* CHRISTIANS BEING TERRORISED IN SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES * CHURCHES DAMAGED AS GEORGIA AND RUSSIA CLASH * BAPTIST CHURCH CALLS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION * ANGLICAN LEADER APPEALS FOR UNITY AS LAMBETH CONFERENCE CLOSES * BEIJING HOUSE CHURCHES FORCED TO PLEDGE NOT TO MEET DURING OLYMPICS * NUCLEAR WEAPONS COULD SOON FALL UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE TALIBAN * STOP PRESS: TODD BENTLEY STANDS DOWN FROM PUBLIC MINISTRY ----------------------------------------------- CHRISTIANS BEING TERRORISED IN SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES Basilan Island is the northern-most island in the Southern Philippines Sulu Archipelago. Except for its capital city, Isabela, Basilan is part of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and is also a base for the al-Qaeda-linked militant Islamic group, Abu Sayyaf, a barbaric terrorist outfit that funds and sustains its ‘jihad’ through crime. Previously the Abu Sayyaf garnered income through kidnapping-for-ransom. However, drug trafficking and extortion have proved easier and more profitable, so kidnapping is now used mainly as an instrument of terrorism. On Friday 18 July, Catholics on Basilan (where virtually all Christians are Catholic) received letters from mujahidins’ (Islamic ‘holy warriors’) with the ultimatum: ‘The Qur’an’s instruction is that if there are Christians living in a place for Muslims, they have to be converted to Islam. If they don’t want to convert to Islam, they have to pay the jizya. If they refuse to pay, they can be subjected to violence! We are giving you 15 days to respond. If we don’t get an answer from you, we will consider you our enemies.’ The mujahidins declared their intention to convert every non-Muslim residing in the province of Basilan—no small task as there are some 96,000 Catholics on Basilan. Christians have been told that there is no point resisting as they will never be safe. Basilan’s Christians are being terrorised but the police and military are unwilling to take any action.The militants’ aim is to force many Christians to flee while extorting ‘protection’ money from those who don’t. The mujahidins’ Islamic ultimatum is based on various Qur’anic texts, as well as established Islamic jurisprudence. These assert that Jews and Christians living in the land of Islam must be given a set time to convert or submit to the Islamic subjugation of the Dhimma Pact. The pact includes paying protection money to secure the right to live. A Jew or Christian who does not convert is to be killed and his property, including his wife and children, taken as booty. Any dhimmi (subjugated Jew or Christian) who violates the pact is no longer ‘protected’ from jihad. This practice is being revived throughout the Islamic world, mostly by vigilantes operating with tacit sanction under the cover of conflict. PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT: * the ever-present Holy Spirit will comfort and sustain and deliver the terrorised Christians of Basilan, especially those being held by Islamic terrorists. * God will marshal and empower forces such as friendly neighbours, local police, Philippine and US military forces in the area to protect His people; may he send angels to shield, defend and rescue his loved ones. * the Abu Sayyaf and all other Islamic mujahidins and fundamentalists will be routed – militarily, logistically and ideologically – so that the people of the Southern Philippines can live in peace with the light, salt and yeast of the Church in their midst. May God frustrate the ways of the wicked. (Psalm 146:9) Source: Intercessors Network ----------------------------------------------- CHURCHES DAMAGED AS GEORGIA AND RUSSIA CLASH Violence has broken out between Russian and Georgia after Georgian forces pounded the capital of the breakaway province of South Ossetia and warned of "war" if Russia intervened. That brought with it tanks, planes, and soldiers as both sides tried to reclaim the disputed territory. Senior Vice President of Russian Ministries Sergey Rakhuba says they have workers in the region. We have a ministry centre that is reaching out to all those neighbouring provinces, including South Ossetia. This is a huge catastrophe with about 2,000 people killed and about 30,000 refugees." The situation is complicated. The Republic of Georgia lays claim to the territory. However, the population of South Ossetia is predominately Russian. The area director of Russian Ministries Gennady Terkun said "There is no communication, but people who managed to escape have told of three evangelical churches being damaged. "The terrorist attack has however helped evangelical churches unify. "They got together, and they are trying to minister to the families of refugees that are pouring out of South Ossetia into other Russian provinces there," says Rakhuba. He says not only will they be helping with the physical needs, but also their emotional and spiritual needs. Rakhuba says these ethnic areas of North and South Ossetia and Ingushetia had been trapped in territorial disputes in the early 1990s, but they enjoyed peaceful times until a couple of years ago. "It's a hard issue to resolve," said Rakhuba, "and it is now escalating into a political issue as South Ossetia declared its independence from both Georgia and Russia." Rakhuba's main concern is for the well-being of the refugees and the minority who stayed behind in South Ossetia. "I am concerned that international aid might not be allowed to get to the region because of politics," said Rakhuba. "I also am praying that the authorities can come to a peaceful, diplomatic solution to this fighting." Rakhuba is asking fellow Christians to pray "that God would give wisdom and guidance as to how to deal with this crisis". Source: Mission Network News ----------------------------------------------- BAPTIST CHURCH CALLS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) has called on Baptists everywhere to strongly support government, corporate and community initiatives to address the causes of climate change. In a resolution passed at its recent Annual Gathering at Prague, Czech Republic, the BWA affirmed the biblical teaching that God created all things and that God’s creation was good (Genesis 1:1-2:2), and that God had entrusted the care of creation to humans (Genesis 1:28, 29; 2:15). The resolution further confessed that humans had often denied or ignored their interdependence with creation and abrogated their stewardship of creation, resulting in