Selasa, 30 Agustus 2016

Boko Haram kidnapped 10,000 boys, forced them to become child soldiers

Boko Haram kidnapped 10,000 boys, forced them to become child soldiers

By Mark Ellis, Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service
smaller Latest Chibok girls videoNIGERIA (ANS - August 25, 2016) -- The world was horrified when the Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram kidnapped 276 schoolgirls from the town of Chibok in 2014. But less coverage has been given to the kidnapping of more than 10,000 boys over the last three years by the terror group and their brutal coercion tactics, forcing children to wage jihad.
The allegations are contained in a stunning investigative report by Drew Hinshaw and Joe Parkinson in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
Shortly after the Chibok schoolgirls were seized, Boko Haram attacked six villages in the nearby mountains and rounded up children there, with little media coverage beyond the Nigerian press.
Trained for WarA few months later, the group captured the town of Damasak, and took 300 students, mostly boys, age 7 to 17. The militants imprisoned them in a school, witnesses told the WSJ. Their parents were held in separate rooms. For months, the children were forced to learn the Quran.
Eventually, Boko Haram ditched the parents and fled with the children.
In the forest outside Maiduguri, Boko Haram ran one of their boot camps for boys. Children as young as 5-years-old learned to handle assault rifles and practice marching. Their weapon instructor was only 15 himself.
“I was terrified if I didn’t do it, they would kill me,” the teen instructor told the WSJ. He was kidnapped by the radical group in 2014 but later escaped.
Boy soldiers rescued by Chad“What is happening here in northeastern Nigeria is part of a disturbing rise in child jihadism. Young boys and at times girls are being indoctrinated into violent fundamentalism and used as fighters, suicide bombers and spies,” the WSJ noted.
Al Qaeda’s branches in Yemen, Somalia and Mali are also using child soldiers. Islamic State (ISIS) has used children in combat, suicide bombings and in execution videos in Iraq and Syria.
The WSJ interviewed 16 young Nigerians who escaped the snare of Boko Haram, along with other witnesses, soldiers, researchers, officials and diplomats in Nigeria and Cameroon, who all paint a deeply disturbing portrait.
The boys were sent into battle, often unarmed, frequently numbed by drugs. Many of the boys were beaten and some died of starvation or thirst.
Photo captions: 1) Latest Boko Haram video of some of the missing Chibok schoolgirls. 2) Trained for war. 3) Boy soldiers rescued by Chad’s army. 4) Mark Ellis.
Mark EllisAbout the writer: Mark Ellis is Senior Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net), and also the founder of www.GodReports.com, a website that shares testimonies and videos from the church around the world to build interest and involvement in world missions. Mark is also co-host with ANS founder, Dan Wooding, of "Windows on the World," a weekly TV show broadcast on the Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network (http://hsbn.tv), that features the top stories of the week on the ASSIST News Service. (Note: Dan Wooding was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents).
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Kierkegaard Seems To Be Everywhere

