Persecution update

The following reports were given at a men's prayer group at our church recently.

Myanmar, Oct 20. Myanmar's military junta has bombed and burned down two Christian churches in separate attacks in the country's predominantly Christian regions.

Columbia, Oct 19. Pastor beaten to death by gang members, in Cartegena. A growing crisis facing Christian leaders in Colombia, where criminal organizations increasingly target pastors who challenge their influence.

Pakistan, Oct 10. Dozens of Christian families have reportedly fled their village in Pakistan's Punjab province after a Muslim mob set fire to the home and pharmacy of a Christian father of three accused of blasphemy.

Syria, Oct 5. Christians and other religious minorities in Syria have suffered violent attacks, with 11 killed.

France, Oct 15. Jews and Christians are suffering focused attacks and looting, during the recent massive riots.

Ghana, Oct 4. Christian evangelists in Ghana and the Netherlands faced mounting restrictions and opposition Sunday, with Ghana threatening prison terms for preaching aboard moving buses while Dutch authorities came under growing pressure to curb controversial street evangelism.

China, Oct 1. China has detained a prominent house-church pastor, Zhou Zixun, and seven fellow Christians on "suspicion of fraud." The believers were told they could not sing songs containing the words "Jesus," "God" or "Lord.

Nigeria, Sept 23. A Baptist pastor was shot and killed by suspected Muslim Fulani militants while on his way to a church service. Eight others were killed in a series of attacks on Christians over the weekend. (Over 50,000 believers have been martyred, and millions displaces since the violence began.)

Algeria, Sept 20. Algerian special police forces have raided a Christian gathering and detained 12 believers.

Iran, Sept 17. Authorities have closed and evicted residents from St. Peter's, Iran's oldest Protestant church; no explanation given.

U.K, Sept 8. Christians increasingly face a double standard under Britain's justice system, accusing authorities of tolerating extremist Islamist preaching while Christian ministers and believers face scrutiny over traditional biblical beliefs.

Congo, Sept 8. 21 civilians, believed to be Christians, died when suspected Islamists attacked two villages in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Europe, Aug 17. Violence against Christians and churches is increasing across Europe after dozens of churches, religious symbols and worshipers were targeted in July.

Sudan, Aug 12. A Christian pastor and six others have been executed in Sudan's Nuba Mountains after being arrested by an armed faction.

India, Aug 3. Seven Christians leaders of six congregations, gathered to celebrate one of their children's birthday. They were incarcerated and have been sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment following accusations that they used a child's birthday party to conduct unlawful religious conversions.

Russia, July 28. A South Korean female missionary serving Russian children, Park Tae-yeon, with Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) (now designated an "undesirable organization") detained on January 15, was tried on July 28 with charges that could carry a prison sentence of up to 17 years.

clement quotes hebrews

Clement of Rome wrote to the church in Corinth around AD 90. This is perhaps the same Clement, companion of Paul, mentioned in Philippians 4:3. Many hold him to be the first bishop / pope in Rome, aka St. Clement I. Clement quotes from the letter to the Hebrews. Origin suggested that Clement was in fact the writer (as transcriber or amanuensis) of Hebrews. Perhaps this letter began as a "word of exhortation" given by Paul at the synagogue (Heb 13:22; cf Acts 13:15) which then became a circular letter for the churches. Other possible authors of Hebrews include Luke, Barnabas, or Apollos. The theology is Pauline, but the transcriber is obviously second-generation (Heb. 2:3-4). At any rate, this early church leader in Rome, is already quoting Hebrews in his letter in AD 90: CHAPTER 36 ALL BLESSINGS ARE GIVEN TO US THROUGH CHRIST This is the way, beloved, in which we find our Savior, even Jesus Christ, the High Prie...

a brief history of bcf

Blacksburg Christian Fellowship, or BCF as it is popularly known, was founded in November 1969. Prior to this time several families had been meeting for Bible study and prayer, with a particular concern that the Lord raise up an effective biblical ministry to the students of the Virginia Tech campus. Growing from these meetings, the Lord led them to begin a public ministry on Sunday mornings. The Wesley Foundation agreed to the rental of their facilities, and the first meeting was held in November 1969, with about 30 people in attendance. Since the first meeting BCF has been greatly blessed by the Lord and has seen a steady growth in ministry and in numbers. Two other local churches were formed in part from BCF. In 1974 the Lord led Houston Couch, who at that time was an Elder in BCF, to leave and start Dayspring Christian Fellowship. In 1980 Max Harris, who was a regular attender at BCF, was encouraged by the Elders and members to start a ministry which has now become Grace Cov...

evangelicalism over the next decade

I've been contemplating Michael Spencer's blogs on the future of evangelical churches in America ( iMonk blog ). His three articles on his predicted collapse of evangelicalism are found here . It is important, I believe, to read all three articles. I find myself in agreement with much he has to say. Here are a few quotes... The determination to follow in the methodological steps of numerically successful churches will be greater than ever. The result will be, in the main, a departure from doctrine to more and more emphasis on relevance, motivation and personal success….with the result being churches further compromised and weakened in their ability to pass on the faith. ... For some time, we’ve been at a point that the decision to visit a particular evangelical church contained a fairly high risk of not hearing the Biblical Gospel. That experience will be multiplied and expanded in the years to come. Core beliefs will become less and less normative and necessary in evangelic...

my burg

Search This Blog