Tag Archives: Christian Persecution

Boko Haram Murders Dozens of Civilians in Cameroon

Islamic extremist group Boko Haram launched a major attack outside of Nigeria, shooting or burning to death dozens of civilians.

Cameroon Information Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakari told reporters that around 800 members of Boko Haram attacked the border town of Fotokol, “burning churches, mosques and villages.”  The dead were youth that refused to join Boko Haram.

The terrorists also took livestock, food and vehicles.

The cell of terrorists reportedly crossed into Cameroon after fleeing from the Nigerian town of Gamboru.  Chad and Nigerian Air Force planes drove them from the city after a series of air strikes.

The news of the attack comes on the heels of African Union officials saying they are going to fund a 7,500 strong force form Nigeria and surrounding countries to destroy Boko Haram.

British Reverend Told Jesus Sticker Threatens Insurance Coverage

A 75-year-old minister has been told that her auto coverage could be voided because she placed Jesus-themed stickers on her vehicle.

Rev. Wena Parry of the Independent Congregational Church of South Wales drives around with inspirational messages such as “Christ is My Lord.”  Age UK Insurance claims that because she placed the stickers on the car it’s a modification that violated her policy.

“Every opportunity I have I want to tell people about Jesus. I reckon there must at least be a million people who have read the texts on my car and no one has had a problem with it before,” Parry said. “But, there might be somebody within that company that hates Christianity.”

The letter to Parry demands she explain within 10 days why she had not informed the insurance company she placed bumper stickers on her car and an additional cigarette lighter.

“The policy may be declared void,” the letter asserted. “These modifications do not fit our acceptance criteria for motor insurance and [coverage] would have been declined if we had been made aware of these at the time of purchasing your policy.”

The insurance company claims that the issue is not the content of the bumper stickers.

“Our insurers have concluded that our request to declare all modifications was not made clear enough to Rev. Parry and therefore she did not know which vehicle enhancements should have been declared,” the spokesman said.

Charles Darwin Day Declared In Delaware

The statement by Delaware Governor Jack Markell (D) that he is declaring February 12th “Charles Darwin Day” in the state has overjoyed atheists and anti-Christianists.

“Darwin’s Theory of Evolution is the foundation of modern biology, an essential tool in understanding the development of life on earth,” the governor said in a statement.    “The anniversary of Darwin’s birthday is a time to reflect and celebrate the importance of his scientific achievements,.  Now, Therefore, I, Jack A. Markell, Governor, do hereby declare February 12th, 2015, Charles Darwin Day.”

The day is organized around the world by the anti-Christian group American Humanist Association, which is committed to promoting anti-Christian beliefs around the world.

“The mission of International Darwin Day is to inspire people throughout the globe to reflect and act on the principles of intellectual bravery, perpetual curiosity, scientific thinking, and hunger for truth as embodied in Charles Darwin,” states the AHA’s International Darwin Day website.

Markell took the action at the request of the Delaware Atheist Meetup.

Critics point out that Darwin’s only real accomplishments in science revolved around work on invertebrates.  Brian Thomas of the Institute for Creation Research says that the trumpeting of Darwin is just an attempt by anti-Christianists to push the idea of doing whatever you want without moral beliefs.

“The spiritual link between Darwinism and atheism follows from thinking that natural processes like death and mutations can transform worms into humans,” he stated. “Where does a Creator fit in this view? Without a Creator, man feels free to do what he wants, how he wants—all while ignoring his conscience that reminds him of the Judge he must one day face.”

ISIS Beheads Japanese Christian Who Tried To Save Friend

Kenji Goto, 47, was slaughtered by the Islamic extremist group ISIS in a video released to social media over the weekend.  Goto told reporters last year he felt compelled by the Lord to do all he could to help rescue Haruna Yukawa after he was abducted by the terrorists in Aleppo last year.

Goto said he found the Lord in 1997 and had dedicated his life to following the Lord’s call.  He said he wanted to minister to Yukawa, who had faced a difficult life including bankruptcy and his wife’s suicide attempt and battle with cancer.

