A Missão Portas Abertas (Open Doors) está presente em mais de 45 países, e há 50 anos cumprindo sua missão de apoiar os nossos irmãos cristãos onde eles sofrem mais com perseguições e intolerância religiosa. Ajude nossos irmãos filipinos a reconstruir suas igrejas destruidas por tempestades que atingiram o país, conforme divulgado na imprensa. Três igrejas já foram reconstruidas, faltam duas. Em sua maioria os nossos irmãos são ex-muçulmanos convertidos à fé cristã e merecem nosso apoio por esse corajoso ato de fé pelo qual arriscam suas vidas.

Ajude Filipinos a Reconstruir Igrejas

Clique na imagem para ir para o site da Portas Abertas. Obrigado!

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Marzieh Amirizadeh e Maryam Rostampoor

TEERÃ, Irã, 18 de novembro de 2009 (CDN) – Duas mulheres cristãs, Maryam Rostampour de 27 anos e Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad de 30 anos, foram libertadas esta tarde da prisão de Evin em Teerã sem imposição de fiança, em meio a uma campanha internacional que pedia sua liberdade desde que foram presas no dia 5 de março deste ano.

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As duas mulheres, cuja saúde se deteriorou muito durante a detenção na sinistra prisão de Evin em Teerã, estão em suas casas agora se recuperando de seu sofrimento de 9 meses, disse a fonte iraniana. Elas ainda podem enfrentar acusações de evangelização da fé cristã e apostasia do Islã (deixaram de ser muçulmanas e isso é punido com a pena de morte em certos países muçulmanos).

As duas foram libertadas às 15:30 de hoje. “As palavras não são suficientes para expressas nossa gratidão ao Senhor e à Sua igreja, que orou e trabalhou por nossa libertação”, disseram as duas mulheres numa declaração feita ao Ministério Elam que é baseado na Inglaterra.

O advogado de Maryam e Marzieh estava trabalhando para conseguir sua libertação e embora fosse esperado que isso acontecesse ontem, a fiança estabelecida pelo juiz era muito alta e impediu a libertação. A fonte disse que não sabia como o advogado conseguiu eliminar a exigência de fiança hoje, um fato raro para os cristãos que são libertados da prisão no Irã.

“Creio que foi a pressão internacional e também porque o governo não podia continuar tratando disso”, disse a fonte. “A própria detenção das duas foi ilegal. Ao mesmo tempo, o governo ao estava pronto para processá-las por apostasia. Eles já têm muitos problemas. Eles não podem administrar tudo isso ao mesmo tempo.”

A fonte disse que suspeitava que Maryam e Marzieh serão mantidas sob observação muito próxima e não terão total liberdade de movimento, limitando seu contato com outras pessoas.

“É muito cedo para saber todos os detalhes”, ele disse. Maryam Rostampour e Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad foram presas em março de 2009 e mantidas em detenção sob a acusação da Corte Revolucionárioa do Irã de “agir contra a segurança do Estado”, “tomar parte em reuniões ilegais (os cultos cristãos)” e apostasia (conversão ao cristianismo).

No dia 9 de agosto de 2009, as duas mulheres compareceram perante o juis que as pressionou a renegar Cristo e retornar à fé muçulmana ou passar mais tempo na prisão. As duas recusaram. Mês passado, no dia 7 de outubro, elas foram inocentadas da acusaão de “atividades contra o Estado” e seu caso foi transferido para a justiça civil.

As acusações de evangelização e apostasia do islã continuam, mas não são julgadas pela Corte Revolucionária. Embora a evangelização e a apostasia não sejam crimes especificados no atual Código Penal iraniano, exige-se que os juízes usem seu conhecimento da lei muçulmana Sharia nos casos onde a lei civil não estipula a punição.

Havia um projeto de lei do Código Penal que incluia a pena de morte para aqueles iranianos que deixam o Islã e se convertem para outras religiões. O Artigo que determinava a pena de morte foi retirado do projeto, especialistas dizem que quem decide sobre a morte dos apóstatas do islã é o Conselho dos Guardiães e o Líder Supremo do Irã.

Especialistas no assunto receiam que a situação pode piorar para os muitos que deixaram de ser muçulmanos.

O Ministério Elam informou que as duas estão “indo bem dentro do possível, e estão se alegrando na fidelidade do Senhor para com elas”. As mulheres perderam muito peso durante sua prisão. Marzieh está sofrendo de fortes dores nas costas, um dente infeccionado e intensas dores de cabeça e Maryam passou por uma intoxicação alimentar muito severa no mês passado.

O Ministério Elam pediu a continuidade das nossas orações por Maryam Rostampour e Marzieh Amirizadeh, pois elas continuam ainda sob o risco das acusações de apostasia e evangelização. Não foram ainda marcadas as novas audiências na justiça contra elas. Nossa campanha continua: escreva agora para o líder do Irã pedindo que a liberdade religiosa seja respeitada segundo a Constituição Iraniana e que Maryam e Marzieh não sejam processadas por apostasia. Existe um projeto de lei no parlamento iraniano que se aprovado implantará a lei muçulmana Sharia sobre apostasia e a pena é de morte para aqueles que deixam de ser muçulmanos. As irmãs continuam sob risco de vida. Escreva agora, bastam dois cliques, instruções aqui. Deus te abençoe por esses dois cliques e cinco minutos de seu tempo.

