Christian Life Coach to the StarsTim Storey Talks Pastoring Charlie Sheen, Kanye West and Creating the Hollywood Bible Study

Pastor Tim Storey (Photo: Courtesy of Tim Storey)

Christian Post Report – California pastor Tim Storey is known as a life coach to the stars and opened a new church in Yorba Linda, California in May 2015.

California Pastor Tim Storey has been called a life coach to the stars with a ministry that has led him to speak into the lives of countless celebrities including rapper Kanye West and actor Charlie Sheen who had a highly controversial breakdown in 2011.

Storey, 54, is the pioneer of a spiritual meeting known as the Hollywood Bible Study that began in 1992 with 12 people has grown to over 2000, but dealing with entertainers was not his original vision for his life while he was a student at South Eastern University in Florida.

“My dream was to reach all people and so when I first started [in ministry], I went on a lot of missions trips to third world countries,” said Storey to The Christian Post. “And I would do motivational speaking in places like South Africa, Nigeria and some of the tougher parts of the Philippines.”

Storey continued ministering in these countries well into his 20s and in 1992 he was propositioned to take on a different mission helping entertainers actress Dyan Cannon who asked him to do a Bible study in her house. From that point on, his ministry started reaching well known movie stars.

“I didn’t realize that it was opening up a door to me that some 25 years later I would continue to walk through,” said Storey.

Cannon’s house was located in Beverly Hills and the study began with 12 people. Seven of them were well known entertainers. Although Storey did not want to disclose who those seven were, he has said in the past that some of the people he worked with early on, included actor Charlton Heston and businessman Vidal Sassoon.

Shortly after these Bible studies began, agents of prominent entertainers started to contact Storey when their clients were struggling in their lives. By the end of the 1990s Storey had worked with actors Charlie Sheen and Robert Downey Jr. who have both struggled with drug abuse.

More recently, Storey said he’s had “great conversations” with rapper and music producer Kanye West who is a professing Christian married to reality star Kim Kardashian. Storey said West has a persona most in the public have not seen.

“There’s a side of Kanye that a lot of people don’t know that I do,” said Storey. “How kind he is to people. What a strong woman of God his mother was, Donda West. And so I would say I hope in the future that more people will get to know that side [of him].”

He also discussed his relationship with Charlie Sheen who had a very public breakdown after leaving his hit show “Two and a Half Men” in 2011.

“He is trying to learn about himself, he’s trying to work through his own challenges, and we have amazing talks about God,” said Storey. “Just like a parent or a mentor, sometimes we wish our children or our students would make different choices. And even at a faster pace. I’ve obviously wished that for Charlie. I’m still very hopeful that he will continue to make better choices.”

Aside from one on one encounters, Storey hosts a slew of entertainers at his Hollywood Bible study which he describes as a “hybrid of motivational speaking and traditional Bible study.”

The gathering includes people from all faiths and is held in the homes of different stars.

“We’re reaching out to all types of faiths, from Jewish people, to Muslims, to people who come from a New Age background,” said Storey who says he still includes Christ in the conversation regardless of who he is preaching to.

“I talk about a certain message and I’ll say you may see things differently, but let me show you the way Christ presents this in the Bible. Because this may be a way that makes sense to you.”

He says a lot of people that attend the study end up becoming Christian months after they meet him and thank him for “giving them a chance to decide on their own.”

The busy pastor recently had some high profile speaking engagements including being on Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul Sunday and an upcoming appearance at the Dalai Lama’s 80th Birthday Celebration Summit in July where he plans to share the story of the “God of Beyond” with those in attendance.

“The reason I would speak at the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday, I see it similar to the Apostle Paul speaking on Mars Hill,” he said. “I’m going to talk about the God of Beyond. I’m going to talk about Jehovah. He thinks beyond. He dreams beyond. He creates beyond. And just like I do in the Hollywood Bible Study, I will tell them about a Jesus of Beyond.”

Pastor Tim Storey (Photo: Courtesy of Tim Storey)

Pastor Tim Storey is known as a life coach to the stars and pastors recently appeared on Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul Sunday.

