Khampa Tibetan in China

Khampa Tibetan in China The Khampa have a fearsome reputation as the most hostile and violent of Tibetans. They have a long history of conflict with the Chinese. In 1959 the Khampa in Lhasa organized a revolt against Chinese rule. "The fighting lasted three days with the Tibetans caught up in a religious fervor, not caring whether they lived or died." Sexual immorality among the Khampa is considered normal behavior. Catholic work among the Khampa commenced in the mid-1800s. The Catholic mission at Batang Township was demolished in 1873 and 1905 - after two priests had been killed and converts who would not deny their faith were shot. Ministry Obstacles The worldview of Buddhism often makes it difficult for people to see their need for forgiveness of sin. Pray the Spirit of Christ will give them the gift of conviction of sin. Outreach Ideas Much prayer is needed to prepare the hearts of the Khampa to understand and believe the good news about Jesus. Pray for the followers of Christ Pray for the few followers of Jesus among the Eastern Khampa to be united around the truth of Scripture. Pray they will live holy lives, in the power of the Lord's Spirit. Pray they will consistently display the fruit of Christ's Spirit, and will be faithful witnesses to the goodness of Christ to family and friends. Pray for the entire people group Pray the Khampa people to turn fully from their violent past, desiring to know the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. Pray they will live in peace with their neighbors. Scripture Focus "And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate My holiness before their eyes." Ezekiel 36:23		People Name: Khampa Tibetan Country: China 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 1,563,000 World Population: 1,565,000 Language: Tibetan, Khams Primary Religion: Buddhism Bible: None Audio NT (FCBH): No Jesus Film: Yes Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level:

Arab, Libyan in Libya

Arab, Libyan in Libya Most of the population of Libya, who once lived in tents, have settled down in towns and cities along the coast and live in apartment blocks or homes. Their old way of life is fading. Simon of Cyrene, who carried the cross of Jesus, was from Libya, and Cyrenian Christian Jews carried the Gospel back to Libya after Pentecost. Islam largely replaced Christianity in the seventh century, however. Most Libyan Arabs are not aware of what Christians really believe. Ministry Obstacles Pray that Libyan Arabs will have an opportunity to better understand what Christians believe about Christ, and that they will understand the grounds for this belief. Clarity of communication is needed, but more importantly, the Spirit of Christ must grant comprehension and faith to believe. Outreach Ideas Gospel radio programs are needed for the peoples of Libya, with excellent programming geared to the needs of the people. Also, as Libyan Arabs travel to Europe they may be brought into contact with Christians who are truly disciples of Christ. Pray for the followers of Christ Pray for the few Christian believers among the large Libyan Arab community. Pray they will be properly instructed in the ways of Christ. Pray they will grow in their love for Christ, and for each other. Pray they will be quick to turn from sin, and will learn to live in the power of Christ's Spirit. Pray for the entire people group Pray for the Lord to reveal himself to the Arabs of Libya, however he chooses. Perhaps he will include appearing in dreams and visions, as he has done among Muslim peoples in recent years. Pray that Libya will soon be open to allowing Christians to live and work among them. 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: Arab, Libyan Country: Libya 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 1,803,000 World Population: 2,711,000 Language: Arabic, Libyan Spoken Primary Religion: Islam Bible: None Audio NT (FCBH): No Jesus Film: Yes Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level:

Arab, Bedouin in Saudi Arabia

Arab, Bedouin in Saudi Arabia The Bedouin typically follow a hierarchy of loyalties based on closeness of kinship that runs from the nuclear family through the lineage, the tribe, and even to an entire ethnic or linguistic group. Disputes are settled, interests are pursued, and justice and order are maintained by means of this organizational framework. The individual family unit typically consists of three or four adults (a married couple plus siblings or parents) and any number of children, and is semi-nomadic pastoral. Ministry Obstacles Saudi Arabia is very hostile to any kind of Christian witness. Outreach Ideas Sustained, focused prayer is first priority. Christian television and radio and evangelistic websites are very helpful. Muslim women need to hear how much Jesus values women. Pray for the followers of Christ Pray for the handful of followers of Jesus among the Bedouin, that the Lord will protect their faith and nurture it. Pray they will find each other and fellowship together. Pray for their encouragement. Pray for the entire people group Pray the Bedouin will increasingly be drawn to the man Isa (Jesus) as they read the Koran. Pray the Lord's Spirit will open their eyes to see that Jesus is more than a prophet. Scripture Focus "Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name." 1 Chronicles 16:28-29		People Name: Arab, Bedouin Country: Saudi Arabia 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 1,271,000 World Population: 2,213,000 Language: Arabic, Najdi Spoken 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:
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Arab, Palestinian in West Bank / Gaza