“Maryam e Marzieh nos inspiraram muito a todos nós”, disse o Diretor do Ministério Elam Sr. Sam Yeghnazar numa declaração à imprensa. “Seu amor pelo Senhor Jesus e sua fidelidade a Deus foram um testemunho incrível”.

“A Open Doors (Portas Abertas) está agradecida pela libertação dessas duas mulheres e nós louvamos a Deus que permitiu que ela estejam segurasm em suas casas agora”, disse um trabalhador da Portas Abertas que está na linha de frente junto aos cristãos no Irã e pediu para não ser identificado. “Mas nós continuamos a orar por elas, para que recuperem sua saúde física e mental. A Portas Abertas também agradece à família cristã mundial por suas orações por elas, mas solicitamos aos nossos irmãos e irmãs que não parem de orar. Elas ainda têm um caminho pela frente”.

A CDN também soube que no dia 13 de outubro de 2009 o líder de uma grande rede de igrejas cristãs na cidade de Rasht, no norte do Irã, foi preso e ainda continua detido. O pastor Yousef Nadarkhani conseguiu contatar a família e está sendo pressionado a renegar Cristo e voltar a ser muçulmano. O pastor Nadarkhani é casado e tem dois filhos com menos de 10 anos de idade.

Outra fonte confirmou que dos 24 cristãos que foram presos numa blitz da polícia no dia 31 de julho de 2009 na área de Fashan – norte de Teerã – seis foram libertados , mas um cristão chamado Shaheen continua preso pois não tem dinheiro para pagar sua fiança. Oremos por eles.

Leiam as palavras vivas de fé em Cristo pronunciadas por Maryam e Marzieh diante do juiz na última audiência, aqui nos parágrafos finais deste artigo.

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Do you ever read Our Daily Bread? Its a short, yet powerful devotional. On Sunday, they had a devotion about persecution. This fetured prayer points from Open Doors USA. Check it out here.

This past Sunday it was International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. All over the world many Christians were gathered in churches or in other groups and prayed for the millions of Christians who are still experiencing intense persecution because they love Jesus Christ.

The first time I heard about persecuted Christians was maybe 20 years ago, and the stories I heard stuck with me. Since then I’ve had a strong interest in knowing about, praying for and supporting my Christian brothers and sisters who pay a heavy price for following Jesus in many countries in the world. I have been supporting Open Doors for many years, and I can’t think of many organizations that I support more fully than Open Doors which was started by the little Dutchman, Brother Andrew in 1955. Each year they publish a list called the World Watch List that tells of the 50 countries where most Christians face the fiercest persecution. This is a sad list of 50 countries where Christians have few rights and where many of them experience severe persecutions.

Here is the World Watch List for this year:

I encourage all of you to check out Open Doors’ website and find info of how you can support, encourage and bring hope to persecuted Christians all over the world.

John 15:18-20: “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you”

2. Timothy 3:12: “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”

Romans 8:35-39: “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Blessings, Torben

Translation here.

Jedes Jahr vereinen sich weltweit Christen zum größten globalen Gebetstag seiner Art: dem internationalen Gebetstag für die verfolgte Kirche. Als Christen in Amerika oder Europa, die wir uns eines großen Maßes an Glaubensfreiheit erfreuen,  können wir uns das vielleicht gar nicht vorstellen, doch auch im Jahr 2009 werden Christen um ihres Glaubens willen verfolgt und zwar in größerem Umfang als je zuvor in der gesamten Kirchengeschichte. Christliche Versammlungshäuser und Bibeln werden verbrannt, Christen  selbst werden benachteiligt, gefangen gehalten, gefoltert, ja ermordet. Sie brauchen unsere Hilfe, Fürsorge, unser Gebet. Die Heilige Schrift fordert uns auf, diesen Mitgläubigen mit praktischer Hilfe und im Gebet beizustehen:

“Gedenket der Gefangenen als Mitgefangene und derer, die Ungemach leiden, als solche, die selbst auch noch im Leibe leben.“

(Hebräer 13,3)

“Tue deinen Mund auf für den Stummen, für das Recht aller Verlassenen! Tue deinen Mund auf, richte recht und verteidige den Elenden und Armen!”

(Sprüche 31, 8 – 9)

Weitere Informationen zum internationalen Gebetstag für die verfolgte Kirche finden Sie auch auf den Homepages der beteiligten Hilfswerke:

* Sonntag der verfolgten Kirche

* Open Doors

* Hilfsaktion Märtyrerkirche

* Aktionskomitee für verfolgte Christen

* Christian Persecution Blog

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United Nations A/C.3/64/L.27 Combating defamation of religions tabled in the third committee. by Belarus, Syrian Arab Republic* and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of):
{A/C.3/64/L.28 Combating defamation of religions is embargoed, I can not determine if it is a competing draft or whether it is related in any way. }

*for the OIC.
The draft resolution is in the form of a 7 page, 56kb pdf consisting of an enumerated list of 25 items, the substantial parts begin on page 2.

Since Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in remarks introducing the current Religious Freedom Report, rejected the concept of defamation of religions and accepted the concept of negative stereotyping:

Now, some claim that the best way to protect the freedom of religion is to implement so-called anti-defamation policies that would restrict freedom of expression and the freedom of religion. I strongly disagree. The United States will always seek to counter negative stereotypes of individuals based on their religion and will stand against discrimination and persecution.

I will begin with references to those concepts.

Defamation occurs twelve times in the draft resolution, beginning with the title.

