Indonesian Sunday School teacher passes away

The following story was released recently about the passing of Ratna Bangun, an Indonesian woman who was arrested along with two other Christians in 2005 (click here to learn more).

A few days ago, Ibu Ratna Bangun died of lupus while confined at a hospital in Jakarta, Indonesia. Her husband and her two sons paid their last respects to Ibu Ratna on Wednesday in Hargeulis, her hometown.

Ratna Bangun was arrested in May 2005, with Dr. Rebekka Zakaria and Eti Pangesti, under false accusation of converting Muslim children to Christianity through a Sunday School program. All three women were given a three-year sentence on September 1, 2005 and were released from Indramayu prison on June 8, 2007…. While in prison, Ibu Ratna shared her reflections with Open Doors about being in prison:

“Before, I had always been surrounded by fellow believers. But now, I live among non-believers. I realize how hard it is to share God’s love and my life to them. It is also hard to live away from my children and  husband. But I am thankful – please note this carefully – that God’s faithful love has never left me. God has helped me through everything.

“Secondly, when Jesus broke the five loafs of bread and two fishes to feed 5,000 people, He turned nothingness into something. As for me, I feel like the insignificant breads and fishes. The suffering I face is nothing compared to what other believers around the world are going through. Just like the bread, I was crushed and distributed to become blessings for many people. I am being processed in this place.

“Thirdly, prison is a school of faith. This is where I fight for my faith, so that I could be a part of God’s plan; it is no coincidence that I am here, in this prison.”

What stood out to me in her reflections was her second point. It is amazing that she would view a situation in this way. What stood out to you?

Please pray for this dear family who has been through so much.

(Source: Open Doors)

Please take some time today to pray for those mourning her loss. Pray that they will rest in the knowledge that the Good Shepherd walks with them through this difficult time (Psalm 23). Pray that her Christ-like example will continue to inspire and challenge many. You can post a prayer of solidarity with those mourning on our Persecuted Church Prayer Wall. 

Letter to the editor: Islam a religion of peace?

"All the religions in the world teach only two things – love and peace."

Do you agree? George Vanner didn't, and so he wrote a letter to the editor of The Cambridge Times in response to an article that opened with the above claim. In his letter, George voices his disagreement and encourages the article's author to find out what is really happening to Christians and other minorities in Islamic countries today.

A friend of VOM recently mailed us the newspaper clipping and so I thought I would share it with you as well! Both the article and George's response can be read below. (By the way, if you are interested in writing to your local paper, click here for more information on how to get started.)

If you saw a similar article written in your local paper, would you write a letter to the editor? What would you write? How do you tell others about what is happening to Christians in Islamic countries today?

Veil not mandatory in Islam

Guest column-Yasmeen Sultana - Jun 09, 2010

All the religions in the world teach only two things – love and peace.

However, human beings, for their selfish motives, mould the religion, and create discrimination and hatred. This is about the Niqab or veil issue in Quebec.

Islam represents a religion of humanity, love and peace. Unfortunately, due to the wrong deeds of some misguided Muslims, the entire Islam community has been blamed in recent times. Islamic political values have always been misunderstood.

Is the Islamic political system a rival to democracy?

The word Islam refers to peace. Like all other religions, Islam teaches its followers to live harmoniously with fellow human beings. Islam does not practice any form of compulsion. This religion does not tolerate oppression.

The purpose of Muslim communities is to promote the principles of Islam and help Muslims get their due respect. Religion always teaches peace, but they are people who use religion incorrectly for their own purpose.

The veil is not a mandatory injunction of the Qur’an. Women must cover their body and head properly, but not the face.

If veiling a face was an Islamic ideology or an order of the Qur’an, then why do Muslim women not cover their faces on occasion of holy Hajj (third part of Islam) and Umra? Muslim women are not ordered in the Qur’an to veil their faces at Hajj and Umra – the ultimate forms of Islamic rituals. In Hajj and Umra, men and women are in close proximity in a very crowded space.

Islam has fallen into the same category where it can be identified by its dress, just like a Catholic priest or a rabbi. On the contrary, Islam stresses morality of intentions, behaviours and actions.

Instead of following principles of a dress code, a specific dress has itself become the principle. It is a classical example of maintaining the shell of the religion.

Globalization and the freedom of thought that it provides give us individual freedom to choose a dress of our liking. But I see it as a problem when a given dress is worn and enforced in the name of Islam.

Clearly the Qur’an defines basic standards of a dress: raiment that covers your nakedness.

And the purpose of dress: a source of (your) elegance and protection.

Goal of a dress: so that they may attain eminence. Body can be covered with a big fabric sheet. There are no such words of Burqa in Qur’an.

Niqab defines the above requirements of a dress, i.e. it neither covers nakedness nor is a source of elegance; yet in present times is a source of scrutiny thus denying the protection except that of a sun blocker.

It is someone’s own choice, like some Sikhs do not wear a pug ad on their head or, in 1996 in Canada, women are given choices to jog topless. Finally the veil is not the basis of Islam or Qur’an.

