Fortnightly Edition - Volume - 1 Issue - 15 Bhopal 13.06.2017 to 25.06.2017 Title code: RNI:MPENG/2016/70216 `5 /-

PERSECUTION RELIEFAN INTERDENOMINATIONAL INITIATIVE TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE

SUPPORT TO THE PERSECUTED CHURCH IN INDIA

Sub Editor’s Note

For Private Circulation, within the Church

voice of the christians

AshaIf you want a copy of ‘voice of the Christians’ (votC) news paper, write to us at votc@persecutionrelief.org

Manipuri villagers being forced out of their landNothing can cut through to that part of our

being like the Word of God.

Sometime last week, in the course of a very normal routine day, I felt that I was being treated and spoken to unfairly. I did not rage or throw a tantrum or use harsh words but the tone of my voice took a turn for the worse like iron against iron! I was positive that it was not my fault and pretended that I was not angry and just withdrew.

As I scowled and sat at my laptop, the ‘ping’ of a new mail delivery drew my attention to the ‘Daily Devotion’ for the day – and the Word of God, “Be angry, and do not sin”; do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26 NKJV)

Oh! The wonder of the patient, honest, directness and skill of my Jesus Christ! His timing is ever perfect. Have you ever felt the pain, inflicted by the Lord, deep down in the most sensitive area of your being? The devil never inflicts pain there and neither can sin nor human emotions. Nothing……except the Word of God.

There is not the slightest doubt left in my mind to the way Holy Spirit can awaken you to check if your personal life is indeed in sync with Jesus Christ. The Lords’ prompting always reveals the true me to myself. Many times, in our lives journey, Jesus will confront us with His piercing, living Word. There we are challenged to contemplate whether we love Him far more deeply than our hurts. Gods’ will is for us to overcome our anger rather than letting anger control us.

Jesus Christ is the ALL sufficient, loving God, His goal is a relationship with you. He is my God and yours.

Amen.

Our VoTC Correspondent

A close-knit community of 31 Church members worship together at Chinikon village, Senapati District, P/O Bishnupur, Manipur State.

Religious fundamentalists want them to leave the village as they are very concerned about the growing number of Christians. What started as harassment has now increased to full scale attacks. They are now going after the family’s livelihood, cutting down their trees, killing their livestock and preventing them from cultivating paddy or vegetable plants. These families are severely inconvenienced. This has put the family in a severe crisis situation.

A case has been filed against these Christians at the Senapati Court as all dialogue and persuasion

Our VoTC Correspondent

Protest was made by members of religious fundamental organization to stop the 3-day Convention scheduled from 01-03rd June titled “Barkatho Ki Barsat’ at Maharaja Palace, Ghagha

Concerted effort made to cancel 3-day Convention

have failed. The hearing is scheduled for 21 Jun 2017. Every month, Rs. 7000/- is being spent from their personal funds to hire 2 advocates to defend the people and the land.

Church pray and fast for God to intervene and bring about a change of heart for the Persecutors and give boldness to His people to proclaim the good news amidst the persecution.

location with loud protests. The mob leader from Shiv Sena, Praveen Sharma, threatened to self-immolate if the meeting was not cancelled. Another member of the group, apparently fainted. Seeing this commotion, the Tehsildar, Ram

Road, in Samana city, a municipal council in Patiala district in the Indian state of Punjab.

Religious fanatics, accused the organizers of ‘conversion’ activities and surrounded the

Kishan, demanded the meeting to be cancelled. At the time this story went to press, by the grace of God, the convention went ahead as planned though behind schedule. Church, please pray for these anti-Christians.

2 13 June to 25 June 2017Volume-1 Issue-15

Our VoTC Correspondent

Pastor Sagmesh Kadhatali, his wife Sujatha and 10-year-old son congregated along with 35 other believers, on the 1st floor of Pastor’s residence, at Nekar Nagar, Hubli, state of Karnataka. This had been their practice for the last 4 years.

On the 04th of June, the meeting started as usual at 10:30 am. During the course of Worship, a mob of around 30 fanatics came and started beating all the believers indiscriminately. No women or children were spared. The religious fundamentalists forced the

Our VoTC Correspondent

The recent reports of persecution are clear indicators that preaching the Gospel and following Christ are dangerous propositions for the people of India. The levels of intolerance continue to increase, as Christians are regularly attacked by radical Hindus.

On the 04th of June, Pastor Veeresh of Rayadurgam town, Ananthapur District, Andhra Pradesh, near the Railway Station started the Worship Service like any other Sunday at Jesus Holy Church.

He had bought a plot of land where he had constructed a make shift

Meeting stopped on alleged conversion charges

Our VoTC Correspondent

Pastor Vinod, has been worshipping at Durg, Chhattisgarh, at the property of IFGM church. In the past, in 2010, the local land mafia leader and his mob, made a bold attempt to capture this land. There has been rampant land grabbing in the state while the government and police task force are doing their best to contain this menace.

