Bozo, Sorogama in Mali

Bozo, Sorogama in Mali The Bozo are a West African ethnic group located predominantly along the Niger River in Mali. The name Bozo is thought to derive from Bambara bo-so, 'Bamboo house'. They are famous for their fishing and are occasionally referred to as the "masters of the river." Rock drawings linked to the Bozo date back as far as 6,000 years, but many aspects of their current culture took shape under the 10th century Ghana Empire, when the Bozo took possession of the banks of the Niger. Though the Bozo are overwhelmingly Muslim, they preserve a number of animist traditions as well. Ministry Obstacles Mali is not a hospitable land to outsiders, and conditions are often harsh. Also, the Bozo identity is strongly Muslim. Outreach Ideas Christians can carry stories from Scripture to the Bozo tribes, and also use Gospel recordings and films. Pray for the followers of Christ Pray for the few Christian believers among this Bozo tribe, that they will find teachers to help them grow in the faith. Pray they will come to a good understanding of how to follow Christ. Pray they will become strong disciples. Pray for the entire people group Pray the Sorogama Bozo will be able to care adequately for their families, and be able to send their children to school. Scripture Focus "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me." Matthew 25:40		People Name: Bozo, Sorogama Country: Mali 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 314,000 World Population: 351,000 Language: Bozo, Jenaama Primary Religion: Islam Bible: Portions Audio NT (FCBH): No Jesus Film: No Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level:

Banjara (Muslim traditions) in India

Banjara (Muslim traditions) in India The Banjara were traditionally a nomadic community, but today they more commonly are settled and work in agricultural production. They believe that they were originally Hindu and were forcibly converted to Islam. They are non-vegetarians who eat beef. The Muslim Banjara have twelve clans. They maintain cordial relations with neighboring communities and share water sources with them. They belong to the Sunni sect of Islam. Ministry Obstacles To follow Jesus is to risk upsetting community harmony, and to risk losing family and friends. Outreach Ideas Christian workers need to build bridges of friendship and trust with the Banjara. Genuinely caring for material and physical needs is a big step in this direction. Pray for the followers of Christ There are probably no present followers of Jesus among the Muslim Banjara community, but pray for those the Lord will soon call to himself. Pray they will have nothing to do with the deeds of darkness, living as children of light. Pray for materials to help them grow properly, such as recorded or written Scripture, and Gospel films. Pray for the entire people group Pray for the Banjara community to be able to adequately care for their families, and for widows, orphans, and elderly people to have the care and protection needed. Scripture Focus "Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; and let them say among the nations, 'The Lord reigns.'" 1 Chronicles 16:31		People Name: Banjara (Muslim traditions) Country: India 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 162,000 World Population: 255,000 Language: Urdu Primary Religion: Islam Bible: Complete Audio NT (FCBH): Yes Jesus Film: Yes Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level:

Nosu, Xiaoliangshan in China

Nosu, Xiaoliangshan in China Prior to 1949 the Xiaoliangshan Nosu practiced a system of slavery. "Even today, Xiaoliangshan Nosu society is a very complex system of castes, tribes and clans. In 1957 80% of the Nuo were slave owners. The remnants of these class tensions are still an undercurrent in Nosu society today." There are only a few Xiaoliangshan Nosu believers scattered over a widespread area. Ministry Obstacles These people may have little background needed to understand the Gospel message. Outreach Ideas Pray that Han Chinese believers will be motivated to build relationships with the Nosu, to befriend them and carry the Gospel to them. Pray for the followers of Christ Pray for the Xiaoliangshan Nosu believers to find each other and fellowship together. Pray they overcome any sense of class consciousness or inferiority. Pray they live a life of love, just as Christ loved them and gave himself up for them. Pray for the entire people group Pray for the Nosu to increasingly be made aware of who the creator God truly is, and what He has done to provide forgiveness and an abundant life. Scripture Focus "All nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to your name." Psalm 86:9		People Name: Nosu, Xiaoliangshan Country: China 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 532,000 World Population: 532,000 Language: Nuosu Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions Bible: New Testament Audio NT (FCBH): No Jesus Film: Yes Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level:

Five-year-old dreams of heaven

Five-year-old dreams of heaven, confirms ‘Heaven is for Real’ account, Akiane’s painting of Jesus

By Mark Ellis, Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (ANS - November 9, 2016) -- Her husband’s untimely death from a rare form of cancer left her reeling. As she wallowed in grief, seeking God’s presence, her five-year-old had several vivid dreams about heaven (and hell) that buoyed her faith in the Lord.

