Update Sydney Hostage Siege: Christians and Muslims Unite in Prayers

-
0
Update Sydney Hostage Siege: Christians and Muslims Unite in Prayers

Religious leaders are joining together in prayer as a hostage incident in Sydney unfolds, and are urging their followers to do the same.

Churches, synagogues and mosques across the country will be open tonight for prayer services, and a multi-faith vigil is being held in Lakemba Mosque in Sydney today.

President of the Lebanese Muslim Association, Samier Dandan, told the BBC: “The vigil crossed many different religious groups – Muslims, Catholics, Protestants, Jewish communities… This is a showcase and demonstration that the community can come together in solidarity and work together as a family to try to address whatever issue that we face collectively.”

A statement signed by over 40 Muslim institutes, groups and associations was released today condemning the incident.
“The Australian Muslim community shares with fellow Sydneysiders their utter shock and horror at the unprecedented scenes emerging from the Lindt café in Martin Place this morning. Our immediate thoughts go to the hostages and their loved ones. We pray for their safety and hope this matter is resolved quickly and peacefully,” the statement reads.

It continues: “We reject any attempt to take the innocent life of any human being, or to instil fear and terror into their hearts. Any such despicable act only serves to play into the agendas of those who seek to destroy the goodwill of the people of Australia and to further damage, and ridicule the religion of Islam, and Australian Muslims throughout the country.”

The statement issues a reminder that the Arabic inscription on the flag displayed in the café “is not representative of a political statement, but reaffirms a testimony of faith that has been misappropriated by misguided individuals that represent no one by themselves”.

The Muslim groups call on “all Australians to stand together and support each other” as the events unfold.

“We pray for a swift resolution to this crisis with no injuries or loss of life,” they conclude.

The Archbishop of Sydney tweeted this morning asking for prayer for all those involved in the incident, and for a peaceful resolution. The hashtag #PrayForSyndey is currently trending in Australia.

Source and Original Content by CT

University ‘De-Recognizes’ Christian Group for Accepting Only Christian Leaders

-
0
University ‘De-Recognizes’ Christian Group for Accepting Only Christian Leaders

San Jose State University in California has intimated Ratio Christi, a grassroots campus student ministry, of its decision to “de-recognized” the campus chapter as punishment for the ministry’s “discriminatory” policy for leadership positions.

School officials wrote to Ratio Christi, explaining their action is as per a new California State University Executive Order on how an organization selects its officers, the ministry revealed on its website this week.

The ministry requires its chapter officers to be Christian and holding biblical beliefs, and the State of California now deems that as “discriminatory.”

“De-recognition” means the school chapter of the ministry is no longer eligible for student funding and financial services, and nor can it participate in student organization fairs, ceremonies or training, the school officials said in a letter in October.

“Colleges and universities should be encouraging student leadership, not stifling it,” says Ratio Christi President Rick Schenker in response.

“All college students, including religious students, should have the right to form groups around shared beliefs and choose leaders who reflect those beliefs without being shut down and kicked off campus,” Schenker adds.

“Imagine the College Democrats being required to have a Republican student leader, or the local chapter of PETA being required to have a meat-eating leader. The results of the Cal State policy are simply ridiculous…Read More

Source and Original Content by CP

Simply Chrysolite Releases Christmas Special

-
0
Simply Chrysolite Releases Christmas Special

Multiple award winning girl band Simply Chrysolite have set the mood right for the Christmas season with the release of this carol “Joy To The World”, as well as the acapella version now available on itunes, googleplay, amazon mp3, spinlet and other digital stores.

Named after one of the precious stones in the foundation of the heavenly Jerusalem as written in Revelation 21:20 – the 7th foundation out of 12, ‘Simply Chrysolite‘ is made up of five young ladies from KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa; Thab’zo Mkhwanazi (25), Phumzile Ngcobo (27), Dolce Bophela (28), Thabiso Mkhize (28) and Pretty Nguse (23).

Totally different from the thousands of ‘Joy to the world’ versions out there in the market, this funky, afro-rhythm and blues styled tune would get you up on your feet, before God’s throne room of praise and actually leave you there – body and soul.

Composed and arranged by their mentor, Rev. Tim Omotoso (a leading Nigerian televangelist, the Senior Pastor of Jesus Dominion International, founder of Tim Omotoso Global Outreach and Ancient of Days Broadcasting Network). The songs are produced by Agboola Shadare (a renowned international award winning producer), and recorded at KZN Music House, Greyville, Durban in South Africa.

Simply Chrysolite was formed by Rev. Tim Omotoso in 2009, and have since grown to become one of Africa’s most popular gospel bands. Grammy-winning gospel musician Kirk Franklin has described them as “fresh, dope and crazy” and said that he was “totally amazed by their voices and harmony”.

Feel free to download these songs on itunes, googleplay, amazon mp3 and other online stores simply by searching for, ‘Joy to the world by Simply Chrysolite’ and ‘Joy to the world (Acapella version) by Simply Chrysolite too.

Reshare with your friends and families on your social network accounts by using the harsh-tag, ‘#JoyToTheWorldSimplyChrysolite’.

