Pakistani Muslim Extremists Assault Pastor for Preaching

Pakistani President, Asif Ali ZARDARI

It has been reported that five Muslim extremists in Pakistan severely assaulted one Pastor Emmanuel Beshir of Holy City Pentecostal Church, for preaching.


The Regional Manager, Africa and South Asia, International Christian Concern (ICC) http://www.persecution.org/  Jonathan Racho, said that the Pastor was returning from preaching in Bahmani Wala village at 9 PM when five young men stopped him.

“They asked, “Why do you preach that Jesus Christ is Lord and nobody can get salvation without Jesus Christ?” The pastor replied, “We will never stop preaching about the Lord Jesus Christ and we will tell about him to all the nations.” The men assaulted him with wooden rods, breaking his right hand and multiple ribs. Pastor Beshir is receiving medical treatment at Farooq Hospital in Lahore city, “ he added.

According to Racho, Christians have been targeted before in Bahamani Wala village. On June 30, 2009, more than 600 Muslims attacked Christians in the village after falsely accusing them of blaspheming against Muhammad. The attackers destroyed the Christian homes and looted their property.

“We are deeply concerned by the attack against Pastor Beshir. The right to freedom of religion, including the right to share one’s faith, is an internationally recognized principle of human rights. Unfortunately Christian minorities face attacks and even death when sharing their faith in Islamic countries. We urge Pakistan to protect Christian minorities from such attacks,” he also said.

In his response, Pastor Beshir stated: “When they assaulted me, it was very dark and there was no light around so I couldn’t identify my attackers. These are end times. Jesus said ‘Go to all the nations and preach the gospel.’”

He continued: “We have to fulfill this great commission and while fulfilling the great commission, there must be difficulties, persecution and problems. And Jesus said that ‘When the persecution comes you have to be glad and happy that you are persecuted because of the word of God.’”

India Imposes Curfew Aftermath of Christians Protest

The Indian president Pratibha Patil

In response to the recent protest by thousands of Christians in India over an arson attack on a church, the officials in the town of Malerkotla in Punjab have imposed a curfew.


This indication is contained in a statement by the Release International http://www.releaseinternational.org/  adding that tension is high after a mob set fire to furniture and valuables inside a Church of North India (CNI) building in a mainly Muslim area late on September 12.

Christians Gathered Outside the Christian Medical College

“Soon afterwards, large numbers of Christians gathered outside the Christian Medical College demanding that officials act swiftly to find the culprits,” the statement added.

It noted that Release partner All India Christian Council (AICC) reported that church leaders then gave officials an ultimatum that unless the culprits were arrested by 4pm on September 13, Christians would stage further, larger protests.

It stated: “When local officials admitted they had not yet made arrests, thousands of Christians demonstrated at the main road junction in Malerkotla, blocking the traffic. Tensions in the town remain high.”

It said that church leaders are now calling on the local administration to cover the cost of repairs to the fire-damaged church. A fact-finding team from AICC has been given official permission to visit Malerkotla.

Bill Introduced by the Hindu Nationalist

“AICC is one of many Christian organizations campaigning against a Bill introduced by the Hindu nationalist BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) which Christians fear would restrict the flow of foreign aid to Indian non-government organizations,” it added.

It further said: “The Foreign Contribution Regulation Bill would require NGOs such as AICC to register every five years and would ban all 'political' organizations from registering at all, offering no clear definition of what the word 'political' might mean in this context. The Bill has been passed by Parliament but still requires the President to sign it before it can pass into law.”

It would be noted that just recently, the Italian Foreign Minister, Franco FrattiniFranco Frattini openly condemned the incessant anti-Christian attacks in India‘s Punjab and Kashmir towns where rioters burned a Christian school and church.

International Community Speaks Out

The minister in a statement called upon the international community to speak with one voice and to take on the obligation of defending, in each and every context, the principle of religious freedom - a freedom which is a fundamental human right.

Franco Frattini said: “News is coming in from India of dramatic episodes of violence against the Christian community. News that stirs feelings of profound indignation and the utmost censure.”

Reacting also to this ugly development, the president International Christian Concern (ICC), Jeff KingJeff King, commended the Italian government for taking the lead in condemning attacks on Christians by Muslim mobs in India stressing that it’s unfortunately that most political leaders and media personalities are focused on protecting Muslims from any perceived offense.