Uyen “Wyn” Tran and her husband Ton lived in Australia for 30 years following their arrival from Vietnam. He was a mechanical engineer and she a pharmacist, fulfilling their dreams in a land of fresh opportunities, when they received unexpected and devastating news.

In 2013, Ton was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer growing in his nose and throat. He was given four months to live. Ton was not a believer during their eight years of marriage, but two months before he died he accepted Jesus as his Savior and Lord.

“By God’s grace he lived a year,” Wyn recounts. “When he passed away, I was so devastated. I believed with all my heart he would be healed.” Some of their friends also believed he would be healed and even thought they saw a vision of him cured, testifying about his healing.

But it was not to be. On February 13, 2014 – one day before Valentine’s Day — he passed into the arms of Jesus.

Because of Wyn’s overwhelming confidence he would be healed, Ton’s passing undercut her faith. “I held on to that (his healing) with every ounce of belief. When he actually passed away I couldn’t figure it out. For three days I was in a daze,” she says.

“Please give me a dream or vision,” she cried out to God, desperate for His reassurance.

The dream came from an unlikely source – her five-year-old son, Kieran.

On Sunday morning Kieran woke up and came running into her room. “I saw dad and he was in heaven. It was beautiful mom. He was with God,” he said, breathlessly.

Photo captions: 1) Wyn and Ton’s wedding day. 2) Kieran Tran. 3) Akiane with Jesus paintings. 4) Mark Ellis.

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About the writer: Mark Ellis is Senior Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net),and also founder of www.GodReports.com, a website that shares stories, testimonies and videos from the church around the world. He is also co-host for “Windows on the World” with ANS Founder, Dan Wooding, which is aired weekly on the Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network (http://hsbn.tv).

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Bringing Hope for Survivors of Ebola-Hit Sierra Leone

Bringing Hope for Survivors of Ebola-Hit Sierra Leone

November 10, 2016

Children benefiting from ministry outreach in Sierra Leone pay witness to the hope that many of the country's 12,000 orphans could find in Christian community.

In the West African country of Sierra Leone, many among the Muslim majority in the Northern Province offer sacrifices in hopes of keeping malevolent spirits from harming them.
They also make sacrifices to ancestors, and their traditional African religions include a creator god who is accessible only through the mediation of paternal ancestors. The ethnic Temne of the region who blend these traditional beliefs with Islam believe their ancestors judge them. They also are on the lookout for witches, trying to discern anyone whom they believe could cast spells leading to accidents, death or falling idle.
"Magical medicines" are then concocted to kill suspected witches or at least make them ill.
The director of a ministry based in Freetown, the capital of the impoverished country, requests prayer for indigenous evangelists who have been proclaiming Christ to the Temne among such cultural barriers. Their efforts in the Northern Province include villages inhabited by Roma, also called Romani, a nomadic people of Indian descent usually found in central and southern Europe, not Africa.
"My team and I have just returned from an evangelistic and mission trip to several villages in the Northern Province - one of which is the Romani village in the Kasseh Chiefdom, one of the villages badly hit by the Ebola virus, with over 50 adults that died from that disease there," said Mitford Macauley, director of Trinity Gospel Ministries. "One year after the end of the Ebola saga, you can still feel the effect of that disaster on both the people and the place. There is so much loneliness and hopelessness."

"What is most pathetic is that most of the children in this village are orphans who are struggling to survive," the ministry director said. "In the entire Kasseh Chiefdom, this village is the only one with a church."

