Assyrian Christians Are Surrounded by ISIS Jihadists in Latest Attack; 51 Children and 84 Women Among Kidnapped Hostages

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Assyrian Christians Are Surrounded by ISIS Jihadists in Latest Attack; 51 Children and 84 Women Among Kidnapped Hostages

assyrian iraq christian(Photo: Reuters/Omar Sanadiki)An Assyrian woman attends a mass in solidarity with the Assyrians abducted by Islamic State fighters in Syria earlier this week, inside Ibrahim al-Khalil church in Jaramana, eastern damascus March 1, 2015. Militants in northeast Syria are now estimated to have abducted at least 220 Assyrian Christians this week, a group monitoring the war reported.

Christian Post Report – Assyrian Christians have reported a new attack by terror group ISIS in the city of Hassaké in Syria, where the jihadists were successfully pushed back by local Kurdish militia before the latest insurgence. Reports have said that negotiations for the previously 232 kidnapped Assyrian Christians have stalled, among whom are 51 children and 84 women.

“We are going through a terrible moment. The jihadists of the Islamic State attacked Hassaké for two days. They were warded off by the army and Kurdish militias. But we are cut off, like an island surrounded by jihadists from all sides,” said Syrian Catholic Archbishop Jacques Behnan Hindo, head of Archieparchy in Hassaké-Nisibi, according to Fides News Agency.

ISIS has captured a number of cities across Iraq and Syria and has raided Assyrian villages on a number of occasions.

In February it kidnapped close to 300 people from 35 different villages in the Hasakah province. The terror group later released dozens of the hostages, but has since been demanding close to $30 million to free the others.

Hindo revealed that negotiations for the release of the hostages have stalled, however.

“According to the information we have, it is almost certain that the 232 Assyrian Christians the jihadists took hostage when they attacked the villages in the valley of the river Khabour are still held in al-Shaddadi,” he revealed, adding that 51 children and 84 women are among those taken.

While new reports have put the number demanded by ISIS closer to $23 million, the Syrian archbishop admitted that the money is simply beyond the reach of Assyrians in the region.

“Those of Daesh usually ask what they know they can get. In this case, the goal of getting $100,000 for each hostage would be completely unattainable, and they know it,” he said.

“Let us not forget that every day we deal with people who come to us and act as intermediaries, and ask for money. There are people who take advantage of the sufferings of Christians to make money. And this does not only happen here. Now we are thinking about a new attempt to reopen negotiations on a new basis.”

Earlier in April, an officer within the Assyrian leadership who wasn’t named also told Fox News that the money is too much, and suggested that ISIS is hoping to force other countries to help gather it.

“They know we cannot come up with this kind of money, so they are hoping other groups and countries will come up with the money,” the official said.

Earlier this week AINA News reported that ISIS has bombed Assyrian and Armenian churches in another attack in Syria, close to the Khabur river where the hundreds of hostages were kidnapped in February.

The report added that all 3,000 Assyrians living in those villages have now fled the region, with some emigrating to Lebanon.

Source : Christian Post

Opened to Earth, Closed to Heaven

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And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
— Genesis 3:8

  • Greg Laurie
    (Photo: rever Hoehne for Harvest Ministries)
    Greg Laurie, senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California and Harvest Orange County in Irvine, California, shares the Gospel with a sold-out crowd of 19,000 for Harvest America at the American Airlines Center and Victory Park in Dallas, Texas, Oct. 5, 2014.

Christian Post Report – If you happen to hear a dirty joke and don’t get it, way to go. All too often, we know more about this wicked world than we need to know. And we know far too less about God’s Word, which we need to grow. Writing to the believers in Rome, the apostle Paul said, “I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil” (Romans 16:19).

When Adam and Eve sinned, their eyes were opened to Earth and closed to Heaven. Then God showed up. It appears from the way it is stated in the text that this was a daily occurrence. And normally it would have been a welcomed visit. But this time Adam wasn’t waiting for the Lord’s arrival. Rather, he was hiding.

