AP: North Korean Killed for Spreading the Gospel

Associated Press has this exclusive story:

SEOUL, South Korea — Like most North Koreans, Son Jong Nam knew next to nothing about Christianity when he fled to neighboring China in 1998.
Eleven years later, he died back in North Korea in prison, reportedly tortured to death for trying to spread the Gospel in his native land, armed with 20 bibles and 10 cassette tapes of hymns. He was 50.

His story, pieced together by his younger brother, a defector who lives in South Korea, sheds light on a little-discussed practice: the sending back of North Korean converts to evangelize in their home country — a risky move, but one of the few ways to penetrate a country that bars most citizens from outside TV or radio and the Internet.

Little is known about the practice, believed to have started in the late 1990s. Missionaries won’t say how many defectors they have sent back, citing their safety and that of the defectors.

“It’s their country, where people speak the same language. They know where to go and where to escape,” says the Rev. Isaac Lee, a Korean-American missionary in Seoul who has dedicated his life to spreading Christianity in the North. “But I agonize a lot whenever I have to send defectors to the North as I know what kind of punishment they would get if arrested.”

Officially, North Korea guarantees freedom of religion for its 24 million people. In practice, authorities crack down on Christians, who are seen as a Western-influenced threat to the government. The distribution of bibles and secret prayer services can mean banishment to a labor camp or execution, defectors say. Read the story here.

Meanwhile, back in America, a circus church provided three rings on Sunday for the Fourth of July. You could even get the T-shirt if you got “baptized” in one of the pools!

Florida School Tries to Ban Bibles on Religious Freedom Day

Fort Myers, FL – Today Liberty Counsel filed a lawsuit to overturn a recent ban on distributing Bibles on the public school campuses of Collier County, Florida. For years, the school board allowed World Changers to distribute free Bibles to interested students during off-school hours on Religious Freedom Day, but now the school officials claim that Bibles do not provide any educational benefit to the students and the distribution should stop.

The Collier County School District policy specifically allows the distribution of literature by nonprofit organizations, but only with the approval of the superintendent and the Community Request Committee, whose members are appointed by the superintendent. Approval was denied to World Changers, despite the fact that its distribution included a disclaimer of any school endorsement or sponsorship and that receiving a Bible was purely voluntary. The district, nevertheless, censored World Changers’ message simply because it included the Bible.

The school district, like many others, suffers from a misunderstanding of the First Amendment. The Establishment Clause does not prohibit private religious speech or literature; under Supreme Court case law, it prohibits only government religious speech. The distribution of Bibles by World Changers is private speech. As the Supreme Court has stated: “There is a crucial difference between government speech endorsing religion, which the Establishment Clause forbids, and private speech endorsing religion, which the Free Speech and Free Exercise Clauses protect.” Collier County does not appear to understand this crucial difference.

Mathew D. Staver, Founder of Liberty Counsel and Dean of Liberty University School of Law, commented: “How sad that on the eve of Independence Day, when we celebrate the religious and political freedom our forefathers won for us at the cost of much blood and great sacrifice, we are compelled to sue to protect the right simply to make free Bibles available to students in public schools. Many of our founding fathers were taught to read using the Bible. If it had no educational value, then many of them would have been illiterate. The distribution of religious literature in a forum opened for secular literature is constitutionally protected.”

Afghanistan Parliament Member: Execute the Christians!

Worldnetdaily Reports:

A member of parliament in Afghanistan has called for the public execution of Christians, sending many members of the faith into hiding over concern for their lives, according to a new report from International Christian Concern.

The organization said it had learned from Associated Free Press that Abdul Sattar Khawasi, deputy secretary for the lower house in the Afghan parliament, had called for the execution of those Afghanis who converted from Islam to Christianity.

The public call to violence came after a video was broadcast by Noorin TV, an Afghan television network, that showed Christian men being baptized and praying in Farsi. Story here at Worldnetdaily.

Georgia Seniors Told They Can’t Pray Before Meals

WSBTV.com reports on the latest outrage in our “land of the free and the home of the brave.”

PORT WENTWORTH, Ga. — Preston Blackwelder proudly showed off a painting of his grandmother that had hung next to the front door of his Port Wentworth home. She was the woman who led him to God, Blackwelder said Friday.
And with that firm religious footing, Blackwelder said it would be preposterous to stop praying before meals at Port Wentworth’s Ed Young Senior Citizens Center near Savannah because of a federal guideline.
“She would say pray anyway,” Blackwelder said of his grandmother. “She’d say don’t listen.”
But Senior Citizens Inc. officials said Friday the meals they are contracted by the city to provide to Ed Young visitors are mostly covered with federal money, which ushers in the burden of separating church and state. Read the story here.

Comedy Central Plans Jesus Christ Cartoon

Word has it that Comedy Central has a new cartoon show planned:

Comedy Central might censor every image of the Prophet Muhammad on “South Park,” yet the network is developing a whole animated series around Jesus Christ.

