In my previous blog entry, I mentioned how the
Gentile church knows much persecution too, and how keeping truthful to the
Cross can be very challenging, and even perilous.
I wanted to stop for a moment, before we go on with
our teaching about witnessing to the Jewish people, and dedicate some thoughts
and prayers to our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world.
Let’s view some of the headlines of the news-reports
about persecuted Christians (You can click on the headlines, to view the full
story in its source website):
Nigeria:University Attacked: Extremists
killed 19 Christians, including two professors, as they worshiped on the
grounds of Bayero University in Kano, Nigeria, on Sunday, April 22. An
additional 22 people were injured.
Bounchan:Imprisoned for Christ: Khmu
Christian Bounchan Kanthavong spent 13 years and eight months in prison in Laos
for his faith. He was released earlier this year.
Turkmenistan:Fined for Having a Bible: Four
Protestants in Turkmenistan were arrested and fined in late February after police
discovered Bibles in their possession. Although the judge initially refused to
hear the case against the four Christians, citing a lack of evidence, she later
changed her position and fined them for “violation of the law on religious
organizations.”
Laos /Vietnam: Standing Firm: Hmong
believers in Laos and Vietnam face opposition from village authorities because
of their faith in Christ. Within the past month, authorities in several
villages have expelled at least six families that converted to Christianity.
The believers are struggling to farm and earn a living.
Crackdownon Christian “Apostates” in Iran:
Many of the asylum-seekers Mission Free Iran supports have fled
persecution in Iran due to their Christian faith. To support their applications
for asylum, we gather reports demonstrating the persecution of Christians in
Iran and submit them to decisionmaking authorities. Here, we post those
selected news items on Christian persecution in Iran from the latter half of
2011.
Being a Christian is not easy! The nearer the sounds
of His footsteps are heard, the louder will be the cry of His faithful bride. It
is a time of war, not of peace! Don’t forget your armor, your cross, and your
courage and hope in Yeshua, every day!
Jesus warned us, in Matthew 24:9-11:“Then they will
deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all
nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one
another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and
deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow
cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the
kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and
then the end will come.
Remember those who are living the above verses in
your daily prayers!
Stay tuned, my beloved, and stay blessed…
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