Muslim doctor in Pakistan receives death threats after saving life of dying Christian man

A Muslim medical doctor from Pakistan tended to a dying Christian man at the hospital, and got harassed and received death threats because of it.
The unnamed doctor said the Christian man arrived at the hospital, badly needing hemodialysis.
Because no one else was providing him the care he needed, the doctor gave him the dialysis using medicine donated to the hospital through a form of Islamic alms-giving called zakaat

Immediately after administering the medicine, a nurse got angry at him because the patient turned out to be a Christian, which means the patient was forbidden from receiving or using Islamic alms.

The doctor explained he wasn't aware of such regulations and that he didn't know the man was a Christian. He bought new medicine to replace what he used, hoping it would put an end to the controversy.
"They attributed my lack of knowledge about the alms laws to the fact that I belong to a minority Muslim sect," the doctor wrote on The Guardian.
He didn't know it was just the beginning of what was going to be a string of harassments and death threats that was coming his way.
His department conducted an inquiry about the situation, during which he was discriminated against. Furthermore, he earned the ire of an organization that gives donations to the hospital.
"The workplace discrimination gave way to threatening phone calls and vandalism of my car and bike," he said in the article. "I was threatened with death at a medical conference hosted by the chair of the same NGO which had complained about me."
To make matters worse, the people he offended discovered he was living in Pakistan alone with his wife because his family had all migrated to the U.S.
This made him feel vulnerable. Eventually, he and his wife decided to seek political asylum in the U.S., where they are now staying.
"Humanity is the core of any religion," he concluded. "I faced backlash that would change my life forever. But, in the name of humanity, I deem that it was all worth it."
Religious persecution in Pakistan is high. Converting a Muslim person to another faith is a capital crime, and killing someone who left the Muslim faith is considered as an honor, a report said.
Pakistan ranks sixth in Open Doors' World Watch List, which identifies the countries where Christians are most persecuted. Islamic extremism is the driving force behind the persecution.

North Korea bans materials with Christian cross markings

 

 Materials and goods bearing a symbol that looks like the Christian cross are no longer allowed in North Korea.
Border guards will immediately confiscate goods that have such markings, even those that seem innocent, such as women's clothes and accessories that have cross-like designs.

 "These products are more likely to be confiscated during customs checks," a source from Pyongyang told Radio Free Asia. "Some designs on women's clothing can look a lot like a cross, depending on who is looking at it. Cross designs also appear on women's hairpins and hair bands and on men's neckties."
The local source, who sold goods brought in from China, added that prior to the new regulation, they only inspected their goods for labels showing they came from South Korea, which the North considers as its rival.

Now they also had to check if the items they sold had markings similar to a cross.
This report was verified by another source from North Hamgyong, who said customs officers seized goods that have a cross mark.
Unfortunately, if their goods are confiscated, they couldn't complain anywhere, the source said.
The source also reported that people wearing accessories that appear to have the cross symbol are taken by authorities.
Christians are highly persecuted in North Korea. The country, for the last 14 years, has taken the number one spot on the list of countries where Christians experience extreme persecution, according to Open Doors, an organization supporting persecuted Christians worldwide.
The persecution in the country is so severe that even students writing the plus sign must ensure that the vertical and horizontal lines have the same length. A longer vertical line would make the symbol look like a cross.
A 2016 report from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom said that North Korea, with a "deplorable" record in human rights, is one of the "most repressive regimes" in the world.
Christians are viewed as a threat, that's why the government "reserves its most severe persecution" for them.
Those who are caught praying and singing worship songs are jailed or sent to labor camps, where they are treated more harshly than other prisoners.
There are "tens of thousands of Christians" suffering in labor camps all over North Korea, the report said.

Culled from The Christian Times

How Christians can help heal the nation

 

Evangelist Anne Graham Lotz enumerated at least four ways ordinary righteous people can do in the face of the threatening anarchy that's grappled the nation.
The daughter of the renowned preacher, Billy Graham, shared her thoughts on her blog Monday as she watched the violent scenes that have been playing out in the U.S. for the last weeks. These included the deaths of African-Americans at the hands of white police officers and the targeted deaths and shootings of white cops by African-Americans.

 "What are we to do? Is there anything ordinary, good people can do?" Lotz penned down her own questions for the Lord.
The 68-year-old founder of AnGel Ministries and author of 11 books said the answers then came to her when she prayed.