As part of the network’s upfront presentation to advertisers (full slate here), Comedy Central is set to announce “JC,” a half-hour show about Christ wanting to escape the shadow of his “powerful but apathetic father” and live a regular life in New York City.

In the show, God is preoccupied with playing video games while Christ, “the ultimate fish out of water,” tries to adjust to life in the big city.

“In general, comedy in purist form always makes some people uncomfortable,” said Comedy Central’s head of original programming Kent Alterman.

When asked if the show might draw some fire, especially coming on the heels of the network’s decision to censor the Muslim faith’s religious figure on “South Park,” Alterman said its too early in the show’s development to be concerned about such matters. Read the article here.

Chinese Police Force Out House Church

GUANGDONG, China, May 5 /Christian Newswire/ — On the morning of May 2, Guangzhou Public Security officials forced Liangren House Church’s landlord to terminate the church’s rent, sealing and locking the doors with an iron chain. Guards blocked the congregation from entering the facility, forcing them to worship outdoors on Sunday morning. In order to save another landlord from being harassed by the PSB, the church plans to move next week’s worship service outdoors to Guangzhou People’s Park.

According to members, authorities have serially forced the church to migrate from hotel to hotel in the Haizu District, subsequently banning the church from meeting at each location. Sunday’s crackdown marked the more than 10 times this year the church has been forced to migrate due to government pressure.

Liangren House Church first drew the attention of the Guangzhou Public Security office in May, 2008, after launching a youth education and relief program in the earthquake-devastated province of Sichuan. Since then, Liangren Church has been repeatedly disbanded, harassed, and chased while forced to flee from church meetings.

Head Pastor Wang Dao has been repeatedly kidnapped and interrogated in the last two years–the latest incident occurring on March 4, when police officers seized him during his noonday meal at a restaurant. Pastor Wang was later released, but authorities threatened the church not to meet in the future, seeking to intimidate the members by harassing the pastor.

Liangren House Church members issued an appeal to the world for prayer and deliverance on May 3. “…We call on Guangzhou the authorities to respect their citizens’ freedom of belief, as the freedom of belief is the most basic human right. Christians of house churches only want the right to worship God in our legally rented houses, that is, in our own houses.”

They remain undeterred in seeking a legal space to gather for worship. “Our bottom line is we must abide by God’s commandment of ‘You must not stop gatherings!’ We hereby appeal to all fellow members in Christ and ask you to give us support! We also ask you to continue to pray urgently for our rulers!”

Read the Full Appeal by Liangren Church.

ChinaAid calls on the international community to pray for Liangren Church. We urge the Guangzhou authorities to respect the religious rights of its citizens and to restore the church’s legal status and right to worship.

See the full CAA press release for ways to get involved.

Open Doors USA Launches Campaign to Help Suffering Nigerian Believers

SANTA ANA, Calif., May 3 /Christian Newswire/ — On April 13 suspected Islamic extremists abducted and killed Church of Christ in Nigeria pastor Ishaku Kadah and his wife Selina in a village in Bauchi state in northern Nigeria, according to Compass Direct News.

They were forced from their church headquarters home and killed. They were buried on April 17. On Jan. 22, suspected Islamic extremists had set fire to their church building days after Christians displaced by violence in Plateau state had taken refuge on the church premises.

“This is yet another case of unprovoked killing of Christians, which we condemn, and demand that the law enforcement agents must fish out the perpetrators of this act,” Bishop Musa Fula, state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Bauchi state, told Compass.

In early March, ethnic Fulani Muslims attacked three villages near Jos which resulted in the deaths of up to 500 Christians and the burning of about 75 homes. Eyewitnesses say the attackers used knives and cutlasses while shouting “Allah Akbar” (God is great) during their assaults which were carried out not only against men, but against many women and children.

Christians contacted the military for assistance, but it took over two hours for the military to arrive. By this time, the attackers had finished their attack and left. Tragically, there are reports that Saleh Maina, General Officer Commanding the Third Armored Division, knew about the planned attacks in advance and chose to do nothing to stop them.

Less than two weeks later, Fulani Muslims attacked two more villages in Plateau state, resulting in the deaths of 13 more Christians, including a pregnant woman and children.

The violence against Christians is increasing every day in Africa’s most populous country, including the murder of seven Christians, including two journalists, by Muslim youth gangs April 24-25. Although Open Doors workers immediately delivered beds, bedding, food and medicine to the suffering, hundreds remain homeless and traumatized.

In the face of these atrocities, Christians need to stand with their brothers and sisters in Nigeria to hold their government accountable for failing to protect Christians. You can support Nigerian believers by sending a message to Nigerian Ambassador to the United States Adebowale Ibidapo Adefuye; asking that the Nigerian government launch a thorough investigation of these incidents, hold the perpetrators accountable for their involvement in these crimes, punish officials who were complicit in the crimes and ensure that the victims receive compensation for the crimes committed against them. To send a message, go to www.OpenDoorsUSA.org.

