Christians in Egypt Jailed for Worshipping in Unlicensed House

Christians in Egypt Jailed for Worshipping in Unlicensed House



September 6, 2018 (Morning Star News) – Authorities yesterday ordered 15 more days of jail for Christians arrested on Aug. 22 in Egypt for worshipping in a house without a permit, rights activists said.

 

After Muslim mobs demonstrated against the Virgin Mary and St. Mahrael church in Luxor Governorate, 435 miles south of Cairo, police accused the Coptic Catholics of worshipping without a permit, according to Coptic rights activist Safwat Samaan.

 

Police closed the church in Al-Zeneeqa village, in Esna, which has been holding worship services at the site for 18 years, according to Samaan. Five Muslims were also arrested, with another 10 arrested on Aug. 24 as they prepared another demonstration against the church, according to U.S.-based Catholic publications The Tablet.

 

The Copts were arrested even though they did not take any action against the demonstrators, the Catholic outlet reported. Besides charging the Christians with worshipping in an unlicensed venue, they charged them and the Muslims with illegal gathering, disrupting public peace and inciting sectarian strife, according to local media.

 

The church was the third one in Luxor closed in four months after Muslim extremists protested their existence, giving police the pretext of “security” threats for shuttering them. Hundreds of churches have submitted applications for legalization under a…

… Read More

Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.

قالب وردپرس

Why Don’t Protestants Talk More About Demons, Exorcism, Spiritual World?

(Screenshot: Q Ideas)Adam Blai (L), peritus of religious demonology and exorcism for the diocese of Pittsburgh, speaks at a Q conference in April 2018 while Q founder Gabe Lyons (R) looks on.

Christians from Protestant denominations rarely, if ever, hear about demons or the spiritual world in their churches. So when a Catholic expert in demonology provided somewhat of a crash course at a Q conference on how demons behave and how exorcisms work, it was all people could talk about.

Gabe Lyons, founder of Q, recently revealed that the discussion in April on the spiritual world ended up being one of their “top talks” that people were most challenged by and raving about. And Adam Blai, peritus of religious demonology and exorcism for the diocese of Pittsburgh who trains priests in exorcism, wasn’t surprised.

“There’s an inherent interest in these matters,” he told Lyons during a follow-up Q&A last month. “I’m not sure why that is except that perhaps it’s one of the places where the spiritual world really becomes physical. I think on a basic human level, that is inherently interesting to us. It’s the reason they make movies about it.”

Moreover, exorcisms and dealing with demons constitute about a third of Jesus’ miracles in the gospels, Blai noted. “You’re not only talking…

… Read More

—-

Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – The Christian Post.

قالب وردپرس

New virtual reality tour shows Jerusalem in Bible times

The Tower of David Museum and the ToD Innovation Lab partnered with Lithodomos VR to create Jerusalem VR Tours: Step into History.

It’s the first mobile VR walking tour in Israel and takes tourists through the Old City as it was during the time of King Herod, about 2000 years ago.

 

Eilat Lieber, Director of the Tower of David Museum said: “The best view of Jerusalem is still from the top of King Herod’s tower built at the Tower of David Museum. However, until now, it took a distinguishing eye and a creative mind to really imagine the city that was.

‘I am excited that today with VR technology, the Tower of David Museum is enabling visitors to Jerusalem to explore the city of today … and step into history, exploring the city as it was two millennia ago.”

The VR headset allows tourists to explore different aspects of ancient Jerusalem including religious life and commercial activities.

The two and a half hour guided tour is available in English and Hebrew. I begins at Tower of David Museum and ending in the Jewish Quarter.

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our daily newsletter and receive more stories like this straight to your inbox every morning.

… Read More

—

Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

قالب وردپرس

Anne Graham Lotz Opens Up about Having Breast Cancer

Anne Graham Lotz Opens Up about Having Breast Cancer



On Monday, Evangelist Anne Graham Lotz revealed on her website that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer.


Lotz wrote in a post on her website, “On the afternoon of August 17, 2015, between 3:00 and 3:30, as you may know, I discovered my husband, Danny, unresponsive in our pool. Two days later he was Home! Three years to the day, on the afternoon of August 17, 2018, at the very same time of day…3:00 to 3:30…I was diagnosed with breast cancer.”


