For Christians living in situations of persecution, Good Friday sums up their experience of being crucified with Christ. But after Good Friday comes Easter Sunday, the glorious day of resurrection and the empty tomb. Persecuted Christians live with the sure and certain hope that their suffering will end in glory.
A joy-filled Easter to all my [...]
Filed under: Christianity on April 12th, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Yemen
Languages: Arabic
In the centuries following Christ’s death and resurrection Christianity was strong in the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, known today as Yemen, and it was ruled by a line of Christian kings. Its Christian heritage did not survive the influx of Islam after Muslim forces conquered the area in the 7th century AD.
There [...]
Filed under: Christianity on April 11th, 2009 | Comments Off
Martyrs
Today we are thinking about those who have died for their faith.
Since Jesus’ sacrifice of love, many Christians have stubbornly clung to this love even unto death and thus in turn have borne witness to its reality and power.
In the West we may think of martyrs as being associated with turbulent times in our history [...]
Filed under: Christianity on April 10th, 2009 | Comments Off
Vietnam
Languages: Vietnamese, Thai, Khmer, Chinese, many local languages
The consititution of Vietnam guarantees freedom of religion and belief but the reality is quite different. Beatings, starvation, torture are common for the many Christians imprisoned for their faith.
Vietnam has been under communist rule since 1975. While the growing Catholic Church enjoys a limited amount of freedom to [...]
Filed under: Christianity on April 9th, 2009 | Comments Off
Uzbekistan
Languages: Uzbek, Russian, Tajik, Kazakh
Even though it is officially a secular state Uzbekistan is considered to be one of the worst of the central Asian countries in terms of religious freedom. The government places severe restrictions on all religious activities – registration is required for churches but is difficult to obtain. Christians are not allowed [...]
Filed under: Christianity on April 8th, 2009 | 4 Comments »
Turkmenistan
Languages: Turkmen, Russian
To have a place to meet is vital for a community of believers. Yet in Turkmenistan this issue poses one of the biggest challenges for the Church as the government controls, obstructs and prevents the building, buying or renting of religious meeting-places and places of worship. Churches can obtain a meeting place only [...]
Filed under: Christianity on April 7th, 2009 | Comments Off
Turkey
Languages: Turkish, Kurdish
Present-day Turkey was known to the Romans as Asia Minor and is the area in which the seven churches of Revelation are located. After Jesus’ death and resurrection Christianity spread rapidly here and there were (now famous) communities in Ephesus and Galatia. The capital, now Istanbul, used to be called Constantinople and was [...]
Filed under: Christianity on April 6th, 2009 | Comments Off
Today we are thinking about Evangelists
In many countries, Christian evangelists are serving faithfully in their own contexts, sharing the Gospel with those of other faiths, despite hardship, hostility and persecution. Some may see much fruit, and often their ministry is made easier because they do not face the same language and cultural barriers as foreign [...]
Filed under: Christianity on April 5th, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Tunisia
Languages: Arabic, French
Until the 7th century AD Christianity was widespread throughout the region of today’s Tunisia. It produced famous Christian thinkers and leaders such as Tertullian and Cyprian. But five centuries later, Christianity was extinguised after Arab tribes had conquered the land and established themselves as rulers.
Today Christians make up less than 2.5% of Tunisia’s [...]
Filed under: Christianity on April 4th, 2009 | Comments Off
Tanzania
Languages: Swahili, English, Nyamwezi, local languages
The Muslim/Christian ratio in the Tanzanian population as a whole is almost 50/50 and the government safeguards religious freedom.
Zanzibar, just off the coast, is a semi-autonomous island where the Christian population is just 1%. These people are under constant pressure to convert and Christian children are apparently kidnapped to force [...]
Filed under: Christianity on April 3rd, 2009 | Comments Off