Missouri Christians Clean up after Protests, Minister to Hurting Individuals

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Missouri Christians Clean up after Protests, Minister to Hurting Individuals

The morning after a St. Louis County grand jury decided not to indict police officer Darren Wilson for the death of Michael Brown, pastor Rodrick Burton drove to New Northside Missionary Baptist Church, minutes from Ferguson, to pick up the church van and a few cleaning supplies. Congregants texted him asking how they could help, and he told them it was time to help their neighbors: cleaning up businesses damaged by the riots and helping transport people who felt unsafe out of the area in the church van.

At South City Church, worship and outreach coordinator Michelle Higgins kept soup warm and the church doors open for anyone—including protesters, off-duty police, fearful community members—to find a space for prayer and rest. The church was stocked with medics, sleeping bags, hot dinner, and prayer services, but some just needed a moment to sit in silence as the jury’s decision “spoke deep, deep hurt to their souls,” Higgins said. Other churches in the city similarly prepared for the aftermath of the grand jury decision by creating care centers.

Higgins, an African-American who has lived in St. Louis her whole life, said church members gathered around a computer speaker to hear last night’s announcement on the radio because the church’s internet stopped working. Higgins said when she heard Wilson would not be indicted, “all the blood rushed out of my body.” To her, the decision indicated the justice system valued some people more than others, she said.

Later that night, she and about 10 other Christians from nearby PCA churches joined a largely peaceful protest in South City, about 10 miles south of Ferguson. A predominately non-black crowd shut down Highway 44 and blocked a main intersection. During a lull in the momentum, a few opportunists set a garbage can on fire and vandalized buildings, but other protesters stopped most of the unruly behavior, she said. Law enforcement responded by tear gassing the entire crowd.

In Ferguson, protests became more destructive and violent, with the sound of gunshots and flames engulfing businesses. Burton, who also is African-American, believes the clergy at St. Louis churches should focus on the protesters’ “sin of retribution” rather than only pointing to the sin of the government.

While he doesn’t know what compelled Wilson to shoot, “I do know that Christ is consistent in that we are supposed to pray for our enemy and we are suppose to forgive. The clergy don’t even dare bring that sentiment forward to the table, and when they do, it’s from a position that we are more righteous than them…Read More

Source and Original Content by Christian Headlines

Christian Village Saved from IS Attack

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Christian Village Saved from IS Attack

A Christian village in Lebanon has been saved from being overrun by Islamic State forces by a British-built watchtower

According to the Daily Telegraph,the Tango 10 watchtower – one of a chain of 12 built at high speed along the Lebanese border with Syria during the last few months – was all that stood between Islamic State and the village of Ras Baalbek.

The tower, which is platform for artillery, covers the pass leading to the village. A member of the British team responsible for the construction of the tower, made of shipping containers welded together and wire cages, told the newspaper that it had foiled an attempted invasion. “When the invasion came, a line of vehicles split off and headed for Ras Baalbek,” the team member said. “Then they stopped and looked up at the watchtower and all its artillery waiting for them. They turned around.”

Of the Islamic State fighters, one of the team, made up of former officers and engineers, said: “They are drugged to the eyeballs and think they are going to paradise. It’s a pretty tough enemy for anyone.”

The watchtowers stretch half-way along the country’s eastern border and more are planned. They create ‘overlapping arcs’ of sight, meaning that the border is far better protected. “You can’t imagine what it was like when we got out here first,” one former officer said. “There were a few guys behind some tyres filled with rocks with a 50 cal [machine gun]…Read More

Source and Original Content by CT

Christian Students told to Wear Headscarves and Sent Outside to Pray

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Christian Students told to Wear Headscarves and Sent Outside to Pray

Malaysia’s Education Ministry is investigating claims that Christian students had to pray outside, as they were not allowed to use any of the rooms inside the college.

It was reported on Saturday that students at the Labuan Matriculation College, Sabah, were ‘forced’ to pray under a tree and not inside the college.

Daily Express, a regional newspaper, also reported that any non-Muslim students who wanted to participate in the students’ parliament would have to wear head coverings – a songkok (traditional cap worn by Muslim men) and tudung (headscarves) for women.

Parents were reported saying: “The poor students are forced to say their prayers under the sun or tree in the compound. Even then, the security guard would allegedly harass them [students] to hurry up, forcing them to stop even before they can finish praying.

“This is ridiculous, especially when freedom of worship is guaranteed in the Federal Constitution and the nation’s leaders keep reiterating this.”

Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh told The Star: “These claims are serious, but we need to remember that in our country, especially in schools, there is a budaya kasih sayang [culture of love].

“These incidents have happened, but they do not represent our country nor our culture,” he said.

This is not the first time there have been concerns about religious liberties at the college. In July 2012, there were reports that several Christian students had being pressured to convert to another faith.

Source and Original Content by CT

Unbroken: Based on A True Story

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Unbroken: Based on A True Story

Based on the incredible true story.
Unbroken, an epic drama that follows the incredible life of Olympian and war hero Louis “Louie” Zamperini (Jack O’Connell) who, along with two other crewmen, survived in a raft for 47 days after a near-fatal plane crash in WWII—only to be caught by the Japanese Navy and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp.

Adapted from Laura Hillenbrand’s (“Seabiscuit: An American Legend”) enormously popular book, Unbroken brings to the big screen Zamperini’s unbelievable and inspiring true story about the resilient power of the human spirit.

Starring alongside O’Connell are Domhnall Gleeson and Finn Wittrock as Phil and Mac—the airmen with whom Zamperini endured perilous weeks adrift in the open Pacific—Garrett Hedlund and John Magaro as fellow POWs who find an unexpected camaraderie during their internment, Alex Russell as Zamperini’s brother, Pete, and in his English-language feature debut, Japanese actor Miyavi as the brutal camp guard known only to the men as “The Bird.”

The Investigator

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The Investigator

The Investigator
Sergeant James Buanacore is about to start the most important investigation of his life.
James is approaching 20 years on the force, when a drug bust goes tragically bad. The death of the apparent suspect, an innocent bystander, leads to James being forced out of the job he loves and into early retirement.

Soon after, James’ wife Stephanie experiences a late term miscarriage. James is devastated, and once a God fearing religious man, he begins to wonder and question his faith. Depression and anger sets in and not even a job offer from Paul, his movie star brother, can get him off the couch.

Then, through a friend, Paul sets James up with an interview for a job at a local Christian High School as a part time criminal justice teacher and baseball coach. This interests James, and he accepts.

James brings his cop like mentality to the job, which doesn’t sit right with some of the students. James struggles as he’s faced with rebellious students, an unsupportive principal, and a youth pastor who is hiding something. He even considers quitting, until a challenge from one of his students leads him to start an investigation that will change his life – and his student’s lives, forever.