Goto went to Syria and made his way to Raqqa, the headquarters of the terrorist group, in an attempt to negotiate for his friend’s freedom.

“I need to go there at least once and see my fixers (freelance journalist connections) and ask them what the current situation is,” he told Reuters. “I need to talk to them face to face. I think that’s necessary.”

Goto believed that because Japan was not part of the coalition against the group, he likely would have a greater chance of success.

The Japanese Prime Minister, Shinto Abe, made bold statements after the killing.  In a departure from the country’s post-World War II pattern of pacifism, he said Japan would do all they could to work with the international community to bring the killers to justice.

Armed Muslims Attack Christian Boys’ School In Pakistan

A Christian Boys’ School in northern Pakistan was attacked by an armed mob of over 300 Muslims who were angry over the cartoons of Muhammad published in the French newspaper Charlie Hebdo.

“It is very sad that Islamic radicals attack Pakistani Christians because of Charlie Hebdo. Christians condemn the blasphemous cartoons. It is a shame that even after 67 years since the birth of Pakistan, Christians have not yet been considered Pakistani citizens, but are seen as ‘Western allies,'” Nasir Saeed, director of the NGO Center for Legal Aid Assistance & Settlement, told Fides News Agency.

At least four Christians were wounded in the assault on the building.

Witnesses say that the Muslim mob lifted smaller members to the top of the fence surrounding the facility so they could go and open gates allowing the attackers inside.

The school has been closed for two days because of additional security measures being installed to the building and grounds.

The attack is the latest in assaults on Christians around the world for the drawings in the French publication, which is not Christian and has often published cartoons mocking Christ and God.

Saeed Abedini Thanks President For Visiting With His Wife

Pastor Saeed Abedini, wrongfully imprisoned in Iran for over 2 years and in one of Iran’s most brutal prisons, has released a letter through his lawyers thanking President Obama for meeting with his wife.

“I was personally encouraged that you were in my hometown of Boise, Idaho and made time to visit my wife and children,” Abedini wrote.

“They have had a heavy burden to carry in my absence, and your presence helped to relieve some of that burden. . . Thank you again for standing up for my family and I and for thousands of Christians across the world who are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. President Obama, you have my prayers from inside of these walls. I pray for God’s guidance, wisdom and blessing for you as you lead this great nation.”

President Obama met with Naghmeh Abedini and the couple’s two children in an office at Boise State University before a speech promoting State of the Union address ideas.  The President promised the children he would do all he could to bring their father home.

Pastor Abedini said that Christians are encouraged because of the meeting.

“Nothing is more valuable to the body of Christ than to see how the Lord is in control and moves ahead of countries and leadership through united prayer,” the pastor continued.

“Thank you again for standing up for my family and I and for thousands of Christians across the world who are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. President Obama, you have my prayers from inside of these walls. I pray for God’s guidance, wisdom and blessing for you as you lead this great nation.”

Prosecutor Refuses To Drop Case of Christian Ticketed For Scripture On Truck

A Christian who was ticked for posting a sign on his truck that quoted Scripture is reporting the prosecutor handling the case refuses to drop it because of the New York protests against police.

“The prosecutor stated that he was not going to drop the case because he wanted to respect the authority of police,” Luis Zapata, whose defense attorney spoke with the prosecution last week, told Christian News Network on Wednesday. “Especially with the events with the police officers in New York City—the protests and the negative view of the officers—he was going to stand by the officer.”

Zapata has been posting scripture on his truck for two years until last August.  He said that he felt God telling him to share the gospel with the word and to place a sign on his truck about the Lord’s return.

Police officer Mark Van Wormer began to harass Zapata when he was parked near an abortion clinic for a protest with other Christians.  Van Wormer told Zapata to take his signs down or he would be ticketed.  Zapata moved the truck at the officer’s approval and then was later ticketed by Van Wormer at the new location.

Zapata said the tickets are part of a harassment campaign by the police against the Christians who protest the clinic.

“I feel that the city of Englewood got together with the abortion mill to try to drive us out of there by giving us petty citations,” he said.

