ISIS continues to raid villages in Syria

Just before dawn on Monday, February 23, ISIS fighters entered the Assyrian Christian villages outside of Tal Tamr in Syria's Hasakah region. More than 90 men, women and children were taken from the villages and are believed to still be held by ISIS. As many as four churches have been destroyed and over 3,000 have fled their homes following the assault on the Christian villages along the Khabur River. "We fell asleep in total quiet, nothing was going on...," a woman who had fled Tal Tamr with her four young kids said. "We woke up to the sound of clashing; we didn't know what it was, until we saw that everyone in the camp was fleeing because ISIS had entered the village." Initial reports stated that the men were taken by the fighters to the Abd al-Aziz Mountains, while the women and children were left in the village, guarded by ISIS militants, Steve Oshana, Executive Director of A Demand for Action (ADFA), told International Christian Concern (ICC) on Monday. Sources of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported overhearing ISIS fighters say they had detained "56 crusaders" from Tal Shamiram. Additional reports of abductions pushed that number to between 70-100, according to Nuri Kino, founder of ADFA, with some reports as high as even 200 abducted. On Tuesday, it was being reported that the hostages had now been moved to the Al-Shadadi village, Osama Edward, Director of the Assyrian Human Rights Network, told ICC. "Most of the hostages are women, the elderly, and children," Edward said. "In fact, mostly women as many of the young men were fighting with the militias that are trying to defend these areas," he continued.        Churches Destroyed as Thousands Flee Residents immediately started to flee the area, hoping to make it to the Kurdish-held city of Hassakah, 40 miles away, or to Qamishli, 60 miles away, along the Turkish-Syrian border. About 3,000 people are believed to have fled the Tal Tamr region, finding rides in private cars. Some were able to get busses to the area to drive people out of their villages. Hundreds are taking refuge in the St. Mary Church in Hasakah and the St. Ephrem Church in Qamishli, AINA reported. The cluster of around 35 Assyrian villages along the Khabur River had been home to between 40,000-45,000 Christians prior to 2011, Edward told ICC. Estimates were now that the remaining population was closer to 3,000 before these latest attacks forced entire villages to evacuate. Large amounts of rain actually may have prevented the attack from being even more deadly. "In summer time you can cross the river, but the past three or four weeks have seen a lot of rain. So ISIS was able to attack the villages just on one side of the river," said Edward. A number of churches have also been destroyed by ISIS during these raids. The church in Tel Hurmiz, one of the oldest churches in Syria, was destroyed, as well as the Assyrian Mar Bisho Church in Tel Shamiran, the church in Qabr Shamiy and the church in Tel Baloua, Assyrian activists are reporting. Pictures published by AINA appear to show smoke rising from the Mar Bisho Church in Tel Shamiran. The destruction of these churches comes just a few weeks after ISIS fighters had entered the village of Tel Hormizd and forced the residents to remove the cross from the church and to pay the jizya tax, or face death, AINA reported.  Response to Attacks Against ISIS Positions The raid on these Christian villages comes in response to gains that had been made in a joint operation between the Syriac Military Council (known as MFS) and the Kurdish YPG militias "against the barbaric ISIS organization in Tal Hamis frontline. The result of this operation led to the liberation of 22 villages from ISIS control," the MFS said in a press release on Monday. The victories in those villages seem to be what prompted the counterattack on the civilians in the villages surrounding Tal Tamr. The MFS said that at least three of its fighters had been injured and four were missing, believed to have been martyred, but their bodies had not yet been recovered. This area also is the site of a key bridge across the Khabur River. Strategically, "This bridge is the target and what the fighting is concerned with capturing because control of this bridge gives control to the entire region,"Edward said. "It is used by the army to move supplies, food, etc." Initial reports implied that ISIS was holding the men hostage in exchange for fighters held by the Kurds. "One of the villagers called the cell phone of one of the captives and an ISIS fighter picked up," Oshana said. "He made clear that their demands were for the release of ISIS fighters held by Kurdish forces," he continued. Subsequent attempts to contact those taken have largely been unsuccessful with some fighters answering the phone and saying there is nothing that can be done about their situation. The taking of hostages also provides an element of protection from air strikes and direct intervention, Edward told ICC. "They now form a human shield preventing a Syrian army or coalition air strike in this area," he said. Urgent Calls for Intervention These latest attacks have once again raised the call for international assistance to help protect the Christian and other minority populations in Iraq and Syria that have been explicitly targeted by ISIS and other Islamic extremists groups operating in the region. "The recent violence against the Assyrian Christian communities in Khabor is only the latest in an escalating campaign of violence against these indigenous people.  The siege of Mosul was just the beginning; soon the Nineveh Plains, the cradle of civilization, fell to the hands of the Islamic State, and now the very presence of Christianity in Syria is threatened by this siege," Oshana said in a statement to ICC. While the United States and other countries have engaged in air strikes to roll back the presence of ISIS in Iraq and Syria, there are clear calls for more to be done to get direct support to those providing security on the ground.  "A Demand for Action has secured legislation to support local security for these vulnerable communities, which the President has signed into law, and we will continue to work towards the development of large scale local security forces comprised of these vulnerable minorities to join the fight to eradicate the region of this cancer called IS," Oshana continued. As ISIS has shown in its actions in Eastern Syria over just the past 48 hours, Christians and the presence of the cross are among what they are seeking to eradicate from any of the lands that they control. For interviews, contact Todd Daniels, Regional Manager for the Middle East:  RM-ME@persecution.org # # #