“We believe that people should be free to burn the Bible or the Qur'an without fear of attack that is their misguided wish. We are shocked that the heart of the cultural debate is not focused on those who resort to violence when offended, especially when the victims have nothing to do with the original offense. More leaders need to follow Italy’s foreign minister’s example,” he also said.

It needs to be recalled also that just recently, the communist Maoists in India killed one Pastor Pangi Papa Rao on his way back from a prayer meeting and openly assaulted the wife, who was with him at the time of the killing.

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India Communist Rebels Kill Pastor, Assault Wife

  











Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil,
President of India


The persecution and suppression of Christians in India has taken a new dimension with the recent murder of a pastor and deadly assault on his wife.


According to the Regional Manager for Africa and South Asia, International Christian Concern (ICC), Jonathan Racho, Pastor Pangi Papa Rao and his wife, Chittamma, were returning from a prayer meeting when the masked communists (Maoists) stopped them and the pastor told them his name and explained that he and his wife were returning home from a prayer meeting.

“As soon as they heard the pastor’s name, they murdered him in front of his wife and severely beat her. The communist rebels decapitated and cut up his body after murdering the pastor,” Racho said.

He noted that the communists gave a statement to the local newspaper that they were responsible for the pastor’s death. “They said they had killed him because the pastor was an informant for the government of India. They warned others that they also would receive the same kind of punishment.”

Racho said that the pastor was a dedicated Christian and never worked as an informant of the government. He is survived by his wife and 19-year-old daughter. Pastor Rao’s church had close to 40 members; the congregation now attends a nearby church.

“We are deeply saddened by the murder of Pastor Rao. We strongly condemn the brutal murder of the pastor and the assault of his wife. We urge Indian officials to protect its citizens from such heinous crime,” he added.

It’s to be noted that the communist (Maoist) rebels have been fighting the government of India for several years. They have strong support among landless farmers and tribal groups.

ICC is a Washington-DC based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. It provides awareness, advocacy, and assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church and for more information, log on to their website: http://www.persecution.org/

Indonesian Pastor Stabbed by Muslim Extremists | Newsflavor

Indonesian Pastor Stabbed by Muslim Extremists Newsflavor

Pakistani Indigenous Missions Reach Out to Flood Victims

A little baby rescued
from Pakistan flood waters

It’s amazing how the indigenous missionaries in Pakistan are helping to rehabilitated families devastated by the recent flooding in Pakistan, which displaced over 20 million people.


The United States base Christian Aid Mission (CAM) http://www.christianaid.org%20in/ its recent release said that local missionary volunteers are helping out a family dig out silt and set up fans to dry out their house.

It noted that although the secular news media have nearly forgotten the flood disaster in Pakistan, local Christian mission teams still carry on the grueling relief efforts every day.

“Delivering aid to one family at a time, they are often forced to use public transportation and walk to remote villages. Native missionary volunteers are finding that a family can survive and start to rebuild with about $100 in emergency supplies,” it added.

According to the report, with emergency relief supplied by CAM local missionaries are able to reach stranded families with incredible efficiency adding that CAM helps in delivering compassion to over 750 native mission agencies working among the poor in 3000 people groups around the world. “Contributions continue to be accepted by Christian Aid for Pakistan.”.

One of the missionaries said: "Every morning our teams check to see which roads are open and then we deliver relief goods to local pastors and church leaders in that area. We use our mission mini-van, motor rickshaws and even public buses to deliver emergency supplies. We purchase goods in Rawalpindi with the emergency grant from Christian Aid and then take them out to the local Christian mission teams.”

He noted that Christian volunteers load bed frames onto a motorized rickshaw to help deliver emergency aid to Pakistan flood victims. To survive the floods and set up camp on higher ground, a small family needs about $100 in relief goods.

"The local pastors and leaders already know the situation and which families are in most need - 30 in one village, 150 in another, one here or another there. With the help of this Christian Aid grant, we are able to demonstrate the love and mercy of God as soon as it is possible to get to the survivors," the missionary added.

It needs to be noted that, CAM sends help to local missions groups in almost every underdeveloped country of the world, and the assistance varies according to local needs.

In Pakistan, for example, they are helping to supply flood survivors with the immediate items needed to start recovery - food packages, bed frames with nylon netting, blankets, canteens and water bottles, metal trunks, mess kits, pedestal fans, and changes of clothing.

These kinds of goods are produced and purchased within the local economy - and rarely provided by the government or foreign aid agencies.

