Christians in the Age of Covid-19

There is a world-wide movement to suppress, quiet and even destroy those who claim Jesus Christ as their Savior. To receive Covid-19 aid, Christians in Bangladesh, India, Sudan and Malaysia are being told to renounce their faith or die of starvation. Last month we reported how Christians also in Vietnam and Pakistan were excluded from receiving food or emergency aid.

The Open Doors USA coordinator in Southeast Asia, Pastor Sam, reported “governments are giving assistance to a lot of people, but many Christians, especially those who come from a Muslim background or a Buddhist background, are not receiving the support when it goes to the villages. People may die or convert back to Islam if they don’t have the means to survive.”

A pastor in Sudan shared, “Believers from Muslim backgrounds have to be entirely self-reliant because they aren’t given any support from their family, tribes or community, because of their faith. They are told to give up Christianity if they want to be helped. It is a tragedy.”

In China, Christians are being ordered to renounce their faith and remove crosses, religious symbols, and images of Jesus. These symbols are to be replaced with portraits of Chairman Mao and President Xi Jinping. If not done, officials stopped their government subsidies.

“All impoverished households in the town [Linfen in the Shanxi province] were told to display Mao Zedong images,” a local pastor told Bitter Winter. “The government is trying to eliminate our belief and wants to become God instead of Jesus.”

The Christian Post reports that in Xinyu city in Jiangxi province, a disabled Christian’s minimum living subsidy and a monthly disability allowance of 100 RMB (about $14) was stopped because the believer continued to attend worship services despite government orders. The Communist Party is targeting images and photos of Jesus as part of its campaign to “transform believers in religion into believers in the party.”

According to Open Doors USA, underground churches in Iran have risked arrest to provide food and humanitarian aid to answer Jesus’ call to love their neighbors. David Curry, CEO of Open Doors USA, did not go into detail for security reasons, but he did say that “The church [serves] as a rally point [and] centers of care and compassion for Muslim communities they are living in. The Church has always been strong in the underground among supporting each other. This is something different because they are having to come above ground, so to speak. It’s a historic thing.”

Even in the United States, California Governor Gavin Newsom recently banned singing and chanting in churches and issued an executive order that effectively bans church members from holding Bible studies and other small group meetings in their homes.

Newsom had lifted worship restrictions in May but reinstituted them after an increase in COVID-19 cases. However, he supported anti-racism protests following the death of George Floyd even though they violated California’s mass gathering ban, “To those of you who want to express yourselves… God bless you. Keep doing it. Your rage is real,” Newsom said.

Becket attorney William Haun said California should not single out singing in worship more than in other contexts: “The First Amendment protects both prayer and protest, and governments don’t get to pick and choose.”

PRAY and ACT: May we all show the love of Jesus to our neighbors, our communities and our world and share with those we agree with and those we do not. Despite persecution, the Church will prevail. Continue to pray for our Christian brothers and sisters to stand strong in their faith.

Turkey Continues to Stir Tension in Middle East

There are growing concerns about Turkey’s military operations in northern Iraq, after Ankara began bombing areas of the country claiming it was “fighting terrorists.” Turkey began operation “Claw-Tiger” on June 17 and it seems to come in the context of Turkey launching new military attacks every month in different countries to distract from failures at home by Ankara’s leading party. Turkey has had almost a year of near-constant new conflicts and militarist saber-rattling.

Last spring and summer it threatened to invade eastern Syria, threatening US troops and the Trump administration in the process. The US tried to appease Turkey by having its anti-ISIS partners on the ground remove obstacles to Turkey’s invasion. It wasn’t enough, in October Turkey told Washington it would begin bombing the region and US troops must move. After Ankara’s October offensive, in which some 200,000 people were forced to flee, Ankara signed a deal with the Tripoli-based government in Libya to help Tripoli fight opposition groups and secure Turkey’s energy demands in the Mediterranean.

Ankara then shipped thousands of Syrians to Libya to fight and sent drones to hammer the Benghazi-based Libyan National Army. In December and January, Turkey was busy heating up the Libya conflict, before moving on to stoke tensions with Russia and the Syrian regime in Idlib. Ankara threatened to send Syrian refugees to Europe during the Idlib crises of February and March.

In April and May, Turkey returned to fighting in Libya, capturing a key military base at Watiya. Then the Ankara regime decided to increase Turkey’s airstrikes in Iraq, claiming to begin fighting the “Kurdistan Workers Party,” known as the PKK. On June 17, Turkey launched airstrikes against Yazidi areas of Sinjar and near Christian villages along the border, forcing Kurds to flee the battles. Iraq has expressed increasing concern about the attacks, which appear to be coordinated with Iran.

Turkey has used the excuse of “fighting the PKK” to invade northern Iraq and Syria, taking over Afrin, Jarabulus and Tel Abyad, as well as to establish more than a dozen military bases. Turkey and the PKK once had a ceasefire before 2015, but it broke down. Since then, Turkey has claimed it has a right to bomb anywhere that members of groups linked to the PKK exist. This includes bombing unarmed people who are members of far-left groups that Turkey labels “PKK.” Turkey has produced no information that these groups are involved in armed attacks on Turkey this year.

The bombings in Iraq have created tensions with Arab states, including the Gulf which opposes Turkey’s actions. This is linked to the wider regional rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Ankara says it expects Iraq’s cooperation. Iraq has internal troubles with ISIS insurgents and disputes between the US and Iran, as well as Iranian-backed militias mobilized across the country. This means Iraq is so divided it has trouble opposing, even diplomatically, Turkey’s actions. A variety of Iraqi officials have nevertheless spoken up about the increasing war in northern Iraq.

While some US voices have expressed concern, including a tweet by the State Department after three women were killed in a Turkish air strike in Syria, most remain silent. Representative Jim Cooper from Nashville tweeted over the weekend that he was extremely disturbed by reports of “Turkish military attack on Kurdish people in Iraq.” Voices at the US Commission on International Religious Freedom have also expressed concern and called for an end to the attacks. Anytime that Turkey shows aggression in the region, Ezekiel 38-39 come to mind and it is possible that that event could happen in our lifetime.