Stressing that the defamation of religions is a serious affront to human dignity leading to the illicit restriction of the freedom of religion of their adherents and incitement to religious hatred and violence,

That section implies a cause : effect relationship between defamation of religions, restriction of freedom & hatred and violence. Did Christians who viewed the Danish Cartoons subsequently assault Muslims and destroy their property as a result?

Stressing also the need to effectively combat defamation of all religions, and incitement to religious hatred in general,

How do they plan to combat the defamation of Judaism and Christianity in the Qur’an wherein Allah expresses anger toward us, curses us and declares perpetual war against us? Is that really part of their program of action?

Noting with concern that the defamation of religions, and incitement to religious hatred in general, could lead to social disharmony and violations of human rights, and alarmed at the inaction of some States to combat this burgeoning trend and the resulting discriminatory practices against adherents of certain religions,

“Inaction of some states” is a vague term; what does it mean? Is it a reference to Denmark allowing publication of the cartoons and Holland allowing the publication of Fitna? What discrimination against Muslims resulted from those publications?

…sessions, in which the Special Rapporteur highlighted the serious nature of the defamation of all religions and the need to complement legal strategies…

“Legal strategies” is a reference to national and international legislation to criminalize criticism of Islam.

5. Notes with deep concern the intensification of the overall campaign of the defamation of religions, and incitement to religious hatred in general, including the ethnic and religious profiling of Muslim minorities in the aftermath of the tragic events of 11 September 2001;

“Overall campaign of the defamation of religions” ; is one single source defaming more than one religion and inciting religious hatred? Where is religious hatred incited other than in Mosques Madrassas and the state run media of Islamic nations where Jihad against Jews & Christians is preached? Was it Muslims or Mormons who perpetrated that attack and those in London & Madrid? Because Muslims perpetrated those attacks and others in the name of Allah, we are unable to trust Muslims. Failure to profile would be suicidal.

6. Recognizes that, in the context of the fight against terrorism, defamation of religions and incitement to religious hatred in general become aggravating factors that contribute to the denial of fundamental rights and freedoms of members of target groups, as well as their economic and social exclusion;

Does anyone else recognize the non sequitur in that item?

8. Reiterates the commitment of all States to the implementation, in an integrated manner, of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, which was adopted without a vote by the General Assembly on 8 September 200614 and reaffirmed by the Assembly in its resolution 62/272 of 5 September 2008, and which clearly confirms, inter alia, that terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group, stressing the need to reinforce the international community’s commitment to promote a culture of peace, justice and human development, ethnic, national and religious tolerance, and respect for all religions, religious values, beliefs or cultures and prevent the defamation of religions; [Emphasis added.]

Take a good long look at the emphasized clause in item 8. Terrorism is associated with Islam because it is an intrinsic sacrament of Islam, sanctified & exemplified in the Qur’an and confirmed in Moe’s sunnah.

• 3:151 We shall cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve, because they joined others in worship with Allâh, for which He had sent no authority; their abode will be the Fire and how evil is the abode of the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong­doers).
• 8:12 (Remember) when your Lord inspired the angels, “Verily, I am with you, so keep firm those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who have disbelieved, so strike them over the necks, and smite over all their fingers and toes.”
• 33:26 And those of the people of the Scripture who backed them (the disbelievers) Allâh brought them down from their forts and cast terror into their hearts, (so that) a group (of them) you killed, and a group (of them) you made captives.
  • And He caused you to inherit their lands, and their houses, and their riches, and a land which you had not trodden (before). And Allâh is Able to do all things.
• Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 220:
  Narrated Abu Huraira:Allah’s Apostle said, “I have been sent with the shortest expressions bearing the widest meanings, and I have been made victorious with terror (cast in the hearts of the enemy), and while I was sleeping, the keys of the treasures of the world were brought to me and put in my hand.” Abu Huraira added: Allah’s Apostle has left the world and now you, people, are bringing out those treasures (i.e. the Prophet did not benefit by them).

But we must not say or write that: to do so constitutes “defamation”, “negative stereotyping”, and ” incitement to religious hatred & violence”, according to the OIC and their factotums at the UN. Debate must be closed and silence imposed by law, even of truthful expressions which expose Islam’s intrinsic evils.

Does anyone recognize the subsequent non sequitur? Promoting tolerance for the intolerable does not promote peace or justice. Islam is infamous because of its own canonical texts and its continuing history of rapine. Peace & justice would be promoted by recognizing and eliminating aggressive evil.

15. Urges all States to provide, within their respective legal and constitutional systems, adequate protection against acts of hatred, discrimination, intimidation and coercion resulting from the defamation of religions, and incitement to religious hatred in general;

Item 15 asserts that accurate description of the doctrines and practices of Islam incites hatred, intimidation & coercion. It demands the passage & enforcement of national laws to prevent & punish truthful criticism of Islam, including Fitna and this blog post.

17. Welcomes the recent steps taken by Member States to protect freedom of religion through the enactment or strengthening of domestic frameworks and legislations to prevent the defamation of religions and the negative stereotyping of religious groups;

19. Underscores the need to combat defamation of religions, and incitement to religious hatred in general, by strategizing and harmonizing actions at the local, national, regional and international levels through education and awareness-raising, and urges all States to ensure equal access to education for all, in law and in practice, including access to free primary education for all children, both girls and boys, and access for adults to lifelong learning and education based on respect for human rights, diversity and tolerance, without discrimination of any kind, and to refrain from any legal or other measures leading to racial segregation in access to schooling;

To make item 19 honest, indoctrination should be substituted for “education”.

25. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution, including on the possible correlation between defamation of religions and the upsurge in incitement, intolerance and hatred in many parts of the world, to the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session.

Negative stereotyping occurs three times.

2. Expresses deep concern at the negative stereotyping of religions and manifestations of intolerance and discrimination in matters of religion or belief still evident in the world;

They are concerned about Fitna & similar videos, the Danish Cartoons and blog posts which expose Islamic doctrines which sanctify and mandate genocidal warfare & terrorism.

17. Welcomes the recent steps taken by Member States to protect freedom of religion through the enactment or strengthening of domestic frameworks and legislations to prevent the defamation of religions and the negative stereotyping of religious groups;

Truthful exposure of Islamic doctrines & practices does not diminish freedom of religion. Where Allah’s writ runs, as in Egypt, Pakistan & Saudi Arabia, Islam diminishes freedom of religion.

23. Welcomes the initiative by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the expert seminar on freedom of expression and advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, on 2 and 3 October 2008, and requests the High Commissioner to continue to build on this initiative, with a view to concretely contributing to the prevention and elimination of all such forms of incitement and the consequences of negative stereotyping of religions or beliefs, and their adherents, on the human rights of those individuals and their communities;

According to the OIC and their UN factotums, Fitna and the Danish Cartoons are advocacy of religious hatred constituting incitement of violence. The Cartoons depicted Moe as a terrorist, which, by his own admission, he was. Fitna exposed the relationship between Allah’s Jihad imperatives, the hatred preached by Muslim clerics and the violence done by their congregants. In reality, that is not defamation neither is it negative stereotyping nor is it incitement.

The draft resolution is a demand for national and international enforcement of Islam’s blasphemy law, which punishes any negative statement about Allah, his messenger or his book with death.

Reliance of the Traveller’s Book O [Justice]. O8.7 lists 20 things that entail apostasy. Here are a few relevant items in that list.

-4- to revile Allah or His messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace);

-5- to deny the existence of Allah, His beginingless eternality, His endless eternality, or to deny any of His attributes which the consensus of Muslims ascribes to Him (dis: v1);

-6- to be sarcastic about Allah’s name, His command, His interdiction, His promise, or His threat;

-7- to deny any verse of the Koran or anything which by scholarly consensus (def: b7) belongs to it, or to add a verse that does belong to it;

-15- to hold that any of Allah’s messengers or prophets are liars, or to deny their being sent;

(n: `Ala’ al-din’ Abidin adds the following:

-16- to revile the religion of Islam;

-19- to be sarcastic about any ruling of the Sacred Law;

-20- or to deny that Allah intended the Prophet’s message (Allah bless him and give him peace) to be the religion followed by the entire world (dis: w4.3-4) (al-Hadiyya al-`Ala’iyya (y4), 423-24). )

Another provision prescribes the penalty.

O8.1

When a person who has reached puberty and is sane voluntarily apostatizes from Islam, he deserves to be killed.

O8.2

In such a case, it is obligatory for the caliph (A: or his representive) to ask him to repent and return to Islam. If he does, it is accepted from him, but if he refuses, he is immediately killed.

One of the rules applied to dhimmis is equally instructive. What is impermissible to say about Allah or Moe? According to previously quoted statements, it is impermissible to link Islamic violence with Islamic scripture & tradition.

O11.10

The agreement is also violated (A: with respect to the offender alone) if the state has stipulated that any of the following things break it, and one of the subjects does so anyway, though if the state has not stipulated that these break the agreement, then they do not; namely, if one of the subject people:

-3- leads a Muslim away from Islam;

-5- or mentions something impermissible about Allah, the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), or Islam.

The passage of these Defamation of Religion resolutions gives an unwarranted aura of legitimacy to the blasphemy laws enforced in Pakistan and other Islamic countries. Those laws are frequently used to persecute innocent victims, including indigenous Christians, converts to Christianity and missionaries.

Canadian, British, Australian and European critics of Islam have been persecuted, jailed and fined for truthful expressions about Islam. The policy of the Obama administration places our First Amendment right of free expression at risk. The Secretary of State condemns the defamation clauses but supports those alleging negative stereotyping. Both clauses have the same effect: criminalizing accurate description of Islamic doctrines and practices.

We must therefore resist and counter attack. Please sign, support and publicize the following on line petitions.

• International Qur’an Petition
• Free to Believe
• ACLJ

For a long list of links to previous resolutions, related documents and blog posts, refer to Defamation of Religions: Background Info.

External References in the resolution: superscripts refer to footnotes in the draft resolution.

