Suicide Bomber Targets Churches in Kaduna, Nigeria

Repelled by church security, suspected Islamic extremist detonates blast at nearby taxi stand

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries

KADUNA, NIGERIA (ANS) -- Compass Direct News (CDN) is reporting that churches celebrating Easter services were the targets of a suicide bomber who killed at least 38 people yesterday in Kaduna city in northern Nigeria, sources said.

Site of a bomb explosion at a road in Kaduna, Nigeria on Sunday, April 8, 2012
CDN said that security personnel at one of the church buildings blocked the bomber, believed to belong to the Boko Haram Islamic sect, who then decided to detonate his explosives in the street at a nearby motorcycle taxi center, the sources said.

"Dozens of people were injured in addition to those killed," said the CDN story. "The bombs damaged the buildings of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Good News church and the All Nations Christian Assembly, besides blasting off roofs from homes and hotels and destroying vehicles."

Located on the same street, Gwari Road, are the Redeemed Christian Church of God and an Assemblies of God church. Luka Binniyat, a Christian resident of the city, told Compass that law enforcement agents believed the ECWA church was the primary target.

"Richard Markus, a detective, mentioned that the bomber's main target was the ECWA Good News church a few meters from the scene of the bomb blast," Binniyat said. "He tried forcing his way past, but the security man stood in between him and the blockade. He even pushed him a ways before some policemen manning the gate of the church rushed down to the scene."

Another scene of the aftermath of
the bombing in Kaduna
Boko Haram (literally, "Forbidden Book," translated as "Western education is forbidden") has targeted state offices, law enforcement sites and some moderate mosques in its effort to destabilize the government and impose a strict version of sharia (Islamic law) on all of Nigeria, but Kaduna resident Stanley Yakubu said that Christians are one of its main targets.

"The truth is that there is a deliberate effort to silence or eliminate the Christians in the north," he said.

For more information, please go to: www.compassdirect.org

Berber, Kabyle of Algeria

Berber, Kabyle of Algeria
The Kabyle name derives from the name of the mountainous region in the north of Algeria, which they traditionally inhabit. The traditional economy of the area is based on orchards and olive trees, and tapestry or pottery. The area was gradually taken over by the French from 1857, despite vigorous local resistance. The armed Algerian revolutionary resistance to French colonialism, the National Liberation Front (FLN) recruited several of its historical leaders in this region.

Ministry Obstacles
Access to the Kabyle Berbers of Algeria is limited.

Outreach Ideas
Gospel television and radio can have good effect in North Africa, not being restricted by national borders.

Pray for the followers of Christ
Pray for the followers of Jesus among the Kabyle Berbers, that they will be faithful to fellowship together, and will grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Pray they will live a life worthy of their calling in Christ.

Pray for the entire people group
Pray the Kabyle community will have an increasing desire for the One who is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life." Pray the Spirit of Christ will satisfy this desire.

Scripture Focus
"God has granted to the Gentiles [nations] also the repentance that leads to life." Acts 11:18


People Name: Berber, Kabyle
Country: Algeria
10/40 Window: Yes
Population: 3,394,000
World Population: 4,150,000
Language: Kabyle
Primary Religion: Islam
Bible: New Testament
Online Audio NT: No
Jesus Film: Yes
Audio Recordings: Yes
Christ Followers: Few, less than 2%
Status: Unreached
Progress Level:
1.2

Syrian Christians in Desperate Times

By Jeremy Reynalds
Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

SYRIA (ANS) -- The city of Homs, the third largest in Syria, has now seen almost its entire Christian population of 50,000 to 60,000 flee for safety as fighting continues in the stricken country.

'This church was damaged by the fighting in Homs.'
(Freedom House).
According to a story by Barnabas Fund, the number of Christians left in the city has reportedly fallen to below 1,000 after the strife between the troops of President Bashar Assad and anti-government forces reached its peak there last month.

Christians have fled to surrounding villages, other major Syrian cities, and even Lebanon. Those who remain have spoken of a growing "atmosphere of fear."

Barnabas Fund said during the worst of the conflict, opposition forces attacked churches and also occupied an evangelical school and home for the elderly, which were then shelled by the army. Church leaders have reported that Muslim neighbors are turning on the Christians, and that Muslim extremists from other countries have been coming to Homs to join the fighting.

Barnabas Fund said Christians have also suffered kidnappings and gruesome murders. Some Christian families, unable to pay a ransom for their relatives' release, and fearing that they may be tortured, have been driven to ask the kidnappers to kill their loved ones at once.