Arab, Palestinian in West Bank / Gaza Palestinians are generally pleasant, generous and friendly. They are traditionally hospitable and prepare elaborate dinners for their guests, regardless of their economic situation. Palestinians are predominantly adherents of Sunni Islam with a minority Christian community. The Holy Land, birthplace of Jesus Christ and the land from where Christianity spread over the entire world, is also the birthplace of the Palestinian Church. Ministry Obstacles Turmoil in Israel and the West Bank / Gaza makes Christian witness to the Palestinians challenging, but turmoil sometimes makes people more open to change. Outreach Ideas Christians need to be genuinely concerned about the plight of the Palestinians, doing what they can to minister to these people. Christ died for the Palestinians, as well as for others. Pray for the followers of Christ Palestinian Arabs have had a strong Christian presence for generations, but today they struggle greatly. Pray for the believers in Christ, that they will be accepted by both Muslim Arabs and Jews. Christians in other parts of the world need to be alert to the needs of the Palestinian Christians, praying for them and doing what they can to alleviate their suffering. Pray for the entire people group Pray for the Palestinians in both Israel and the West Bank / Gaza to increasingly experience peace, with political stability, and improving economic conditions. Scripture Focus "Since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed." Genesis 18:18		People Name: Arab, Palestinian Country: West Bank / Gaza 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 4,401,000 World Population: 11,919,000 Language: Arabic, South Levantine Spoken Primary Religion: Islam Bible: Portions Audio NT (FCBH): No Jesus Film: Yes Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level:

Asia Bibi faces another lonely Christmas on “Death Row” in Pakistan

Asia Bibi faces another lonely Christmas on “Death Row” in Pakistan

By Dan Wooding, Founder of the ASSIST News Service

PUNJAB PROVINCE, PAKISTAN (ANS – December 9, 2017) -- Asia Bibi, the Pakistani Christian mother-of-five who was found guilty in 2010 of blasphemy for standing up for Jesus and sentenced to death, faces another lonely Christmas in her “death row” cell.

While many of us will be enjoying fellowship and food on Christmas Day, for the birthday of Jesus, she will spend it in solitary confinement in an 8-by-10-foot cell without windows, and she will even have to cook her own Christmas meal because of fears that others may try to poison her food.

Asia will be away from her husband, Ashiq Masih, and her children, and again will wonder what the New Year has in store for her, especially as the most recent appeal against her sentenced was abandoned back in October when one of Supreme Court judges picked to hear her case, suddenly withdrew from it, left the court, and resigned.

Asia Bibi’s nightmare began back in June of 2009, when she was harvesting falsa berries with a group of mainly Muslim women farmhands in a field in Sheikhupura in Punjab Province. She was asked at one point to fetch water from a nearby well; to which she complied, but stopped to take a drink with an old metal cup that she had found lying next to the well.

A neighbor of Asia, who had allegedly been involved in a running feud with her family about some property damage, saw her and angrily told her that it was forbidden for a Christian to drink water from the same utensil from which Muslims drank, and some of the other workers considered her to be “unclean” because she was a Christian.

Some arguments ensued and Asia recounts that when they made derogatory statements about her strongly-held Christian faith, she responded by telling them, “I believe in my religion and in Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for the sins of mankind. What did your Prophet Mohammad ever do to save mankind?”

This incensed the women, and later, some of the workers complained to a local Islamic cleric claiming that she had insulted Muhammad and soon an angry mob came to her house, beating her and members of her family before she was rescued by the police. One report even alleged that she was gang-raped for her alleged crime of blasphemy, was been beaten all the way home, and then her children were later sexually molested.

The police initiated an investigation about her remarks, which resulted in her arrest under Section 295 C of the Pakistan Penal Code. She subsequently was imprisoned for over a year upon the demands of the local Iman, before being formally charged under Pakistan’s notorious blasphemy laws. Asia Bibi has now been incarcerated since June 2009.