A case of unlawful entry into property and illegal possession had been filed by the Pastor who hadwon the case in the lower court. With the help of Police TI and CSP who had intervened and ordered the leader of this mob not to disturb them, they have been managing to meet and worship until now.

attempt to illegally grab church landHowever, the local land mafia have been incessant in their threats, by colluding with property developers, who employ private militias to secure the land. They come over to the place of worship and annoy or intimidate the believers, creating a law and order situation. On 03rd June, Pastor claims to have seen the leader and the mob again near the place of worship. He called Persecution Relief requesting for prayer and provided the SP’s telephone number.

This fellowship has been an encourage-ment to the community in the area, for years, transforming and rebuilding people’s lives in Jesus Christ. Church pray that the Church’s property will not be displaced but continue to be a light house to the Community.

False allegations to shut down churchesOur VoTC Correspondent

On the 3rd of June, Sushma from Mansurpur village in Fatehpur Madaun Tehsil, Mau District of Uttar Pradesh State lodged a complaint with the Police.

Sushma claimed in her complaint that her brother in-law and sister in-law who had become recent Christians,

had managed to influence and impact the life of Sushma’s husband, who also committed his life to Christ. With these turn of events, Sushma alleged that she was also being forced to convert to Christianity and was supposedly facing threats to her life. She also claimed that many of the neighborhood had been converted to Christianity by the couple.

Our VoTC Correspondent

Pastor Ankush Bariakar, has been shepherding a group of believers since 2012, meeting at Masih Sat sang Samuha, at Bahnakadi, Chhattisgarh.

On 2nd of June, Bro. Sanjay Magilange and Bro. Rakesh Dubey, who minister along with Pastor Ankush, were traveling back to their village in motorcycles. A group of religious fundamentalists waylaid and ambushed them; after which they proceeded to beat them up mercilessly and damaged their vehicle. A few sisters belonging to this same Church and living nearby this area, were also beaten up and physically assaulted.

Ambushed and beaten for following Christ

Instead of being bitter and angry, this incident has made all of the victims, strong,

bold and fearless.

Meeting gate-crashed and indiscriminate beating for worshiping Jesus

Pastor to stop the meeting. They then escorted him to the Police Station where he was forced to write down by the Police that he would not conduct meetings again at his home.

With no fear of the law or punishment, the fanatics who covered the entire proceedings on Video Camera, have strangely posted pictures and video recording of this harassment on

Facebook. Though badly shaken, bruised and bloodied, this incident has in no way diminished their faith and zeal to stand for Jesus Christ.

On the basis of this incident, religious fanatics are now targeting ‘Love of God Ministry Trust Church’ which is located around 12 kms away from Mansurpur village. Pr. Sahdev Prasad has been worshipping, over 500 believers over the past 15 years. Pastor has been receiving threats to close down the Church false charges of conversion, with the malicious

intent of closing down the Church.

There has been an unprecedented crackdown on Churches across the denominational spectrum, under subterfuge to shut them down. Church, pray that believers would seek to live out their faith in spite of the oppressive autocracy to worship Jesus Christ.

shamiana, where around 50 believers gathered every Sunday to worship. As the service was in progress, a mob of around 30 religious fundamentalists, gate-crashed and began to shout and demand that the meeting be adjourned. Accompanying them were the Television Crew from TV channels TV5, TV9 and social media covering the proceedings.

They claimed that the gathering was a guise to convert people and that they had no authorization to conduct meetings from the relevant authorities.

No police complaint has been lodged so far.

313 June to 25 June 2017Volume-1 Issue-15

Zac Poonen Christian Fellowship Church, BangaloreThe story of Samuel begins with his mother, Hannah, being barren (1 Samuel 1:2). It’s interesting to see how many women are mentioned in Scripture as having been barren for many years before having children – Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel and Hannah. They all sought God in prayer, and each of them gave birth to a son who had a unique place in God’s purpose. They did not accept their barrenness. They prayed to God earnestly for children. God granted them their request and each of them had a child through whom God fulfilled a unique purpose.

Many mothers pray for their children while they are still in their wombs. But these women prayed with an unusual intensity. It’s wonderful when a child is born into the world through intense prayer like that. That is how Samuel was born.

Hannah had prayed to the Lord for

many years for a child. Finally, she made a vow saying, “Lord, If You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give me a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life” (1 Samuel 1:11). There was a shift in her focus now. At first, she thought only of her own need: “I need a son.” Then she began to say, “If I have a son, I’ll give him to the Lord, since the Lord has a need as well.” When the focus of our prayer shifts from our need to God’s need, that’s when we begin to get answers to our prayers. The Lord taught us to pray, “Hallowed be Thy name” first of all.

There was great spiritual need in Israel at that time. God’s people had backslidden so badly. Their leaders like Eli, were terribly backslidden too. Israel had never had a prophet since the days of Moses. Hannah was a person who was alert to her surroundings. And she would have recognised

Hannah - A Wonderful MotherIsrael’s need for a prophet. So Hannah continued to pray, “Lord, not only will I dedicate my son to You, but a razor also will never come upon his head. He will be a Nazirite, dedicated to You. If You can use him to restore this nation back to You, he is Yours.” Her whole prayer shifted from her need to God’s. Very often our prayers are not answered, because they are focused so much on ourselves. It’s wonderful that Samuel was born to such a mother.