It’s interesting to note when God came to Adam. It wasn’t in the heat of the day, lest Adam would think God was coming to him in the heat of His passion. Nor did God come to Adam in the early morning, lest Adam would think God couldn’t wait to punish him for his sin. No, God came to Adam in the cool of the day, loving and patient, yet hurt and demanding confession.

Sometimes when we sin, we will find a way to rationalize it. We might even assume that maybe God is okay with it because the consequences aren’t yet evident. But God is never okay with sin. And know this: The Bible says, “Your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23). If you were to translate that from the original language, it ultimately would read like this: Your sin will find you out. It will come out—maybe today, maybe tomorrow, maybe a month from now, or maybe ten years from now. But it will find you out.

Copyright © 2015 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000

Used with Permission

Source : Christian Post

God’s Promises to the Generous

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2 Corinthians 9:6-11

  • Dr. Charles F. Stanley
    (Photo: In Touch Ministries)
    Dr. Charles F. Stanley (File).

Christian Post Report – The principle of sowing and reaping is a universal truth ordained by God; it applies not only in agriculture, but also in the area of giving. Despite the fact that the Lord promises an abundant harvest for those who give generously, many Christians still struggle with releasing their grip on money.

Some fear that they won’t have enough if they give. Others, pulled by greed, are unwilling to sacrifice pleasures and comforts. Those who succumb to their fears or stinginess will miss out on the great harvest God wants to give them.

In the midst of a chaotic economy and uncertain times, we can find our security in the Lord. His ways are often the opposite of our natural tendencies. The world says that to have enough, we must acquire more. Today’s passage says that in giving generously, we will have an abundance of both provision for our needs (bread) and resources to continue our generosity (seed).

Beyond this, the Lord also promises that the harvest of our righteousness will increase, and we will be “enriched in everything for all liberality” (v. 11). God’s riches encompass so much more than earthly wealth. Generosity produces godly character, which is valuable now and in eternity.

Although we have been given the promise of a bountiful harvest, it will be realized only by those who sow abundantly. In following God’s plan for giving, you can be free of worry because the One who guarantees you a harvest is also the omnipotent Lord who is able to produce it.

Used with permission from In Touch Ministries, Inc. © 2015
All Rights Reserved.

Source : Christian Post

Nepal Quake Collapses Churches on Worshippers During Service; Bodies Still Not Recovered

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Nepal Quake Collapses Churches on Worshippers During Service; Bodies Still Not Recovered
NepalChurch The Christian Post

Nepal Army looking for bodies at Baton of Salvation Church in Kathmandu

Christian Post Report – KATHMANDU, Nepal – Bodies of Christian worshippers are still buried under the debris of their church buildings, which collapsed when a 7.8-magnitude earthquake shook Nepal last Saturday. Hundreds of Christians are among thousands who are dead.

Nepal Army is helping clear debris from destroyed buildings, a task that is expected to take weeks, if not months, as hundreds of thousands of structures have collapsed across Nepal and more than 6,000 bodies have been recovered.

Some of these bodies are of Christian worshippers who were attending services when the earthquake struck around noon on April 25.

Among the worst-hit is Kathmandu Valley, where about 400 churches, including house churches, meet for worship.

At least two churches in Kathmandu, the national capital, are known to have collapsed with believers and pastors in the buildings. Local Christian volunteers are surveying to find out the extent of damage to Christian buildings and lives.

At least 26 Christians, incluidng Pastor Neema Sherpa and his wife, died when the seven-storey building they were holding a worship service in collapsed. The Kanan Church had rented this building in Sukedhara, Kathmandu.

The Baton of Salvation Church in Buddha Park, Kathmandu, was also completely damaged. At least 15 bodies, including that of Pastor Elia Ghale and his son, had been pulled out, and armymen were trying to look for more.

A church in Kapan village near Kathmandu also collapsed and killed 80 believers. Another church in Sitapaila village near Kathmandu was also destroyed, leaving 70 dead.

A church in Lamosangu village in Sindhupalanchowk district collapsed with about 100 believers, and all are feared dead.