“Using your voice on their behalf is one way you can let these Nigerian Christians know they are not forgotten and that we as a body of Christ are standing with them,” says Open Doors USA President/CEO Carl Moeller. “We can not and must not stand idly by and let our fellow Christians suffer in silence. Take action now with your prayers and by writing the Nigerian ambassador.”

Twelve states in northern Nigeria have enacted Shariah Law (strict Muslim law). Northern Nigeria is ranked No. 27 on this year’s Open Doors World Watch List of the worst persecutors of Christians. Nigeria is almost equally divided between Muslims and Christians with the majority of the Muslims living in the north and the Christians in the south.

An estimated 100 million Christians worldwide suffer interrogation, arrest and even death for their faith in Christ, with millions more facing discrimination and alienation. Open Doors supports and strengthens believers in the world’s most difficult areas through Bible and Christian literature distribution, leadership training and assistance, Christian community development, prayer and presence ministry and advocacy on behalf of suffering believers. To partner with Open Doors USA, call toll free at 888-5-BIBLE-5 (888-524-2535) or go to our website at www.OpenDoorsUSA.org.

Rally to Be Held for Persecuted Nigerian Christians

“Shari’a has opened the door to unchecked persecution of non-Muslims.”
- Faith J.H. McDonnell, IRD Religious Liberty Director

Washington, DC—In response to a series of recent attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria, the Institute on Religion and Democracy has joined with the editors of the journal First Things and other organizations to sponsor a rally of solidarity for Nigeria’s Christians.

On Wednesday, April 7, religious, civic and human rights leaders of many faiths and backgrounds will gather at Second Avenue and 44th Street in front of the Nigerian Consulate in New York City to raise their voices of conscience about the continuing massacres of Christians as well as the ongoing persecution of non-Muslim minorities by jihadists in Nigeria and elsewhere across the globe.

The event will feature a press conference from 4:30-5 p.m., immediately followed by the rally that will run until 7 p.m. For more information, please visit the web site for the rally: april7rally.wordpress.com

IRD Religious Liberty Director Faith J.H. McDonnell commented:

“In Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, jihad has been aggressive. Inter-religious violence resulting from radical Islam has been responsible for the deaths of over 50,000 people in the past ten years in Nigeria.

“Although the media usually refers to an ‘ethnic clash’ and denies the radical Islamist motivation behind these killings, we know that this is part of a organized effort to wipe out the Christians in Nigeria and establish a totally Islamic country.

“Although state religion is ostensibly a violation of the country’s national, secular constitution, 12 out of 36 states have instituted Shari’a (Islamic law) as the highest legal authority. And, as is usually the case, Shari’a has opened the door to unchecked persecution of non-Muslims.

“As people who value the free exercise of religion, it is our goal to hold the Nigerian government accountable for keeping Christians safe from terror.”

www.TheIRD.org

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Street Preachers Murders Ignored in South Florida

Sorry for the late post on this, but this story hasn’t been making the mainstream news…

ChristianNewswire:

According to the Boynton Beach police, simply sharing the word of God on the street is what brought two ministers to the man who killed them. Tite Sufra, 24, and Stephen Ocean, 23, were shot and killed [January 30th] after meeting Jeriah Woody, 18. They witnessed to Woody for fifteen minutes when he got a phone call and told the preachers he ‘had to go.’ As they walked away, Woody suddenly started walking back toward them. Sufra walked up to greet him and was killed with a shot gun blast at point blank range. When Ocean ran, he was shot in the back. After he fell, Woody shot him in the head execution style. Woody was arrested Wednesday and is charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

“As of today, there are no national news organizations reporting this vicious murder of two innocent Christian men. Why?” Cass said, “I’ll ask this: If two Muslims, or two feminists or two homosexuals were murdered, wouldn’t the media be all over it? These were two fine young black Christian men shot by another black man for their Christian faith, yet the media does not seem to care.”

Cass continued: “It is an ominous sign of our times that Christians are being shot on the streets and in our churches. Last year Jim Poullion was killed while holding pro-life signs in front of his granddaughter’s Owasso Michigan high school. Rev. Fred Winters was murdered while preaching in his pulpit in Maryville, Illinois. Increasingly we see Christian ministers threatened and churches terrorized and vandalized for their stand on marriage. Now when Christians gather for worship they must have armed security. Anti-Christian defamation and bigotry has helped to create this violent climate and it must stop.”

• Murdered Street Preacher Tite Sufra’s Facebook Page
• Palm Beach Post story
• F2A – Christians Murdered – Story Overlooked

Persecution of Believers in India Continues

See what it is like to be a believer in Orissa, India in this video.The video in this link will take you to a powerful three-minute presentation of the persecution of our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is our lead story today on the Crosstalk Blog today because we need to be reminded of the cost of following Jesus. In Jesus Name Ministries and its director, Court Wood, has just been in the area, and we at Crosstalk salute him for bringing out the plight of these dear believers. Visit Court Wood’s site to learn more.