| Protestant Preachers Arrested In Cuba |
(Havana, Cuba June 2, 2009) Cuban officials arrested a number of protestant preachers last week in the province of Las Tunas y Camagüey in Cuba, according to Cubanet (www.cubanet.org), as published on the Miami Herald website. The pastors were threatened with jail on charges of being a danger to society. Pastor Bernardo de Quesada and his wife Damaris Machín were arrested on the highway to Santa Cruz del Sur. They were traveling to Camagüey for the trial of a dissident. Pastor Luis Yoel Barbuena reports that the police chief in the area where he lives came to his home several times and said that he could be jailed for evangelizing and using audio equipment without a license. Pastors Tomasa Victoria Ayala and Jorge Zellero also lost their livelihood when police closed the carpenter shop which they operated on their own. Read More: Links Miami Herald: Cuba Dissidents ______________________________________________________________________________ The International Faith Telegraph
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| Gospel For Asia: India's Election Sends A Message |
Christian News: Persecution (Carrollton, Texas) "The Indian election has sent a significant message that extremism, especially against minorities, is not going to be accepted in the country," said Gospel for Asia ("GFA"") President K.P. Yohannan after poll results were posted in the world's largest democracy.
"The Dalits ('Untouchables'), the 'other backward classes,' Christians and other minorities have spoken with a loud voice that abusing minorities is not the way to go." In India, the moderate Congress Party and its allies won 260 seats in the 543-seat parliament with two races undecided--only 12 seats short of a majority. Dr. Yohannan said there were a number of smaller parties eager to join the coalition. The vote was a serious blow to those who would lead India down the road of religious intolerance and continued persecution of Christians. The incumbent prime minister, Manmohan Singh, has vowed to lead a "stable, strong government which is committed to secular values," a refutation of extreme, religious-based nationalism. The size of the vote against those advocating violence against Christians amazed the political pundits, who had predicted a close election with perhaps years of unstable and weak coalition governments in India's future. "No one expected this," Dr. Yohannan noted. “The Congress party itself is surprised.” But Dr. Yohannan said there was a clear explanation: "Many political pundits are talking about the 'X' factor in this election, something unexpected that can turn the results. There was an X factor, and I believe it was God."
"There are 1.2 billion people in India," he explained. "They are very important to God, and He worked.
"So much prayer went up," he added. "Christians have been praying, and God answered their prayers. That's what happened."
As a result, K.P. said, "I believe that the prime minister will lead the country to greater freedom for minorities, their rights will be protected and the country will have greater economic good.
"But we need to continue to pray according to Romans 13--to pray for the government officials, that God will bless them and that Christians in India will have increased freedom to exercise their faith.
At the same time that the India election results were announced, the government in neighboring Sri Lanka declared victory in the decades-long civil war in that country. Both developments impacted GFA work in the region.
In Sri Lanka, where GFA-supported native missionaries work with more than 100 churches, GFA workers are in the early stages of ministering to the thousands of men, women and children who have been driven from their homes and suffered both physical and emotional devastation in the fighting. GFA-supported missionaries have served on both sides, bringing hope and meeting needs during crisis times. They are thus in a unique position to help bring reconciliation to the former enemies. Dr. Yohannan asks for prayer for Sri Lanka in the wake of this conflict that took an estimated 70,000 lives. "While this 30-year-long civil war has come to an end by the news of the Tamil Tigers' surrender, in reality this is the beginning of pain and crisis for hundreds of thousands of people who are displaced," Dr. Yohannan said. "There are 25,000 now in refugee camps, and the suffering is especially acute among the children and elderly. "This is one of the greatest challenges and opportunities we have to minister to people in the name of Christ."
"Christians around the world should be concerned and in prayer for India, first of all because it is the key nation in the region," Dr. Yohannan noted. "What happens in India affects all of the surrounding countries--and ultimately the world.
"But beyond that, we need to pray for both India and Sri Lanka because of the Kingdom's work. India and South Asia are in the heart of the 10/40 window--the region of the world with the most people who have never heard the name of Jesus. Christians need to be in prayer that the doors will remain open to share the message of God's love with Asia's lost billions."
