Nigeria – Muslim Herdsmen Kill Nine Christians

Morning Star News November 10, 2017

Nine Christians, all members of the Church of Christ In Nations (COCIN), were buried after a funeral in north-central Nigeria yesterday after Muslim Fulani herdsmen killed them earlier this week.

The Rev. Dacholom Datiri, president of the COCIN, confirmed the killing of members of his church.

“We have continued to be forced into mourning the death of some our members for no just cause. Whatever it is, our faith is dependent on Jesus Christ, our Saviour.”

Istifanus Gyang, a Nigerian member of parliament, said the attacks were carried out by “terror militia” to wipe out Christian communities and occupy their lands.  “We shall therefore overcome this season, as it is written, “weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning.”

Christians make up 51.3 percent of Nigeria’s population, while Muslims account for 45 percent.  Nigeria ranks 12^th on Open Doors’ 2017 World Watch List of countries where Christians suffer the most persecution.

Indonesia – Many students support Islamic caliphate

Reuters, Jakarta 02 November 2017

Nearly 20 percent of high school and university students in Indonesia support the establishment of a caliphate in the world’s largest Muslim-majority country over the current secular government, a new survey showed this week.

The vast majority of Indonesians practise a moderate form of Islam and the country has sizeable minorities of Hindus, Christians, and people who adhere to traditional beliefs. Religious diversity is enshrined in its constitution.

The survey by a Jakarta-based organisation polled over 4,200 Muslim students.

Nearly one in four students said they were, to varying degrees, ready to wage jihad to achieve a caliphate.

The survey showed that the vast majority of students disagree with the establishment of an Islamic caliphate and violence.

But authorities have repeatedly warned against the creeping influence of radical Islamic thought among student organisations and in campus activities.

India – Hindu Extremists Beat Pastor Unconscious

Morning Star News November 5, 2017

Weeks after a pastor led five families to faith in Christ in southern India, masked men intercepted him on his way home from worship and tried to kill him, sources said. 

They had threatened him twice before, he said.  In their prior threats, the assailants had asked him what he told the Banjara tribal people.

 “I told them, ‘We are all sinners, and this world is to come to an end someday. Only Jesus Christ can cleanse us from the sins. He was crucified for our sake, and rose again to present us eternal life.”  Pastor Sevya said he told them he spoke to every person individually when they came to ask him about Christ.

When five families came to Christ, he had been as astonished as anyone.  “I too belong to the same Banjara tribal community.  It is a miracle.”

Kenya – From Interview with Rev. Francis Omondi 

 

Barnabas Fund October

 

Kenya has 80% Christians and about 20% Muslim. The 80% have not been very active – many are nominal Christians.

 

Relationships between Christians and Muslims had not been that bad, but many who had peaceful relations with others are now being considered as not true Muslims. So, they have been building hostility towards the other, non-Islamic, communities.

 

When al-Shabaab started operating, Muslims felt that their issues were now articulated. It was not violent at first but seen as a saviour championing the needs of Muslims. Now that it has turned out violent, many Muslims have begun to wonder, “Is this all there is in Islam?”

 

We thought Nairobi would be the safest, but al-Shabaab have attacked there to gain international publicity.

 

There were several major attacks including Garissa University in April 2015, Mandera where they killed 37 mainly Christians quarry workers and, in the previous November, 28 teachers on a bus, letting the Muslims go.

 

During the Garissa University attack, one of the militias was saying, “When your government learns not to invade our land, we will stop killing you.”