Another church in Ree village in Dhading district was fully damaged while over 150 believers were worshipping.

Saturday is a holiday in Nepal, and not Sunday, and therefore churches prefer to meet for worship on Saturdays.

Some of the worst affected areas that remain cut off – Dhading, Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts – have many churches, too.

About 2 percent of Nepal’s 28 million people are Christian, according to the government census.

A team, comprising about two-dozen workers from around the world, of international Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse is on the ground in Kathmandu to help all earthquake victims.

“The people of Nepal have experienced an incredible tragedy and are in desperate need of clean water, shelter and medical care,” said Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham in a statement. “We intend to do everything we can to help and support them both physically and emotionally in the days and weeks ahead.”

An airlift of 60 tons of relief supplies, including plastic sheeting for emergency shelter, blankets, tents, clean water, hygiene items and cooking kits, is being coordinated by the relief team and is expected to arrive in the country on Saturday, the group said.

Additional emergency materials have been procured and are being arranged for delivery in Kathmandu via ground transportation trucks, it said. “These materials will help 15,000 households in need. Food distributions of rice, lentils and salt are also being coordinated for Friday and Saturday in two hard-hit districts northeast of Kathmandu.”

Many other international Christian organizations are working towards relief and rehabilitation in Nepal.

Source : Christian Post

Ne-Yo Joins Kirk Franklin in Defending Trap Gospel Music Made Popular by Erica Campbell: ‘God Says Make A Joyful Noise’

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  • Ne-Yo
    (Photo: REUTERS/Danny Moloshok)
    Singer Ne-Yo arrives at the 42nd American Music Awards in Los Angeles, California November 23, 2014.

Shaffer Chimere Smith, known commonly as singer-songwriter Ne-Yo, is a secular music artist who believes in the new “trap gospel” sound hitting airwaves and defended it in a recent interview.

Christian Post Report – Ne-Yo referenced God saying “make a joyful noise,” which can be found in Psalm 98:4 and Psalm 100:1, when explaining his thoughts on trap gospel to HipHollywood recently.

“God said make a joyful noise,” the singer said. “He didn’t say make a trap noise, make a gospel noise, make a country noise, he said make a noise. So it’s all good.”

Erica Campbell helped usher in the “trap gospel” sound with her single “I Luh God” recently. Trap gospel is a fusion of God centered lyrics over a trap music beat. Trap rap “is defined by the content of its lyrics, but it also comes with a trademark sound: booming 808-style sub-bass kick drums, twitchy sixty-fourth-note hi-hats, dive-­bombing tom fills, and chilly cinematic strings,” according to a Chicago Reader report.

While some may be weary of the new sound fusing gospel and trap music, veteran gospel music artist, writer and producer Kirk Franklin came to Campbell’s defense when appearing on NPR recently.

“I just commend her efforts, man. I think that trying to make a message that’s old as many millennia and try to make it culturally relevant, it’s always a tough job,” he said. “I always try to remember the heart of the person doing it and I am very, very good friends with Erica. She has a great heart for God, she has a great heart for ministry and I just believe that the heart always wins.”

Franklin previously told The Christian Post that he believes gospel music should be in tune with the culture of the world instead of focusing solely on the church.

“People don’t live at church, they live in the real world. So music has to reflect that how people live, what they’re doing as they go through their trials in life,” he told CP. “So I just hope and pray that we’re always able to tap into that and be that voice for people.”

Source : Christian Post

Christian UFC Fighter Jon ‘Bones’ Jones Suspended Indefinitely After Fleeing From Hit And Run Scene, UFC Fighter Michael ‘Mayday’ Tells Jones Give Jesus Burdens

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  • Jon 'Bones' Jones
    (Photo: Twitter/Jon Jones)
    Jon Jones is the youngest UFC title holder in the history of the sport.

Jon “Bones” Jones, the Christian UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, was suspended indefinitely from the league Wednesday and stripped of his title after his alleged involvement in a hit-and-run accident, but the bantamweight division UFC fighter Michael “Mayday” McDonald wants the troubled athlete to know there is still hope in Jesus Christ.

