared 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 with Nigerian believers and encouraged them with a reminder that they all belonged to the Body of Christ.

"When one member suffers, we all suffer," Fuentes pointed out. Open Doors asked how Christians in free nations could stand with the persecuted church in Nigeria. Their response was simple: share our story.

"They knew once others heard their stories, they would be compelled to pray," said Fuentes.

Pray for strength and encouragement for Nigerian believers. Start a prayer movement by visiting Facebook.com/MissionNetworkNewsand sharing the link to this story.

"And of course, [pray] for their safety and their livelihood," Fuentes added.

More threats against Christians in Egypt

(Photos by Hector de Pereda)

Egypt (MNN) ― A report Friday indicated Egyptian Christians in border towns are getting threats of violence if they don't leave. One church leader suspects the threats are connected to the anti-Islam film which has angered Muslims throughout the Middle East.

In other parts of the country, the pressure has increased to the point where people are fleeing in droves. They represent an increasing number of the country's 8 million Coptic Christians were already feeling increasingly cornered.

The atmosphere chilled quickly in the wake of Hosni Mubarak's ouster and the Muslim Brotherhood's meteoric rise to power. Already subjected to anti-Christian discrimination and attacks for years under Mubarak, his fall meant no one was there to suppress the hard-liner Islamists.

The nation's Christians saw an uptick in violence against them alongside an overall rise in crime since Egypt's 2011 revolution. There are heightened concerns now that believers might face backlash amid outrage over the film, says Rody Rodeheaver with IN Network.

It's not something that dies down quickly. "Each subsequent conversation about that continues to elevate the emotional level in countries like Egypt and others." As a result, Rodeheaver says their team is very concerned about exodus of believers.

There's also the danger of the mass hysteria driving a rumor mill that comes back on the believers. For example, one of the rumors on the street is that there were six Egyptian Christians that participated in the making of the video. "There is no way of knowing whether that is true or false, but that is the word on the street, according to our staff. What that then does is just escalates the emotional extreme reaction to this whole situation."

Meanwhile, Christian leaders are trying to distance any connection--perceived or otherwise. Compass Direct News cited Rev. Dr. Andrea Zaki, Vice President of the Evangelical denomination in Egypt, who said that "the film insulting Islam is a criminal act, and should not be tolerated. It must be prosecuted, and they who produced and published it are criminals."

In his statement, Zaki stressed that the Egyptian Evangelical Church "not only condemned the film, but is communicating with several American institutions to stop such films depicting the sacred, because they represent a crime against human rights."

IN Network Egypt has a team in place, committed to ministering the Gospel. On one hand, says Rodeheaver, there's the human reality of working and being part of the pressure of this kind of situation. But, "On the other, they're seeing that the God who called them is also there, working beside them, providing fruit for their efforts."

That's why Rodeheaver doesn't foresee them leaving. Practically speaking, abandoned property is often stolen or vandalized. But the other reason has staying power. "This is their home, and they need to be there as a voice for the Lord to the people to whom they serve." Plus, Rodeheaver adds, "I think what our staff is seeing is that they are experiencing a real outpouring of God's Spirit as it relates to the programs that they're conducting."

The team works through Bible correspondence courses offered to men and women across the country, encouraging them in the study of Scripture. A Bible school program equips pastors with all they need to serve their communities for God. Finally, leadership conferences bring in hundreds of people every year to be empowered to lead others to Christ.

Pray that things would not escalate. IN Network's team is now asking themselves how they can continue to minister to the people God has called them to. The threats are not taken lightly, but continued work "takes a great amount of wisdom, and courage. That becomes a real focus for the prayers of God's people." 

Pakistani Christians joined Muslim Protestors against Controversial Video

By Jeremy Reynalds
Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

Protesters condemning the video

TOBA TEK SINGH, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- Christians across Pakistan are joining Muslims to protest against a controversial anti-Muslim video on YouTube.

According to a report received by the ASSIST News Service from our correspondent in Pakistan, Muslims are organizing protest rallies, demonstrations, seminars, conferences, press conferences and more to condemn the anti-Islam video.