Pray- Pray that the tensions will lessen in the Middle East and that the innocents in the region will be protected.

New Danish Bible Removes References to Israel

The Danish Bible Society has omitted dozens of references to Israel from translations of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament in their new translation. Defending the deletions, the society said they prevent confusion with the modern-day country. The omissions occurred in a project titled “Bible 2020” that was published earlier this year under the society’s supervision.

A press release of the Danish Bible Society says this translation decision was made because, “for the secular reader, who does not know the Bible well, ‘Israel’ could be referring only to a country. Therefore, the word ‘Israel’ in the Greek text has been translated in other ways, so that the reader understands it is referring to the Jewish people.”

Jan Frost, a Bible enthusiast and supporter of Israel from Denmark, drew the media’s attention to the omissions on YouTube and other social networks. He counted 59 omissions out of 60 references to Israel in the Greek origin for New Testament texts. References to “the People of Israel” were replaced with “Jews,” while “Land of Israel” became “the land of Jews.” In other places, references to Israel were translated as referencing all readers or all of humanity.

The Song of Ascents from the Book of Psalms in the Hebrew Bible, a popular Shabbat hymn for Jews, originally states that “He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” In the new translation, Israel is replaced by the word “us.” A Bible Society representative told Frost that the decision was made to avoid confusing the Land of Israel with the State of Israel. However, the names of other countries from that time that still exist, such as Egypt, have not been changed.

Olivier Melnick, the Northwest Regional Director of Chosen People’s Ministries, also has came out in objection to the new translation. In a recent article, he wrote that, “Such a Bible widens the divide between Christians and Jews. At a time when antisemitism is thriving around the globe, Jewish people need to be reassured that they have Christian friends. Publishing a Bible that erases Israel is sending a clear message to the Jewish People that ‘We the Christians do not think that Israel is important enough to remain in the Bible’.

The Bible Society in Israel also issued a press release about the new translation, stating, “While all translators must make difficult decisions, those decisions must be freed, as much as humanly possible, from any interpretation foreign to the text. Even if done to accommodate for a secular Danish audience, the meaning of the word of God must not be compromised. We believe that the replacing and removing of the term “Israel” in the way that it was done in the Danish Contemporary Bible 2020 was a harmful decision which has hurt many who love the word of God, in Israel and beyond.”

These types of changes are usually put in by replacement theologians who believe that the nation of Israel has been replaced by the church and that no is no future for national Israel. That idea goes against both the promises given to the nation of Israel in the Old Testament as well as the future for the nation spoken of in the New Testament in places such as Romans 9-11. This type of thinking also laid down the foundation in Germany and other places for the rise of the type of anti-Semitism that eventually ended up in the Holocaust. Words are very important, and scholars should be careful with the types of messages they send when they replace words in translations. 

Pray- Pray for the Jewish people as anti-Semitism continues to rise once again throughout the world.

Supreme Court Decisions

Last month, the United States Supreme Court ruled on two cases that we have been watching. (Original blog post: March 5, 2020.) Below are the judgments rendered.

June Medical Services v. Russo

In a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court decided that a Louisiana state law requiring abortion clinics to have the same standards as surgical centers was unconstitutional.

Planned Parenthood hailed this decision as a victory for women’s health and abortion access. “Your ability to access abortion shouldn’t be determined by where you live, how much  money you make, and the color of your skin – we’ll keep working to make that a reality for ALL people,” stated Planned Parenthood on Twitter.

Justice Stephen Breyer referenced the precedent from past abortion cases: Health regulations that place an “undue burden” on abortion access are unconstitutional. Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Clarence Thomas dissented.

Justice Thomas wrote, “Our abortion precedents are grievously wrong and should be overruled.”

World Magazine reports Justice Gorsuch laid out the health concerns women faced in Louisiana. He listed abortionists’ health violations such as failing to sterilize equipment, not monitoring patients’ vital signs, and unauthorized staff improperly administering medications. They reported that June Medical had hired people ill-qualified to perform abortions, including a radiologist and an ophthalmologist.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins denounced the ruling, “Despite the Left’s hysterical fear-mongering, the case was not about the Supreme Court’s self-created ‘right’ to an abortion in Roe. This case was about whether the state has the right to ensure that abortionists who take women’s money also provide for their safety.”

Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan filed an opinion concurring in the judgment.

Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue

In another 5-4 decision, the U. S. Supreme Court struck down Montana’s Blaine Amendment which barred public aid from going to educational institutions “controlled in whole or in part by any church, sect, or denomination.”

Those who support school choice and tuition vouchers celebrated this decision. Jeanne Allen, founder and chief executive of the Center for Educational Reform, called it “an extraordinary victory for student achievement, parental control, equality in educational opportunities, and First Amendment rights.”

Chief Justice John Roberts, joined by Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh, and Neil Gorsuch, delivered the opinion of the court. “Montana’s no-aid provision bars religious schools from public benefits solely because of religious character of the schools. The provision also bars parents who wish to send their children to a religious school from those same benefits, again solely because of the religious character of the school. A State need not subsidize private education. But once a State decides to do so, it cannot disqualify some private schools solely because they are religious,” Roberts wrote.

Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan, Stephen Breyer, and Sonia Sotomayor dissented in this ruling.

Sudan Opens Path toward Religious Freedom

In what appears to be a promising positive change, Sudan’s transitional government and a rebel group that fought against the Muslim-majority country’s longtime authoritarian leader Omar al-Bashir, who was ousted last year, have agreed to form an independent national commission for religious freedom that hopes to lesson religious persecution throughout the nation.

As part of the latest round of negotiations between Sudan’s transitional government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (Agar) under the Juba Peace Process, an agreement was reached “to establish a commission for religious freedom to address all issues relating to religious freedom in order to affirm the principle of peaceful coexistence in the country,” the Transitional Sovereign Council said on its Facebook page.

