Russia: Evangelicals v Orthodox Church
For decades, the Russian Orthodox Church was persecuted under the Soviet Union's Communist Party. For eight years, Yuri Sipko ran one of the largest Baptist organizations in Russia. Now, 20 years after the fall of Communism he worries about the growing threats against the country's evangelical movement. ‘The government recently introduced religious classes based on the principals of the Orthodox Church in public schools, Then the president announced appointing Orthodox chaplains to all army units. Our constitution clearly states no religion can be the state religion.’ Sergey Ryakhovski, head of Russia's Pentecostal Union, worries that the Orthodox Church's influence is coming at the expense of religious freedom, especially for minority groups. Muscovite Human Rights advocate, Roman Lunkin, said the head of the Orthodox Church is on a mission to expand its powers and influence.
Pray: for God to strengthen, empower and renew all the Russian churches. (Mt.16:18)
More: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2011/April/Russian-Evangelicals-Leery-of-Orthodox-Church-/
Church website welcomes two million visitors
More than two million people have turned to the web to find their local parish church in the last 12 months, according to figures released today. The Church of England's http://www.achurchnearyou.com/ website welcomed 2,084,444 visitors in the 12 months up to April 2011, an increase of more than 28 per cent on the previous 12 months. In January, the Church's location database was integrated within the new CofE website at http://www.churchofengland.org/ leading to a steady increase in visitors. A link to the Crockford's clergy database ensures contact information for the vast majority of parishes. Peter Crumpler, Director of Communications for the Archbishops' Council, said: ‘The increasing popularity of the site is one further indication of the trend for people to use the web when looking for a place for worship, to attend a wedding, funeral or baptism, or to seek a quiet place for prayer or reflection.’ Praise: God that the airwaves are open to all who are searching even for God and His Church. (Ecc.7:25)
Church website welcomes two million visitors
More than two million people have turned to the web to find their local parish church in the last 12 months, according to figures released today. The Church of England's http://www.achurchnearyou.com/ website welcomed 2,084,444 visitors in the 12 months up to April 2011, an increase of more than 28 per cent on the previous 12 months. In January, the Church's location database was integrated within the new CofE website at http://www.churchofengland.org/ leading to a steady increase in visitors. A link to the Crockford's clergy database ensures contact information for the vast majority of parishes. Peter Crumpler, Director of Communications for the Archbishops' Council, said: ‘The increasing popularity of the site is one further indication of the trend for people to use the web when looking for a place for worship, to attend a wedding, funeral or baptism, or to seek a quiet place for prayer or reflection.’ Praise: God that the airwaves are open to all who are searching even for God and His Church. (Ecc.7:25)
Russia: Moscow Church spearheads revival
In a land where the Russian Orthodox Church dominates, an evangelical charismatic church is creating spiritual waves. ’The Protestant movement is growing very strongly,’ said Rick Renner, senior pastor of Moscow Good News Church. Renner and his wife Denise moved their family to what is now the former Soviet Union. Nine years later, in September 2000, they started Moscow Good News Church in the Russian capital city. Moscow church is approximately 3,500 people in regular attendance. That's big for Russia, where most Protestant churches attract less than a thousand people to each of their congregations. While the goal is to reach a broad section of those living in Moscow, the church puts a special emphasis on reaching the upper class. ‘Specifically, a part of our vision is to reach a higher class of people,’ Renner said. That's because ‘they need God, too, and there aren't many churches that they can actually feel comfortable in,’ he explained.
Praise: God for the continued growth of the Good News Church. (2Cor.9:8)
More: http://www.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=36238&PN=1&TPN=1
Russia: Moscow Church spearheads revival
In a land where the Russian Orthodox Church dominates, an evangelical charismatic church is creating spiritual waves. ’The Protestant movement is growing very strongly,’ said Rick Renner, senior pastor of Moscow Good News Church. Renner and his wife Denise moved their family to what is now the former Soviet Union. Nine years later, in September 2000, they started Moscow Good News Church in the Russian capital city. Moscow church is approximately 3,500 people in regular attendance. That's big for Russia, where most Protestant churches attract less than a thousand people to each of their congregations. While the goal is to reach a broad section of those living in Moscow, the church puts a special emphasis on reaching the upper class. ‘Specifically, a part of our vision is to reach a higher class of people,’ Renner said. That's because ‘they need God, too, and there aren't many churches that they can actually feel comfortable in,’ he explained.