When Hannah gave birth to Samuel, she did not forget her promise. She brought her son to the temple and said, “For this boy I prayed. The Lord has given me my petition which I asked of Him. So I have also dedicated him to the Lord. As long as he lives he is dedicated to the Lord” (1 Samuel 1:27, 28). She was never going to take him back. She taught that little boy to kneel down and worship the Lord there. It’s wonderful to have a godly mother like that. Then she sang a wonderful song of thanksgiving to the Lord (1

Samuel 2:1–10). It is more than likely that Mary’s song of thanksgiving (Luke 1:46–55) was inspired by Hannah’s song – for the words are so similar.

Samuel grew up to be a young man who changed the face of Israel through his prophetic ministry – from the chaotic state we see in the book of Judges, to the glorious state under the reign of David.

By Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth

If you ask a woman today, “How are you doing?” chances are the response will be a sigh or a groan, followed by words like “We’ve got so much going on in our family!” “I just can’t keep up with everything I’ve got to do!” or “I’m exhausted!”

More often than not, I find that women (and Christian women are no exception) feel overwhelmed by how much they have to do and how little time they have to do it. As a result, many women are living breathless, frazzled, and discouraged lives.

Years ago, I read that the average woman today has the equivalent of fifty full-time servants, in the form of modern, timesaving devices and equipment. That figure may or may not be accurate, but we certainly have many conveniences available to us that were unknown to women of past generations: dishwashers, microwaves, washing machines, dryers, and much more.

So why are our lives more harried and hurried than ever? Why are we so stressed out? There are probably a number of explanations. However, one

reason is that we have accepted the lie that we don’t have time to do everything we are supposed to do.

The Example Set by Jesus

The fact is, we have no more nor less time than any other human being who has ever lived. No one, regardless of

his position or responsibilities, has ever had more than 24 hours in a day, 168 hours in a week, 52 weeks in a year.

In fact, the Lord Jesus Himself was given only a few short years on earth to accomplish the entire plan of redemption. Talk about a long “to do” list! Yet at the end of His life, Jesus was able to lift His eyes to His Father and say, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” (John 17:4 KJV).

I find that truly amazing. Rarely can I say at the end of the day that I have completed the work I set out to do that day. To the contrary, I frequently drop into bed at night with a long, mental list of the un- finished tasks I had hoped to

take care of that day.

How was it possible for Jesus to finish His life’s work, especially in such a short period of time? In Jesus’ words, we find a clue—a powerful truth that sets us free from the bondage of hurry and frustration.

The Secret to Having Enough Time

Notice what work Jesus completed in the thirty-three years He was here on the earth: “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” That is the secret. Jesus didn’t finish everything His disciples wanted Him to do. (Some of them were hoping He would overthrow the Roman government!) He didn’t finish everything the multitudes wanted Him to do. (There were still people who were sick and lonely and dying.) But He did finish the work that God gave Him to do.

There is virtually never time in a twenty-four-hour day for me to do everything that is on everyone else’s “to do” list for me. There is seldom time to accomplish

everything that is on my own “to do” list. What a relief to realize I don’t have to do all those things!

The truth is that all I have to do is the work God assigns to me. What freedom it has been for me to accept that there is time for me to do everything that is on God’s “to do” list for my day, for my life!

Freedom from the Tyranny of Busyness

Frustration is the by-product of attempt-ing to fulfill responsibilities God does not intend for us to carry. Freedom, joy, and fruitfulness come from seeking to determine God’s priorities for each season of life and then setting out to fulfill those priorities, in the power of His Spirit, realizing that He has provid-ed the necessary time and ability to do everything that He has called us to do.

Making It PersonalDo you feel that you don’t have time to do everything? Seek God for what He wants you to do. Then prioritize that and let the rest go.

© Revive Our Hearts. Adapted from Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free by Nancy DeMossWolgemuth. Used with permission. Available at our store.

Help for the Busy Woman

4 13 June to 25 June 2017Volume-1 Issue-15

Indian Catholic bishops call for protection of religious placesRitu Sharma, New Delhi, India ucanews.com

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India has appealed to political leaders to protect places of worship of all communities, days after a Catholic church was damaged and statues desecrated in southern India.

A mob of more than 100 people attacked the Our Lady of Fatima Church in Kundapalli village of Telengana State May 21. They broke statues of Jesus, the Blessed Mother, a crucifix and damaged furniture in the newly constructed church that was blessed by Archbishop Thumma Bala of Hyderabad on May 13.

“We are a little worried about the way things are taking a turn in the country. We are not blaming the government but somehow some of the fringe elements seem to feel empowered and this is not a good thing for the country,” Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, secretary general of the bishops conference, told ucanews.com.

“We appeal to our political leaders to ensure that religious places of

‘Worried about the way things are taking a turn in the country,’ says bishops conference official

all communities be protected and that the right of every citizen and community to worship God according to their belief be protected from unruly elements,” the bishop said.

