Terrorists ‘reveal their desperate need of a Saviour’
“The Anglican Bishop for Ethiopia has hailed as martyrs 28 Ethiopian Christians shot or beheaded in Libya by members of the terrorist group known as ISIS or ISIL…”
– from SydneyAnglicans.net.
Update:
Archbishop Glenn Davies this afternoon sent a message of condolence to the Anglican Bishop of the Horn of Africa, Grant LeMarquand:
We mourn with you and the Ethiopian church. Our hearts are heavy at the suffering caused by such depraved acts.
As the company of martyrs grows, we cry out ‘How Long, O Lord?”. Be assured we hold you in our prayers at this trying time.
(Image: Diocese of Egypt.)
Tanzanian government to review Islamic courts bill in light of Christian opposition
“Christians across Tanzania have welcomed Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda’s promise to review the government’s decision to table a bill to introduce Kadhi (Islamic) courts in the country’s judiciary after opposition arose among Tanzanian Christians MPs on 29 March.
Despite the political triumph, many pastors who opposed the legislation have been attacked and their churches threatened with closure…” – Report from Barnabas Fund.
Archbishop sends message to Kenya after attack
Anglican Diocese of Sydney
Public Statement
Friday 3rd April, 2015
Archbishop Glenn Davies this afternoon sent a message of condolence to the Anglican Primate of Kenya, Archbishop Eliud Wabukala, after the attack on Garissa University which killed more than 140 students.
The text of the message reads:
We are shocked and dismayed by this wanton and deliberate attack on Kenyan citizens in Garissa where Christians in particular seem to have been singled out.
The violence and loss of life is sickening.
We grieve with the families of students who have lost loved ones, some of whom were deliberately targeted because they own the name of Jesus.
May God enable you and the church to stand firm in this time of testing.
You may be assured of our prayers for peace in the nation of Kenya, for healing for those injured and bereaved, and for our brothers and sisters to stand firm in the face of persecution and to be filled with a spirit of love, the perfect love which drives out fear (1 John 4:18).
– source SydneyAnglicans.net
Pakistan bomb attack — March 15 2015
“The attacks took place as Christians met together for Sunday morning worship services in the predominantly Christian neighbourhood of Youhanabad in Lahore, capital of Pakistan’s Punjab province. The two churches targeted were separated from each other by about half a kilometre…”
– Barnabas Fund has this summary and appeal for prayer and financial assistance.
And the Primate of The Church of Pakistan, Bishop Samuel Azariah, also asks for prayer. (Anglican Communion News Service.)
Twin blasts at churches in Pakistan kill 10
“Bombs outside two churches in the Pakistani city of Lahore killed 10 people and wounded more than 55 during Sunday services, rescue workers said, and witnesses said quick action by a security guard prevented many more deaths…”
– Report from the Anglican Communion News Service. BBC report.
Islamic State ‘abducts 90 Christians in Syria’
“Islamic State (IS) has abducted dozens of Assyrian Christians from villages in north-eastern Syria, activists say…”
Australian Copts condemn barbaric slaughter of Christians in Libya
“The Australian Coptic Movement Association (ACM) condemns in the strongest possible terms the barbaric slaughter of 21 innocent Egyptian Coptic Christians by ISIS in Libya.
This evil act of terror has sent shockwaves throughout the entire Australian Coptic community and the Coptic Christian community worldwide. For years, the ACM has been warning the international community of the plight of Libya’s Coptic community and the need for stability to be restored to this country…”
Family of Asia Bibi appeal for help over blasphemy charge
“Asia Bibi, a poor, illiterate woman from Pakistan’s rural Punjab, has been on death row for almost five years after being accused of insulting the Prophet Muhammad, a charge she vehemently denies. In a rare interview, her husband has appealed for help from the international community…”
– Report from BBC News. (Photo: Barnabas Fund.)
45 churches torched in Niger
“Forty-five churches were torched over the weekend in Niger’s capital during deadly protests over the publication of a Prophet Mohammed cartoon by the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, police say.
The protests, which left five people dead and 128 people injured in Niamey, also saw a Christian school and orphanage set alight…”
– Report from ABC News. Video from the BBC. (Map: Operation World.)
Satellite images show Nigerian town ‘wiped off the map’
“The International Committee of the Red Cross has warned of a growing humanitarian crisis in Nigeria and neighbouring Niger as tens of thousands of refugees flee deadly Boko Haram attacks.
It is still not known how many people died in last week’s suspected massacre in Baga, a town on the shores of Lake Chad in north-east Nigeria, however some reports suggested thousands of people may have been killed…”
– Report from ABC News.
Related: 9 Things You Should Know about Boko Haram (h/t Tim Challies.)
Egypt’s President first ever to attend Coptic Christmas mass
“In a historic event that set Cairo ablaze, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi made an unannounced appearance at the Coptic Cathedral where Christmas Eve Mass was being celebrated by the Egyptian Pope Tawadros II.
The Coptic Church celebrates Christmas on 7 January because of its use of the Julian calendar instead of the Gregorian. It was the first time ever that an Egyptian President was honoring a Coptic Christmas celebration with his presence…”
– Interesting developments in Egypt.
More than 120 people killed in Taliban attack on Pakistan school
“At least 126 people have been killed and 122 injured in an attack by Taliban militants on a Pakistani high school.”
– ABC News report on the attack in Peshawar.
Time magazine names Ebola fighters as ‘person of the year’
“Time magazine has named the medics treating the Ebola epidemic as its “person of the year” for 2014, paying tribute to their courage and mercy…”
– Report from ABC News. Photo: Samaritans Purse.
Related: Are Christian Missionaries Narcissistic Idiots?, Albert Mohler (07 August 2014.)
Tribute to Sir Fred Catherwood
“Sir Fred Catherwood, eminent British industrialist and politician, died peacefully on Sunday 30 November at the age of 89. Sir Fred gave more than 45 years of faithful service to IFES.
Married to Elizabeth – daughter of pastor and theologian Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones who helped found IFES – Sir Fred held senior offices in both IFES and UCCF Great Britain from 1961 to 2007…”
– Penny Vinden has a fitting tribute to Sir Fred Catherwood on the IFES website. His funeral was on Friday in Cardiff.
Asia Bibi: no release without international pressure, lawyer says
“The human-rights lawyer who is risking his life by defending Asia Bibi has denounced the blasphemy law under which she has been sentenced to death as a ‘tool of oppression’.
Her lawyer, Naeem Shakir, told an audience at Westminster Abbey on Saturday that the international community must put pressure on the Pakistani authorities to reform the law…”
– Story from Church Times.
Related: Barnabas Fund campaign “Save Aasia Bibi: Don’t let her die”.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…