Kierkegaard Seems To Be Everywhere

By Brian Nixon, Special to ASSIST News Service
Kierkegaard paintingALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO (ANS – August 25, 2016) -- The first time I remember hearing the name Kierkegaard was in high school. A fellow student tossed out his name, trying to sound informed. I slightly remember that I found the name odd. The student said something to the effect that Kierkegaard was one the greatest philosophers of all time and was the father of existentialism. I probably just scratched my head.
Fast-forward several years.
While attending membership classes for the Church of the Brethren, my friend and pastor, Jeff Newman-Lee, mentioned he was reading Kierkegaard and that one of the Brethren’s notable author’s, Vernard Eller, was a Kierkegaard scholar, having penned the book Kierkegaard and Radical Discipleship. It was here that I took notice, wanting to learn more of this man with an interesting name. While at Jeff’s house one day, he gave me a copy of Fear and Trembling. I tried to read it; but didn’t finish it.
Kierkegaard lay dormant for years.
It wasn’t until I bought an abridged version of his essential works that I began to read his thoughts. I was fascinated by his critique of the three “c’s” (as I summarized them): church, culture, and conscience.
And a couple of years ago I began writing a novella using ideas fronted by Kierkegaard in Fear and Trembling, asking, “What is faith?” To say the least, the Dane—his life and witness, intrigues me.
Soren Aabye Kierkegaard was born on May 5th, 1813 in Copenhagen, Denmark. He died on November 11, 1855. In his short life he wrote philosophical treatises, poetry, novellas, books on ethics, commentaries, and -- what we’d call today  -- psychology, most of the time under various pseudonyms. Because his works are dense, many folks either ignore him or easily characterize him as the “Father of Existentialism” -- as I heard in high school, college, and even seminary.
Fortunately, there are a few new books that help set the record straight. True, they show his disdain for fake Christianity (maybe a message we need to hear today), but they also show his humanity and brilliance -- as a man who above all loved Christ.
Here’s three of the newest books on Kierkegaard, recommended reading for those interested in learning more about Kierkegaard life, thought, and ministry:
ASingleLifesmallerKierkegaard: A Single Life (Zondervan, 2016) by Stephen Backhouse. The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, writes concerning the book, “Stephen Backhouse has given us a wonderfully lively and sympathetic portrait of one of the greatest minds of the nineteenth century, sparing us nothing of Kierkegaard’s abrasive, contrarian personality, but also illuminating the extraordinary courage and spiritual depth of the man. We have waited a long time for such an accessible introduction, growing out of deep study of the abundant original sources and bringing them alive with a light and sure touch.”
Kierkegaard: A Christian Missionary to Christians (IVP, 2016) by Mark A Tietjen. Baylor University professor, C. Stephen Evans, writes concerning the book, "Kierkegaard famously described his task as 'reintroducing Christianity into Christendom.' In this wonderfully rich and clearly written book Mark Tietjen helps us understand what Kierkegaard meant by this, and thereby helps us see how vital it is for the contemporary church to encounter Kierkegaard's thought. ChristianMissionaryKierkegaard's message will pull us away from complacency and help us understand anew what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Kierkegaard shows us that this is a task for a lifetime; we never 'arrive' short of death, but we can go ever deeper in faith, hope and love."
Kierkegaard's Existentialism: The Theological Self and the Existential Self by George Leone, PhD (iUniverse Press, 2014). Dr. Leone obtained a Doctor of Theology degree with a dissertation on Kierkegaard's existential theology. He is a professor of counseling at New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas, New Mexico. The book describes “Kierkegaard's…concern to examine what it meant to be a self within the Christianity of his day.”
And one old-y, but good-y -- as mentioned above (but it is difficult to find):
Kierkegaard and Radical Discipleship: A New Perspective by Vernard Eller (Princeton University Press, 1968). Paul Gustafson wrote concerning the book, “Professor Vernard Eller’s book has the merit of treating fairly and tellingly such a complex author as Soren Kierkegaard. Though it may seem faint praise, the merit of this book is that Kierkegaard speaks without being pruned, excised, and misshapen by anything cheaply professorial or in such a way as to appear socially and professionally approved.”
SeducersDiaryAnd low-and-behold (but not surprising) Hollywood is getting in on the Kierkegaard craze. In 2017, director Laurtis Munch-Peteren is completing a new movie based on Kierkegaard’s novel, Seducer’s Diary [1], a book of love, seduction and, as one critic said, “painful ironies.”
But more than just reading about Kierkegaard experience the real deal: get some coffee (or tea), a big chair, and ample time and read one of Kierkegaard’s essential works released by Princeton University Press [2]. For what the Dane said concerning life, can be said concerning himself: “Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.”
Photo captions: 1) Kierkegaard. (Artwork by Stephanie Roberts). 2) Kierkegaard: A Single Life. 3) Kierkegaard: A Christian Missionary to Christians. 3) Movie still from the forthcoming drama, Seducer’s Diary. 4) Brian Nixon
BrianNixonAbout 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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Torment in the Land of Kings