misuse of the earth’s resources, environmental degradation, and damage to ecosystems; and recognized the failure of Baptists to engage with these issues in an adequate and timely manner. Significantly, the resolution called upon BWA leaders to strongly support and encourage government, corporate and community initiatives to address the causes of climate change, a) greater use of renewable energy technologies b) caps on “greenhouse gas” emissions c) carbon trading d) greater use of “green” architecture, town planning and transport e) encouragement to conserve, reuse and recycle goods. BWA members and member bodies were urged to practice environmental stewardship, and promote education with the purpose of honouring God and enhancing the common good. Baptists are arguably the largest Protestant denomination, comprising more than 100 million members. Source: Baptist World Alliance ----------------------------------------------- ANGLICAN LEADER APPEALS FOR UNITY AS LAMBETH CONFERENCE CLOSES The leader of the world's Anglicans has called for understanding and unity at the end of the once-a-decade Lambeth Conference in a bid to soothe a row over gay bishops in the church. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, closed the conference with an appeal to those largely African bishops who had boycotted the gathering over the issue to re-engage with the church. "We may not have put an end to all our problems -- but the pieces are on the board" to resolve the issues, Williams said in a closing address before 650 bishops at the conference. "In the months ahead it will be important to invite those absent from Lambeth to be involved in these next stages," Williams said. The meeting was overshadowed by a dispute about the consecration of the first openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson, 5 years ago in the USA. The worldwide Anglican Communion, has around 77 million followers. Around 200 bishops, including those from Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda, boycotted the meeting, while clergy from Africa, Australia and the US created a breakaway group in protest at Robinson's consecration. "Our Communion longs to stay together -- but not only as an association of polite friends," added Williams. "It is seeking a deeper entry into the place where Christ stands, to find its unity there." Earlier Sunday, Bishop Keith Ackerman from the American state of Illinois said the church was "already divided" and added that "some people are for the very first time now accepting that there is a crisis." The church is divided between conservatives who argue that allowing gay and women bishops goes against Bible teachings, and liberals who want a more inclusive communion. About 800 bishops and archbishops were invited to attend the conference. "We have not overcome our problems or reinvented our structures: that will still take time," Williams said. "There was however a strong degree of support for a Pastoral Forum to support minorities, a strong consensus on the need to examine how the Instruments of Communion will best work, and a recognition - though still with many questions - that a Covenant is needed." He added that a series of meetings would be held as soon as next year to discuss moving towards a covenant. Source: BBC News ----------------------------------------------- BEIJING HOUSE CHURCHES FORCED TO PLEDGE NOT TO MEET DURING OLYMPICS Chinese House Church Pastors were forced to sign a written agreement that they would not participate in religious services while the Olympic Games are taking place in China. The document, drafted by Chinese government officials, specifies that the House Churches in China:" will refrain from organizing and joining illegal gatherings and refrain from receiving donations, sermons and preaching from overseas religious organizations and groups that have a purpose." The document also prohibits the churches from gathering in their communities for more than 3 months while the Olympics are taking place. Should church members violate these rules they will be subject to the disciplinary actions of the Chinese Government. A China Aid spokesman said: "This document provides further evidence of China's hypocrisy towards creating a 'harmonious society' marked by religious freedom and rule of law. If China is seeking to put on the mantle of a world superpower, it must first acknowledge the unalienable rights of its own people. China Aid Association calls on the international community and those concerned to voice their complaint to the relevant Chinese Government authorities." Source: China Aid Association ----------------------------------------------- NUCLEAR WEAPONS COULD SOON FALL UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE TALIBAN The leaders of Pakistan's two main political parties, the Pakistan People's Party and the Pakistan Muslim League are drawing up charges against Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, requesting him to step down or face impeachment. Musharraf, a dictator before the recent election, has continued to lose power since the election. The new Government has also taken action to include the Taliban and al Qaeda in discussions about the future of the nuclear armed nation. The latest news not only spells trouble for Musharraf, but also for the non-Muslim world. The CIA has leaked that Pakistan's premier spy agency, the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence or ISI, is working with Taliban terrorists and had helped Islamic terrorists bomb the Indian Embassy in Afghanistan on July 7th. At first the Pakistani government denied the accusation, but has since conceded that the ISI was involved. The U.S. has further alleged that the ISI has funded, supported and trained Taliban terrorists. The consequences are dire -- nuclear weapons could soon fall under the control of the Taliban and Osama bin Laden. Source: Intercessors Network ----------------------------------------------- STOP PRESS: TODD BENTLEY STANDS DOWN FROM PUBLIC MINISTRY The Fresh Fire Board of Directors have announced that Todd Bentley has agreed to step down from his position on the Board of Directors and to refrain from all public ministry for a season to receive counsel in his personal life. This follows the development of an "unhealthy relationship" on an emotional level with a female member of his staff and his separation from his wife Shonnah.For further information and the full statement please go to http://www.freshfire.ca Source: Fresh Fire Ministries
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