• ¹ICERD
• ²ICCPR
  • For detailed documentation of how Islamic doctrines violate these international covenants, refer to Islam vs Human Rights 64kb chm file compiled from 7 blog posts.
• ³Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief
• ⁴Declaration on the Human Rights of Individuals Who are not Nationals of the Country in which They Live
• ⁵Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities,
• Recalling the relevant resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council in this regard,
  • None specified; assuming the reference is to previous defamation resolutions.
    • E/CN.4/1999/167
    • E/CN.4/2005/135
    • E/CN.4/2004/127
    • E/CN.4/2002/200
    • E/CN.4/2001/167
    • E/CN.4/2000/167
    • A/HRC/4/123
    • A/C.3/60/L.29
    • A/RES/60/150
    • A/RES/61/164
    • A/RES/63/171
    • A/C.3/60/SR.45
    • A/HRC/4/123
    • A/HRC/12/L.l4/Rev
• ⁶United Nations Millenium Declaration
• ⁷Durban Declaration A/CONF.189/12
  • Durban Declaration – A/CONF.189/12 Chapter I – UN Documents
• ⁸Outcome Document of the Durban Review Conference, held in Geneva in April 2009 A/CONF.211/8
• ⁹Taking note of the reports of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance
  • A/HRC/4/19
  • A/HRC/6/6
  • A/HRC/9/12
  • A/HRC/12/38
• ¹⁰Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations, A/RES/56/6
• ¹¹Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the Ministerial Meeting on Human Rights and Cultural Diversity of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Tehran on 3 and 4 September 2007 A/62/464, annex.
  • ¹²A/62/18
  • CERD/C/63/CO/11, para. 20 (10 December2003)
  • CERD/C/63/CO/6, para. 14 (10 December 2003)
  • CERD/C/NGA/CO/18, para. 20 (1 November 2005)
  • CERD/C/TZA/CO/16, para. 20 (1 November 2005)
  • CERD/C/IRL/CO/2,para. 18 (14 April 2005)
  • CERD/C/RUS/CO/19, paras. 16 and 17 (20 August 2008)
• resolution 63/171 of 18 December 2008
• ¹³report of the Secretary-General A/64/209
• ¹⁴United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, A/RES/60/288 General Assembly
• ¹⁵general recommendation XV (42) of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (A/48/18), chap. VIII, sect. B.
• ¹⁶World Programme for Human Rights Education proclaimed by the General Assembly on 10 December 2004 resolutions 59/113 A and B.

Translation here.

Arbeits- und Informationsmaterial zum
“Sonntag der verfolgten Kirche” 2009

Bereits hier habe ich auf den auch in diesem Jahr wieder stattfindenden internationalen Gebetstag für verfolgte Christen (“Sonntag der verfolgten Kirche”) hingewiesen. Wer sich vielleicht erst jetzt entscheidet, mit seiner Gemeinde/seinem Hauskreis ebenfalls am kommenden Sonntag (oder alternativ am Sonntag darauf, 14. November) unserer verfolgten Mitgläubigen zu gedenken und aus diesem Grund noch Informations- oder Arbeitsmaterialien sucht, kann diese kostenlos auf der schweizerischen Seite “Sonntag der verfolgten Kirche” herunterladen. Zur Auswahl stehen:

* Einleitungsbrief (pdf)

* Planungsvorschläge (pdf)

* Die weltweite Verfolgung (pdf)

* Karte zur weltweiten Verfolgung (pdf)

* Infos bzgl. der Gebetsschwerpunkte: Jemen/Laos/Usbekistan

* Das Thema in der Sonntagsschule (pdf)

* Was können wir tun? (pdf)

* Power Point Präsentation zum Sonntag der verfolgten Kirche 2009 (PPT)

Weitere Informationen finden Sie auch auf den Homepages der beteiligten Hilfswerke:

* Sonntag der verfolgten Kirche

* Open Doors

* Hilfsaktion Märtyrerkirche

* Aktionskomitee für verfolgte Christen

* Christian Persecution Blog

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Lord, i ask that you send
wisdom to those
who can change things…
May they know the pain
of being without work..
of being without hope
trying to survive
on Daily  Blessings…..
I ask in faith
that wisdom be found
to change this time
into a time of peace
that all will know
Your gifts
Your blessings…
Your love
Your promice.
Please Let there be
a end to war
and a road to peace..
these things i ask in faith.
that all i need to do
is ask..
Amen..

Translation here.

8. November 2009: Internationaler Gebetstag für verfolgte Christen

Auch im Jahr 2009 ist der Einsatz für verfolgte Christen immer noch dringend nötig – im Gebet, in der praktischen Unterstützung und in dem Christen immer wieder neu für dieses Thema sensibilisiert werden. Gottes Wort ruft uns dazu klar auf:

“Gedenket der Gefangenen als Mitgefangene und derer, die Ungemach leiden, als solche, die selbst auch noch im Leibe leben.”

(Hebräer 13,3)

Darum findet auch in diesem Jahr wieder am 8. November der weltweite Gebetstag für verfolgte Christen statt. Das Hilfswerk Open Doors weist besonders auf drei Themenschwerpunkte für diesen Gebetstag hin:

“Derzeit haben wir die größte Christenverfolgung aller Zeiten. Während wir unsere Gottesdienste in Freiheit feiern, werden sie in über 50 Ländern gestört oder verhindert, Christen zusammengeschlagen, in Gefängnisse gebracht und unter Druck gesetzt, ihren Glauben an Jesus zu verleugnen. Auf die Frage, wie wir ihnen helfen können, antworten sie: „Bitte betet für uns – bitte vergesst uns nicht.“ Aus dieser Bitte ist der „Weltweite Gebetstag für verfolgte Christen“ entstanden, an dem sich weltweit hunderttausende Christen – 2008 in Deutschland mehr als 900 Gemeinden und Hauskreise – beteiligen. Wegen der zunehmenden Verfolgung in Indien, Laos und Zentralasien richtet Open Doors dieses Jahr gemeinsam mit der Evangelischen Allianz und dem Arbeitskreis für Religionsfreiheit (AKREF) den Fokus auf diese Länder. Wir laden Sie herzlich ein, am 8. November 2009 im Gottesdienst Ihrer Gemeinde besonders für die Geschwister in Indien, Laos und Zentralasien zu beten. Alternativ kann es auch der Sonntag vor- oder nach dem 8. November sein.