Torment in the Land of Kings

Gospel for Asia (www.gfa.org) News Release – For Immediate Release
smaller Families seek prayer gfaWILLS POINT, TX (ANS – August 25, 2016) -- Legend held that Laksh's homeland had been cursed for generations. Long ago, it is said, kings used it as a place to dispose of dead bodies and other refuse, and now spirits roamed the land, tormenting the people. When one of the spirits attacked Laksh's wife, however, he knew she wasn't suffering because of dead kings. This was the work of jealous neighbors.
Neighbors Send Evil Spirit to Attack Woman
Laksh and his wife, Udgita, lived a contented life with their two children, but their neighbors weren't as fortunate. The family members often fought with each other, and it pained them to see Laksh and Udgita's happiness. Unable to achieve the same fulfillment, they lashed out at Udgita with a spell of black magic.
One day, Udgita closed her eyes and began murmuring things no one could understand. When people came near, she grew fearful, thinking they were trying to harm her. The same episode happened again the next month and the month after that.
A local witch doctor named Daivya began treating Udgita as the monthly attacks came, but the attacks only worsened. Now, when the evil spirit came, Udgita became violent with increased strength, ripping off her clothes and refusing to let others come near her.
One of Laksh's relatives suggested visiting a Gospel for Asia-supported pastor, Chanchal, who had prayed for other people harassed by spirits and had seen them released, but Laksh felt uneasy approaching a pastor of a different faith. He could only hope Daivya's treatments would begin to work soon.
Pastor Offers Prayers
Udgita’s condition didn’t improve, and life still carried the same responsibilities. Laksh had bills to pay and errands to run. He was picking up some things from the store when he happened to run into Pastor Chanchal.
Casually chatting as they got ready to buy their things, Laksh put away his fear of the pastor and shared about the spell placed on his wife by their neighbors. Pastor Chanchal told Laksh about God’s love and assured him that he would visit the family soon.
Reading the Bible gfaStill worried, Laksh allowed Daivya to come over one more time, but while the witch doctor was in the middle of his rituals, Laksh saw Pastor Chanchal coming. Laksh told Daivya to leave the room and let the pastor take charge of Udgita's situation, but Daivya wasn't quick to give up his role.
“It will do more harm to your wife to involve two different religions in this matter,” Daivya warned. “I am almost at the end of doing rites. Let me complete it.”
Laksh insisted the witch doctor stop, convinced Pastor Chanchal could save his wife. Several visiting neighbors supported his decision. While Udgita slept quietly in the other room, Pastor Chanchal sat down in the living room and began reading aloud from the Bible.
Suddenly, Udgita began to shout.
Woman Lashes Out as Pastor Prays
Udgita demanded that someone close the door to her room and quickly became violent. She tore down the mosquito net over her bed and ripped off her clothes.
Unable to enter the now half-naked woman's room himself, Pastor Chanchal told Laksh to go to Udgita and control her, but Laksh was afraid to approach her. His wife’s strength had been increasing under the evil spirit’s power, making her violent display a serious threat to anyone who came near her.
Man reads literature GFA“Nothing will happen to you because I will be praying to the Lord here,” Pastor Chanchal assured him.
Once again, Laksh swallowed his fear and, desperate to save his wife, faced the demon inside her.
Woman Released from Torment
Pastor Chanchal prayed fervently as Laksh walked into the other room, and to the amazement of Daivya and the other visitors, peace descended on the home. As the pastor spoke with His God, Udgita became calm.
As soon as he realized what had happened, Daivya rushed over to Pastor Chanchal and asked for the booklet he had used to drive out the evil spirit.
“I did not use any magic book like you,” Pastor Chanchal said, “but I used the Word of God. I have no Bible to give you, but what I can give you is this piece of literature. The Word of God is written in it. You may read it.”
That evening, Daivya couldn't stop reading the literature. The next morning, he came to Pastor Chanchal’s house full of questions, and by the end of their visit, he had found his answers in Jesus Christ.
“I want you to come over to my house,” Daivya told the pastor, “and if you could help me remove all the religious booklets [and] charms, it would be so kind of you. I will now go to my teachers, and I will tell them of the new things I have learned about Christ.”
Woman's Husband and Former Witch Doctor Share Christ's Love
Having seen God’s tremendous power, Laksh and Udgita also decided to follow Christ, and like Daivya, Laksh began telling his co-workers about the One who had given his family new life.
For now, other villagers fear persecution too much to embrace Jesus, but some of them say they believe in God’s Word. As Daivya, Laksh and Udgita continue to share what He did in their lives, they trust their neighbors will one day have the courage to believe in Christ without reservation.
Literature GFAWhat more effective way to share God’s love than through His own Word? Put literature into the hands of missionaries like Chanchal, and see how God changes people like Daivya, Laksh and Udgita again and again.
Note: Gospel for Asia (www.gfa.org) has -- for more than 30 years -- provided humanitarian assistance and spiritual hope to millions across South Asia, especially among those who have yet to hear the Good News. Last year, this included more than 75,000 sponsored children, free medical services for more than 180,000 people, 6,000 wells drilled, 11,000 water filters installed, Christmas presents for more than 400,000 needy families, and spiritual teaching available in 110 languages in 14 nations through radio ministry.
To schedule an interview with a Gospel for Asia representative, please contact pressrelations@gfa.org .
Photo captions: 1) Families and individuals often seek prayer from pastors, just as Laksh reached out to Pastor Chanchal. (GFA) 2) When Pastor Chanchal (not pictured) began reading from the Bible and praying for Udgita, the woman became so violent that even her husband feared her. (GFA). 3) This man pores over a piece of literature, just as Udgita’s witch doctor was desperate to know more about the Word. (GFA). 5) Literature is a very practical and useful tool for missionaries to share about the power of Christ. (GFA).
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Following a terrible train accident he hated God, until Jesus’ love melted his heart