Together we can bring Joy to the whole world this festive season and beyond.

Visit Simply Chrysolite’s website: www.simplychrysolite.co.za to familiarize yourself with their wonderful brand.

Source and Original Content by PraiseWorld Radio

Nigerian MegaChurch Pastor, Bishop Oyedepo Curses Boko Haram, Predicts Its End

-
0
Nigerian MegaChurch Pastor, Bishop Oyedepo Curses Boko Haram, Predicts Its End

The founder and President of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, has angrily predicted the end of the Boko Haram terrorist group.

Daily Independent reports that the clergyman made the prediction on Friday at his church Shiloh programme, while reacting to the unabated killings, and suicide bombings.

Oyedepo shouted, “Today Friday, 12 December 2014, marks the end of the harassment of Boko Haram in Nigeria, because Nigeria has been delivered from these fundamentalists.

”He explained that the economic strides of each part of the country was solely based on the level of productivity which is at variance with any other senseless consideration, adding that defying theories of rational thinking seeking to tear the country apart, must come to an end

“I am sponsored by no one; I am a servant of the Most High and except I am not sent would you ever hear again of these terrorists’ mindless killings in the country.

Their end has finally come,” he said.Oyedepo, who just turned sixty-year-old was reportedly speaking at the Hour of Visitation morning programme of the just concluded 16th Shiloh, when he rained curses on any political undertone as well as saboteurs in the army, who have compromised the war against terrorism.

The Bishop during the prayer session both on ground in Canaanland and online, also cursed the sponsors, masterminds, informants and executioners of the Boko Haram extremist.Oyedepo assured that the last attack on any church is the very last the nation would ever witness.

Meanwhile, the shiloh event, which has been decentralised to accommodate millions of participants around the world, and followed across Nigerian cities comprising Maiduguri and Damaturu, had over 2000 delegates drawn from 52 countries.

In a related development, economic activities in Jos, the Plateau State capital, were paralysed on Friday, after Thursday’s twin bomb blasts that killed 32 people and injured 45 others at the terminus business hub areaHowever, the Assistant Chief Planning Officer, North central zone of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mohammed Suleiman, on Saturday confirmed that 32 persons were killed while 47 were injured in the twin blasts.

He said NEMA personnel were providing medical assistance to hospitals where the injured victims are currently receiving treatment.

Abubakar Muhammadu Badu, the state Commissioner of information, on Saturday the state government is shocked over the lives and properties that were destroyed in the twin bomb blasts.

He said the government sympathised with the families that lost their loved ones and prayed for quick recovery for the injured.

Source and Original Content by JustGospel

Pope Francis Expresses Concern for Beleaguered Middle Eastern Faithfuls

-
0
Pope Francis Expresses Concern for Beleaguered Middle Eastern Faithfuls

Pope Francis has expressed concern for members of the Syriac Catholic Church who have had to flee from the “inhumanity” unfolding in the Middle East.

“Many have fled to find refuge from an inhumanity that throws entire populations on to the streets, leaving them without any means for survival,” he said in a special audience with Patriarch Ignatius Ephrem Joseph III Younan and about 350 of his faithful from the Syriac Catholic Church.

The audience, made up of bishops, priests and laity from the Eastern Rite Church, came after the bishops’ annual synod, which was held in Rome on December 8-10. Participants came from Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey and the Holy Land, as well as from the diaspora communities in Europe and North and South America.

The Pope offered his prayers and encouragement, especially for those from “Iraq and Syria, who are living a time of great suffering and fear in the face of violence”.

“The difficult situation in the Middle East has caused and continues to cause the movement of faithful from your Church to the eparchies of the diaspora, and this brings you new pastoral challenges,” he said, such as how to remain faithful to one’s traditions while adapting and contributing to new cultural settings.

Having so many faithful move abroad “impoverishes the Christian presence in the Middle East, land of the prophets, of the first preachers of the Gospel, of martyrs and many saints, the cradle of hermitages and monasticism”, Pope Francis said…Read More

Source and Original Content by Catholic Herald

Christian Widow Killed in Bomb Blast in Nigeria

-
0
Christian Widow Killed in Bomb Blast in Nigeria

For Jummai Sunday, 63, Thursday (Dec. 11) began like any other for the Christian widow. After a morning devotional, she visited sick or bereaved families, and then returned home to gather items for sale at her market spot near the bus terminal area in Jos, Nigeria.

She survived the twin bomb blasts that the Boko Haram jihadist group is suspected of setting off that evening, but gunmen who swooped in on survivors killed her with shots to her head, leg and hand, relatives said. At least 31 other people in the predominantly Christian area were killed and 45 wounded by the Islamic extremist group that has created violent chaos for five years in its bid to turn Nigeria into a sharia (Islamic law) state.

Her body was taken to a hospital in Yan Shanu, a Muslim quarter of the city where her son went to retrieve her corpse – taking with him a small contingent of police and soldiers, as he had learned that Muslims were shooting Christians in the area.