This month marks one year since Sierra Leone was first declared free of the Ebola virus that struck in 2014-2015. Sierra Leone was the second-worst hit country in deaths from the Ebola virus, which killed more than 11,300 people in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
The ministry introduces the hope of Christ into such despair, but the challenge of sharing Christ with a people entrenched in the traditions of Islam and ethnic religions is daunting. Evangelists also face difficult driving conditions, as roads for reaching the unreached are often primitive, not adequately maintained or nonexistent. Macauley requested prayer for a sturdy vehicle for the ministry's Jesus for the Rural World Gospel Campaign Movement, which would cost about $12,000, as well assistance to cover costs for monthly evangelistic campaigns, including transportation and feeding of team members.
"Also pray for provision of hundreds of Bibles for new, hungry disciples coming into the kingdom of God through the Jesus Rural Movement," he said.
As the kingdom grows, buildings need to be constructed for new congregations that recently formed in four villages, he said.
The Temne people of Sierra Leone are considered unreached (defined as less than 2 percent evangelical Christian), according to the Joshua Project, which lists them as 61 percent Islamic and 35 percent ethnic religions.
The Ebola outbreak of 2014-2015 exacerbated conditions for the Sierra Leone's poor, who are now in crisis due to food shortages and inflation. A recent United Nations report noted that 3.5 million people, about half the country's population, lack enough food. About 600,000 of these are "severely food insecure," according to the report. Analysts point to 60 percent unemployment that is not expected to improve soon with austerity measures pending.
Macauley said the poor in Sierra Leone have faced further challenges since Ebola wrecked the country's economic progress.
"Before Ebola, our economy was being celebrated worldwide as one of the fastest growing economies, but all of this has changed," he said. "Inflation has reached the highest ever. Presently there is a lot of suffering in the masses barely surviving. Quite recently, hundreds of people were scrambling at a dumpsite in Freetown for rotten chicken that was to be destroyed by the Sierra Leone Ports Authority."

New Christians prepare for baptism in Sierra Leone.

Ministry workers note that parents are finding it increasingly difficult to come up with school fees for their children's education.
"All of these and more are issues that need the divine intervention of God, and we ask you all to pray for us," Macauley said. "Pray for a divine touch upon the economy of Sierra Leone, which has reached its lowest point at this time due to the post-Ebola effects."
The Ebola crisis is estimated to have orphaned more than 12,000 children in Sierra Leone. The village in the Kasseh Chiefdom that Macauley and his team recently visited was full of them.
"What is most pathetic is that most of the children in this village are orphans who are struggling to survive," he said. "In the entire Kasseh Chiefdom, this village is the only one with a church, so we are planning to return to minister the love of God to them."
Closer to Freetown, workers are building an orphanage to minister to the needs of children who have lost their parents to the Ebola virus. Macauley thanked Christian Aid Mission for start-up funds for the project, which still requires $50,000 for completion.
"Like the Father's heart, which is so enlarged towards orphans, so are our hearts becoming, the more we consider the situation of Ebola orphans, especially when we see lots of them around in towns and villages and the unfavorable conditions surrounding them," he said. "This makes the orphanage project an urgent one."
To help indigenous missionaries to meet needs, you may contribute online using the form below, or call (434) 977-5650. If you prefer to mail your gift, please mail to Christian Aid Mission, P.O. Box 9037, Charlottesville, VA 22906. Please use Gift Code: 530TGM. Thank you!

Growing Hope

Growing Hope  

Mosquito nets provided by a ministry in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley protect children from serious diseases and smooth the way for hearing the gospel. The ministry brings children from area villages to school to be trained, empowered and cared for in a Christian environment, the indigenous organization’s director said. “We received 15 more children this term, and seven of them were totally orphaned,” he said. Introducing the gospel to unreached tribes where idolatry and local traditions present strong opposition, the ministry recently planted a church in western Kenya among ethnic Teso; intercessory prayer led to supernatural healing that broke the stronghold of area powers, he said. “A total of 26 people came to Christ, and we baptized 12 people,” he said. “Pray with us for the provision of $2,500 to construct this church building. Pray also for the pastor that we have sent to this village. Ask the Lord for the provision of materials and spiritual support for this work, as they work in this very difficult environment.”

