Morning Star News, August 23^rd, 2024 (excerpts)

Muslim extremists with swords in eastern Uganda on Monday (Aug. 19) killed a Christian for leading Muslims to Christ.

The assailants attacked Yowabu Sebakaki as he was returning home by bicycle to his native Nyanza village.

In June and July, Muslims had sent threatening messages to Sebakaki, including one that read, “We are aware of some secret meeting you are undertaking. You have to stop preaching as well as converting our faithful Muslims to Christianity, and if not, then soon we are coming for your life,” according to his wife, Nambaluka Sebakaki, who had copied the messages to her phone.

After leading a discipleship class at 5:45 p.m. for new converts at a Christian’s house, Sebakaki was being transported home by David Nkomba on Nkomba’s bicycle.

“Just when we were five kilometres from reaching the homestead, at around 6:20 p.m. a motorcycle came up just behind us.  Sebakaki was struck with a ‘panga’ [long Somali sword] on the back near the neck,” Nkomba said. “He fell and then was cut by another panga at the head.  Sebakaki became unconscious due to too much bleeding.”

“I managed to recognize one of the attackers as Rashid Siriman, a well-known radical Muslim youth from Mbale.”

Neighbours arrived at the site and rushed Sebakaki to a hospital in Mbale, but he died on the way, his wife said.

Police in Budaka were searching for the assailants.

Church in Chains, August 22^nd, 2024 (excerpts)

One year after the Jaranwala riots, Christians are calling for justice as most of those arrested in connection with the attack have been discharged or released on bail.  

Around ninety Christian homes were destroyed and more than four hundred homes and 25 church buildings were damaged and looted on 16 August 2023 when a mob of thousands of Muslims attacked the Christian community in Jaranwala, 40 km from Faisalabad in Punjab province.

The violence followed false allegations of blasphemy against Christian brothers Raja Amir Saleem Masih and Rocky Saleem Masih, who were charged under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws but were acquitted earlier this year after an anti-terrorism court found that they had been framed by another Christian following a personal dispute.

Amnesty International found that only 380 of 5,213 suspects were arrested, and stated: “Of the arrested suspects, 228 were released on bail and 77 others had the charges against them dropped,” adding that trials of suspects have not started and that about forty percent of victims who lost property are still awaiting government compensation.

Salman Farooq of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said that among those bailed in recent months was Younis Machhi, who had made the announcement on the mosque loudspeaker calling people to gather.

The Voice of the Martyrs, August 22^nd, 2024 (excerpts)

The Fulani are a nomadic Muslim tribe in a vast region where the Sahara Desert meets the African savanna, called the Sahel.  The total number of Fulani is unknown but believed to be between 20 and 40 million people.  Militant Fulani Muslims have been involved in vicious attacks on Christians in many nations, including Nigeria and Burkina Faso.

But some Fulani are turning to Christ, like Sadou in Burkina Faso.  Sadou was raised from childhood to make and sell Islamic charms.  One day he read a Christian brochure in his native Fulani language and asked a Christian for a Bible.

“I was so curious as a Muslim,” he said. “What is this faith? And as I read it, I realized that Jesus is pure.” He eventually came to faith in Christ.  A Muslim offered him $6,000 to return to Islam, but Sadou refused. He now attends a school designed to help Fulani Christians grow in their faith.

Burkina Faso has seen a sharp rise in Islamist activity since 2016. Militants linked to the self-proclaimed Islamic State (ISIS) and al-Qaida, who had been largely contained in neighbouring Mali and Niger, have crossed porous borders in the north to broaden their influence in the Sahel region.  

Christians have been a primary target of the Islamists’ campaign since April 2019, when approximately 70 Christians were killed, and five churches were attacked. More than 200 churches have reportedly closed in northern and eastern Burkina Faso because of security issues and threat of attack.

International Christian Concern, August 23^rd, 2024 (excerpts)

Anwar Ibrahim’s Madani government is steadily working to centralize Islam in Malaysia.  Efforts to impose a “Vatican-style” authority could have far-reaching implications for religious freedom, especially for Christians and followers of other minority religions.

The government, which already severely punishes Muslims who convert to Christianity, recently introduced bills that restrict the practice of Islam in Malaysia to specific Islamic schools of thought. By excluding other Islamic sects, the government could potentially punish anyone who deviates from these forms of Islam.

Nearly 60% of Malaysians are Sunni Muslims, and only 9% are Christians. While churches exist for people who speak a variety of languages, no Malay churches meet openly, as it is illegal for Malays to convert to Christianity. When discovered, authorities send Malay Christians to “re-education camps” where they are forced, through torture and propaganda, to return to Islam.

The Malaysian Islamic Development Department is gaining significant influence in national policymaking. It has also obtained censorship powers over social media, allowing it to declare Islamic teachings or discussions as deviant.

Joshua Project, August 26^th, 2024

Because of the uniqueness of their history and culture, all Jews have a strong sense of identity. Persecution of and discrimination against the Jews have been the historical reasons for their migrations and settlements around the world. Anti-Semitism was prevalent and frequently led to either persecution or expulsion. Some of them live in Malta, an island nation in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Jews have a wonderful understanding of their connection with the Abrahamic Covenant. However, they also have a history of rejecting Jesus Christ as Messiah, the one who has fulfilled that covenant. They often feel threatened by those who call their attention to Jesus.

Maltese believers can potentially lead Jews to see Jesus in a different light. It is important that these ideas not be presented in a way that Jews interpret as anti-Semitic.

Pray that this people group become faithful to God and not trust in themselves.  

