Page 5 - Voice of the Persecuted Christians - Jul-Sep 2023 - 123

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OUT OF THESE ASHES ‘I am asking God
that out of these ashes will rise a wave of an uncommon, unseen revival.’ So said Nigerian Archbishop Ben Kwashi, commenting on two decades of violence against Christian communities in his country. In this edition of Release International’s Voice Podcast
we speak to journalist Andrew Boyd,
who serves as Press Officer for Release International. Andrew has visited Nigeria on several occasions to report on the suffering of Christians. He shares his analysis of the atrocities in Nigeria and discusses why it is important to hear the stories of persecution – and how he has been inspired by some of the Christians he has met.
A DOOR FOR THE WORD While in prison the Apostle Paul wrote to the Colossian Christians, ‘Pray for us that God may open a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ’. In this edition of the Voice podcast we continue our current focus on Nigeria. We speak to Mark Mukan, who oversees one of the projects Release International is supporting in that country – a project that seeks to take the gospel back to those areas ravaged by violent persecution.
NIGERIA: COMFORT FOR THE SUFFERING
For the past two decades Christians in northern and central Nigeria have endured horrendous violent persecution. Thousands have been killed and many more forced
to flee, in the face of Islamist extremist attacks. In April Release International launched a three-month campaign called Out of these ashes to focus attention on the situation in Nigeria and to call Christians
to committed prayer. In this edition of the Voice podcast we speak to Mark Lipdo, a Release International partner in Nigeria, about one particular response to the suffering of Christians in that country. Hear about the Trauma Healing Workshops
his organisation runs and some powerful testimonies of the positive impact those workshops have had on Christians who have suffered persecution.
‘Worst anti-Christian violence in India’
More than 300 churches and at least 70 church administrative and school buildings were recently destroyed and 75 Christians killed in Manipur state in northeast India, according to an assessment by the Federation of Indian American Christian Organisations (Fiacona).
Other groups estimate that as many as 45,000 people have been displaced in what Fiacona calls ‘the worst anti-Christian violence India has ever seen’.
Lists of burned churches sent to Premier Christian News from church bodies in Manipur reveal that the violence, which started in May, directly affected Christians within both communities: the Christian tribal groups and the mainly Hindu Meitei people group.
‘Though Meiteis are primarily considered Hindu or of Sanamahi faith,
a small percentage of them have lately converted to the Christian faith,’ Fiacona’s statement read. ‘In Fiacona’s last counting, 145 churches that belong to Meitei Christians and 172 tribal churches have been burnt or destroyed.’
The Evangelical Fellowship of India and other parties subsequently filed a petition at the country’s Supreme Court, calling for an agency to be set up to monitor attacks against Christians. In response, the Government denied that any persecution was taking place against Christians, dismissing any trouble they faced as a result of personal disputes.
Events in Manipur follow worsening conditions for Christians across India. In the first two months of this year there were reportedly 123 assaults against believers.
(Sources include Premier Christian News)
Iranian couple acquitted
A 64-year-old Christian convert with advanced Parkinson’s disease and his wife have been acquitted and released from their combined 10-year prison sentence.
Homayoun Zhaveh, whose health has deteriorated while in prison, and his wife Sara Ahmadi had been detained in Tehran’s Evin Prison since August last year, serving sentences of two and eight years respectively for their involvement in a house church.
They were first arrested in 2019, sentenced in 2020 and summoned to prison in 2021, only to be informed they could return home. However, last August they were summoned again, and this time detained.
Their first two applications for a retrial were rejected, but at Easter they were informed that the Supreme Court had finally ordered their case to be heard again by an appeal court.
In May a court in Tehran acquitted the couple and ordered for them to be released.
In the ruling, the judge said that gathering with people of one’s own faith was ‘natural’, and having books related to Christianity was ‘also an extension of their beliefs’.
He added that there was ‘no evidence’ that Sara and Homayoun had acted against the country’s security or had connections with opposition groups or organisations.
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(Source: Article 18)
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