The post MFM Daily Devotional 26 July 2019 – Conditions For Divine Elevation appeared first on Flatimes.
China Adds Charge against Pastor, Coerces Christians to Falsely Accuse Him, Sources Say
July 25, 2019 (Morning Star News) – Authorities in China have added “illegal business activities” to the subversion charge against pastor Wang Yi and have coerced congregation members to falsely accuse him, according to advocacy and media reports.
Pastor Wang, of Early Rain Covenant Church (ERCC) in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, was detained in a Dec. 9 raid along with more than 100 congregation members and, as leader of an unregistered church, was charged with “inciting subversion of the state.” His arrest was formalized on Dec. 14. He remains incarcerated along with four other church leaders.
Chinese Christians were baffled at the “illegal business activities” charge, with an elder at a Beijing house church telling Radio Free Asia that it makes no sense, as the church doesn’t sell Bibles or anything else.
Authorities have forbidden Pastor Wang’s attorney to confer with him.
Other ERCC members have been released but regularly arrested and interrogated for brief periods since the Dec. 9, 2018 round-up. Some of them report being forced to take unidentified substances and make false accusations against church leaders, advocacy group China Aid reported.
Those who refused to make false accusations against Pastor Wang and church elders were shackled on their hands and feet for more than 10 days to prevent sleep, a released church…
… Read More
Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.
Christian charity welcomes new Secretary of State for International Development
The new Prime Minister has been making sweeping changes to the ministerial line-up since he moved into Number 10 on Wednesday.
David Westwood, Director of Policy and Programmes at World Vision UK said in a statement: “We know that aid is spent most effectively and transparently through DFID, and we urge Sharma to fight for it to remain an independent department.
“A messy and costly merger with the foreign office would lead to inefficient spending, unclear priorities, and a waste of taxpayers’ money.
“When aid is spent well it helps break the cycle of poverty. But it’s also a key part of building the UK’s influence on a global stage, while helping ensure peace and stability.
“A government that claims to promote a ‘global Britain’ should take this seriously.”
The Christian charity recently presented the Department for International Development (DFID) with a petition, urging it to increase spending to stop children being abused in disaster zones.
More than 34,000 people around the UK signed.
“Sharma has a real opportunity to ensure that UK Aid continues to prioritise the world’s most vulnerable children and their communities – especially in fragile and emergency contexts,” Westwood added.
“It is crucial that he maintains the 0.7 per cent aid budget, and puts a focus on the causes of humanitarian emergencies such as conflict and the climate crisis.
“We look forward to…
… Read More
—
Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.
City Officials Remove the Word ‘Lord’ from Fallen Police Officers Memorial before Ultimately Removing Entire Memorial
Tega Cay city in South Carolina sparked controversy this week after city officials first removed the word “Lord” from a fallen police officers memorial before ultimately removing the entire memorial.
According to the Christian Post, a memorial containing the “Officer’s Prayer” was placed outside of the Tega Cay Police Department to honor police officers killed in the line of duty. After being up for only a short time, the city reportedly received numerous complaints about the religious words on the memorial, causing city officials to cover up the word “Lord,” which appears three separate times.
City officials’ decision to remove “Lord” from the prayer, however, did not solve the issue. Instead, the move sparked even more controversy.
Tega Cay city shared on social media that since they failed to find a solution to appease both those offended by the words and those offended by the removal of the words, that they would be removing the memorial.
The announcement read, “We have received many comments, both locally and nationally, in response to the monument at the Tega Cay Police Station. We attempted to find a compromise but failed as our community has further divided.”
“In an attempt to find a resolution, we have upset parties on both sides of this issue and for that, we are truly sorry. The…
… Read More
Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.
Second Christian accused of killing Hindu monk released on bail after 10 years in jail
Bijaya Sanaseth spent over ten years behind bars after being held responsible – alongside six others believers – for the death of the highly revered social leader.
Although initial media reports said that the Communist Party of India (Maoist) were behind the killing, many Hindu nationalists accused the Christians of perpetrating the murder.
The murder sparked the country’s worst ever anti-Christian violence in India’s independent history. After three months of violence, at least 91 Christians were killed, many hacked to death by axes and machetes, and at least three Christian women were gang raped.
Sanaseth is the second of the accused Christians to be released after Garanath Challanseth, who was released on bail this year on 21st May.
Bhaskar Sunamajhi, Buddhadev Nayak, Durjo Sunamajhi, Sanatan Badamajhl and Munda Badamajhl all remain in jail.
