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“His Joy is My Strength...” ICC interviews Pastor “Kevin” who narrowly escaped death when his church was attacked by al-Shabaab radicals. They gunned down his associate pastor and several of his parishoners during a Sunday morning service and yet he still preaches, ministers, and reaches out to Somali Muslims in the same church.
May 2016
Table of Contents
In This Issue: FEATURE
16 | Joy in Jesus
A pastor whose church was attacked in Kenya shares how he finds “Joy in Jesus” in the midst of suffering. FEATURE
20 | Only Ashes: A Tribute to Gichobi
“There were only ashes left,” the widow of a Christian martyr describes of her husband’s tragic murder during the attack on their village. FEATURE
22 | Life from Death
A vulnerable village begins to live again, rebuilding from the ashes of death, hatred and devastation. FEATURE
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24 | Hope, Fear & Sacrifice
An underground church leader in Afghanistan shares the inside story of a Taliban attack on the church. FEATURE
26 | Enough is Enough
An epidemic of violence against religious minorities across India sparks protest from the United States Congress. FEATURE
28 | Bridging the Gap
As your bridge to the persecuted, we took four American pastors to Egypt to introduce them to the suffering saints.
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Regular Features
3 Letter from the President A few words from ICC’s president. 4 World News A snapshot of the persecution that impacts our brothers and sisters daily, in every corner of the world. 8 West Watch A look at recent news reflecting growing opposition to Christianity in the United States and the Western world. 12 Your Dollars at Work Learn how your gifts are providing comfort, relief, Bibles, education and vocational training to the persecuted.
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President’s Letter Each Sunday as he walks into church, Pastor Kevin faces the inescapable reminder of the horror of March 23, 2014. The spilled blood of his sheep has permanently stained the concrete floor. “That’s refused to go away. We’ve washed it… stain removers, everything. This has refused to go away until this day,” Pastor Kevin said. “We have been through a lot (but) we don’t fear anymore… There is nothing human beings can do to you,” he said (see page 20).
Jeff King, President International Christian Concern
I am amazed by Pastor “Kevin.” He was on his way to church in Kenya when al-Shabaab warriors attacked his church and those attending the Sunday school class. His church members called while under attack to warn him. He heard the noise of gunshots and the screams of the terrified and dying in the background. He would have been there except that the assoicate pastor was teaching the Sunday school class. By all rights, he should have died that day along with the associate pastor and his other sheep and yet he was spared. Ninety-nine point nine percent of people would have retired from the battle and figured out a way to make a living with a higher survival rate than being an outreach-oriented pastor in a Somali Muslim area of Kenya. But persecution always takes a few to a new place in life where all their chips have been taken away and having lost everything, they find themselves to be rich. . . in Him. Then they are set free and become truly dangerous. Now here’s a little secret. . .In one way or another, this is what the Lord is doing in your life and mine! He’s always working in gain and loss to get you to give up on the world and desire Him above other treasures and relationships. All our idols must fail until we are left with the one TRUE thing that we can live through, and live for. (Take a look at the following passages: Luke 14:26-27, Luke 14:33, Matthew 13:44-46, Luke 9:24, Mark 8:34-36 and Luke 17:33, 2 Corinthians 4:10-11, Galatians 2:20.) This process of loss is the key to the gate of eternal life and, once eternal life is secured, the key to living the life that truly feeds our soul and the one the Lord wants for us. Let’s join together in prayer and ask the Lord to help the persecuted as well as you and I to live out this life lesson. We live in a fallen world and you, I, and the persecuted cannot escape loss and pain. Allowing loss and pain to drive us to the Lord is one of the great secrets of life. Finally, please join with us as we bandage and build His persecuted Church. As always, your donations will be used efficiently, effectively, and ethically. I promise! Jeff King President International Christian Concern www.persecution.org
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Four Christian Teenagers Sentenced in Egypt for Insulting ISIS
Actions of ISIS Declared “Genocide” 1 | MIDDLE EAST During February and March, numerous governing bodies, including the European Union, the US House of Representatives and the US State Department officially designated the actions of ISIS against Christians and other religious minorities as genocide. This is only the second time that a US administration has issued a label of genocide during an ongoing conflict. In addition to Secretary John Kerry’s designation from the State Department, both the House and the EU were unanimous in their decisions to label these atrocities as genocide. Some believe that this new designation may encourage the US to take further military action against ISIS or ask the Security Council to prosecute the actions of ISIS as genocide in the International Criminal Court. Although there are conflicting opinions on the best steps to move forward, the genocide designation raises international concern and solidarity against the Islamic State in the strongest terms. Regardless of what the next steps may be, this designation is an essential step in defeating ISIS and bringing restoration to the communities which they have ravaged.
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2 | EGYPT In April of 2015, four Coptic Christian high school students in Egypt gained international attention after making a video mocking ISIS. The video was 22 seconds long and showed the teens mocking ISIS. They mimicked the way ISIS makes their pronouncments and quotes the Quran before executing and beheading their victims. The students also made hand motions in the video mocking the recent beheadings carried out by ISIS. The video was recorded on a cell phone belonging to the students’ teacher. The teacher was also sentenced to three years of imprisonment on charges related to insulting Islam for her role in the case. In February, an Egyptian court sentenced three of the teenagers to three to five years in prison, while the fourth was referred to a juvenile detention center for “contempt of Islam” and is one of several blasphemy cases in Egypt. Loved ones of the students and teacher were stunned by the court’s harsh sentence. The students’ lawyer said that the decision was “unbelievable,” stating that a fine would have been more reasonable. He also added that all of the teenagers were tried in absentia. Although Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah elSisi has spoken out about religious discrimination, minority Christians continue to suffer from discrimination at the hands of the Muslim majority.
Six Christians Hospitalized Following Attack by Hindu Radicals 3 | INDIA On January 17, a group of Hindu radicals carried out a brutal attack on a group of Christians gathered in India’s Nagepur village in Telangana State. During the attack, a mob of 40 radicals stormed into a Christian home during a prayer meeting and began violently assaulting the Christians. As a result of the attack, six of the Christians were hospitalized, many of whom suffered internal injuries. One of the victims was a four-year-old girl whose leg was broken during the assault. Before leaving, the attackers also destroyed multiple musical instruments and electronic items inside the home. 2016 had a difficult beginning for Christians in India with 22 recorded incidents of persecution within the first five weeks. Many of these attacks were carried out in a similar manner by fellow Hindu radical groups. MAY 2016
6,500 Children Left Malnourished by Boko Haram 4 | NIGERIA According to Newsweek, the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram has left approximately 6,500 children malnourished as they have been forced into displacement camps in northern Nigeria. The report also indicated that this is just a fraction of the 54,000 people facing malnourishment in northern Nigeria due to the ongoing terrorist insurgency. This is a clear indication of the long-lasting effects of persecution that will affect the Christian community far beyond the damage of a one-time attack.
Christian Leaders in Sudan Detained Since December Without Charges 5 | SUDAN Authorities in Sudan are violating their own laws by holding two Christian leaders since midDecember, despite the fact that they have not been officially charged. Telal Nogossi and Hassan Kodi remain in custody after they were detained by intelligence officials for questioning. However, Sudanese law requires that defendants must be either released or presented before a court for charging within 45 days of the initial arrest. Both men are being held incommunicado at an undisclosed location with no connection to family or legal aid. The government of Sudan is notorious for arresting and detaining Christian leaders arbitrarily in an effort to persecute the Christian community as a whole.
Sudanese pastors illegally imprisoned for the Gospel.