Children of Murdered Somali Christian Conscripted for Military Training

Some Somalia insurgents with one of their captors

The Al Shabaab insurgents in Somalia have conscripted the children of the murdered Christian man Osman Abdullah Fataho for military training.


The United Kingdom (UK) based Christian charity organization, Release International (RI) http://www.releaseinternational.org/,  in a recent report said that Fataho and his entire family were kidnapped some few months back, but that they later released the wife and children - Ali 5, Fatuma 7, Sharif 10 and Nur 15, while they shot him dead.

According to RI stated that the children will be forcibly converted to Islam and turned into child soldiers adding that Fataho, who was deeply involved in the activities of his secret Christian community, is reported to have been raised as a Muslim – making him an obvious target for Al Shabaab.

“The insurgents are determined to extend Sharia or strict Islamic law across Somalia – and are actively targeting Christians, murdering at least 15 of them last year alone. Al Shabaab recently outlawed bell-ringing at the end of school classes – because it evoked the sound of church bells,” it stated.

It noted that this and other instances of anti-Christian violence have forced several leaders of Somalia's underground Christian movement to flee their homes and go into hiding.

According to RI, the incident has spread fear among Christians in this lawless country, much of which lies in the grip of ruthless insurgent’s intent on rooting out any person professing Christianity. "Leaders of the Christian underground movement have been forced to flee their homes to avoid being killed by the insurgents."

Open Doors Prayer Communications team http://www.opendoorsuk.org/  in its own report said that this year, Al-Shabaab insurgents have already murdered four Christians in separate incidents, targeting those who have converted from Islam or are active in their faith.

“Please pray that Fataho's children will be protected from harm and from false teaching, and that they would be returned to their home and their mother soon. Pray also for courage and protection for the Christian leaders forced to flee their homes,” it also added.

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US Pastor Makes U-turn Suspends Koran Burning

Pastor Terry Jones of Dove World Outreach

Pastor Terry Jones, the leader of the 50-member Dove World Outreach Centre, Florida, in the United States of America (USA), said he has suspended his planned “International Burn-a-Koran Day.”


Pastor Jones who said he didn’t cancel the idea, but merely putting it on hold, intended to use the event to mark the 11th anniversary of September 11, 2001 bombing of the twin tower, New York by some Muslim terrorists.

The recent move according to him is as a result of the promise he received from the president of the Islamic Society of Central Florida, Muhammad Musri, that a proposed mosque in New York will be moved away from the site of the 2001 terrorist attacks.

But Pastor Jones claimed that Musri lied to him after the leader of the New York mosque leader said there was no such agreement.

According to Musri, there was only an agreement for him and Pastor Jones to travel to New York to meet the Imam overseeing plans to build the mosque. "I told the pastor that I personally believe the mosque should not be there, and I will do everything in my power to make sure it is moved.

"But there is not any offer from New York that it will be moved. All we have agreed to is a meeting, and I think we would all like to see a peaceful resolution," Musri added.

Pastor Jones said he relented when Musri assured him that the New York mosque will be moved adding that as a result he is now putting the protest on hold instead of a total cancellation.

But Pastor Jones did not say whether the Quran burning could still hold on Saturday, September 11, as planned or not, but rather insisted that he expects Musri to keep his word and also expects the imam in New York to back up one of his own men.

It’ll be noted, that Pastor Jones had never invoked the mosque controversy as a reason for his planned protest, but only cited his belief that the Quran is evil because it espouses something other than biblical truth and incites radical, violent behavior among Muslims.

Chinese Police Destroys Prayer House

Chinas persecution of Christians

The Police authorities in China have destroyed a prayer house known as “Prayer Mountain,” a complex owned by the Taishan Christian House Church and located in Qinggang District, Yuhuan County, Taizhou City, Zhejiang province.


International Christian Concern (ICC) reports that this incident came on the heels of more recent persecution against house churches in China.

It noted that several elderly Christians were disturbed during their morning prayers when authorities trooped into their mountainside prayer center adding that they were forcibly removed, and then watched helplessly as the building was demolished.

“The police removed about twenty elderly Christians from the building. No one seemed injured. Workmen proceeded to destroy the church’s prayer room, school room, and training center rooms,” ICC noted.

China Aid also reports that at least three house churches were shut down on August 5th and 6th of 2010. They belonged to China Gospel Fellowship (CGF), one of the major house church networks in China, with an estimated 5-7 million members.

