Forum 18, 12^th June 2023 (excerpts)

On 1 June, police stopped a group of Baptists with a musical group from sharing their faith in the town of Drogichin in the south-western Brest Region.  They took Vladimir Burshtyn to the police station and held him overnight.  The following day, a judge held the closed hearing in the police station to prevent fellow-Baptists from attending and fined him a month’s average pension for organising an illegal event. 

“We thought the hearing would be open, but it was closed,” a local Baptist told Forum 18.  “It should have been open, but we weren’t surprised that they would not let us attend”.

Burshtyn has appealed against the fine to the Regional Court.  The Baptists are also gathering signatures on complaints to local, regional and national officials about how he and other Baptists were treated.

Burshtyn is a member of the Council of Baptist Churches, who do not seek state permission to exercise freedom of religion or belief.

Asked why preaching and singing in public places are illegal and require the authorities’ approval, the Drogichin Head of the Ideology Department, Svetlana Shchur asked, “What does it have to do with religion?  Vladimir Burshtyn was with a music band in a crowded public place.  What if somebody collapsed in the street?  They should have provided security and medical aid, by the Mass Events Law”.

Romania, 2^nd June 2023 (excerpts)

Summer has come and we are thankful to have days of basking in the sunlight after such a tedious Winter.

Most students are focused on their exams, though many of them will stay in Iasi over the Summer, so opportunity to invest more in their spiritual development.  Summer is already providing good opportunities.

Ema and I went to Scotland last month, nice to be away for a short time without any worries.  I caught up on reading I couldn’t normally have done and Ema rested.  We were also thankful to spend time with those of you who reached out to us about meeting up.

The beginning of May marked a whole year since I’d had an inflammation in my feet, the last bout was very concerning, spreading into one of my knees and lasting 2 months.  Providentially, a year has passed without serious problems, I’m thankful to the Lord for health.

I have culled my evangelism list as some people have gone silent.  I will not pursue contacts for now unless they reach out to me again.  I also need to be a little more direct with the Gospel in some cases.

This Summer, I hope to be back on the street and train church members in evangelism even before the end of June.  We will also visit the LGBT community as Iasi has its pride month parade.  I have now been invited to attend the Italian service at the Roman Catholic church.  May the Lord establish good contacts in these ways.

Voice of the Martyrs, 25 May 2023

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, life for Christians is difficult.  Most Afghan Christians fled, but some remained.  “It is very challenging for the normal Afghan and very, very hard for Christians,” a front-line worker shared.  “Persecution has escalated from the government, local religious authorities, family, and community, and it is still escalating.”

Remaining Christians struggle with isolation, but some cautiously reach out.  “Our Afghan brothers and sisters feel pressure, like sheep among wolves, but the desperation there is leading to opportunities for them to share ‘God stories’ that can lead to conversations about Christ.  Pray for the Taliban,” the front-line worker added.  “They are fighters, not governors.  Pray that they will lead by peace, do what’s good for the country and that they will come to Christ.”

The good news of Christ reached Afghanistan by the second century, but today there are no church buildings.  Cultural and religious opposition to the gospel as well as significant security issues remain great challenges for all missions efforts in this Central Asian nation.

There is, nevertheless, a special unity among Christians labouring for the gospel in Afghanistan. Indigenous, near-culture and expatriate believers are boldly taking risks and using every possible opportunity to help believers grow in faith and connect with local house churches.

Voice of the Martyrs, 25 May 2023

Christians in Algeria report suffering from a systematic campaign of government persecution.  Since the end of 2017, the government has reportedly closed 30 of the 47 Protestant churches in the country.

In January 2023, a 54-year-old pastor from a Muslim background was sentenced to two years in prison for holding “unlicensed worship” and “holding worship in a building not designated for non-Muslim worship.” The pastor has been in jail since his arrest on December 30, 2022.