Following a terrible train accident he hated God, until Jesus’ love melted his heart

By Mark Ellis, Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service
Juan and Elizabeth Mark EllisSOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (ANS - August 25, 2016) -- Drawn by the stories of riches to be made in the north, Juan and his brother Alvaro responded to the dream burning in many immigrants’ hearts and made their way to the United States.
“I heard stories about making money,” says Juan Cruz, who grew up in Toluca, Mexico, about 25 miles west of Mexico City.
When his friends returned from the U.S. with money, Juan decided he wanted to be like them. “I was attracted to that. I want to know about this place that sounds unreal, like a dream place. I thought cars might fly in that country.”
He had a rough background in his youth. “I wasn’t going to any church. I was a gangster since I was 13. I grew up in that circle of drugs and alcohol and stealing, doing things that gangsters do, like fighting.
After he turned 19 he went to his mother and announced: “I’m going to the U.S.”
“What will you do there? We have no family there,” she said.
“I will go with my brother, Alvaro.”
“I don’t like the idea of you going so far,” she replied.
He told her it was already settled and they would bring her back some of the money they earned.
As they departed, she called out to them: “May God be with you.”
When they made it to Tijuana, they slept in an abandoned car in a junkyard on Avenida Revolución. They made several attempts to get across the border, but failed. “We were caught by immigration many times and put back,” he recounts.
Crossing the border
Train accident location Mark EllisBut on April 5, 1990, they made a successful crossing and decided they would catch a freight train headed to Los Angeles.
They got off the train in Oceanside and found their way to a Christian mission near the train station, which provided them a meal and clean clothes.
They spent the night under a freeway overpass, along with a community of homeless people.
“We laid our blankets on the ground and the next day we were up early waiting for the cargo train to arrive.”
They jumped on the train at 7:25 a.m., as a man yelled at them to get off.
“We’re not getting off,” they shouted.
“It is your responsibility if something happens,” he said.
“We don’t care. We just want to go to LA.,” Juan replied.
Halfway through the Camp Pendleton Marine base, the train suddenly stopped.
Juan looked through the door and saw immigration agents coming, so they jumped off and ran to the beach. There were officers waiting at the beach.
“I hid in a big bush,” Juan says.
When they thought it was safe, Juan and his brother headed back toward the train. “There was an officer watching us with binoculars. He got in his truck and came down to try to catch us.”
Cruz family Mark EllisThe train started to move, but they were able to jump on. “The officer was yelling at us to get off.” Other immigrants on the train shouted expletives at the officer as the train picked up speed and they headed north.
After a few miles, the train stopped again in Capistrano Beach. “They are trying to set us up to catch us,” Alvaro told his brother, so they jumped off and considered a place to hide.
But they looked around, didn’t see any immigration officers, and after a few minutes the train abruptly started moving again.
The two brothers began to argue about whether they should stay for the night or leave right away.
“We better leave right now,” Juan said. “What if we get caught again? I don’t want to risk it.”
The accident
Finally Alvaro relented, but the train had picked up speed. “We ran as fast as we could to jump and grab a side ladder, but it is hard to run on the rocks. I was always looking to see where I could grab a side stair,” Juan recalls.
Alvaro leaped first and was able to get on. “I jumped for the metal stairs but the speed of the train pulled me,” Juan recounts. He couldn’t get his feet to land where they should.
“I was hanging and my feet were flying in the air. I couldn’t stand the movement and I let go. My body came down and the train sucked me in.
Photo captions: 1) Juan and Elizabeth. 2) The accident happened along this section of the tracks. 3) The Cruz family. 4) Dan Wooding welcomes Mark Ellis to the set of the "Windows on the World" TV show.
Dan Wooding welcoming Mark Ellis to Windows on the WorldAbout the writer: Mark Ellis is Senior Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net), and also the founder of www.GodReports.com, a website that shares testimonies and videos from the church around the world to build interest and involvement in world missions. Mark is also co-host with ANS founder, Dan Wooding, of "Windows on the World," a weekly TV show broadcast on the Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network (http://hsbn.tv), that features the top stories of the week on the ASSIST News Service.
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Thakali in Nepal