Ms. Bibi denied that she had committed blasphemy and said that she had been accused by her neighbor to “settle an old score”. In November 2010, a judge at the court of Sheikhupura, sentenced her to death by hanging. Additionally, a fine of the equivalent of $1,100 was imposed. With the verdict, she became the first woman condemned to death in Pakistan on blasphemy charges.

In December 2010, a month after her conviction, a Muslim cleric announced a 500,000 Pakistani rupee award (the equivalent of $10,000) to anyone who would kill her. One survey reported that around 10 million Pakistanis had said that they would be willing to personally kill her out of either religious conviction or for the reward. Others have gathered in the streets of several town chanting “kill her, kill her.”

Asia’s family has received threats and has gone into hiding. Ashiq, her husband, stated that he was afraid to let their children go outside. He also expressed concern about how his wife would be kept safe should she be released, saying, “No one will let her live. The mullahs are saying they will kill her when she comes out.” Her family declined to leave the country while she remained in prison, but Italy, France, and Spain all offered to grant her and her family asylum in the event of her release.

Two prominent Pakistani leaders, Salmaan Taseer, the then governor of Punjab, and Shahbaz Bhatti, were both murdered for supporting Asia Bibi.

She is still awaiting for her appeal against the death sentence to be heard, but there is no indication of when that might be.

So this Christmas, would join with me in praying for Asia Bibi and her family, and also would you consider letting your local politicians know of her plight, so they can take action.

We at ANS pledge to continue to bring you vital updates on this travesty of a case, and also of the many others who, like Asia Bibi, who will have a lonely Christmas, particularly in the refugee camps of the Middle East, or in the prisons in Iran.

Very soon, on Tuesday, December 19, 2017, I will celebrate my 77^th birthday, and, despite feeling my age, I believe that God wants me to continue with our news service. We are all volunteers, meaning we don’t receive a regular salary, and so we depend on friends like you to support us as you are able.

If you value our journalism, would you consider a generous end-of-the year donation so that we can continue our work for the Kingdom? Your gift will make a tremendous difference what we are able to do and would be deeply appreciated.

It’s very simple, yet can make such a difference. Just go to www.assistnews.netand scroll down to where it says DONATE TO ASSIST NEWS and put in your amount there. If you prefer a check, just make it out to ASSIST and mail it to: PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609, USA. (All gifts in the US are tax-deductible).

Again, please pray for Asia Bibi and her family, and also for all of our many Christian brothers and sisters who are suffering untold violence for following Jesus Christ, and I also thank you in advance for your donation, which will allow us to continue to bring you their stories.

Photo captions: 1) Asia Bibi. 2) Muslims who want to hang Asia Bibi. 3) Salmaan Taseer, the then governor of Punjab who was later killed for supporting Ms. Bibi. He is seen here as she is being finger printed. 4) Norma and Dan Wooding.

About the writer: Dan Wooding, 76, is an award-winning journalist who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, and is now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for more than 54 years. They have two sons, Andrew and Peter, and six grandchildren who all live in the UK. Dan is the founder of the ASSIST News Service (ANS) and he hosts a weekly radio show and two TV shows, all based in in Southern California. Dan is the author of numerous books, the latest of which is a novel called Mary, My Story from Bethlehem to Calvary, which tells the story of Jesus through the eyes of his beloved mother, Mary. Dan believes it would make an excellent Christmas gift for a friend or family member, and you can find out more about it by going to: http://marythebook.com/.

** 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 receive a free subscription to our news service by going to the above website and signing up there.

Arab, Sudanese in Egypt

Arab, Sudanese in Egypt The Sudanese Arabs originated in the Khartoum region of Sudan many centuries ago. Today, they live primarily in northern and central Sudan and in Egypt. The Sudanese Arabs have intermarried with the African tribes of Sudan, giving them a darker skin tone. Ministry Obstacles A foundational problem is the nature of Christ - is He merely a prophet? The work of the Holy Spirit is necessary to help Muslims grasp the full nature of Christ. Outreach Ideas Arabs in Egypt may be more accessible to sources of the Gospel message than in other countries. Pray that Egyptian believers may reach out to these people. Pray for the followers of Christ Pray for the few Christian believers among the Sudanese Arabs in Egypt, that they may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way. Pray for their protection and growth into maturity. Pray for the entire people group Pray for the Sudanese Arabs wherever they may live, that they will increasingly acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God, and will desire to follow him. Scripture Focus "All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats." Matthew 25:32		People Name: Arab, Sudanese Country: Egypt 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 4,475,000 World Population: 19,397,000 Language: Arabic, Sudanese Spoken Primary Religion: Islam Bible: New Testament Audio NT (FCBH): Yes Jesus Film: Yes Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level:

Christian in Uganda Who Lost Family to Muslims Beaten Unconscious

Former sheikh lost wife, three children.

