Boko Haram Terrorist Group Kidnaps Pastor, Several Church Members Delivering Aid
A pastor, Christian relief worker and members of Living Faith Church have been kidnapped by alleged members of Boko Haram two weeks ago in Borno State.
Abraham Amuta, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, and Pastor Oyeleke of Living Faith Church were among the people kidnapped. The group was traveling from Maiduguri to Chibok to give supplies to displaced people in the region when they were attacked.
Rabiu Aminu, the Borno State Coordinator for NYSC, explained to the Christian Post that all corps members must receive approval from their employer and a zone inspector before traveling. Amuta, however, did not.
Amuta’s housemate, Success Ezeanya, told Punch, “[Abraham] is a very strong guy; the guy has guts.”
The police are working to find the group. “We visited the Church, and the Commissioner of Police called us on Friday over the incident and assured us of their total support to address the situation,” Aminu stated.
The church told Ezeanya that Boko Haram has demanded a ransom of about $55,000.
According to Christian Post, it’s unclear how many church members were kidnapped. The Punch reports three other members.
Located north east of Nigeria, Borno State is the original home of Boko Haram. The terrorist group began in its capital in 2002. In 2014, Boko Haram militants kidnapped over 250 teenage girls from a boarding…
Evangelical Russians Suffer Most from Law Restricting Religious Freedom
Religious persecution has grown in Russia since the country’s ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses in 2017 with Russian Evangelicals feeling the pressure. Last year, over 100 Russian individuals and 50 organizations were prosecuted for any type of religious activity.
“Believers don’t understand what they can and can’t do,” lawyer Mikhail Frolov told Forum 18, a news service covering religious freedom in Russia and surrounding countries. “Because of heavy fines, they don’t want to take the risk and therefore significantly reduce their activity, especially in public.”
According to Christianity Today, Russian officials have interrupted worship services, charged pastors for hanging signs with church meeting times, and punished Baptists at a bus stop for discussing their faith.
In 2016, Putin signed the Yarovaya laws, intended to prevent terrorism that also set tight restrictions on religious freedoms. Any person or organization accused of “missionary activity” can be prosecuted. Though the law strictly forbids “missionary activity”, officials are prosecuting any religious activity, including prayer meetings and church services.
“There are potentially very wide-sweeping ramifications to this law,” Joel Griffith of the Slavic Gospel Association said in a Mission Network News report when the law was first introduced. “It just depends on,…
‘Bring Your Camera’: Abby Johnson, Pro-Lifers to Rally at Bully Rep.’s Planned Parenthood
A video showing a Democratic state representative harassing an elderly woman outside a Philadelphia Planned Parenthood clinic has sparked a backlash from pro-life leaders, who have scheduled a protest Friday outside the same clinic.
The “Pro-Life Rally Against Bullying” will include some of the top pro-life voices in the country, including Live Action’s Lila Rose, author and activist Abby Johnson, and conservative writer Matt Walsh.
Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Sims, a Democrat, posted a video last week of himself harassing a peaceful pro-life woman he labeled an “old white lady.” Sims threatened to find her address and also told her she had no “moral right” to be there. She stood silent and clinched her rosary beads as he continuously circled her.
The rally, organized by Live Action and other pro-life groups, will take place 11 a.m. Eastern Friday in front of the Planned Parenthood at 1144 Locust Street in Philadelphia.
“This is a peaceful, winsome demonstration of brotherly love to sidewalk counselors, women, and Rep. Brian Sims,” Live Action announced. “We hope more lives are saved. Changed minds save lives.”
POW’s WWII Bible Must Be Removed from Veterans Display, Suit Demands
A civil rights group filed suit Tuesday seeking the removal of a historic World War II Bible from a public display case at a veterans hospital, saying it violates the constitutional prohibition on government establishment of religion.
The Bible at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Manchester, N.H., is part of a POW/MIA display that honors those who have been imprisoned or never were found. The Bible sits atop a table with a plate, drinking glass, candle, flower, American flag and salt shaker. An empty chair also is part of the display.
The Bible is protected behind a locked plexiglass box. It was donated by Herman “Herk” Streitburger of Bedford, N.H., who was held in a German prisoner of war camp during World War II. He was a U.S. Army Air Corps technical sergeant.