“Everybody needs to respect each others’ religious sentiments. Why go and damage somebody’s religious place?” he asked.

“These types of acts bring shame and disrepute to our beloved country and its peace-loving citizens of all communities. The incident is against the free practise of religion in our country,” Bishop Mascarenhas said.

Broken statues and furniture lay strewn across the floor after vandals broke in to Our Lady of Fatima Church in Telangana State May 13.

Meanwhile, Arch bish-op Bala called on parish-es, clergy and laypeople in his archdiocese to conduct and take part in spiritual activities such as eucharistic Adoration, the recitation of the Ro-sary, fasting and a ritual cleansing and washing of the damaged church.

“Reparation is required as the church has been desecrated and the

to the Indian Christian Persecution 2016 report, some 12,000 Christians that year experienced persecution, including murder, detention, assault, rape and harassment.

The report states that 10 people were killed and over 500 clerics or community leaders were attacked for their faith during the year.

During the first 100 days of the BJP government, more than 600 incidents of targeted violence against religious minorities took place in different parts of India, according to the Minority Report on 100 days of Modi Governance, released in September 2014. Narendra Modi is the Indian prime minister who heads the BJP-ruled federal government.

Statistics from the 2011 census show that India has 1.2 billion people. The percentage of Hindus has slightly dipped from 80.5 percent in 2001 to 79.8 percent 2011. While Christians remained at 2.3 percent during that period, Muslims have increased by just over one percent, to 14.2.

http://www.ucanews.com

A meeting between India’s pro-Hindu party and the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council has divided opinion within the Christian community.

Amit Shah, president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held two meetings on consecutive days with leading figures of the bishops’ council, June 2-3.

Several Christian leaders said the meeting clearly demonstrates the BJP’s desire to court Christian voters in Kerala in the lead up to the 2019 general election.

Father Sunny Jacob, a Jesuit educationalist based in New Delhi, described the meeting as “a tactical move,” to “shake off its label as a sectarian, pro-Hindu party.”

“With the BJP clearly working to transform the country into a Hindu nation, the idea of secular politics in India is under threat,” he said.

“The agenda of the meeting should have been made clear to the people,” he said. “Christians have a right to know why they met and what they discussed.”

However, Catholic lay leader A.C. Michael supported the bishops’ motives describing the meeting as “the right course of action.”

“As I understand it,” he said, “Shah requested one-on-one meetings, but the bishops chose to meet him as a community.”

Shah met with Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, who is president of the Indian bishops’ conference and head of Syro-Malankara Church, together with Archbishop Maria Calist Soosa

Concerns over pro-Hindu party meeting with Kerala bishops BJP leadership knows they cannot gain power in the southern state without the support of Christians

Amitbhai Anilchandra “Amit” Shah, president of the ruling pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party, arrives in the Indian state of Kerala where he met with bishops. (Photo by IANS)

Pakiam of Trivandrum (Latin) Archdiocese, June 2.

The following day in Kochi, he met Major Archbishop Cardinal George Alencherry of the Syro-Malabar Church, and bishops representing the Mar Thoma and Orthodox churches.

The Catholic Church in India comprises the Latin rite and two Eastern rites called Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara. The Latin rite follows the Roman liturgy introduced by European missioners in the 15th century, while the two Eastern rites, both based in Kerala, follow Syrian Church traditions and trace their origins to St. Thomas the Apostle.

Father Jimmy Poochakkatt, a spokesperson for the Syro-Malabar Church, said the meeting was an opportunity to raise issues faced by Kerala’s citizens with the party that rules the country.

He said that the bishops had pushed important social and economic challenges faced by Christians in Kerala such as the significant price fluctuations in agricultural commodities and its negative effect on millions of farmers.

BJP Minority Morcha state president Jiji Joseph echoed similar comments. Joseph told ucanews.com they were working to foster better understanding between the two groups and dispel “propaganda” myths that they are against minorities.

Kerala is a Hindu-majority state with 55 percent of its 33 million people identifying as Hindu. Christians make up 18 percent of the population and Muslims 28 percent.

Politics in Kerala has been dominated by two coalition fronts since the late 1970s: the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front

and the Indian National Congress-led United Democratic Front. These two coalitions have been alternatively voted into power every five years since 1982. Christians are noted for voting en masse against the communists in successive elections.

Despite its landslide victories in the north, the BJP continues to be largely politically irrelevant in southern Indian. To date, the pro-Hindu party has failed to win even one of the 20 parliamentary seats in Kerala.

During his three-day visit, Shah did not meet with any Muslim leaders, although they are politically powerful in some pockets of the state.

According to media reports, the Hindu nationalist BJP government has strengthened extremist Hindu groups who want to make India a Hindu-nation. The BJP is heavily criticized for violence against Christian and Muslim religious minorities.

Christian leaders have consistently blamed these attacks on religious hard-liners, who are said to have become emboldened since the BJP came to power in 2014 to head the federal government. The BJP also has also faced flak for remaining silent about a spate of mass re-conversions of Christians and Muslims to Hinduism.