JAGUZI ISLAND, UGANDA (ANS -- December 10, 2017) -- A former sheikh (Islamic teacher) in eastern Uganda has been in hiding since he lost his family for putting his faith in Christ two years ago, but last month he was tricked into a life-threatening encounter.

According to the East Africa Correspondent of Morning Star News, Mulangira Ibrahim, 27, was on his way to his pastor’s house after a church service on Lake Victoria’s Jaguzi Island, in Mayuge District, the evening of Nov. 16 when he received a telephone call from an unknown person saying the pastor wanted to see him back at the church compound.

Without a second thought, Ibrahim turned around.

“On my way to the church premise, four people stopped me and then got hold of me and started threatening me that if I do not recant Christianity and return to Islam, then they were going to kill me,” Ibrahim told Morning Star News. “I did not answer them, and one began slapping me, while another hit me with a blunt object. As I started screaming for help, I received more blows and from there I lost my consciousness.”

When he came to, he found himself surrounded by police, the pastor and church members, he said. Pastor Charles Musana of the Evangel World Vision Church rushed Ibrahim to a nearby dispensary for medication.

“Ibrahim suffered backache, head and leg injuries, and we found him in a pool of blood,” Pastor Musana said. “We rushed him to a Jaguzi dispensary, and the following day we recorded the incident with the police under police Reference No. SD 14/19/11/2017 on life-threatening violence.”

Ibrahim is now recovering at the pastor’s house.

“The attack was so severe that it will take more than a month for Ibrahim to recover from the multiple injuries,” the pastor said.

Morning Star News went on to say that since his conversion two years ago, area Muslims took his wife, Nalunkuma Joweria, and their three children ages 8, 6 and 4, from him upon learning that he had left Islam, he said.

From Butegwa village, Bukooli County in Bugiri District, Ibrahim had been sent to propagate Islam on the island of Jaguzi as the sheikh of Madrasat Noor Islamia Mosque.

On the island, he had a vision in which he saw himself holding a Bible, followed by another in which he was attending Islamic studies in Iran, he said. Most Iranians practice Shia Islam, anathema to Sunni Muslims in Uganda, but in any case, Ibrahim said both visions troubled him.

He decided to visit the pastor of the Evangel World Vision Church and, to allay any religious tensions, he asked a small Muslim child from the Islamic school where he taught to accompany him and inform the pastor that he was outside the church offices, Ibrahim said.

Upon arrival to the door of the church building, he said, he was temporarily blinded in such a way that he fell to the ground, and the child became frightened and ran to the nearby mosque shouting, “The sheikh has been killed by the Christians.”

Morning Star News stated that the pastor said he came out of his office and found Ibrahim on the ground praising Jesus. Muslims who dashed to the site also found Ibrahim praising Issa, Jesus Christ, as Lord. They beat him before fleeing when a large number of Christians arrived. It was Oct. 4, 2015.

The area Muslims went to Ibrahim’s house and took away his wife and children. Ibrahim said they left behind a written note that he should not return to the house, which they had rented for him. They also terminated his services as sheikh of Madrasat Noor Islamia Mosque.

Back at his home in Butegwa village, his Muslim family took his house away and sold its plot of land, rendering him homeless, he said.

“Since then, life became very difficult for me,” Ibrahim told Morning Star News. “I had no place to lay my head. But thank God the church gave me a place to reside within the church compound.”

Immediately after becoming a Christian, Ibrahim began receiving threatening messages.

“For the last two years I have confined myself within the church compound and pastor’s house, which is 1.5 kilometers away, as Muslims are continually posting messages that they needed my head because I ditched Islam,” he told Morning Star News by phone.

Police are investigating the Nov. 16 assault but have not arrested anyone, sources said.

