URGENT: Pastor Saeed in grave danger now

Gohardasht (Rajai Shahr) Prison - Karaj, Iran فارسی: زندان گوهردشت (Wikipedia)

Pastor Saeed Abedini's life is in grave danger.

Yesterday, he was transferred to another Iranian prison – a deadly cellblock in one of Iran's most dangerous and obscure prisons.

He is no longer sharing a cell with political prisoners but with murderers. Rajai Shahr Prison is where prisoners are sent to disappear – many are murdered at the hands of other prisoners.

President Obama, who has already spoken to the President of Iran about Pastor Saeed, must take immediate diplomatic action to save Saeed's life. 

Time is of the essence.

Source: ACLJ

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Top 20 Countries with fastest growing Christianity

 
 Quoted from The Top 20 Countries where Christianity is Growing the Fastest

"Where is Christianity growing the fastest? The Center for the Study of Global Christianity, based at Gordon Conwell Seminary, published In June 2013 an excellent report regarding Christianity in its Global Context. The full report can be found online at www.globalchristianity.org/globalcontext. 

The Top 20 Countries Where Christianity Has the Highest Percentage Growth Rate

Rank	Country	Continent	Christian  AAGR	Years to double	Majority Religion	Percent Christian 1970	Percent Christian 2020
1	Nepal	Asia, South Central	10.93%	6.6	Hindu	0.1%	3.8%
2	China	Asia, Eastern	10.86%	6.6	Non-religious	0.1%	10.6%
3	United Arab Emirates	Arabian Peninsula	9.34%	7.7	Muslim	5.9%	12.9%
4	Saudi Arabia	Arabian Peninsula	9.27%	7.8	Muslim	0.3%	4.6%
5	Qatar	Arabian Peninsula	7.81%	9.2	Muslim	4.5%	9.5%
6	Oman	Arabian Peninsula	7.62%	9.4	Muslim	0.5%	4.6%
7	Yemen	Arabian Peninsula	7.09%	9.1	Muslim	0.0%	0.2%
8	Mongolia	Asia, Eastern	5.96%	12.1	Buddhist	0.3%	2.0%
9	Cambodia	Asia, South-eastern	5.87%	12.3	Buddhist	0.5%	3.6%
10	Bahrain	Arabian Peninsula	5.49%	13.1	Muslim	3.9%	7.9%
11	Benin	Africa, Western	4.85%	14.8	Christian	18.1%	47.8%
12	Burkina Faso	Africa, Western	4.81%	15.0	Muslim	9.0%	24.8%
13	South Sudan	Africa, Eastern	4.67%	15.4	Christian	22.7%	63.8%
14	Bhutan	Asia, South Central	4.60%	15.7	Buddhist	0.3%	1.1%
15	Mali	Africa, Western	4.54%	15.9	Muslim	1.4%	3.8%
16	Brunei	Asia, South-eastern	4.49%	16.0	Muslim	5.8%	14.1%
17	Guinea	Africa, Western	4.44%	16.2	Muslim	1.3%	3.8%
18	Kuwait	Arabian Peninsula	4.26%	16.9	Muslim	5.1%	9.2%
19	Singapore	Asia, South-eastern	4.12%	16.3	Buddhist	7.8%	21.7%
20	Turks and Caicos Islands	Caribbean	3.97%	18.1	Christian	99.5%	91.6%

Some key observations by Russ Mitchell of Disciple All Nations:

• Nineteen of the top 20 nation-states are in Asia and Africa.
• Eleven of the top 20 list are Muslim majority nation-states.
• The majority of the top 20 are clustered in three areas: Eastern Asia, Western Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
• Not one country from Europe, Northern America or Latin America makes the top 20.
• The world’s newest country, South Sudan (July 2011), made the list.
•  The highest Christian growth rates are found among all major non-Christian religious groups: Hindus, Non-Religious, Buddhists, Muslims and Ethno-religionists (Benin and South Sudan).