Laos – Von allen Seiten bedrängt

Bereits seit zehn Jahren befindet sich Laos auf dem Open Doors-Weltverfolgungsindex unter den ersten zehn schlimmsten Christenverfolgerstaaten. Derzeit belegt das Land Platz 8. Doch trotz der Verfolgung sowohl durch die kommunistische Regierung als auch durch die buddhistische oder dem Geisterglauben anhängende Bevölkerung wächst die Kirche in Laos. Die Christen brauchen unsere Unterstützung im Gebet, um standhaft zu bleiben und im Glauben zu wachsen.

Indien – Zunehmende Verfolgung

In einigen Teilen Indiens hat sich die Lage für die Christen deutlich verschlechtert. Im August und September 2008 gingen Hindu-Extremisten im ostindischen Bundesstaat Orissa mehrere Wochen lang brutal gegen Christen vor, töteten viele und zerstörten tausende Häuser und hunderte Kirchen. Bei der Wahl im Juni haben die Extremisten zwar wider erwarten eine Niederlage einstecken müssen, doch geben die in immer mehr Bundesländern eingeführten Antibekehrungsgesetze weiterhin Grund zur Sorge. Sie sollen offiziell Zwangsbekehrungen verhindern, werden jedoch oft genutzt, um Christen zu schikanieren. Den Christen in Indien drohen dunkle Zeiten. Sie bitten um Stärkung im Gebet.

Zentralasien – Wachsen im Untergrund

Viele Länder Zentralasiens sind vom Islam geprägt. Usbekistan, Tadschikistan, Aserbaidschan und Turkmenistan finden sich alle auf dem Weltverfolgungsindex von Open Doors. Gemeinden werden überwacht, christliche Literatur ist schwer zu bekommen und ehemalige Muslime werden von ihren Familien verfolgt. Die wachsenden Gemeinden können sich oft nur im Geheimen treffen. Sie brauchen unser Gebet.”¹

Wenn Sie sich persönlich oder gemeinsam mit Ihrer Gemeinde/ihrem Hauskreis am weltweiten Gebetstag für verfolgte Christen beteiligen möchten (entweder am 08.11. oder alternativ am darauf folgenden Sonntag), so finden Sie hier weitere Informationen:

* Sonntag der verfolgten Kirche

* Open Doors

* Hilfsaktion Märtyrerkirche

* Aktionskomitee für verfolgte Christen

* Christian Persecution Blog

¹= Open Doors Homepage zum weltweiten Gebetstag

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The concept of Home Made Business is that initially business comes from your friends, family and immediate community. Your business will focus on providing personalize, custom services for a great value and based on friendships. Many in your personal community will want to help you get started and will refer their network of people to you. You build your business on that foundation and nurture those relationships. In these difficult times, we are more compassionate and called to help one other.

Meanwhile, you are networking with new people in your community and forging new relationships.

Here’s a review on how a conversation flows when engaging someone new.

Look for and/or initiate opportunities for interaction by respectfully, slightly entering a person’s conversational space (that’s a space where acquaintances talk without having to raise their voices about 4- 5 feet away), then step out of that space to make sure they are comfortable with your engagement. Say hello, comment on or ask a question about something in the surrounding and wait for a response. Try again, comment on or ask another question about a positive current event. If a conversation begins to form, then introduce yourself.

Begin with easy places to start conversations and building relationships

Go to a networking event, everyone wants to talk to everyone.

Get involved in community and charitable events.

Go online.

Invite and go to family and friends get togethers.

Register for courses and/or workshops.

Stay updated with family, friends and new contacts. Go onto social networking sites, reach out to everyone you know, distant family, old friends, co-workers, past clients and new contacts.

Get use to making small talk with everyone you encounter.

Get use to asking people what they do with sincerity and interest.

Be a listener and let others lead the conversation.

Always have your business card with all your social media contact information on it and get use to giving it out.

Join every club, networking group in your field and other interest you may have.

Develop and nurture contacts.

Go out and talk to people, this is not a skill that you can develop on your own. Practice engaging others, in time it will become natural and comfortable. Be authentic! (In the beginning practice with close relatives and friends)

*If you are looking for work, visit small businesses in your field and offer to do consulting work for them. It’s a great way to network and pump up your resume – this can also be a home made business.

Your home made business will thrive if you begin to master these skills. You will have more business from family, friends, and more business from your community.

Good luck. When one door closes another opens!

John

PS - My next post will be a step by step how to start one of the ideas. If you want it to be a particular business idea please let me know. I’ll post the idea that’s requested most.

Photo by niallkennedy

I was reading this week in Isaiah.  I thought the 58^th chapter was fitting due to so many seeking answers from God.  Fasting is great, but if we do not follow through with what God expects outside of fasting, then our prayers will not be answered.  Sacrifice is not enough.  God is looking for total obedience.  100% of our hearts. 

