Missions, The Persecuted Church Across the World, Whats On

Continued persecution but a ray of light in Cuba – December 9th 2019

by Robert MacNaughton

Christian Solidarity Worldwide, November 30, 2019

 Church leaders, human rights defenders and other activists continue to face government harassment and arbitrary detention in the wake of the approval of a new constitution that further restricts freedom of religion or belief.

The Ladies in White, a peaceful protest group consisting of wives and female family members of political prisoners, are frequently detained from attending Sunday mass and dropped off in a remote area to find their own way home.

Despite this worsening situation, there has been an unprecedented show of unity among the denominations.

In June, seven Protestant denominations, including the five largest in terms of membership, joined together to launch a new Cuban Alliance of Evangelical Churches in a show of inter-denominational unity that has not been witnessed since the 1959 Revolution.

Pray that their efforts will lead to true religious freedom in Cuba.

Jacksons, Mission Partners of Castle Street, Missions, Whats On

Jacksons Update – December 9th 2019

by Robert MacNaughton

Ricardo in Stellenbosch is wary of committing to Christ in prison, worried that he’ll fall away when he gets out.  Pray that he’ll understand what he’s missing by avoiding true commitment to Jesus now.

Denzil in Maximum finds it dangerous to trust others. Faiek, sentenced for rape and murder, is all too aware of his problem with lust. Pray for those in prison who find it difficult to trust anyone or battle with their demons, even if they are believers. May each one be able to identify at least one other whom he can trust.

All the participants in the NetAct library training in Wellington this week have arrived from Kenya, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho and South Africa. Pray that the training will go well and be an encouraging time of fellowship.

When Ruth arrives on December 9th, we’ll be taking a bit of a rest after a hectic year.  James has decided to stay in the UK over Christmas.

Blythswood, Mission Partners of Castle Street, Missions, Whats On

Blythswood Update – November 20th 2019

by Robert MacNaughton

Daniel Centre

Balazs, the Director of the Daniel Centre, visited Deephaven this week and Robert was able to meet him in person for the first time.  Balazs has been involved with Blythswood and the Daniel Centre for many years now and does a very faithful and committed work with young Romanians as they transition from school to making their way in the workplace.   Pray for the Christian impact of the Daniel Centre on these young men and their impact in turn on the wider Romanian society.

The young men of the Daniel Centre have just finished a Christianity Explored Course and hope to continue with a follow-up Bible study.

 Talita Kum

 Continue to pray for the current financial situation at Talita Kum.  In order to release EU funding for Talita Kum 3 and 4, the director Adrien Poppa has to come up with a considerable down payment which will then be returned to their project or the equivalent collateral.

Missions, The Persecuted Church Across the World, Whats On

Indonesia clamping down on extremists – November 20th 2019

by Robert MacNaughton

Barnabas Fund, 19 November 2019

Authorities in Indonesia seem to be combatting hard-line Islamist ideology by replacing school textbooks containing radical material.

Until about a generation ago Indonesian Muslims and Christians lived peaceably side by side as equals. However, in many parts of the country this no longer holds true and Christians, at least 15% of the population, have been facing discrimination, harassment and violence.

It is thought that 19% of civil servants in Indonesia favour establishing an Islamic state. Some 18% of private employees and 23% of students shared this view.

Earlier this year, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the world’s largest moderate Muslim movement, made an unprecedented decision to abolish the legal category of “infidel” for non-Muslims, sweeping away Islamic doctrines used by extremists to justify terrorism.

Barnabas, Mission Partners of Castle Street, Missions, Whats On

Barnabas Update – November 20th 2019

by Robert MacNaughton

“Why is house church worship a crime?”

Barnabas Fund, 7 November 2019

Iranian Christian Naser Goltapeh wrote an open letter from his prison cell on 1 November questioning why worshipping in house churches is an “action against national security”.

The Farsi-speaking convert from Islam, who was remanded in the notorious Evin prison and sentenced to serve a ten-year term in January 2018, wrote, “Today marks more than two years since I have been detained in prison for the fabricated charge of acting against national security by running house churches …”.

“I do not know by what logic or under which crime this heavy sentence has been imposed upon me. I hope that Christ’s love will spread through the voice of imprisoned Christians throughout the world,” wrote Naser.

He noted that Christians are one of Iran’s recognised religious minorities that “are free to practise their religion” under the constitution.

Naser was arrested in July 2017 during a police raid on a church meeting. He was convicted of assembling in an “illegal gathering” that “threatens the security of Iran”.