You are free to disseminate this news story. We request that you reference International Christian Concern (ICC) and include our web address, www.persecution.org. ICC is a Washington D.C.-based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides Awareness, Advocacy, and Assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church. For additional information or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.

Numerical Expositions: Genesis 1:28

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it:  and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

-- Gen. 1:28 (KJV)

In this verse, God speaks blessings upon mankind from four dimensions.  Physical things are three-dimensional:  length, width, and height.  Spiritual things are unseen by the naked eye because they are four-dimensional:  length, width, height, and depth.  In mathematics, the fourth dimension is called hyperspace.

To prove that God really blessed mankind, the four separate blessings must be occurring upon the earth at this present time.  Let's look at each blessing separately.

1. "Be fruitful and multiply."  This event is still happening because babies are being born every day throughout the world.  If there was no God, then mankind would not be able to reproduce.  God has placed within every person the drive to reproduce with someone from the opposite sex.

2. "Replenish the earth."  This command states that God wanted for mankind to fill the earth once again.  The statement proves that there were other forms of animals upon the earth before the era of mankind.  That has been proven to be true as well by archaeologists.  If there is no God, then there would not have been any fossils within the ground because He created different sorts of animals before the age of mammals.  I dealt with the age of dinosaurs in full detail when I gave the breakdown in Genesis 1:20-22.

3. "Subdue the earth."  This command allows for man to extract resources from the earth.  If there was no God, then man would not be capable of drilling oil or mining for precious minerals.

4. "Have dominion."  This command allows for man to have dominion over all of the animals.  If there was no God, then animals would have devoured mankind a long time ago.

Numerical Analysis:  The numerical pattern for this verse is 1,2,8.  (1) Follow God so that He can bless you.  (2) To be delivered, listen to what God says to you.  (8) To have a new beginning in God, choose to be productive.