Look at these practical things that we can do to have a spiritual renewal in our life, and then read the Isaiah 58:6-14 in the Message Bible below…

• Don’t just fast from food or entertainment; do right in all areas of your life. (Is. 58:6)
• If you own a business or manage people, don’t treat them unfairly.  (Is. 58:6) 
• Make sure you are a part of feeding, clothing and giving other necessities to people in need.  (Is. 58:7)
• If your family is in need, don’t turn your own family away.  Not just the ones you like, this means the ones in your family that get on your nerves.  (Is. 58:7)
• If you know someone that needs to get out of the weather.  Find shelter for them.  Sure it’s a crazy world and you may be afraid to open your home to a stranger.  But that should not stop us from finding a place for someone to get out of the cold.  There are organizations all over that specialize in this need.  (Is. 58:7)
• Stop being unfair to people.  Even the one that least deserves it.  (Is. 58:9)
• Stop gossiping about people.  Whether it is fact or a lie. Stop criticizing people. Stop spreading rumors.  Be more productive with your words.  (Is. 58:9)
• Be sure to honor God with your time, so you can worship Him.  Be sure you have a Sabbath day that you can celebrate God’s grace to you and your family.  Make sure you’re faithful to your place of worship, so that you not only receive, but you can serve within the body of Christ, His Church.  (Is. 58:13)
• Then God promises to give us fresh revelation.  A renewed mind. A mind able to comprehend spiritual things.(Is. 58:8&10)
• God promises to heal us and keep us in health.  (Is. 58:8&11)
• God promises to answer our prayers. (Is. 58:9)
• God promises to give us direction.  (Is. 58:11)
• God promises to satisfy us with good things.  (Is. 58:11)
• God promises that our children will be blessed and be a blessing.  He will use them to bring restoration and healing to our church, city and society.  (Is. 58:12)
• God promises that our share of the blessing will come to us.  (Is. 58:14) 

Isaiah 58:6-14 (The Message)

 6-9″This is the kind of fast day I’m after:
   to break the chains of injustice,
   get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
   free the oppressed,
   cancel debts.
What I’m interested in seeing you do is:
   sharing your food with the hungry,
   inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
   putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
   being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on,
   and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way.
   The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
   You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, ‘Here I am.’

 9-12″If you get rid of unfair practices,
   quit blaming victims,
   quit gossiping about other people’s sins,
If you are generous with the hungry
   and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out,
Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness,
   your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.
I will always show you where to go.
   I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places—
   firm muscles, strong bones.
You’ll be like a well-watered garden,
   a gurgling spring that never runs dry.
You’ll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew,
   rebuild the foundations from out of your past.
You’ll be known as those who can fix anything,
   restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate,
   make the community livable again.

 13-14″If you watch your step on the Sabbath
   and don’t use my holy day for personal advantage,
If you treat the Sabbath as a day of joy,
   God’s holy day as a celebration,
If you honor it by refusing ‘business as usual,’
   making money, running here and there—
Then you’ll be free to enjoy God!
   Oh, I’ll make you ride high and soar above it all.
I’ll make you feast on the inheritance of your ancestor Jacob.”
   Yes! God says so!

Blessings to you who are seeking God.  God will answer, and direct you. 

Pastor Shannon

These last few months I have found myself in several CRASH courses in life lessons. To be honest, “I love it.” You’ve heard it said - the more you learn the more you come to grips with how much you don’t know. However, the little I do know is revolutionalizing my life in a God way. Sometimes in my thinking I can know and understand something. But, then it’s those times when what you know in your head finds its way to your heart. Well one life lesson was deposited in my heart after I had an opportunity to speak to a group of about 50+ men at a breakfest at a local church here in Omaha. The talk went great, men were inspired, I was energized and everbody benefited. After our time together I left with in one thougt (well I left with several thoughts) and that was, “I can spend my life trying to open doors, or I can walk through the one’s God opens.” I’m opting for the latter. Scripture says, “The steps of a righteous man are ordered by the Lord” (Psalms 37:23). If I just stop and think about that for a moment that has overwhelming implications for me in my life. I have to ask myself the question, “Will I spend the rest of my life making things happen or will I found out what is happening with God and join him?”

Myron

This little entry was in Newfrontiers magazine, and I found it pretty interesting:

Visited Assam and Nagaland – interesting to note that Assam has 1% Christians and 99% non-Christians but the neighbouring state, Nagaland, has 99% Christians and 1% non-Christians.

It is so incredible that in such a sort distance, you can have that drastic change from one to the other.  The good things is that there are people coming to Christ in the Arab world, especially in India and you can see it with that quote. The harvest is ready to be gathered, all we have to do is believe in God and trust in His ways.  I also received this email and thought it was great to know about:

Dear Friend,

When a Muslim comes to faith in Jesus Christ, the one thing they plead for is a Bible.

And now we have been offered a $10,000 Challenge Grant to provide these desperately needed Bibles! But we need your help to meet this challenge!

Sadly, Bibles are scarce in most Islamic countries where it’s illegal to be a Christian. Which is why we have set a goal to deliver at least 5,000 Bibles to our suffering brothers and sisters in these countries over the next four months.

And now… if we meet this $10,000 Challenge Grant… we can meet this goal! But we need your help… which is why I’m asking you to give an online gift to Open Doors today.

Through your gift, you’ll not only help meet the challenge… but help deliver Bibles to Muslim converts who risk their lives every day to follow Christ. You’ll be giving strength, hope, and encouragement to those who so desperately need it.

So thank you for your gift. And thank you for standing with those who are suffering the most for their faith.

