ADF - Alliance Defense Fund

My family and I live in the United States.  What I mainly post on this blog is news of persecution and martyrdom -- most of these "news" stories are from countries outside the United States.  For many of us Americans, we just think "oh, it'll never happen to us."  Well, my friends and family, brothers and sisters, if it is happening to "other" countries, it IS still happening to us.  WE are all human.  WE are all one.  WE need to be informed of things going on in all countries.  WE need to help our brothers and sisters.

As for my fellow Americans... if you needed it to come to the United States in order to get your attention, please read the following post.  Don't just stop at the excerpt.  Visit the Alliance Defense Fund website and read what they have to share.  Then read what they are trying to do about it.  I urge you to just take a look.

Excerpt from the website of Alliance Defense Fund:

Throughout our history, America has been a land defined by religious faith and freedom. Religious freedom is our first and most fundamental, God-given right deemed so precious that our Founding Fathers enshrined it in the U.S. Constitution.

So why is religious freedom under attack in America today?

For decades, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other radical anti-Christian groups have been on a mission to eliminate public expression of our nation's faith and heritage. By influencing the government, filing lawsuits, and spreading the myth of the so-called "separation of church and state," the opposition has been successful at forcing its leftist agenda on Americans.  READ MORE

Please be sure to visit the Alliance Defense Fund and maybe sign up to receive their newsletters in your inbox.  God Bless, and thank you for your time today.  

Voice of the Martyrs : House Church Leader Kidnapped

An excerpt from a Crosswalk.com eNewsletter:

IRAQ — House Church Leader Kidnapped

In Dehouk, Iraq, tears streamed down a young girl's face as she explained to VOM worker how a Muslim group broke into her home and took her father. The active house church planter Jamal works among the Shabak people, who have Jewish roots and speak Arabic and Kurdish. The VOM worker said Jamal was a very dedicated gospel worker. VOM sources believe a fundamentalist Muslim group, possibly Al Qaeda, kidnapped Jamal because he has led many Muslims to Christ. The home of one of Jamal's recent converts was sprayed with machine gun...  READ MORE

I realize it's hard to believe persecution and martyrdom still runs rampant in the world today.  That's why I have this blog.  Even if I only post occasionally, I want everyone to realize what's really going on... especially in the "world" of religion.  Take care and God Bless.

Under Persecution : PrisonerAlert.com

Read MORE Here from PrisonerAlert.com

Youcef Nadarkhani, a 34-year-old pastor from Rasht, about 750 miles northwest of Tehran, was arrested in October 2009 after he protested a government policy that required children, including his 8- and 9-year-old sons, to study the Quran in school. Youcef told school officials that the Iranian constitution allows for freedom of religious practice. As a result of his protest, secret police called him before a political tribunal and arrested him for protesting. The charges were later amended to apostasy and evangelism of Muslims. Youcef was tried on Sept. 21–22, 2010 by the 1st Court of the Revolutionary Tribunal and sentenced to death on Nov. 13 for apostasy.

The pastor is imprisoned in Lakan prison, where authorities have used various methods, including medication, to convert him back to Islam...

Please Read MORE Here from PrisonerAlert.com
and sign up for their alerts.

God Bless....

5 Minutes with K.P. – Clinging to Shadows « Gospel for Asia Books

Visit Gospel for Asia and read about what they are doing to help the children. You can request a Free Book - Revolution In World Missions, you can Sponsor a Child with Gospel for Asia, you can Sponsor a Missionary or simply just read about the Gospel of Asia organization. It's a beautiful thing.  Below is an excerpt from their founder's blog...please be sure to click on to read more.

The earth seemed to tremble at the mighty shout of the Israelites as the priests carried the ark of the covenant into their war camp. Now the battle could begin. Their guarantee for victory had just arrived! The people cheered and celebrated. It would be just like in the days of Moses and Joshua: The ark would go before them, and no enemy, however strong had even the slightest chance of defeating the armies of Israel.

With great confidence the Israelites marched out to meet the Philistines, who were shaking in their boots, expecting to be wiped out by the God of Israel. But to everyone's amazement and horror, God was not with His people. The two priests Hophni and Phinehas...

Please click to read more....

Hoping you had a FUN and SAFE holiday weekend (if you're in the US celebrating the Fourth of July).

God Bless!!

ICC PR: Afghan Christian Faces Potential Death Sentence for Apostasy

	The following Press Release was given by International Christian Concern  www.persecution.org -------------------------------------------------------------------------

Afghan Christian Faces Potential Death Sentence for Apostasy

Given One Week to Renounce Christian Faith

Washington, D.C. (January 3, 2011) – International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that a judge has given an Afghan convert from Islam to Christianity a week to renounce his faith, or else be sentenced with the death penalty or up to twenty years' imprisonment. The verdict is expected this week.

Shoaib Assadullah was arrested on October 21 in Mazar-e-Sharif for giving a Bible to a man who later reported him to local authorities. He is currently in a prison in Mazar-e-Sharif, in northern Afghanistan.

