Kidnapped Christian Girl In Sudan Escapes, Traumatize

I would like to direct all my praises to the Lord Jesus Christ for allowing this girl to return to her family, especially on the day that the country split into 2 nations!!!!!! I would also like to thank the Lord Jesus for giving this girl the bravery and strength not to deny Him. However, this just tells us that our brethren in Northern Sudan are still facing persecution from Muslims.

08/04/2011 Sudan (CDN)- Hiba Abdelfadil Anglo, 16, has escaped from a gang of Muslims who kidnapped her last year, but it may be a long time before she recovers from the trauma.

As she told Compass how the kidnappers beat, raped and tried to force her to convert from Christianity to Islam, she broke into tears for nearly half an hour.

“They did many bad things to me,” she said, tears streaming down her eyes.

Abducted on June 17, 2010, she was reunited with her family on July 10.

“Several times I was warned that if I do not convert to Islam, then I risk losing my life,” she said. “The man who put me in his house on several occasions tortured me and threatened to kill me. He did not allow me to pray Christian prayers. He even insulted my family as a family of infidels.”

Hiba said that after a year of captivity, she had given the unidentified man who housed her enough of an impression that she had converted to Islam and accepted her fate that he left her unguarded. She was able to leave the house in the Soba Al Aradi area south of Khartoum and beg a motorist to take her to her home two hours away, she said.

“I had tried to escape three times before, but they captured me every time and beat me a lot,” she said, sobbing.

Her widowed mother, Ikhlas Omer Anglo, told Compass the kidnappers targeted them because they are Christians, members of Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church in Khartoum. The girl’s mother said that when she went to a police station to open a case, officers told her she must first leave Christianity for Islam.

“Right after my daughter was kidnapped, one officer told me, ‘If you want back your daughter, you should become a Muslim,’” she said. “I thank God for enabling my daughter to escape before the start of Ramadan, though she is now traumatized.”

Hiba said the kidnappers moved her to various locations in Khartoum over the initial eight months, threatening to kill her if she tried to escape.

“Even if you call the government, they will not do anything to us,’’ her abductors warned her, she said.

She was initially locked in a room and beaten until she was unconscious. The leader of the group raped her, and she is still suffering pain in her right eye from a blow he recently dealt her, she said.

“Apart from abusing me sexually, he tried to force me to change my faith and kept reminding me to prepare for Ramadan,” she said. “I cannot forget this bad incident, and whenever I try to pray, I find it difficult to forget. I ask believers to pray for me for inner healing.’

At the same time, Hiba said prayer was the only effective option while in captivity.

“I was praying to God to keep me and my family safe,” she said.

Last year the then-15-year-old Hiba was kidnapped while going to the Ministry of Education in Khartoum to obtain her transcripts for entry into secondary school.

Hoping to study to be an accountant after missing an academic year, Hiba said her future is unknown as her family is unable to afford school. She also fears the Muslim criminals might still be trailing her(Source).

Iraqi Christians Targeted in Church Bombing

I'm glad to hear that we still have brothers and sisters in Christ in Iraq. I thank them for the backbone they displayed as seen in this article and I pray that they will preach the gospel to the Muslims in Iraq!!!

8/2/2011 Iraq (AP) – A car bomb outside a Christian church wounded 23 people Tuesday as security forces found and disabled vehicles packed with explosives outside two other churches in northern Iraq.

The bombing and the two averted attacks in the northern city of Kirkuk signal continued violence against Iraqi Christians, nearly 1 million of whom have fled since the war began in 2003.

"The terrorists want to make us flee Iraq, but they will fail," said the Rev. Haithem Akram, the priest of one of the churches that was targeted.

"We are staying in our country. The Iraqi Christians are easy targets because they do not have militias to protect them. The terrorists want to terrorize us, but they will fail," he added.
…
Following the blast at the Syrian Catholic church, police discovered two more car bombs parked outside the Christian Anglican church and the Mar Gourgis church, both in downtown Kirkuk(Source).

Nigerian Church Leader Says Persecution Fuels Church Growth

For those who don't know, Nigeria is a religiously divided country. Islam and Christianity dominate the country with Islam in the north and Christianity in the south. While our Nigerian brethren in the South are pretty safe they are facing the danger of the prosperity gospel that we, Western Christians are facing. However, our brethren in the Northern part of Nigeria are facing lots of persecution and that seems be helping the religion spread over there. Sometimes the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the gospel as Tertullian says.

07/31/2011 Nigeria (All Africa.com)-The chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Plateau State chapter, Rev. Dafes Philip Mwelbish, has disclosed that the persecution Christianity faces in the country has remained its greatest source of growth.