Lotz continued saying, “When I realized the strange ‘coincidence’ of the timing, I came to the chilling conclusion that it was an assignment from the enemy.”


But Lotz found comfort in the Lord saying, “But just as that thought was forming, I heard the soft, gentle whisper of the Spirit, reminding me that it was on a Friday, during that very same time…between 3:00 and 3:30 in the afternoon…that God’s Passover Lamb was sacrificed. Jesus died on the very same day of the week, at the very same time of the day, crushing the head of the serpent, forever defeating the devil and death.”


Lotz went on to assert that she is trusting God, “who is ultimately in control,” with her diagnosis. 


The daughter of the late Billy Graham said, “Each day since the diagnosis God has given me promises and encouragement from His Word. God has been…and is…my refuge and strength, an ever-present help in this trouble. Therefore, I…

… Read More

Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.

قالب وردپرس

Anne Graham Lotz Announces She Has Breast Cancer; Undergoing Treatment, Surgery: ‘Please Pray for Me’

(Photo: Anne Graham Lotz Facebook)Anne Graham Lotz, daughter of evangelist Billy Graham, revealed she has cancer.

Anne Graham Lotz, daughter of the late evangelist Billy Graham and an evangelist in her own right, has announced she has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Lotz, 70, discovered that she had cancer during the afternoon of Aug. 17, three years to the day, and during the same time of day, when she discovered that her now late husband was unresponsive in their pool. He died two days later.

“The Refiner has just added fuel to the fire in my life,” she wrote on her website explaining her perspective Monday on receiving this news in a post titled “My Cancer: My Fuel for the Fire.”

“When I realized the strange ‘coincidence’ of the timing, I came to the chilling conclusion that it was an assignment from the enemy. But just as that thought was forming, I heard the soft, gentle whisper of the Spirit, reminding me that it was on a Friday, during that very same time … between 3:00 and 3:30 in the afternoon … that God’s Passover Lamb was sacrificed.”

She added: “So I am left to worship and totally trust our God who is ultimately in control. Of everything.”

Lotz asked for prayers for God to heal her in “whichever way He deems would bring Him the most glory,” whether with…

… Read More

—-

Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – The Christian Post.

قالب وردپرس

Study finds lonely believers who see God as a friend have more purpose than lonely atheists

The study, conducted by University of Michigan researchers, analysed responses from 19,775 people who shared about their purpose in life, level of loneliness, quality of friendships and religious beliefs.
 
Researchers found that lonely religious people tend to see God as a friend, which eases the negative effects of a lack of human relationships.

 
Todd Chan, lead author of the study, said: “For the socially disconnected, God may serve as a substitutive relationship that compensates for some of the purpose that human relationships would normally provide.

“In other words, people mostly benefit from leveraging religion and turning to God as a friend only when they lack supportive social connections.”
 
The report, which appeared in the Journal of Personality, associates belonging with a sense of purpose. It asserts that the less someone feels like they belong, the less sense of purpose the person will have.
 
However, the report found that that for people who are not lonely, feeling connected to God as a friend doesn’t impact levels of purpose.
 
Co-author of the study Oscar Ybarra said: “These results certainly do not suggest that people can or should rely on God over people for purpose.
“Quality human connections still remain a primary and enduring source of purpose in life.”

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. 

… Read More

—

Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

قالب وردپرس

Pope Francis becomes ‘special supporter’ of Leeds United

Owner, Andrea Radrizzani posted the news and a photograph of the moment on Twitter.

Mr Radrizzani, who is Italian, said it was an “emotional and unique moment”.

 

The Leeds’ chairman met the Pope briefly at one of the regular Papal Audiences in St Peter’s Square on Wednesday.

He presented Pope Francis with one of the clubs 2018/19 shirts printed with the number one and the name Francesco.

Online the shirts cost £50, but it’s an extra £12.50 to add your name.

It’s not known whether the front of the shirt carries the logo for Leeds’ sponsors, the internet casino 32Red.

Fans are hoping the gift will encourage the Pope to become a Leeds United supporter, and took to social media to comment on the significance of the gift.

 

Radrizzani’s tweet simply said “we have one special supporter”.

The Pope is known to be a football enthusiast.

But the chances that he will switch his allegiance from the Argentine national team and his hometown club San Lorenzo appear slim.