Qashqai, Kashkai in Iran

Qashqai, Kashkai in Iran The Qashqai are a tribal confederation of clans in Iran. The Qashqai were originally nomadic pastoralists but most are now settled, or partially settled. Historically, the Qashqai are believed to have come from Central Asia, and may have been among the Turkic groups that arrived in Iran in the 11th or 12th centuries. They are renowned for their magnificent pile carpets and other woven wool products. Ministry Obstacles Iran is not hospitable to Christian workers; access is limited. Outreach Ideas Gospel radio and television, evangelistic websites, Gospel recordings and literature can all be useful. Pray for the followers of Christ Pray for the followers of Jesus among the Quashqai to grow in their love for Christ and for each other. Pray their faith will be nourished by the Spirit of Christ. Pray for the entire people group Pray for the good news about Jesus to reach the ears of the Qashqai community in an understandable way, in their mother tongue. Scripture Focus "Through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations." Romans 1:5		People Name: Qashqai, Kashkai Country: Iran 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 930,000 World Population: 930,000 Language: Kashkay Primary Religion: Islam Bible: None Audio NT (FCBH): No Jesus Film: No Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level:

The ultimate sacrifice

The ultimate sacrifice

My hymn of praise to the greatest hero of all

By Charles Gardner, Special to ASSIST News Service

DONCASTER, UK (ANS – November 14, 2016) -- As tributes were paid in the UK over the weekend to all who sacrificed their lives in modern conflict – with special reference to the horrors of the Somme 100 years ago -- I thought of the part my own ancestors played.

There was Lt. Frank Alexander de Pass, a cousin of my grandmother Minola, who was posthumously awarded the VC (Victoria Cross) -- the first Jewish soldier to be so honored -- for conspicuous bravery during the early stages of World War I in November 1914. He led an attack on a German post under enemy fire and subsequently rescued a wounded soldier, but was killed in action not long afterwards, aged just 27. A plaque in his memory was unveiled in London’s Victoria Embankment Gardens a century later. And Frank’s dress tunic is now on display at the Jewish Military Museum in Hendon, north London.

In addition, both my grandfathers fought in the Battle of the Somme, and I am honored to have been named after them -- as in Charles Geoffrey. Although they survived, the traumatic effects of what they experienced never left them. Charles, my South African granddad, won a Military Cross for repairing telegraph wires under enemy fire but, after inhaling poison gas, suffered with diminished lung capacity for the rest of his days.

Geoffrey Johnson, my Yorkshire granddad, suffered badly with shell-shock and – ironically – was sent first to Kenya and then to Cape Town to convalesce. I believe that the stress he suffered led to his premature death from a heart attack in 1934, aged 42, when my mum was just ten years old. And it was because of Minola’s early widowhood that we ended up in South Africa as she subsequently met and married an Afrikaans businessman, Zach Coetzee.

It is right, of course, that we should remember our heroes who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. But it is also worth being reminded at this time of the greatest sacrifice ever made on our behalf.

A passage of scripture often associated with military memorials is from John’s Gospel when Jesus is recorded as saying: “Greater love has no-one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15.13)

Jesus was indeed encouraging his followers to put no limit on the extent to which they should love one another, but he was also speaking of his coming execution in Jerusalem – not only on their behalf, but for the sins of the whole world as the ultimate Passover Lamb. And as our Messiah also said, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3.16)

“There is no greater love than Jesus’ love for me,” we used to sing.

That is why, although I believe in the patriotism espoused in the words of the song I Vow to Thee My Country, I felt that the beautiful melody to which it is sung (an excerpt from Gustav Holst’s The Planets Suite written in 1914) also justified a hymn of praise to our God.

For no greater sacrifice was ever made on our behalf.

The middle verse of my hymn, written twenty years ago, captures the great hope of believers amidst the turbulent times in which we are living today:

When nations are in great distress, we’ll see the Lord Most High

From east right over to the west, as lightning lights the sky

Though we live in troubled times, we have no need to fear

Our Lord has told us it’s a sign that our redemption’s near

Behold, he’s coming with the clouds, and every eye will see

The Alpha and the Omega, the King of Kings is he.

Photo captions: 1) Lt. Frank Alexander de Pass, 2) My grandmother, Minola. 3) Lt. Frank Alexander de Pass memorial. 4) Charles Gardner with his wife, Linda.

About the writer: Charles Gardner is a veteran Cape Town-born British journalist working on plans to launch a new UK national newspaper reporting and interpreting the news from a biblical perspective. With his South African forebears having had close links with the legendary devotional writer Andrew Murray, Charles is similarly determined to make an impact for Christ with his pen and has worked in the newspaper industry for more than 41 years. Part-Jewish, he is married to Linda, who takes the Christian message around many schools in the Yorkshire town of Doncaster. Charles has four children and nine grandchildren. Charles can be reached by phone on +44 (0) 1302 832987, or by e-mail at chazgardner@btinternet.com. He is the author of Peace in Jerusalem, available from http://olivepresspublisher.com.