Mwelbish spoke in an interview with newsmen at the ordination of 17 ministers into the full gospel ministry of the Central Baptist Conference of the Nigerian Baptist Convention in Bukuru, Jos South local government area.

Mwelbish said that all the ill-treatment the church faces would never deter it from spreading the gospel of salvation even as he advised the newly ordained pastors to represent Christ with all aspects of their life.

Earlier in a sermon, Chairman sub-Ministerial, Central Baptist Conference, Rev. David Ogunlowo blamed the crises facing the Church on divisive tendencies, adding that this is the time for the Church to unite and be formidable to fight the evil thrown against it.

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He said, "The church must wake up and fight evil. We must work together for the kingdom of God and put the devil to shame, instead of insulting one another over matters that are earthly."

The clergy warned that if Christians did not put their acts together for the progress of the church, then Christianity would be 'over-powered'.

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Also speaking, in an interview, the principal of the Baptist Pastoral School, Rev. Ayuba Iliya disclosed that, so far, the 26-year-old institution had churned out about 600 pastors and was looking forward to working on handling masters and doctorate students.

For the Chairman of Central Baptist Conference, Rev. Thomas Ndandok, the graduating pastors would make positive impact on the society where they come from and the country in general (Source).

Threats of Increased Violence during Ramadan Christians Urged to Pray

(Words in bold are mine)

I was in a Christian chat room on Paltalk on July 31st telling my brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for our brethren in Christ living in Muslim lands during Ramadan, because persecution against them escalates during this time. Their response? "Bring us some proof for increased violence towards Christians Jabari!!!!!!," they responded. They didn't believe that violence against our brothers and sisters in Christ living in Muslim lands steps up a notch or two during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan. Well here's my proof of what I've been saying:

8/2/2011 Middle East(ChristianPost) - Ramadan, the 30-day annual Islamic fast which begins next week, may expose Christians to an increased risk of persecution in Muslim-majority countries and believers in the West should pray for them.

“Ramadan is a time when Christians are especially isolated in some Muslim-dominated countries,” said Open Doors USA President Dr. Carl Moeller in a statement. “This is why it is so important for us to unite in prayer for persecuted Christians throughout the world.”

To help Christians pray for the persecuted, Open Doors has prepared a Ramadan Prayer Calendar having multiple prayer points and designed to help believers pray for vulnerable Christians around the world during the 30 days.

The group, which has served the persecuted church worldwide since 1955 when its founder Brother Andrew smuggled Bibles into Eastern Europe for the first time, will also send out daily emails with a story from a Muslim-dominated country, prayer requests, and a call to action. Open Doors has provided a link on its website for believers to register.

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar which begins August 1 this year, is the time when most Muslims fast from dawn until dusk, seeking to shed their sins through acts of restraint as they believe this is a time of purification accomplished through good deeds and self-control.

However, “the observance of Ramadan could increase pressure on believers,” Moeller said.

Ramadan brings with it violence at times. Some governments in Islamic countries forcibly enforce observance of Ramadan and extremist groups increase their vigilante activities against both non-abiding Muslims and non-Muslims, and tend to become more intolerant toward them.

During the last Ramadan, an imam in Egypt in Shimi village near Giza called for “jihad” against Christians leading to persecution of Copts, according to the Assyrian International News Agency. In 2009, an American service member in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul was shot at by an Afghan police officer for drinking water publicly during Ramadan, The Associated Press had reported.

Particularly this year, when a wave of uprisings is underway in parts of the Middle East and North Africa, the threat of increased violence is real as protests are expected to intensify. Especially in Egypt, where Copts have come under attack following the fall of the Hosni Mubarak regime in February, more violence against Christians is expected.

Pakistan has beefed up security ahead of Ramadan apprehending tensions around mosques and other places of worship, according to The Nation, a Pakistani newspaper(Source).

Yes, things are going to be extra rough for our brethren in Christ Jesus living in majority Muslim lands during Ramadan. I ask all my brothers in Christ to pray for our brethren living in Muslim countries.

Another Pastor Murdered In India

When Muslims commit atrocities in the name of their religion, it isn't hard to quote passages from their religious texts. They are clearly commanded to oppress, fight and subjugate all non-Muslims:

Qur’an 9:29—Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the Religion of Truth, from among the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.

Qur’an 9:73—O Prophet! strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites and be unyielding to them; and their abode is hell, and evil is the destination.

Qur’an 9:111—Surely Allah has bought of the believers their persons and their property for this, that they shall have the garden; they fight in Allah's way, so they slay and are slain; a promise which is binding on Him in the Taurat and the Injeel and the Quran; and who is more faithful to his covenant than Allah? Rejoice therefore in the pledge which you have made; and that is the mighty achievement.

