Free Republic

This week, something of great significance has happened in the UK. Something that has implications far beyond its shores and that will affect the Church and Western democracy for years to come. Future historians will look back and see this incident as an indication of the decline of Western democracy and it's replacement with an authoritarian ideology far removed from the liberal democracy birthed from Christianity. We are not talking about the day that the UK finally left the EU - important though that is. No, this week an incident happened that at first sight seems trivial. Franklin Graham was...

"As an American and as a prisoner for Christ I have spent many hours praying and crying out to God for revival for this great nation. We all hope for the success of our nation and for America to be blessed, but without revival there can be no true success or blessing... I would like to ask you to join me in repenting and praying for revival. Me from inside of these prison walls and you on the outside."–Pastor Saeed Abedini (Iran)—This Thursday not only marks American Pastor Saeed Abedini's 35th birthday, but the National Day of Prayer as well....

Two of the Assyrian Christian hostages released by ISIS have spoken to the mediaTwo of the Assyrian Christian hostages released by ISIS have spoken to the media about their ordeal. Some 200 Christians were taken by the Islamist group on February 23 after they stormed a number of villages in the north-east of the country. One of the hostages, going by the name ‘Peter’, told the Times: “They entered our village at five in the morning, while everyone was sleeping. Some of them were Syrians, some were Chinese, some Russian – people who didn’t speak Arabic. They took 17 men,...

I received an email from Franklin Graham this morning saying that there is to be a prayer vigil at Lafayette Park on September 25 at 6:00 p.m. for Pastor Saeed. Please try to attend.

Cairo (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Egypt's churches came under attack once again yesterday when a procession of students linked to the Muslim Brotherhood attacked the church of the Virgin Mary in Zaytoun , in the eastern part of Cairo, which marks the site of a famous apparition of Our Lady . The group - which came directly from Friday prayers in the mosque next door - clashed with some young Christians, who prevented the Islamists from storming the building. Thanks to the intervention of some passers-by, who calmed the brawl, a more serious incident of violence was avoided, but the...

I'm reading my monthly publication of "The Voice of the Martyrs" and am just amazed and stunned by the power an impact of the Holy Bible. I'm reading a story of how someone named Mozafar, who was a devout Muslim, had been commanded by his mullah (Islamic leader) to read the Bible so that he could write an argument against it to defeat the Christians. Upon reading the book of Matthew, he was stunned by the mercy and grace of Jesus. He went to a hotel room to read more without interruption. He became a Christian. The message of the...

IRAN: Act by 9 November to call for Pastor Nadarkhani's pardon during Eid Pastor Nadarkhani was arrested in Rasht in 2009 while attempting to register his church. In 2010 he was tried and found guilty of apostasy (abandoning Islam), and was sentenced to death. He now awaits a decision on his case from the supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei, and a formal written verdict. His life is still in the balance.

The church in Iran is growing and Christians are excited about it, despite persecution. Most Christians in Iran are remaining steadfast to their faith in spite of pressure from the government. Michael Wood of Open Doors USA recently returned from the Middle East and explains the spiritual climate there. “The government has gotten wind of what's going on and as you can understand they don't like it, so we see some repercussions that [have] happened,” Wood says. “The house church is coming under a lot of pressure -- freedoms are even more taken away from individuals that had been found...

She went on to say that in an effort to save the buildings from demolition, the Pastor sat on the fence of the Church compound, to prevent the demolition work, but was beaten and dragged away, and this was reported Katiba Tibia News. The Pastor's wife, Sabah, said that two men went into her flat and evacuated her by force, by slapping her face, pulling her by her clothes and dragging her by her hair. "They threatened that if I do not leave the place they would take my 3-year-old boy and throw him under the bulldozers which came for...

The Voice of the Martyrs presents Bound With Them Conference Speakers… Gracia Burnham (“In the Presence of My Enemies”, “To Fly Again”)) Getaneh Getaneh (Ethiopia) Darek Jarmola (Communist Europe) The speakers will bring awareness and understanding of today’s persecuted church and how God calls us to 'Remember those in bonds as if bound with them.' Hebrew 13:3. Speakers know God’s faithfulness in the midst of persecution and suffering from personal experience. Also speaking will be VOM Representative Matt Rose. Saturday, October 10, 2009 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Conference location: First Baptist Church 240 Hillstown Road Manchester, CT 06040 There...

A Puritan evangelist, John Rogers, warned his congregation against neglecting Scripture by telling them what God might say: "I have trusted you so long with my Bible - it lies in some houses all covered with dust and cobwebs, you care not to listen to it. Do you use my Bible that way? Well, you shall have my Bible no longer". Rogers then picked up his Bible and started walking away from the pulpit. Then he stopped, fell on his knees, and took on the voice of the people, who pleaded, "Lord, whatever Thou dost to us, take not Thy...

19 September, 2006 INDONESIA Execution of “Tibo and friends” fixed for 21 September by Benteng Reges After several postponements, the authorities have set the execution date of the three Indonesian Catholics. This was confirmed today by their defence team. Rumour has it that large protest rallies will be held in Palu and Poso: police have stepped up security measures. Palu (AsiaNews) – Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marinus Riwa, three Catholics condemned to death in central Sulawesi, Indonesia, will be executed on 21 September. The decision followed a meeting behind closed doors between Major General Arif Budi Sampurno,...

'China-level' Christian persecution coming: Pastors say court's ruling in Houston Bible case 'breath-taking' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: August 17, 2006 5:00 a.m. Eastern © 2006 WorldNetDaily.com Houston's Bible monument A few more court decisions like this week's over a display of a Bible in Houston and the United States will be approaching the "China-level" for Christian persecution, according to a leader in the midst of that battle. The ruling from the Fifth Court of Appeals said the display of a Bible on public ground in Houston to honor the founder of a mission has to go, not because it was unconstitutional itself,...

Lead story - Friday January 21, 2005 PAKISTAN : ENRAGED MUSLIM CHOPS OFF CHRISTIAN’S ARM Death threats force victim into hiding. Shahbaz Masih January 21 (Compass) -- A young Christian shopkeeper in Pakistan’s Punjab province had his arm chopped off by a Muslim customer who became enraged during a disagreement over a TV rental. Shahbaz Masih, 22, was approached last November 28 by a customer wanting to rent a television set from his video shop in Talwandi, a little village near Chak Jhumra in Faisalabad district. When Masih declined the request, his customer, a 26-year-old butcher named Ahmed Ali,...