More religious discrimination in Pakistan

Throughout the country of Pakistan, discrimination against religious minorities is abundantly clear, especially during times of disaster. When tragedy strikes, such as war or natural disaster, the Pakistani government has demonstrated that Christians and other religious minorities are the last to receive any form of aid, if they receive any at all. Christian Communities Washed Away by Pakistan's Annual Floods In the case of natural disasters, high-scale monsoon rains and floods during the first week of September 2014 reportedly affected an overall population of 2.53 million in Pakistan. According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), this flooding resulted in 364 deaths and 652 injured. Aside from the personal injuries that the flooding caused, there was also extensive financial damage as homes and property were destroyed across the country. The official NDMA reportstates that, "Four thousand, sixty-five villages, 2.41 acres of crops, and 107,102 houses were damaged, and 9,722 cattle head perished in the flood hit areas." ICC's Pakistan representative had the opportunity to visit the flood-affected areas in Rawalpindi on September 26, 2014. Furthermore, ICC paid solidarity visits to the victims in Sharoon Colony and its neighborhoods, aiming to collect firsthand information on their post-flood living conditions. According to ICC's findings, floods hit 112 Christian homes in the town which resulted minor damages to 108 houses. Four houses belonging to Christian families received extensive damages, including one house that completely collapsed and was washed away from its original foundation. One of the owners of the four severely damaged homes is Yaqoob Masih.  Talking with ICC, Masih, 65, criticized government authorities for their negligent, hate-based policies, and biased attitude towards the religious minorities in the region.  Sharing the painful stories of the post-flood situation with ICC, Masih said, "Floods completely damaged my house, two motorbikes, furniture, electrical appliances, all the educational stuff and toys of my children and the entire household and valuables." "The officials left the affected Christians alone at this difficult time... The rescue teams did not facilitate us; they focused on rescuing their 'co-faith' people and their stuff,"Masih added. "We are living a miserable life, we are homeless, our families have scattered, we are with shortage of health facilities and all the necessities of life," Masih urged the authorities and international community to extend immediate support to rebuild his house. Pointing her finger to a spot on the ground, Mrs. Austin, a 45-year-old mother of two children, began to cry. Though it was difficult for her to express her thoughts, she said, "Here, I had my house - a result of my family's hard-work and outcome of our dreams." She shook her head and started crying again and said, "Now it is just like a grave." Mr. Austin also criticized the local government and management for blatantly showing preference to Muslims above Christians when distributing assistance. Speaking with ICC, Mr. Austin continued, "Despite several times requests to build a boundary wall around the residential area, the officials did not listen to us. They ignored the poor Christians and put us into a danger." Highlighting the discriminatory behavior of the management, Mr. Riaz Masih, another victim of the post-flood discrimination said, "The Christians of Sharoon Colony were not given support for rescuing people nor the relief services by the authorities; that is why we have lost our houses and faced heavy losses."     While speaking with ICC, Mr. Khurram Daud Gill, a social activist in Pakistan said, "We witness that Christian flood victims have been treated as untouchables by the government. The rescue, relief and then rehabilitation work was done unfairly. The district government did not provide adequate machines or cranes to lift the mud from the streets and heavy debris of ruined buildings. None of the high scale government officials visited the victims." Internally Displaced Pakistani Christians Face Struggle to Survive Similarly to natural disasters, tragedy caused by man affects Christians and non-Christians alike.  However, after ICC's visit to displaced Christians in Pakistan, it was evident that the aid distributed after disaster strikes is again, not distributed evenly. "Operation Zarb-e-Azb," a military intervention against various militant groups, including Tehrik-e-Taliban, is being conducted in different parts of North Waziristan, a part of Federally Administrated Tribal Areas. The operation was launched by the Pakistan Armed Forces on June 15th, 2014 and received widespread support from the Pakistani political, defense and civilian sectors. The operations caused large-scale displacements to neighboring districts including Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Karak, Dera Ismail Khan and Kohat in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. According to media reports, FATA Disaster Management Authority claimed registering over 455,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) which it equated to 36,700 displaced families. The government announced that they would be providing cash grants to the IDPs as they register, in addition to assistance, food packages and health items that are being provided by humanitarian organizations. However, the transparency and regularity of this government support has not been seen.  ICC's Representative to Pakistan visited Christian IDPs in September 2014 and learned that they were experiencing multiple forms of discrimination during this difficult time. While speaking with ICC, Mr. Khalid Iqbal, Tariq Masih and Ms. Jameela, social activists among the IDPs, shared the issues and discriminatory behaviors they were experiencing because of their Christian faith. According to Iqbal, one of the ways that Christians face persecution for their faith is through the denial of their monthly stipends.  He said, "The government promised monthly stipend[s] to each affected family; however, they have not included Christians in the so-called registration list, which resulted [in] financial crisis for us." In addition to the financial pressure that these Christian families are now facing, many face the added stress of being separated from their families entirely.  ICC learned that due to unavailability of residences, many families have been forced to live separately. All the women of these families are accommodated in the covered areas with 10 to 15 women per room, while the men are forced stay in open-air tents. During ICC's visit, a common theme among Christian IDPs was the lack of adequate living conditions because of discriminatory government policy. According to Tariq Masih, "The government's teams are delivering food packages to the Muslims' camps regularly; however, they have ignored the Christians. [A] few months back, Christians protested for their rights, and we were able to get few food packages; however, the stuff of those food items were useless and expired." Nearly all the residents of the camp raised voices against the lack of adequate lavatories. An elderly woman informed ICC that there are only two lavatories (male and female) for approximately 80 people in a block. "We tabled a demand for temporary facilities for lavatories; however, it was rejected stating 'We can't provide you such facility in a church compound,'" according to Masih. Ms. Jameela, a teacher by profession, was extremely disappointed that there were no proper arrangements for education. She expressed grief over spoiling children's future and abilities, especially that of the grade nine and ten students preparing to graduate from Pakistan's equivalent of high school. She urged the authorities to give education first priority in their policies and provide adequate facilities to the Christian students in IDP's camps. ICC's Response As these two instances clearly exemplify, Christians are discriminated against when aid is being distributed by the Pakistani government following any disaster. The clear discrimination shows that Christians continue to be an unwanted minority in Pakistan. In response, ICC has provided vital aid to Christian flood victims following the annual monsoon and is hoping to be able to extend aid to the Christian IDPs. ICC's donors are encouraged to help support these efforts by giving to ICC's Community Rebuild Fund. With ICC support, Christians no longer have to be left behind every time disaster strikes in Pakistan.   For interviews, contact William Stark, Regional Manager for South Asia:  RM-SAsia@persecution.org # # #