“We would all be outraged if the MVAMC only provided care to Christians, or denied care to non-believers, or those who worship their God in other ways,” the federal suit says. “The placement of a Christian Bible on this sacred table is just as objectionable.”
It was filed on behalf of James Chamberlain, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force who receives treatment at the facility. He is a member of First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in Barrington, N.H.
“Despite his strong personal religious beliefs, he believes that the Christian Bible has no place being displayed on…
‘She Is Free Now’: Asia Bibi Makes it to Canada, Is Finally Reunited with Her Family
After being on death row for eight years and protective custody for another, Pakistani Christian Asia Bibi has made it out of Pakistan.
According to Fox News, Bibi flew out of Pakistan under a veil of secrecy on Tuesday and made her way to Canada where she later reunited with her family.
As Christian Headlines previously reported, Bibi was arrested in 2009 and was put on death row after being accused of blaspheming the Islamic prophet Muhammed in an argument with several Muslim women.
Bibi denied the claims, but was sentenced to hanging, nonetheless.
According to The Christian Post, insulting Islam or the prophet Muhammad in Pakistan is considered blasphemy and is a crime punishable by life in prison or death. The Christian Post notes that the law is frequently abused to target religious minorities.
After Bibi was acquitted in October 2018, she was released from imprisonment, but kept under protective custody since she was denied the ability to leave Pakistan and numerous threats were made on her life. Angry that she had been acquitted, Pakistani Muslim radicals blocked off streets in Pakistan and called for Bibi’s execution as well as for the murder of the Supreme Court justices who approved her release.
Despite this, the 54-year-old mother of five held on to hope and now, she has finally been reunited with her family.
Bishop of London Rt Rev Sarah Mullally and the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan welcomed a host of young people from different religions ahead of an Iftar where Muslims break their fast.
Speaking to Premier at the event, Mr Khan said: “I want to pay huge tribute to the Bishop of London and everyone at St Paul’s Cathedral for opening up this really special cathedral and spiritual home of many Londoners.
“As a city, we don’t just tolerate difference, but we respect it, celebrate it and we embrace it.”
“Those of us that believe in pluaralism and believe the fact that we have more in common than that which divides us and separates us.
“The message from London is that we are going to put down bridges rather than build walls.”
The Naz Legacy Foundation in partnership with The Randeree Charitable Foundation and Pears Foundation presented the annual cross faith event.
Over one hundred young Londoners from different faiths, or none, come together to discuss their faith and how to bring different communities in London together within a spirit of community, unity and public service.
Each year it is held in a different religious location across London and this year for the first time it was at St Paul’s Cathedral.
Both Sarah Mullally and Sadiq Khan gave an address before speaking with the young people to discuss their faiths and experiences they have faced.
China Edits Pastor’s Sermon, Deletes ‘God Made Heaven and Earth’
Chinese government officials within the past year have closed churches, removed crosses, buried Bibles and beaten Christians.
Now, they’re apparently editing the Bible out of sermons, too.
A pastor in Shangqiu city in Henan province told Bitter Winter that local communist officials told him to delete a theological statement from his sermon – “God made heaven and earth, and created everything” – and to include more Chinese traditions and beliefs.
The pastor leads a government-registered Three-Self Protestant church and had sent his sermon to local authorities for approval.
“The censorship of sermons is a common occurrence in today’s China,” Bitter Winter’s Xin Lu wrote. Bitter Winter is a religious liberty watchdog that monitors human rights violations within China.
Three-Self pastors are required to “submit for authorities’ review everything they plan to say to their congregations.” It’s one of the reasons millions of Chinese Christians worship in illegal unregistered churches.
The Shangqui city pastor was chastised and told the Bible quotes in his sermon should include “Chinese interpretations.” The sermon also should examine Scripture within the context of Chinese culture, officials told him.
“We’re in a very difficult position now,” the preacher told Bitter Winter. “By making us write these ‘sinicized’…
Asia Bibi, a Catholic Pakistani woman, was acquitted of a charge of blasphemy agaisnt Islam last October but was not able to leave the country until this week because the fear of her being killed by Islamist extremists who disagreed with her appeal against the death sentence being granted.