Jones, 27, was arrested after fleeing the scene when his Buick SUV allegedly ran a red light and hit a car belonging to a pregnant woman, causing her to collide with a third car on Sunday in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The fighter who USA Today gave its top rank placement initially fled the scene, while the pregnant woman broke her arm, according to MMA Junkie reports.

According to a police report obtained by CNN, Jones fled the scene but returned to get some cash from his SUV before hopping a fence and running away. Albuquerque police officials reportedly found a marijuana pipe, marijuana and lists “drugs or medication” as a factor contributing to Jones making an illegal turn that caused the accident.

After car rental papers were found with Jones’ information, a warrant was issued for his arrest and he was eventually taken into police custody. UFC President Dana White took to “FOX Sports Live” to announce that Jones, with a record of 21-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC, would be suspended from the league indefinitely and stripped of his championship title.

Reebok also issued a statement, dropping its endorsement with Jones, ESPN reports. However, UFC fighter Michael “Mayday” McDonald, took to Twitter to share an important message with his fellow Christian athlete.

McDonald tweeted that he knew how Jones felt to feel empty despite his success, and recalled a time when he hit rock bottom. However, he has found solace in God and a church program called Celebrate Recovery for the past six years.

After detailing his own struggles and path that led him to surredender his life to Jesus Christ, McDonald shared a special message with Jones.

“Jon, if you read this, Jesus is the only one who can fill these empty areas of your heart, brother… I’ve been where you are,” he tweeted. “I’ve felt the emptiness while you have the world at your disposal… and I’ve felt the confusion of not knowing why I was still unhappy when I had everything I ever wanted…”

And McDonald offered Jones another perspective.

“Jesus is the only one who will ever be able to fill your heart. He put you where you are, brother… He can make this journey bearable,” McDonald wrote. ” You just gotta surrender to him, brother. Jesus is strong enough take all your burdens… no matter how much you accomplish, no matter how many records you break, and no matter how many men you walk through… you will always be empty until you allow God to fill the areas of your heart that you look to MMA for.”

Jones, who describes himself as a “proud Christian” on Twitter, wrote a message to his fans Tuesday.

“Got a lot of soul searching to do,” he tweeted. “Sorry to everyone I’ve let down.”

Source : Christian Post

ISIS Crucifies 3 Brothers in Libya After One Was Accused of Supporting Gov’t

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ISIS Crucifies 3 Brothers in Libya After One Was Accused of Supporting Gov’t
ISIS Crucifies (Photo: Screengrab/JustPaste.It)

A masked ISIS militant reads the charges facing the two men tied to a cross, who were later shot in the back of the head for banditry, Mosul, Iraq.

Christian Post Report – Islamic State militants in the group’s Libyan outpost of Derna have publicly crucified three brothers belonging to a local prominent family after one of the brothers was accused of supporting the Libyan government, which under ISIS’ Sharia law is equivalent to the executable offense of apostasy.

According to the Libya Herald, a photo circulated last week purporting to show three members of the Harir Al-Mansouri family being crucified near the group’s Islamic court in the Mediterranean coastal town of Derna, after they refused to turn over their brother, whom the group accused of supporting the Libyan National Army.

The report adds that as many as eight members of the family, including two sisters, were killed when the militant group began a 12-hour bombardment on the family’s home when they refused to surrender their brother. The public crucifixion was supposed to serve as a warning to the town’s residents to not challenge the sovereignty and authority of ISIS.

“They were possibly dead at the time,” the report indicated. “Islamic ‘crucifixion’ is a punishment used by some fundamentalists against those accused of warring against Islam, in which the dead bodies of those executed are left exposed for a number of days as a warning to others. It has been used by Islamists in Syria.”

An unnamed anti-ISIS activist, who has sources within the militant group, told Newsweek that the dead bodies of the men were left out for public view for about five hours.

“The took them and crucified them near the court,” the activist explains. “They were kept for five hours and then some of the elders came and took them to bury them. For the first time, I was thinking that I was not in Libya, it’s like you are in Syria or Iraq.”