Statistics from the 2011 census show that India has 1.2 billion people. The percentage of Hindus has slightly dipped from 80.5 percent in 2001 to 79.8 percent 2011. While Christians remained at 2.3 percent during that period, Muslims have increased by just over one percent, to 14.2.

dignity of the chapel and holy things need to be restored,” Archbishop Bala told ucanews.com.

Christian leaders have often blamed such attacks on extremists, who they alleged have become emboldened since the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Ja-nata Party (BJP) came to power in 2014. The BJP, part of a collection of groups seeking to make India a Hin-du country, has also been criticized for remaining silent about a spate of mass conversions of Christians and Muslims to Hinduism. According

513 June to 25 June 2017Volume-1 Issue-15

REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany

lThousands of Christians, weeping and praying, gathered at a church in this small southern Egyptian village on Friday to mourn seven of their community who were among the more than two dozen Christians shot dead by unidentified gunmen earlier in the day.

Their grief quickly turned to anger as funeral prayers at the Church of the Sacred Family in the village of Dayr Jarnous became a protest march with young men chanting as they carried a large wooden cross.

“With blood and soul, we will defend you, oh cross!” they yelled. “We will avenge them or die like them,” they said. “There is no god but God and the Messiah is God!”

Gunmen attacked a group of Coptic Christians traveling to a monastery in

Grief, rage in Egyptian church after Copts attacked by gunmen

claimed by the militant group in a campaign of violence against Copts.

Pope Francis, who visited Egypt in April, led prayers for the victims on Saturday during a visit to the northern Italian city of Genoa.

“Let us not forget that there are more Christian martyrs now than in the early days of the Church in ancient times,” he said.

On Friday the Vatican called it “a barbaric attack”.

Eyewitnesses said three vehicles were attacked. A bus and a car transporting children and families to

central Egypt on Friday, killing at least 29 people and wounding 24, with many children among the victims.

Islamic State took responsibility for the attack, which came on the eve of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. It followed a series of church bombings

the monastery of Saint Samuel the Confessor were the initial targets.

The gunmen fired at the windows then boarded the vehicles, shooting dead all the men and firing at the feet of the women and children. They also took all the gold the women were carrying, eyewitnesses said. Some children were killed.

When one of the gunmen’s vehicles had a flat tire, they stopped a truck carrying Christian workers, shot them and took their truck.

One of the gunmen had a camera, eyewitnesses said, indicating that the group behind the shootings might release footage of the attack in the future.

‘THEY WILL GO TO HELL’

Safwat Bushra, an eyewitness from Edwa - a small town which like Dayr Jarnous lies in the province of Minya that is home to a sizable Christian minority - said he saw the shooting from the road where he was driving that morning.

He told Reuters that police at a checkpoint near the incident did not rush in to fight the gunmen and also did not allow an ambulance past the checkpoint.

“The officers and policemen at the checkpoints are known to have

By Suzette Gutierrez-Cachila –The Gospel Herald

With a rapidly growing Muslim population, Islam is projected to overtake Christianity as the world’s largest religion in a few decades, a study said.

According to Pew Research Center, Islam will be the most dominant religion in the U.S. by 2050, at which time the Muslim population in the country is expected to have doubled. And by the end of the century, Islam would be the most dominant religion in the world, LifeZette reported.

As of 2015, Muslims comprised only 24 percent of the global population. However, right now it is the fastest-growing religion worldwide.

“But while Islam is currently the world’s second-largest religion (after Christianity), it is the fastest-growing religion,” Michael Lipka of Pew Research Center wrote in an updated analysis of the study. “Indeed, if current demographic trends continue, the number of Muslims is expected to exceed the number of Christians by the end of this century.”

Islam Projected to Overtake Christianity as World’s Largest Religion

Islamist sympathies. Or at least they hate Copts,” he said inside the church. Bushra was so enraged he had to be told by priests to calm down or leave.

A three-year-old and a four-year-old were killed, Bushra added.

Seven of the 29 Christians killed came from Dayr Jarnous. Bishop Agathon, Bishop of the Maghagha and Edwa Diocese, led the funeral prayers which were spoken in Coptic, the last living descendant of the ancient Egyptian language.

Women dressed in black wept and wailed, some even slapped themselves on the face. One woman whose father was killed had a nervous breakdown and had to be carried away from the church by others.

Even the boy and girl scouts charged with organizing the prayers and responsible for internal security in the church were crying.

“Did they deserve this? They were just going to work and then were killed,” said one crying woman, who did not give her name, referring to the Christian workers.

“God will avenge us. We will not do anything violent because we are Christians and love is in our hearts. It is enough that they will go to hell,” she said.

Filipino Muslims pray inside Golden Mosque in Manila, a day before Ramadan, Philippines Reuters/Dondi R. Tawatao.

Large populations of Muslims today are found in the Asia-Pacific region and not in the Middle East, as many people wrongly believe. The Middle East only holds about 20 percent of the global Muslim population, while the Asia-Pacific region is home to 62 percent of Muslims in the world.