The SPLM-N armed group is based in Sudan’s predominantly Christian South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, which fought against al-Bashir. “Today we have agreed to establish the religious freedom commission because the two areas have a considerable number of Sudanese Christians, so this is an important issue that has been resolved,” the armed group’s Deputy Leader and chief negotiator Yasir Arman was quoted as saying by the U.K.-based group Christianity Solidarity Worldwide. The two parties have also agreed to create a Ministry for Peace and Human Rights.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has acknowledged improvements in the country’s religious and political atmosphere. After a visit to that country in February, the commission’s chair, Tony Perkins, expressed optimism. “We are grateful to Prime Minister Hamdok and other members of the country’s bold transitional leadership who met with USCIRF to convey their explicit desire to bring a new era of openness and inclusivity to their country that suffered for 30 years under brutal and autocratic religious repression,” he said, according to Crux. “At the same time, we understand that the country’s challenges are deeply-rooted, and we urge the leadership to move quickly to turn that optimism into tangible and meaningful reforms for all people across Sudan, such as acting to formally repeal Article 126 of the 1991 penal code, which outlaws apostasy,” he added.

Since 2010 and the separation of South Sudan, the persecution of Christians had “intensified with church land being confiscated by the state, church leaders facing trial for national security crimes and latterly misdemeanors,” CSW’s Kiri Kankhwende was quoted as saying. “General harassment of the Christian community, human rights defenders working on FoRB by the intelligence service; harassment of women and interference with the administration of churches and confiscation of private land owned by Christian businessmen.”

Nasreldin Mofreh, Sudan’s Minister of Religious Affairs, signed an order in March requiring the dissolution of church councils that international advocates said legitimized the former government’s confiscation of church properties. “We are pleased by the minister’s decree, given the role these illegitimate church councils played in the former regime’s persecution of Christians and the obstacles they continued to present to churches’ ability to represent their own interests to the government,” Perkins said in a statement.

Prime Minister Hamdok and other transitional government officials met with USCIRF in Washington, D.C., during a visit last December — the first time in three decades that Sudanese leaders had visited Washington, D.C. The officials also shared at the time how they planned to expand religious freedom in a country that is ranked as the seventh-worst in the world when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USA’s World Watch List. Hopefully the nation will continue on this path and Christians that have been under intense persecution for many years.  

Pray- Pray that Sudan will continue on this path to enabling more religious freedom.

Christians Denied Food Aid During COVID-19 Pandemic

As the world goes through food security and financial crises due to the corona-virus pandemic, disadvantaged Christian communities in Asia, especially in Vietnam and Pakistan, are being hit the hardest as government and aid agencies discriminate against them due to their faith.

In the communist country of Vietnam in Southeast Asia, the government is denying food aid to more than 100 Christians, including children and the elderly, according to Open Doors, a ministry to persecuted Christians worldwide. “You are Christians and your God shall take care of your family!” authorities told 18 Christian families, comprising 107 people, in north Vietnam. “The government is not responsible for your families!”

A local partner of Open Doors, which was not identified due to security reasons, said, “They strive to put food on their tables, and they consume their rice little by little every day. When they learned that the government’s support was coming to their district, they were so happy — only to find out that they were not on the list because they are Christians.”

Christians often face ostracism, threats, torture and prison sentences in Vietnam, whose atheist government does not tolerate any faith or ideology other than communism.

Vietnam’s communist regime, which requires its officials to use a secret 600-page manual to repress religion, fears Christianity, which involves building a community of believers and promotes respect for human dignity. The government views citizens’ freedom to form associations as a threat to its power, according to the International Federation for Human Rights. Vietnam ranks as the 21st worst nation in the world when it comes to Christian persecution on Open Doors USA’s 2020 World Watch List.

“Estimates indicate that approximately 80 percent of the country’s Christians belong to the country’s ethnic minorities, like the Hmong, and face social exclusion, discrimination and attacks. Ethnic minority Christian children are discriminated against in schools; their medical needs also are often neglected. Some are not even allowed to attend school at all,” according to Open Doors.

In Pakistan, Muslim charities are excluding Christians from their distribution of food aid and emergency, according to Vatican News, which cited the international Catholic charity and foundation Aid to the Church in Need. ACN International Executive President Thomas Heine-Geldern said that many Christians earn the lowest wages, working as daily-wage laborers, domestic servants, cleaners, or kitchen staff.  “All these areas of employment are precisely the ones that have been most impacted by the economic shutdown,” he said after being briefed by Cecil Shane Chaudhry, executive director of the National Commission for Justice and Peace of the Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference. “Many Christian employees have been dismissed without notice by families for whom they have worked for years,” Heine-Geldern added.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom also took note of discrimination in aid distribution in Pakistan. “As COVID19 continues to spread, vulnerable communities within Pakistan are fighting hunger and to keep their families safe and healthy. Food aid must not be denied because of one’s faith,” Anurima Bhargava, a USCIRF commissioner said.

Open Doors USA’s 2020 World Watch List ranks Pakistan as the fifth worst nation in the world in persecuting Christians. “Although there have been no major bombing attacks against church buildings in the 2020 World Watch List reporting period, dozens of smaller ‘everyday attacks’ against churches and cemeteries occur,” the ministry says. Christians are often targeted both by Pakistan’s blasphemy laws meant to protect Islamic sensitivities and by hardliners who carry out violence and have killed scores of believers in the past several years.

Pray- Pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are facing severe persecution during this time of global pandemic.

The Great American Divide

America is in serious trouble! The social, political, and spiritual divide in our society is greater than it has ever been. Already ravaged by the corona-virus pandemic, now the streets of our nation are being taken over by a combination of peaceful demonstrations, extremist agitators, social anarchists, and opportunistic looters. The chaos playing out on television and social media has exposed the deep divide in the empty soul of the nation. America has been deliberately and progressively turning its back on God for the past 50 years. Now, it is more obvious than ever, and no one seems to really know what to do about it.