Gospel for Asia is an evangelical mission organization based in Carrollton involved in sharing the love of Jesus across South Asia. Read More: Links Gospel For Asia Indian Christians Celebrate Early Results ______________________________________________________________________________ The International Faith Telegraph
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| | New Book Comforts, Challenges Those Facing Death and Sorrow |
Christian News Death and suffering as an opportunity? A new book written to comfort those facing death also encourages them to see death as an opportunity to leave a powerful testimony to those around them. Author Angela Dockter-Harris explains: "In our deepest, darkest, moment--when we feel abandoned and alone, God has a plan and a purpose--and if in those moments we choose Him and choose to glorify Him, He will give us a testimony above what we can ask or imagine." Part journal, part bible study -- Dance in the Rain: His Joy Comes in the Mourning enables those facing death to record such a testimony. The reader can record their memories and the details of their relationships, and even complete one of two copies of the same Bible study, leaving behind the second copy for loved ones. Thus, for example, children left behind can complete the Bible study knowing how the parents they lost answered the same questions. Angela hopes that the book can be a comfort to all those that face the suffering and grief of death. "I have had many challenges with suffering and sorrow in my own life," she says. "The death of a close friend that left behind a wife, two small children and unborn child was especially challenging. How would his children know who he was? How would they understand that God had not failed them?" Dance in the Rain squarely adresses such tough issues and provides a way for those left behind to connect with those they have lost. The book also addresses strained relationships here on earth, and one of the most challenging questions for those that know God: "What if my loved one isn't saved?" "We have to understand that the Lord is in control of all things and he has not failed us or our loved one in any way," Angela explains. "Death, loss, suffering is not a failure on God's part -- not ever. But each does provide us with a chance and a choice to come to know God, to draw closer to Him, and to share our testimony with others." Read More: Links Dance In the Rain: His Joy Comes In The Mourning Also available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FEATURE STORIES ______________________________________________________________________________ The International Faith Telegraph
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| Pastor's Wife Dies In Case Of Suspected Swine Flu |
Christian News: Church News 
(Mexico City, Mexico) The wife of an Assemblies of God Pastor in Mexico City passed away due to lung failure and other complications in a case of suspected swine flu. Nelly Hernandez, 31 years old, is survived by her husband Pastor Isidoro Hernandez and three children, 13-year-old Anna, 9-year-old Sammy, and 6-year-old Abel. Missionary Larry Gruetzmacher recently visited with Isidoro and his family in Mexico City. "We spent a lot of time crying. We really had a sense that God was there crying along with us. Isidoro has many hard questions about the tragedy, but knows that Nelly is in heaven and wants to make sure he is with her there some day. Isidoro also hopes to continue his pastoral work in Mexico City." Nelly first developed flu-like symptoms while recovering from a surgery performed at a local hospital. When her condition became critical, her family called an ambulance, but the ambulance broke down on the way to the hospital. A second ambulance transported her to a hospital, but the public hospital did not have adequate resources to treat her. She was then transferred to a private clinic through the intervention of a church member, but soon after she arrived was told that her illness was extremely severe and she might not survive. Close to death and attached to tubes and wires, she could only communicate with hand gestures, but reportedly told her husband, "Everything is going to be O.K. I know where I'm going." Isidoro has expressed his gratitude for those who have contacted him and assisted him with thousands of dollars of expenses. Larry says, "When Nelly died, Isidoro literally did not have a peso in his pocket, but some of these expenses have now been covered." Some additional expenses remain, and Isidoro is now in need of a family car since -- incredibly -- his car was stolen during Nelly's illness. Isidoro speculates that he may have inadvertantly left the keys in the car during the ordeal, but can not recall.  Isidoro's friends and family are also urging him to move his children to a new home away from the poverty-stricken San Marcos region of Mexico City, which is full of drugs, kidnappings, and almost daily violence. Isidoro is especially concerned about his oldest daughter Anna, who would now typically be expected to drop out of school to help out with the younger kids. Isidoro wants her to stay in school and finish her education. Nelly and Isidoro worked together as pastors in the San Marcos region of Mexico City, overseeing four churches and running a non-profit group ministering to school children, single mothers and civic groups and leaders. Isidoro grew up on the streets of Mexico City, working at times for the Mexican Mafia and selling and abusing drugs. At the age of 23, he was led to Christ by Nelly's father, who took him off the streets and into his home. Isidoro then attended Bible College and has now worked as a pastor for ten years. Nelly grew up in the same dangerous San Marcos region of Mexico City where she and her husband planted churches. "She was deeply involved in her husband's ministry, often working behind the scenes, just loving and helping people," recalls missionary Melodee Gruetzmacher. "She had a real heart for women, especially single mothers and the challenges they face. She would often make food and go to their houses, and just sit with them and talk and pray." The many friends and family who attended Nelly's funeral heard powerful stories about her life and love for God and for others. A police commander in charge of one of the local precincts was deeply impacted by these stories. "This guy was as hard as nails," Larry recalls, "the kind of guy who pushes people around all the time. But he saw this incredible outpouring of love at Nelly's funeral, even in the sorrow, and said that he could not deny the reality of God's love any longer."  "God can bring something good even out of something terrible and tragic," Larry observes. "God didn't want Nelly to die. People were actually telling Isidoro that God must have wanted Nelly to die, but his response was, 'How can this be? How can it be God's will for a mother with three children to die?' Although God didn't want Nelly to die, the good and the bad fall on everyone, and God can bring something good out of the bad, in spite of it."
"There is an incredible outpouring of love for Isidoro and his family, in Mexico and around the world. A close family of believers has stepped up and around Isidoro and his family, to care for them, minister to them and just love them in this dark hour. Those who have witnessed this outpouring of love -- like the police commander -- can't help but see the love and tender care of a living God at work in those who love Him, even in tragedy and sorrow." Read More: Links Pastor's Wife Dies In Case Of Suspected Swine Flu Swine Flu Outbreak One Step Closer to Full Pandemic
______________________________________________________________________________The International Faith Telegraph
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The latest and most unique Christian news stories from around the world. Bizarre, groundbreaking, worldchanging. Exclusive stories from a wide variety of sources. Missions news directly from missionaries and numerous denominations and organizations. |
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