More analysis at The Top 20 Countries where Christianity is Growing the Fastest

Human Trafficking and the Occult

Close-up of a Santa Muerte south of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. (Wikipedia)

The occult is a key piece of the world of the human sex trafficking industry.

The Occult: Santa Muerte, Satanic Ritual Abuse, and Sacrifices

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Syria: Obama's juggernaut

The flag of Syrian Arab Republic / Damascus, Syria (Wikipedia)

President Obama has put himself in quite a predicament. By establishing a red line for Syria, one so far out that he was sure Assad would not be so reckless as to cross it, he was not prepared (for some reason) for the eventuality that chemical weapons would be used. Obama's Bluff has been called. 

He is caught now between projecting weakness or blundering into war. But, according to George Friedmann at stratfor.com,“That's the hand the president has to play, so it's hard to see how he avoids military action and retains credibility. It is also hard to see how he takes military action without a political revolt against him if it goes wrong, which it usually does.”

Europe: Church burnings; Saudi: 53 arrested

Map of Saudi Arabia with the Eastern Province highlighted (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

SAUDI ARABIA - Saudi authorities on Feb. 8 arrested 53 Ethiopian Christians, mostly women, who were attending a worship service in the private, rented home of an Ethiopian believer in Dammam, the capital of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The Christians -- 46 women and six men, including three church leaders -- were arrested around 10 a.m., and the three church leaders were appeared in an Islamic court in Dammam the same day. Authorities alleged they were converting Muslims to Christianity. Authorities are likely to release two of the Ethiopian Christians who have residential permits, and the others are expected to be deported. Source: Religion Today

EASTERN EUROPE – Twenty years ago, revolution swept away the Soviet Union and religious freedom came to Eastern Europe. Now it seems to be receding. Citizens of the former Soviet Union are facing growing restrictions on their religious freedom. Governments are closing more churches, fining and arresting their religious leaders, and destroying church literature. While we might see a return to the Soviet era, the signs spell trouble. The atmosphere is thick with intolerance in these countries. Churches are being torched, crosses are being burned, and growing anti-Semitism, so there's some reason for concern. Individual pastors are reluctant to speak out against abuses and restrictions. Pray for our brothers and sisters in Eastern Europe use their situation to win many to Christ. Source: ASSIST

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John MacArthur on the importance of the US election

John MacArthur (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dr. John MacArthur is pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California. A prolific writer, conference speaker, founder and President of The Master's College and Seminary, Dr. MacArthur's radio program, Grace to You, is aired world-wide more than 1,000 times daily in English and nearly as many in Spanish. Widely known for his strong feelings that politics should take a distant back seat to the gospel mission, MacArthur nevertheless warns that our nation is at a crossroad:

This is a new day in our country. Parties which used to differ on economics now differ dramatically on issues that invade the realm of God's law and morality...

Israel prepares for war (sans US support)

President Obama will not meet with Israeli PM Netanyahu when he visits the United States later this month for the U.N. General Assembly in New York. The White House said that the president was in the middle of an election campaign. Even when PM Netanyahu was willing to travel to Washington to meet Obama, the White House said it would not be possible. 

Tensions between Jerusalem and Washington soared earlier Tuesday when Netanyahu responded to Sec. Clinton’s statement that no “red lines” should be drawn in regard to Iran. Netanyahu said those who did not place "red lines" in front of Iran had no moral right to put a "red light" in front of Israel in regard to military action.

By September 22 or 23, Iran will have accumulated enough enriched uranium to have 87% needed for a single nuclear bomb and within a short jump to 4-5 nuclear bombs. That will reach the target Iran’s ayatollahs set themselves 20 years ago for a nuclear arsenal with second-strike capacity. Notwithstanding, the US and EU continue to claim there is no proof that Iran is even enriching uranium to weapons grade, much less building a bomb. Tehran has not wasted one moment while the world negotiates.
 