China to Force Religious Leaders to Carry Religious Identification 6 | CHINA China’s Communist Party has initiated plans to require religious leaders to carry religious identification credentials in order to legally practice their faith. Those who are not willing to carry the religious identification will lose their legal right to worship freely. This new restriction is yet another attempt by the Chinese government to quell Christianity which, despite the government’s best efforts, continues to grow. According to reports, over 1,500 crosses have been torn down from churches in Zhejiang province.
43 ISIS Hostages Released in Syria 7 | SYRIA On February 22, ISIS released the final group of Assyrian Christians being held hostage in the Syrian Province of Hasakah. The 43 individuals who were released, many of whom were young children under the age of 10, have since been reunited with their families. The Assyrian Church of the East was able to secure the hostage release after negotiating with ISIS and eventually reaching a ransom agreement. Although there are still hostages being held captive in southwestern Syria, the end of the hostage situation in the Hasakah Province has been a major blessing to the families of the captives and the Christian community around the world.
43 Christian hostages released by ISIS.
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China has sentenced this Christian couple to 14 and 12 years in prison, respectively.
Christian Couple in China Sentenced to 12 and 14 Years in Prison 1 | CHINA A Christian husband, Bao Guohua, and his wife, Xing Wenxiang, were recently sentenced to 14 and 12 years, respectively, in prison in China. The couple, belonging to Holy Love Christian Church, was found guilty on charges of “disturbing public order,” “encroachment,” “concealing financial records,” and “running an illegal business.” Officials accused the pair of having donations from the congregation in their house, citing that they were living “greedy lives.” Reports about the donations from the church have yet to be confirmed. The couple’s sentencing took place after authorities detained at least 16 Christian leaders in China’s Wenzhou city regarding confrontations over the government’s cross removal campaign in Zhejiang province. Ten other members from the church were also issued suspended sentences but were released immediately after sentencing. China’s crackdown on churches and their leaders has grown increasingly apparent as hardliner President Xi Jinping continues his campaign to eliminate religious
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influences in China. The Chinese government only officially acknowledges five different religions and those who do not adhere to the government-controlled religions often find themselves victims of government persecution. Those belonging to the specified five religions are also restricted to practicing their faith in certain approved locations. Those who want to practice their faith outside of registered churches are forced to worship in “underground” churches. In addition to strict registration procedures for churches, the Chinese government continues to carry out their campaign of cross removals and demolitions. The crackdown on Christianity is due largely to the Communist Party’s fear of losing power as the Christian population grows. In spite of the tight grip that the Communist Party has on religion, the light of Christ continues to shine in the darkness.
A Glimmer of Hope as Boko Haram Captive Defies Orders Teenage Girl Tears Off Suicide Vest and Flees Boko Haram 2 | NIGERIA A teenage girl from Nigeria wearing a suicide bomb vest defied orders from her Boko Haram captors, saving both her own life and undoubtedly many others. After escaping captivity, she managed to reach local security forces who helped gather the young girl’s story of incredible courage. She and two others were ordered by extremists from Boko Haram to detonate suicide vests in a large crowd at Dikwa refugee camp. Although she was scared of refusing the orders of her captors, she was also afraid of killing others. Further still, she knew that her father was in the camp at the time and did not want to risk his life. Therefore, as soon as she was able to get out of sight of her captors, she fled. Although the girl tried to convince her two companions to join her in abandoning their mission, they refused, resulting in the deaths of 58 people in the camp. The story of this young girl is a glimmer of hope in the midst of many similar stories that end tragically. Boko Haram has kidnapped thousands over the years, and the number of captives being forced into suicide missions seems to be on the rise.
MAY 2016
UN Publishes Report on the Human Rights Violations in Syria 3 | SYRIA The United Nations committee in charge of investigating human rights abuses in Syria recently published a report detailing the gruesome realities of life for detainees of ISIS and other radical groups. The 25-page report outlines various acts against civilians, including illegal detentions, legal injustices, torture, denial of adequate food supplies, and executions. This report was the result of more than 600 interviews that took place between March 2011 and November 2015.
A human rights report from the United Nations details the suffering experienced by ISIS detainees in Syria.
Man in India Attacked after Being Accused of Converting Hindus to Christianity
New Constitution in Nepal Bans Religious Conversion
4 | INDIA After being accused of converting three Hindus to Christianity, a man in India was attacked and publicly shamed by a crowd of approximately 200 Hindu nationalists. Many Hindu nationalists believe that conversions to minority religions, including Christianity, should be viewed as a threat to India as a nation. At the time of writing, police reports have been filed against both the mob and the man accused of converting the Hindus, but there have been no arrests.
5 | NEPAL In spite of the booming Christian population in Nepal, religious freedom remains out of reach for many Christians in the country. Nepal recently adopted a new constitution which officially made the country secular by name. However, following pressure from radical Hindu groups, the constitution made religious conversions illegal. This restriction has many Christians in Nepal worried that this new constitution will be used to further persecute the already marginalized Christian community.
Christian Couple Tortured, Sentenced to Death 6 | PAKISTAN In 2013, a Christian man in Pakistan named Shafqat Emmanuel and his wife, Shagufta, were accused of texting blasphemous messages to an imam. According to the couple, they are innocent of all accusations, claiming that the phone used to send the texts was stolen from them before the messages were sent. Following their arrest, Shafqat reports that the police tortured his wife in front of him, forcing him to give a false confession in order to bring her relief. However, thanks to the confession forced out of them, the couple has since been sentenced to death under Pakistan’s infamous blasphemy laws. Blasphemy laws have long been used to discriminate against religious minorities, especially Christians, in Pakistan. Many are falsely accused for personal gain, to settle old scores or simply as a tool of religious persecution.
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est atch Bible Removed from POW/MIA Display at Veterans’ Clinic
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Veterans Administration clinic recently removed a Bible from a display commemorating members of the military who are missing in action or prisoners of war, spurred by a complaint from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF). Mikey Weinstein, president of MRFF, stated that the organization took action after receiving several complaints regarding the display. Although MRFF is satisfied with the result, controversy remains. Ron Crews, the executive director of the
Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty stated, “It is a sad day when the Veteran’s Administration caves to one narrow view of the proper way to honor the courage and sacrifice of those who have dedicated their lives in service of their country.” The National League of POW/MIA Families has stated that the Bible is traditionally placed at “missing man” tables representing “the strength gained through faith to sustain us and those lost from our country, founded as one nation under God.”
Atheist Complaint Puts Ohio Student Bible Clubs on Hold
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n another instance of the crackdown of religious freedom in the United States’ public schools, two public schools in Ohio have temporarily put their student Bible clubs on hold after receiving complaints from the Freedom from Religious Foundation (FFRF). The controversy arose when these student-led Bible groups invited outside pas-
Resolution Declares, “Genocide Being Waged Against Religious Minorities in Syria and Iraq”
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ith the threat of ISIS continuing to dominate in Iraq and Syria, religious minorities in the area are constantly facing the threat of extermination at the hands of these Islamic radicals. The European Union has recognized this extermination for what it is: genocide. The EU showed solidarity in designating the actions of ISIS as genocide by a unanimous vote. A bill, now with over 200 cosponsors in the US House, has sought to do the same. House Concurrent Resolution 75 expresses the sense of Congress that those who target and support atrocities against religious minorities are committing genocide. The US State Department was given a deadline to make a decision on whether or not to recognize the crimes against religious minorities by ISIS as genocide by March 17. ICC is grateful that, along with the House and the EU, Secretary of State John Kerry and the State Department also classified ISIS’ actions as genocide.
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tors to speak at their meetings. FFRF’s complaint reads, “If Faith Memorial Church representatives have indeed been leading student Bible studies, those clubs are not bona fide student-initiative clubs and should be dissolved.” It goes on to explain that although the Equal Access Act states that schools may not discriminate against religious student groups, it is illegal for outside adults to organize or lead the groups. The groups were temporarily suspended following the complaints. Jonathan Morgan, pastor of Faith Memorial Church, said of the situation, “As a pastor, when we are doing our best at the request of others to be of assistance in the lives of others, it’s frankly repulsive where we are today – that an individual can bring such undue and unfounded criticism.”
