The Great Separation

Christ over Life in Iran for Two Women.

They hate you because of me - This is a must see. These two women, Maryam and Marzieh have chosen Christ over comfort and the world's freedom.

Visit http://www.freethemm.com/ to see how you can help.
 

Free Themm - Afshin Ziafat from Free Themm on Vimeo.

For further information on Christian persecution around the globe the Christian Persecution Blog is a good source.

Uzbekistan: "Joy" Children's Holiday Camp Under Criminal Investigation.

They hate you because of me - I just received this press release from Forum 18, an organization which monitors and promotes religious freedom.

This report is about the religious persecution by the government which a Baptist organization is currently undergoing.

By Mushfig Bayram, Forum 18 News Service http://www.forum18.org>

Uzbekistan's Baptist Union is facing criminal charges brought by Tashkent
City Prosecutor's office for allegedly unlawfully teaching children
religion, and for supposedly misusing their property in a resort area as a
summer camp, Forum 18 News Service has learnt. Local Baptists are very
concerned by the claims and think that Pavel Peichev, the Baptist Union's
Chair faces huge fines, the confiscation of the property, imprisonment, or
some combination of these penalties. No officials from either the state
Religious Affairs Committee or Uzbekistan's Ombudsperson's office were
willing to discuss the case with Forum 18 on 28 July.

The criminal charges brought by Tashkent City Prosecutor's are against the
Baptist leaders in charge of "Joy," a children's summer camp run in
Bostanlyk in the Tashkent Region, which belongs to Uzbekistan's Union of
Baptists. The charges relate to the Criminal Code's articles 145 part 2 and
190 part 2 point b and accuse the Baptists of:

- violating the rules of arrangement and maintenance of children's health
camps;

- violating the fire-prevention rules in the period 2006-2009;

- unlawfully using Baptist property for a children's camp;

- selling vouchers for the camp in cash;

- and "involving under-age children in religious organisation as well as
teaching them religion against the will of the children, their parents or
persons substituting them".

Bible School Raided by Chinese Public Security Bureau.

They hate you because of me - I received this press release today from China Aid:

JIANGSU – A Bible school run by Vice-President of the Chinese House Church Alliance (CHCA) Pastor Shi Enhao was raided on July 16 at 11:30 a.m. (Beijing time) in Suqian city, Jiangsu province. Pastor Shi and 11 students were taken to the Public Security Bureau (PSB) office and questioned. They were all released around 5 p.m. the same day. The students were sent back to their hometowns and warned not to come back for Bible study. The school is part of a Bible education school run by CHCA, and has been in existence for several years without any problems from authorities.

It's hard to imagine being told that you can't go to Bible school. Can you imagine here in America the FBI or say the Homeland Security Agency raiding your Bible study class on Wednesay? And then they tell you not to return again? Would you disobey that order?

China Aid offers this course of action if you would like to speak against this action taken against the school:

Contact the Chinese embassy on behalf of the Bible school and ask that students be allowed to study the Bible and worship freely. 
Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong
3505 International Place, NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
Tel: (202) 495-2000
Fax: (202) 588-9760

NOTE: If you are a citizen of another country, please click here to find the contact information of the Chinese embassy in your own nation http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjb/zwjg/2490/.

For further information on Christian persecution around the globe the Christian Persecution Blog is a good source.

India | Mob Attacks Christian Missionaries.

They hate you because of me - I just got this via eMail and felt the need to post it before heading to bed.

Mob Brutally Attacks Missionaries

/Christian Newswire/ -- A large mob of anti-Christian extremists brutally attacked two Gospel for Asia-supported missionaries in Himachal Pradesh, India, on Saturday, March 14. After stripping them naked and beating Murari Jay and Atul Rajesh, the vicious group burned all their belongings and then had the missionaries arrested.

The mob of about 30 people barged into the place where Murari and Atul were staying. Humiliating the missionaries, the group tore the men's clothes off and beat them. Murari sustained severe injuries to his back after mob members repeatedly kicked him, and Atul suffered acute head trauma. Other members of the mob set fire to everything the missionaries owned.

Click over to read the full article.

Be in prayer for Murari and Atual. Pray for their healing and pray that those who persecuted them would find life in Christ and become born again, fellow brothers with us.

For further information on Christian persecution around the globe the Christian Persecution Blog is a good source.

And for Christian News and Missionary news be sure to check out The International Faith Telegraph.

Guest Blogging on the Persecution Blog.

You're where? - Hey folks. Oh, just a note, I'm still fighting a cold if you were wondering. This will be the one cold I allow myself this year. cough.... (As if I have any say.)

Anyway, that's enough about me... errr. I guess this post is a bit more about me but not in that self indulgent manner.

I just wanted to let you know that you can find me posting some over at Voice of the Martyrs Persecution Blog.

My great friend Stacy Harp who runs the blog asked me to fill in while she was off at the Women in Christian Media Conference and also the National Religious Broadcasters Convention.

