Churches destroyed in wave of religious violence in Nigeria

Praise Jesus!!

i don't know which troubles me more. The persecution that goes on around the world in the name of Allah (the moon god).

Or the apathy and indifference to such things that i see from American Christians (so-called)

Also from China

270 House Church Pastors Detained for Alleged Illegal Religious Gathering

Contact: Daniel Burton, China Aid Association, 432-689-6985; www.chinaAid.org, www.monitorChina.org

SHANDONG PROVINCE, Dec. 10 /Christian Newswire/ -- China Aid Association has learned that 270 House Church Pastors have been detained for what Chinese officials are calling an "illegal religious gathering."

On December 7 at 1:30pm, House Church pastors in Hedeng District, Linyi City, were gathered for a Bible Study when their meeting was disrupted by police officials.

According to Pastor Li, an eyewitness, 40-50 policemen from 12 different towns were involved in the massive detention. The pastors were then handcuffed two-by-two and taken to the local police station for questioning. As of this morning 150 pastors remain in custody. The others have been released on a Y300 ($40) interrogation fee.

The humiliation these pastors received by being led away in handcuffs as common criminals, for attending a Bible study is an unjustifiable act of religious persecution. In addition, the large scale and high profile of the detentions shows the apathy of Chinese officials in moving towards a policy for toleration of religious freedom. Behavior unbecoming of the World's host for the Olympic games in 2008.

China Aid will continue to monitor the situation.

Hisservant rich

Matthew 4:17

What concerns me is that in America and the UK, where entertainment prevails, that news stories like this are just that - stories we're used to seeing and have become hardened to. They don't affect us because it's not happening to us.

As Christians, we need to know that this is our family being attacked, persecuted, tortured and imprisoned. This DOES affect us! These are real, live people, not just just still photos that show up on the news.

We, as the body of Christ, are responsible for each other. We need to remember our brothers and sisters in prayer. To lift them before the Father and bathe them in prayer. We're so protected. We don't know this kind of persecution and harrassment. These people risk their very lives just [i]being[/i] a Christian! Yet, God is so real to them that they count it worth any cost! Could we do the same? Would we like someone praying for us in that situation?

These events are real and happen daily, saints! We need to be in prayer! It's the covering and protection our brothers and sisters rely on!

I am in Nigeria right know sitting behind my 10 foot wall with 3 feet barbed wire fence on top of that. There is 3 security guards on all night. If I leave to travel in Lagos I have a car with darkened windows with 2 securtiy presonnel with me. As well as the 4 in the car behind with semi automatic guns. But thank God I am not up in the north or eastern parts of Nigeria.

The thing that gets to me most is the beggars when we are in traffic blind children begging on the highways. People with disformaties that you don't seem to see in the western world. What about the Fathers who send there daughters out to be harlots. To make money to feed there families. Would you as a Father want to send your daughters out onto the streets. Then again you see the ultra rich people here as well those who have become very rich due to the natural wealth that is in this country. Yes this a strange strange place indeed.

You can see also the signS up at nearly every street corner. Sign, Wonders, Breakthrough all the hype that goes with the prosperity Gospel. Trying to be like those the see on TBN. Recently TJ Jakes and John Hagee a report 10 million people turned out to see them. The city came to a stand still there are 19 million people in Lagos. These people are hungry for God.

I spoke about Moslems just like I do in UK (nothing to radical) to one guy here and he said to me people die in this country for saying such things.

We should be grateful very grateful for what we have.

I have been hearing God call me recently he has been talking to me about going to the poor and praying for the church. I hear God say to me take care of my church and I'll take care of your family.

One thing I have noticed about the poor they will share there last with you. We in the West are the opposite we get all we can, then can what we can.

Deut 15:11 For the poor will never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt surely open thy hand unto thy brother, to thy needy, and to thy poor, in thy land.

by Compliments on 2008/2/12 14:16:24

Quote: SimpleLiving said:

[i]What concerns me is that in America and the UK, where entertainment prevails, that news stories like this are just that - stories we're used to seeing and have become hardened to. They don't affect us because it's not happening to us.[/i]

Compliments said:

What if we didn't have the media to tell us this? Back in the day it would have taken months or even years before this kind of information reached our shores.

Firstly, my point wasn't about getting our news from the media. My point is that the US and the UK are entertainment driven and tend not to give two thoughts to the horrors our brothers and sisters are enduring in other countries.

What do we do with the information we do get, pray? I got too much on my plate here as it is to be burdened with Nigeria. Only God can be concerned about the whole world, we are not able to take it all upon us.

I am deeply grieved over this remark. Deeply. It costs us very little, when we read news like this, to take a couple minutes to pray for those in Nigeria. You don't need a burden to pray for others; just compassion and a couple of minutes. Using the "I don't have a burden in this area" comment is American "Christian" lingo as an excuse to do nothing! God loves these people and that alone is enough reason to pray - out of love for our Father who hurts when His children hurt.

Yes, we have all the luxuries all around us, but at the same time, we also have our concerns as well. Unsaved loved ones. I learned recently that my Sister has a disease that can be fatal if not treated. I am more concerned about my family and their salvation then I am with a country that I don't know about on the otherside of the galaxy. If God moves upon me to interceed, great, but all I can offer is a sigh and a "Oh that is awful" or "God help them".

Are we living for ourselves or for the Father? Our wills or His? You can't pray because you have unsaved loved ones? Does your prayer for them take up that much of your time that there's no room make mention of others before the Father? Your concerns are more important that honoring God's? All you can offer is a sigh? When you ask others for prayer, are these the responses you'd like to hear in return? "I have my own problems, brother, and have no time for you." What if God had that response?