Thakali in Nepal
The Thakali community originated from the Thak Khola region of the Mustang district in the Dhaulagiri zone of Nepal, and are presently some of Nepal's most successful businessmen. Many Thakalis have resettled in Kathmandu and in southern Nepal. Thakalis outside their homeland follow a syncretic form of Tibetan Buddhism heavily influenced by Hinduism, while those in Mustang remain much more traditionally Buddhist. The Thakalis are divided into four clans, and each clan has a distinct clan god.
Ministry Obstacles
To follow Jesus is to risk losing friendships and even family. Plus, changing one's worldview radically is not easy.
Outreach Ideas
The Lord is calling people to himself in Nepal. Perhaps Nepali believers will be burdened to share what they have learned with their neighbors, the Thakali community. Pray to that end.
Pray for the followers of Christ
Pray for the followers of Christ among the Thakali community, that the Lord will send teachers and pastors to help them learn and grow, and that they will be eager to learn and follow Christ.
Pray for the entire people group
Pray that each Thakali individual soon will be privileged to hear the good news of Christ clearly, in his or her mother tongue. Pray for several opportunities for each person, since it usually requires several to really understand and believe.
Scripture Focus
"I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring My salvation to the ends of the earth." Isaiah 49:6
 

People Name: Thakali
Country: Nepal
10/40 Window: Yes
Population: 11,000
World Population: 12,000
Language: Nepali
Primary Religion: Buddhism
Bible: Complete
Audio NT (FCBH): Yes
Jesus Film: Yes
Audio Recordings: Yes
Christ Followers: Few, less than 2%
Status: Unreached
Progress Level:

ISIS martyr Kayla Mueller's amazing faith

ISIS martyr Kayla Mueller's amazing faith
Dr. Jim Denison
August 26, 2016
 
 
 
 
"She was always considerate of others, even though she herself was in a very difficult situation. She was always concerned for other prisoners. She never stopped being concerned for the Syrian population living through just horrible things in this war and still are. She never stopped caring for others."

This is how a former ISIS hostage describes Kayla Mueller in a remarkable story on this morning's ABC News website. Four former hostages will tell about their shared ordeal on tonight's "20/20" broadcast.

We knew that Mueller was tortured and assaulted sexually by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of ISIS. But we are only now hearing remarkable accounts of her unfailing Christian commitment and character. Former hostages describe her sense of humor and unwavering faith. They testify that she defended her Christian commitment to "Jihadi John," the infamous ISIS executioner, and inspired them all with her courage.

At one point she refused a chance to escape so that some teenage girls with her would have a better chance at freedom. "I am an American. If I escape with you, they will do everything to find us again," she explained. One girl who escaped said Mueller "was praying for us to escape, to survive. I will never forget this sacrifice. She was very good to us. I will never forget."

Mueller died in February 2015. ISIS stated that a Jordanian airstrike in Syria killed her, a claim the White House has denied. According to another former ISIS hostage, she was killed by the terrorists, perhaps by al-Baghdadi himself.

Scripture says, "To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice" (Proverbs 21:3). For Kayla Mueller, her righteousness was her sacrifice. She is now numbered among "those who had been slain for the word of God and the witness they had borne" (Revelation 6:9).

You and I are not likely to face anything like Kayla Mueller endured, but we will encounter our own temptations and challenges today. John Maxwell noted, "Your integrity is the foundation for lasting achievement. If you build it, success and significance will come. And you'll be able to enjoy them for a long time." Conversely, we all know what happens to a house with a flawed foundation: cracks hidden beneath the house produce cracks visible in its walls that only get worse over time.

The best time to choose character is before it is tested. At the start of this day, ask the Holy Spirit to manifest the fruit of "faithfulness" and "self-control" in your life (Galatians 5:22, 23). Decide that you will face temptation with integrity and opposition with grace. Remember that "whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out" (Proverbs 10:9). And know that in a day of moral confusion and deception, your character is your most indispensable witness.

Thinking about Kayla Mueller this morning, I am reminded of martyred missionary Jim Elliott's now-famous observation, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Jesus told his persecuted followers, "Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life" (Revelation 2:10).

Kayla Mueller is wearing her crown today.
 