Twenty-seven centuries ago, the prophet Isaiah observed a similar problem in ancient Israel, which was on the brink of disaster because of a lack of leadership. When the spiritual and moral foundation of society erode, they expose a failure of spiritual and moral leadership. While the prophet spoke specifically to his own generation, his words have a stinging familiarity in our day as well.

Isaiah said: “For behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, takes away…the mighty man and the man of war, the judge and the prophet, and the diviner and the elder; the captain of fifty and the honorable man; the counselor and the skillful artisan…I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them. The people will be oppressed, everyone by another and everyone by his neighbor. The child will be insolent toward the elder, and the base toward the honorable” (Isaiah 3:1-5, NKJV).

Moral outrage over the unnecessary and tragic death of George Floyd, or anyone else for that matter, is certainly understandable. But turning that anger on innocent people who had nothing to do with his tragic death only compounds the problem further. It is still true that two wrongs do not make a right. Yes, we should speak out against racial injustice and call for serious correction in our law enforcement system when needed. But we cannot at the same time excuse the equally horrific acts of wanton injustice to innocent victims of that outrage, including those in law enforcement.

In a society that has largely forgotten God, the basic instincts of those on every side of the divide call out for revenge, retaliation, and destruction. Add to that the agenda of organizations like Antifa (anti-fascism) which is opposed to the ideologies, groups, and individuals of stable government. Its anarchist policies call for the abolition of law, order, police, military, and democratic governance in general. It is predominately a left-wing political activist group that promotes public protests, digital activism, property damage, harassment, and physical violence (check out their website). Then, toss into the mix passionate, angry, and frustrated young people and you can see the results for yourself on nightly television.

The truly prophetic voices in America have been warning for the past 50 years that unless there is genuine revival in our nation, this would be the inevitable result. Sincere believers have been praying for and calling for such a revival for an entire generation. That time has now come. Perhaps God has pulled back the curtain to reveal our deepest need for repentance, regeneration, and revival on every side.

America is strongest when we pull together and weakest when we pull apart.

More than ever we all need to pray for God’s intervention before it is too late. Believers -- black, white, rich, poor and everybody in between -- need to come together to pray, talk, act, and support one another. America needs healing and it must begin with the heart. Let it begin with you and me. Speaking for God, the prophet Jeremiah said,” Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for me? (32:27). “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (33:3).

Jewish Holy Site Set on Fire

Earlier this month, reports emerged that the tomb of Esther and Mordechai had been set on fire. Located in Hamedan, Iran, the tomb was labeled a world heritage site in 2008. US-backed Radio Farda reports there was no major damage.

The tomb is traditionally believed to be the resting place of the Old Testament Queen Esther and her relative, Mordechai. Esther was the queen of the Persian King Ahasuerus. She is credited with helping save the Jewish people from being massacred. It is a popular pilgrimage site for Jews and Christians in Iran.

This is not the first time that the tomb has been desecrated. In February, members of Iranian Basij, a paramilitary unit, attempted to raid the historic site in an act of revenge against the Israeli Palestinian peace plan presented by President Donald Trump. And, Iranian authorities have threatened to destroy it and convert the site to a consular office for Palestine.

The Jerusalem Post reports US Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Elan Carr condemnation of the attack, “Iran’s regime is the world’s chief state sponsor of antisemitism.” He called on the Islamic Republic to “stop incitement” and “protect its Jewish community” and its other minorities.

Several sites in Syria and Iraq sacred to Christians and Jews have also been targeted over the years by radical Muslims. In 2014, the Islamic State destroyed the tomb of Jonah in Iraq. In the Muslim mindset, anything that occurred prior to the founding of Islam is not true history and is open for destruction, especially Jewish and Christian sites and relics.

Iran ranks as the ninth-worst country in the world for Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USA’s 2020 World Watch List. Religious minorities are regularly arrested for worshiping in house churches. Muslim converts to Christianity are severely persecuted.

PRAY: Pray the Islamic forces in control of Iran will stop persecuting Christians.

QUARANTINE FRENZY

     Tired of isolation? Americans aren’t used to being alone. It makes us restless. Most of us have been sequestered and isolated at home now for more than 10 weeks. Many are thinking, this is enough! Most are asking, when will this end?
     Believe it or not, isolation can be a good thing! It gives us time to think, pray, evaluate and plan for the future. Every time Jesus' ministry became busy and hectic, He withdrew alone to pray (Matthew 14:23).
     If anyone understood what it was like to feel isolated, it was Moses. He spent 40 years in the wilderness of Midian. In Psalm 90:12, 14, he wrote: "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom...that we may rejoice and be glad all our days." Forty years = 14,600 days! During all those days, Moses was being prepared in isolation for God's real purpose in his life—to lead Israel in the Exodus.
     Why has God virtually shut down the entire world? Is the government quarantine really God's "Time Out?" Why has He forced us to be isolated and sequestered away for a season? Is it not to remind us that the days of our lives are a gift from God? The ultimate question is: What are you doing with all this extra time to make a difference for eternity?
     Consider these biblical examples of God's people who were in a divinely-imposed "time out" prior to experiencing their greatest ministry and God's greatest blessings.

·JOSEPH was in prison in Egypt for several years before he became the Grand Viser to Pharaoh.

·MOSES was in the wilderness of Midian for 40 years before he became the leader of the exodus.

·GIDEON was hiding in a wine-press before he conquered the Midianites.

·ELIJAH was hiding in a cave before he called Elisha and trained hundreds of prophets to confront the culture.

·JONAH spent 3 days and nights in the belly of a great fish and emerged to preach again.

·JEREMIAH was imprisoned in a pit for several weeks before he was released to continue preaching.

·DANIEL spent the night alone in the lions’ den before he delivered his final prophecies.

·ESTHER was hiding her identity alone in the palace before she risked her life to save the Jews.

·PAUL was under house arrest in Rome for 2 years during which he wrote several of his epistles.

