Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Authorities Close Down Churches in Aceh, Indonesia
By Jeremy Reynalds
NEW DELHI, INDIA -- At the prompting of Islamic extremists, authorities in Indonesia's Aceh Province have forbidden nine churches to worship, saying they are "illegal."
According to a story by Morning Star News, Illiza Sa'aduddin Djamal, deputy mayor of Banda Aceh, capital of Aceh Province, called pastors of nine churches and five Buddhist monasteries for a meeting on Oct. 15, said Veryanto Sitohang, head of rights group United North Sumatra Alliance.
Representatives from five of the nine churches attended the meeting. Morning Star News reported they were forced to sign an "agreement" saying they would stop all activities because they did not have official permits.
Those permits are obtainable only by meeting very difficult requirements from local governments, Sitohang told Morning Star News. The other four churches will also be told to sign the agreement soon, he added.
Authorities Close Down Churches in Aceh, Indonesia
NEW DELHI, INDIA -- At the prompting of Islamic extremists, authorities in Indonesia's Aceh Province have forbidden nine churches to worship, saying they are "illegal."
According to a story by Morning Star News, Illiza Sa'aduddin Djamal, deputy mayor of Banda Aceh, capital of Aceh Province, called pastors of nine churches and five Buddhist monasteries for a meeting on Oct. 15, said Veryanto Sitohang, head of rights group United North Sumatra Alliance.
Representatives from five of the nine churches attended the meeting. Morning Star News reported they were forced to sign an "agreement" saying they would stop all activities because they did not have official permits.
Those permits are obtainable only by meeting very difficult requirements from local governments, Sitohang told Morning Star News. The other four churches will also be told to sign the agreement soon, he added.
Authorities Close Down Churches in Aceh, Indonesia
Egyptian Christian Leader Calls for Prayer in Wake of Revolution Anniversary
Open Doors USA
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
SANTA ANA, Calif. (Jan. 23, 2013) – This Friday marks
two years since the first fire of the January 25 Egyptian revolution
against the Mubarak regime was lit by Egyptian young people.
When the protesters took to the streets of a few large Egyptian cities shouting for freedom, social justice and bread (a symbol of the basic needs of life that millions of Egyptians lack), they probably did not realize then that their enthusiastic adventure was about to change the course of history for the entire Egyptian state. It has turned over a new page in Egypt’s thick history book.
READ MORE AT RELIGIONTODAY.COM
When the protesters took to the streets of a few large Egyptian cities shouting for freedom, social justice and bread (a symbol of the basic needs of life that millions of Egyptians lack), they probably did not realize then that their enthusiastic adventure was about to change the course of history for the entire Egyptian state. It has turned over a new page in Egypt’s thick history book.
READ MORE AT RELIGIONTODAY.COM
Religious War: North Africa's Christians Multiply Amid Persecution
Stan Guthrie, Author
Friday, January 25, 2013
The age of religious war is supposed to be long past, but try telling
that to members of the fledgling Christian movement across North Africa.
The region, conquered by the followers of Muhammad more than a
millennium ago, is witnessing a renewed assault on the church — and
indeed on religious liberty.
“The Muslim-Christian fault line stretches from Senegal across the Sahel to Ethiopia and along Africa’s Indian Ocean seaboard,” says Operation World, the authoritative daily prayer guide. “The potential for widened conflagrations and confrontations is high because of increasingly aggressive Islamist movements and because of African Christian evangelism gaining converts from within Muslim communities.”
READ MORE AT RELIGIONTODAY.COM
“The Muslim-Christian fault line stretches from Senegal across the Sahel to Ethiopia and along Africa’s Indian Ocean seaboard,” says Operation World, the authoritative daily prayer guide. “The potential for widened conflagrations and confrontations is high because of increasingly aggressive Islamist movements and because of African Christian evangelism gaining converts from within Muslim communities.”
READ MORE AT RELIGIONTODAY.COM
DEVOTIONAL: God is a fortress
VOM_MediaDev
January 24, 2013
"He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken" (Psalm 62:6).
Do you ever feel assaulted by life? Life is difficult. As human beings, we all experience physical challenges, emotional upsets financial tests and deep spiritual questions. Others willingly suffer persecution because of their readiness to take risks for Jesus. I have met many sisters and brothers who report that their hope is secure in Christ alone and that they experience spiritual security, exceptional peace and lasting significance He offers to those who fully trust in Him.
READ MORE AT VOICE OF THE MARTYRS
March for Life Movement Counters Lack of News Coverage With Social Media
By Alex Murashko , Christian Post Reporter
January 26, 2013|10:31 am
Participants in this year's March for Life, marking the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, seemed less bothered by the mainstream media's lack of coverage of the estimated half-million people descending on Washington, D.C. to demonstrate against abortion on Friday. That's because they relied heavily on social media to help shine the spotlight on the movement.
Conservative Leaders Call for Puerto Rico Statehood
By Napp Nazworth , Christian Post Reporter
January 29, 2013|8:38 am
A coalition of conservative leaders will call on fellow conservatives to support letting Puerto Rico decide whether it will become the 51st state.
The announcement will come at a Tuesday morning press conference with Alfonso Aguilar, executive director of the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles; Luis Fortuno, former Republican Governor of Puerto Rico; Niger Innis, national outreach director for TheTeaParty.net; Dr. Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and executive editor of The Christian Post; Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform; and Dr. Hernan Padilla, former mayor of San Juan and the first Hispanic chair of U.S. Conference of Mayors.Mississippi May Close Down Its Last Abortion Facility
by Cheryl Sullenger | Jackson, MS | LifeNews.com | 1/28/13 12:55 PM
The last remaining abortion clinic in Mississippi, the Jackson Women’s Health Organization, has received notice from the Health Department that it intends to revoke the clinic’s operating license after an inspection found that it is has not complied with a state law that requires that all abortionists maintain local hospital privileges.
Closure of the clinic may take up to six weeks until a hearing can be held and a formal revocation can take place. JWHO will be allowed to continue operating until the hearing can be held.
“We are confident that these are the final days for the last abortion clinic in Mississippi. We look forward to the moment when it can no longer unjustly take innocent lives or place the lives and health of woman at risk,” said Troy Newman, president of Operation Rescue and Pro-Life Nation. “If that abortion clinic’s abortionists are so bad that no hospital will have them, then the clinic is just too dangerous to operate.”
READ MORE AT LIFESITENEWS.COM
The last remaining abortion clinic in Mississippi, the Jackson Women’s Health Organization, has received notice from the Health Department that it intends to revoke the clinic’s operating license after an inspection found that it is has not complied with a state law that requires that all abortionists maintain local hospital privileges.
Closure of the clinic may take up to six weeks until a hearing can be held and a formal revocation can take place. JWHO will be allowed to continue operating until the hearing can be held.
“We are confident that these are the final days for the last abortion clinic in Mississippi. We look forward to the moment when it can no longer unjustly take innocent lives or place the lives and health of woman at risk,” said Troy Newman, president of Operation Rescue and Pro-Life Nation. “If that abortion clinic’s abortionists are so bad that no hospital will have them, then the clinic is just too dangerous to operate.”
READ MORE AT LIFESITENEWS.COM