 
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Five Iranian Christians illegally arrested at picnic

Five Iranian Christians illegally arrested at picnic

By Michael Ireland, Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net)
ISTANBUL, TURKEY (ANS, Aug.29, 2016) – According to the U.S. State Department’s 2015 International Religious Freedom Report, released Aug. 10, “Christians, particularly evangelicals and converts (in Iran), continued to experience disproportionate levels of arrests and high levels of harassment and surveillance, according to reports from exiled Christians. Many arrests reportedly took place during police raids on religious gatherings, during which the authorities also confiscated religious property.”
Now, as evidence of the Iranian authorities’ actions against believers in that country, five members of an Iranian house church are missing after government agents arrested them on Friday (Aug. 26) without a warrant and took them to an undisclosed location, according to a leading advocacy group.
Iranian 1 for M. IrelandMorning Star News (www.morningstarnews.org) says no information is available on the whereabouts of Ramiel Bet Tamraz, Amin Nader Afshar, Hadi Askary, Mohamad Dehnay and Amir Sina Dashti.
Iranian Christians are fearful that the arresting officials have attempted to “force confessions” out of them to use as “evidence” against a central figure in the house-church movement, according to Middle East Concern (MEC).
The five men and their wives on Friday (Aug. 26) went on a fishing trip and picnic to Firuzkuh, 93 miles (150 kilometers) east of Tehran. At about 1:30 p.m. security officials from the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) raided the picnic.
When Afshar asked to see the arrest warrant, which the officials did not produce, he was beaten, according to MEC.
Rob Duncan, MEC’s regional manager for Iran, said the arrest was “absolutely illegal” and alarming because it took place at a picnic and not a religious meeting.
“The fact of the matter is they were going on a fishing trip,” he said. “There wasn’t even any intention of having a prayer meeting or anything like that. There was nothing.”
MOIS officials separated the men from the women and took the five men away. Family members have been unable to obtain information about their whereabouts.
Iranian 2 for M. IrelandOne of the detained Christians, Tamraz, is the son of Assyrian pastor Victor Bet Tamraz, who was arrested along with other Christians at his home on Dec. 26, 2014 at a Christmas celebration. The elder Tamraz was informally charged with conducting evangelism, conducting illegal house-church activities and printing and distributing Bibles. He was released on bail on March 1, 2015 without ever being formally charged in court.
Afshar, arrested in 2014 along with the elder Tamraz, had been released on bail a month earlier. The two are expected to be summoned to court to face charges related to the 2014 arrests, and MEC representatives believe the government has subjected the five detained Christians to “severe” interrogation to force “evidence” out of them.
Morning Star News reports that the five men join a group of 37 other Christians detained this month in a series of arrests across Iran of Christians involved in the country’s burgeoning house-church movement, according to human rights and religious freedom advocacy groups.
The first raid this month happened on Aug. 12 in Isfahan, 279 miles (449 kilometers) south of Tehran, when armed plain-clothes agents broke up a worship service taking place secretly in a home. The agents arrested 11 people at the house and then rummaged through the building, seizing Christian books, pamphlets and satellite television reception equipment, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).
Ten of the 11 detained Christians have been identified by MEC as Amin Ahanin, Mohammad Alyasi, Fatemeh Amini, Edmund Khachaturian, Mohammad Malek Khatai, Mohsen Khoobyari, Arash Qodsi, Hamed Sepidkar, Samaneh Shahbazi-Far and Maryam Zonubi. Human rights groups have not been able to obtain the identity of the 11th person arrested at the gathering.
mi MOIS VEVAK logo IRAN 08292016As with the five arrested on Friday, the 11 are being held incommunicado at an undisclosed location, and their status is unknown. They were last seen being driven away in vans from the scene of the arrests, according to the HRANA.
Morning Star News goes on to report that on Aug. 17 in western Iran, another house church was raided, and nine people were arrested. MEC confirmed that several house churches in northern Iran were also raided within the week, and 17 people are thought to have been taken into state custody. For security reasons MEC was unable to release any other information about the Aug. 17 arrests, other than to report that they appeared to be connected in some way.
“They [Iranian officials] have gathered information that has linked people to different house churches and then swooped on all the house churches the same day to avoid a warning being passed on,” Duncan said.
He added that since June, the number of arrests of house-church members has increased significantly. “We can only guess the motivation behind the raids on house churches, but it is relentless,” he said.
After last month’s beating of Christian convert Ebrahim Firoozi by prison guards, his elderly mother implored authorities to release her son. Firoozi’s mother, who is almost blind, told Iranian authorities that she has no one to assist her through her disability. She also said that because she is almost blind, she is unable to visit her son in prison or go to his hearings.
Prison guards on July 13 beat Firoozi and forcibly took him to a court hearing. A prisoner in Gohardasht Prison in Iran, Firoozi, was summoned to the appeal hearing but refused to go because he thought his lawyer was to allowed to attend in his absence. When Firoozi was brought to court, one of the judges in the case was absent, and the appeal hearing was postponed.
A welder from Robat Karim, 25 kilometers (16 miles) southwest of Tehran, Firoozi has been under the scrutiny of the Iranian security apparatus since January 2010, when he was arrested for leaving Islam and hosting religious meetings. A Revolutionary Court convicted him of creating “propaganda against the state” and sentenced him to 10 months in prison, of which five were suspended.
He was released on June 8, 2011 but then arrested again on March 8, 2012. Charged with creating “propaganda against the state” for allegedly trying to create a website about Christianity, he was sentenced to one year in prison and two years in exile.
On Sept. 16, 2013, Firoozi was arrested a third time, and in April 2015, a judge in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court sentenced him to five years in prison for “creating a group with the intention of disturbing national security” for his role in organizing Christian meetings and conducting evangelical work.
Firoozi appealed but waited a year for July’s hearing. During that time, he has been denied access to religious books, even though the books he requested were published with the permission of the Culture and Islamic Guidance Ministry, according to the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. His next hearing is set to convene in November.
Morning Star News explained the whereabouts of three Christians from Azerbaijan arrested in Iran still remain unknown.
According to MEC, Eldar Gurbanov, 48, Yusif Farhadov, 51, and Bahram Nasibov, 37, from Word of Life Church in Baku all went missing on June 24 after security agents raided an engagement party in Tehran and arrested about 10 people.
Morning Star News said most of those arrested were released, but the three along with an Iranian Christian who was with them were detained. Their location is still unknown, but they were able to contact their families once or twice, despite being confined in solitary holding cells.
Photo Captions: 1) Amin Nader Afshar. (Middle East Concern). 2) Rameil Bet Tamraz. (Middle East Concern). 3) Ministry of Intelligence and Security Logo. 4) Michael Ireland.
Michael Ireland small useAbout the Writer: Michael Ireland is a volunteer internet journalist serving as Senior Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service, as well as an Ordained Minister who has served with ASSIST Ministries and written for ASSIST News Service since its beginning in 1989. He has reported for ANS from Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Israel, Jordan, China, and Russia. To help Michael cover his expenses in bringing news of the Persecuted Church, log-on to: https://actintl.givingfuel.com/ireland-michael
** You may republish this or any of our ANS stories with attribution to the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net). Please also tell your friends that they can get a complimentary subscription to ANS by going to the website and signing up there.