Answered Prayer! Pastor Youcef released

Breaking: Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has been released from jail in Iran, acquitted of apostasy (death penalty), and sentenced to time served for evangelizing Muslims. He is now home with his family after spending 1,062 days in prison for his Christian faith. Praise the Lord for answered prayer! Please continue to pray for him as another pastor, Mehdi Dibaj, was once acquitted and released for apostasy but was then later murdered. 

Get the backstory here.

Click the link below to see pictures of his release and reunion with his family today. 

Incredible twist in Rimsha case; Youcef's trial 9/8

Rimsha Masih (ASSIST)

UPDATE 9/7/2012: Rimsha received bail today and has been released into protective custody along with her family.

PAKISTAN – There has been an extraordinary development in the case of Rimsha Masih, the Pakistani Christian girl with Down Syndrome who was arrested Aug 16 and accused of blasphemy for burning a Qu’ran.


The Pakistani imam who demanded that police arrest Rimsha has himself been arrested, accused of planting pages of the Quran among burnt pages in her bag. 

In an incredible twist in the case, prosecutors say Imam Khalid Chishti will himself face charges of blasphemy for allegedly telling a witness, after tampering with the girl's bag, that this was a “way of getting rid of Christians.” 

Crucified naked; Religiously trafficked; 11yo Down's girl charged

A madrasa in Afghanistan (Getty Images @daylife)

EGYPT - On August 1, a massive pogrom against Christians occurred on the outskirts of Cairo when a Muslim took offense at a Coptic Christian launderer whose iron accidentally singed his shirt. Rejecting the Christian’s offer of compensation, the Muslim returned with a large mob and attacked his business. 

In self-defense, the Copt threw a Molotov cocktail, unintentionally hitting a young Muslim bystander. When the youth died a few days later, Islamic clerics incited the pogrom as collective punishment of the Copts. The violence and death threats forced virtually the entire local Christian community of approximately 120 families to flee. 

Meanwhile, the Muslim Brotherhood is using terror to consolidate the new Egyptian president’s power. Numerous reports emerged last week that the radical Islamic Muslim Brotherhood, that now controls Egypt’s government, has begun executing Christians who oppose Egyptian President Muhammad Morsi by crucifying them naked on trees in front of the presidential palace while abusing others. Among those opposing the new radical Islamic regime, “extra brutality is reserved for Christians.” Pray the Lord will protect and provide for the families who have left the area. Source: Australian Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission

Administration: "For-profit? Then you forfeit religious liberty"

Newlands, owners of Hercules Industries

In the first-ever judicial order blocking enforcement of the Obama administration’s abortion pill mandate, God has given Colorado’s family-owned Hercules Industries a critical legal victory – one with enormous implications for your civil liberties and the religious freedom of people like you all over America.

Under the health care law, family business owners and believers across the country are being forced by this mandate to provide insurance coverage for abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization, and contraception – even if doing so compels them to violate their deepest religious and moral convictions. Those failing to comply with the mandate face heavy financial penalties from the government – penalties so severe that few businesses could survive them. 

Countdown for Israel

If Israeli jets show up in Iranian airspace, observers say it will most likely happen before November 6th. The US election is the perfect window for an Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear program because Obama will be too busy to do much damage to Israel. And Israel, whose leaders face catastrophic possibilities, needs to move before Iran finishes constructing their nuclear enrichment bunkers underground. 

In case you haven’t noticed, the United States and Israel have divergent interests on Iran. Israel wants to avoid a devastating Iranian nuclear attack while the United States wants regional stability. Regional stability for the US means keeping the Arab oil nations happy, particularly Saudi Arabia. The Saudis would not be happy about Israeli warplanes using Saudi airspace to take out Iran’s nuclear facilities. Just like the Gulf War, regional stability demands the United States protect Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf terror states while keeping Israel out of it.

Children arrested for blasphemy; Church invaded

Quran, Mus'haf_Al_Tajweed. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

PAKISTAN - An 11-year-old Pakistani Christian girl with Down syndrome was arrested and charged with blasphemy of Islam on August 17. The girl, Rimsha Masih, who lives in a Christian area of Islamabad, Pakistan's capital, is accused of burning a Qur’an. 