University Removes All Donor Plates to Avoid Bible Citations
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university in Colorado has recently decided to remove all donor name plates from a football locker room after denying an alumnus the option to cite Scripture on his personalized donor nameplate. President Paul Johnson of the university stated, “Although we strongly stand behind the merits of the original fundraising program and our decision to maintain the locker room as a private space for the football team, rather than a public space of expression, we also wish to remove any potential for further misunderstanding.” Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Tyson Langhofer remarked, “It’s
ridiculous and sad that the school felt the need to punish everyone who participated in the program simply because it could not stomach a Bible reference on one plaque – a reference that was not even going to include the text of the verses.”
MAY 2016
NASA Employee Group Banned from Mentioning Jesus in Newsletter
California Judge Orders School Board To Stop Praying Before Meetings
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California judge has halted the practice of prayer at the beginning of meetings for the Chino Valley Unified School District Board of Education. This decision followed a lawsuit by the Freedom from Religion Foundation in 2014, which stated that the prayers violated First Amendment freedoms. FFRF argues that the prayer and Bible readings from some of the board members are “unnecessary, inappropriate, and divisive.” The Pacific Justice Institute (PJI), a nonprofit which defends religious freedom, says that “some of the board members are very committed to their faith” and these actions by the board members are protected under their First Amendment rights. Although the US Supreme Court recently stated that invocations at government meetings such as this one are constitutional, a district judge ruled in favor of the Freedom from Religion Foundation on the grounds that these prayers “constitute unconstitutional government endorsements of religion.”
Church in Cuba Demolished and Hundreds Arrested
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ocal officials demolished a church located in eastern Cuba in early February while detaining hundreds of worshippers, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). This is the latest incident of church destructions as two other Apostolic Movement churches were destroyed the month prior. The pastor of the church has said that he believes the government planned to carry out this demolition when he was abroad. In addition to destroying the church, the government also took pews and chairs, among other property belonging to the church. The family who runs the church also had over 1,000 blocks of cement seized, although they were purchased legally. This destruction and confiscation is in direct conflict with the religious and human rights of the Cuban people. CSW’s CEO Mervyn Thomas said of the situation, “This series of demolitions since the New Year indicates a worrying escalation in terms of violations of freedom of religion or belief in Cuba.” This is the second time that the government has taken action to destroy the church, the last time being in 2007 of a church, also located in Abel Santamaria, of 700 members.
group of Christian employees at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, the Praise and Worship Club, have been barred from using the name of Jesus in the company newsletter over fears that it may appear that NASA is endorsing Christianity over other beliefs. The Liberty Institute has sent a letter to NASA requesting that they reverse their decision. According to the Liberty Institute, the Praise and Worship Club was formed in 2001 among Christian employees who desired to meet and give praise during their lunch hour. The club had used a NASA email newsletter to send an advert for a session focused on “Jesus is our Life!” NASA attorneys then contacted club organizers asking them to refrain from using Jesus’ name in the future because it would appear “sectarian” by promoting Christianity above other faiths.
Texas High Court Rules In Christian Students’ Favor
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he Texas Supreme Court has issued a unanimous decision to uphold the right of public school cheerleaders to display Bible verses on their banners. Judge John Phillip Devine says the school district no longer prohibits “religious signs or messages on banners at school-sponsored events.” The Supreme Court’s decision comes after the Freedom from Religion Foundation issued a letter to the school district demanding that religious signs be banned. The Justice’s opinion continues, “The district no longer prohibits the cheerleaders from displaying religious signs or messages on banners at school-sponsored events. But that change hardly makes it ‘absolutely clear’ that the district will not reverse itself after this litigation is concluded, without the cheerleaders’ requested declaratory and injunctive relief.” The cheerleaders’ attorney said that the banners represent the private speech of the students who made them, and that the district is restricting that speech by censoring the banners.
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West Watch
Sheriff’s Vehicle Cross Decals Under Scrutiny
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isconsin-based Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) continues its campaign to whitewash Christianity, targeting the state of Texas once again. Brewster County Sheriff Ronny Dodson chose to place cross decals upon each of his patrol vehicles as a way to show God’s protection over his deputies. Brewster County is located along the Texas-Mexico border where the city of Alpine is located. The dangers of patrolling both a border county and the border itself creates a higher threat level for law enforcement officials.
Since the controversy arose, the Republican governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, issued a statement in support of the cross decals. Abbott wrote, “In addition to its religious significance, the cross has a long history in America and elsewhere as a symbol of service and sacrifice.” He went on to add that he doesn’t believe the decals violate constitutional law prohibiting the establishment of religion. He added, “The symbol of the cross appropriately conveys the solemn respect all Texans should have for the courage and sacrifice of our peace officers.”
Texas City Lifts Ban on Voluntary Bible Study Held by Police Officers During Lunch Break
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police department threatened to sue the city for infringement upon their First Amendment rights. Some officers of the Beaumont police department would conduct volunteer Bible studies at the station during their lunch hours. A city attorney demanded they stop partaking in the volunteer Bible studies because they are being held within a public facility which is meant for public activity only. The story garnered regional
attention as Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick voiced his support for the police officers. Once the city was made aware of the potential lawsuit, they lifted the ban and determined, as the event is voluntary and held during the officers lunch break, they have the right to conduct a Bible study within the confines of the department. According to City Manager Kyle Hayes, the situation “was more of a big misunderstanding.”
Christian Leaders in Colombia Doubt New Peace Agreement Will Curb Persecution
New Jersey School Forced to Stop Saying, ‘God Bless America’ After ACLU Threat
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s the Columbian government moves toward a peace agreement with the notorious para-military group known as FARC-EP, church leaders maintain that religious persecution will remain. In many locations around the country, churches and their leaders are targeted by neo para-military groups for not cooperating with groups like the Urabenos while local municipalities hinder indigenous Christians from worshipping. The peace process was
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expected to be completed by the end of March, but even though it would bring some semblance of an end to the violence, Christians will still face hardship. A recent study from the Ideas for Peace Foundation says, “The power vacuum that the peace process with the FARC could generate is being filled before the signing of the peace agreement, especially in the municipalities in which it shares presence with other guerrilla groups and criminal factions of different sorts.”
New Jersey elementary school has been forced to cease a decade’s long tradition of reciting the phrase “God Bless America” after the morning Pledge of Allegiance. Glenview Elementary School had been saying, “God Bless America” as a way to honor those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. However, the legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey said that reciting the phrase is unconstitutional.
Due to budget constraints, the principal was begrudgingly forced to inform parents that they would no longer be able to say, “God Bless America” after the Pledge. Parents and school officials are saddened to hear that it will no longer be allowed. The actions by the New Jersey chapter of the ACLU are “off base” according to Hiram Sasser of the Liberty Institute. The actions of the ACLU do not seem to promote civility or liberty. MAY 2016
West Watch
Cuban Reverend Threatened with Arrest Following Church Demolition
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uban Reverend Toledano was threatened with arrest by local police officials following a meeting with Cuban Communist Party (CCP) leadership. Reverend Toledano of the Emmanuel Church joined other church leaders to discuss the demolition of their church building and the reverend’s home on February 5. CCP officials
informed the reverend that church belongings would be returned and the future of the property would be discussed further with government officials. However, police and government officials held a more hardline position, contradicting the words of the CCP officials. The reverend was informed of charges being filed against him
related to allegedly illegally possessing chairs and supports for the roof of the destroyed church. Reverend Toledano is a member of the Apostolic Movement, a network of churches which the government has refused to register and acknowledge. The actions by police officials support the notion of targeted persecution.