The activist also explained that one of the Harir sisters named Faiza was thought to have killed the ISIS military operations leader in Derna. She was reportedly injured in the clash with the militant group and later received medical help at a hospital where ISIS found and killed her.

The activist also told Newsweek that ISIS militants in Derna plan on forcing the town’s residents to join the group as a way to increase membership within the military ranks. He explained that ISIS has advertised an upcoming religious lecture in the town entitled “The Start and The End” and it is believed that after the lecture, the group will begin forcefully making Derna residents join the group or risk being executed as apostates.

“The situation is really, really bad nowadays, They are going to ask all people to declare their allegiance to the caliphate and if they don’t do it, they will punish them,” the activist asserted. “A friend of mine who is working with ISIS said that they will force people to go to ISIS and declare because they want help in the war.”

The activist further explained that many residents in the town have already made up their minds that they will not be joining the militant group.

“The people have already decided on this part. They will not go. They will not participate and they will keep themselves in their houses,” he said. “[ISIS] will kill them [if they don’t pledge.] If you don’t join them it’s like apostasy, you will not be a believer.”

The activist sees the public crucifixion of the three Harir family members tying in with the upcoming effort by ISIS to force residents to join the group.

“If [ISIS] are to do that, it’s that they think they have showed that there is no choice. They probably feel that the grip of terror that they have is enough now to have people scared and have people come in and pledge allegiance to the Islamic State,” the activist argued. “It sends a clear message that if you do not pledge allegiance to ISIS you are not just endangering yourself, you’re endangering your own family. It thinks people have no choice, the people that did not pledge allegiance to IS before, they will have to do it.”

A Libyan Army commander announced on Monday that ISIS killed five journalists working for a Libyan TV station, who went missing in August, in the eastern city of Bayda.

“We are deeply shocked by this brutal slaughter,” International Federation of Journalists President Jim Boumelha was quoted by Yahoo News as saying. “ISIS aims to horrify but we can only feel great sorrow and further resolve to see the killers held accountable.”

ISIS Training Newborns, Young Children To Kill

ISIS Training Newborns, Young Children To Kill

Source : Christian Post

Prisoners Prayed, Sang ‘Amazing Grace’ During Executions in Indonesia

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Prisoners Prayed, Sang ‘Amazing Grace’ During Executions in Indonesia
Indonesian Prisoners (Photo: Reuters/Nyiimas Laula)

The body of Brazilian Rodrigo Gularte, who was executed earlier, arrives at a funeral home in Jakarta, Indonesia April 29, 2015.

Christian Post Report – Eight prisoners in Indonesia reformed by Christianity sang and prayed as they walked to their executions Wednesday morning, witnesses said.

The eight prisoners included two Australians (Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan); four Africans (Raheem Agbaje Salami, Sylvester Obiekwe Nwolise, Okwudili Oyatanze, and Martin Anderson); and one each from Brazil (Rodrigo Gularte); and Indonesia (Zainal Abidin bin Mgs Mahmud Badarudin), who were convicted of drug trafficking in Indonesia, a country with harsh penalties for smuggling, including life in prison and the death penalty.

“When they were being put on the cross for execution, they were singing on the crosses and we were in a tent not too far away from the execution place trying to support them,” Father Charlie Burrows told News Corp Australia

And as the executions began, pastor Christie Buckingham’s husband, Rob, told an Australian radio station that the prisoners began to sing hymns and pray. As the executioners opened fire, the prisoners began singing “Amazing Grace,” which provided inspiration to those gathered to mourn the losses and seeming injustice.

“She told me the eight of them walked out onto the killing field singing songs of praise.” They conducted themselves with “dignity and strength until the end,” Buckingham said.

The case brought international criticism and prayers for the prisoners to be released. One prisoner was seemingly spared, but it was later revealed that her execution will be carried out at another time. Indonesian Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo explained why the executions were necessary.

