|
Written by billraul
|
August 5, 2009
Following an accusation of “blasphemy” of the Quran, Islamic extremists set ablaze more than 50 houses and a church in the town of Gojra in northwestern Pakistan on Saturday, August 1. At least 14 Christians died in the attacks. The dead include women and children, with several other burn victims unable to reach hospitals for medical care, according to the Centre for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS).
Clerics at local mosques broadcasted messages that those “who love Muhammad and Islam should gather with them to defend the Islam because it is in danger,” according to CLAAS and reported by Compass. As the crowd size grew, the attacks intensified. The Islamists managed to block main roads and railways to keep fire brigades from fighting the house fires. Authorities, in an effort to keep more Muslims extremists from entering from neighboring villages, blocked the roads into Gojra. Another six people died when Islamists shot at police and the police responded in return with tear gas and gunfire.
The same rumor of desecration of the Quran prompted an arson assault by Islamic extremists on the village of Korian last Thursday. At least 60 houses were gutted in that attack. Punjab Minister for Law Rana Sanaullah reportedly said an initial investigation of allegations of the Quran being blasphemed indicated “there has not been any incident of desecration.” Pakistan is ranked No. 13 on the 2009 Open Doors World Watch List of 50 countries which are the worst persecutors of Christians.
Father we pray for the victims of these heinous and violent crimes, asking for Your peace that passes all understanding to dwell in their hearts and homes. We bring before You the families enduring the loss of a loved one. Father, please replace their pain with love and forgiveness. We trust to You their comfort and ask that You empower believers in Pakistan to stand strong in their faith in You.
|
|
|
Written by billraul
|
|
Monday morning, al Shabaab Islamist militia shot to death Mohammed Sheikh Abdiraman, a Somali Christian convert, in a small village 62 miles north of the capital Mogadishu. Eyewitnesses told Compass News the Islamic extremists appeared to have been hunting Abdiraman, a convert from Islam, and when they found him they did not hesitate to kill him.
Abdiraman was a the leader of an underground “cell group” of Christians and is survived by two children, ages 10 and 15. His wife died three years ago due to illness. “We are very sad about this incident, and we also are not safe,” one eyewitness said. “Pray for us.”
Intent on “cleansing” Somalia of all Christians, al Shabaab militia are monitoring converts from Islam, especially where Christian workers had previously provided aid. Linked with Islamic extremist al Qaeda terrorists, al Shabaab rebels have mounted an armed effort to topple the current president’s Western-backed Transitional Federal Government with the intention of imposing sharia (Islamic law) throughout all of Somalia.
Reports of attacks against Christians and the enforcement of sharia law in Somalia are on the rise. On July 1, Compass News reported that Islamic extremists beheaded two young boys because their Christian father refused to divulge information about a church leader. On June 25, Open Doors International reported that Somalia's hard-line al-Shabaab insurgents amputated a hand and a leg each of four teenagers found guilty of stealing mobile phones and other possessions. This was the first incident of such amputations by the rebels who follow a strict version of sharia law.
We ask, Father, for Your divine comfort and love to be showered over Abdiraman’s two children and the “cell group” to which he was able to minister. We pray for persecuted Christians worldwide that they “may be delivered from wicked and evil men” (2 Thes 3:2). Our hearts break for the many in Somalia and other countries who do not know You and we ask for more ways for Your Word, Your Truth and Your message of salvation to penetrate these nations blanketed in darkness.
|
|
|
Written by billraul
|
|
Welcome to ChooseDestiny
~A online Christian fellowship to help grow your relationship with
Christ Jesus~
Choose Destiny is a home for Christian Fellowship on the web. Choose Destiny's Christian based site includes live Christian chat, a place to post your Christian stories, Christian thoughts, Christian poems, and Bible studies. Choose Destiny also provides a home for all Christians from different denominations to come together and fellowship with other Christians.
This is a Christian site and we want other Christians to feel safe while they visit Choose Destiny. Any topics that are not of Christian origin or simply go against what the Bible says will not be tolerated. Please keep this in mind as you enter into conversations with others.
Our main goal at Choose Destiny is to provide a safe and friendly environment for Christians to come together, learn, share ideas, thoughts, and grow in Christ. Remember, just because a Christian has a different denominational background then you they are still Christians and need to be treated with love and kindness.
We do not debate whether or not living a Christian life is the right or wrong thing for you to do. We will however help show you what a Christian should do and how a Christian should live a life focused on Christ. We hope you have fun and enjoy your Christian fellowship here at Choose Destiny. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please feel free to let us know, we are always looking for ways to improve the overall experience for every Christian that gathers here to find God. |
|
|