WWW.PERSECUTION.ORG
OCTOBER 2015
PERSECU ION
Overview A Global
of Persecution
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INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN
Your Dollar$ at Work Printing Press in North Africa Providing the Words of Life to New Believers Bibles to the Persecuted
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wo and a half years ago, church leaders from North Africa were speaking with ICC about the incredible ways that God was moving among their people. Across the country, hundreds were coming to faith in Jesus and being baptized every month. The churches were growing so fast that they were not able to keep up with the needs of these new believers. We asked them what they needed, and their answer was simple: God’s Word. The churches did not have enough Bibles for new believers to have access to the Words of Life. They would smuggle Bibles in a few at a time from overseas. Some were able to import them in large quantities, but this would be very expensive and it would often take them months and months to make it through customs. With your help, we committed to change this and make a strategic investment for the Church in this country. We purchased the printing equipment and materials and helped to identify experienced and reliable staff, and a new printing press was established. Since the presses started rolling at the beginning of the year, more than 75,000 copies of God’s Word have been produced and distributed to churches across the country. As the press is serving the church, many churches and ministries are now coming to see how they can use it to produce more resources and expand their discipleship materials. Now, as new believers are saved and baptized, churches have the ability to make sure that they receive God’s Word and can help them as they take the next steps in learning to follow Jesus in a country that still remains hostile to those who choose to leave Islam and follow the Words of Life.
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OCTOBER 2015
New Batteries Replacing to Beat the Heat Burned Bibles Save Our Sisters
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ue to frequent power cuts in Pakistan, the Save Our Sisters centers rely on the power stored in UPS batteries to continue their work and training even when the power is out. Unfortunately, the batteries for the church’s UPS system no longer function properly and are unable to hold a charge. Over the summer, intense heatwaves swept the country of Pakistan with temperatures regularly climbing over 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Due to the extreme heat, several of the girls being trained at the Save Our Sisters centers became ill from heat exhaustion. Because fans and other cooling devices rely on the power stored in the UPS batteries when the power is cut, these girls had no way to cool down. Thanks to your generosity, ICC was able to purchase new batteries and repair the UPS system so that training could continue and the women could escape the unbearable heat.
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Sustaining Hurting Families
Bibles to the Persecuted
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t the beginning of the year, a Christian family was assaulted by Hindu radicals on the outskirts of Telangana, India, in response to local evangelist, Mrs. Nirmala, bringing more and more Hindu women in the area to faith in the Gospel. One evening, when Nirmala met with another Christian woman, Mrs. Kalavathi, a group of Hindu radicals overheard them exchange Christian greetings. The group began to harass and verbally abuse the two women because of their faith. Later, the radicals stormed Kalavathi’s home, destroying her property and throwing Bibles and other Christian literature out of the house and burning them outside the village. In response, ICC provided Christians in this village with 25 new Bibles. These believers will now be able to continue using the Bibles personally, as well as using them to continue sharing their faith.
Hand of Hope
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n March 15, suicide bombers from the Pakistani Taliban attacked two churches in Lahore’s predominantly Christian neighborhood of Youhanabad. Nineteen Christians were killed and more than 70 others were injured. Following the attack, riots broke out which led to the deaths of two Muslim men. This event triggered a series of mass arrests of Christian men and boys in Youhanabad. Because of these arrests, many families suffered the loss of their primary breadwinner. Even after these men were released, many of these families remained in need of basic food assistance to help them recover from the effects of the mass arrests on their family’s income. Fortunately, ICC was able to provide food packages that would support each family for two full weeks. By providing them with the necessities, your gifts have enabled these families to return to their normal lives.
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Your Dollar$ at Work
Softening the Burden Hand of Hope
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ikere is a Christian living is a Muslimdominated region of Ethiopia who conducts a gathering of evangelical Christians in his home. From May to July, Fikere was cast out of his village because he resisted the illegal construction of a mosque on his land. During this time, he was forced to flee his home after receiving threats from Muslim locals. Unfortunately, this also led to the accumulation of various living expenses. Through your donations, ICC was able to relieve Fikere of some of his financial burdens. In the midst of legal challenges, Fikere was stretched thin for both time and money. This gift not only helped Fikere, but also aided his family and the group of local Christians who look up to him as a leader. Now, Fikere is in a much better position to protect his religious freedom and his right of ownership over his land.
Praying for Recovery in Kenya
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Hand of Hope
n July 6, al-Shabaab carried out an attack in Mandera, Kenya, along the border of Somalia. During the attack, at least 14 were killed and many others were injured. Two of the survivors managed to escape with gunshot wounds and began treatment at a hospital in Nairobi. Al-Shabaab has been actively persecuting Christians in the region, with their deadliest attack occurring in April when gunmen killed 148 people at Garissa University. In response to the Mandera attack, ICC was able to provide these two survivors with both wheelchairs and crutches. The gunshots robbed these two of the ability to walk, so we pray that God would deliver the necessary treatment to make walking possible for them once again. As the healing process is often difficult, we ask that you please continue praying for the recovery of these victims.
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INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN
OCTOBER 2015
Your Dollar$ at Work
New Equipment in Indonesia
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Hand of Hope
PDI Jatinangor is a church of 300 members in west Java, one of only a few Christian churches in Muslim-dominated Indonesia. In December 2014, Islamic radicals supported by local police raided the church, forcing it to close. Radicals destroyed the church’s sound system and the musical instruments that were being used in corporate worship.
For many months, the church held services outdoors, but when the church reopened in a new building, a sound system and musical instruments were desperately needed for the preaching of God’s Word and corporate worship. ICC replaced the needed equipment, which was purchased locally by the ICC representative in Indonesia. The church has been greatly encouraged and empowered to reach out to its Muslim neighbors.
Broadcast
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hrough the Broadcast fund, ICC has been able to participate in the ministry of The Voice of New Life. This Somalia-based ministry broadcasts the Gospel throughout Africa, the Middle East and parts of Europe. Numerous listeners have written in to say how their lives have been changed through this radio ministry. One listener said, “As you recall, I had been a conservative Muslim and I even used to preach at you, attempting to bring you back to Islam, but now I am a believer, and that is because of VNL.” Another said, “You have been teaching me the Word of God for a long time. Finally, you helped me understand the Gospel. Without VNL, I would not have received eternal life through Jesus Christ, my Savior.” Thank the Father for these miracles and please keep praying with us that the Father would continue to send forth His light and truth through these broadcasts to the nations.
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Aid for Imprisoned Chinese Elder
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Suffering Wives & Children
uangzhou-based Liangren Church elder Huang Quirui wrote a letter from prison to fellow parishioners, sounding very much like the apostle Paul: “I miss you dearly and remember you in prayers every day. …Those who dwell in the house of God continue to have faith, hope and courage! …Amen.”
In his heartfelt letter from prison, Huang appears full of joy and peace, and sees his experience as an opportunity to be remolded by the Lord through suffering. Although his wife and their two children are struggling, elder Huang knows God will not ignore his family. The aid provided by ICC is an answer to his prayers and a great encouragement to elder Huang and his family.
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Makeshift church in Northern Nigeria.
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OCTOBER 2015
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You Can Help Today!
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SEND DONATIONS TO: ICC PO BOX 8056 SILVER SPRING, MD 20907 OR ONLINE AT WWW.PERSECUTION.ORG OR BY PHONE 800-ICC-5441
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