Praise: God for the continued growth of the Good News Church. (2Cor.9:8)
More: http://www.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=36238&PN=1&TPN=1
Saudi Arabia: House Church Christians jailed
Two Indian Christians, members of a thriving Pentecostal house church, in Saudi Arabia, have been moved from pre-trial detention to a prison in the Saudi capital Ryadh where they are ‘forbidden to pray or read the Bible’ and ‘suffer of a lack of food and medical attention,’ an elder of the church has told Worthy News and its news partner BosNewsLife. Vasantha Sekhar Vara, 28, and Nese Yohan, 31, who are members of the ‘Rejoice in the Church of the Lord’ congregation, were initially detained in January and received 45-days of ‘pre-trial detention’ on charges of ‘proselytizing’, said the church elder speaking from Riyadh in a telephone interview. ‘They were later moved from the police station to a notorious central jail in Ryadh without a trial,' he added. He said it was not known when and if the trial will start. Pray: for Yohan and Vara that God would strengthen them in their ordeal and pray for an early release. (2Ch.19:9a) More: http://www.worthynews.com/10176-saudi-arabia-jails-house-church-christians-exclusive
Lebanon church reaches all across Arab world
Amid political upheavals, protests, and the radical religiosity, the Gospel is moving forward in the Middle East, thanks in no small part to one devoted church. The Free Evangelical Church of Beirut has been shining brighter and brighter light into the Arab world since pastor Joseph took a job there in 1994. The church's first mission was to establish a home for girls whose parents were either killed or unable to care for them as a result of the 15-year civil war in Lebanon. Pastor Joseph felt that God was calling him to move forward with the Gospel not just in Beirut, Lebanon, but throughout the Middle East. An African man was the first to leave the FECB in order to minister to another nation. He ventured back to his home country with the support of the church. Another church member relocated to a nearby nation to teach theology and evangelize non-believers. Further members followed the trend in becoming Church planters.
Pray: that the influence of FECB would continue and lead to many more church plants. (Ex.15:17)
More: http://www.mnnonline.org/article/15612
China: Fear prompts China’s Easter crackdown
The days leading up to Easter are always a sombre time for Christians. But this year in Beijing, many believers have the added concern of not knowing if or where they’ll be allowed to celebrate the holiest day of the year on the Christian calendar. Nearly 50 members of one of Beijing’s largest Protestant house churches, including its two pastors, were detained and hundreds of police were deployed in a commercial district in the northwest of the city in order to prevent the congregation from holding an outdoor Palm Sunday service. The leaders of the Shouwang church said they would nonetheless try again next week – Easter Sunday – unless they are given permission to celebrate the Communion service indoors at their usual premises. The church, which has about 1,000 followers, said it was forced to hold the services outside after being evicted from the restaurant where they gathered every Sunday for more than a year. (See also Prayer Alert 14-2011) Pray: for the many millions of believers across China as they seek to celebrate Easter that they would be blessed to be a blessing. (Ps.145:7) More: http://www.chinaaid.org/2011/04/fears-of-uprisings-prompt-chinas-easter.html#more
Vietnam: Authorities in Hanoi thwart Easter celebrations
Authorities in Vietnam prevented much-anticipated public Easter celebrations in Hanoi planned for Friday and Saturday (April 15-16) after giving a verbal promise to organizers that the events would proceed. An inter-church organizing committee had submitted a request for permission well in advance and had made elaborate preparations for the special events featuring renowned evangelist Luis Palau. The organizers said they were disappointed but not entirely surprised by the Communist government’s action. ‘The authorities have clearly demonstrated to the world what we experience regularly – that their promises, whether verbal or written, cannot be trusted,’ said one church leader who requested anonymity. Asked to speculate on the reasons for the government’s ultimate refusal, another key church leader said, ‘I don’t know why, but it almost seems as if the government is deliberately damaging its own reputation.’
Pray: for the Church in Vietnam that despite the set-backs it will bring glory to God by its actions. (Ps.86:9)
More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/vietnam/article_110895.html
Pakistan: Christians under increasing pressure
Bibles are being desecrated, churches attacked and human rights advocates threatened in Pakistan as Islamic extremists intensify pressure on the Christian community. Christians have faced persecution in Pakistan for years but the climate has deteriorated in recent months particularly since the burning of a Koran at the church of Florida by pastor Terry Jones last month. Last Saturday, the Sarhadi Lutheran Church in Mardan was targeted in a bomb attack. It is believed that Islamic militants planted the bomb. Despite people being present at the church at the time, no one was killed or injured in the explosion. The church’s pastor, the Rev Ghulam Shad, said: ‘It appears that the militants only wanted to demolish the church, but not to injure any of our people’. When asked by the news service about the church’s attitude towards the perpetrators, he answered: ‘All we can do is to pray for them as we are taught by our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (See also Prayer Alert 14-2011) Pray: again for the believers who are persecuted for their faith that God will protect them. (Ps.12:5) More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christians.under.increasing.pressure.in.pakistan/27837.htm