Jotoni, Jowulu in Mali

Jotoni, Jowulu in Mali
The Jotoni of Mali are a small tribe, speaking the Jowulu language, Bambara and French. Conditions in Mali are often harsh, with GNP of only $1200 per person. Mali's subsistence agricultural economy is often devastated by drought, famine, desertification and locust plagues. The country has freedom of religion, in spite of the large Muslim majority. The Jotoni tribe is animistic.
Ministry Obstacles
The land of the Jotoni is not hospitable to outsiders, conditions are often harsh.
Outreach Ideas
Perhaps the many Christian believers in lands to the south of Mali will be burdened for the tribes of Mali. Pray for this, and that they won't overlook the small Jotoni tribe.
Pray for the followers of Christ
There may be no believers in Jesus among the Jotoni tribe at present, but pray for those the Lord will soon lead to himself. Pray they will be completely humble and gentle toward one another.
Pray for the entire people group
Pray the Jotoni tribe will be able to provide for their families, with clean water, sufficient food and shelter, and schools for their children.
Scripture Focus
"He will have compassion on the poor and needy, And the lives of the needy He will save." Psalm 72:13
 

People Name: Jotoni, Jowulu
Country: Mali
10/40 Window: Yes
Population: 16,000
World Population: 17,000
Language: Jowulu
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Bible: Portions
Audio NT (FCBH): No
Jesus Film: No
Audio Recordings: Yes
Christ Followers: Few, less than 2%
Status: Unreached
Progress Level:

You Can Do Something to Help ISIS Victims Today

Girl with Med Pack
Family Med Packs help hurting families.
What if you had nothing?
For more than two years, many ISIS victims have lived in dusty refugee centers without basic hygienic and medical necessities. Some live in tents, others in broken or makeshift buildings. Because of their forced relocation, these families often suffer injuries and unsanitary living conditions, but we have found a practical way to help during their time of great need. Imagine families like this receiving a care package from fellow Christians that included bandages, soap and other necessities. This is a concrete way we can serve our brothers and sisters.