Qur’an 9:123—O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness; and know that Allah is with those who guard (against evil).

Qur’an 47:35—Be not weary and fainthearted, crying for peace, when ye should be uppermost: for Allah is with you, and will never put you in loss for your (good) deeds.
Sahih al-Bukhari 2785—Narrated Abu Hurairah: A man came to Allah’s Messenger and said, “Guide me to such a deed as equals Jihad (in reward).” He replied, “I do not find such a deed.”

Sahih al-Bukhari 2796—Narrated Anas: The Prophet said, “A single endeavor (of fighting) in Allah’s cause in the afternoon or in the forenoon is better than all the world and whatever is in it.”

Sahih al-Bukhari 2797—Narrated Abu Hurairah: The Prophet said, . . . “By Him in Whose Hands my soul is! I would love to be martyred in Allah’s Cause and then come back to life and then get martyred, and then come back to life again and then get martyred and then come back to life again and then get martyred.”

Sahih al-Bukhari 2810—Narrated Abu Musa: A man came to the Prophet and asked, “A man fights for war booty; another fights for fame and a third fights for showing off; which of them is in Allah’s Cause?” The Prophet said, “He who fights that Allah’s Word (i.e., Allah’s religion of Islamic Monotheism) be superior, is in Allah’s Cause.”

Sunan An-Nasa’i 3138—Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari said: “A Bedouin came to the Messenger of Allah and said: ‘A man fights for fame, or he fights for the spoils of war, or he fights to show off. Who is the one who is fighting in the cause of Allah?’ He said: ‘The one who fights so that the word of Allah will be supreme is the one who is fighting in the cause of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime.’”

Sunan Ibn Majah 2763—It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah said: “Whoever meets Allah with no mark on him (as a result of fighting) in His cause, he will meet Him with a deficiency.”

However when Hindus commit violence against my brothers and sisters in Christ in the name of their religion, as they are here in this article, it's hard to tell if they are doing what their religion is telling them to do or not.

08/01/2011 India (Christian Today)-Another murder of a Christian pastor is being reported from Orissa's communally sensitive Kandhamal district. The body of Michael Nayak, a pastor belonging to the Kandhamal Union of Baptist Churches, was found last Wednesday near the village of Mondakia

Before the murder, on July 26, Michael was reportedly met by two of his Hindu tribal friends who later that evening requested for a drive back home. The next morning, Pramod Mallik, Sarpanch of Rebingia Panchayat, saw Michael’s body lying across the road and reported the same to his brothers.

Police has passed off the case as an instance of road accident. This, however, is being refuted by Michael’s family who has gathered evidences to prove it was a murder. "The body was lying in a pit and there was a wound below the ear where blood was oozing out. The body had no other bruises or cuts. Certainly it is not a case of accident, it is a murder" said Surendra Nayak, eldest brother of the deceased.
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Interestingly, both the friends who had travelled with Michael were not seen during the post mortem or burial.
The incident has come seven months after another Protestant pastor, Saul Pradhan, was found murdered near a pond in Pakala village. While police attributed Pradhan's death to cold weather, family believes it was part of a hate campaign as the body showed signs of struggle.

"Police in Kandhamal are conniving to make murders look like accidents. The latest murder bore a startling resemblance to Saul Pradhan's case. Pradhan as well was met by two Hindu friends before his murder," said KG Markose, a missionary activist in Kandhamal.

Markose alleged that police and RSS were conspiring against Christian leaders in Kandhamal. "Manoj Pradhan, MLA of G Udayagiri, a convict on bail, is planning and instigating fanatics to attack Christians," he said.

Kandhamal witnessed unprecedented anti-Christian violence after the murder of VHP leader Laxmananda Saraswati and four of his aides in 2008.The violence killed more than 90 people and displaced around 50,000 others (Source).

Criticizing Islam and the Persecution of Christians

Has any one noticed that in Muslim lands like Pakistan, that when a Muslim says, "This Christian has insulted Muhammad!", Muslims go into a frenzy and start rioting in the streets and the person accused of allegedly insulting Muhammad is thrown into jail? In fact, when a person criticizes Islam, Muslims have been known for killing the critic of Islam.