·JOHN was isolated on the island of Patmos for 1-2 years during which he wrote the Book of Revelation.

     Why does God have you isolated right now? What does He want you to be doing to better prepare to serve Him? All those times you said, “If I just had more time, I would... pray more, read God’s Word, share my faith, read a book, watch a Christian video, call or text my friends and relatives and speak a word of faith, hope and encouragement to them.”
     Well, you have the time! What are you going to do with it to make a difference for eternity? Lord, “teach us to number our days.”

Persecution Persists

INDIA:

Reports that Christians and non-Hindus are being denied government aid during this coronavirus pandemic are coming out of India. Persecution watchdog Open Doors warned the lives of thousands, if not millions, of persecuted Christians are at risk due to the lockdown.

India was given a $1 billion aid package for coronavirus testing and management. A letter from multi-faith representatives from 34 organizations and ministries send a letter to President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and World Bank Group President David Malpass calling for a committee to hold India’s leaders accountable and monitor use of this aid.

One of Open Doors local partners stated that he personally knows at “least 20 to 30 pastors who are starving because of the lockdown. We are receiving news of persecution incidents from many areas, even in this situation where people have been ordered to stay inside their homes. In fact, we believe that during this phase of lockdown, Christians are suffering even more than before, since most of them now have to combat economic problems as well as the opposition and hatred from the community.”

Open Doors ranks India 10th on its 2020 World Watch List of countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. Earlier this month, a mob in central India attached members of five families after they refused to renounce their faith in Christ. The Christians had denied used of their land to be used to perform tribal animist worship.

Animism is the belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence. Local village leaders told the Christians “You are not partaking in our tribal rituals, and so we cannot allow you to profit from your agricultural lands.”

Eight Christians were injured, including one man who was stoned and had to be admitted to a local hospital.

NIGERIA:

Despite coronavirus-related restrictions, violence against Christians in Nigeria continues. Armed herdsmen shot Anglican Rev. Canon Bayo James Famonure, his wife and two sons while they were praying at home. Famonure is the founder of Calvary Ministries (CAPRO), an international mission with operations in several countries. He is also the head of the Messiah College high school in Barkin Ladi County, where the attack occurred. Neighbors carried the family to the hospital and all are currently in stable condition.

April was particularly vicious month. Four people, including the pastor of a local ECWA church, were killed in Bassa County. A 30-year-old Christian farmer was fatally attacked at his home in Bokkos County. And, in central Kaduna, attacks on five villages left 13 Christians dead and another 13 kidnapped as herdsman burned down homes, vehicles, and food supplies.

Showing no regard for gender or age, mothers and fathers are killed along with their children. Dede Laugeson, executive director for the nonprofit Save the Persecuted Christians told The Christian Post, “I am perplexed by the state of humanity when children as young as six months are routinely hacked to death in Nigeria simply for being Christian, and the world ignores their plight. This must stop. The international community must intervene.”

The U.S. State Department lists Nigeria on its “special watch list” of countries that engage in or tolerate violations of religious freedom. Nigeria is 12th on Open Doors World Watch List.

PRAY: Pray for our Christian brothers and sisters who are attacked for their faith in Christ. Pray that the Lord would strengthen them and allow their faith to serve as a beacon to others. Pray for those who persecute Christians that they will be exposed to the truth of God and miraculously converted out of the web of deception in which they are entangled.

Iran Army Spokesman Warns US in Persian Gulf

A spokesman for the Iranian military said that the United States should be wary of any aggression in the Persian Gulf. His comments come in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump threatening to target Iranian IRGC fast boats that have harassed the U.S. Navy over the last month. The comments are the latest threats that continue between Tehran and Washington and have increased over the last year. Iran has launched attacks on ships and Saudi Arabia and has sent proxies to target U.S. forces in Iraq. The U.S. has responded with airstrikes. Both countries are wary of a war.

Brig. Gen. Abolfazi Shekarchi is a senior spokesman for the Iranian armed force. After hearing Trump’s comments, he went on a news program in Iran and described America’s threats as a kind of psychological war. “It is an attempt to gain points and public opinion in the upcoming US elections, and for the US President to escape from domestic problems, sometimes people say such things against us but we must say that in any case they are violating international law.”

He warned the Americans against making any mistakes. “They will receive a slap if they make a mistake and it will be a justifiable slap.” The Iranian armed forces are not usually leading the way in tensions with the US. Instead it is the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that tend to harass US ships in the Gulf and mastermind the attacks in Iraq. The IRGC also downed a US drone last year. As such the comments by the Iranian army may also be designed to show that it is relevant. It recently took delivery of numerous new Iranian drones.

“We constantly critique our enemies, the Americans, and ask what are they doing in this region and the Persian Gulf.” He said all countries have a right to 100% security in the Gulf and he wondered what the Americans are doing so far from home, what are they “looking for,” he asked. “Not only do they have no answer to that question, but they are also harassing us and violating international law.” He said free passage of the Persian Gulf was a right for all ships. He reiterated that if the US takes the slightest action against Iran in its waters they will “be slapped harder than before, because we do not joke when it comes to the defense of our country.”

The Iranian army is working hard to fight the coronavirus he asserted. The armed forces have assisted at 58 hospitals, providing more than 10,000 beds and 31,000 staff members, he says. “In addition to preparing and being ready for the enemy, we are engaged in the fight against the virus,” he noted.

Trump's tweet comes one week after the Navy announced that 11 Iranian vessels had conducted "dangerous and harassing" approaches of U.S. ships in the international waters of the northern Persian Gulf, coming as close as 10 yards to a Coast Guard cutter.

"The IRGCN's dangerous and provocative actions increased the risk of miscalculation and collision, were not in accordance," with international regulations, the Navy said at the time. The statement referred the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Navy.

The incident was the first provocative exchange between the two nations since early March, when U.S. and coalition aircraft struck Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia group locations in Iraq in retaliation for the deaths of two U.S. troops in a rocket attack a day earlier. While the coronavirus has dominated the news cycles, there is still strong tensions throughout the Middle East.