The incident is one of many recent attacks by non-state figures on Christians in eastern Uganda. Uganda’s constitution and other laws provide for religious freedom, including the right to propagate one’s faith and convert from one faith to another.

Muslims make up no more than 12 percent of Uganda’s population, with many concentrated in the eastern part of the country.

Photo captions: 1) Islamic extremists attacked former sheikh Mulangira Ibrahim. (Morning Star News). 2) Dan Wooding with Ray Barnett in Uganda by a river where Muslims threw the bodies of Christians to be eaten by crocodiles.

About the writer: Dan Wooding, 76, is an award-winning journalist who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, and is now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for more than 54 years. They have two sons, Andrew and Peter, and six grandchildren who all live in the UK. Dan is the founder of the ASSIST News Service (ANS) and he hosts a weekly radio show and two TV shows, all based in in Southern California. Dan is the author of numerous books, one of which was Uganda Holocaust, which he co-authored with Ray Barnett, which tells the story of the terrible eight years of misrule of Idi Amin, who is reported to have been responsible for the deaths of 300,000 Christians.

** 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 receive a free subscription to our news service by going to the above website and signing up there.

Nigerian Occult Groups Kill, Kidnap Christians

Nigerian Occult Groups Kill, Kidnap Christians

Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen, not only ones terrorizing the church.

 By Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net)

JOS, NIGERIA (ANS – Dec. 10, 2017) -- Besides Islamic extremist Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen, occult groups are also terrorizing Christians in Nigeria, according to Morning Star News (www.morningstarnews.org).

Pastor Victor Kanayo of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) was killed in a town in Lagos state on Nov. 26 by an occult group known as Badoo, a week after suspected Badoo members killed Iyabo Alaba and her two children, 4 and 8, at Celestial Church of Christ in Lagos city, according to local reports.

Morning Star News reports that originating last year with a sole killer who called himself Badoo before authorities apprehended him, the Badoo group carried out serial, ritual killings rooted in the founder’s methods.

Pastor Kanayo was killed in Offin, Igbogbo, a suburb of Ikorodu town in Lagos state, and his wife, Gloria, and their 10-month-old child, Goodness, were seriously wounded, sources said. Both were being treated at Ikorodu General Hospital.

According to the Morning Star News report, the head of the RCCG Fingers of God Parish in the Igbogbo area of Ikorodu, Pastor Kanayo and his family were attacked early in the morning as they slept. Police confirmed the killing of the pastor and the hospitalization of his wife and child due to injuries sustained in the attack.

“Around 7 a.m., at Offin, Igbogbo, Lagos, a suburb of Ikorodu town, one Victor Kanayo, a male person and a pastor, was murdered,” said Lagos State Police spokesman Chike Oti at a press conference on Nov. 29. “The command has made a couple of arrests, and suspects are being questioned with a view to discover the author of the heinous crime.”

Morning Star News said that on Nov. 20 in Lagos city, Alaba and her two children, 4-year-old David Alaba and 8-year-old Rachael Alaba, were killed at their church premises in the city’s Temu village at about 2 a.m.

Adesina Idowu, a member of the Celestial Church Christ, told Morning Star News by phone that the three family members lived at the church building.

“They were killed inside the church, Celestial Church of Christ – they stay in the church,” Idowu said.

The Lagos State Police Command confirmed the murder of the three family members, saying Alaba’s husband was away traveling at the time.

Imohimi Edgal, Commissioner of Police in Lagos, said at a Nov. 21 press conference the attack took place at Temu village in Ikosi Ejirin Local Council Development Area.

“It is a clear case of murder,” he said.

As a result of the assaults, police on Nov. 27 announced a ban on night worship services in the city of Lagos. Only churches that make their own security arrangement will be allowed to hold night vigils, which are common in Nigeria.

The commissioner warned that should there be attacks resulting in killing of church members, any pastor who organizes night vigils without adequate security will be charged with murder.

“Henceforth, no pastor should organize a vigil in Ikorodu without adequate security arrangement,” Edgal said. “Do not organize any vigil if you cannot protect the lives of the people who attend.”

He said most attacks by occult groups were targeted at churches at night during services.

“All churches should not have vigil in isolated locations, and if you must have night vigils, you must put in place structures to protect your worshippers,” Edgal said. “If I hear that anybody is murdered in any church, I will arrest the pastor and charge them to court for murder.”