Fresh Lawsuit Filed to Remove “In God We Trust” from US Currency
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acramento-based attorney Michael Newdow filed a lawsuit in Akron, Ohio in January of 2016 pertaining to the United States motto of “In God We Trust” printed upon US currency. Mr. Newdow had once unsuccessfully sued the federal government over the phrase “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance,
creating a pattern of anti-religious sentiment. According to one plaintiff, the presence of the words on the nation’s currency places “a substantial burden” on him due to carrying a religious statement in his pockets. The actions of the plaintiffs and Mr. Newdow are a continued nar-
rative of a small few attempting to remove the presence of religion, primarily Christianity, from the United States. The statement “In God We Trust” has been on US coins since 1864 and was made the official national motto of the United States in the 1950s.
Humanist Group Appeals Ruling of “Peace Cross”
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umanist groups in the Washington D.C. area filed an appeal over a recent ruling which determined a stone cross memorial to be constitutional. The Bladensburg World War I memorial cross, known as the “peace cross,” was constructed in 1925 to honor the 49 fallen who called Bladensburg, Maryland their home.
The American Humanist Association (AHA) believes that the cross erected on government property violates the Establishment Clause of the Constitution. They believe that the Latin cross blatantly promotes a specific religion in clear violation of the Constitution. However, district judge Deborah Chasanow ruled it to
be nonreligious as it is used for secular purposes and the plaque, which uses words like “valor” and “devotion,” do not promote any one religion. The appeal has been filed in the fourth circuit court of appeals. The location is mainly used by the American Legion for Memorial Day and Veterans Day celebrations.
Atheist Group Sues Town over “Jesus Welcomes You” Sign
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isconsin-based atheist organization known as the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) has been battling a small Texas town since June 2015 over a sign which states, “Jesus welcomes you to Hawkins.” The Texas town has been thrown into the news cycle over complaints from individuals who believe the sign
violates the Constitution. Travelers driving west on Highway 80 will enter the small town of 1,320 people, welcomed by a large purple sign with the message displayed in large yellow letters. The city council voted to have the sign removed but the local funeral home, who owns the land, agreed to sell the property to a local church
placing the sign on both private land and church property. The city council is in the process of suing the funeral home over the sale. Reactions from regional cities prompted a call for support by displaying similar signs on local businesses such as, “Jesus welcomes you to Longview.”
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Your Dollar$ at Work Sewing Center Providing Income for Widows
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Suffering Wives & Children
ne theme that is seen time and time again throughout the Bible is the command to care for the widows and the orphans. At ICC, we do not take this command lightly and we seek to provide for families who are facing hardship because of their faith. We do this, in part, through our Suffering Wives and Children fund. Due to the impact of radical Islamic terrorism throughout the Middle East and northern Africa, many families in Egypt have lost their loved ones to violence. Not only does this leave families struck with unimaginable grief, but they are also then left struggling financially, without means to provide for themselves. The story of some Christians in southern Egypt is unfortunately all too common. Due to social discrimination and limited occupational opportunities in their hometowns, Christian men in Egypt are often left with no other option but to leave the country in search of better job opportunities. Unfortunately, this leads Christians to travel to Libya, which is becoming increasingly dangerous because of kidnappings and murders at the hands of radical groups such as ISIS. In response, ICC has set up a sewing center in southern Egypt to provide for the widows and families who have faced such circumstances, causing them to lose their main breadwinners. By setting up this sewing center, these families have not only been able to receive the vocational training needed to create the products which they will sell, but they have also gained the experience needed to operate a small business. They will be able to create and sell clothing through this business, which will then be used to provide for their families. Although we cannot bring back their loved ones, we have provided these families with a steady source of income so that financial troubles will no longer be a worry.
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MAY 2016
Providing for Rejected MBBs
1,200 Heaters for Iraqis
Hand of Hope
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uslims who come to Christ in Niger face some of the most difficult persecution, especially from their own families. MuslimBackground Believers (MBBs) experience rejection from their relatives in a variety of terrifying ways in this 90-plus percent Islamic country in West Africa. ICC has heard stories of radical Muslim in-laws disowning, beating, and even killing sons and daughters-in-law when their relatives convert to Christianity. The most common persecution happens when families kick Christians out of the house to live on the streets and cut off believers’ streams of financial help. ICC has stepped in to work with a local church in Niger and our partner World Renew to provide food for three MBBs rejected by their families and a sewing machine for one getting ready to graduate from tailoring school. Please pray for our suffering Nigerian brothers and sisters.
Moto-Taxis for Injured Pakistanis
Hand of Hope
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SIS has threatened Christians in the region with forced conversion to Islam, a protection tax, or death. Due to the threat of ISIS, particularly in Iraq, hundreds of thousands have been displaced from their homes. As winter swept across the country, it became clear that assistance would be needed to protect the families that found themselves vulnerable to the elements. ICC was able to provide blankets, heaters, clothes and mattresses to many refugees who were forcibly displaced in Iraq. Heaters were delivered to over 1,200 people in northern Iraq in partnership with the local church. With your help, we have been able to directly serve Christians by providing them with warmth for the winter, while also giving them the opportunity to share that warmth with fellow refugees, using this as a form of outreach.
Hand of Hope
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ast March, two churches in the predominately Christian neighborhood of Youhanabad, Pakistan were attacked by suicide bombers, leaving 21 people killed and another 70 injured. Shortly after the bombings, ICC sent one of our Regional Managers to Pakistan to assess the effect of the attack on Youhanabad’s Christian community. Among the greatest needs that ICC discovered was that many of the Christians injured in the attack needed assistance transitioning from a primarily labor-driven workforce to jobs that their now handicapped bodies could do to support their families. One solution that ICC and the Christians in Youhanabad came up with was providing many of these injured Christians with autorickshaws, a type of local taxi in Pakistan. Thus far, ICC has provided 14 Christian families with auto-rickshaws that they can use as a small business to help support their families.
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Your Dollar$ at Work
75,000 Bibles Distributed in Northern Africa
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Bibles to the Persecuted
common roadblock in working in areas where Christianity is restricted is that Christians often don’t have their own copy of the Bible, much less in their own language. One of ICC’s goals has been to increase access to the Gospel, one Bible at a time. Through an underground printing press, ICC has worked with local partners to produce and distribute 75,000 Bibles in northern Africa and the Middle East during the year of 2015. The spread of ISIS and other extremist groups has threatened to choke Christianity out of the region. Churches have been demolished. Bibles and other religious literature have been destroyed. Seminaries have been overrun. However, it is evident that Gospel seeds are being planted throughout the region as more and more people gain copies of the Bible and are coming to know the truth.
Rebuilding a Burned Church
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Hand of Hope
n the middle of the night on October 7, 2014, the Temple of Hope Church in India was burned to ground by unknown assailants. Many of the 60 Christians that are members of the church continue to worship as a community but, because they all come from poor backgrounds, have not been able to afford the costs of rebuilding the church. When ICC heard about the challenges faced by the church, we sent a representative to assess the needs of the community. During those meetings, ICC and the Temple of Hope Church agreed to work together to rebuild. Using funds from its Hand of Hope South Asia Fund, ICC purchased the necessary building materials. Temple of Hope Pastor Nehemiah said, “ICC’s involvement has been timely. We were praying about how we were going to rebuild [our] church building. We really appreciate the gesture from ICC and their visit was very meaningful. We, as a church, want to express our thanks to all the brethren for being part of our lives and faith.”