Pray that God would grant Jewish believers favour as they share their faith in Christ with their own families and communities. Pray that strong local churches would be raised up in each Jewish community.

Church in Chains, August 8^th, 2024 (excerpts)

On 2 July 2024 at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, a side event was held to raise the issue of the persecution of Christians by the Algerian government.

Pastor Youssef spoke via video link, explaining he has been involved with the church in Algeria for over 36 years and been Vice-President of the Algerian Protestant Church (EPA) since 2018.

He said there have been 54 court cases against members of the EPA in recent years and Christians handed prison sentences varying from 2 months to 5 years and many fines.

On 2 July 2023, without his knowledge or attending court, he was condemned to two years in prison for organising church activities without a licence. He is currently waiting to have his appeal heard by the Supreme Court. He is conscious that it would take time for the appeal to be heard.

Only one EPA member church is open (in the capital, Algiers) and he does not know how long it will be able to remain open. 46 churches affiliated with the EPA have been closed by the authorities and 6 or 7 unaffiliated churches have also closed their buildings.  

Despite repeated attempts to register the EPA and its places of worship with the Ministry of the Interior, its office never confirms receipt of their applications and not a single church has yet been granted a permit.

The Voice of the Martyrs, August 8^th, 2024 (excerpts)

Christians make up less than 1% of the population of Turkey, which is 96% Sunni Muslim. When a Turkish Muslim chooses to follow Christ, they are often rejected by their families, a reality experienced by Mustafa and Basak.

Mustafa grew up in a radical Islamic family but became a Christian as a teenager. His decision shocked his family, who have been pressuring him to renounce his new faith. Mustafa currently has no place to live, so a local church is housing him in their church building while he looks for work and more permanent housing.

Basak was also raised in a devout Islamic home, but after she was invited to a Christian activity at her university and given a Bible, she trusted in Christ. Her family then rejected her and is also trying to convince her to return to Islam. When Basak graduates from university in a few months’ time, she will have no place to live until she can find a job and earn income to support herself.

The gospel spread throughout Turkey in the first century, and the region remained under Christian rule for centuries, beginning in the fourth century. Now, however, fewer than 1 percent of Turks are Christians. Turks are proud of their nation, which has seen rapid industrial growth and modernization.

Unfortunately, Islam is considered by most Turks to be part of their national identity; it is hard for them to imagine leaving Islam even if they know little about its teachings and do not practice its tenets. Christians in Turkey have limited freedom of worship. While there are few Turkish churches, believers boldly share Christ with their countrymen.

Barnabas Aid, August 7^th, 2024 (excerpts)

The minority Christian community of Bangladesh is among those at risk from the political unrest that has swept across the country.

A Barnabas Aid contact has reported that Christian schools have been attacked, along with homes belonging to Christians and other religious minorities.

These attacks have been carried out by Islamist extremists who have joined with the anti-government protestors.

Leaders of the student protest movement and military leaders have called on local authorities to provide greater protection for Christians and Hindus from mob violence.

The student-led protests began peacefully on 1 July 2024 but turned violent around two weeks later. On 5 August Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country after 15 years in power. The following day it was announced that economist Muhammad Yunus would replace Hasina as leader of an interim government.

Christians are a small minority in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, representing less than 1% of the population.

Pray for a peaceful solution to the civil and political unrest in Bangladesh and that extremists will not have opportunities to attack minority groups.

International Christian Concern, August 12^th, 2024 (excerpts)

The remains of more than 30 people were found on July 24 following yet another brutal attack on a Christian community by Islamic extremist Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in Eastern Congo.  Léon Siviwe, chief of Beni-Mbau, said the attack was part of a week marked by escalating violence.

“These are our brothers, sisters, daughters, and sons who, in the end, have lost their lives because of the ADF, who kill while speaking the Arabic language,” one survivor recalled. “I remember the day when my neighbour was taken and, in the end, he was found dead.”

The Anglican Bishop of Beni articulated the profound psychological toll that living under constant threat has taken on civilians in Beni.

 “We try to maintain some semblance of normalcy, but every loud noise sends us into panic mode. The laughter of children has been replaced by silence or whispers about who might be next. Our dreams have turned to nightmares, and we often find ourselves looking over our shoulders.

“These atrocities create a pervasive anxiety and trauma experienced by those in conflict zones, particularly in regions like eastern Congo, where attacks by armed groups such as the ADF have become tragically commonplace that defiles God’s purpose of creating man.”

Joshua Project, August 12^th, 2024

Legend has it that the Hindu god Vishwakarma created two people groups – the Lohar, workers of iron and the Badhai, cutters of wood. Woodcutting and carpentry are the traditional occupations of the Badhai, and though carpentry remains common today, some have acquired land and have begun to work in agriculture.

Literacy levels are low among the Badhai as most are unable to afford the cost of education. Modern medicine is available, though it is often coupled with traditional practices, especially in remote areas where modern facilities are less available than medicine men.

Most Badhais in Pakistan are Muslim, but there are also many Hindus among them. In Pakistan’s Sindh Province, both groups need a gospel witness.

The traditional religions of the Badhai are very difficult to penetrate. Their leaders are sensitive to people “changing religion,” which to them is the same as rejecting their family and community.  

Perhaps the Badhai would enjoy stories of the carpenter-prophet who was the Son of God and gave his life on beams of timber. Those who could tell the gospel through woodwork might find great success.

Pray for the Lord to pave the way for the Badhai people to have access to better education. Pray that workers would be sent to harvest this field and that a Disciple Making Movement would spread like fire.