Three-quarters of the occult attacks in Ikorodu target a church member or pastor or their relatives, he said.

“They either occurred on the church premises or a building housing a church,” he said. “We must protect the women and children.”

Morning Star News went on to report that in Lagos city a pastor reported receiving death threats from another occult group upset that some of its members had converted to Christianity.

Chukwudi Okoh, 52, general overseer of Kingdom Fire Ministry International, said in a press statement that he received the threats from the Ogboni Fraternity, a group whose rituals and ceremonies are secret and whose members believe they are intermediaries between the living and their ancestors. He said he has reported the threats on his life to the authorities of the Lagos State Police command, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria leaders and the Christian Association of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter.

Okoh said the occult members dropped a letter at his church on Nov. 7 warning he would be killed for converting their members. He said the letter was signed by the grand master and secretary of the organization.

“I went to church that day for a meeting when I saw the letter on the altar,” Pastor Okoh said. “I was in the church with three of my associate pastors. I thought the letter was a prayer request, and when I opened it, I saw it was a threat letter.”

Okoh said the letter, dated Nov. 3, reads: “Dear Chukwudi Okoh; We the Aborigine Fraternity of Nigeria hereby warn you against character assassination. You are warned to desist from destroying our religion in the name of your confession, turning our members away from our ancestral traditional way of worship. We have sent out men to warn you on several occasions, but you [refused to] adhere to our warning.

“We have many reports against you [on] how you destroyed our temple and burnt our materials of worship (malicious damage) in Ogun, Kwara, Cross River states. All these reports will be used against you unless [you] leave us and our members alone. This is the last warning to you, or else you will run out of Nigeria. We know your house and your church; there will be no hiding place for you.”

The pastor said this was not the first time his life has been threatened, as a hit squad from the same group attacked him in September.

“A motorist waylaid me on the road with his car,” he said. “He said I was disturbing his group, and I should stop or else they would come for me. He then quickly drove off.”

The Pentecostal pastor said that in 24 years of ministry he has received various death threats from occult groups. His ministry has included evangelism campaigns and medical outreaches.

“There are times people confess to belonging to the Ogboni Fraternity, and they bring their materials and books for burning,” he said. “I have done this many times in different parts of the country.”

Morning Star News further reported another RCCG pastor was killed in Ondo state, in southwest Nigeria, on Nov. 24 when armed men ambushed him and his son at Ore town, Odigbo Local Government Area, according to area police.

Ondo State Police Command Commissioner Gbenga Adeyanju said at a press conference Pastor Oluwafemi Komolafe was traveling with his son, Timileyin Komolafe, when assailants stopped them on the road, shot the pastor and kidnapped his son.

He said police rescued the pastor’s son and two others after it invaded the kidnappers’ den in a forest in the area. The pastor and his son were travelling with two others, also kidnapped, to Lagos from Port Harcourt, he said.

“Our men engaged the hoodlums in a shootout, but they escaped,” Adeyanju said. “We even lost one of our men who went for the operation. After the incident, our men -- with the assistance of the local hunters -- combed the whole area. We attacked the hoodlums, and we were able to rescue the three victims in their den.”

Photo captions: 1) Street scene in Lagos, Nigeria (Wikipedia). 2) Redeemed Church of God logo. 3) Michael Ireland of ASSIST News Service.

About the Writer: Michael Ireland is a volunteer internet journalist serving as Chief Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service, as well as an Ordained Minister, and an award-winning local cable-TV program host/producer who has served with ASSIST Ministries and written for ANS since its beginning in 1989. He has reported for ANS from Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Israel, Jordan, China, and Russia. You may follow Michael on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MichaelIrelandMediaMissionary.com, and on Twitter at @Michael_ASSIST. Please consider helping Michael cover his expenses in bringing news of the Persecuted Church, by logging-on to: https://actintl.givingfuel.com/ireland-michael         

Christian man on trial in anti-terrorist court in Pakistan dies in prison

Christian man on trial in anti-terrorist court in Pakistan dies in prison

By Sheraz Khan, South Asia Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

GLASGOW, UNITED KINGDOM (ANS -- December 10, 2017) -- Usman Shaukat Masih, a 29-year-old Pakistani Christian man, who was in Kot Lakh Pat jail in Pakistan while he was on trial in an anti-terrorist court following accusations that, alongside a charged mob, he had attacked government properties in the wake of the 2015 Lahore church bomb attacks has died on Saturday December 9, 2017, ANS has learnt.