Pray- Pray for wisdom and guidance on both sides in order to avoid a massive escalation of hostilities.

The Gospel Changes Lives

“He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

Jim Elliot

On Tuesday, April 28, former Waodani warrior Mincaye passed away in his home village in Ecuador. Born into the violent tribal culture of the Amazon Rainforest, Mincaye converted to Christianity and became known for preaching to other tribes in the region as well as sharing his testimony throughout the world.

In 1956, five young missionaries: Nate Saint, Jim Elliot, Pete Fleming, Roger Youderian and Ed McCully moved to the jungle of Ecuador. Two days after they arrived, they were viciously martyred.

“People who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives … and when the bubble has burst, they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted,” said Nate Saint on his reason for going to Ecuador.

The Waodani had been described as the most violent people on record. Mincaye was one of six warriors who participated in spearing the missionaries. What happened next transformed the tribe.

Armed with forgiveness, Elisabeth Elliot (widow of Jim Elliot) and Rachel Saint (sister of Nate Saint), moved into the village to share the Gospel with those who took away their loved ones. The Waodani listened to the story of God’s Son speared for their sake, believed and then their lives were radically changed.

“We lived angry, hating and killing, ‘ononque’ (for no reason), until they brought us God’s markings. Now, those of us who walk God’s trail live happily and in peace,” Mincaye shared in his testimony.

Steve Saint, son of Nate Saint, called Mincaye one of his “dearest friends in the world. He killed my father, but he loved me and my family.”

Mincaye was between 88 and 91 years old. His life story is told in the book and film, End of the Spear. He is survived by his wife, Ompodae, 13 children, more than 50 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.

Photo: Steve Saint and Mincaye

Global News Update

CHINA - Early Rain Covenant Church

On Easter Sunday, International Christian Concern -- a human rights organization that assists persecuted Christians -- reports that members from the Early Rain Covenant Church were once again targeted. During an online worship service, several members were arrested and removed from their homes.

Security officials entered the Christian’s homes, pretending to casually talk with them. As soon as the sermon from ERCC’s imprisoned pastor Wang Yi began, officials immediately shut it down. Zhang Jiangqing was warned by the police, “Don’t participate in already banned [religious] activities anymore! Don’t listen to Pastor [Wang]’s sermons anymore! If you do this again, we will deal with it seriously and take you away!”

Another member of ERCC said, “At the time I was also in the Zoom call, but there was a long period of time where I did not hear a thing. I thought it’s the network connection issue at first, but I soon heard a quarrel erupt. Our coworker Wang Jun was questioning some people, [saying], ‘Who are you to do this [to us]?’”

Wang and five other leaders were taken away. One member had the electricity to their home cut off and others received notice that the police were coming. Since 2018, local authorities have monitored and harassed ERCC members, trying to get the church to disband.

Located in Sichuan, ERCC has not been able to meet in person since the Chinese government cracked down on them in December 2018. Their pastor, Wang Yi, has been in prison since 2018 and subsequently had been sentenced to nine years for subversion of power and illegal business operations. He has lost all his political rights, was fined approximately $72,000 and his personal assets seized. (See our previous article on Pastor Wang Yi posted on January 2, 2020.)

Pray for Chinese Christians and the embattled Early Rain Covenant Church.

 ISRAEL – A United Government and COVID-19 Vaccine

After a year of political gridlock, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his opponent Benny Gantz announced this week a three-year power-sharing governing coalition. Over the course of many months, Israel has held three elections without any political party winning enough seats to form a government. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, it became necessary for leaders to form a cohesive unit to respond to the crisis.

Professor Jonathan Gershoni and his team of researchers from Tel Aviv University have successfully found a way to target the family of coronaviruses that could potentially lead to a vaccine against COVID-19. They have isolated the most vulnerable part of COVID-19’s protein structure – the Receptor Binding Motif (RBM) – which allows the virus to bind to cells within the body.

CBN News quotes Gershoni, “The discovery and production of a functional RBM for the new coronavirus is fundamental and critical for the production of the vaccine we propose. Our successful isolation and reconstruction of such a functional RBM will allow the industry to incorporate it into a vaccine, which will be produced by a pharmaceutical company.” A vaccine could be available within the next year to year and a half.

Pray for unity of leadership in Israel and for an end to this global coronavirus pandemic.

UNITED STATES – Pro-life Activist Arrested

Pro-life activist David Benham, along with seven others, was arrested earlier this month for violating North Carolina’s stay-at-home order because they were counseling women entering an abortion facility. In a video of the arrest, he was heard telling police “We are offering essential services to these mothers, and you know this. And we are practicing social distancing. We are doing everything well within the ordinance, well within the provisions.” He said that the officers were suppressing religious expression by selectively enforcing the order.

Benham, along with his twin brother Jason, are known for having a show based on their successful real estate business scrapped from HGTV because of their conservative Christian views.

It is important to note that throughout the United States, currently all non-essential and elective surgeries have been halted. Several states such as Ohio, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas have heroically sought to put a temporary ban on abortions during the coronavirus pandemic.

Pray for David Benham and the other pro-life activists who were arrested and pray for all states standing up for life!

Turkey and Russia Reach Ceasefire in Syria

Turkey and Russia have agreed to a ceasefire deal in Syria’s Idlib region according to their two leaders after talks in Moscow to contain a conflict which has displaced nearly a million people in three months. Russian President Vladimir Putin, standing next to his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan, said he hoped their agreement would lead to a halt of military action in Syria’s last major rebel stronghold in the northwest of the country. “I express hope that these agreements will serve as a good basis for a cessation of military activity in the Idlib de-escalation zone (and) stop the suffering of the peaceful population and the growing humanitarian crisis,” Putin said.