You are free to disseminate this news story. We request that you reference International Christian Concern (ICC) and include our web address, www.persecution.org. ICC is a Washington D.C.-based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides Awareness, Advocacy, and Assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church. For additional information or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.

Example of persecution in China

Chinese Christians, Xin Xuemei and her husband Huang Qiurui are no strangers to persecution. They have suffered oppression under the hands of the government and beatings in prison that resulted in broken ribs. Despite it all they have continued to share the Gospel, distribute the Bible and continue to follow Christ. Huang Qiurui has spent the last seven months in prison for his faith without access to a Bible and suffering 11-hours a day of hard labor. While his trial continues, one his lawyers call an "illegal trial" his wife shared his story and current condition in a letter. "On the evening of June 23, 2014, DSPS agents from Guangxi crossed the border between Guangxi and Guangdong into Guangzhou to arrest Christians," writes Xin Xuemei. "They framed my husband, charging him with the ambiguous crime of 'illegal business operations.' This is the second time in his life that he has been imprisoned. The reason my husband was framed is because he helped another church member by shipping some character-development teaching materials compiled by the church to her at a kindergarten in Liuzhou." The kindergarten in Liuzhou was founded by Liangren Church in Guangzhou. Huang Quirui, is a church elder at the Church and has been accused of being in charge of shipping the textbooks, an act that is being called an "illegal business operation." The woman Quirui helped is Cheng Jie, a fellow church member and the director of the Hualin Foreign Language Experimental Kindergarten. Another church member, and Hong Kong national Li Jiatao has also been arrested along with Fang Bin, who is a Guangzhou-based printer. Together, the four defendants have six lawyers. Xin Xuemei continues in her letter, "It has already been more than seven months since my husband was taken into custody. He has been detained on a long-term basis at the Liuzhou Municipal No. 1 Detention Center in Guangxi. Now, he isn't allowed to exchange letters with others. All the letters and the Bible sent to him by his relatives and church members were confiscated. In prison, he has been treated unfairly. "Every day, he is forced to work 11 hours of hard labor. In the harsh winter, he has to drink cold water and wash himself in cold water. They decided to convict my husband and keep him from regaining his freedom so that he can never lead a church again. For this, I feel extremely pained at heart! I can only pray every day, in tears, and implore the Lord to be merciful and show His grace! Lawyers defending four Christians for "illegal business operations" were appalled at the actions of the presiding judge who continually violated the law during the first day of trial.  One lawyer for the defendant was removed from the courtroom for suggesting that the judge was biased, meanwhile the judge interrupted the other lawyers defending the Christians each time they spoke. The next day of the trial the judge refused to allow the lawyers access to the trial transcript, despite that this action violated the law. "We protested immediately," defendant Cheng Jie's lawyer Ge Yongxi said. "I raised my hand in protest. I said to the judge that the most important thing we should do in this courtroom is to let the defendants have their right to a proper defense... You can't make such a decision [to not allow the lawyers' access to the transcript] in a hurry and shouldn't think that you can sentence the defendants to whatever you like. This would be a violation of the law and a crime." In response to this, the judge kicked five of the six lawyers out of the courtroom. "Now, they are trying to go ahead with the court trial without us," said Ge. "They are engaging in an illegal trial." As the Christian community for a fair trial and awaits the outcome, Xin has a message for people, especially Christians, around the world. "I hope all of you who are far away from us know the true situation that Chinese house churches find themselves in and the truth about religious persecution in China so that you can become the ambassadors of God and the courageous fighters in prayers! Amen!" For interviews, contact Corey Bailey, Regional Manager for Asia:  RM-Asia@persecution.org # # #

You are free to disseminate this news story. We request that you reference ICC (International Christian Concern) and include our web address, www.persecution.org. ICC is a Washington, D.C.-based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides Awareness, Advocacy, and Assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church. For additional information or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.