ASSIST News Pakistani correspondent Ashfaq Fateh said that Christians in Pakistan are also upset about the video and in various areas have joined forces with Muslims to condemn the video.

ANS Correspondent Ashfaq Fateh addressing the rally

Fateh attended a demonstration in the city of Toba Tek Singh, and said he was allowed the opportunity by Muslims to speak to thousands of protesters on behalf of the Christian community.

Fateh said he told rally attendees it doesn’t advance the cause of any religion to promote negative material like that contained in the controversial video.

Fateh said he continued to say that Christians in Toba Tek Singh always organize activities that promote harmony, friendship, brotherhood and peace.

He added, “Whenever, there have been anti-Islam actions from anywhere in the world, Christians of Toba Tek Singh took the lead to condemn them, and express solidarity with Muslim brothers and sisters in Pakistan and around the world.”

Fateh told us Hajji Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, National Assembly member said, “The rally and conference is a message to anti-peace elements who are trying to destabilize world peace by doing evil … plans such as making caricatures and profane movie. The conference participants including Muslims and Christians are united to demand to put on trial the producers of the film, the actors and its financiers.”

Anwar Chaudhry continued, “Muslims in the world give high respect to all prophets and the last Prophet Muhammad … For the honor of our much-loved Prophet Muhammad … millions are ready to die and will not tolerate such hateful things.”

According to Fateh, Sahibzada Muneen Hussnan Saddique, Chief of Suni Thareek (an Islamic religious-political party) District Toba Tek Singh said, “The Muslims have never done such profane things about any prophet of other religions, however, for the last decade, profane material is being produced with regular intervals.”

He continued by urging people of other religions to join the Muslim world for the sake of lasting peace, prosperity and development and demanded that the UN and the USA take action against the creator of the video. He also demanded that the video be removed from the Internet.

Fateh said the Christian demonstrations and support against the video have been greatly appreciated by Muslims.

Christian Rimsha Masih is ‘innocent’ and cleric who allegedly framed her in the Pakistan ‘blasphemy’ case ‘should face trial’

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- A high-powered team investigating the Rimsha Masih “blasphemy” case has found the cleric of a mosque should face trial, and has declared Rimsha as innocent due to lack of evidence.

Rimsha being taken to a helicopter to be flown to a safe place

A Christian, Rimsha, believed to be around 14 years of age and reportedly suffering from some mental disability, was allegedly seen burning pages inscribed with Koranic verses, last month.

The news of the desecration spread like wild fire, following which furious locals bashed up Rimsha and her mother. The police later arrested Rimsha on August 16 on the demand of the locals. Rimsha languished in judicial custody for weeks, after which she was released and transferred by helicopter to an undisclosed location.

The case took a new turn when a witness said in his statement before the police that the Chishti had added some burnt pages of the Holy Koran to execute his plan to expel the Christian community from the locality, police sources said.

Two other witnesses confirmed the statement, police sources said.

“According to the interim charge sheet presented in the court by the Police, Rimsha Masih the 14 year old Christian girl accused of blasphemy is innocent and the Imam, or prayer leader [Khalid Jadoon Chishti], who allegedly framed her should face trial,” said a story in The News, Pakistan (www.thenews.com.pk).

The accused cleric

“The investigating officer in the case, Munir Jaffry told a foreign news agency that he had informed the court that no evidence could be found against Rimsha Masih and that she was framed by the Imam of the local mosque.”

Jaffry is reported to have said, “We have also told the court that there are witnesses and evidence against the local Imam for framing a false blasphemy case against Rimsha.”

Judge Ghullam Abbas Shah had adjourned the hearing of the case until Monday and, during that, it will be decided if the Imam should face trial.

The big question now is, once Rimsha has been released, will she and her family will be safe as Pakistan has seen a string of extra-judicial killings of Christians who had been charged with blasphemy, or supported those who were charged.

Pakistani Christian girl has been 'tortured' and is now missing

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries

LAHORE, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- Sumbal Masih, a teenage Pakistani Christian girl who was working as a maid for a Muslim family, has allegedly been "tortured" by her employers, and is now missing.