Another Christian woman selling her wares beside Sunday was shot but survived to tell relatives how the widow died…Read More

Source and Original Content by CNN

Three More Pakistani Christians Accused of Blasphemy

-
0
Three More Pakistani Christians Accused of Blasphemy

Three more cases of blasphemy accusations have emerged in Pakistan, even after a Christian couple’s beating to death and burning in a brick kiln after allegations of blasphemy horrified the world, including the metropolitan elite in the country.

The Christian couple were killed over suspicions of desecrating the Qur’an on November 4. The Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed the resolve to bring the perpetrators “to justice” and appointed Senator Kamran Michael to be the focal person in the case.

Condemnation from top religious clerics gave some hope to human rights defenders for some positive change. The Pakistani police arrested dozens of suspects in connection with the lynching of the couple but all these measures have failed to curb the rising levels of discrimination against Christians…Read More

Source and Original Content by Christian News Network

Exodus: Gods And Kings tops Box Office with $24.5m

-
0
Exodus: Gods And Kings tops Box Office with $24.5m

“Exodus: Gods and Kings” toppled “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1″ from its perch atop the box office, but its opening weekend results fell short of heavenly status.

The biblical epic picked up $24.5 million from 3,503 locations. That was in line with projections, but bringing the story of Moses to life carried a hefty $140 million pricetag. The 20th Century Fox and Chernin Entertainment production will need to perform well overseas and will have to build an audience Stateside if it’s going to be profitable.

The debut audience was 54% male and 65% over the age of 25, and the film played particularly well to Hispanic and African-American moviegoers, who made up 18% and 20% of the crowd, respectively.

“We got the religious audience, but the opening audience was much more diverse than just that,” said Spencer Klein, executive vice president of theatrical distribution at Fox.

Its opening also fell short of the launches of other religious-themed films such as “Noah” ($43.7 million), “Son of God” ($25.6 million) and “The Passion of the Christ”($83.8 million). Working in “Exodus’” favor is that films that open in December have a longer runway. The Christmas holidays means many moviegoers are on vacation, allowing films that debut softly to stick around longer than they might at other times of the year.

“This is a great start for us leading into the holiday stretch,” said Klein, adding, “In this play period you get such a big multiple [on a film’s opening weekend].”

Parting the Red Sea and unleashing plagues of frogs played well in premium formats. “Exodus” generated 11% of its opening from premium large screen formats and 44% of its receipts from 3D showings.

The weekend’s other major new entry, “Top Five,” picked up $7.2 million across 979 locations, good enough for a fourth place finish. Chris Rock wrote, directed and stars in the film about a comedian at a professional and personal crossroads, earning some of the strongest notices of his career.

“We got the launch we wanted and the reaction we had hoped for,” said Rob Moore, vice chairman of Paramount Pictures. “We do feel that word of mouth is going to continue to build as we keep expanding.”

Paramount Pictures picked up worldwide rights to the film from the Toronto Film Festival for $12.5 million and, as part of the pact, the studio agreed to pay at least $20 million in promotion and marketing. It will be on roughly 2,000 screens by the end of 2014 and will begin its overseas launch next year…Read More

Source and Original Content by Variety

Activist Group Threatens School with Lawsuit Over Bible Distribution

-
0
Activist Group Threatens School with Lawsuit Over Bible Distribution

A prominent atheist activist organization has threatened to file a lawsuit against a Georgia school district if it allows a well-known Bible distribution ministry to continue to offer Bibles to public school students.

The Madison, Wisconsin-based Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) sent a letter on Friday to the superintendent of the Bartow County School System after Gideon International reportedly distributed Bibles at Cloverleaf Elementary School earlier this month. The organization asserts that the distribution is unconstitutional.

“We understand that teachers announced the Bible distribution and sorted their students into those wanting Bibles and others,” the letter, written by staff attorney Andrew Seidel, outlined. “In our complainant’s class, only one child (not our complainant’s) refused to take a Bible. … The teacher then walked the students to the library, and, leading by example, took a bible from the adult male that set up shop in the public elementary school library.”

FFRF then asserted that the distribution was unlawful because it took place while school was in session, and because a teacher was involved. It stated that the practice makes students who do not want a copy of the Bible to feel ostracized and claimed that the sole student who declined was “teased…Read More

Source and Original Content by Christian News Network

Church Posts “Santa Is Satan” on Sign

-
0
Church Posts “Santa Is Satan” on Sign

During the holiday season most churches will put out signs about, ‘the season for giving’ or ‘the reason for the season’, but one Harlem Church is saying something completely different.

‘Santa is Satan’, according to people of Harlem Born Again Baptist Church. The big, bold sign is posted right outside of the Church’s doors. Neighbors around the area say Pastor Edward Carothers does this every year for different holidays.

News Channel 6 reached out to Pastor Carothers several times, but have no received a response.

Other Pastors in the area don’t want to be associated with any sign that has a negative impact.

“I don’t know the church in itself, but just as far as a church putting that on the sign I think that tends to create a bigger wedge between the church and the community,” Carrel Davis said…Read More

Source and Original Content by BCNN1

1...3,7603,7613,762...3,893Page 3,761 of 3,893