You've more than likely seen that at the end of my posts on Christian persecution that I often make mention that the Persecution Blog is a great place for more info on the difficulties facing many Christians around the globe.

Well, until mid-week next week you can find me posting over there as well.

Check it out.

Daughter Pleas for Help for Her Father Who is Suffering Through His 7th Year in Prison.

They hate you because of me - The following is a press release from China Aid which I just received. If you can please take action. And also, please continue to remember our brothers and sisters in foreign lands who face such persecution. Pray too for their persecutors, that they may come to know the redemptive love of Christ Jesus.

GUANGDONG – Christian democracy activist, Wang Bingzhang, is enduring his seventh year in prison in solitary confinement, and his family reports that he is deteriorating physically and mentally. His daughter, Ti-anna Wang, wrote the letter below appealing to the international community to speak out on her father’s behalf.  ChinaAid urges supporters to visit the family’s website at www.wangbingzhang.comfor information about sending letters to Wang Bingzhang in prison, advocating on his behalf and praying for their family.

The following is the letter Ti-anna Wang sent to ChinaAid.:

Widely regarded as the founding father of the Chinese pro-democracy movement abroad, my father, Wang Bingzhang, was a medical doctor who went to Canada for graduate studies at McGill University. He was among the first students sent abroad to study after the Cultural Revolution and became the first person from the People’s Republic of China to receive a PhD from a western university.

Upon graduation, my father decided to give up a promising career in medicine to devote his life to Chinese pro-democracy activism. He then moved to New York where he founded China Spring magazine and co-founded several of the first overseas Chinese democratic parties.  My father spent the next 20 years of his life organizing and promoting pro-democracy activities in North America and around the world. 

The Chinese Communist Party's concern about his activities eventually led to his arrest.  In June 2002, while traveling in Vietnam with fellow activists, my father was kidnapped and brought to China.  He was then arrested and falsely charged with espionage and terrorism.  In a trial that lasted a day where no evidence or witnesses were presented, my father was convicted and sentenced to life-imprisonment in solitary confinement. 

His sentence is the harshest levied on a political prisoner since 1989.  Since his imprisonment, my father has gained the support of the American and Canadian governments.  The United Nations and Amnesty International have also intervened on his behalf.  Despite these efforts from his family, my father continues to languish in prison where he has developed several serious medical conditions that make his family fearful for his life.  He suffers from phlebitis, severe hay fever, gastritis, varicose veins and depression.  He has also had three major strokes.  My father is now serving his seventh year in prison.

My father is permitted one family visit per month, each session lasting only half an hour.  Our family must make the trip from North America to China for these monthly visits, during which glass panels and bars separate my father and my family. We must communicate using a phone under the surveillance of several prison guards. In addition to meeting once a month, my father and my family communicate by exchanging monthly letters.

My father has always loved Chinese calligraphy, and since his imprisonment he has developed an interest in etymology. He spends many hours in his prison cell practicing his art and studying Chinese characters. A devout Christian, my father especially enjoys writing Bible verses as well as popular Chinese proverbs in different styles. He used to send them to my family as birthday presents until the prison officials decided [sic] stopped him from sharing his writings with us.

Please help me secure my father’s freedom by taking action by writing to Congress. Visit www.wangbingzhang.com to read more about his case. Keep my father in your prayers and share his story with family and friends.

Love,
Ti-Anna Wang
Daughter of Dr. Wang Bingzhang

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For further information on Christian persecution around the globe the Christian Persecution Blog is a good source.

More Christian Persecution out of Eritrea

They hate you because of me - I've been following the Christian persecution in Eritrea for some time. One of the common practices there by the ruling authority is to take Christans and lock them in metal shipping containers out in the heat and sun.

Today there's an article by Ethan Cole for the Christian Post that reports the murder of two Christians arrested for naming the name of Jesus.

Here's the link: More Christians Die in Eritrea's Military Detention

Two Christians were reported to have died under harsh conditions in Eritrea’s military confinement this month, bringing the total of known deaths within the past four months to three believers.

Mogos Hagos Kiflom, 37, and Mehari Gebreneguse Asgedom, 42, both died in the northeastern Mitire Military Confinement camp in the eastern African nation of Eritrea, sources told the Christian persecution watchdog group Open Doors USA.

Remember to keep our brothers and sisters in lands where being a Christian is looked down upon. Pray to for their persecutors so that the light of Jesus would shine upon their souls.

For further information on Christian persecution around the globe the Christian Persecution Blog is a good source.

Press Release: 51 Christians Detained in Xinjiang, One Young Mother Sentenced.

They hate you because of me - I just received the following press release from China Aid.

XINJIANG – At 1 p.m. local time on January 2, 2009, a house church in Shayibake District of Urimuqi city, Xinjiang Autonomous Region was raided by a number of Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers. Fifty-one Christians were detained for questioning, with forty-eight released later that day.