Something like this happened when a Danish newspaper company published 12 cartoons mocking Muhammad. Over a hundred are killed as a result. When Theo Van Gogh makes a film criticizing the position of Women in Islam, he is killed. Where did Muslims get the idea that anyone who criticizes Muhammad, the Quran, or Islam should be killed? Oh yeah, here it goes:

Sunan Abu Dawud 4349— Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib: A Jewess used to abuse Prophet Muhammad(peace_be_upon_him) and disparage him. A man strangled her till she died. The Apostle of Allah, Muhammad, (peace_be_upon_him) declared that no recompense was payable for her blood.
Sunan Abu Dawud 4348—Narrated Abdullah Ibn Abbas: A blind man had a slave-mother who used to abuse the Prophet Muhammad (peace_be_upon_him) and disparage him. He forbade her but she did not stop. He rebuked her but she did not give up her habit. One night she began to slander the Prophet Muhammad (peace_be_upon_him) and abuse him. So he took a dagger, placed it on her belly, pressed it, and killed her. A child who came between her legs was smeared with the blood that was there. When the morning came, the Prophet Muhammad(peace_be_upon_him) was informed about it. He assembled the people and said: I adjure by Allah the man who has done this action and I adjure him by my right to him that he should stand up. Jumping over the necks of the people and trembling the man stood up. He sat before the Prophet Muhammad (peace_be_upon_him) and said: Apostle of Allah! I am her master; she used to abuse you and disparage you. I forbade her, but she did not stop, and I rebuked her, but she did not abandon her habit. I have two sons like pearls from her, and she was my companion. Last night she began to abuse and disparage you. So I took a dagger, put it on her belly and pressed it till I killed her. Thereupon the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: Oh be witness, no retaliation is payable for her blood.

Ibn Ishaq, p. 675—Abu Afak was one of the B. Amr b. Auf of the B. Ubayda clan. He showed his disaffection when the apostle killed al-Harith b. Suwayd b. Samit and said:

“Long have I lived but never have I seen
An assembly or collection of people
More faithful to their undertaking
And their allies when called upon
Than the sons of Qayla when they assembled,
Men who overthrew mountains and never submitted,
A rider who came to them split them in two (saying)
“Permitted”, “Forbidden”, of all sorts of things.
Had you believed in glory or kingship
You would have followed Tubba.”

The apostle said, “Who will deal with this rascal for me?” Whereupon Salim b. Umayr, brother of B. Amr b. Auf, one of the “weepers”, went forth and killed him.

As one can see, killing people who insult Muhammad goes back to the very inception of Islam. Muhammad would kill anyone who would insult, ridicule or mock him through their poetry. This poses two problems. One reason this is bad is because giving the death penalty for anyone who criticizes Islam puts an end to freedom of speech. Without free speech, a society can't advance. Second reason it's bad is because Muslims have been known for imprisoning our brothers and sisters in Christ because they mocked Muhammad. Pakistan is the greatest example of this. The blasphemy laws in that country have been used by Muslims to persecute our brothers and sisters in Christ. If Muslims feel that our brethren in Christ, have insulted their religion in anyway, the Muslim says, "This Christian blasphemed Muhammad!!!"

I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will keep my brothers and sisters in Christ in Muslim lands. I also pray that the blasphemy laws in Muslim lands will be abolished and that they have freedom of speech over there.

Persecution: How we Christians should and shouldn't respond

The Lord Jesus sends trials and persecution our way to help us grow. However, we will only grow if we respond to persecution in the right way. If we respond the right way, we'll grow closer to the Lord Jesus Christ and shine our light. If we respond the wrong way, it may destroy our testimony for our King. So let's look at the ways we shouldn't respond to the persecution that hits us:

1. Fear: We shouldn't act like cowards in the face of the persecutors. Fear will cause people to ultimately leave the faith, as was happening in Pakistan at the beginning of the year. Peter says, But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled (I Peter 3:14)."

2. Compromise: We shouldn't take our beliefs and mix it with other beliefs when the going gets tough. It shows that we are unfaithful to our God.

3. Retaliation: As Christians we have specific commands from our Savior to avoid calling for revenge against our persecutors. We are leave vengeance up to our God Savior.

4. Apostasy: And of course, we should not leave Christianity we face persecution. Our Savior said that we would be persecuted for his sake, so we shouldn't leave at the first sign of it coming.

Responding in any of those ways, would damage our testimony for Christ greatly. I've just highlighted the ways a Christian shouldn't respond to persecution. Now it's time to show how are to respond when persecution comes our way:

1. Fearlessness and bravery: If fear is a wrong way of responding to persecution, then fearlessness and bravery are the right to respond to persecution. If we get executed for our faith we should face our execution with fearlessness and never be ashamed of the gospel.

2. Endurance- The scriptures tell us over and over again to endure persecution like a beating drum, whether it be insults or beatings.

3. Perseverance- If we persevere through our persecution, God will give us a crown of life. We are also told that the testing of our faith brings perseverance (James 1:2).

I pray that the Lord Jesus will give us Christians, the strength to respond to our persecution in positive ways and avoid negative ways of responding. I pray that we do that so that we win others to Christ and glorify Him.