Prayer, Lotz said, would be the first thing Christians can do right away.
She quoted Paul who challenged fellow believers in Ephesians 6:18, "With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying."
"It's time for you and me to establish a set-aside time of consistent, daily prayer," said Lotz.
Even as Lotz believed that America's wicked ways – particularly its three national sins she listed as abortion, abandonment of Israel, and the homosexuality agenda – have brought it to "deep, deep trouble," she asserted that America's still "not too far gone" and can still return to God through prayers.
Next, Lotz urged Christians to "pick up the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God" just as instructed by Ephesians 6:17. She added that reading God's Word every day would strengthen one's faith.
"But don't just read it," said Lotz and added, "Apply it. Obey it. Live it out."
The third thing Christians can do would be to "pursue righteousness" which translates to standing up for the "right thing" or the values of justice, truth, kindness and love.
Finally, Lotz reminded Christians of their Great Commission to proclaim Jesus.
"Be ready at a moment's notice to share the Gospel and give a reason for the Hope that is within you," she said.
For her parting words, Lotz urged Christians not to let evil win by doing nothing.
"Please," she implored. "Don't do nothing. Do something!"
Culled from the Christian Times

Gunmen abduct RCCG pastor during Sunday service

 

 There was panic at a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God at Santos bus stop in the Isawo, Ikorodu, Lagos State, on Sunday after  some gunmen walked in and abducted the pastor during the service.

PUNCH  learnt that the pastor, identified only as Bajomo, was whisked away by the gunmen, who came to the church as if they were new members.

Our correspondent learnt that the pastor, who was abducted around 7am, was the first to reach the parish and was preparing for a workers’ meeting which usually preceded the Sunday service.

It was gathered that when the other members arrived at the church, the pastor was nowhere to be found.

 Our correspondent gathered that the matter was reported at the Owutu Police Division.

A witness, who identified herself only as Esther, said the gunmen wore attractive clothes as if they had come for the church service.

She said, “The pastor came earlier around 7am to prepare for a workers’ meeting. The shocking thing was that the men walked in quietly like new members.

“They dressed like people who had come to church. They had Bibles with them. They did not shoot or display any weapon. It was when they got to the pastor that they brought out their guns and ordered him to come with them.

 “The pastor got to the church before anyone else and only three members had arrived before the abduction.

“We discovered after they had left that they were Ijaw militants. They have taken away our pastor. Some members, after the incident, went to the pastor’s house to inform his family members.

“It is a sad occurrence in our area that residents are being abducted, raped, assaulted and even killed every day. It is a problem that has been left to become a calamity.

“I think the state government and the police really need to do something about these recurring incidents. We are at the mercy of the Ijaw boys.”

Our correspondent learnt that the Sunday service did not hold at the parish as a result of the pastor’s abduction.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said she would get back to our correspondent on the matter.

She, however, had yet to get back as of press time.

The RCCG Head, Media and Public Relations, Pastor Segun Adegbiji, confirmed the abduction.

He said the church would invite God’s anger on those who troubled its members and pastors.

He said, “RCCG will not take abduction or murder of our pastors and members any more.

Culled from The Punch,Nigeria

Priest killed in France church attack

A priest was killed on Tuesday after a hostage situation at a church near the northern French city of Rouen, a police source said.

The French interior ministry said that two hostage-takers were “neutralised” in the attack in the town of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray.

French President Francois Hollande and Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve were on their way to the scene, their offices said.
The incident comes as France remains on high alert nearly two weeks after Tunisian Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel mowed down a crowd of people celebrating Bastille Day in the southern city of Nice, killing 84 and injuring over 300.

The attack was the third major strike on France in 18 months and was claimed by the Islamic State group.

Murdered Redeemed preacher for burial on her birthday

About two weeks after her assassination by alleged Islamic fundamentalists in Kubwa area of the Federal Capital Territory, the family of the late Eunice Olawale Elisha on Tuesday announced that the deceased would be buried on July 23, 2016.

A brother to the deceased, Mr. Akun Oluwadare, told journalists that the family had concluded arrangement to properly bury her on July 23, a day that “coincided with her birthday celebration.”

The 42-year-old mother of seven and pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, was murdered while preaching the gospel of Christ at Gbazango-West area of Kubwa.

 

Oluwadare said, “The Christian wake will come up on Friday, July 22 by 5pm at the RCCG Provincial Headquarters, Phase Three, Kubwa. The burial service is fixed for Saturday, July 23, which coincided with her birthday by 12pm at the same venue. Interment will follow immediately at Gudu Cemetry, Abuja.”

 

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Hijab: Court strikes out CAN’s application for stay of execution

  An Osun State High Court has struck out the application for stay of execution filed by the Christian Association of Nigeria against the judgment which allowed Muslim students to wear hijab in all public schools in the state.
Justice Jide Falola on Tuesday struck out the application following the filing of another stay of execution before the Court of Appeal sitting in Akure by the CAN.
Counsel for CAN,  Ayo Laogun, informed the court that his client had filed a fresh application for stay of execution before the Court of Appeal, Akure

He applied to withdraw the application for stay of execution, saying, “in view of Order 4 Rules 10 & 11 of the Court of Appeal Rules 2011, the lower court can not take the application

Counsel for the 1st to 5th respondents, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Ministry of Education and three others, Mr. Jide Obisakin, did not raise any objection to the withdrawal of the application.