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MAY 2016
Your Dollar$ at Work
Providing for Families After Loss
O Motorbike Assists Pastor
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Hand of Hope
n September 22, 2013, Zamir, an eightyear-old Christian boy, was attending church when suicide bombers from the Pakistani Taliban attacked All Saints Church in Peshawar, Pakistan. As a result, Zamir received a serious head wound that ultimately claimed his life on November 17, 2015. ICC paid for all of the medical expenses Zamir’s
parents had incurred as well as all of the funeral arrangements Zamir’s family needed. “I am thankful to ICC for taking care of my son’s medical expenses and now for this love and care at this difficult time,” Zamir’s father said. “I know my son will never come back, however, I recognize the love I have received from ICC. I have never seen any organization help families with such great vision and Christian attitude.”
Underground Pastors
he Christian community of Indonesia faces persecution in different forms, from government restrictions on church property to direct physical violence. In a majority Muslim nation, their very presence places undue hardship upon them. Underground churches are the most affected as they do not have proper building permits, forcing them to meet in homes and other foreign locations. Their main threat comes from radical Muslim groups who wish nothing more than to remove all vestiges of Christianity from Indonesia. One such underground church experienced the wrath of radical Islam when members of the church were forced to reconvert to Islam. Even with the threat of further retaliation, the pastor returned to visit and found that they remained faithful to Christ! ICC was able to provide a motorbike to the pastor so that he could minister to his congregation without placing them or himself in harm’s way. He is able to ride into town, visit with fellow believers, and minister to them secretly which would not have been possible without means of transportation.
Rebuilding Homes from Ashes
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Community Rebuild
n July 5, 2014, militant Islamist radicals from al-Shabaab attacked Malamande village in eastern Kenya, killing 15 men, leaving four widows and dozens of children fatherless. ICC stepped in to help these suffering Christians rebuild their houses that gunmen burned down during the attack. Malamande is a rural town pocked with burned-out shells
of mud huts, a constant reminder of the dreadful day of persecution. Today, 15 houses stand completed with doors, windows, roofs, wooden frames and mud plastering to replace the buildings lost. Thanks to your generous donations and with the help of work from our faithful partners in Kenya, Malamande villagers thank God for His grace as they move forward with cautious hope for the future in the face of fear and opposition to Christ.
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Joy in Jesus By Troy Augustine
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MAY 2016
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astor Kevin* knows how to be joyful in the midst of suffering. His church in Mombasa, Kenya continues to face the after-effects of devastating persecution, and his testimony aligns fittingly with the truth that sometimes the sweetest part of life comes in fellowship with God as we go through trials. Pastor Kevin’s story is one where God, in His own timing and providence, saw fit to purify Kevin’s faith so that his hope and the character of his ministry would match the name of the church he shepherds: Joy in Jesus.
A Look at the Anatomy of an al-Shabaab Attack On March 23, 2014, radical Muslim gunmen from al-Shabaab attacked Joy in Jesus Church, which lies in the heart of a predominantly Muslim slum in Mombasa called Likoni. The attackers came in through the church’s back door during the Sunday School teaching time. Pastor Kevin recounted the grisly details of that fateful day to me, as if it occurred yesterday. “Before I arrived at the church, they called me to say we were under attack. I heard gunshots, people screaming, crying. It was like a horror movie. It was just like hell,” he told me. Kevin survives today because he was en route to church that morning, having delegated the Sunday School teaching to his associate pastor. The gunmen sprayed bullets indiscriminately into the congregation from behind as church members sat in the wooden pews, they murdered six people, including the teaching pastor. They also left twice as many people wounded in the flesh but almost all who were present remain traumatized. “Even today, my wife cannot come alone,” Pastor Kevin lamented. His wife survived the
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“When I came, everybody was running. You couldn’t know who was who. The blood was everywhere - some people lying down, some dead ... it was great, total confusion.” attack, but remembers the day with horror. This is just one attack that did not receive the media attention it warranted. These brutal attacks, though ignored by the media, live on in the hearts and minds of the victims that survived. Even after victims and participants recover from their physical wounds, they often live with PTSD, carrying the indelible stain of trauma, often for the rest of their lives. When Pastor Kevin finally arrived on the
scene, he beheld horror that he will never forget. “When I came, everybody was running. You couldn’t know who was who,” he said. “The blood [was] everywhere… Some people lying down, some dead, and then the police came. It was a great, total confusion. Some people were coming, collapsing again,” he added. Two years after the attack, the congregation has dwindled from 120 in 2014 to 19 at MAY 2016
Photos Top Left Many
of the members who survived the attack still struggle with PTSD and general anxiety, but others have found that the attack has taught them to find “Joy in Jesus” despite their trials.
Bottom Left The permanent stain of spilled blood on the concrete floor of the church remains an inescapable reminder of the horrific attack.
Right Despite the many bullet holes that riddled the back wall, the glass podium with the words “Joy in Jesus” boldly displayed, remained unscathed.
preaching the Word of God while the threat of another al-Shabaab attack remains potent. “[After the attack] God inserted into me a spirit of courage,” he told ICC. “After your church gets shot up, you don’t fear anymore and you stop caring [about the danger],” he said. Pastor Kevin told ICC that these days, he feels more persecuted by the false Gospel teachers that seek financial gain rather than souls. He feels they do more to cripple his ministry than al-Shabaab. “There are even some of us who are persecuted by members of the church because of the faithfulness to the Word of God,” he said. The New Testament teaches us that, “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” Ephesians 6:12 (ESV). Pastor Kevin continues to fight for joy in Jesus while he has faced physical devastation towards his church, as well as the more dangerous spiritual attacks. Living under persecution almost always includes attacks on both fronts.
Finding Joy in Jesus through Suffering the time of our meeting. Most of the original church members are responding in the expectation of their attackers and are too afraid to go to the church. Many others have simply moved away from Mombasa, seeking safer pastures.
Challenging, Soul-Winning Ministry Pastor Kevin also told me that the church has also lost members to Islam and to false teachers that promise them only healing, blessing, and wealth if they attend their church services. Local pastors in Mombasa told ICC that the Likoni section of Mombasa offers an exciting
opportunity for Muslim-outreach evangelism, but that in ministering, you walk a tightrope between the two diversions of Islamic radicalism and the prosperity gospel. The extreme poverty creates an environment where these false belief systems offer financial and social stability as a reward for faith. They promise the fulfillment of practical needs for people who are disenfranchised and struggling to make ends meet. These factors create a fertile breeding ground for al-Shabaab as they recruit among the Somali ex-pats.
Faithfulness & Hardships
Despite the murder of his coworkers and congregants, Pastor Kevin remains faithful,
Each Sunday as he walks into church, Pastor Kevin faces the inescapable reminder of the horror of March 23, 2014. The spilled blood of his sheep has permanently stained the concrete floor. “That’s refused to go away. We’ve washed it… stain removers, everything. This has refused to go away until this day,” Pastor Kevin said. Undoubtedly, God has called Kevin to a difficult and persevering faith, serving the Lord under persecution in Mombasa. But despite the psychological strain of the trauma, he leans on God’s grace for strength and finds joy in the midst of suffering, come what may. “We have been through a lot. We don’t fear anymore… There is nothing human beings can do to you,” he said.
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Feature Article
Only Ashes: A Tribute Scene of a Murder
A spread of ashes is all that remains of a Christian who was buried under a pile of rubble and burned alive by al-Shabaab jihadists.