A notable Chinese “underground church” leader, Pastor Bob Fu said that in August, they saw an increase in persecution that is alarming and unjustifiable. “We condemn the destruction of the Prayer Mountain church complex, and urge local authorities to cease their threats against the China Gospel Fellowship to prevent them from exercising their religious freedoms.”

China Aid has strongly condemned the unjust destruction of the Taishan Christian House Church’s building adding that they’re asking for prayers of encouragement for the church members. “We also stand with China Gospel Fellowship’s bold leaders. We urge the international community to speak against this continued oppression of religious freedom.”

“Please praise God that the elderly Christians of “Prayer Mountain” were not injured by the Chinese police force also pray that the worshippers will be encouraged and empowered by the Lord to continue to remain strong in worship.”

“Also pray that the Chinese non-Christians will receive the Good News of Salvation which is only through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. And that the international community will continue to speak against this continued oppression of religious freedoms.”

Muslim Extremists Jail Break Worries Nigerian Church Leaders

Nigerian children thank ICC for the toys they provided.
Pix by ICC

The recent jail break carried out by some Muslim extremists in Nigeria - the Boko Haram, has become a source of serious worry for the Nigerian Church leaders and the general Christian public.


In a recent report by the Regional Manager for Africa and South Asia, International Christian Concern (ICC) http://www.persecution.org/ Jonathan Racho, he said that church leaders in northern Nigeria are alarmed by the massive escape of Boko Haram members.

“We learned that more than 700 members of an Islamic extremist group, Boko Haram, escaped after suspected fellow members of the group raided a prison in Bauchi, northern Nigeria,” he added.

He said that a group of armed men attacked the prison and fought with the prison guards for two hours and that at least four people were reportedly killed during the shootout.

Racho stated: “We are extremely concerned by the escape of Boko Haram members from prison. This is yet another indication of the failure by Nigerian authorities to protect their citizens from the violence by Islamic extremist groups. We urge Nigerian officials to immediately re-arrest the escapees and protect the citizens of the country from future attacks.”

In his own reaction, the General Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN) Kaduna State chapter, Rev. John Hayab, he said: “The escape from prison is a clear indication of anarchy. Boko Haram is a threat to Christians in northeastern part of Nigeria where Christians were killed, including pastors, and churches were burned down. More people could be killed if they are not checked.”

According to him, in July 2009, members of Boko Haram carried out attacks against Nigerian police officials leading to the death of more than 700 people adding that members of Boko Haram also killed a dozen Christians, including Pastor Sabo Yakubu, Rev. Sylvester O. Akpan and Rev. GeorgeGeorge Orji.

In another development, the President, ICC, Jeff KingJeff King in launching “Nigeria Rebuild” a project through which it hope to raise support for the victims of the last Muslim extremists attacks in the north said: “We hear their cry and are committed to help these devastated people rebuild their lives. Our efforts have already helped, but so much more is needed.

He further stated: “Our economy may be sluggish, but we have never experienced anything like the price these people have paid for believing in Christ. They need your help, and I’m asking you to be generous on their behalf. If you want to help, put “Nigeria Rebuild” in your check notation, and we’ll do the rest. Thank you in advance for your generosity.”

He said that ICC responded quickly to the need of the victims by supplying 65 Christian families each with 110 lbs. of fertilizer to help restore their crops, they had been given seed already. We also provided clothes, books, toys and toiletries to more than 215 children in the village.

“The Christians are living under constant fear and still grieve over the loss of their loved ones, but they are thankful that they were not completely slaughtered. Some families were. Their corporate cry is this: “May God take up our case and do justice,” he also said.

Pakistani Government Discriminates Christians in Relief Distribution

The adverse effect of Pakistan flood

The anti-Christian posture of the Pakistani Government in the distribution of relief materials meant for the victims of the recent flood that hit the country has become so worrisome.


International Christian Concern (ICC) http://www.persecution.org/, a United States (US) based Christian humanitarian organization, reports that the Muslim aid agencies have continually marginalized the Christian minorities in the distribution, who are incidentally among the millions of Pakistanis left homeless

It observed that lots of them have lost not only their homes but also their source of livelihood as their crops and subsistence fields have been washed away along with seed for next season’s planting.

Reacting to this spate of discriminations, the Pakistan Christian Congress (PCC) said that Muslim relief organizations and government agencies have been denying assistance to Christians affected by the flooding in Punjab province.

Also reacting, the President, Open Doors, USA, Carl Moeller, stated, “Some are flatly denied assistance while others are told to vacate the region or convert to Islam. Imagine, giving up your faith in order to feed your starving children–-what a horrible choice. The church in Pakistan needs another way to take care of their families. They’re looking to you and to me.”

