A Christian high school student was told he would be violating the US constitution if he mentioned his faith in his graduation speech. Officials from Brawley Union School District in California told Brooks Hamby, 18, that “reference to religious content” was inappropriate, and opposed “government case law”. But Hamby said he did not want to compromise his values by removing all references to God or Jesus. Three drafts of his speech were rejected by officials, and he had received no reply about his fourth version by the time he delivered it. Despite the district telling him that the sound would be cut off if he talked about religion, Hamby quoted from the Gospel of Matthew and mentioned God during his graduation speech. A lawyer for Liberty Institute, an American religious liberty organisation, confirmed that Hamby was well within his legal rights to deliver a speech containing references to God.
Preparations are under way for summer Bible camps in several nations formerly belonging to the Soviet Union. At the same time, in Central Asia persecution is on the rise. ‘For example, in Kazakhstan, one of the largest Central Asian countries - we see that new laws that regulate religious affairs [have] been tightened.’ says Sergey Rakhuba of Russian Ministries. In Uzbekistan, ‘authorities are scared of any evangelical activity,’ Rakhuba continues. Believers are doing whatever they can to overcome persecution and share Christ with the needy. ‘We are preparing for the summer and summer camps – sports camps, community camps – in Central Asia that have become one of the most effective ministries today,’ Rakhuba states. Part of the training students receive from Russian Ministries involves the planning and execution of summer Bible camps in Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, and the countries of Central Asia.
Iraq: Refugees amid total chaos
19 Jun 2014Canon Andrew White, affectionately known as 'the Vicar of Baghdad', says Iraq is in total chaos. 500,000 fled Mosul and the emergency has stepped up dialogue between the US and Iran (see item below). Iraq was already coping with large-scale displacement and pressing humanitarian needs resulting from Syria’s civil war sending tens of thousands to seek shelter in Iraq, including Iraqi refugees who fled there after the US-led invasion. Please pray for the refugee agencies already in Iraq to be equipped and able to meet the needs of those who are in despair and have lost everything. Pray for the Red Cross who are there now distributing food, water, shelter and healthcare; for ASUDA providing safe shelters in northern Iraq for women at risk of violence, especially those threatened with ‘honour killing’; for REACH helping communities in northern Iraq engage with the local civil authorities; and for Christian Aid supporting communities badly affected by conflict. William Hague stated the Iraqi government carries the 'heavy responsibility of bringing the situation under control.' See also: http://www.christiantoday.com/article canon.andrew.white.things.have.moved.from.terrible.to.desperate.in.iraq/38148.htm
Iraq: International response to crisis
19 Jun 2014Sunni Islamist militants have attacked Iraq's main oil refinery, causing damage to the site. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani pledged his majority Shi'ite country would do whatever is necessary to protect Shi'ite holy sites in Iraq from ‘terrorists.’ US officials are in direct talks with Iran – uniting against a common enemy. Meanwhile, President Obama considers a range of possibilities, including assistance to Iraqi security forces and carrying out airstrikes, while stressing the need for political unity. Iran recently sent 500 soldiers to aid Iraqi law enforcement officers, but have said that the Iraqi government did not ask for their assistance. The USA has sent 500+ Marines to the Persian Gulf, and increased security at their embassy in Baghdad. Many believe a successful outcome in Iraq is not contingent upon the intervention of any country. There’s a need for Iraq to take steps on the political front to be more inclusive and govern in a non-sectarian manner.
Israel: Kidnap of three boys causes turmoil
19 Jun 2014Israeli seminary students Naftali Frankel, Gilad Shaar and Eyal Yifrah disappeared last Thursday as they hitchhiked towards Hebron. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Hamas is behind the kidnapping. On Monday Israeli security forces rounded up 40 members of Hamas. Palestinians threw rocks when Israeli soldiers entered the al-Jalazoun refugee camp near the West Bank city of Ramallah. Israeli troops responded with gunfire, killing a 20-year-old Palestinian and wounding another. The Israelis also launched pre-dawn raids on the West Bank city of Hebron. Lieutenant-General Benny Gantz, chief of Israel's Armed Forces, said, ‘We have a goal, and that is to find these three boys and bring them home, and to hit Hamas as hard as possible,’ Al Jazeera reported that two groups - ’Islamic State’ and the ‘Brigade of the Free Men of Hebron,’ have claimed responsibility for the kidnappings.
Nigeria: Football fans targeted
19 Jun 2014On Tuesday 17th June a suicide bomber in a tricycle taxi detonated explosives as people watched Brazil's match against Mexico in Yobe State. A hospital worker said truckloads of injured young men and children were being treated in overcrowded wards. The injuries were ‘horrific’ and more than 20 were seriously injured (Nigeria’s Daily Post newspaper reported scores feared killed). Boko Haram describes football as un-Islamic. Open-air viewing centres where fans watch live football are popular throughout Nigeria. However, authorities warned some states to avoid public World Cup screenings, fearing militant attacks. The state of Adamawa ordered all venues planning to show live football coverage to close, after receiving intelligence of planned bomb attacks. On 1st June 14 people were killed after a bomb blast at a bar screening a televised football match.
Egypt: Christian girls kidnapped
19 Jun 2014A new report from the Association of Victims of Abduction and Forced Disappearance (AVAFD) states that more than 550 Egyptian Christian women and girls have been kidnapped since 2011. The kidnapped women are then forced to adopt Islam and marry their captors. They reported that the women’s ages ranged from 14 to 40. Many are raped; many are not even sought by police. Authorities instead claim the women left their families by choice. AVAFD founder, Ebram Louis said kidnappings have increased in Egypt since Hosni Mubarak fell from power. ‘Before the revolution, five or six girls would disappear each month. Now the average is 15.’ Often before the girls are forced into marriages, the traditional cross which the Coptic minority tattoos on their wrists is erased with acid, according to Terrasanta, a Catholic news service. Some maintain there are Islamic cells dedicated exclusively to the abduction of Coptic Christian girls and young women. See also: http://blog.godreports.com/2014/06/over-550-christian-girls-kidnapped-in-egypt-since-2011/
On June 18th officials from the Ministry of Planning and Housing sent bulldozers that destroyed a church-building belonging to the St John Episcopal Church of Sudan, in the Haj Yousif area. A Catholic church-building in the area was also demolished the same day. This happened days after they confiscated three Catholic schools. ‘The government wants to remove all churches from Khartoum,’ a source said.’Tell all churches to stand in prayer for the church in Sudan.' Clergymen said persecution was intensifying following the secession of South Sudan in July 2011, with officials targeting churches they claim to be associated with now unwelcome, largely Christian, South Sudanese in the Islamic-ruled country. A Full Gospel Church was destroyed in the same area two months ago, on the pretext that it belonged to South Sudanese and since they had presumably left, the buildings were no longer needed.