Rehman Chisti, the Conservative MP for Gillingham and Rainham in Kent, quit his role as Vice Chairman of the Conservative party and Trade Envoy to Pakistan last November partly because of the UK’s response to Asia Bibi’s case, which he considered morally disappointing.
During Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions, Chisti said: “I know the Prime Minister will welcome the news that Asia Bibi, who was persecuted for her faith, is on her way to Canada, who have offered her sanctuary. Can I ask this question to the Prime Minister, and I think everyone wants to know this answer from the Prime Minister, why is it that Canada offered sanctuary to her and the United Kingdom did not offer sanctuary in the United Kingdom, and that future such cases of religious freedom will be looked at differently by the United Kingdom?”
Theresa May replied to the House: “Can I join my own honourable friend in welcoming the reports that Asia Bibi has been able to travel freely and is now able to make decisions about her own future. Our concern was always the safety and security of Asia Bibi.
“We were in close contact with the Government of Pakistan but a range of international partners who were…
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind… (Romans 12:2).
Romans 8:12 says, “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh,” meaning you’re not supposed to live after the flesh. What is it to live after the flesh? It means to live after the senses, to live from your unrenewed mind. The word, “flesh” in the New Testament refers to the body and its senses, both of which are controlled by the soul.
There’s a control system in the soul for the body and its senses, because in the soul, you have the mind, the emotions and the will. That’s why your mind is so important. Your mind influences your emotions and your will, and therefore your soul. And when that happens, the result will show in your senses and the actions you take.
Your real character isn’t formed by your spirit but by your soul. The character of your personality is controlled from your mind more than anything else. That’s why God is so emphatic about your mind, because even after someone is born again, the person’s unrenewed mind could still take him or her to hell.
It’s important that as a Christian you manage and take possession of your mind; renew your mind with the Word. Don’t let your mind control you. Live from your spirit. Don’t accept the wrong thoughts. Don’t’ dwell on the negatives of life. Consciously subdue thoughts that demean you, thoughts that are contrary to your nature, heritage, and identity in Christ.
When such thoughts persist, speak words and demand that they cease in the Name of Jesus, and they’ll cease: maybe for a season; they may come back. If they do, do the same thing again; rebuke and reject them whenever they come, and you’ll win. The Bible says resist the devil and he’ll flee from you. But you must also learn to control your own thoughts, by setting your mind on the Word.
You’ve got to take control of your mind and your thoughts. Transform your life from glory to glory through the management of your mind. That’s what we read in Romans 12:2. God expects this of you because He has given you the ability. He wants you to be in charge and in control of your life by using your mind to produce excellence.
PRAYER Dear Father, my mind is completely yielded to the ministry of the Word and the Holy Spirit, such that I only think excellence, strength, victory, abundance, success, faith and the glorious life in Christ. Through your Word, my mind is reprogrammed, renewed, transformed, and positioned for an unending life of glory and victory, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY: Luke 6:45; Philippians 4:8
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 4:27-54 & 1 Kings 2-3
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Mark 9:2-13 & Numbers 12
Rhapsody of Realities 9th May 2019 Devotional was written by Pastor Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (D.Sc., D.D.). President of Loveworld Inc. aka Christ Embassy Int’l.
Kevin Malone, who retired from managing professional baseball in 2001, says many people don’t even realize how big the problem of human trafficking is in the country. Malone is now the president of the U.S. Institute Against Human Trafficking.
“Well, we know it’s spiritual warfare. We think that the enemy has done a very good job of keeping us blind to the issues and either it’s so ugly and so perverse that people don’t want to hear about it or they turn blind eyes to it,” he said.
“If you know that your children and children in your community are being abducted or lured and sold and then raped 10, 15, 20, 30 times a day I think you would do something about it,” he added.
Geoff Rogers – a former IBM executive – is the CEO of the U.S. Institute Against Human Trafficking and works alongside Malone.
Rogers noted that, in an effort to combat human trafficking, the group has created “Traffic Free Zones” where citizens can work with local law enforcement.
He said, “The key to this is getting all the different sectors of society firing away at demand at the same time, so helping law enforcement to focus more on the demand, the county government or city government declaring itself a trafficking-free zone, helping businesses and technology –…
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