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Are you wrestling with your past?

Are you wrestling with your past? (Writer's Opinion)

By Carol Round, Special to ASSIST News Service (Writer’s Opinion)

GROVE, OK (ANS – November 13, 2016) --“No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead”—Philippians 3:13 (TLB).

Brown leaves crackled underneath my neighbor’s feet as he shuffled across the lawn to deliver my morning paper. Confined to my house after surgery, I was blessed to have Stan and his wife taking turns retrieving my daily paper as well as my mail.

My lawn, carpeted with oak leaves, still revealed a green coat underneath. Even though November was just around the corner, summer hadn’t completely let go. One hot pink flower still bloomed on the Hydrangea bush near my front door while others exhibited their skeletal remains.

While I’m enjoying the remaining hints of summer, they remind me of our tendency to cling to the past—not just the wonderful memories of days gone by, but also the hurts that can leave us brittle and a skeleton of the whole person Jesus longs to heal. For He is the only one who can bring complete healing from the pain of our past.

We’ve all had our fair share of emotional and mental hurt. We’ve suffered at the hands of friends as well as family members. The pain of betrayal can leave us with invisible scars, but scars nevertheless.

However, we have a choice. If we choose to hold on to the bitterness, anger and unforgiveness, these will surely hinder our walk with Christ.

Isaiah 43:18-19 tells us to keep no record of wrongs. “But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I’m going to do! For I’m going to do a brand-new thing. See, I have already begun! Don’t you see it? I will make a road through the wilderness of the world for my people to go home, and create rivers for them in the desert!”

In “Every Day with Jesus,” author Selwyn Hughes writes, “This passage provides a vivid description of a life damaged by past hurts—a life that has become a wasteland, a desert. Dwelling upon a record of wrongs weighs us down and heavily burdens us. But the Lord’s instructions to forget these former things and not dwell on them, comes with a beautiful promise. Letting them go releases streams of living water into our life and enables God to do a new work in us.”

The greatest new work that Christ does in our lives is to bring us to a place where we can forgive those who have hurt us. It is such an important aspect of our daily Christian walk that Jesus even included it as part of the Lord’s Prayer. In Luke 11:4, we read the following: “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.”

Instead of wrestling with the past, we can let go with His help. And, when we refocus our energies on the present, we can look forward to what Jesus has in store for our future. Letting go is the answer to healing and a peace-filled life.

Photo captions: 1) Worried about your past? (http://www.wikihow.com/Stop-Repetitive-Bad-Memories). 2) Carol Round.

Note: I always love hearing from my readers. Please feel free to e-mail me with your thoughts at carol@carolaround.com . You can also visit my blog at www.carolaround.com. If you need a speaker or workshop leader, just contact me at either of the above places with your request, and I’ll be happy to respond to your message.

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Kumal in Nepal

Kumal in Nepal The Kumals are regarded as one of the ancient indigenous peoples/nationalities of Nepal. They are scattered in various areas of the country. The traditional occupation of Kumals is making clay pots. Recently, they have become dependent on agriculture and animal husbandry. Women have equal status with men. They worship their family god, Same (god of beasts), snake gods and goddesses, Banaskhandi, or gods and goddesses of forests, and others. Ministry Obstacles The Kumal of Nepal speak over 20 languages. Evangelistic and church planting projects need to take these into account. Outreach Ideas Increasing numbers in Nepal are coming to know Christ in these days. Pray that some of these believers will remember to carry the good news of Jesus to the Kumal people. Pray for the followers of Christ Pray for those who know and follow Christ among the Kumal community of Nepal. Pray they will grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and will be quick to repent of sin. Pray they will learn to live in the power of the Lord's Spirit. Pray for the entire people group Pray the Kumal community will be given the gift of knowledge about the Savior, Jesus Christ. Pray they will desire to worship the Creator, instead of created spirits. Scripture Focus "And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations." Mark 13:10		People Name: Kumal Country: Nepal 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 117,000 World Population: 121,000 Language: Nepali Primary Religion: Hinduism Bible: Complete Audio NT (FCBH): Yes Jesus Film: Yes Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level:

Why good news on ISIS is not good enough

Why good news on ISIS is not good enough

Dr. Jim Denison | November 14, 2016

A year ago yesterday, Islamic State militants killed 130 people and wounded nearly five hundred in the most lethal attack in France since World War II. On Sunday, French President Francois Hollande unveiled plaques for the victims and his country observed a moment of silence in their memory.