“There were only ashes left,” Priscilla, the widow of a Christian martyr in Malamande, Kenya, describes of her husband’s tragic murder during the attack on their village. By Troy Augustine
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ight pokes mysteriously through a small hole at the base of a dried mud wall in the back corner of a burned-out hut that is no longer covered by a thatch roof. The hole is about eight inches wide and only reaches six inches above the bare dirt floor of the hut. Looking up, you see tiny burn marks at the tip of each wooden support beam that once held up the roof. In the middle of the room, the grass has grown around a five and a half by two foot patch next to the hole. Put those three elements together and, if you know the
context of what happened in the village, it becomes clear that this is a murder scene. The hole is a telling reminder of a victim’s desperate and futile clawing to escape the hut and remain alive when the jihadists came calling. The low patch in the grass in the room is the grave marker of the victim. It doesn’t take a well-trained detective to diagnose the murder scene. The burned-out patch amidst the room’s overgrowth serves as a natural “chalk outline” showing where Gichobi’s body lay when he died. Together, they mark the last minutes of the life and the death of Gichobi. On Gichobi’s last night, he awoke startled and disoriented when gunmen came pounding at MAY 2016
Feature Article
to Gichobi his door. Once he realized what was happening and that his only way of escape was blocked, he began to desperately dig at the wall, hoping to create a space just large enough to squeeze out before the militants could breach his door and kill him. Sadly, he never made it out, and the hole that remains would have hardly accommodated a small child. “When they found him trying to make the hole to exit, there was a gunman waiting outside,” Gichobi’s wife Priscilla told ICC. “They piled up the TV, mattresses, and solar panels [onto his body] and took gasoline from his motorbike and burned him,” Priscilla said. “There were only ashes left,” she added.
ing another village, Malamande, nearly three weeks later.
Persecution: A Sobering Reality Al-Shabaab became notorious for perpetrating the September 2013 Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi where militants murdered 67 people. Then, in April 2015, the terror group carried out the most horrific persecution attack in the country’s history when they assaulted Garissa University. During the massacre, assailants separated Christians from Muslims, killing believers and letting Muslims go free. At the end of the day, they killed 148 people. In Kenya, persecution is a heavy and sobering reality, especially for families such as Gichobi’s. Even today, the al-Shabaab threat looms heavily over eastern Kenya. Many Christians live in fear that they have a target on their back. Al-Shabaab also regularly hijacks buses as part of their attack strategy.
Merciless Killing by al-Shabaab Gichobi lived in a small village outside of Hindi, Kenya called Malamande, where he was a farmer supporting his wife and family. Gichobi died with 11 other men on July 5, 2014 when militant Islamists from al-Shabaab attacked Malamande, murdering all of the males, including men and young boys, present in the village. The attackers set homes ablaze and left a handful of widows and dozens of children fatherless. Tragically, Priscilla lost both her husband, Gichobi, and her son Ken. “When [Gichobi’s] 10-year-old son Ken was trying to run away, they shot him. Their neighbor Lawrence heard their screams and came to rescue them. They slaughtered him as well. It is very sad,” ICC’s Kenya staffer said. From June 15 to 17, 2014, alShabaab attacked the village of Mpeketoni, murdering 60 people and targeting Christians in two separate assaults before raz-
One of the Saddest Stories
“When they found him trying to make a hole to exit, there was a gunman waiting outside.” – WIFE OF MARTYRED CHRISTIAN IN MALAMANDE
When ICC visited Malamande in January 2016, al-Shabaab remained active in the region, killing three people in Mpeketoni on January 31. We remember Gichobi as one whose story adds a face to the countless persecuted Christians around the world who live under the same kinds of threats. He is a Christian martyr whose tragedy preaches to us to remember those in the Body who are suffering. “Even the first time I was here, this was the story that pierced my heart. This is one of the saddest stories I have ever heard about terrorism,” ICC’s Kenya staffer said.
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Life
A general store which provided the community with everyday goods was destroyed during the attack.
from Death
A vulnerable village begins to live again, rebuilding from the ashes of death, hatred, and devastation.
A By Jeremiah Castelo
horrendous scar runs the length of Samuel Kangethe’s abdomen as a permanent reminder of the fragility of life. Had it not been for the surgeons who removed a single bullet from his body, or the emergency medical team who airlifted him to safety, or even the Kenyan soldiers who noticed his motionless body lying among the actual dead, Samuel would not be alive to tell his story. Samuel’s father shuddered as soon as he heard the gunfire. He knew instantly that his village of Malamande was under attack from al-Shabaab gunmen. He immediately tried to escape through a window but was met with a single bullet that cost him his life. Samuel fled the house and was brought down by a shot to the back. The once quiet village of Malamande was forever changed and stained with blood as the jihadists went about their work methodically; the sound of short bursts of gunfire was intermittently interrupted by the killers giving glory to Allah.
Preying on the Weak
Malamande is a small village outside of the larger town of Hindi, whose rich, fertile land provides for the cultivating of fruit and vegetables. It is a tightly knit community made up of mud brick homes where the village leader also fulfills the role of their pastor. Hindi, a town with a much larger population than Malamande, and
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The livelihood of Samuel Kangethe’s children is dependent on their father’s survival. therefore a much more saturated Christian presence, was the initial target sought out by al-Shabaab militants. However, Malamande village was nearby and more spread out, allowing the militants to easily hide in the bush as they conducted reconnaissance on Hindi.
Resistance in Hindi
From there, they observed and weighed the potential risk that Hindi’s security forces would pose. They observed guard routes, the security and integrity of various potential entry and exit points, targets, etc. The time spent scouting the layout and defenses of Hindi was a worthwhile investment of time but ultimately the militants underestimated the Kenyan security forces guarding it. After attacking, they met strong opposition and both sides suffered casualties in a torrential exchange of gunfire. The Kenyan Defense Force withstood al-Shabaab’s advances and MAY 2016
“If I met [my attackers] today, I [could say I] forgive them.” – Samuel Kangethe, a Christian who was left to die in a pool of his
own blood while listening to the gunshot that claimed his father’s life
Edna Nasmiyu’s joy in Christ is evident despite her tragic loss. forced them back in decisive fashion. Shamed, frustrated, and still fueled with a compelling desire to unleash death in the name of Islam, the gunmen retreated and shifted their focus to the much more vulnerable village of Malamande. Their calculated plan of attack on Hindi morphed into a frantic, rage-driven killing spree on Malamande. They quickly burned down 15 houses, scorched the village crops, and killed many men. The attack came as quickly as a thief in the night, but the repercussions are still felt to this day.
Hope and Despair
A large portion of the village left after the attack and has not returned, deciding to live in Hindi or other safer areas. Edna Nasmiyu left and refuses to come back after losing her husband and 28-year-old son in the attack. Some of the wounded survivors are back in the village carrying on bravely through life, but not all wounds are physical. Since the attack, Priscilla Wangudi has been a resident of a psychological facility after losing her husband and child.
Rebuilding the Rubble
Soon after the attack, ICC began working on a project to help the villagers of Malamande get back on their feet. We brought in seed and fertilizer immediately after the attack so the residents would not miss a harvest and a year’s income. Then we started working with them to rebuild their homes.
In January of 2016, two ICC staff members visited Malamande to celebrate the completion of 15 homes that we rebuilt, and to fellowship with the villagers as they carry on in life after the devastating attack. ICC has helped the people of Malamande get back on their feet, but most are still far from returning to the quality of life they once had. Many more are struggling to rebuild their farms and businesses. Many are struggling to cope with devastating grief. Many still live in fear of another attack.
I Am Weak, But He Is Strong
However, most of the villagers have found ways to cope with the loss, including moving into their newly rebuilt homes and replanting their crops. In the midst of the devastation, Christ’s presence can be felt as His presence is expressed through the lives of the survivors. Before leaving the village with Samuel Kangethe, whose father was shot, we asked him about the killers that left him to die, lying in a pool of his own blood, as he listened to the gunshot that took his father’s life. He said, “If I met them today, I [could say I] have forgiven them. If we do not forgive them, we will [live in internal conflict].” This type of expression is the mark of the presence of the Holy Spirit and how Malamande and the rest of us can rebuild our lives after pain and tragedy. The scars and sometimes and even the wounds remain but the Lord is the great Redeemer. He is able to use the raw material of murder, hate, and destruction, to build something new, something sweet, something alive! His life and light are noticeable in the darkness.