These are found in Indonesia, which is the country with the biggest Muslim population, Pakistan, Iran, Bangladesh, India and Turkey.

In Europe, the Muslim population is also growing. Pew projects that by 2050, 10 percent of the European

population will be Muslim.

Overall, the Muslim population will rise by 70 percent globally from 2015 to 2060, according to Pew’s projections. Several factors are driving this growth. First, Muslims have more children compared to other religions. Muslim women have an average of 2.9 children, while women from other religions only have an average of 2.2 children.

Second, “Muslims are also the youngest (median age of 24 years old in 2015) of all major religious groups, seven years younger than

persecutionrelief@gmail.com l www.persecutionrelief.org

North Korea: Christian Persecution as Severe as Nero’s Rome, Experts Sayhttp://www.christianheadlines.com

Human rights activists told Capitol Hill lawmakers that Christians in North Korea are facing persecution that is likely “on par” with the level of persecution that the Early Christian Church endured under Roman emperor Nero.

The activists, convened by Interna-tional Christian Concern, told lawmak-ers about the human rights abuses that Christians face. They also asked

lawmakers to support a resolution to reauthorize the North Korean Human Act of 2004.

"Our colleagues in South Korea have thoroughly documented cases of religious persecution,” said Greg Scarlatoui, the executive director of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea. “Organizations such as Database Center for North Korean Human Rights and the Korean Institution for National Unification [have] interviewed thousands of

defectors who brought testimony of extremely severe religious persecution," Scarlatoiu said. "Like other Communist leaders, as mentioned earlier, Kim Il-sung and the Kim regime has rejected religion as the 'opium of the people.'"

For the past 15 years, North Korea has ranked as the top persecutor of Christians by Open Doors USA. Any Christian worship, or religious worship, is illegal and can be punished be arrest, torture or execution.

the median age of non-Muslims.”

“As a result, a larger share of Muslims already are, or will soon be, at the point in their lives when they begin having children. This, combined with high fertility rates, will fuel Muslim population growth,” Lipka wrote.

Additionally, the migration of Muslims to other parts of the world is contributing to the increase of the Muslim population in those regions, particularly in North America and Europe. Pew’s updated analysis of the projected growth of Islam was released days after a spate of Islamic extremist attacks in various locations around the globe: suicide bombing in Manchester, England; killing of Coptic Christians aboard a bus in Egypt; attack on residents in Marawi in southern Philippines; and a suicide bombing attack in Jakarta, Indonesia.

6 13 June to 25 June 2017Volume-1 Issue-15

http://www.ucanews.com/

Catholics, especially members of religious orders, are called to be bold, creative and consoling “missionaries without borders,” Pope Francis said.

Meeting recently with members of the general chapter of the Don Orione Sisters, the pope said focusing on the call to help others and share the Gospel with them is what enables Christians to stop being preoccupied with their own worries and concerns, Catholic News Service reported.

“Mission and service to the poor put you in the position of going out and help you overcome the risks of

being self-referential, of limiting your concerns to survival and of defensive

pope wants ‘bold and creative’ evangelizationPontiff calls on Catholics to be missionaries without borders to meet modern challenges

Pope Francis waves while leaving from celebrating mass in Genoa on May 27, as part of a one-day visit to the city. (Photo by Andreas Solaro/AFP)

rigidity,” the pope told the sisters. Those engaged in mission and evangelization, at home or abroad, must be “bold and creative,” the pope said. “The comfortable criteria of ‘it’s always been done this way’ won’t work.”

Modern societies and new forms of poverty pose new challenges, particularly for religious orders with a specific mission of evangelization and care for the poor, he said. “We are living in a time when it’s necessary to rethink everything

in light of what the Spirit is asking us.”

By Leah Marieann Klett - The Gospel Herald

An Islamic extremist group linked to ISIS captured nine Christians, tied their hands together and shot them dead in a city in the Philippines, a disturbing new report has revealed.

According to the Mail Online, members of the militant so-called Maute group murdered the nine individuals by a check-point in Marawi City after they were identified as Christians. Disturbing images circulated by the media show the Christians lying dead face-down in the grass. Reports say villagers are too afraid to move the bodies because terrorists are still in the area.

News of the murders comes just days after the group took a Catholic priest captive along with other parishioners before setting on fire the Cathedral of Our Lady Help of Christians in Marawi.

The militants took Father Teresito Suganob, together with the church’s

Nine Christians Tied Together, Shot by ISIS Militants Amid Escalating Violence in Philippines

secretary, a professor, two working students and a number of parishioners and brought them to an undisclosed location.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) urged the government to make the safety of the hostages top priority. Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Cardinal Quevedo told ABS-CBN News: “I pray for the

safety of all the hostages. I appeal to the consciences of the hostage takers not to harm the innocent as the Islamic faith teaches. I appeal to religious leaders of Islam to influence the hostage takers to release the hostages unharmed.

“For God’s will is the safety of innocent people. May the loving God protect the people of Marawi.”