Sumbal Masih

This has been alleged by a Pakistani group called World Vision in Progress (www.worldvisioninprogress.com) - no relation to World Vision -- who told the ASSIST News Service that the girl, who was aged either 15 or 16, had been working as a maid in a house in Model Town, Lahore for two years, along with her younger sister, Sadaf Masih, and a cousin named Rabiya.

Farrukh H. Saif, Executive Director of World Vision in Progress, said that on Friday, September 14, 2012, Sumbal was watching TV in the owners' room, when suddenly they came into the room "and started beating the poor girl for watching the movie."

He went on to say that she was "beaten harshly" by the couple with "pipes and iron rods" and added that "afterwards, she was taken to the washroom and terribly tortured there."

Mr. Saif stated, "She was yelling badly and crying for help. This entire incident was reported by Sumbal's cousin Rabiya. When Rabiya and other servants heard Sumbal crying for help, they ran upstairs to help her, but the owner took Sumbal to the washroom and sent Rabiya and other servants downstairs therefore they could not find that what they did with Sumbal.

"When Sumbal's parents came to know about this incident through Rabiya, they ran to get their daughters back but the owners said that Sumbal has fled from their house and they didn't know anything about her. They are not even giving Sadaf the second daughter back to them."

He said that World Vision in Progress ground officer, Nipoleon Qayyum, along with WVIP team members, began "looking into the matter" and went with the mother of the girls, Basheera bibi, to the house.

The mother was eventually allowed in, but could get no answers, and finally the father of the young girl called the police to the scene, but the owners just made "excuses" about what had occurred and said they didn't know where she now was.

Mr. Saif says that, after taking advice from the Additional Session Court, his organization plans to file a First Information Report (FIR) against the couple.

On hearing of this latest case, Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of the British Pakistani Christian Association, said, "Yet again we have violence against a teenage Christian maid. The fact that the family are refusing her mother access is very disturbing.

"What are they covering up? Is it the fact that the girl was murdered, as in a recent case where a senior lawyer in the same city tortured to death a young Christian girl servant? Is it to try and concoct a story about her condition, or has she been raped and forced to marry and convert as so many young Christian girls are?

"Whatever the situation, it can't be good, and we call upon the police and courts to act speedily and thoroughly and without regard to threats or the faith of the perpetrator."

Pakistani Church and School Burned

Some say the action was in retaliation for anti-Muslim film

By Jeremy Reynalds
Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

PAKISTAN (ANS) -- Islamic extremists have attacked an Anglican Church in Mardan Pakistan and an adjoining school. Some believe the stimulus was the government announced day of protest against an anti-Islam film.

The church burning.

The attack occurred on Sept. 21.

According to a news release from the British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA), protesters set the church and school on fire and looted the premises, taking everything from computers to chairs and whatever else seemed valuable from the school.

The BPCA said that Muslims desecrated Bibles and religious artefacts, especially many of which were used in ceremonies within the Anglican church. Many were brought out into the public compound of the church and were set on fire.

The BPCA is concerned that similar incidents will reverberate throughout Pakistan.

According to additional information received by the ASSIST News Service, the Bishop of Peshawar the Rt. Rev. Humphrey Peters condemned the attack and appealed for support from the Anglican Communion. He said, "The damage has been very severe, and we will need to rebuild. We are asking for people around the world to keep us in your prayers."

The Moderator of the Church of Pakistan, Most Rev. Samuel Azariah Samuel condemned the attack.

He said, "This news is very damaging to relations between the communities in Pakistan and around the world. The government and faith leaders in Pakistan have a role to play in education people that they have the right to protest, but to damage property and terrify people in this way is completely wrong. The government and faith leaders should provide the lead in preventing attacks."

The Diocese of Peshawar, where the attack took place, provides education and health services to the local community - Muslim and Christian alike - and provided substantial support to victims of floods and a major earthquake in recent years, regardless of their religious affiliation.

Wilson Chowdhry of the BPCA said in the news release, "No Christian in Pakistan is safe. Any community whether in a city or in a more rural location can at any time become the target of similar aggression. Please pray for all Christian brothers and sisters in Pakistan."