 

Authorities held three church leaders, Ms. Zhou Li, Ms. Zhu Jinfeng and Mr. Yang Miaofa, an extended time in PSB custody. Mr. Yang Miaofa was released after paying 500 yuan fine. Ms. Zhu Jinfeng suffered a longer detention before her eventual release. Ms. Zhou Li was sentenced to 10 days administrative detention. She is currently separated from her son who is almost two years old.

 

Contact the following Chinese government offices to express your concern for Zhou Li. ChinaAid recommends English speakers to communicate by fax:
The People’s Procurate of Xinjiang Autonomous Region
Tel: +86-991-2642000
The Office of Inspector General for Law Enforcement of China
Tel: +86-10-62251925
Fax: +86-10-62254181

Let us continue to lift up in prayer our brothers and sisters in Christ who face persecution.

For further information on Christian persecution around the globe the Christian Persecution Blog is a good source.

Registered Church in Jiangsu Province Demolished, Christians Beaten.

They hate you because of me - I just received this press release from ChinaAid. During our relatively comfortable Christmas season here in the West I think it's worth reading and pondering. The emphasis in the article is added by me.

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ChinaAid
Media Contact: Katherine Cason (267) 210-8278 or Katherine@ChinaAid.org
Washington, D.C. Contact: Jenny McCloy (202) 213-0506 or Jenny@ChinaAid.org
Website: www.ChinaAid.org and www.MonitorChina.org
Fax: (432) 686-8355

 

December 22, 2008

 

JIANGSU – The morning of December 17, 2008, police officers, together with nearly a thousand unidentified people, led by government officials from Yancheng city, Jiangsu province and real estate developers, forcibly demolished the Chengnan Christian Church of Tinghu District. The destruction of this registered church came less than 24 hours after the church won a court case protecting their building against the same individuals who attacked it. The mob took away property belonging to the church and beat more than10 Christians. Contacts report that the destruction was the result of government officials and powerful businessmen working in collusion to obtain the coveted church property by force. 

 

On December 24, 1999, Chengnan Christian Church of Tinghu District was formally established upon review, approval and registration by Yancheng Municipal People’s Government. In order to construct a church building which would accommodate a congregation of 800, the church obtained a loan and the Christians enthusiastically donated personal funds for four years. 

 

On June 12, 2003, the congregation bought four mu (about 0.66 acres) of land for the church building. The construction of the church building started in April 2004, and was completed in February 2005. On March 11, 2005, the church members began Sunday worship and various church activities in the church building. Pastor Ding Jianling said: “The grace of the Lord is overflowing, and the investment of five million yuan on the church all comes from the loving donations from brothers and sisters over the past 10 years or so and is the fruit of hard work. Now, the temple of God is built.” 

 

However, beginning in 2006, sources say that real estate developers began to covet the land on which the church was built. The developers established connections in key agencies and departments and planned to build commercial housing units to sell for a large profit.

 

Because of the pressure to sell the building and property, the church said it was willing to hold negotiations on equal footing to solve the problems. However, real estate developers and the relevant agencies in the government offered to pay only 2,860,000 yuan to settle the matter. They also refused to provide the land to replace the demolished church. 

 

Chengnan Christian Church refused to accept the unfair conditions. Contacts say that the real estate developers collaborated with relevant agencies in the government to harass the church by cutting off the water supply and electricity.

 

At 9 a.m. on January 16, 2008 government officials and real estate developers called in more than 500 people to lay siege to the church and tried to demolish the building. Since the church had already petitioned, filed a case and reported the incident to the relevant agencies for urgent resolution, and because members of the church came out to protect the building, the church temporarily avoided demolition.

House Church Leader Zhu Baoguo Sentenced to 'Re-education Through Labor'

They hate you because of me - Press Release:

HENAN – ChinaAid learned a house church leader in Henan province, Pastor Zhu Baoguo, was sentenced to one year of “re-education through labor,” accused of being an “evil cult” leader. On October 12, 2008 five church leaders were detained during a church gathering of about 20 people at Dushu village, Yuguang town, Neixiang county, Nanyang city, Henan province. Pastor Zhu received 15 days of administrative detention, while the other four leaders were sentenced to five days. However, on October 30, two days after Pastor Zhu was released from his 15-day administrative detention at the Detention Center of Neixiang County, Pastor Zhu was sentenced to one year of re-education through labor. He was charged with being a member of “an evil cult.” He was immediately sent to a labor camp. His family and church members have not been able to determine where he is being held. According to his family members, Pastor Zhu suffers from heart disease.

“To arbitrarily detain and sentence an innocent house church pastor is a direct violation of the Chinese Constitution and related international human rights covenants guaranteeing Chinese citizens’ religious freedom. It also contradicts the Chinese government’s repeated claim for protecting religious freedom in the spirit of rule of law,” said Bob Fu, President of ChinaAid. “We call upon the Chinese government to release Pastor Zhu immediately.”

Be in prayer for this fellow brother and his church.

The Great Separation continues.

For further information on Christian persecution around the globe the Christian Persecution Blog is a good source.