 He also spoke about Oprah inviting him to be a guest on Super Soul Sunday on her OWN channel and described the experience as something “amazing.”

“As much as I have been on Christian television and speaking in the largest conventions in the world. It was amazing how much positive feedback I got from being on one hour of Super Soul Sunday,” continued Storey.

He revealed that after the appearance on Oprah’s OWN channel, many people who he spoke with who do not attend church thanked him for explaining how he serves God in a way that they understood.

Since then, the father of two has showed no signs of slowing down. The Hollywood Bible Study has spread to different cities all over the U.S. including South Beach, Miami and Atlanta, Georgia. He has also planted a new church in Yorba Linda, California that is open to the general public.

Pastor Tim Storey (Photo: Courtesy of Tim Storey)

California pastor Tim Storey is known as a life coach to the stars and recently held a grand opening event for his church in Yorba Linda, California that featured singer Smokey Robinson.

“The reason for Yorba Linda is, I had been raised in my teenage years not too far from there. So to me it was coming back full circle. After traveling the globe so many times, I wanted to find a place where I could create an oasis for people to come and learn about Jesus,” said Storey.

Yorba Linda opened last month and kicked off with a special event featuring singer Smokey Robinson and R&B group All-4-One.

Storey is thankful for the opportunites he has had working with artists such as Robinson for over 25 years and understands that his path is unique and “not for everyone.”

“I do believe this is the assignment for me. I’m thankful for other people that have their places in the body of Christ that I respect. I’m just utilizing the gifts and experiences that God has allowed me to walk through,” ended Story.

Contact: [email protected]; follow me on Twitter @vinfunaro

Source : Christian Post

One Bite at a Time

Christian Post Report – God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
— James 1:12

It has been said that conversion has made our hearts a battlefield. It is true. When you believe in Jesus Christ, a battle begins in your heart. It is a battle between God and Satan. When you take that step and make a commitment to Lord, the Devil will want to pull you away from the commitment you have made.

  • 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.

So if you have found yourself being tempted a lot lately, then cheer up. It is actually an indication that you are living as a true Christian.

It is not a sin to be tempted. That is a strategy the Devil loves to use. He will tempt you, and then he will condemn you for being tempted. It is not a sin to be tempted; it is a sin when you give in to the temptation. It is not the bait that constitutes sin; it is the bite. If you refuse it and overcome it, God promises to bless you for it. We read in James, “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).

The bottom line is that you are under the control and power of the Lord Jesus Christ. You have God’s ID tag attached to you, and the Devil can no longer control you. He can no longer manipulate you. So he will try to draw you out. He will try to weaken your resolve. He will try to get you to compromise. He will try to take you one bite at a time. It’s a little bit here, a compromise there, a little lowering your guard in a certain area. And pretty soon, you will find yourself in a place where you never wanted to be.

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

Roma Downey, Mark Burnett Share Father’s Day Greeting, Offer Exclusive Sneak Peek at ‘A.D. – The Bible Continues’ Season Finale

Adam Levy as Peter in NBC's A.D.: The Bible Continues (Photo: Joe Alblas/LightWorkers Media/NBC)

Christian Post Report – Adam Levy as Peter in NBC’s “A.D.: The Bible Continues.”

The final episode of NBC’s “A.D. – The Bible Continues” airs on Father’s Day this Sunday, and the series’ producers Roma Downey and Mark Burnett are offering wishes for dads everywhere as well as a glimpse at the season finale.

Following the ratings success of the “Bible” series, its sequel “A.D.” has garnered critical acclaim, telling the story of the first ten chapters in the Book of Acts. While a second season of “A.D.” hangs in the balance, the series wraps its first season this Sunday, revealing the very first Roman convert to Christianity in the final episode entitled “The Abomination.”

“What has God told you,” asks Cornelius, Emperor Caligula’s soldier in the exclusive sneak peek at the season finale. Cornelius is recorded as the first gentile to convert to Christianity in the Christian faith.

“I’m just a fisherman,” answers Peter. “I’ve been commanded to teach His message to the ends of the Earth. And know I see that you may also find the salvation Jesus offers. So if I am to do this I must welcome you and baptize you.”