Russia and Turkey back opposing sides in Syria’s nine-year conflict, with Moscow supporting President Bashar al-Assad and Turkey backing some rebel groups. Several previous deals to end the fighting in Idlib have collapsed. The latest offensive in Idlib by Assad’s forces, backed by Russian air strikes, sparked what the United Nations says may be the worst humanitarian crisis yet in a war that has driven millions from their homes and killed hundreds of thousands.

The Russian military has, however, repeatedly played down any talk of a refugee crisis and accused Turkey of violating international law by pouring enough troops into Idlib to make up a mechanized division. Turkey, which has the second largest army in the transatlantic NATO alliance, has funneled troops and equipment into the region in recent weeks to resist the Syrian government advance and prevent a wave of refugees over its southern border. Russia also raced to reinforce its troops in Syria by sea and air before the Putin-Erdogan talks.

Assad himself has vowed to recapture “every inch” of Syrian territory, but his depleted military depends heavily on Moscow’s power and Iranian-backed militias on the ground. Iran was not a party to Thursday’s deal. Apart from Idlib, a large stretch of northern Syria remains outside Assad’s control, held by Turkey and its rebel partners, and by U.S.-backed Kurdish forces.

The Kremlin said the two leaders had spoken for three hours on their own before being joined by their officials. They agreed to establish a secure corridor near the M4 highway, which runs east to west through Idlib, and hold joint patrols along the road. In a joint statement, they said the corridor would stretch 6 km to the north and 6 km to the south of the M4 - effectively advancing Russia’s presence further north into Idlib.

The deal did not spell out - as Erdogan has repeatedly demanded - that Syrian forces withdraw to the edge of the Idlib “de-escalation zone”, around which Turkey has stationed a dozen military observation posts, most of them now surrounded by Russian-backed Syrian government forces. The fighting, which raised the prospect of a direct clash between Russia and Turkey, has killed around 60 Turkish troops in the region since last month. Two hours after the joint announcement Turkey’s defense ministry said two soldiers were killed after Syrian government forces opened fire in Idlib.

Ahead of the talks, at least 16 civilians were killed when Russian air strikes hit a gathering of displaced people near the town of Maarat Misrin in Idlib, according to civil defense workers helping clear the rubble and search for survivors. Russia denies targeting civilians. Turkey hosts some 3.6 million Syrian refugees and says it cannot handle more. Seeking to extract more funding and support from Europe over Idlib, Ankara said last week it would no longer abide by a 2016 deal in which it stopped migrants crossing into the European Union in return for billions of euros in aid. While this is certainly good news, the tension is still very tense and could escalate quickly.

Pray- Pray that the ceasefire would hold and that the refugees in the area would be safe.

Prophetic Warnings

The challenge of the global pandemic brought on by the coronavirus has the world on edge. Many are asking is this the end of the world? Are we already in the Tribulation Period? The immediate answer is NO! We are not in the Tribulation. The Rapture has not occurred and the Antichrist has not been revealed. This is not the end of the word!

But what is happening is serious. Thousands of people are being affected worldwide by this epidemic. I believe it is a precursor of things to come. It is a warning from God. As terrible as the current crisis is, it is but a glimpse of the king of global judgments that one day will come upon the whole world.

The Book of Revelation predicts a series of divine judgments that will occur in the future. Seven seals reveal the wrath of the Lamb (Christ) on the unbelieving world (6:1-8:1). From the seventh seal came forth seven trumpets of judgment (8:2-11:15) and finally seven bowls of judgment, also called the seven last plagues (15:1-16:17). In each series of judgment, the wrath of God is poured out on the unredeemed world that has been left behind at the Rapture.

For the born-again believers, Jesus’ word is clear and reassuring. In Matthew 24:42-46, He told us to 1. “Keep watching for you do not know what hour your Lord will come.” 2. “Be ready, for in such an hour as you think not the Son of Man will come.” 3. “Keep serving until he comes. “Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when he comes will find so doing.”

In Luke 21:11, Jesus predicted “And great earthquakes shall be in many places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.” Then He added “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws night (Luke 21:25).

Practical Steps in Light of Bible Prophecy

What can we know for sure?

1.     Life in a fallen world is full of trouble (Job 14:1)

2.     Belief in the Rapture does not mean believers can always avoid trouble in this life (2 Timothy 3:12)

3.     The promise of the Rapture will deliver us from the wrath of God, not the wrath of man or nature (1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:9).

4.     God can overrule the worst of circumstances to bring about His ultimate good purpose (Romans 8:28).

5.     Our present suffering is temporary in light of our eternal glory (Romans 8:18).

6.     Until the Lord returns to call us home our main goal is to glorify God with our lives (1 Corinthians 6:20).

7.     In the meantime, pray for God’s grace, wisdom and protection on your family (Deuteronomy 4:30-31).

8.     Live each day in the will of God (Romans 12:2).

9.     Trust God to face each new day being led by His Spirit (John 14:16-18).

10.  Spread the Gospel of grace and hope to family, friends and acquaintances (Mark 16:15).

Use this time to pray more, read God’s Word more, search your soul, share your faith and live each day to God’s glory. God bless you and your family.

God is There in Tough Times

In his second letter to the Christians in Corinth, the Apostle Paul gave words of comfort in times of trouble. He reminded them as he reminds us of several important truths.

REALITY (2 Corinthians 1:3-5) Trouble is a part of life in a fallen world. We all deal with it time and again. Everybody has problems. Abraham lied. Moses fled. Elijah hid. Peter denied. Paul suffered. But despite his suffering, Paul reminds us God is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort (vs. 3). He comforts us in all our troubles (vs. 4), not from them. Suffering is part of God’s purifying work in our lives. The Apostle Peter tells us that believers are often called to suffer for the cause of Christ and the sake of the Gospel (1 Peter 1:19-21).

