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2013-08-13

Secret Church

Secret Church

Following Christ “Insane” In Somalia

Posted: 12 Aug 2013 10:01 PM PDT

The headlines that flash through your brain when you think about Somalia are probably littered with negative subjects ranging from war to starvation. Today, keeping the social injustice inflicted by both greedy pirates and religious terrorists in view, try to see Somalia through the lens of Christian missions.

Following Christ in Somalia is hard. And it’s not just because life in Somalia is hard, although this it most assuredly is. However, for Christians living there, other factors come into play  that heighten their already grim circumstances. One such factor is terrorist groups like al-Shabaab, whose goal is to target and eliminate Christian converts. Another factor is their constitution – strictly Islamic and void of provisions for religious freedom of any kind. So for our fellow disciples over there, while trying to avoid the literal and figurative land mines that daily plague Somalis in their war-torn country, they must also discern how to faithfully follow Jesus in a place where He is not welcomed.

Nik Ripken and his family know firsthand the cost of following Christ in Somalia, and in it, they also know the “insane” joy of suffering with Christ. You can read his story in The Insanity of God, described in the video below.

Here are some facts about Christianity in Somalia.

  • The estimated number of Evangelical Christians in Somalia range from 300 to 4,300. Even if are 4,300, Christians there must fight hard to stay afloat in a sea of 10 million people who are 99% Muslim.
  • The country suffered at the hands of rival warlords, drought, and overall anarchy for over 10 years after their president was overthrown. Last year, an internationally-backed government was established, and while stability is now increasing, Somalis have a lot of healing and building ahead of them.
  • The current government in Somalia is Islamic through and through.
  • Mission work in Somalia is limited, as it is very difficult to get into the country and the risk of abduction once inside is high.
  • In Somalia, the life expectancy is for men is 50 years, and the life expectancy for women is 53 years. If life is not cut short by violence, it often is by starvation or preventable diseases. Persecution aside, Somali Christians fight to survive every day. Likewise, Christians seeking to reach Somalis must not ignore their urgent physical needs.
  • Of the 21 people groups represented in Somalia, 17 are unreached (less than 2% Evangelical Christian).

Pray that Christians in Somalia will be comforted in their suffering. Pray that they would persevere their faith and display Christ well to their neighbors who are also suffering. Pray that the Lord would meet them in their loneliness and, eventually, give them Christian community. And pray that those oppressing and persecuting them would see the strength of God in them, repent, and believe in Jesus.

Information for this post was gathered from Operation World, World Watch List, and Joshua Project.
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2013-08-09

Weekly Prayer Updates Update 08/09/2013

vom groups
weekly prayer updates
"Prayer is the pulse of life; by it the doctor can tell what is the condition of the heart. The sin of prayerlessness is a proof for the ordinary Christian or minister that the life of God in the soul is in deadly sickness and weakness." - Andrew Murray

"praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" - Ephesians 6:18

VOM-USA Prayer Update for August 9, 2013
On Thu. Aug 08 2013 at 03:13 PM Moderator wrote:
Egypt--Widespread Attacks on Christians Continue
Source: VOM Sources

Revelations 2:10-11

Persecution in Egypt continues to increase at an alarming rate. Churches, stores owned by Christians and Christians' homes were attacked in three villages in Menia city on Aug. 4, a VOM worker reports. In the city of Sohag, radical Muslims attacked another church and put the flag of al-Qaida on the building. Earlier in July, two Christians were killed in northern areas of the Sinai Peninsula. On July 18, two churches in Matai and Kom Hamada were attacked during a funeral procession for two Muslim Brotherhood members. Smaller churches in Arish have closed, and only one church is holding a weekly service for those who remain. In the Luxor province, the newly appointed head of police is suspected of intentionally failing to respond to an incident on July 5 in which four Christians were killed.[/quote]

Azerbaijan--Pastor's Wife Passes Away
Source: VOM Sources

Psalm 71:21

Pastor Zaur, who leads a small Baptist church in Aliabad, lost his wife, Nunuka, on July 21 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Zaur Blaev and his congregation have been continually harassed by the local imam and authorities. In 2007, Pastor Zaur was arrested during a raid on a worship service in his home, and he spent nearly a year in a prison camp before being released. More recently, while Zaur was in Russia seeking treatment for his wife, his church was again raided and issued a large fine. Nunuka continued to struggle through surgeries and treatment, but on Sunday morning, July 21, she told Zaur, "I'm going to heaven, to be near God, so you don't need to worry about me. Please continue to serve God." Please pray that God will continue to comfort and sustain Pastor Zaur.[/quote]

North Korea--Balloon Launches Help Spread the Gospel
Source: Seoul USA, VOM Sources

Isaiah 55:10-11

A VOM worker reports record launches of New Testaments into North Korea in July. For the month of July alone, 23,130 New Testaments were launched into North Korea. Through multiple launch points, workers are able to drop materials on areas that are largely unreached by the gospel. A chief of Security Vision informed VOM partners of a North Korean website threatening organizations that launch balloons. The VOM partners were asked to refrain from launching balloons, but they were able to launch again on July 11, releasing 2,000 New Testaments. On July 31, they launched a record 7,500 New Testaments, the largest number launched in 2013. Continue to pray for favorable launch conditions, and pray that these Scriptures will fall into the right hands in North Korea.[/quote]

Malaysia--VOM Project

Pray for a VOM-supported ministry leader who reaches out to Malay Muslims. Evangelizing Muslim Malays is extremely difficult and strongly opposed.[/quote]

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2013-08-08

Secret Church

Secret Church

What is Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit?

Posted: 07 Aug 2013 10:01 PM PDT

Pastor David Platt discusses blasphemy against the Spirit, what actually happens when someone commits this sin, and why this particular sin is unforgivable. To view this teaching in its entirety, watch Secret Church 5: Exploring the Holy Spirit, on our website, Radical.net.
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