The judge subsequently struck out the case.
Meanwhile, the  Chairman of the CAN in the state,  Rev. Elisha Ogundiya, has called on Christians across the state to be law-abiding pending the determination of the case before the appellate court.
He said he wanted the state government to ensure that status-quo was  maintained in the state public schools.
Ogundiya said the CAN would pursue the matter to a logical conclusion and urged his members to be “vigilant and prayerful for a successful conclusion of the suit at the appellate court.”

He said he wanted the state government to ensure that status-quo was  maintained in the state public schools.
Ogundiya said the CAN would pursue the matter to a logical conclusion and urged his members to be “vigilant and prayerful for a successful conclusion of the suit at the appellate court.”
Justice Falola had on July 8 advised lawyers of the two parties in the case to warn their clients against destabilising the judiciary.
Falola said, “I want to draw your attention to an issue, I want you lawyers to admonish your clients not to use religion to destabilise the judiciary. Judges have religions they chose to have and some don’t have.
“Shopping for a particular type of judge to handle your case based on their religions is deplorable and should be condemned. Judiciary is a temple without bias. We deal with the law and religions are dropped at the gate of the courts.
“It is easy for Nigerians to resort to blackmail whenever things don’t happen the way they want them to happen.”

Culled from The Punch,Nigeria

Adeboye invites Abuja Christians for Prayers

The General-Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has invited all Christians in Abuja to attend a special prayer programme for Nigeria.

 The G.O gave the invitation at the just-concluded monthly non-denominational programme, organized by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, tagged Divine Encounter, held at the National Stadium, Abuja.
 
Mounting the podium, Adeboye asked all present to note the date and urged them to attend the all-important prayers for the country.
 He said the special national prayers will be held on Thursday, July 21^st, 2016 at the National Stadium, Abuja. The time is 5pm.
Christians all over Abuja, especially Redeemers are enjoined to attend.

 It is our role to pray for the peace of our Jerusalem. Nigeria is our Jerusalem let us all show up to pray for Nigeria and as we do so God will answer all our personal prayers in Jesus’ name .

 

Adeboye, Olawale Pray for Killers of Abuja Preacher

Just when everybody, including the National Assembly, was clamouring for justice and punishment for the killers of the Abuja preacher, late Mrs. Eunice Olawale, if found. The RCCG’s G.O, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, has said the Church did not want justice for its slain member.
Adeboye said the Church was only interested in the salvation of the souls of the killers.
 Eunice, a 42-year-old woman, was murdered while preaching the gospel in kubwa, Abuja around 5am on Saturday.

 Adeboye, who was on his way to Lagos after a crusade in Abuja, paid a condolence visit to the family at their Gbazango Estate, Kubwa.

  While praying for the family of the deceased, Adeboye said, “Lord, we just want to say thank you. We pray that you keep this family in your hands and that you will be with them. We pray you will comfort and defend them. They too will finish well.

 Praying further, he said, “We are praying that all the perpetrators of this crime will be found. We are not asking for justice; we are only praying that you will save their souls. It will be glorious if they can come and testify that before we were murderers but now we are pastors”.
 Also, the widower of late Mrs. Eunice Olawale has shown that he or the family is not interested in justice for the killers of his wife.

 Olawale, who said this while narrating to newsmen how he got wind of his wife’s death, said “I see her as a martyr and she died for Christ and whether the people are caught or not, they should be forgiven”.

 He went further to pray for them, the same way the General-Overseer had done, saying, “My prayer is that if they can accept Christ that will be a gain for Christ”.

What a display of forgiveness even in the most trying moment of family grief.

That is a lesson for all Christians that no matter what, we should always be ready to forgive. Forgiveness is one of the virtues of a good Christian.

Kumuyi urges Nigerians not to lose hope in Buhari

Pst.Kumuyi

The General Superintendent, Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi has called on Nigerians not to lose hope in President Mohammadu Buhari’s administration.
 
The Deeper Life Church leader spoke during a visit to the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) national headquarters, early this month.
 
Kumuyi said he was hopeful that President Buhari was on the right track to reposition the nation’s economy.

 He said although the country might be passing through the worst of times, there are strong reasons not to lose hope in the President, because God is on the throne.

 He added that there was always light at the end of the tunnel. He said he is optimistic that the President Buhari-led Federal Government is focused and his cabinet knows what they are doing.

 Pastor Kumuyi  who spoke earlier in June, at a press conference held at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, just before the crusade tagged ‘’Night of Extra-ordinary Wonders’’, expressed optimism that things would turn around for good in Nigeria very soon.

 The Church leader, who said, he did not think Nigerians should lose hope, because there is God in heaven who answers prayers, informed that Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior wanted the best for everyone, and that there were some Nigerians who are praying and believe that God answers prayers and so people should not lose hope in Nigeria as thing were still going to turn around.

 
It would be recalled that Pastor E.A Adeboye, earlier in the year, declared that though the beginning of the year might be tough, the latter part of the year would witness a positive turn-around for the country.
 So, don’t lose hope .The much-awaited turn-around for individual and the country is just around the corner.