Allegedly, a Qur’an was found [by Muslims] with some of its pages burned. In previous cases, Qur’an burning has almost always been done by Muslims or mentally unstable people. Muslim extremists are now threatening to burn down every Christian home in the community. 

Several thousand Christians have fled the suburb and are in hiding, along with the family of the victim. The police are hostile to the accused, have presumed her guilt, and have no regard for her status as a minor or as one with Down syndrome. When the girl was brought to the police station she had a shopping bag containing partly-burned religious and Arabic-language papers, but no Qur’an.  

The President of Pakistan has ordered an investigation, and local Christian rights workers are planning to apply for bail for Rimsha immediately after the end of the currently ongoing Muslim Eid celebrations. Please pray for her and her family. Source: Assist News, LA Times

Prayer: Israel’s decision to strike Iran almost final

PM Benjamin Netanyahu (L) & Defense Min Ehud Barak (R) (Ha'aretz)

Despite opposition from the Obama administration and from many Israeli security chiefs, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak have “almost finally” decided on an Israeli strike at Iran’s nuclear facilities this fall. A final decision will be taken soon. 

Netanyahu believes Iran’s regime is aiming to ‘destroy the Jewish people,’ but he does not think Obama will resort to force even though Iran’s nuclear drive is ‘further ahead’ than previously thought.  

Iran: Imprisoned pastor denied surgery

Pastor Behnam Irani

IRAN – Imprisoned Pastor Behnam Irani has contracted a blood infection with a fever and is barely able to speak in addition to bloody stools, possibly untreated inflammatory bowel disease.

VEVAK, the Intelligence and Security arm of Iran’s Mullahs, is now denying Behnam access to a doctor and surgery. Instead of condemning him for apostasy and executing him, they are hoping to kill him slowly in prison. VEVAK is considered a terrorist organization by the United States.

Pray for God to do something great in Behnam’s life, something so beautiful that many Iranians come to saving faith in Jesus Christ.

Brother Behnam was asked, “How can you stay in this prison for six years with all these killers?”

He responded, “If Jesus asked me to stay in prison for 10 years with them, I would be happy to do it.” His faith remains strong, he trusts in the wisdom and love of Jesus Christ, and so does his family. They remain steadfast and strong in faith in the midst of these great trials.
Source: Present Truth Ministries

Imprisoned Iranian pastors, China's summer camps raided

Youcef Nadarkhani

IRAN – Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s new trial is coming up Sept 8, 2012. New charges, if any, are still unknown. Court documents, which usually state specific charges, only say, “regarding the charges against you...” Some speculate that the phrase refers to previous apostasy charges, but no one knows. 

Behnam Irani

Meanwhile, we received disturbing news regarding Pastor Behnam Irani. The doctor in Ghezal Hezar prison wishes to perform surgery to stop his internal bleeding from a ulcer. Brother Behnam’s family requested that the surgery take place in a hospital, but the request was denied and the surgery will be performed in the prison. They are greatly concerned about the unsanitary conditions in the prison near prisoners with contagious diseases receiving treatment in the prison hospital. We do not know yet when the surgery will take place, but ask now that you pray for this situation. Brother Behnam needs the divine hand of the Lord to protect him and provide healing and health in spite of the condition. Source: Present Truth

CHINA – Authorities in China recently raided a children's summer camp organized by two house churches in Jiangxi province. Police and government officials, accompanied by school principals, raided the camp on June 6, recorded the names of everyone present and confiscated a computer and projector. Three teachers were detained for questioning and were told that children are not allowed to become religious believers. Officials closed the house church that hosted the camp because it was unregistered. As a result of international pressure, the church's property has been returned and the church has resumed meeting. 