Cornelius then begins speaking in tongues as the Spirit surrounds them during the first look.

“This is why we came,” Peter tells Mary Magdalene. “This is our mission.”

Additionally, since the “A.D.” season finale falls on Father’s Day, husband and wife producers of the series Downey and Burnett issued a special greeting for fans this week.

“A very happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there,” said Burnett.

Downey added: “Happy Father’s Day, have a great day.”

TobyMac, Pat Boone, David A.R. White, Father Edward Benioff, Louie Giglio, and Michelle Williams also contributed to the Father’s Day message ahead of this week’s “A.D.” Watch the special clip here.

“A.D. – The Bible Continues” airs on NBC Sunday, June 21 at 9 p.m. ET.

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Source : Christian Post

Controversial Lifetime Show ‘Preach’ Canceled After 15,000 People Sign Petition; Prophetess Reacts

'Preach' (Photo: Karolina Wojtasik)

Christian Post Report – (L to R) Linda Roark, Taketa Williams, Kelly Crews and Belinda Scott star in Lifetime’s all-new docu-series Preach, premiering Friday, June 5, at 10pm ET/PT on Lifetime.

Controversial Lifetime show “Preach” which features four unorthodox Christian prophetesses is officially off the air after close to 15,000 people petitioned the network to end it. Now Belinda Scott, one of the prophetesses who appeared on the show, is speaking out.

A source at Lifetime Network told The Christian Post that the show was canceled because “it wasn’t performing in this current time period.”

Some critics argue however that a change.org petition is real reason the show was cancelled but the network has denied those claims.

Scott, a Cleveland Heights, Ohio-based prophetess, defended the show in a Facebook post after news broke about the cancellation.

“..I watch hateful people who say they love the Lord, type like that FROG typing at that machine …TURN UP ON ‪#‎PREACHTV‬! A show that is not mocking the church, but exploring the lives of believers in the Church and hear me out first,” Scott wrote. “The word reality is this …the state of being real, a real event or state of affairs, One, such as a person, an entity, or an event, that is actual. Now, do I hear from God…YES, did He call me to be a PROPHETESS, YES, Have I and Do I hear God’s voice concerning events, people and issues…YES! Did I see these attacks against us coming….YES! Is there a harvest on the way….YES!!!”

Scott’s comments came after the change.org petition created by Tachina Carter was started to take “Preach” off of the air. The petition addressed to Lifetime Network was signed by close to 15,000 people.

“The IMAGERY on this show is a TRAVESTY to the Christian Community. The women aka Prophetesses are making a MOCKERY of the church and promoting foolish behavior that is not necessarily a true representation of the REAL power of God,” noted Carter’s petition. “Cameras do NOT belong in the church filming the ‘spiritual’ things that society as a whole does not understand. By airing this show it will cause more harm than good to the Christian community who already has a difficult time in sharing ‘The Good News’ of Jesus Christ to the masses.”

A source close to Lifetime told The Christian Post they had no word about what will happen with the remaining episodes of “Preach.”

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Source : Christian Post

Pastor Steven Furtick on Charleston Church Massacre: ‘May Our Churches Be the Light We Are Desperate to See’

Furtick (Photo: Elevation Church video screen grab)

Christian Post Report – Pastor Steven Furtick

Lead pastor of Elevation Church in North Carolina, Steven Furtick called on churches across America to “be the light we are so desperate to see” after confessed gunman Dylann Roof, 21, executed nine worshippers at a prayer meeting inside the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina Wednesday night.

Charleston County, South Carolina coroner Rae Wooten identified the six women and three men massacred by Roof who said he wanted to start a race war Thursday. Roof’s victims were identified as: Clementa Pinckney, 41, the senior pastor at the church; Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, 45, an assistant pastor; Tywanza Sanders, 26; Ethel Lance, 70; Susie Jackson, 87; Cynthia Hurd, 54; Myra Thompson, 59; Daniel Simmons Sr., 74; DePayne Middleton Doctor, 49.