In the last year, there has been much good news in the battle against ISIS. The Iraqi army reported yesterday that troops have driven ISIS militants out of the historic town of Nimrud, south of Mosul. The assault on Mosul continues and troops have begun attacks on Raqqa, the capital of ISIS.

But the battle is far from over. The Islamic State is now using exploding drones and equipping children as suicide fighters. The more land it loses in its self-proclaimed caliphate, the more fighters it sends into Europe and beyond in preparation for attacks against its enemies. In other words, defeating ISIS in the Middle East, while urgently necessary, only fuels the resolve of its global followers.

While the world remembered the Paris attacks yesterday, a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck New Zealand and triggered a tsunami. At least two people were killed. Dozens of aftershocks followed. The quakes remind us that whether our challenges are natural or man-made, much of what affects us is beyond our ability to effect.

This principle is especially important for Christians in the aftermath of the presidential election. Those who opposed Donald Trump are tempted to give up on America, concluding that our country neither wants nor deserves their continued support. Those who supported Mr. Trump are tempted to believe that they have done all their country requires by voting for him.

Neither position is correct. Our nation faces some of the greatest challenges in human history and needs the engagement of Christians more than ever. But we cannot give what America needs unless we admit that we need what only God can give.

Psalm 121 is one of the most transparent declarations of faith I have ever encountered. It begins, "I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?" (v. 1). Here's the setting: Jerusalem is surrounded by hills its enemies must scale before assaulting the city. If there are only enemies coming over these hills in any direction, residents are trapped with no hope of rescue or way of escape.

But the psalmist knows what we need to remember today: when it's too daunting to look around, look up. He proclaims, "My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth" (v. 2). He knows that our God "will neither slumber nor sleep" (v. 4), that he is our "keeper" from all enemies (v. 5), and that he protects us from "all evil" (v. 7). From the moment we turn to him, "the Lord will keep your going out and your coming in, from this time forth and forevermore" (v. 8).

But we must first turn to him. No president can prevent natural disasters or defeat spiritual enemies. No human can change the human heart.

What America needs most, only God can provide.

Hitler’s Religion: Weikart Hits a Home Run

Hitler’s Religion: Weikart Hits a Home Run

By Brian Nixon, Special to ASSIST News Service

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO (ANS – November 14, 2016) --The book Hitler’s Religion by Dr. Richard Weikart is like the 1951 playoff series between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants. In this game, New York Giants outfielder Bobby Thompson hit a three-run homerun in the ninth inning, helping the Giants secure the win from a 4-2 deficit, leading them to the World Series. It’s been dubbed the “shot heard ‘round the world.”

Professor Weikart’s book is a lot like this. There have been many pitches thrown regarding Hitler’s beliefs. Was Hitler a Christian? A Deist? An occultist? An atheist? Most of the batters have struck out, coming short of a convincing argument. Up walks Weikart to the plate. Through astute investigation, a critical eye, keen worldview analysis, and historical documentation, Weikart hits a homerun—a “shot heard around the world”—showing that Hitler was none of the above—and, interestingly, integrating all of the above (at least a distortion of them). For, in essence, Hitler was a pantheist—cherry picking from a variety of worldviews and religions to create his own twisted beliefs that—as the subtitle of the book states—“drove the Third Reich.”

I admire the work of Dr. Richard Weikart for two main reasons. First, I’m a graduate of California State University, Stanislaus—where Weikart is a professor of history (sadly, I never took a class of his, having graduated around the time he arrived at the university). So my respect is based on a common allegiance to a school. But second is the admiration of his scholarship—intelligent, but accessible, discerning and challenging, yet astute and philosophically and historically grounded. In my opinion more people would be greatly enlightened reading his work, particularly From Darwin to Hitler and The Death of Humanity.