Numerical Expositions: Genesis 1:27

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

-- Gen. 1:27 (KJV)

This verse states that God created mankind.  If there is no God, then there would not be any mankind upon the earth.  If there is no God, then you would not be able to read this sentence.  If there is not God, then there would not be any males or females on this planet.

Numerical Analysis:  The numerical pattern for this verse is 1,9,2,7.  (1) To follow God, realize that God made us to be a reflection of Him.  (9) To overturn evil, realize that we are all made in God's image.  (2) To be delivered, realize that God has created mankind.  (7) To be complete, realize that God has created mankind.

21 Egyptians killed by ISIS

International Christian Concern (ICC) condemns the brutal killing of 21 Egyptian Christians in a video released today by the media arm of the militant Islamic group known as ISIS or The Islamic State. The video titled: "A Message Signed With Blood to the Nation of the Cross" appears to be shot on the shoreline of the Mediterranean Sea in Northern Libya. The ISIS militants in military fatigues walk behind the captives in orange jumpsuits before forcing them to kneel, in a style that emulates the videos released by ISIS of brutal killings in Iraq and Syria. In the video a militant issues a threat saying "O crusaders, safety for you will be only wishes," as he links the group in Libya together with the ISIS fighters who have secured their hold over a wide swath of land in Syria and Iraq. Extremist groups in Libya, and across North Africa have pledged allegiance to ISIS allowing them to advance their operations throughout the war-torn country of Libya. ISIS had published an article in the 7th edition of Dabiq, its English language publication, showing pictures of the men and explaining that they had been taken in revenge for actions by the "Coptic Crusaders of Egypt." The publication sparked additional response by the Egyptian government who was attempting to determine the fate of these kidnapped, and also evacuate other Egyptians from Libya. International attention had been sparked about the incredible risks that Egyptians, particularly Christians were facing in Libya and an ICC petition was launched to press for greater action by the Egyptian government on behalf of both those kidnapped and others in Libya who do not have a safe way of fleeing the country. The office of President Al-Sisi has confirmed the killing of the men and issued a call for a week of mourning across the country, Ahram reported. The identities of the 21 have not been fully confirmed, but it is believed that they 20 of them are the men taken in two separate incidents on December 30 and January 3 near Sirte, Libya, as ICC had previously reported. There also appears to be one darker skinned man among the captives, who was not known to have been abducted in the other two incidents. ICC spoke with Kerolos Fayez, the Brother of Mina Fayez, one of those taken captive in Libya. In the phone call he was crying uncontrollably and all the family was in mourning as the worst fears of the families were confirmed in the video released this morning. Todd Daniels, regional manager for the Middle East said, "The video released today once again demonstrates the incredible evil that is being perpetrated by militants loyal to the Islamic State. We mourn alongside of the families of those who have been killed, along with all Egyptians who saw their countrymen brutally killed, and with Christians around the world. These Islamic extremists continue to claim their inspiration for their actions from their religious beliefs and have once again committed perpetrated horrific violence in establishing their religious beliefs. We strongly urge the Egyptian government to act swiftly to provide protection for its citizens who remain in Libya and face continued threats if they attempt to flee the country. The international community must continue to take swift and decisive action to see that those who are responsible for this violence are brought to justice."    For interviews, contact Todd Daniels, Regional Manager for the Middle East: RM-ME@persecution.org # # #

You are free to disseminate this news story. We request that you reference International Christian Concern (ICC) and include our web address, www.persecution.org. ICC is a Washington D.C.-based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides Awareness, Advocacy, and Assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church. For additional information or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.

Numerical Expositions: Genesis 1:26

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:  and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

-- Gen. 1:26 (KJV)

In this verse, God decides to make mankind after His own image and likeness.  He also gives mankind dominion over the earth and over every animal upon the earth.  Mankind was created as a reflection of God.  Therefore, if there was no God, then there would not be any humans upon the earth and man would not have authority over any of the animals upon this earth.