In a Facebook post Thursday, entitled “Looking for the Light,” in which he cites John 1:5 – “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it “- Furtick encourages the church to remain hopeful despite his own difficulty in coming to terms with the murders inside the church.

“I’m having a hard time reconciling that Bible verse with reality today,” said Furtick.

“How do we now pray in faith for the families of those who seemed to have received no divine protection while they prayed,” he asked.

Recalling words of comfort for the broken-hearted, Furtick also noted the “magnitude of the darkness.”

“Shouldn’t we acknowledge… the horrors of hatred and injustice,” the pastor asked. “How do I as a white man even begin to assess & internalize the pain & outrage my African American brothers and sisters are experiencing? Any platitude I can offer seems pitiful right about now.”

He then weighed darkness and light as it is found in the Bible before expressing optimism in the power of faith.

“I know we’ll see the light shining in the days to come,” he wrote. “We’ll see it IN the unity of the Charleston community and THROUGH the resilience of the family of faith. Hopefully we’ll see it IN and THROUGH the renewed energy toward conversations & changes in our nation that are long overdue.”

Furtick whose church noted in a Facebook post that their staff began the day praying for the grieving church said “in this moment may our churches be the light we are desperate to see.”

Our staff began our morning praying for the families, friends and community of Charleston, SC. We specifically prayed for unity and healing. Please join us today and the days that come. #PrayForCharleston

Posted by Elevation Church on Thursday, June 18, 2015

Law enforcement officials captured Roof Thursday after he went on the lam for hours after the massacre. Sources say that Roof, who specifically targeted African-Americans, attended the prayer meeting for an hour before opening fire in the basement of the church. Emanuel Church has been a part of the Charleston community since 1816 when it was founded by a former slave.

President Obama referred to the church shooting as “particularly heartbreaking,” and Christian hip-hop artist Lecrae took to Instagram in prayer for Charleston.

“Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God,” the rapper wrote, quoting the Bible. “They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. John 16.2-3 #prayforcharleston.”

“Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.” John16.2-3 #prayforcharleston

A photo posted by lecrae (@lecrae) on

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Source : Christian Post

Stowaway Plunges To Death From BA Plane

SKY News reports – A stowaway has died after falling from a British Airways jet onto a shop in southwest London.

He and another man are believed to have clung on to the passenger plane as it flew more than 8,000 miles from Johannesburg in South Africa to Heathrow.

The second man, aged between 25 and 30, is in a serious condition in a west London hospital after miraculously surviving the ordeal.

He was discovered alive by staff at Heathrow.

The victim died as the Boeing 747 came into land over Richmond at around 9.30am on Thursday.

63 Kew Road

NotOnTheHighStreet.com in Kew Road, Richmond

He reportedly landed on the roof of NotOnTheHighStreet.com in Kew Road.

A spokesman for the firm said: “Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended and found the body of male on the roof of the premises.

“The death is currently being treated as unexplained but early indications are that the body may be that of an airline stowaway.

“At this time there is no evidence to link the death to the discovery of a stowaway in the undercarriage of a plane at Heathrow Airport, however this is one line enquiry into identifying the deceased and the circumstances of his death.”

British Airways described it as a “very rare case” and said it is working with police in London and Johannesburg to establish the facts.

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: “Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended and found the body of a dead man on the roof of a business premises.

“The death is currently being treated as unexplained.

“A post-mortem examination will be held in due course and inquiries are ongoing to establish the male’s identity. No arrests have been made.”

One flight expert said there were security questions to be answered.

Flight International magazine consulting editor David Learmount said: “If these two were neither airline nor airport staff and somehow managed to get on a flight then it becomes a serious security issue. Just how did they get (on the restricted) airside at the airport?”

There have been previous cases of stowaways falling from planes in the Heathrow flight path area in southwest London.

In September 2012, Jose Matada died after falling from the undercarriage of a Heathrow-bound flight from Angola on to a road in Mortlake, about a mile from Richmond.

The 26-year-old from Mozambique is believed to have survived temperatures of up to minus 60C for most of the 12-hour flight, an inquest heard.

He was “dead or nearly dead” by the time he hit the ground.