Several hours before the abduction, clashes broke out between the jihadist group and the military. The chaos began when the military launched a “surgical operation” on Tuesday afternoon to take out IsnilonHapilon, leader of the Jihadist group Abu Sayyaf, who was being protected by the Maute group members in an apartment.

The fighting continued for hours as the militant group erected black flags markings allegiance to ISIS across the city. Thousands of citizens were forced to flee after the jihadists took over a

government hospital, torched several buildings, and occupied various parts of Marawi. Residents said the militants called to the people from the streets and urged them to join ISIS.

“Some of them were knocking at our doors, some tried to get in but we locked our gates and doors,” Amir Sumalih, a resident who lived near the hospital that the Maute seized, said. “They don’t shoot civilians, they were yelling using a megaphone urging us to join ISIS and jihad.”

Five soldiers and one policemen died in the clashes, while 13 gunmen were killed, according to the military. Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has imposed martial law on Mindanao Island, which includes Marawi, in an attempt to restore order.

“I warned everybody not to force my hand into it,” Duterte said, according to The National. “I have to do it to preserve the republic.”

ISIS-linked militants reportedly captured nine Christians, tied their hands together and shot them dead in a city in the Philip-pines. GMA

By Suzette Gutierrez-Cachila (GospelHerald.com)

Terrorism attacks have increased in different parts of the world in recent months, and since the start of the Ramadan two weeks ago, there have been reports of terror attacks occurring almost every day. These events point to the imminent return of Christ on earth, says Christian pastor and author Phil Hotsenpiller, Pastor Phil, who wrote ‘One Nation Without Law’ and considered as an expert in end-times prophecy, said acts of terror and chaos are sure signs that we are indeed living in the end times. The founder and senior pastor of Influence Church in Orange County, California said one of the indicators that marks the end times is the manifestation of the spirit of lawlessness.

“Lawlessness is more than lawbreaking. It is a spirit that began with Lucifer before the creation of man and it runs completely through our Biblical narrative and history, culminating in Revelation chapter 18,” he said, according to CBN News.

Pastor Phil also revealed something about terrorist attacks: they do not happen in random locations. He believes territorial spirits have something to do with acts of terror, and that these occur in places with a history of terrorist or

Terror Attacks Signal End Times, Return of Jesus: Christian Author

violent activity. “I looked at the police shooting in Dallas. That shooting was one three-tenths of a mile away from where JFK was shot,” he explained. “Then I looked at Munich 1972, where the Israeli Olympians were captured by a Palestinian terror group and assassinated and that was only about four-tenths of a mile from where the McDonald’s shooting took place last year.” “Then I looked at Manchester. In 1996, the Provisional Irish Republican Army detonated the largest bomb ever in the city center in Manchester—which was three tenths of a mile away from the Ariana Grande concert.” These events show the “repetitive nature of terror acts in the same places.” Territorial spirits stay in these places and “replicate their terror” when the time is right, he said.

Strategies developed to put a stop to terrorist activity, no matter how well intentioned, will not work because, ultimately, the problem is of a spiritual nature, he explained in an article he wrote for Charisma News after the Manchester attack. He called on believers to pray and fast to “bind the strong man,” and to urge lawmakers to amend or repeal laws that propagate wickedness.

“Jesus empowered His followers with authority over evil spirits (Luke 9:1; 10:17),” he wrote. “The church, the bride of Christ, is called to bind the strong man in every nation, state, city, neighborhood, school and home. Jesus has commissioned us to go in His Name with power and authority.” This is the purpose for Jesus’ handing over

to believers the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, he said. “It is interesting that Jesus referred to keys. The exact number of keys is not stated, yet the plural form suggests that there are multiple doors in the kingdom,” he said. “As I was praying and asking for insight about this, God revealed to me that there are an unlimited number of keys available. With each key comes greater responsibility and authority to make a positive impact in the spiritual realm.”

Pastor Phil added that believers can overcome the spirit of lawlessness by seeking “greater access” to the power and authority of Jesus. He said lawlessness will not spread gradually but will advance quickly and cause people to feel despair and fear, but this gives the church the perfect opportunity to stand up for righteousness. “We have the greatest power in the world. We have the greatest assurance in the world, but somehow we fail to use it because somehow we think we have to appease everyone,” he said. “I think it’s time for us Christians to get involved in politics like they did in the American Revolution. It’s time for us to be loud and bold and strong, but loving in and kind.” Finally, he warned that if Christians do nothing to stop evil in the world, the Manchester attack will become “the new normal.”

The first step, he said, is to see and truly listen to the people one is assisting and evangelizing. The key is to use “the gaze of Jesus, which is the gaze of the Good Shepherd, a gaze that does not judge, but seeks out the presence of the Lord.”

Following Jesus’ example means drawing near to people for a close-up view and staying with them as long as necessary, he said. It also means having a gaze that is “respectful and full of compassion, one that heals, frees and comforts.”