So when I received a review copy of his newest book Hitler’s Religion, I read it with deep curiosity. And I wasn’t disappointed. More than just a history book, it’s worldview training, helping the reader understand various philosophies and ideologies prominent in the 19th and 20th centuries. In ten chapters, Weikart provides an assessment of these schools of thought—from Kant to Schopenhauer, from Nietzsche to Wagner and Chamberlain, showing how Hitler was influenced and integrated aspects of the philosophies into his own Nazi ideals, a creation of the Volk—a new, Nordic worldview. And Weikart doesn’t stop with philosophical training, he moves to various religious ideologies—Christianity, the occult, and paganism, showing that Hitler was definitely not Christian (though his early speeches gave it lip service) and Hitler wasn’t an atheist (he clearly believed in a god or “nature”). In all, Weikart leaves no stone unturned in demonstrating that at his core Hitler was promoting a ferocious, Darwinian view of the world—a pseudo-scientific version of the concept of the survival of the fittest, incorporating slanted facets of various beliefs into a devious worldview.

In the final assessment, Weikart states, “In the end, while recognizing that Hitler’s position was somewhat muddled, it seems evident his religion was closest to pantheism. He often deified nature, calling it eternal and all-powerful…Frequently [using] the word ‘nature’ interchangeable with God, Providence, or the Almighty.”

Weikart concludes his evaluation of Hitler’s religion with four summary points. First, Hitler’s “anti-Christianity obviously shaped the persecution of the Christian churches during the Third Reich. Second, his religious hypocrisy helped explain his ability to appeal to a broad constituency. Third, his trust that his God would reward his efforts and willpower, together with his sense of divine mission, imbued him with hope, even in the hopeless circumstances…Finally, and most importantly, his religion did not provide him any transcendent morality…. Hitler followed what he considered the dictates of nature by stealing, killing, and destroying.”

As I told my students and co-workers about the book, I couldn’t help but ponder the ramification of the work, particularly as it relates to the future. Is there something we should learn about Hitler’s demented worldview? How Hitler derived something horrible from philosophical hubris? And though Weikart doesn’t address the future head on (he is, after all, a historian), I think there is something we should learn from Hitler’s alteration and re-creation of worldviews. And this is it: without clear training and analysis of proper science, theology, and philosophy—a check and balance of power and intellectual leadership, humanity could be on the brink of another Hitler—a promised Fuhrer—leader or guide.

In short, we need attending people to be assessing people, able to critically think through, evaluate, and react to worldviews when not in accordance with truth (and by truth I mean that which is upheld by the Judeo-Christian worldview, the “two books” of the Bible and nature—properly understood). And it begins with worldview training—what it is that people believe, teach, and act upon. For in the end, ideas have consequences. And Weikart clearly communicates what a worldview gone wayward and awry looks like—just contemplate Hitler and you’ll see.

So though Weikart hits a homerun with Hitler’s Religion, his findings are more than World Series playoffs; they are world serious problems, issues that need to be addressed cogently, confidently, and consistently. And Weikart suggests (though not the bulk of the book) the way to move around the bases: firmly rooted in the historic Judeo-Christian worldview that helped shape our Western civilization, one that supports and sustains life. For as Weikart writes, “Ultimately, however, he [Hitler] perished, because his God could not give him life.”

Photo captions: 1) Dr. Richard Weikart. 2) Adolph Hitler. 3) Nazism and the Church. Brian Nixon.

About the writer: Brian Nixon is a writer, musician, and minister. He's a graduate of California State University, Stanislaus (BA) and is a Fellow at Oxford Graduate School (D.Phil.). To learn more, click here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Nixon.

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Armed British Police Help "Persecuted" Christian Family Flee Their Home

Armed British Police Help "Persecuted" Christian Family Flee Their Home

By Jeremy Reynalds, Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News Service (jeremyreynalds@gmail.com ) 

BADFORD, ENGLAND (ANS-NOV 14, 2016) British news cameras caught the end result of a reported eight year old campaign of religious hatred against a Christian convert and his family, Nissar Hussain.

According to ITV, that campaign has included Hussain being beaten up in an attack outside his Bradford home which left him with two broken bones.