In July 2013, a suspected stowaway from Turkey was found frozen to death in the undercarriage of a BA jet from Istanbul to Heathrow.

He died after facing temperatures of minus 60C during the four-hour flight.

More …. on SKY News

Source : SKY News

Christian Pastor Faces Prosecution in the UK for ‘Islamophobia,’ Calling Islam ‘Satanic’ and ‘Spawn of the Devil’

Islam (Photo: Reuters/Juan Medina)

Christian Post Report – A girl holds up a sign during a rally by members of the Muslim community of Madrid outside Madrid’s Atocha train station, January 11, 2015, in solidarity with the victims of a shooting by gunmen at the Paris offices of the satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo, and against Islamophobia. The words on the birds read, “Peace, Respect, Love, Tolerance and Coexistence”.

A British pastor from Belfast, Northern Ireland, is set to be prosecuted at court for saying in 2014 that Islam is “satanic” and a religion that is “the spawn of the devil.”

The preacher, James McConnell, apologized after he was accused of Islamophobia, but is still facing prosecution, Northern Ireland’s Public Prosecution Service said.

“I can confirm that following consideration of a complaint in relation to an Internet broadcast of a sermon in May 2014, a decision was taken to offer an individual an informed warning for an offense contrary to the Communications Act 2003,” a PPS spokesman said, according to The Guardian.

“That offense was one of sending, or causing to be sent, by means of a public electronic communications network, a message or other matter that was grossly offensive.”

The 78-year-old preacher reportedly made the controversial comments in a sermon at his Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle, but has since stepped down as pastor of the church.

McConnell said that he’s not going to be “gagged” in light of the PPS decision.

“The police tried to shut me up and tell me what to preach. It’s ridiculous. I believe in freedom of speech. I’m going to keep on preaching the Gospel,” he said.

“I have nothing against Muslims, I have never hated Muslims, I have never hated anyone. But I am against what Muslims believe. They have the right to say what they believe in and I have a right to say what I believe.”

He apologized for his remarks back in June 2014, and posted a statement on the Whitewell Tabnernacle website, saying, “I wish to apologise publicly for any distress I may have unwittingly caused.”

He also provided context for his initial remarks, and said it was meant to draw attention to how some followers of Islam have used doctrine as justification for violence.

“I have qualified my comments by reference to those who use their religion as justification for violence. As a preacher of the Word of God, it is this interpretation of the doctrine of Islam which I am condemning,” he added.

“I abhor violence and condemn anyone, of any faith, who uses religion to justify it.”

U.S. megachurch pastor Robert Jeffress also drew controversy earlier this year after he said that Satan delivered the religion of Islam to the prophet Muhammad, and claimed that following the faith will “lead you to hell.”

“It was Satan himself who delivered those delusions to those people to lead people by the millions away from God,” said Jeffress, who pastors First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas.

“Islam is a false religion that will lead you to hell. It is based on a false book that is based on a fraud. It was founded by a false prophet who was leading people away instead of to the one true God.”

The comments were made during a May 10 sermon titled “Christians in the Crosshairs.”

Source : Christian Post

A Volatile Comparison: ISIS and the Reformation?!

A Volatile Comparison: ISIS and the Reformation?!

Christian Post Report – MIAMI BEACH — A Middle East expert drew comparisons between the Islamic State and the Protestant Reformation at a recent Faith Angle Forum.

If there are any lessons about ISIS that can be drawn from what happened during the Protestant Reformation, Bernard Haykel said, those lessons are “terrifying.”

“If we’re embarking or are actually already in something like the Reformation in the Muslim world, then, you know, hold on because we’re in for a really wild ride with lots of violence,” he added.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/how-isis-is-similar-to-the-protestant-reformation-140470/

Source : Christian Post

The NBA’s Andre Iguodala: Champion for Christ

The NBA's Andre Iguodala: Champion for Christ

Christian Post Report – Andre Iguodala, the Golden State Warriors forward who won this season’s NBA championship with his team Tuesday night, along with the Most Valuable Player award, thanked God for the win and said the team is “full of believers.”