The number of doctors in Homs has dwindled from 850 to 35-50, and the number of functioning hospitals from 40-45 to just five or six. Some hospitals have been attacked and destroyed; others have closed because they have no drugs or other resources, and two more have been robbed to equip field hospitals. Five schools have also been damaged.

Barnabas Fund said the displaced Christians face an uncertain future and are concerned that they may be unable to return home, while the plight of those who remain is truly desperate. Prices have rocketed, supplies have run low, and it has often been too dangerous to go out.

Danger beyond Homs

Christians are seriously endangered in other parts of Syria too, Barnabas Fund said. Not only are they generally assumed to be pro-Assad, but also a strongly Islamist element amongst the rebels will attack them just because they are Christians.

Barnabas Fund said bombs have already exploded in the Christian quarters of Damascus and Aleppo. Church leaders hesitate to travel at night, believing that, as symbols of the Christian presence they may be special targets for assassination. The authorities have warned the churches not to gather in large numbers over the Easter celebration period in case their meetings are bombed.

One church leader told Barnabas Fund, "We hope for a safe future but nobody knows what will happen. There are many outside influences. We fear sectarian conflict. We fear becoming like Iraq. If the Christians leave the Arab countries, it will be a loss for everybody."

Another added, "God willing, Syria will come out of it, but at what cost? I am not very optimistic that our Christian community will survive."

Barnabas Fund is working directly with Christian partners in the country to get emergency aid to needy Christians throughout Syria, including those from Homs and the victims of the bombings.

Dr. Patrick Sookhdeo, International Director of Barnabas Fund, said in a news release, "I have just returned from meeting Syrian church leaders, and I am more than ever convinced that our Christian brothers and sisters in Syria need our help."

He added, "The dark days of the Middle Ages when many churches were burned and Christians slaughtered in the region are threatening to return, endangering the very existence of the churches in this land that has had a Christian presence for almost 2,000 years. Please help us to support the Christians of Syria in their desperate need."

Barnabas Fund provides hope and aid for the persecuted church. For more information go to www.barnabasfund.org

Moor of Mauritania

Moor of Mauritania
The Moors are very proud people, conveying a sense of superiority to others in the area. Within their society, the Koran is faithfully followed. The term "Moor" is generally applied to any person, regardless of skin color, who speaks one of the Hassaniya dialects.

Ministry Obstacles
Scripture is not available in the language of the Moor, and access to the Moor is limited.

Outreach Ideas
The Jesus film and Gospel recordings are available. Pray for workers and for access.

Pray for the followers of Christ
Pray for the relatively few believers among the Moor, that they may be like-minded, being one in spirit and purpose, looking not only to their own interests but also to the interests of others.

Pray for the entire people group
Pray each individual in the Moor community may be prepared for the Gospel message when it comes to them.

Scripture Focus
"The time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and see My glory." Isaiah 66:18


People Name: Moor
Country: Mauritania
10/40 Window: Yes
Population: 2,971,000
World Population: 6,673,000
Language: Hassaniyya
Primary Religion: Islam
Bible: None
Online Audio NT: No
Jesus Film: Yes
Audio Recordings: Yes
Christ Followers: Few, less than 2%
Status: Unreached
Progress Level:
1.2

Iran: Historic Christian Cemetery demolished in Kerman Province

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries

KERMAN PROVINCE, IRAN (ANS) -- News of the destruction of a 200 year old historic cemetery in the Ghal'e-dokhtar area of Kerman province, south-east of the Iranian capital of Tehran, by agents of the Iranian government, has just reached the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net)

A man points to the destruction of gravestone in the cemetery
According to the Iranian Christian News Service, Mohabat News (http://mohabatnews.com), the Islamic republic's agents had first of all destroyed an historic church building in Kerman, and now they have also "completely demolished" the Christian cemetery.

"Based on this report, local people estimate that this cemetery has existed for more than two hundred years," said a spokesperson for Mohabat News.

The news service of a cultural heritage organization quoted Mohammad Mehdi Afzali, head of public relations for the Cultural Heritage organization of Kerman, as saying, "Destruction of this cemetery was conducted as part of a project by the municipality and Cultural Heritage organization, to release lands around Ghal'e-Dokhtar and Ghal'e Ardeshir."

He added, "After the reports and photos of this destruction were published by news services, a team of experts of the Cultural Heritage office of Kerman was sent out to the cemetery to prepare an expert report."

The spokesperson for Mohabat News said, Of course, Mr. Afzali denied this report in an interview with the pro-regime news service, IRNA on Wednesday."