And yet, to another post in this thread, you respond thusly:

Great men of God have heard that same message from the LORD. And their families have been tended to richly, while they tend to the Churches.

It's contradictory to how you replied above in the way that it applies to others and not you.

I apologize for the bluntness of my previous post. It came out of [i] utter shock[/i] of the your post. They're still my thoughts on your response, Compliments, but I didn't need to be so blunt.

I also overlooked this sentence of your post:

I learned recently that my Sister has a disease that can be fatal if not treated.

I am sorry to hear this news, and I pray your sister is successfully treated for this illness and that her health is fully restored.

murrcolr wrote:
I am in Nigeria right know sitting behind my 10 foot wall with 3 feet barbed wire fence on top of that. There is 3 security guards on all night. If I leave to travel in Lagos I have a car with darkened windows with 2 securtiy presonnel with me. As well as the 4 in the car behind with semi automatic guns. But thank God I am not up in the north or eastern parts of Nigeria.

The thing that gets to me most is the beggars when we are in traffic blind children begging on the highways. People with disformaties that you don't seem to see in the western world. What about the Fathers who send there daughters out to be harlots. To make money to feed there families. Would you as a Father want to send your daughters out onto the streets. Then again you see the ultra rich people here as well those who have become very rich due to the natural wealth that is in this country. Yes this a strange strange place indeed.

You can see also the signS up at nearly every street corner. Sign, Wonders, Breakthrough all the hype that goes with the prosperity Gospel. Trying to be like those the see on TBN. Recently TJ Jakes and John Hagee a report 10 million people turned out to see them. The city came to a stand still there are 19 million people in Lagos. These people are hungry for God.

I spoke about Moslems just like I do in UK (nothing to radical) to one guy here and he said to me people die in this country for saying such things.

We should be grateful very grateful for what we have.

I have been hearing God call me recently he has been talking to me about going to the poor and praying for the church. I hear God say to me take care of my church and I'll take care of your family.

One thing I have noticed about the poor they will share there last with you. We in the West are the opposite we get all we can, then can what we can.

Deut 15:11 For the poor will never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt surely open thy hand unto thy brother, to thy needy, and to thy poor, in thy land.

Wow. This helped to open my eyes Thank you for sharing brother and I will be praying for His will to be done.

Praise Jesus!! Lion of Judah!!!

You were not blunt simpleliving. You were honest.

i look at a discussion on headcovering that has had 66 entries over 4 days. Another argument over how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.

it has gathered great attention. While situations such as this one gather scant notice.

this is indeed a sad commentary on American Christianity. i do not think that this escapes the notice of our Father in Heaven.

And by the way compliments as was said earlier it takes only a moment to pray. Nobodies plate is that full. And a few dollars to Voice of the Martyrs or Gospel to Asia etc. wouldn't hurt either.

Hisservant rich

Matthew 4:17

Dollars to VOM, prayer for our missionaries, prayer for the lost in places we don't even know about, letters to those in prison is indeed the least that we can do.

No disrespect to Compliments regarding fatal diseases, I can certainly relate having two children with terminal conditions, and having lost my oldest grandchild to cancer... but when we look at those among whom Brother Colin is visiting the question we must ask ourselves is "why not me?" But for the grace of God we could have been born in abject poverty and in the worst of spiritual darkness. With privilege comes responsibility.

God bless your efforts Brother Murray.

Clint

by broclint on 2008/2/13 9:13:36

Dollars to VOM, prayer for our missionaries, prayer for the lost in places we don't even know about, letters to those in prison is indeed the least that we can do.

No disrespect to Compliments regarding fatal diseases, I can certainly relate having two children with terminal conditions, and having lost my oldest grandchild to cancer... but when we look at those among whom Brother Colin is visiting the question we must ask ourselves is "why not me?" But for the grace of God we could have been born in abject poverty and in the worst of spiritual darkness. With privilege comes responsibility.

God bless your efforts Brother Murray.

Clint

I whole-heartedly agree with brother Clint. God bless and keep you safe, brother Murray. I don't know what it is that you do, but it certainly sounds like it requires a lot of prayer, discernment and faith! Please let us know if there is anything particular you would like us to pray for. If not, know that you are in prayer, brother.

And brother Clint, my heart aches for all that you, and your family, have had to endure. I appreciate your testimony and have written your family into my prayers as well.

And brother Compliments, I hope you'll keep us informed as to how your sister is doing and if there are any needs that we can pray for. Times like these aren't easy for [i]anyone[/i] in the family.

SimpleLiving wrote:

I whole-heartedly agree with brother Clint. God bless and keep you safe, brother Murray. I don't know what it is that you do, but it certainly sounds like it requires a lot of prayer, discernment and faith! Please let us know if there is anything particular you would like us to pray for. If not, know that you are in prayer, brother.

I work in the Oil Industry, I am here because of that work. I only shared what I shared to give people who maybe can't come here a little insight to what it's like. My time here has changed me and my thinking. If you do get a chance to go somewhere in the third world I would recommend that you go.

You will not come back the same.

You ask what can you pray for The Church, Bro Clint's family and Compliments Sister.

I work in the Oil Industry, I am here because of that work. I only shared what I shared to give people who maybe can't come here a little insight to what it's like. My time here has changed me and my thinking. If you do get a chance to go somewhere in the third world I would recommend that you go.

You will not come back the same.

I agree. I was a missionary to Zambia and it was incredibly humbling. And yes, you're correct, it changed my life. That was in 1995 and to this day, I think about it [i]every single time[/i] I have food and water placed before me.

I have also never met more friendly and gracious people in my life. Everywhere I went I was greeted with songs and love.

You ask what can you pray for The Church, Bro Clint's family and Compliments Sister.

Already covered, brother. Already covered.