Viewers saw with multiple car loads of armed police escorting him and his family to pack up the last belongings from their home and leave Bradford for good. This as a result of the hatred and credible death threats against the Hussain family.

According to a news release from the British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA), the case has raised serious concerns about the level of hatred against converts from Islam in England.

The Hussain family have been put through immense trauma due to what BPCA called “the effects of the ongoing campaign of murderous hatred against them.”

Until quite recently, the family also faced an uphill struggle in convincing people in authority just how bad their situation was.

The entire Hussain family have been moved to a safe house, provided by the British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA) in partnership with other charities.

Wilson Chowdhry, BPCA chairman, said in the news release, “When I helped set up the BPCA, the focus was on the situation of Christians in Pakistan, and those who had to flee as refugees to other countries. I don't think I ever imagined that I would be doing what we are now, dealing with Christians effectively made internal refugees here in the UK.”

The BPCA safe house program is in addition to at least one other already existing UK program for Muslims fleeing forced marriages and for converts from Islam.

Chowdhry added, “We have seen some estimates that about a third of all so called ‘honor killings’ in this country involve those deemed to be apostates - those who have abandoned Islam, most often for the Christian faith, and also fairly often for atheism or secular humanism.”

One of the reasons Hussain has faced such hostility, BPCA said, is he spoke out.

However, the BPCA news release said, among some Christian circles, it has been well known for a long time that many other converts live in hiding. They fear for their lives, cut off from old family and friends, some even moving every few months to try and avoid being tracked down.

Chowdhry said in the news release that with assistance from other charities and groups, BPCA is
setting up “rescue snatch squads” for people facing religious hatred because of their conversion from Islam to another faith.

“Particularly for our Christian brothers and sisters, as we anticipate things getting worse, not better, in the near to medium future. ‘

He added, “In large part, we are in this situation because of a refusal by significant segments of society, media and authorities to take this phenomena seriously, due to political correctness and fear.”

Chowdhry said that in a police meeting meant for mediation between Hussain and local Muslims, a Bradford councilor referred to an incident in which he accused Hussain of verbally abusing a local Muslim man's mother. He said that such a crime would result in most Pakistanis undertaking an “honor killing.”

BPCA said the councilor refused to provide what he said was available video evidence.

Hussain said in the BPCA release the allegation is false, and simply meant to circumvent justice.

Chowdhry said that when he explained as a Christian such an incident would not result ineven the thought of murder, the local councilor seemed surprised.

He added, “Sadly, extremist ideology is rife amongst large swathes of British Muslims, even those in positions of authority. (“It’s) a fact that will create further polarization if left unchecked. The hardline stance taken ... at the meeting meant that little was achieved from any of the negotiations.”

Hussain said in the release that he hopes area law enforcement continue to investigate the violence and abuse his family suffered, and that one day the perpetrators are brought to justice.

He added, “Nothing the police have said or done in our situation has given my family and I any confidence that they understand the true predicament faced by converts from Islam. This lack of understanding will continue to scar ... families until acceptance of the pariah status for converts from Islam is recognized by statutory authorities.”

The Islamic Hadith calls for the killing of apostates. “Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him.”

Hussain said, “This statement by Muhammed means converts like myself are the targets of violence by Muslims across the globe. I hope this message gets across to authorities in the UK.”

BPCA said the last eight years have been “torturous” for Hussain.

He said, “But despite the pain, my family and I have remained close and have never deterred from our desire for justice. I thank God that He has given us the fortitude to retain our sanity despite the odds being stacked against us.”

For more information visit www.britishpakistanichristians.org

Photo captions: 1) An armed British police officer guards Nissar Hussain’s wife while she enters her former home. 2) Jeremy and Elma Reynalds.

About the writer: Jeremy Reynalds, who was born in Bournemouth, UK, is Senior Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service, a freelance writer and also the founder and CEO of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter, www.joyjunction.org. He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los Angeles. One of his more recent books is “From Destitute to Ph.D.” Additional details on the book are available at www.myhomelessjourney.com. His latest book is "Two Hearts One Vision." It is available at www.twoheartsonevisionthebook.com. Reynalds lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico with his wife, Elma. For more information, please contact Jeremy Reynalds at jeremyreynalds@gmail.com .

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