Before the founding of Islam in the seventh century and the subsequent invasion by Arab Muslims, Algeria was inhabited by the Berber people.  Today, they live mainly in Algeria’s mountainous Kabylie area in the north, while Arabs inhabit the rest of the country.  The Christian faith has a long history in North Africa, especially among ethnic Berbers. 

After centuries of oppressive Muslim occupation, public Christian worship and witness have largely disappeared, but many Berbers are now rediscovering their Christian heritage.  Churches have seen rapid growth, and Algeria has experienced one of the world’s largest movements of Muslims coming to faith in Christ.  Algerian Christians are reaching out boldly to their Muslim countrymen, causing increased persecution in an uncertain political climate.

Voice of the Martyrs, 25 May 2023

Aaron is one of many church planters advancing God’s kingdom in the “Circle of Silence,” an eight-state region in central Mexico of nearly 23 million people with less than 1% evangelical witness for Christ.  

There is a strong culture of Christo-paganism, which is a syncretistic blend of ancient pagan practices and Roman Catholicism, and front-line workers like Aaron are often opposed by those hostile to the gospel. 

Aaron lost his job because of his faithful witness, and he and others like him are routinely threatened. These front-line workers request prayer for renewed strength and encouragement as they serve in this difficult place.  They also ask for prayer that God will increase their opportunities to reach more neighbourhoods with the gospel and that they will be able to celebrate more baptisms as new believers trust in Christ.

Specific areas within southern Mexico have a high concentration of indigenous minority groups.  These minority communities, which maintain a separate identity and language, are systematically oppressed by local authorities.  Christians among them are persecuted by Marxist and animist groups as well as village leaders.

Tribal leaders persecute Christians in defence of their indigenous culture, and the federal government allows this.  These communities are remotely located and difficult to reach.  Despite persecution, the number of Christians has continued to grow in these areas.

Joshua Project, 29 May 2023

Sabra Jews are those born in the land of Israel, particularly since the founding of the Jewish State in 1948.  “Sabra” is derived from the Hebrew name of the prickly pear cactus.  The allusion is to a tenacious, thorny desert plant with a thick hide that conceals a sweet, softer interior.  All Israeli young people, both men and women, receive military training and become part of the Israeli Defense Force (IDF).

Jewish identity is threatened when a Jew acknowledges Jesus as his or her Messiah.  Their Jewish identity needs to be enhanced by following Jesus the Messiah.

The gospel is available if the hearts of Israeli Jews are prepared to hear and receive it.  TV and radio programs in Hebrew would be helpful.  Pray that many from this people group will be in awe of the blessings of the Lord.

Pray that Christ’s followers among Israeli Jews would be faithful witnesses to their families and friends.  Pray that these Messianic Jews would live lives that fully honour the Lord Jesus.  Pray the Lord would give Jewish families understanding as they hear about the love of Christ.  Pray that the veil over their spiritual eyes would increasingly be lifted, allowing them to accurately see Jesus as their Messiah.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to move powerfully among Israeli Jewish leaders.

Barnabas Fund, 23 May 2023 (excerpts)

The warring parties in Sudan have agreed to a seven-day ceasefire that began on the evening of 22 May – although reports indicated that fighting continued in some areas.

Although this conflict is not specifically anti-Christian, there have been several reports of attacks on churches and church leaders in this Muslim-majority country.

Masked gunmen raided a church in Omdurman, a city on across the River Nile from the capital Khartoum.

The gunmen fired at church leaders and worshippers, severely injuring five.  They insulted the Christians, calling them infidels and “sons of dogs”, telling them they should convert to Islam.

Sudan has been governed by Islamic law since 1983, one of only a few countries in modern times where the death penalty for apostasy has been carried out.  

In 1994 two Christians from a tribal group, converts from Islam in the early 1970s, were executed by crucifixion.

In 2022, 4 Christian converts were charged with apostasy, despite the apostasy law having been abolished 2 years earlier.  Thankfully the case against the 4 was dismissed.

The recent violence has laid bare the Islamist attitudes in Sudan.  No wonder many believers have fled for refuge in neighbouring countries such as Egypt and South Sudan.