ICC sources closely following the case tell us that at a court hearing on December 28, Assadullah was told to recant Christianity and return to Islam. Pamir Productions spoke to Assadullah on December 31. Assadullah said, "he is quite certain that they [court officials] will give him the death penalty. At his last court appearance, the judge gave him one final week to renounce his faith otherwise he would be hanged or killed for his faith. Shoaib stated he has given his life completely into the hands of Jesus. He said he was so happy for the spiritual fight, saying, 'Without my faith I would not be able to live'."

In ICC source in Mazar-e-Sharif was told by a court official today that Assadullah will be summoned to court on January 4 at 10:00 a.m. local time.

Afghanistan is a signatory of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). According to article 18, "Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

Aidan Clay, ICC Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, "Shoaib Assadullah may be given a death sentence as early as tomorrow if the international community does not act quickly. If Assadullah is executed, his death will signify the failure of the United States and her allies to liberate Afghanistan from the radical ideals of the Taliban after investing millions of dollars to reform the country's judicial system. We urge the international community to demand the immediate release of Assadullah and to hold Afghanistan accountable to its commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."

Call the Afghanistan embassy in your country to express your concern:

United States: +1 202 483 6410  
Canada: +1 613 563 4223 
United Kingdom: + 44 207 589 88 91/2
Germany: +49 22 825 1925
France: +33 1 45 25 05 29
Australia: +61 2 62827311 6282/6034

For interviews, contact Aidan Clay, Regional Manager for the Middle East: clay@persecution.org

ICC (International Christian Concern) | www.persecution.org. ICC is a Washington-DC based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides Awareness, Advocacy, and Assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church.  For additional information or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.

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Please visit International Christian Concern to learn more about their mission and what they are about.  They can certainly use your help!

NEPAL — Pastor and Church Members Beaten by Maoists

This excerpt is taken from a story brought to you by Crosswalk.com and Voice of the Martyrs:

"... Before the attack, the pastor had asked the Maoists to leave and return the next day to talk with him, but the rebels instead began to beat him with sticks. When church members, including the pastor's father and women in the church, tried to defend the pastor, the Maoists attacked them, too. The rebels also burned Bibles and hymnals during the attack. 

The following day, local villagers accused the Christians of not paying the "temple tax" and of "converting the local people to Christianity." Each family was ordered to pay the exorbitant tax, and Christians have been warned that they will be expelled from the village if they do not pay. Some believers have voluntarily left the village, and those remaining risk losing their homes..."

Please click here to read the rest of the story - and others like it.

God Bless and Take care!

Christian Persecution coming to the West?

I know you don’t want to hear this, but sadly, I fear it is coming upon us.  I also realize many folks out there won’t think twice about it - won’t think about the devastation of persecution or martyrdom.  But these things are real.  These things are real and not just for the “old world“ of the Bible.  Think about it.

Remember when slavery was supposedly abolished?  Do you realize slavery still goes on today.  Yes, even here in the USA.  Heard of Human Trafficking?

Well, not only does slavery still exist, but so does old-fashioned Christian Martyrdom and Persecution.

Please visit the following link and sign up for the upcoming newsletter:

http://persecution.org/comingpersecution/
courtesy of ICC - International Christian Concern.

There’s a book by dc Talk called Jesus Freaks.  See if your local library carries it.  Borrow it from someone.  Very good read.

Please Petition the UN to Indict Ahmadinejad

I just signed a petition to indict Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for the crime of incitement to genocide. The more signatures CUFI gathers on this petition the stronger the impact we will make. ----------------------------------------------- On September 23rd, Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ascended the podium at the United Nations General Assembly. This man who stole his reelection and violently suppresses his political opponents sought to teach the world about democracy. This man who persecutes religious minorities and tortures democracy activists presumed to lecture the world about human rights. This man who denies the Holocaust and has threatened to wipe Israel off the map dared to accuse Israel of genocide.  The United Nations and the world must stop treating Mahmoud Ahmadinejad like a national leader. Instead, we must start treating him like the international outlaw he is. In particular, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad must be brought before the International Criminal Court to stand trial for what may well be his most serious crime: incitement to genocide.  International law criminalizes not only the act of genocide, but also the direct and public incitement to commit genocide. This is an extremely important legal provision. The only way that the international community can stop genocide is if it prevents the acts that make it possible: namely the provocation of and preparation for such atrocities by people in positions of authority. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s repeated threats to destroy Israel present a clear case of incitement to genocide. He has made these threats explicitly, publicly, and repeatedly. His pursuit of nuclear weapons and long range missiles, as well as his ongoing support for Hezbollah and Hamas, demonstrate that these threats are by no means idle.  Please click here to sign a petition calling upon the United Nations Security Council to refer Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s crimes to the International Criminal Court for prosecution. This petition will be delivered to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice, as well as to the current Security Council Chair. The next time that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad appears before an international tribunal, it must not be as an honored guest at the United Nations General Assembly. It must be as a defendant in the dock of the International Criminal Court.

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