In early July, police in the region of Xinjiang raided a house church Sunday school, detaining 70 children and their teachers for questioning. Seven teachers were held at a detention center, and some of the children's parents, school principals and teachers were also questioned. Pray for these churches and the children. Source: Voice of the Martyrs

Prayer: US military buildup in Persian Gulf

SIGNIFICANT US MILITARY BUILDUP IN PERSIAN GULF

Strait of Hormuz

The United States has quietly moved significant military reinforcements into the Persian Gulf to deter the Iranian military from any possible attempt to shut the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow, strategically important entrance to the Persian Gulf between Iran and the UAE. The strait at its narrowest is only 21 nautical miles (24mi) wide.

Approximately 20% of the world's oil, which is about 35% of seaborne traded oil, passes through the strait making it one of the world's most strategically important choke points. The US has also increased the number of fighter jets capable of striking deep into Iran if the standoff over its nuclear program escalates.

The deployments are part of a long-planned effort to bolster the American military presence in the gulf region, in part to reassure Israel that in dealing with Iran, as one senior administration official put it last week, "When the president says there are other options on the table beyond negotiations, he means it."

Iranian Pastor Youcef still alive, Nations protest order

Youcef, Joel, Tina, & Daniel Nadarkhani

UPDATE 3/5/2012
Sources connected directly to the case have confirmed as of Saturday morning in Iran that Youcef is alive, that he is doing well and is in good health. Thank the Lord. Youcef's life is still in imminent danger as long as he remains behind prison bars. We can’t stop praying and spreading the word about his situation until he is out of prison. Please post these updates to Twitter, Facebook and send them on to friends and family. The US House of Representatives passed a resolution condemning Iran for the death sentence for apostay and demanding his immediate release. The Senate is now working on their version of the resolution. Germany summoned the Iranian ambassador to the Foreign Ministry to express their concerns over Youcef's case. As we have reminded you in the past this is a spiritual battle. The Islamists in Iran want to destroy Christianity from that country. We ask that you pray for Youcef's strength to stand for the Gospel and that the Lord Jesus would use his testimony to bring many to the transforming power of Christ. Source: Present Truth Ministries 3/5/2012

Pray for North Korean Persecuted Christians

Persecution in Iran and India

Heydar Moslehi

House churches "a threat to youth"

IRAN - It seems that the gloves are finally off. Iran's Minister of Intelligence Heydar Moslehi calls house churches "a threat to youth." He also says they're working to stop the growth of Christianity. 

Only 2-3 years ago, the government ignored the Church. Now, because of a great awakening in Iran, they feel threatened because so many people are coming to Christ. 

Although Iran is arresting believers under the apostasy law, Christmas season usually brings a yearly spike in persecution. Why? Christians are celebrating. They are sharing the Gospel and the Christmas story. 

Prayer is needed. This is yet another confirmation of what an incredible work God is doing in Iran." Full story here

Seven newly baptized converts from Islam detained, beaten

INDIA – Police in India’s Kashmir Valley detained and beat 7 newly baptized Christians who converted from Islam, and they are seeking the arrest of the Christian leaders responsible for converting them. 

Police identified the converts and pastors from a video recording of the baptism posted on YouTube and obtained by Kashmir's grand mufti (the highest official of Islamic law), Bashir-ud-din Ahmad. 

Ahmad alleged that Pastor Chander Mani Khanna of All Saints Church (Church of North India), was bribing young Muslims to convert, saying that the video, showing only the baptism ceremony) proves Muslims are being "lured" to Christianity. 

The pastor said the Muslim youths attended the church on their own initiative and asked to take Communion. Pastor Chander told them they must be baptized to join the Supper, and they asked for baptism. 

Pray that Pastor Chander will not be charged, and that the young converts will remain steadfast in their faith. Pray that the gospel will spread throughout Kashmir despite opposition and oppression.

Related articles

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• Police Detain, Beat Converts from Islam in India (creepingsharia.wordpress.com)
• Persecuted Church: Iran, Libya, Azerbaijan (genebrooks.blogspot.com)
• Pastor admits to conversion by missionaries in Kashmir (thehindu.com)
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