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Hope, Fear & Sacrifice An Insider’s Account of a Taliban Attack By William Stark
“In the name of Allah the Merciful the Compassionate … Islamic governments have never and will never be established through peaceful solutions and cooperative councils. They will be established as they always have been: by pen and gun, by word and bullet, by tongue and teeth.”
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here is a lot of fear, but there is also a lot of hope,” John*, a leader in the Afghan Underground Church, told me as we drank coffee at a Starbucks in Dubai. Having been a long term witness to the persecution faced by Afghan Christians, the second part of this statement came as quite a surprise. How could a leader from the underground church in Afghanistan talk about hope? What is there to be hopeful about in the one of the worst countries for Christians on Earth? As we continued talking about the persecution faced by Afghanistan’s Christians, I pressed John on his point about hope. “I think the situation in Afghanistan will get tougher for Christians in 2016,” John responded. Again, this seemed like a paradoxical answer to the question I was asking. “There is a lot of persecution, but at the same time we see growth. Lots of Afghans are looking for hope because they are tired of fighting. There are Christians living among them who are hopeful because of their faith. This make people curious and brings more people to the Gospel.” This growth and interest in the Gospel in Afghanistan hasn’t come without setbacks, John went on to explain. Unfortunately in Afghanistan, a “setback” often involves violence, and sometimes murder. To that point, at the end of 2014, the Afghan
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— Al Qaeda Training Manual Church suffered its latest big setback when Taliban gunmen attacked a Christian training center in Kabul, killing five Christians, including a South African pastor named Warner and his two children, and injuring dozens more. “We were supposed to be gathering together in Kabul to follow up on a conference we had held the day before when the attack happened,” John remembered. “I was called away to another city, so I actually was not there the day the attack happened.” “The meeting was supposed to be at 5:00, right after some Afghan believers were gathering for a prayer meeting,” John continued. “At 4:58 p.m., the Taliban fighters knocked on the door at the compound. The watchman, who was a young man and a believer, opened the door and the fighters tried to push past him.” “He resisted, so they killed him by shooting him with a pistol.” “When they shot the watchman, Warner heard the noise and went to investigate because the area was on alert,” John recalled. “As he was walking up the stairs to come up from the basement, they shot him on the stairs. The bullet only hit his leg, but there was a lot of bleeding and he fell down.” “They say the fighters knew the exact layout of the building,” John told me. “After shooting Warner, they walked straight to the basement [where] the Afghan believers were gathered. The believers hid behind chairs and a desk when the fighters opened fire; one person was killed and others injured.” “The fighters then quickly went upstairs because they were searching for foreigners,”
John explained. “They searched the rooms upstairs where they found Warner’s son and daughter. They shot his son seven times and his daughter nine times.” “Warner died because of bleeding,” John said. “He could have survived but he lost a lot of blood and there was no one there to help him at that time.” “The fighters then threw grenades into some [of] the rooms,” John continued. “That is when the police showed up and started exchanging fire with the fighters.” “They [then] detonated their suicide vests and the place started burning. The first floor and the second floor were burned, but the basement was ok.” “The police then took everyone that was connected with Warner in for questioning,” John remembered. “Since I was out of town, I had to talk to them over the phone. They wanted to know who was behind the attack and also what we were doing at the center.” In the end, the Taliban took credit for the attack. Zabiullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, took to Twitter and officially claimed responsibility, stating that the attack clearly targeted a “secret missionary center.” Unfortunately for the Church in Afghanistan, there have been many “setbacks,” moments of intense persecution followed by the Christian community retreating underground. In 2010, a video of Afghan Christians being baptized in Afghanistan was released on a local TV station in Kabul and led to months of intense persecution with many Afghan Christians needing to flee the country to survive. MAY 2016
Because of intense persecution, the church in Afghanistan gathers secretly to worship.
“This time was a little better,” John told me. “But still, many people did go into hiding after this attack.” It was at this point that our conversation turned toward an overall understanding of persecution as opposed to specific attacks and the way forward for the Afghan Church. This gave me a glimpse as to why John had started our meeting by talking about hope for the Church in Afghanistan. “We first need to understand persecution,” John said. “It’s biblical. The apostles and Jesus, who are our models, went through per-
secution. In Philippians, Paul is writing about being full of joy but he’s in prison waiting to be executed.” “We know that we will be persecuted for the name of Jesus,” John continued. “Paul often talks about sharing in suffering and that is what we are doing now. The apostles were persecuted just like we are being persecuted.” “One of the most important things we are teaching is that this persecution is not a result of our weakness,” John said. “In God’s wisdom, He has allowed us to be persecuted. We have to remember that God is
in control of everything and that He is being glorified even in our persecution.” “This teaching is what we are teaching and encouraging in our networks in Afghanistan.” John’s wisdom and faith in our Father in spite of the intense suffering endured by him and his countrymen, touched me deeply and gave me a long-term perspective and hope for the Church in Afghanistan. With leaders like John building the faith in Afghanistan, I have no doubt that the Gospel will continue to spread in spite of the oppression, attacks, bombings, and murder they face.
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Enough is Enough U.S. Congress Speaks Out on Christian Persecution in India
I By Nate Lance
f you were to search a world map for the worst offenders of persecution, few would look to India as a hotbed of religious intolerance. Surprisingly though, despite India’s constitutional guarantee of freedom of worship, many Christians and Muslims are facing severe persecution in this predominantly Hindu country. As is so often the case, there is a dichotomy between the laws on their books versus the reality on the ground for religious minorities. Because of this alarming rise in religious persecution since the election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and after extensive efforts from International Christian Concern, the United States Congress has felt the need to speak out on behalf of the persecuted. Since Modi’s election, ICC has received and investigated numerous reports of persecution at the hands of Hindu radical groups on individual Christians and Muslims as well as their communities. These radical Hindu groups are the primary instigators behind the attacks, and have historical and political ties to Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In fact, until 2014, both the United Kingdom and United States had visa bans in place on the then-governor Narendra Modi due to his handling of antiMuslim riots in Gujarat province in 2002 that left more than 1,000 people dead. The increase of persecution has been well documented through ICC’s travel to the area, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), and the work of other NGOs. Despite the deteriorating situation for reli-
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gious minorities in India, the Prime Minister has only publicly spoken about religious tolerance twice and in only the vaguest of terms, never citing a particular group or faith. That being said, ICC and our allies in Congress believe that it is vital that Modi specifically condemn these acts, and use the power of India’s federal government to restore the religious freedom their constitution is meant to guarantee.
US Congress Speaks Out Due to India’s horrendous record of protecting religious minorities, Congress felt the need to speak out regarding one of the US’s allies with a letter including the signatures of eight US senators and 26 congressmen, along with the support of other non-governmental organizations, which asks Prime Minister
“... Ensure that the … rights of religious minorities are protected and that the perpetrators... are held to account.”