Masih was one of the 83 people named in the police First Information Report (FIR). Forty accused were later acquitted and one Christian man died in prison two months ago leaving Masih amongst 42 people who were still on trial in the anti-terrorist court on charges of attacking government properties in the wake of 2015 Lahore church bombings.

Saleem Khurshid Khokhar, founder of Minority Inqlabi Tehreek Pakistan (Minority Revolutionary Movement Pakistan) told ANS that he disputes the police version which holds that Masih died of a heart attack in the Kot Lakh Pat jail in Lahore.

Khokhar went on to say that the Minority Revolutionary Movement Pakistan declares Masih’s death a “murder” until the Pakistani authorities launched an investigation to determine what led to Masih’s death in the prison.

ANS could not independently verify what caused the death of Masih in prison.

Mr. Khokhar, a former member of provincial assembly Sindh, who now lives in Liverpool, United Kingdom, told ANS that the deputy attorney general of the Punjab government had in the past allegedly offered a “pardon” to Masih if he embraced Islam.

“Masih declined to convert to Islam and stood firm in his Christian faith,” Khokhar told ANS.

Mr. Khokhar called for a high court judge-led inquiry to establish the true cause of Masih’s death, and also called upon Mian Saqib Nisar, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, to take a suo motu action following Masih’s death.

Mr. Khokhar alleged that the government of Punjab and the federal government had failed to protect the lives and properties of Pakistani Christians, and other religious minorities.

He stated that all minority lawmakers in Pakistan, including Senator Kamran Michael and Khalil Tahir Sandhu, the provincial minister of human rights and minority affairs, should look into the circumstances that led to Masih’s death in the prison.

“Pakistani minorities are equal citizens of the state. It is unfortunate that their rights continue to be violated despite the past and present governments promises that they would protect and safeguard minority rights,” regretted Mr. Khokhar.

He told ANS that he recently wrote a letter to Pakistani Prime Minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, urging him to protect minority rights in Pakistan.

He also urged parliamentarians in the UK, and around the world, to exercise their influence on the Pakistan government, so that it takes “concrete” steps to protect and safeguard minority rights in Pakistan.

Mr. Khokhar added: “We urge human rights organisations in the UK, and around the world, to join hands with us in promoting the cause of Christians, and other religious minorities in Pakistan.

Commenting on Asia Bibi, the Christian mother-of-five who is on death row in Pakistan since 2009 after having been accused of having committing blasphemy, he said: “The continued incarceration of Asia Bibi shows the ever-increasing influence of religious fundamentalists in Pakistan.

“As we are going to soon enter 2018, I urge human rights organisations, human rights activists, minority rights leaders, church pastors, church leaders and church- based organisations around the world to step up their efforts aimed at getting Asia Bibi freed,” said Khokhar.

Asher Sarfraz, Chief executive of the Christian True Spirt (CTS), who lives in Germany, confirmed the death of Masih in Kot Lakh Pat Jail, stating that his team in Pakistan were working to ascertain the circumstances leading to Masih’s death. Founded in 2010, CTS has been working to advocate the cause of Pakistani Christians. Mr. Sarfraz claimed that his group had been representing Pakistani Christians in the European Parliament breakfast for last two years. “We advocated the cause of the Pakistani Christians at the European parliament breakfast on December 6, 2017,” he said.

Expressing lack of confidence on serving Christian and minority lawmakers in Pakistan, Mr. Sarfraz stated that they have failed to protect the lives and properties of Pakistani Christians and other religious minorities.

Asked what CTS does in Pakistan, he replied that they were working on bringing about a decrease in incidents of sexual harassment against Pakistani Christians.

“We have set up basic education and adult schools in Pakistan to promote the literacy rate amongst Pakistani Christians,” he said.

Photo captions: 1) Sign outside the Pakistan jail where the Christian man died. 2) Saleem Khurshid Khokhar. 3) Asher Sarfraz. 4) Asia Bibi. 5) Sheraz Khan.

About the writer: Sheraz Khan is a Pakistani-British journalist. He lives in Scotland and can be contacted by e-mail: sheraz@btinternet.com

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Wassulu in Guinea

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