Numerical Analysis:  The numerical pattern for this verse is 1,8,9,2,6.  (1) To follow God, listen to what He says.  (8) To have a new beginning in God, realize that you are a reflection of Him.  (9) To overturn evil, choose to be like God.  (2) To be delivered, realize that you have authority over all of the animals upon this earth.  (6) To expose evil, realize that you have authority over all of the animals upon this earth.

Soka Araro to be released from prison in Ethiopia

Shortly after two Christian converts refused to recant their faith, local Muslims planted false evidence of the production and distribution of illegal substances on the converts' shared land. Police were notified soon after by the same group of Muslims and Soka Araro and Obsa Ogeto were quickly arrested. On November 12, 2014, Araro and Ogeto stood before the Oromiya Region Federal Court of Ethiopia.  They were charged with the crime of growing and distributing illegal substances, which could result in a prison sentence of up to seven years. Six months after Soka Araro's initial arrest in August, International Christian Concern is pleased to announce that he is expected to be finally released and acquitted on February 14, 2015. Following the arrest in August, ICC immediately hired a lawyer to defend the men in court.  Though Nura Araro was also briefly detained, accusations were dropped shortly after, when negotiations took place between ICC's local Ethiopia representative and prison officials.  Ogeto was placed on bail in October and later released and acquitted of the charges in January. Every year, Open Doors, a watchdog organization against the persecution of Christians, releases a ranking of the 50 countries with the worst levels of persecution.  In 2015, Ethiopia was ranked #22 on the list.  Though there is a significant Christian population in Ethiopia, Islamic extremism has been on the rise in multiple regions in recent years, causing a surge in the persecution of non-Muslims. Christians who come Muslim-background face increased persecution and extreme pressure to recant their faith, as seen in the case of Araro and Ogeto.  The Ethiopian government has also limited freedom of expression, making it gradually more difficult for Christians in the Muslim-majority regions to worship openly. In December, ICC organized a calling campaign to advocate for the freedom of these innocent men.  Calls were made to Ethiopian embassies across the world, demanding the release of Araro and Ogeto.  Through countless phone calls and generous support through the Hand of Hope - Legal Fund, ICC was able to play a part in the release of these wrongly imprisoned, innocent Christians. ICC's Regional Manager for Africa, Cameron Thomas, said, "By abusing legal institutions, radical Muslims have greatly neglected the rights of Christians across Ethiopia in recent years. We have seen case after case documenting the rights of Christians being ignored solely on the basis of religion. When essential freedoms such as these are removed, as in the case of Araro and Ogeto, the international Christian community must stand up on their behalf.  We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support for these men and could not be more thrilled for Soka Araro's upcoming release."  For interviews, contact Cameron Thomas, Regional Manager for Africa:  RM-Africa@persecution.org  # # #

You are free to disseminate this news story. We request that you reference International Christian Concern (ICC) and include our web address, www.persecution.org. ICC is a Washington D.C.-based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides Awareness, Advocacy, and Assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church. For additional information or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.