Dr. Carl A. Moeller

President/CEO

Open Doors USA

Extreme Flooding in India
   India is experiencing the worst flooding in 100 years. According to the Christian Post, 222 people have died and 2.5 million have been forced from thier homes.

Kidnapped Iraqi Christian Dead
   A 45 year old Iraqi Christian was killed and kidnapped and his body found on Sunday. Since 2003, half the Christian communicty has left Iraq and more continue to leave as violent incidents like this increase.

Christian Arrested for Distributing Tracts in Egypt
   I am continually learning about more and more countries that do not have lawes against Christianity, yet Christians are arrested and persecuted there. This story is one such example.

Justice Comes to Orissa
   Its a small step, but a step nonetheless. Six people were sentenced to 4 years imprisonment for their role in anti-Christian violence. For background information on Orissa check out this past post: Orissa Prayer Campaign

The Paradox of North Korea
   Very few journalists are allowed in North Korea , however, this BBC journalist was given teh unique opportunity to visit “one of the most effective systems of control ever envisaged.”lsdkjf  /zxx.v;p

Testimonies of Discipleship Training for Secret Believers

Open Doors has developed special training courses for secret believers and the impact of those courses is wonderful. These are some of the testimonies that we have received from those who have been a part of our discipleship training programs.

 
Samuel
“I am the only Christian in my family. This makes it difficult for me. When I first became a Christian, I was very open and enthusiastic. I could not stop telling everybody about Jesus and invited many people to my house to talk about Him. It did not take a lot of time before people got offended. I then got arrested by the police and spent two months in jail for my faith.  

“What I loved about this training is that I finally learned about the truth. In Iran I had learned many things, but some of these would speak against each other. I also like to learn about the concept of sin. Not just what is a sin, but the broader perspective. This made a huge impact on me and my daily life.” 

Omid
“Before coming to the training I had a big problem. I saw ‘things’ that were very scary, like dark creatures in my bedroom. I could see them walking around. Sometimes these happenings would have a bad influence on me and I got depressed. The trainers talked to me about this and advised me what to do. What to pray before entering the room, what to pray next, and so on. This helped very well. I did all of this after coming home and since that time the creatures are gone and the problems have been solved, it is over. I am so happy about that.”  

“Also for me the big influence of training was the concept of sin. To know what is sin, the explanation of how it started and what it means for us today. Not just to talk about individual sins and sinners, but the total concept of it, to be away from God. That really helped me.” 

Salar
“I am the only one in the group who was brought up in a Christian home, I am a genuine Christian Background Believer (CBB). Growing up in a Christian home, I knew the Bible well, and knew all the stories. The training helped me putting all the separate stories together. It showed a line in the Bible, that I had not seen before. I learned how to find different Bible verses with the same meaning. This opens a way for giving service to people, helping them in a better way. I see a big need for good teachers and leaders. We have a need for more interaction, discussions and meetings with people. A week like this is so good to just be able to discuss matters and learn from each other.”  

Prime minister Matti Vanhanen welcomed people to Government Palace.

Today all government ministries had open doors day in celebration of the 200 years old Finnish Government. It was a chance to visit places that everybody knows from the news but which are usually off-limits to regular people.

¹⁰ Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.”- Daniel 6:10-11

So many things about this verse inspire me. First of all is Daniel’s passion for prayer. He prayed three times a day every day! And not just little blurbs prayed in the shower or on the commute to work, but serious, set apart pray times with no distractions. Not that I think there is anything wrong with prayers in the shower or in the car, but this verse reminds me of the importance of spending some serious one on one time with God. Something else I love about Daniel is that, when he heard that his government was doing something wrong, he didn’t go complain to his friends or rant and rave on his blog. The first thing he did was pray to God for help. I would say and do a lot less stupid things if my priority was to pray first.

Please join me in having committed prayer every day this week and in praying for the following people/events.

1) Rifqa Barry. I’m sure many of you have heard of this Muslim teen by now, who fled her family in Ohio because she was afraid they would kill her. There is lots of speculation as to whether or not she is really danger. Pray that the truth comes out, that she is protected and pray for wisdom for everyone involved in this case. Pray especially for wisdom for the pastors and Christians involved, as they will probably be scrutinized and be accused of hating Muslims. Pray that the way they handle the situation is a good example of Christ.

2) A tropical storm hit the Philippines this weekend and the consequential flooding has killed hundreds and left thousands without homes. hat same storm, Typhoon Ketsana, hit Vietnam today. Pray for the victims and pray for restoration in both regions. http://www.christianpost.com/article/20090929/typhoon-ketsana-carries-deadly-rampage-over-to-vietnam/index.html

3) Please pray for everyone who is unemployed across the country. I know times are really tough for some people. My dad has been out of work for 6 months and I have many recently graduated friends who cannot get jobs. How about you, readers? Are any of you looking for jobs? Have any of you found jobs recently?

4) Open Doors is hosting an International Day Of Prayer for the persecuted church on Nov. 8. Pray that it helps further educate people about the persecuted church. For more information click on the following link. http://members.opendoorsusa.org/site/PageNavigator/IDOP_2009_LP

5) Please pray for a friend of mine, Jaime, who is pregnant with twins. Pray that she is able to carry them to full term and that there are no complications. I also have a praise report along those lines. My nephew, Logan, was born on Friday night. Totally healthy, no complications, and he’s pretty cute to boot.

Do any of you have prayer requests or praise reports? Let me know and I’ll include them in next week’s Monday=Prayday.