Circulating in Main-stream Media Photo: Stockphoto.com
A Change of Heart: Paul’s Pained Past
Is the press paying attention? PAGE 3
world watch list 2015
Before Paul was an Apostle
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Photo: MS Word Clip Art Photo: Carol Kinney
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Christian Persecution Report The Pulse of the Worldwide Church February 2015
Vol.1 Issue No.1
Niger Missionaries: “We’re fine …, but”
Names of 21 Christian martyrs released By Carol Kinney Cakinney412@gmail.com
Christians in Niger worshipping in gutted church on the Sunday after protesters burnt down 68 churches in January. Photo: Christi Childs, Christian Aid Mission By Carol Kinney Cakinney412@gmail.com NIGER - On January 13, Jeremy and Susan Beebout, along with their four young children, returned to their missionary post in Niger. After a several month long hiatus in the U.S. so that the Susan could give birth to their fourth child, Benjamin, the couple was excited to return to work with the Evangelical Church of the Republic of Niger in the capital city of Niamey. But just a few days later, on Jan. 16, the Beebouts were frightened as violence erupted in Niger, and especially when violence erupted in the capital city, Niamey, the following day where the Beebouts reside.
Muslim protestors burned down a total of 68 churches, Christian schools and homes of Christians over the weekend. The protests were said to be in response to Niger’s president’s, Mahamadou Issoufou, attendance of a solidarity march in Paris and showing support for the slain “Charlie Hebdo” journalists earlier in January. As news of the attacks in Niger reached the U.S., family and friends of the Beebouts waited for several days to hear from them. Due to the widespread fires, phone and internet connections were unreliable. Finally on Monday, Susan was able to send out a short Facebook private group message. Please see BEEBOUTS PAGE 3
“We’re fine, and our clinic was spared, but our church burned down as did our pastor’s home.”
EGYPT - The names of the 21 Christian martyrs from Egypt were released on February 15 by Coptic Church Bishop Anba Ermia on Twitter. Earlier this month, the Islamic rebel group ISIS, or ISIL, released a video showing 21 Coptic Christian men from Egypt being beheaded by ISIS members on a beach in Libya. The 21 men were kidnapped while working in Libya during two separate attacks in December 2014 and January from the coastal town of Sirte in the province of Tripoli. Once captured, the men were tortured and told to denounce Jesus and Christianity by their
Susan Beebout, missionary in Niger
Mina Fayez Aziz, 24, one of the 21 slain. Photo: International Christian Concern
“Do not be afraid of those who can kill the body, but cannot kill the soul”
Matthew 10:28
ISIS captors in exchange for freedom. All 21 men refused. The graphic video shows the final minutes that the 21 had on this earth. While the location of the slayings is now questioned by film and media experts, the executions are not thought to have been faked by ISIS. Nor is the testimony of the 21. Shortly before dying, the men sang songs to Jesus and the last word out of every one of the 21 was the name “Jesus”. Maher Fayez, brother of two of the slain, said in a live worship service aired on Middle Eastern satellite television channel SAT-7 Arabic thanked ISIS for not deleting the declaration of faith, as it is a witness to the world for Christ. Fayez said “We are proud to have this number of people from our village who have become martyrs.” Coptic Orthodox Church Pope Tawadros II announced the names of the 21 martyrs will be inserted into the Coptic Synaxarium, the equivalent to Roman Martyrology and canonization in the Latin Church.
Please see NAMES OF 21 CHRISTIAN MARTYRS PAGE 2
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