The International Director, Barnabas Fund, an international charity focusing on Christian minorities in the Islamic world, Patrick Sookhdeo, in his contribution, said that Barnabas Fund channels money exclusively from Christians through Christians to Christians who desperately need our help.

Also speaking, the President, World Vision U.S., http://www.worldvision.org/ Rich Stearns said that World Vision has already delivered food and clean water to more than 21,000 people in Charsada and Nowshera. “We have also opened five emergency health clinics in Lower Dir, treating more than 2,500 people suffering from waterborne diseases and other illnesses.

He noted that the vast floods have created a critical situation in Pakistan, where the number of homeless has just doubled to four million people and that the United Nations (UN) estimates that 20 million people urgently need food, shelter, and emergency care — that's 10 times as many as were impacted by the earthquake in Haiti.

According to Stearns, in the coming months, the goal of World Vision is to provide life-saving supplies like water purification packets, hygiene kits, tents, cooking items, and food to 300,000 people.

“We also hope to open health posts, Child-Friendly Spaces, and Women-Friendly Spaces, and offer additional support to children and families. But we can't continue our response without your support,” he also stated.

The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moonBan Ki-moon had earlier declared: "Make no mistake: this is a global disaster, a global challenge. It is one of the greatest tests of global solidarity in our times."

One other Christian humanitarian organization reaching out to the flood victims, Serve In Missions (SIM) www.sim.org , said that over the past days, it has been distributing emergency packs containing: 10kgs of flour, one kg each of lentils, chickpeas and sugar, one liter of milk, one liter of cooking oil, and salt, red pepper and matches.

It pointed out that its plan is to continue distribution of these basic supplies, but expect that the need for medical help will increase adding that in the initial stages, it sought to provide basic food items and medicine.

SIM observed that in the north, roads and bridges have been severely damaged cutting off whole communities from the rest of the country and that for weeks to come the only way into these areas will be by plane or helicopter. “In the south the huge number of displaced people and unhygienic conditions threaten to cause mass outbreaks of waterborne diseases. The damage to Pakistan's infrastructure will take a long time to put right.”

How Pakistani Taliban Killed Three Christian Aid Workers

Pakistani devastating Flood

The news of the killing of the three foreign Christian aid workers by the Pakistani Taliban was received with sadness as the country has continuously. The victims were part of the team providing aid to victims of the massive flooding in Pakistan.


According to Compass Direct News (CDN), the authorities recovered the bodies of the three Christian relief workers who had been kidnapped and killed by members of the Taliban in the flood-ravaged country.

Speaking on this ugly incident, the Swat District Coordination Officer, Atif-ur-Rehman said that an official at the international humanitarian organization that employed the workers withheld their names and requested that the agency remain unnamed for security reasons.

He observed that the foreign aid workers have been working in Mingora and the surrounding areas adding that the victims were returning to their base at around 5:35 p.m. on the faithful day, when a group of Taliban attacked their vehicle. They injured around five-six people and kidnapped three foreign humanitarian workers.

“The Military sources who withheld news of the deaths from electronic and print media to avoid panicking other relief workers granted permission to Compass to publish it in limited form,” he added.

According to Rehman, Pakistan has been hit by its worst flooding in decades, with the United Nations now estimating more than 21.8 million people have been affected.

“Foreign aid workers are involved in relief activities across the country, including Swat district in Khyber-Paktunkhwa Province in northern Pakistan. At least 8 million people require emergency relief, with hundreds of thousands reportedly isolated from aid supplies,” he also said.

He stated: “An army Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) source said rangers have been deployed in Swat and other potential target areas to help provide security for relief workers. The Taliban had warned about attacks on foreigner aid workers and Christian organizations.”

Also speaking, the president of an advocacy organization, Life for All, Rizwan Paul, said that the bodies of the three relief workers had been sent to Islamabad under the supervision of the Pakistan Army.

“We strongly condemn the killing of the three humanitarian workers. These aid workers came to support us, and we are thankful to the humanitarian organizations that came to help us in a time of need,” he said.

Pointing to alleged discrimination against minorities in distribution of humanitarian aid, Paul added that Christians in severely flood-damaged areas in Punjab Province have been neglected adding that the majority of the effected Christians in Punjab are in Narowal, Shakargarh, Muzzafargarh, Rahim Yar Khan and Layyah.