RESOLVE ( 2 Corinthians 1:6-7) Problems change us one way or the other. Peter’s failure led to his tears of repentance and his ultimate restoration (Luke 22:61-62; John 21:15-17). Judas’ betrayal led only to remorse and suicide (Matthew 27:5). In each case we learn there is a right way and a wrong way to deal with our problems and failures. Whatever we decide to do in the face of crisis we make us better or bitter. The choice is up to us. We must resolve to face each challenge with God’s help. So Paul could say whether we are afflicted or comforted we will receive the consolation and salvation of God Himself (v. 6-7).

RESOURCE (2 Corinthians 1:8-10) Our problems and suffering cause us to turn to God for help. Challenges like the coronavirus pandemic make us realize we cannot trust in ourselves alone for the answer. When we are in trouble…pressed beyond measure…despaired even of life, or like Paul, feel we have the sentence of death (v. 8-9), we can only trust in God who hath delivered us (in the past) and doth deliver us (in the present) and will yet deliver us in the future (v. 10). He alone is our ultimate resource in times of trouble.

RELATIONSHIPS (2 Corinthians 1:11-12) While God is our ultimate resource, He works through our relationships with other believers to encourage us. As Paul faced his own problems, he reminded the believers they had helped him in two significant ways to get through it all. First, he said ye (you all) also helping together by prayer. In times of trouble we need to know that other believers need to know that other believers are praying for us. We need your prayers and you need to know that we are praying for you. Second, Paul said that their gift bestowed on us helped him to carry on God’s work on their behalf (vs. 11).

What can we learn from 2 Corinthians 1:3-11?

1. Everybody has problems.

2. God is greater than our problems.

3. God can overrule our problems.

4. God can use our problems to His glory.

5. He will comfort us in all our troubles.

6. We must choose how we will respond when trouble comes.

7. God will ultimately deliver us from our problems.

A MESSAGE FROM DR. ED HINDSON 3-19-2020

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty…He shall deliver you…from the perilous pestilence. Psalm 91:1-3

The coronavirus pandemic of the past several weeks has the world on edge! Virtual shutdowns of schools, restaurants and even some airlines have shocked the world into facing the seriousness of a global disaster. As a result, government authorities stepped up to mandate restrictions in an attempt to control the spread of the virus and mitigate its potential deadly consequences.

Thousands of people around the world are dealing with everything from serious health issues to global financial markets, business, industry and even sports and entertainment challenges. Gary Hamrick, pastor of Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg, VA said: “It feels apocalyptic!” He points out that pestilence (wide-spread disease) is a harbinger or precursor to the End Times. Luke 21:11 (KJV) states: “And there will be earthquakes in various places and famines and pestilence.

I believe God is using this natural catastrophe to warn us of worse things to come in the future. In fact, a whole series of natural disasters have occurred in recent years to get our attention- hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes have shaken our planet time and again. Imagine what our world will be like when the Rapture occurs and the Tribulation begins! Global panic will be out of control, resulting in the rise of a global leader who will immediately impose government sanctions on the global economy so that no one can buy or sell without the approval of his mark (Revelation 13:16).

Biblical prophecies that once seemed unimaginable to the unbelieving world now appear imminent and foreboding. Jesus warned there would be “signs” in the last days that would cause men’s hearts to fail for fear (Luke 21:25). He urged, “When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws nigh” (Luke 21:28).

Serious students of Bible prophecy have long understood the dual principles of Rapture (believers) and Tribulation (unbelievers). Believers understand that God is in control of the details of our lives: whether we live or die, heaven is our destiny. At the Rapture, the dead in Christ will rise and the living will be “caught up” with them to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). Therefore, we live with confidence in the future because we know Who holds the future.

At the same time, our hearts go out to nonbelievers who will face being left behind in a world under the judgment of the wrath of God. The current crisis is but a glimpse of a far greater disaster that awaits the unbelieving world when multiplied millions will die (Revelation 6:8). In light of the recent events on our planet we are challenged to several biblical responses: 1. Trust the grace of God in the details of your life. 2. Pray for God to get the attention of unbelievers to draw them to Himself 3. Witness to family and friends who may be more open to the gospel than ever before.

The integrity of sincere and authentic Christianity speaks volumes to a lost world that is desperate for meaning, purpose and security. Do not underestimate the spiritual impact that your testimony has on those who have no answers to the overwhelming problems of life. When we live out our faith with authenticity and boldness, we capture the attention of the watching world. God bless you as you live for Him in the days ahead.

Ed Hindson

A MESSAGE FROM DR. ED HINDSON

The past month has been one of great challenge for many Americans dealing with the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. While there are certainly physical factors involved in the spread of this disease, we must also recognize God is warning us of even greater judgments to come in the future. This should be no surprise in light of America’s (indeed the worlds) continual rejection of God’s will and purposes for the human race.

I have often been asked: What will it take for America to have a spiritual awakening and revival of biblical truth? We have wandered so far away from God that ordinary calls for repentance often fall on deaf ears and hard hearts. I have often responded that it unfortunately will take: 1. A major war 2. Economic collapse 3. Biblical plague

God warned His people Israel that they would lose His blessing and experience “all these cursed will come upon you” (Deuteronomy 28:15), which include “consumption, fever, inflammation, etc. (28:22) America is not a covenant nation, nor theocracy as was Israel. Therefore, we are not automatically guaranteed God’s blessing or cursing as were they. 

Nevertheless, the basic spiritual principles of obedience and disobedience apply to all nations as the prophet Isaiah (34:1) declared: “Come near, ye nations, to hear and hearken ye people: let the earth hear and all that is therein; the world and all things that come forth of it.”

America cannot keep running away from God, rejecting His laws and moral principles and continue promoting an immoral lifestyle to the rest of the world and then expect God to come to our rescue in spite of ourselves! While many innocent people unfortunately suffer the consequences of such illnesses, we must take our national responsibility seriously.

Please stand with us as we call America to turn and seek the Lord. While we take every human precaution, He is the only One who ultimately can protect and deliver us. Please join with us in prayer for God’s grace, mercy and protection for believers everywhere. Pray also for His mercy toward unbelievers who need to come to faith now more than ever before while there is still time and opportunity to seek the Lord.