John Dayal, a civil rights activist and writer, said in a statement: “Any freedom loving human will rejoice that this man can breathe free after more than ten years of unjust incarceration.
“Five others remain in jail, denied this right under the law. We are with them in solidarity. But it needs be remembered that the two [Bijaya Sanaseth and Garanath Challanseth] are out on bail.
“The High Court must hear the appeals and throw out the shameful ruling of the lower court, which reeks of religious…
… Read More
—
Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.
Kansas Launches 74 Investigations into Allegations of Sexual Abuse by Clergy
Kansas Bureau of Investigation says they will begin 74 investigations into allegations of Catholic Church clergy sexual abuse.
According to the Christian Post, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation has received 119 reports of alleged abuse.
The 74 investigations span about 30 counties in Kansas.
No arrests have been made, according to The Wichita Eagle.
“Victims are asked to report all incidents of sexual abuse that involve a member of the clergy, no matter how long ago the incident occurred, and even if it was previously reported to law enforcement or the church,” stated the KBI.
The investigations come after Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt asked the KBI to investigate the many allegations. Schmidt also asked for the names of the priests accused of sexual misconduct.
The Archdiocese of Kansas City released 22 names and the Diocese of Salina released a list of 14. The dioceses of Wichita and Dodge City have yet to release their lists.
The KBI is asking anyone who has been, or knows someone who has been, a victim of sexual abuse committed by a member of the Catholic clergy to report it by calling 1-800-872-7463 or emailing [email protected]
“The KBI task force will work with prosecutors and law enforcement partners to determine if any sexual abuse incidents should be considered for prosecution,” they said in February.
Janet…
… Read More
Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.
French Jet-Powered Hoverboard Inventor Crashes While Trying to Cross the English Channel – Urban Christian News
Franky Zapata lifted off near the northern port of Calais with 42 liters of kerosene in his backpack, enough for about 10 minutes of flight. He planned to strap on a new backpack on a vessel waiting midway across the 35-km wide Strait of Dover.
“It is a huge disappointment. He made his rendezvous with the refueling boat, but the landing platform hit the flyboard, which threw him off balance and knocked him into the water,” support crew member Stephane Denis told BFM television.
Zapata was making his attempt on the 110th anniversary of the first powered flight between Britain and France.
But Denis said that with the landing platform two meters above the deck, every movement of the ship on the waves was exaggerated, making landing difficult.
“He had practiced this maneuver in heavier seas without problems, but now, at the most important moment, it failed. Today was the 110th anniversary of Bleriot’s flight. It would have been a poignant moment,” Denis said.
He added that Zapata was unharmed and would make a new attempt as soon as possible.
Zapata had received a 1.3 million euro grant from the French army in late 2018 to help finance the development of the hoverboard, which is powered by five small jet engines.
Zapata took off from Sangatte, France, at 0706 GMT. Flying at up to 140 kph (87 mph) at an altitude of between 15 to 20 meters he had hoped to reach to Dover in about 20 minutes.
He disappeared from spectators’ view within moments, trailed by a helicopter, but minutes later his team announced the attempt had failed.
Zapata had wowed crowds during France’s July 14…
… Read More
—-
Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Urban Christian News
New Foreign secretary must pledge to protect persecuted Christians, say religious freedom groups
The former foreign secretary, Mr Hunt, who also ran to be prime minister, pledged to enact the recommendations of the Bishop of Truro, Rt Rev Philip Mountstephen, that were made in a report into the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) support of those discriminated because of their Christian faith around the world.
Mr Hunt told Premier during the campaign that the first thing he would do as PM would be to work with countries whom Britain already has a diplomatic relationship with, such as Nigeria and India, and encourage them to protect persecuted Christians.
However, Mr Hunt is now neither PM nor foreign secretary and will now be returning to the backbenches, with Dominic Raab taking his place.
With fresh faces in the department, Christian charities are calling on the new arrivals to not let their work on this issue collect dust.
Religious freedom charity Open Doors told Premier they are: “urging the new prime minister, Boris Johnson, to keep his promise to ‘prioritise protecting religious freedoms’ and ‘stand up for those facing persecution’ and Open Doors is calling upon the new foreign secretary, Dominic Raab to carry on the vital work started by his predecessor and implement the recommendations of the report into the persecution of Christians.”
They added that they are pleased that shadow foreign office minister, Liz McInnes asked for the FCO to focus on…
… Read More
—
Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.
