Vicar of Baghdad: ‘Child I baptised cut in half by ISIS’
Posted on August 9, 2014
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“The five-year-old son of a founding member of Baghdad’s Anglican church was cut in half during an attack by the Islamic State on the Christian town of Qaraqosh.
In an interview today, an emotional Canon Andrew White told ACNS that he christened the boy several years ago, and that the child’s parents had named the lad Andrew after him.
‘I’m almost in tears because I’ve just had somebody in my room whose little child was cut in half,’ he said. ‘I baptised his child in my church in Baghdad2. This little boy, they named him after me – he was called Andrew.‘…”
– Though very distressing, read the full report from The Anglican Communion News Service, and pray.
A life dedicated to serving mission and community
Posted on August 8, 2014
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“Owen Shelley, who died on Saturday, August 2, lived to serve Jesus Christ and to share the good news of salvation to thousands of children…”
– Story from The St. George & Sutherland Shire Leader.
A Christian response to the distressing news
Posted on August 8, 2014
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“I awoke on Friday morning to the news of Christians fleeing for their lives in Iraq. Over the last couple of months in Iraq, there has been mounting pressure on Christians to convert to Islam. Now, whole Christian townships have been conquered and the people are fleeing to seek Kurdish protection.
In a world riddled by war, revolutions, violence and ever increasing numbers of displaced refugees it’s strange how distressing I found Friday’s news. It’s not simply because the people are Christians, though no doubt that’s part of it. I suspect my distress is that we are being plunged into the kind of war that we do not want to have and that we have eschewed – a religious war.
As I write, I am still struggling to come to a considered response to this terrible news. Here, in point form, are some things that go towards working out an appropriate Christian response.…”
– Dean of Sydney Phillip Jensen sets down some helpful thoughts – and calls for prayer.
See also: Murder of Iraqi Christians – second appeal for prayer from Archbishop Glenn Davies.
An Invitation from God
Posted on August 8, 2014
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Part of the “Jesus Brings” initiative.
Are Christian Missionaries narcissistic idiots? (Quick answer: No)
Posted on August 8, 2014
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“In Ann Coulter’s view, Kent Brantly should never have gone to Africa in the first place. He should have spent his time and energies saving America…”
– Albert Mohler responds to an opinion piece by columnist Ann Coulter. While the context is US-based, the command of Christ is the same.
Thousands of Yazidis facing death in Iraq mountains; largest Christian town falls
Posted on August 8, 2014
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“Thousands of members of an Iraqi minority are stranded in the mountains of northern Iraq after fleeing militant group Islamic State (IS), which is leaving a trail of death as it attempts to form an Islamic caliphate. …
On Thursday the militants from the group formerly known as ISIS took over Iraq’s largest Christian town, Qaraqosh, and surrounding areas. That sent tens of thousands of panicked residents fleeing towards autonomous Kurdistan, officials and witnesses said. …
Qaraqosh is an entirely Christian town which lies between Mosul, the jihadists’ main hub in Iraq, and Arbil, the Kurdish region’s capital. It usually has a population of around 50,000.”
– more tragic news from Iraq, via ABC News.
Looming Famine in South Sudan
Posted on August 7, 2014
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Anglican Aid’s David Mansfield writes:
“Anglican Aid has entered a partnership with the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan (ECSS&S) to support a project to assist communities prepare for an expected famine during the summer of 2014/15.
The expected famine is due to the inability of displaced people to plant crops.
While emergency food security will be provided by other agencies, the Church in South Sudan is assisting through a Peace Dividends Project to assist people to plant crops to provide longer term food security.…
Anglican Aid [is] suggesting people forgo a meal out and contribute the money to support South Sudan.”
Donations may be made online or by phoning 02 92841406. (Click the image for a larger version.)
Veteran children’s evangelist dies
Posted on August 6, 2014
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“Owen Shelley, who spent more than 30 years as children’s missioner with Scripture Union, has died.
Mr Shelley was well known to generations of Christians in Sydney and NSW for his talks and story telling at church services, outreach events and beach missions.”
– SydneyAnglicans.net has this story on Owen Shelley, including a tribute from Scripture Union.
An Apology to any hurt by the Diocese of Canberra & Goulburn
Posted on August 6, 2014
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“On Sunday 10 August 2014, parishes across the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn will hold a special commemoration service called Lamentation Sunday.
These services will include a public apology by the Right Reverend Stuart Robinson, Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn.” – Read it here.
Second Ebola Patient arrives in the U.S.
Posted on August 6, 2014
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“A grey Gulfstream III carrying Nancy Writebol, an American aid worker diagnosed with Ebola, landed at Dobbins Air Force Base north of Atlanta Tuesday morning. … She now joins Kent Brantly, a doctor who’d been volunteering in Liberia with with the Christian aid organizations Samaritan’s Purse and SIM USA when he, too, became infected with the deadly virus.”
– Story from Wired. Photo: SIM.
Famine in South Sudan ‘worst in the world’
Posted on August 6, 2014
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“An escalating civil war is preventing humanitarian aid from reaching those most affected by famine in South Sudan, says a senior International Mission Board strategy leader for sub-Saharan Africa…”
– report from Baptist Press.
With thanksgiving for Owen Shelley
Posted on August 5, 2014
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Many thousands of people will be giving thanks to the Lord Jesus for his servant Owen Shelley, who died on Saturday at the age of 87.
“Owen Shelley left us on Saturday 2nd August to be with his Lord and Saviour. He lived to serve Jesus and to share the good news of salvation to thousands of children.”
There will be a memorial service at 2:00pm on Tuesday 12th August at Narwee Baptist Church (33-39 Baumans Road, Peakhurst). The Dean of Sydney, Phillip Jensen, will preach.
– Read more at Shelley and Son.
How do we lose sight of the basics?
Posted on August 4, 2014
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At the recent NEXUS Conference, Richard Chin spoke on how ‘gospel DNA’ can be distorted and corrupted in our ministries. His wide-ranging talk is well worth watching. See the video here.
Bishops demand UK Government offer asylum to Iraqi Christians
Posted on August 3, 2014
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“From Canon Andrew White, Vicar of Baghdad: ‘We have just had terrible news that Baghdad International Airport has been shut down because of security risks. Without it we cannot go North to do the relief work or even leave the country. Please pray that we can get out.’
As the Islamic State continues its programme of bloody executions and forced conversion, Canon White bears witness to the suffering…”
– Blogger “Cranmer” on the deterirotaing situation in Iraq. (h/t Anglican Mainstream.)
Related: Iraqi Christians ‘should be offered asylum in UK’ – bishop. – BBC News.
Samaritan’s Purse doctor infected with Ebola now in US hospital
Posted on August 3, 2014
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“Samaritan’s Purse doctor Kent Brantly, who contracted the Ebola virus while treating patients in Liberia, is now back home in the United States.
A medical evacuation plane equipped with a special containment unit arrived at Dobbins Air Force Base in Atlanta today…”
– Dr. Kent Brantly was serving as medical director for the Samaritan’s Purse Ebola Consolidated Case Management Center in Monrovia, Liberia, when he fell ill.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…