Syria Islamists Brigage Faruq is Forcing Christians to Leave and Increased Violence on Them: States that"Ethnically Cleansing" is Needed

By Anugrah Kumar , Christian Post Contributor

March 26, 2012|7:04 am

While the world is raising concerns over rights abuses by anti-government forces in Syria's ongoing violent conflict, few would even know that militant Islamists have expelled the majority of Christians from the western city of Homs, according to the country's largest church.

The Catholic news agency Fides says it has received a note from the Syrian Orthodox Church, which represents 60 percent of the Christians in Syria, about "an ongoing ethnic cleansing of Christians" by members of the a militant Islamist outfit, Brigade Faruq, which has links with al-Qaida.

The militants have expelled 90 percent of Christians in Homs, which has faced the brunt of violence related to the uprising, and grabbed their homes, it said. They went door to door in the neighborhoods of Hamidiya and Bustan al-Diwan forcing Christians to flee without giving them the chance to take their belongings, it added.

Syria has witnessed protests against the government as part of the wider Arab Spring since last January.

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Transition Homes Provided For Homeless Families

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Family Promise helps homeless families get back on their feet and an Arlington church gave the non-profit a big boost Sunday with the use of a refurbished home.
One year ago Arlington Congregational Church on University Blvd. decided to fix up a home on their property to provide the Family Promise group with a transitional home. Church members got busy working, and Sunday they held a dedication on the front lawn.
It is now home to Sarah Grant and her young daughter and son, Ciara and Jason. They were all homeless.
"We started with a house. We thought we could polish it up a little bit, and get it ready to move in, "said church member Brad Negaard, a church member and contractor who helped oversee the project.  "As we got into it, we ended up replacing the electrical, the air conditioning , the plumbing , the roof , the flooring, and redid the windows.  A tremendous amount of effort went into this house."
More than $10,000 was spent to get the home up to code and they completely furnished it.
Sarah called it a dream come true, a huge blessing for her and her children.
"They now have beds to sleep in.  We were on air mattresses or on the floor. To just come in and have a real bed again, it feels tremendous.  I am able to focus on work and school and the children.  I am not so stressed, pulled in so many different directions."
Sarah, recently a single-mom, will only have to pay utilities while living in the house. The goal is to save money while working at Walmart and be back on her feet in a few months. That is the goal of Family Promise which is currently helping five homeless families with children.
Mark Landschoot, Family Promise executive director, says this is a huge blessing for the non-profit group.
"Our goal is to help families become self-sufficient.  We do that about 70 to 85 percent of the time. We help them get a job or some job training so they can get back into an apartment or a home. That is our goal for the families we work with. We can have families stay in this home until they are able to leave and provide for their families on their own. Once Sarah is able to leave, we can move in another family."

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Freedom from Religion Foundation sues Pennsylvania House Over Resolution That Says 2012 is the "Year of the Bible"

HARRISBURG, Pa. - An organization that includes atheists and agnostics is suing over a Pennsylvania House resolution that declares 2012 the "Year of the Bible," saying the measure violates the U.S. Constitution.

The Freedom from Religion Foundation sued the measure's main sponsor, the House clerk and the House parliamentarian on Monday over the resolution, which passed unanimously in January.

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Israel Prepares for Global "March on Jersusalem"

Israel is prepared to handle this week’s “Global March to Jerusalem,” officials said on Sunday, as organizers plan a multi-pronged rush on the country’s borders to mark the 36th anniversary of Land Day on Friday.

Organizers of the event – known as “GMJ” – say they are planning peaceful marches on the Israeli border in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt, at checkpoints in the West Bank and at entrances to the Gaza Strip.

“Our aim is to end the Zionist policies of apartheid, ethnic cleansing and Judaization, which all harm the people, land and sanctity of Jerusalem,” they wrote on the event’s official homepage. “The GMJ is comprised of a diverse coalition of Palestinian, Arab and international activists who are united in the struggle to liberate the holy city of Jerusalem (the city of peace) from illegal Zionist occupation.”


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Christian From Ghana Speaks to Alex McFarland on the Condition of America

"AMERICA HAS DEPARTED FROM THE LORD, AND THE LORD IS VERY ANGRY WITH THIS NATION..." (3:35). Don't miss the insightful observations of Edmund Amartey- a Christian from West Africa who has come to America simply to pray for this nation! Evangelist Alex McFarland listens, as Amartey states: "The church in America is bankrupt...." (1:20), "America is very sick right now..." (3:06). The Christians in Ghana are praying for America. But are the Christians in America.... praying for America? Filmed in Memphis, TN, January 18, 2012