“We are fighting a war against horrible drug crimes that threaten our nation’s survival. I would like to say that an execution is not a pleasant thing. It is not a fun job. But we must do it in order to save the nation from the danger of drugs. We are not making enemies of countries from where those executed came. What we are fighting against is drug-related crimes,” Prasetyo told the AFP.

Yet the executions have caused strife with the countries where the executed were from, as well as the larger international community. Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan and Foreign Minister Aminu Wali pleaded for their four citizens to be granted pardon. Australia recalled its ambassador, and the European Union expressed its “dismay” with the decision to carry out the execution and asked for a moratorium of all further executions.

“They asked for mercy, but there was none,” the families of Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran said in a statement.

The remaining prisoner, a Filipino woman named Mary Jane Veloso, has attorneys preparing to present a case that she is a victim of human trafficking who had no choice but to participate in drug trafficking. Veloso was due to be executed along with the seven others but was spared at the last moment, much to the delight of the public. However, she still faces the real possibility of being executed should her attorneys not be able to make the case.

“Everything will depend on the outcome of the investigation and its conclusion, which will help determine and identify those responsible in drug trafficking and human smuggling. If we are able to file charges and convict them and establish that Mary Jane is a victim, that’s the time we could request again for clemency,” foreign ministry spokesman Charles Jose said at a news conference.

“We are currently reviewing the postponement and we will take every possible step to get her death sentence canceled by the president,” attorney Agus Salim said at a conference in Jakarta.

Source : Christian Post

North Korean Delegate Says More Human Rights Violations Took Place in US Than in Communist Regime While Disrupting UN Event Showcasing Testimonies of Defectors

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North Korean Delegate Says More Human Rights Violations Took Place in US Than in Communist Regime While Disrupting UN Event Showcasing Testimonies of Defectors
The United Nations (Photo: Reuters/Carlo Allegri)

The United Nations headquarters building is pictured though a window with the UN logo in the foreground in Manhattan.

NEW YORK — A representative of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea disrupted the United Nations’ “Human Rights in the DPRK” event with an anti-U.S. rant in an attempt to discredit the North Korean defectors’ testimonies on Thursday, April 30.

Organized by the United States and South Korea, the special event at the United Nations headquarters in New York City was moderated by award-winning author Barbara Demick and featured the testimonies of three North Korean defectors who shed light on the atrocities they endured before gaining asylum in various other countries. Following Joseph Kim’s opening description of early life in North Korea, including losing his father to starvation and his own narrow escape from the same fate, a diplomat from North Korea’s U.N. mission interjected with a tirade directed at both the defectors and the U.S.

The Christian Post attended the event which took place at 10:30 a.m. on April 30, 2015 in Conference Room 3 of the U.N. and witnessed the interruption first hand.

Speaking mostly in Korean, Jay Jo, the delegate from the Kim Jong Un-led nation attempted to speak over the panel of defectors, denouncing their accounts of human rights abuses in the DPRK. At one point, the DPRK delegate suggested that more human rights violations took place in the U.S. rather than in North Korea. Minutes into the interruption, the diplomat was silenced with threats of forced removal by U.N. security.

Shortly after resuming the event with the testimony of a second defector, the DPRK delegate and his companion stormed out of the conference room. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power later apologized for the North Korean’s interruption, deeming his statements “totally self-discrediting.”

Power also closed the “Human Rights in the DPRK” event with three themes from the defectors’ stories; starvation, torture, and forced repatriation.

“These are just a few stories of millions,” Power noted before urging the public to view the situation in North Korea as a not only a human rights issue, but also an issue of international peace and security.

“We must ensure that their voices, and the voices of other defectors, are amplified, here at the U.N., at the Security Council and well beyond,” the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. added. “We must not be satisfied with telling the stories, but we have to collectively continue to ramp up the pressure on this regime so that this system, the system built to strip people of their most basic rights and dignity, comes to an end, and the perpetrators behind the kind of terror and forced starvation that we’ve heard about, are brought finally to account.”

For more from the U.N.’s “Human Rights in the DPRK” event, stay tuned to The Christian Post.