Missions, The Persecuted Church Across the World, Whats On

Father and son gunned down on same day – November 20th 2019

by Robert MacNaughton

Barnabas Fund, 18 November 2019

Syriac Christian minister Hoseb Bedoian and his father were shot dead by two motorcycle gunmen who ambushed their car on the road from Qamishli to Deir al-Zor, in north-east Syria, on 11 November.  Some reports have linked the gunmen to ISIS. 

A few hours later, three bombs concealed on motorbikes were detonated at five-minute intervals in the city of Qamishli, in a coordinated attack targeting Kurdish and Christian communities, killing at least eight people. Some reports numbered fatalities as high as 30.

The first exploded in a quiet predominantly Kurdish district. The second bomb exploded in the heart of the city’s market where a large number of Christians own property. The third was detonated on a road near a church and Christian school.

Missions, The Persecuted Church Across the World, Whats On

Second Bible translator butchered in Cameroon – November 20th 2019

by Robert MacNaughton

Barnabas Fund, 12 November 2019

Bible translator Benjamin Tem was murdered in his home in the Wum area of Anglophone Cameroon on Sunday 20 October when suspected extremists broke in.   

Tem’s murder comes only two months after the death of Angus Abraham Fung, another Bible translator, who was killed when assailants broke into his home in the early hours of Sunday 25 August. Fung’s wife was viciously attacked and had her arm chopped off. 

Both Tem and Fung worked for the Cameroon Association for Bible Translations and Literacy (CABTAL). They were key members of the Bible translation project which has published over 3,000 copies of the New Testament in the regional Aghem language. Prior to this translation project, the Aghem language only existed in oral form.

Jacksons, Mission Partners of Castle Street, Missions, Whats On

Jacksons Update – November 20th 2019

by Robert MacNaughton

Steven in Maximum, a general in the 28 prison gang until he became a Christian a few years ago, has been having flashbacks which are now distracting him from his communication with Jesus. Faiek is committed to Jesus but knows he still has a problem with lustful thoughts.

Nico was committed to the 28 prison gang until April this year when he left the gang to follow Jesus. He has a great desire to learn all he can about God as he serves out the remainder of his sentence and then to teach the youth outside.  Pray for the protection of Steven, Faiek and Nico against spiritual attacks. 

The NetAct internet library portal training is finally set for the first week of December and all the participants have their passports.  A NetACT journal is to be launched and there will a changeover at the head of NetACT due to the present head retiring.

Blythswood, Mission Partners of Castle Street, Missions, Whats On

Blythswood Update – November 6th 2019

by Robert MacNaughton

Daniel Centre

Among all the residents at the Daniel Centre with their complex issues and the major challenges this presents for the staff, there are encouragements.

Julian, though he is a disaster at looking after his room, holds down a job in the local Ikea furniture factory and cooked a beautiful meal for those who recently participated in the Christianity Explored session.

Alix, who is struggling with the prospect of soon having to leave the Daniel Centre, and Aline who has been gone from the Centre now for two years, are both solid workers and are both showing spiritual promise.

An Irish friend with experience in counselling NGOs will be visiting Balazs to help him create a Wheel of Life manual to allow him to better measure the progress the young men make in the areas of happiness, satisfaction and self-esteem during their years in the Daniel Centre.  

 

Talita Kum

 Adi may have to repay part of a local government grant for TK1 and 2 – the fiscal authorities are claiming that he received too much this past year.  The local government won’t help him sue over this but will increase next year’s grant to compensate for any money given back this year.

EU funding for the TK4 infrastructure has been signed and implemented, but funding for TK3 design and running costs has been evaluated but the contract not yet signed.  Once signed, the money should be available in 60 days.

Missions, The Persecuted Church Across the World, Whats On

Eviction threat for Baptists in Uzbekistan – November 6th 2019

by Robert MacNaughton

Forum 18, 22 October 2019

Police have raided a Baptist church’s Sunday meetings in Urgench and threatened Pastor Stanislav Kim with eviction from his home. The congregation has met since the middle of September without official interference.

The raid targeted the regular Baptist weekly meeting for worship, as has happened many times before to the Urgench congregation.

Two days after the Sunday raid, officials summoned Pastor Kim to a meeting with police officials and the local imam. The officials were unable to explain why an official of one belief was invited to a meeting attacking followers of another belief’s exercise of freedom of religion.

The meeting decided Pastor Kim “must leave our area or arrange his meetings elsewhere”.   He and his family should be evicted from their home if the meetings do not stop.