Concerning this issue, Mr. Movahedi, Deputy Director of the General Office of Cultural Heritage of Kerman said, "The historical cemetery of Christians is located in the territory of Ghal'e-Dokhtar and as far as the territory of monuments is concerned, it is necessary for all the places located in the territory of Ghal'e-Dokhtar to receive proper attention."

Mr. Movahedi added that he is "still waiting" for the report of the experts and reliable information on this historical cemetery and specific results would be announced in the coming week.

Prior to this report, a historical church building in Kerman, which was registered as a national monument, was brought down using bulldozers. The church building was registered as a national monument in 2009 and so had to be protected and restored.

"However, it was completely destroyed overnight using heavy machinery for unknown reasons," said the Mohabat News spokesperson.

"Also, according to published reports, a historic English cemetery in Boushehr port, which was also used as a burial ground for Armenian minorities of Boushehr, is in a tragic condition in which all the crosses have been taken out of the ground.

"Day after day it seems that this historical graveyard is approaching complete destruction. Several attempts to contact officials of Cultural Heritage of Boushehr to obtain further information on this cemetery remain unanswered."
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Christian leader beheaded as Islamists terrorize Mali

By Charles Gardner
Special to ASSIST News Service

TIMBUKTU, MALI (ANS) -- A Christian leader has been beheaded and others are being threatened with similar treatment as Islamic militants run amok in Mali, West Africa.

Islamic troops in Timbuktu
Christians have fled the town of Timbuktu in the north of the country where harsh Sharia Law has already been imposed amid reports that churches in Gao, 200 miles to the east, have been completely destroyed.

The news comes in the wake of a military coup in the country, one of the effects of which is that sanctions applied from outside has cut off electricity supplies, further delaying reports of the latest upheavals along with desperate pleas for help.

Among those affected is British Bible college graduate Timothee (Tim) Yattara, who recently returned home to his home country in a bid to help spread the gospel in this remote - and now dangerous - part of Africa located on the edge of the Sahara.

Tim has fled with his family to Bamako, the country's main city some 400 miles away in the south-west, but without the money to rent a house.

Tim Yattara
"We have escaped in the wake of horrible death threats as the Islamists have a list of all the Christians in Timbuktu whom they intend to execute by beheading. As proof of their intentions, one leader has already been killed in this way and some churches in Gao have been demolished. Most Christians have already fled for safety, but Sharia Law has been imposed all over the north.

"As refugees in Bamako, life is very difficult for me and my family as we are in desperate need of finance, just to pay for shelter and safety," he said.

Already suffering famine through drought, Mali is being terrorized by Al Qaida and associated rebels said to be claiming the northern part of the territory as their homeland.

Only last week we were reporting that Timbuktu was surrounded by tents inhabited by impoverished people who have fled the countryside in the wake of the spreading famine, exacerbated by rising unemployment and massive inflation with many struggling to find food and work.

And with a government now overthrown by a coup, the security situation has been made even worse by rebels from Libya loyal to their former leader Col Gaddafi.

Anyone able to help should e-mail Tim at timfromtimbucktu@googlemail.com to whom you are able to send aid directly by Western Union.

Tim knows nothing is impossible with God, however. As reported on the site last week, he was miraculously raised from the dead through the prayers of his family when he was a little boy. (See: www.assistnews.net/Stories/2012/s12030149.htm)

Vakkaliga of India

Vakkaliga of India
Animal husbandry, settled cultivation and horticulture are the traditional occupations of this community. They are Hindu by religion and celebrate festivals like Hire Suggi and Kire Suggi (harvest festivals). Only men participate in their traditional Suggi Kunita dance. A widow is allowed to live with a man of her choice without a ceremonial marriage.

Ministry Obstacles
The Vakkaliga community may have many misconceptions about what it means to know and follow Christ.

Outreach Ideas
Redemptive analogies coupled with favorable relationships with these people may be helpful.

Pray for the followers of Christ
Pray for the Christians among the Bakkaliga, that they will be accurately instructed in the faith, and become mature disciples of Christ. Pray they will put off falsehood and speak truthfully to one another, in love.

Pray for the entire people group
Pray for the Vakkaliga community, that they will be able to support their families adequately, and have access to health care. Pray they will desire to worship the Creator, not the creation.

Scripture Focus
"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." Habakkuk 2:14


People Name: Vakkaliga
Country: India
10/40 Window: Yes
Population: 5,884,000
World Population: 5,884,000
Language: Kannada
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Bible: Complete
Online Audio NT: No
Jesus Film: Yes
Audio Recordings: Yes
Christ Followers: Few, less than 2%
Status: Unreached
Progress Level:
1.2