Police raid churches in Pakistan

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that two churches in Lahore, Pakistan, were raided by police during their Sunday services. According to local Christians, the police desecrated the churches, harassed the Christians worshiping there, arrested both churches' pastors, and damaged both churches' sound systems. The police raid took place February 8 at The Light of the City Church and The Pillars of Truth Assemblies during their Sunday services in Lahore, Pakistan. Police registered FIR numbers 251/15 and 252/15 against the leaders of the respective churches alleging that the churches were misusing their loudspeakers as a pretext for the raids. Pastor Imran Maqbool, who spent the night in jail, told ICC, "The authorities had to come up with an explanation for the raids. Four microphones, two sets of speakers, a music mixer, a harmonium, and other electric accessories were damaged and later taken away by the police." According to one eyewitness, "The police officials took possession of the sound systems, made hate speeches against Christians using amplifiers, and later took all the electric stuff away to the police station." "All the worshipers were almost held hostage by the police," Salik Morris, a church member, said. "The women and children started praying, but stopped when they were threatened by the Station House Officer. The officer ordered the congregation not to come to the church for prayers anymore." Talking with ICC, Pastor Javaid Austin, head pastor of The Light of the City Church, said, "The local police have violated our right to religious freedom. They entered into the church forcefully, as attackers, and misbehaved with the pastoral team and the worshipers." "There were around 200 worshipers in both churches," Azeem Javaid, a prayer leader, told ICC. Azeem Javaid spent the night in police custody; however, "I am more energetic for my pastoral work," he told ICC. "The police, led by Imran Qureshi, the local Station House Officer, entered into the church forcefully with arms bared," Azeem Javiad said. "They harassed the women and children. The loud speakers were not even in use due to a power cut." "It was an act of terrorism and an attack on peaceful worshipers which should be condemned by all rights groups," Tasneem Akhtar, another eyewitness, said. "We will continue praying and worshiping in the same church in the same spirit," Tasneem Akhtar continued. "The Station House Officer should be arrested for his criminal act and he must come up with an apology for this!" Local church leaders have called for a consultation meeting and will soon finalize a plan of action to respond to the incidents that took place at both The Light of the City Church and The Pillars of Truth Assemblies over the weekend. ICC's Regional Manager for South Asia, William Stark, said, "The Christian community of Pakistan continues to be treated like an unwanted religious minority in Pakistan. Yesterday, the sound systems of two churches in Lahore were used as a pretext by local police to raid, harass, and threaten two Christian communities. This is just another example of how Christians in Pakistan are persecuted. More must be done by Pakistan to secure the rights of Christians, who have played a crucial role in the country's history. Unless positive steps are made in this direction, the security of Pakistani Christians and their places of worship will continue to deteriorate."    For interviews, contact William Stark, Regional Manager for South Asia:  RM-SAsia@persecution.org # # #

You are free to disseminate this news story. We request that you reference International Christian Concern (ICC) and include our web address, www.persecution.org. ICC is a Washington D.C.-based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides Awareness, Advocacy, and Assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church. For additional information or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.

Numerical Expositions: Genesis 1:25

And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind:  and God saw that it was good.

-- Gen. 1:25 (KJV)

In this verse, God created wild animals, domesticated animals, and insects.  If there is no God, then there would not be animals and insects upon this earth.  Also, there wouldn't be any animal rights activists.

Every animal created in this verse was created to reproduce with their own.  That means that a male and a female tiger would produce a tiger.  The reproductive seeds of different animals were not supposed to be cloned and were not supposed to be breeded.  Breeding between the same family of animals is appropriate, such as the breeding of horses and dogs.  However, attempting to create a new animal from a giraffe and a fly is totally unacceptable.

Numerical Analysis:  The numerical pattern for this verse is 1,7,8,2,5.  (1) To stay in the anointing, realize that God created the animals that are upon this earth.  (7) To be complete, realize that God created the animals that are upon this earth.  (8) To have a new beginning in God, realize that He created the animals that are upon this earth.  (2) To be delivered, focus on the good things in life.  (5) To stay in God's presence, focus on the good things in life.