Libya, Sirte: Soon after he surrendered, an ISIS fighter is violently dragged by Libyan fighters affiliated with the government in Tripoli while they shout and threaten to lynch him. Few minutes later he was found on the same place shot dead multiple times. Reuters

Pastor Phil gave a stern reminder to the church that, to address these prob-lems, the church needs to examine the root cause: the battle that goes on in the spiritual world. Much of the chaos in the world today are caused by “un-restrained demonic forces” manifesting in the physical world.

713 June to 25 June 2017Volume-1 Issue-15

pray for all leaders in churches, the court rooMs, in our nation, states & districts – that all leaders would govern in righteous and equity.

Day 1Lord, we pray for our Church Leaders from losing heart when ministry gets tough.

Day 2Lord, we pray that our Church Leaders will be wholehearted, give attention to prayer and ministry of the Word.

Day 3Lord, we pray that our Church Leaders will be above reproach, devoted to their families, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable and teachable

Day 4Lord, we pray that our Church Leaders will walk worthy of respect with sincere hearts of servitude

Day 5Lord, we pray that our Church Leaders will be filled with Your Spirit and operate in wisdom as they carry out their responsibilities

Day 6Lord, we pray that our Church Leaders will be clothed in righteousness, with hearts that delight greatly in You

Day 7Lord, we pray that our Church Leaders may be humble, pure and with a good reputation that show that they remember You, Creator God.

Day 8Lord, we pray that our Church Leaders may present the gospel with power, in the Holy Spirit and deep conviction

Day 9Lord, we pray that You would set up godly men and women in positions of leadership and power in our Court rooms, exercising godly authority

Day 10Lord, we pray that our Judges and Lawyers will judge without discrimination, including the poor and marginalized

Day 11Lord, we pray that You, Creator God, would contend with those who contend against Your people

Day 12Lord, we pray that You will turn the hearts of Judges and Lawyers who have set aside godly principles,

Day 13Lord, we pray that You would intervene and show mercy on those that are being harmed and abused by unjust policies of this Nation

Day 14Lord, we pray that You would cause our Nation’s Leaders to look to You so that so that our nation may be governed according to Your plans and purposes.

Day 15Lord, we pray that all those that You have set up in places of authority to rule and govern our nation, both political and religious, will do so with wisdom and integrity

Day 16Lord, we pray that our Leaders may come to faith in the Lord Jesus, so that we may live peaceably in this Nation into which You have placed us.

Day 17Lord, we pray that You would guide the Leaders of our Nation to repent of their sins and turn to the path of peace that only comes from You

Day 18Lord, we pray that the Nation’s Leaders would lay aside all selfish ambition and that Your plans and purposes be fulfilled for the well-being of all citizens

Day 19Lord, we pray that you will have mercy on the Nation’s leaders who have deliberately rejected the path of truth and justice and will come to saving faith in Jesus Christ

Day 20Lord, we pray that Leaders in the States and Districts, who are seeking to implement a humanistic and anti-god agenda will be stopped in Jesus name

Day 21Lord, we pray that all plans to pursue an agenda counter to the truth of Your Word, in India, will be cancelled in the name of Jesus Christ

Day 22Lord, we pray that You will expose every scheme that is designed to undermine godly principles in our Nation

Day 23Lord, we pray that You will remove every Leader who abuses power for their own personal advantage

Day 24Lord, we pray that You will depose and cancel every unjust government measures and rogue governors – whose decisions lead to misery of Your people

Day 25Lord, we pray that our Leaders will not look at this world from a human perspective, for we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and power, against the spiritual rulers of this dark world

Day 26Lord, we pray that You will vindicate and remove corrupt Judges and Lawyers from our Courtrooms that have unfounded aggression against Your people

Day 27Lord, we pray that You would give our Leaders hearts of flesh and sensitive consciences

Day 28Lord, we pray that You will right all the wrongs that is being engineered by our Leaders to exploit the land’s resources

Day 29Lord, we pray that all strategies to place Your people under bondage will be cancelled and You will vindicate those that are being treated unjustly

Day 30Lord, we pray that You will keep Your people from trying to take matters into their own hands for vengeance is Yours and You will repay

PERSECUTION RELIEF PRayER CaLENDaR

2017 jUNE

Persecution Relief will observe 22nd July as the

“Indian Christian Martyrdom Day” which will be an annual event, to honour ‘Bharat ki Beti’ who was

raped and murdered and to salute the martyrdom of Christian soldiers, who lost their lives

defending their faith in Jesus Christ.

www.persecutionrelief.org

Call 9826025767

8 13 June to 25 June 2017Volume-1 Issue-15

Publisher: Shibu Thomas 352 9-B, Saketh Nagar, Ward No. 55, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh - 462024, India. Printer’s name: St. Joseph Printers, 142 Durgesh Vihar, JK Road, Govindpura PO, Bhopal - 462023

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Publisher.

Persecution Relief will observe 22nd July as the

“Indian Christian Martyrdom Day” which will be an annual event, to honour ‘Bharat ki Beti’ who was

raped and murdered and to salute the martyrdom of Christian soldiers, who lost their lives

defending their faith in Jesus Christ.

www.persecutionrelief.org

Call 9826025767