Source : Christian Post

American Idol XIV Finalist Tyanna Jones Details Finding Her Own Relationship With God, Struggles With Anxiety (Exclusive)

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American Idol XIV Finalist Tyanna Jones Details Finding Her Own Relationship With God, Struggles With Anxiety (Exclusive)
Tyanna Jones (Photo: Michael Becker / FOX. )

Tyanna Jones performs on “American Idol XIV” Wednesday, April 15

Christian Post Report – She had her doubts about surviving the competition created to find the best voices in the country, but at just 16, Tyanna Jones is officially leaving the “American Idol” competition with a renewed sense of faith.

Jones was handpicked out of thousands of hopefuls to sing her way to the top five contestants in the competition. Still, there can only be one winner of “American Idol XIV” and the Jacksonville, Florida, native knew that at any point she could be the next one to go.

One day before learning she was eliminated from the competition, Jones spoke to The Christian Post about her faith helping her get through the competition.

“There [are] times when I really don’t know what’s going on. I never [know] when I’m going to make it through,” Jones told The Christian Post. “Sometimes you’re more sure of yourself than other times but I would hate my performance so much that I would be like ‘I’m going home.’ Then I’d just pray and ask God to deal with me and help me and reveal to me and a comfort would come upon me and I would remember how blessed I already am.”

The 16-year-old honed both her faith and voice in the same place, church. At just six years old, she asked her mother if she could sing in front of their church since the matriarch was supposed to do so, but was not feeling well.

“I think it’s kind of like the typical started singing at a young age at a choir in church and from then on I kind of realized that’s what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” Jones said.

Even though the budding singer was raised in and around the church, there comes a time when people have to get to know God for themselves aside from what they are conditioned to believe. Jones recalls a time when she really began an intimate relationship with God, after struggling with some anxiety.

“I think what really showed me [God] was personal reasons that I had struggled with like anxiety and being paranoid about things, suffering with things that I shouldn’t be suffering with. Things that people my age shouldn’t be worried about, I was struggling with,” Jones admitted. “And one day I just got on my knees and prayed and like really, really, really, prayed and asked for forgiveness for the things that I had done that I know I should not have done. Just really crying out to God and asking Him for forgiveness, that’s when it really became really reassuring to me that there is a God who wants to help me.”

The high school student doesn’t believe her age played much of a factor during her time on “American Idol XIV.” However, she does recognize that there were differences between she and her competition.

“The only thing that set me apart from other contestants is I go to school. Some other contestants were going to school but they stopped because of this competition,” Jones told CP. “The only thing I would say [set me apart] is my lack of experience going into this competition. I didn’t sing at the little restaurants and the little cafes on the side of the road or anything and I didn’t play any instruments but I don’t think that has anything to do with the competition.”

Despite what she may consider a lack of experience, Jones has received a great deal of support from her hometown. Her Westside High School in Jacksonville, Florida, is recognizing her accomplishments by honoring the singer with an event called “Tyanna Jones Day” that will include a pep rally, according to The Florida Times-Union reports.

Gregory Bostic, principal at Westside High, spoke about plans that his school had to honor their budding singer.

“We will keep the signs up in the halls for the rest of the year because Tyanna will always be our American Idol,” Bostic told The Florida Times-Union.

While Jones will return to Jacksonville a different teenager than when she left, she is happy to return to her family.

“I think what [was] most challenging for me [was] being apart from my family. I think that’s the main thing that actually when I sit down and think about it, I just really, really, really miss them,” Jones told CP. “Missing my family, going to church with my church family and being around them … I missed that a lot.”

Although her time on the singing competition has ended, Jones making it to the top five has still qualified her to embark on the nationwide American Idol Live Tour which will give her the opportunity to perform for fans this summer. With a great deal of support and God on her side, Jones is looking forward to the path that her singing career will lead her on.

“I see myself beyond what I’m doing right now. People will say ‘you’re such a star you’ve come so far,'” Jones told CP. “And it’s true but I’m not close to being what God has in store for me. So I’m just patiently waiting.”

Source : Christian Post

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