New York City Continues To Fight Church Meetings In Schools

The administration of New York Mayor Bill DeBlasio is continuing a fight to keep Christians from being able to hold meetings in public schools as other taxpayers of the city are permitted to do.

The case of Bronx Household of Faith v. Board of Education has been in the court system for 17 years.  The Board of Education refused to allow the group to meet inside a school saying that allowing a church to meet in school facilities was a violation of the Constitution.

The Supreme Court refused to hear the case.  However, in 2012 a U.S. District Judge issued a permanent injunction allowing the group to hold services inside a school saying the school was violating the Free Exercise clause of the Constitution in their denial.

The city appealed that decision, getting the Second Circuit Court of Appeals to rule 2-1 that it was Constitutional to discriminate against Christian groups and other religions.  That ruling is now before the Supreme Court.

“The department’s decision to make public schools available to religious organizations for a wide range of activities, but not for worship services or as a house of worship, is constitutional,” the city stated in a brief to the Supreme Court. “The policy does not prohibit, limit, or burden any religious practice; does not entangle the government in matters of religion; and does not impair petitioners’ ability to speak freely.”

The Alliance Defending Freedom is asking the court to uphold the Constitutional right for Christians to use the facilities like any other taxpayer.

“Churches meeting in New York City public schools for worship services have fed the poor and needy, assisted in rehabilitating drug addicts and gang members, helped rebuild marriages and families, and provided for the disabled,” said ADF Senior Counsel David Cortman. “The churches have also helped the public schools themselves by volunteering to paint the interiors of inner-city schools; donating computers, musical instruments, and air conditioners; and providing effective after-school programs to help all students with their studies.”

President Obama Says Non-Christian President Is OK

President Obama spoke to a group in New Delhi and said that it would be perfectly fine for the United States to not have a Christian President.

“In our lives, Michelle and I have been strengthened by our Christian faith. Still, as you may know, my faith has at times been questioned — by people who don’t know me — or they’ve said that I adhere to a different religion, as if that were somehow a bad thing,” Obama said, according to ABC News.  “Every person has the right to practice their faith how they choose, or to practice no faith at all, and to do so free from persecution and fear.”

The President was speaking to the group about the religious divisions in India that have been causing an increase in violence.  Christians in India have been demanding the government take action against Hindu extremists that torched or vandalized churches and committed personal attacks on Christians.

Obama also addressed the country’s current struggles with gender equality.

“I’m surrounded by smart women,” Obama said. “Every woman should be able to go about her day — to walk the street, or ride the bus — and be safe and be treated with the respect and dignity.”

International persecution watchdog Open Doors ranks India 21st in countries where Christians face the most severe persecution for their faith.

Franklin Graham: Christianity Being Pushed To The Back

The Rev. Franklin Graham is pulling no punches when it comes to the state of Christianity in America.

Graham says that Christians are being pushed to the back of the room while government groups and activist entities are promoting all other religions.  Graham made his statements while appearing on WNCN to talk about the recent incident with Duke University’s now-revoked plan to air Muslim calls to prayer from their bell tower.

“I agree with diversity but what’s happening with this country is all these religions are getting front row and Christians are being pushed — and we’re the majority — are being pushed back to the back of the room,” he said.

“This country was built with Christian principles — it was men and women who believed in God and believed in His Son, Jesus Christ, who built this country. We’re the greatest nation in the history of the world. It wasn’t built by Islam, and it wasn’t built by any other group. It was those who supported and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Graham said that in America, people do not realize that Imams in Middle Eastern nations are not condemning terrorist attacks and that the Quran calls for violence against non-Muslims.

“First of all, you don’t have condemnation outside this country,” he said. “You’ll have clerics in this country who’ll condemn these acts. But these acts of terrorism are not condemned by the mullahs in Saudi Arabia or in Egypt, or Iraq or Syria.”

“The reason is,” he continued, “is because the Quran teaches this. And so, if they condemned it they would be condemning the Quran, and they’re not going to condemn the Quran.”