Modi to clearly condemn religious intolerance and enforce the rule of law in regards to religious freedom throughout India. The letter states, “We urge your government to take immediate steps to ensure that the fundamental rights of religious minorities are protected and that the perpetrators of violence are held to account.” The letter also specifically raises the concerns of minority religions in India. In regards to Christians, the letter cites that “more than 50 village councils in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh adopted a resolution banning all ‘non-Hindu religious propaganda, prayers, and speeches’ in their communities,” a resolution that “effectively has criminalized the practice of Christianity.” For Muslims, “the nearly country-wide beef ban is increasing tensions and encouraging vigilante violence against the Indian Muslim community.” Regarding the Sikh community, it reads that, “the lack of recognition of Sikhism as a distinct religion, which prevents members of the community from accessing social services and employment and educational preferences available to other religious communities.” It continues, “On October 14, security forces killed two Sikhs and injured scores of others in Punjab who were protesting peacefully against the desecration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Sikhism’s holy book.” According to ICC sources, the Indian government has been actively employing their ambassador to deter signatures on this letter. However, the US Congress has felt the need to persist on this issue. Since it’s delivery on February 26, the letter has received coverage on many major news outlets in India in addition to international media attention. MAY 2016
Indian Government Calls Incidents “Aberrations” The Indian government has also been active in its response to the letter. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated, “It is unfortunate that these Members of Congress while applauding India as a pluralistic society with a longstanding commitment to inclusion and tolerance have chosen to focus on just a few incidents.” The statement went on to call instances of religious intolerance “aberrations,” while citing India’s constitution which is meant to guarantee religious freedom among other efforts as a defense of their government. However, as ICC has documented, the realities that Christians and other religious minorities face on the ground are far from being “aberrations” or a resemblance of a state with religious freedom protections.
Restoring Freedom
ICC’s advocacy team meets with congressional offices to seek their cooperation in ending persecution in India.
ICC’s hope and prayer is that this letter will serve as the catalyst for Modi to restore freedom of religion in his country, a move that is in his country’s best interest. Despite the political courage needed for Modi to stand against groups that are aligned with his political party, this action should require relatively little political capital since it is a matter of enforcing the law as opposed to passing new legislation. Although it would be counterintuitive for most BJP followers, enforcement of existing laws and a clear condemnation of religious intolerance would be in the their own self-interest since the BJP has previously been thrown out of power for religious intolerance. Restoring religious freedom would also serve India’s economy well as it will establish a safe and secure place for economic growth and foreign investment, a key plank in the platform that handed victory to Prime Minister Modi and his party in the last election. This action will also have international ramifications. The protection of religious minorities will make India a leader for other countries in the region by equally enforcing the rule of law. Putting all political and economic considerations aside, a decision from Modi to enforce India’s constitution will protect the human rights of religious minorities in India and, in some cases, their very lives.
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Feature Article
Bridging the Gap Between Healing Grace
ICC staff and pastors minister in Egypt to the children of Healing Grace Ministries.
As your bridge to the persecuted, we took four American pastors to Egypt to change their lives forever.
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have never been to the moon before, but when I gazed out of the airplane window as we flew over Cairo International Airport, I imagined that this is what the moon would look like. Gone were the wellkept, manicured lawns of Washington D.C. and the lush trees and bushes that surround the McMansions of the area.
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Forgotten were the shimmering of the sun off the Potomac River and sparkling of the office building windows throughout the US capital. Below was just a sea of whitewashed sand. We were in Egypt and about to change the lives of four American pastors who felt the call to make this journey with us. In an effort to help pastors better understand the plight of the persecuted Church, ICC takes them on trips specifically designed to let them see persecution first hand. We show them how
the persecuted live, how they do ministry and, in some cases, how they mourn and mend after losing loved ones to Islamic extremism. After months of preparation and filtering, we selected four pastors from around the US to travel with us and experience this once-in-alifetime trip.
Welcome to Garbage City On our first day we took our pastors to the Garbage City. From the second we entered the city, we were surrounded by trash. There was trash on the streets, trash in people’s living rooms and trash in their courtyards. Some piles of trash reached more than 30 feet in height. Due to the economic persecution on some Christians in the city, many are forced to live and work in this dump. Workers collect MAY 2016
Feature Article
n the East and West “Words simply can’t describe how humbling it was to sit with these saints. My church has prayed for them … but to be able to pray with them is something I will always remember.” In Cairo, Christians live and work as the city’s garbage collectors.
gods of Egypt. We then traveled to numerous Coptic churches, presented them with the history of the Church, and then toured a few mosques to show how Islam took over.
Meeting the Families of the Vicitms
American pastors meet with families of the Christian martys in southern Egypt. and bring all of the trash of Cairo and drop it off in the city. Then Christian families sort through the trash to find valuables and recyclables that they can sell in the market. As we walked the winding streets I couldn’t help but notice that in spite of their circumstances, each Christian that we saw waved and smiled at us. It was astonishing to see that even though their circumstances were terrible, these saints were truly living with the joy of the Lord in their hearts. Paul’s words to the Philippians kept echoing off the walls of my heart: “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” As we crested the top of the city’s mount we were astonished to find a massive cave that hosts one of the largest churches in the
Middle East. The Cave Church is literally just that, a church in a cave. This massive structure holds an astounding 20,000 seats and is located in one of the largest Christian slums in the world.
We Don’t Have A Clue After spending time with the Christians in the Garbage City, one of our pastors said, “It’s my experience that most Christians in the West don’t have a clue what is happening to Christians around the world, especially in the Middle East. [This] first-hand exposure is life-changing.” The next couple of days were spent giving the pastors an overview of Christianity and persecution in the country. We started at the Pyramids and showed them the ancient
The highlight of the trip was when we traveled south to visit with some families that had lost loved ones to persecution. One of our pastors said, “Words simply can’t describe how humbling it was to sit with these saints. My church has prayed for them for the past year but to be able to pray with them is something that I will always remember.” After listening to the family’s stories, we traveled to the local church where we had the opportunity to meet with their priest. Upon meeting him, one of our pastors was asked to preach a short message of hope to the widows and children of the martyrs. It was quite astounding to witness an ICC pastor from New York City standing at the pulpit of the small Coptic Church and delivering a powerful message of healing and hope to families that that had loved ones murdered. The pastor stated, “I was honored and I will never forget standing in front of these people and ministering to them.” After the trip was completed, one of our pastors told me that he “gained a greater understanding of persecution in general. It is not all straightforward, but has many nuances, especially in a place like Egypt. This will help in my praying, and also as I talk with others about the plight of the persecuted. It was also personally encouraging in my own faith.”
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Who’s the Biggest Evangelist in the Middle East? You would never guess, but it’s ISIS! ISIS, The Muslim Brotherhood, al-Shabaab, and Boko Haram are creating massive discontent within Islam and causing many Muslims to leave Islam for Christianity. One prominent leader in the Middle East told me that ISIS is the evangelist, while he is merely the one doing the baptizing. On July 7, 8, and 9, we are gathering the Church to an international conference in the US to meet their persecuted brothers and sisters and those that work on their behalf. This year’s conference is focused on “The Disappearing Church of the Middle East.” From members of Congress, to nonprofits, to churches, to missionaries, to the persecuted themselves, we are gathering the free and persecuted Church together to learn from each other and to learn how to connect and fight for the persecuted Church as well as how to take part in this historic opportunity to reach Muslims in the Middle East. This isn’t an ICC conference, but rather a conference about persecution where the speakers and leaders we gather will give you the inside scoop on ISIS, persecution, and how to get your church engaged and connected with Christians in persecuted countries. Finally, we want this conference to be a call for revival for the Western Church. In the persecuted Church, you find real devotion, sacrifice, and great love for the Lord in spite of the terrible cost Christians pay for their faith. It’s that spirit that we love and hope to spread, starting with you! Come with us and let’s cross The Bridge together! Jeff King President Persecution.org/ International Christian Concern
To register for The Bridge please visit: www.thepersecutionconference.org or call George Gomez at 301-329-2846 30
MAY 2016
2016 INVITED SPEAKERS
Eric Metaxas
Jason Upton
Jeff King
Senator Marco Rubio (invited)
Daniel Shayesteh
Dr. Nemam Ghafouri
Tass Saada
Dr. Sharon Linzey Ackerman
Juliana Taimoorazy
David Saperstein
Rep. Frank Wolf
Rep Trent Franks
Knox Thames
Robert Seiple
Rep. Joe Pitts
Rep. Chris Smith
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