Despite San Lorenzo failing to win a match so far in the new season, the Pope has the reputation for being loyal to the things he believes in.

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a…

… Read More

—

Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

قالب وردپرس

British Scientist’s American Wife and Son Left Fighting for Life After a Giraffe Savages Them at South African Wildlife Reserve

The wife and young son of a British scientist are fighting for their lives in hospital after being viciously attacked by a giraffe at a wildlife reserve in South Africa.

Terrified Katy Williams, 35, and son Finn, 3, were left close to just 150 yards from their home on the Blyde Wildlife Estate near Hoedspruit after the terrifying encounter.

Husband Sam Williams was returning home from work and saw his US born wife and son under attack and was able to chase off the giraffe and save their lives.

The giraffe which had a two month old calf with it is believed to have attacked the young mum and her son because it felt under threat when they surprised her.

Williams and her son Finn had been waiting close to the family home for her husband to return from his evening trail run in the hills around the nature reserve.

It is believed Mr and Mrs Williams are both scientists who work on the game reserve and both are said to have extensive post PHD experience in animal related fields.

The attack happened on Monday at 6pm and UK born Sam called for emergency help and the Hoedspruit Medical Rescue team raced to the scene to try and help.

But they were both so badly hurt in such a life threatening condition they were transferred to a local airfield to await two helicopter air ambulances from Johannesburg.

Finn was the first to be airlifted by the ER24 to chopper to Busamed Modderfontein Hospital in Johannesburg and the mother then followed shortly in the second helicopter.

An operation was performed on Finn during the early hours of Tuesday morning to release pressure on his brain due to injuries…

… Read More

—-

Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Urban Christian News

قالب وردپرس

Australian prosecutors seek tougher sentence for archbishop

A magistrate last month ordered former Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson to be detained at his sister’s house in New South Wales state for at least six months of a one-year sentence before he is eligible for parole.

The 67-year-old cleric was convicted in May of failing to report to police the repeated abuse of two altar boys by a paedophile priest in the Hunter Valley region north of Sydney during the 1970s.

 

The Australian director of public prosecutions’ office said prosecutors are appealing the “inadequacy” of the sentence in the New South Wales District Court.

Wilson had faced a possible sentence of up to two years in prison.

He will appeal his conviction in the District Court in a hearing in November, Australian Broadcasting Corp reported.

Wilson denied the accusations and had refused to resign pending an appeal. However, Pope Francis accepted Wilson’s resignation in July after pressure mounted, including from Australia’s prime minister, for him to be fired.

He had failed four times to have courts throw out the charge since he was first indicted in 2015.

Wilson temporarily stepped down as Adelaide archbishop after he was convicted in May. Adelaide is the capital of South Australia state, which will bring in laws in October obliging priests to report evidence of abuse heard during a confession.

The Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania state are planning…

… Read More

—

Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

قالب وردپرس

Why Declining Churches Often Run Off Pastors – Revitalize & Replant #057

SUBSCRIBE TODAY: iTunes • RSS • Stitcher • TuneIn Radio • Google Play

Some churches have a habit of running pastors off. Some pastors have a habit of leaving too soon. Today, we tackle the former issue and discuss why some churches continually run off pastors.

Today’s Listener Question:

FROM ROBERT

The church I pastor has been approached by a struggling church in town about a merger. In their own words, they are an “out-dated and ineffective ministry that is operated by the same 6 families that have been doing it for 40 years and who have effectively run off every pastor that has questioned the way they do things.” I’m hesitant to commit our church to anything right now, but why would a church operate that way? And is there any hope for us to succeed in this merger/acquisition?

Episode Highlights:

  • Some churches shouldn’t be asking “How can we find a new pastor?” but “What might we be doing to run off the pastor we have?” instead.
  • At a church, the most natural object of frustration for the church members will be the pastor. For the pastor, it is often the church members.
  • “That’s what we pay the pastor to do” is not the attitude of a healthy church member.
  • Pastors, stick around through the tough times, things should eventually improve.

The five reasons churches run off pastors are:

  1. The pastor was not the magic bullet.
  2. The pastor becomes the object of frustration.
  3. The pastor burns out.
  4. Decline often leads to blame and conflict.
  5. The pastor’s family becomes…

… Read More

—

Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Thom Rainer.

قالب وردپرس