“(We’ve) got a team full of believers. We all say God has a way for you and a purpose for you,” Iguodala, 31, said after receiving the MVP honor. “I want to be just like Steph (Curry) when I grow up — just a God fearing man.”

Stephen Curry, the Warriors’ beloved point guard who received the regular season MVP honor, frequently honors God on and off the basketball court and usually points his fingers toward the sky after making big plays. In accepting the award in May, the point guard cited his faith as one of the keys to his success.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/nba-finals-mvp-andre-iguodala-thanks-god-for-golden-state-warriors-win-says-team-is-full-of-believers-140515/

Source : Christian Post

ISIS Holds 227 Assyrian Christians Hostage as World Watches Genocidal ‘Ethno-Religious Cleansing in the Middle East,’ Says Relief Worker

Syria (Photo: Reuters/Umit Bektas)

Christian Post Report – A Syrian refugee holds onto his daughter as he pleads to cross into Turkey at Akcakale border gate in Sanliurfa province, Turkey, June 15, 2015.

Over 200 Assyrian Christians remain captured by terror group ISIS despite the release of another hostage earlier this week, and despite the liberation of Assyrian villages that the Islamic militants had earlier taken over.

The Assyrian International News Agency revealed that 70-year-old Francois Sawa from the village of Tel Shamiram was released earlier this week, and is reported to be in good condition, joining dozens of others who have also sporadically been released. At least another 227 Assyrians are being held captive by ISIS after the terror group raided 35 villages on the Khabur river back in February.

The jihadists have asked for $100,000 for the release of each kidnapped Christian, or about $23,000,000 in total, which is more money than most in the region are able to pay.

AINA noted that all of the villages that ISIS had taken over have now been freed, but the terror group has left behind booby traps in homes and fields, and has destroyed many churches and houses.

Swedish newspaper InBlick added that the militants left behind messages sprayed on buildings that read “This is the Islamic State property.”

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.

“The implication being that, according to the Caliphate rules, when the Islamists have taken control of the area, they have the right to kill those who go in and claim the buildings. Those include, the actual owners who were sent to flee by the terrorists,” explained Nuri Kino, worker with the A Demand for Action group.

“The whole area had been sprayed with these texts.”

The relief worker said that over two-thirds of the indigenous Christian population in Iraq has been displaced since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, a situation he now sees being repeated in Syria.

“In February, in northeast Syria, in the so called Khabour area, 30 villages were drained from their Christian population by Islamist rampage. Over 220 of these people are still kidnapped by the Islamic State,” he said.

“There is a gradual ethno-religious cleansing in the Middle East. It started in Iraq and has now come to Syria and we do not know when it will happen in other countries. There is an ongoing genocide in these countries.”

Kano’s comments echo concerns voiced by Jean-Clément Jeanbart, the Melkite Greek Catholic Archbishop of Aleppo, Syria, who said that Christianity is slowly dying in the war-torn country.

“In my country, Syria, Christians are caught in the middle of a civil war and they are enduring the rage of an extremist jihad. And it is unjust for the West to ignore the persecutions these Christian communities are experiencing,” Jeanbart said.

“What horrors must ISIS commit before the world will take greater action to stop the murderers?” he asked. “Syrian Christians are in grave danger; we may disappear soon.”

Assyrian refugees who have made it to Beirut, Lebanon, have shared of some of the atrocities their children were forced to witness.

“Our children saw many beheadings,” said Jack Zayya, referring to the actions of ISIS. “We were obligated to watch public executions. What kind of world is that for kids to grow up in? They were always scared.”

While there are several relief groups helping Assyrian Christians and other refugees affected by ISIS, such as the Assyrian Church of the East Relief Organization, the fate of the 227 kidnapped Assyrians remains uncertain.

Jeanbart argued that the international community needs to step up its efforts to provide “better protection and execute a more aggressive strategy.”

“In the case of the fighting in northeastern Syria, the capture of several hundred Assyrian Christians could have been prevented had the U.S. started its bombing raids earlier. The recent coordinated effort, that included Kurdish troops on the ground, proved effective in turning back ISIS, but for many Assyrians this help came too late,” the Archbishop reflected.

Source : Christian Post