Elections in Nigeria postponed due to Boko Haram threats

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that the Nigeria Electoral Commission has postponed the February 14 general elections for six weeks. The announcement of a multinational military offensive to regain territory in northeast Nigeria currently held by radical Islamic insurgency, Boko Haram, reportedly lead to the commission's decision to delay what many have argued will be the most contentious election in Nigeria's democratic history. The postponement follows U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's visit to Nigeria, during which he met both southern Christian and incumbent president, Goodluck Johnathan, and northern Muslim and opposition candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari. While in Nigeria, Secretary Kerry implored the electoral commission to move forward with the general elections as planned. Kerry was quoted as having stated it was "imperative that these elections happen on time as scheduled," asserting that holding free, fair and credible elections on time is "one of the best ways to fight back against Boko Haram." The Johnathan administration, however, has repeatedly requested the elections be postponed; whereas. the Buhari campaign sided with the Secretary in support of holding the general elections as planned. According to a December poll by The Economist, Johnathan and Buhari are tied at 46% heading into the elections; though, the success or failure of a military offensive against Boko Haram could upset that tie in favor of either candidate. Today, the African Union concluded a three-day conference in Cameroon's capital city of Youndé to finalize details for a 7,500 member multinational force to fight Boko Haram. Troops from Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin are to set to compose the force; but, the troop deployments may be delayed as some conference attendees reportedly conditioned support on U.N. funding. The presidential runoff--a rerun of the 2011 presidential election--has experts and everyday Nigerians weary of the potential for post-election violence. Following Buhari's loss to Johnathan in that contest, Muslims, primarily in the north, committed a pogrom against their Christian neighbors, burning down more than 700 churches and destroying more than 300 Christian homes and businesses. In all more than 800 people died as result of the violence. Boko Haram, which has targeted crowded places with suicide and car bombings in its campaign of terror to establish a separate Islamic state, also poses a considerable threat to the safety of election participants. Northeastern states, including Borno, Bauchi, Adamawa and Yobe, remain under a state of emergency heading into the elections. As result of violence committed by the Boko Haram insurgency, an estimated 1.5 million Nigerians have been displaced, disenfranchising hundreds of thousands of voters, primarily from the country's majority-Muslim north. As evidenced by numerous statements made during a recent congressional hearing on the situation in Nigeria, experts fear that regardless of the election's outcome, the next administration will face great difficulty in securing the consent of the Nigerian people to govern. It remains unclear whether the military offensive that instigated the postponement will expand the pool of viable voters prior to the elections. ICC's Regional Manager for Africa, Cameron Thomas, said, "Regardless of the postponement, we remain concerned for the safety and security of the Nigerian people in the upcoming general elections. In recent months, Boko Haram has made major advancements and thoroughly established itself as Africa's preeminent terrorist organization. While we hope and pray that the offensive will restore considerable amounts of territory to the control of the Nigerian state, we continue to call for greater efforts to secure polling locations in light of Boko Haram's expanded capabilities. Furthermore, we call on spiritual, political and community leaders across Nigeria to promote peace regardless of the outcome of the impending elections. Nigeria can only move forward to address the many serious issues it faces in unity."  For interviews, contact Cameron Thomas, Regional Manager for Africa:  RM-Africa@persecution.org  # # #

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350 Arrested for protesting against Hindu radicals in New Delhi

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that police in India's capital of New Delhi have arrested hundreds of Christians demonstrating against a recent string of attacks on churches. Christians claim that five churches in New Delhi have been attacked over the past two months as religious intolerance continues to grow in the South Asian nation. Hundreds of Christians gathered in New Delhi Thursday, Feb. 5, to demand greater protection for Christians and their places of worship. Demonstrators gathered outside the Sacred Heart Cathedral, near the Indian parliament, and planned to march to the residence of the Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Police barricaded the roads leading to the Home Minister's residence in an effort to prevent the protest. Police also imposed an emergency law known as Section 144 which prohibits unlawful assemblies. According to Reuters, about 200 police were stationed outside of the cathedral while several hundred demonstrators were inside. Mukesh Kumar Meena, a senior officer at the police station where the demonstrators were being held, told the Wall Street Journal that 350 people were detained outside the Sacred Heart Cathedral on suspicion of unlawful assembly. "They had no permission to protest there," Meena told the Wall Street Journal. John Dayal, a Christian activist, told the Wall Street Journal that he and around 200 other Christians were arrested as they began a peaceful walk toward Home Minister Rajnath Singh's residence to ask him to investigate recent incidents of targeted attacks on church buildings. "Our protest demanded that the government inquire into the violence against Christians because we do not trust the police to investigate properly," Dayal said in a phone interview with the Wall Street Journal. "All we are asking is, 'What are the police doing? What is the government doing?'" one protester told Reuters. Christians want proper security and safety the protester went on to say. Church attacks in New Delhi have been on the rise over the past two months. Five churches have been attacked since St. Sebastian's Church in East Delhi was burned on December 1. Traces of kerosene were found and police later confirmed that the fire was a case of intentional arson. Outside of India's capital, religious intolerance and violence against religious minorities has skyrocketed. Since the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party took over India's national government in May 2014, attacks on Christians and their places of worship have escalated dramatically. ICC's Regional Manager, William Stark, said, "This string of church attacks in New Delhi is just a sampling of what Christians across India are facing. In India's rural areas, church burnings, beatings, social boycotts, and forced conversion attempts have become common place. India's national government has remained bizarrely silent on the issue of religious intolerance, despite the fact that it is affecting millions of its own citizens. Prime Minister Modi has been called on multiple times to publicly speak on this issue, yet he has remained silent. This silence has let down India's religious minorities and only further emboldened India's Hindu radicals. ICC applauds the actions of New Delhi's Christians today as they attempt to encourage their government to protect the rights of all citizens, even if they are a religious minority."

For interviews, contact William Stark, Regional Manager for South Asia:  RM-SAsia@persecution.org