The Voice of the Martyrs has collected more than 5,000 Family Med Packs this year to help meet the needs of Christians living in refugee camps in places like Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Nigeria, but the demand from the field is still great. Family Med Packs filled with simple items such as medical tape, gauze, soap, bandages and toothbrushes do more than meet physical needs. They serve as a tangible reminder to our persecuted brothers and sisters that they are not forgotten.

Send a Family Med Pack


Med Pack
Fleeing Christians have little time to gather supplies when they are forced from their homes by terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and the self-proclaimed Islamic State (ISIS). Some arrive at refugee camps with little more than the clothes on their backs.

When you provide a Family Med Pack, you are sending much-needed help to persecuted Christians in refugee centers. You can order bags to fill yourself or sponsor packs that VOM will fill for you. Show your love for the body of Christ to those who have sacrificed all to follow Him.

Sponsor Family Med Packs Today

GPN - 08/30/2016

Dear Church,

God and you make a majority that can win against all odds. (Rom. 8:31; Matthew 28:20)

URGENT: I am going through a child custody battle. On August 30, 2016 is our mediation. Pray that I can keep my children. That God gives me favor and peace of mind. I can't sleep like I should. I love my children and I can't imagine life without them. Thank you and God bless you. Mrs. S.A.

Pray for brother David Maasbach, the leader of the mission, who will celebrate his birthday on August 31st. Pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to lead the Johan Maasbach World Mission and all the Blessing Churches  in this year of Jubilee! That he and his family can enjoy all of God’s blessings.

Mrs. F. has pain in her lower abdomen and lower back. There's blood sample and Friday she gets a colonoscopy. Pray that the Lord gives her strength and a positive result.

For healing and deliverance for Mr. L who is spiritual very ill and he wants to be freed from smoking.

Mr. E. asks for prayer. The annual report should have been ready for the tax service. He gets a settlement and can complete them successfully and quickly.

Pray for healing for the child of Mrs. S.O. (6) from Crohn's disease.

India: After a long time of waiting and praying, God provided  permanent visas for brother and sister R. This is a miracle! Pray that He will open new doors for them the same miraculous way, so that they can share the love of Jesus among many children and people.

For my husband and my family that they will open their hearts to Jesus. Daughter Leonie must graduate and has mental problems. And pray for healing for her boyfriend Remco who has a an injured ankle. My oldest daughter has a new job and therefore she has to move. Pray that my children grow closer to each other, understand, respect and help each other. One of them is demanding,it seems like, it causes the other into a depression. The youngest son has also a new job. Pray that he and my eldest son will accept Jesus and will follow Him. Mrs. T.H.

Mrs. R. asks prayer for healing of her eyes and the conversion of their loved ones.

For Mrs. G.B. a breakthrough in the spirit of discontentment and sadness in her life that robs her of her faith in our great God and takes away all her joy in the Lord. Pray that she will be able to rise up in God's power to run her household and to take care of her congregation.

A breakthrough that the money from abroad will finally come. Family V.E.

Mrs. J.P. has difficulty in communicating with the pastoral worker, the home care aid worker and her sister. Pray that she overcomes her fear and will be able to say 'no' when she needs rest. And for inner healing and courage.

Mr. L.P. asks prayer for wisdom and inner peace for himself; also for the co-inhabitants in the hostel where he lives.

PRAYER HELPS! Miss. P. had a lot of stress, but the Lord has provided in a flat. She thanks the Blessing Church, because she always finds a listening ear there and is thankful for the great support.

The Blessing Family Message Station
NEW, MODERN AND SUPER FAST!
Listen non-stop to the faith-building messages of anointed preachers with singing, music and special prayer. Choose your own language, preacher and topic. Listen, download, like it, put in your favorites, share with others and much more! Pray and thank God that this station will reach many people in places where little or nothing of the Gospel is found and where people are on their own. Tune in at maasbachradio.com.

The team of GPN wishes you a very blessed week!