It is against Canadian values of hiding your own identity in common day life and being Canadians, we have to respect Canadians laws.

 

Islamic religion not so peaceful

In response to the guest column of Yasmeen Sultana, Veil not Mandatory in Islam, June 11.

In her letter she says, “The word Islam refers to peace”.

The main meaning of the word Islam is Submission to their God, not peace. She also says, “Islam does not practice any form of compulsion.

This religion does not tolerate oppression.”

If this is true as she claims, then organizations like The Voice of the Martyrs would not have to report that Islamic authorities are doing what she says they don’t do.

Not only are minority Christians under compulsion and oppression in these countries, many are suffering with beatings, rape, kidnapping, forced marriages, forced conversions.

I suggest Ms Sultana check out the website www.persecution.net to see what is happening in many of these Islamic countries.

George Vanner
Cambridge

Iran: An addict becomes a Christian, so do others

Zara was a drug addict living half a life in a very religious city. Zara met some Christians and desperate for anything to deal with her drug problem, she asked Christ into her life. The addiction demons went. And Zara could not stop talking. First some family members came to Christ, and then friends heard about her. Now there are at least ten who have come to faith because of her salvation, and they meet together. No law of man can stop the living Christ reaching into the lives of those oppressed by Satan. And no law of man can stop people like Zara talking about their Saviour.

The case of Ali Golchin, jailed solely because of his allegiance to the historic faith of the church, is one of many that tell us that the church suffers in Iran. The case of Zara is one of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, that tells us that Jesus Christ Himself is building his church, as usual among the poor and distressed.

Pray for:

• Zara’s group to grow
• Other addicts to come to faith
• Ali Gochin to be released

(Source: Elam)

This week in Church history: 12 Carthage Christians martyred

Vigellius Saturninus, the proconsul (Roman administrator) of North Africa in 180 A.D., spoke generously. "You can have the forgiveness of our Lord the Emperor if only you return to your senses," he said.

Speratus, one of twelve Christians who faced him, replied for the rest. "We have never done evil; we have not lent ourselves to wrong; we have never spoken ill, but when ill-treated we have given thanks, for we pay heed to our Emperor."

Evidently Saturninus was stung by that reply. "We too are religious, and our religion is simple," he said defensively. "We swear by the genius of our Lord the Emperor, and pray for his welfare, as you also ought to do."

Speratus offered to instruct Saturninus in true simplicity of worship, but the proconsul brushed him off and turned to the other offenders. "Abandon this way of thinking," he commanded.

Speratus reminded Saturninus that to murder and to lie were the real evils, not the Christian faith. Saturninus ignored him and addressed the other Christians. "Don't share his folly!" he urged them. But the others (five were women) responded as firmly as Speratus.

Cittinus said, "We have no other to fear, save only our Lord God, who is in heaven." Donata added, "Honor Caesar as Caesar; but it is God we fear." Vestia declared, "I am a Christian." Secunda assured the proconsul, "What I am, that I wish to be."

Saturninus turned back to Speratus. "Do you persist in being a Christian?" he asked.

Speratus never wavered. "I am a Christian," he replied, and all the others agreed with him.

Saturninus offered them time to reconsider. To that dangerous bait Speratus answered, "In a matter so plain, we don't need to consider."

Saturninus changed the direction of his inquiry. What were the documents he had found in Speratus lock box? he asked curiously.

"Books and letters of Paul," answered Speratus.

The proconsul made one last effort to change the minds of the Christians. When he saw that they would not bend, he read his decision from a tablet. Heralds then announced his decree: "Speratus, Nartzalus, Cittinus, Veturius, Felix, Aquilinus, Laetantius, Januaria, Generosa, Vestia, Donata, and Secunda, I have ordered to be executed."

The Christians responded with joy. "Thanks be to God," they exclaimed. This was their chance to show their love for Jesus! On July 17, 180, they were beheaded for the sake of Christ, at Scilli, near Carthage, North Africa.

(Source: www.Christianity.com)

Nepal: Pastor beaten by Maoists

Our friends at VOM-USA recently posted the following story about an attack on a prayer meeting in Nepal. Please remember these believers in your prayers today!

On June 13, Maoist rebels in Nepal attacked Christians at an evening prayer meeting, according to VOM contacts. The rebels ordered them to stop the meeting and then assaulted the pastor and believers when they refused.

Before the attack, the pastor had asked the Maoists to leave and return the next day to talk with him, but the rebels instead began to beat him with sticks. When church members, including the pastor’s father and women in the church, tried to defend the pastor, the Maoists attacked them, too. The rebels also burned Bibles and hymnals during the attack.

The following day, local villagers accused the Christians of not paying the “temple tax” and of “converting the local people to Christianity.” Each family was ordered to pay the exorbitant tax, and Christians have been warned that they will be expelled from the village if they do not pay. Some believers have voluntarily left the village, and those remaining risk losing their homes.

Pray that God will heal the pastor and others who were beaten during this attack. Pray that they will look to Christ for strength and direction and that their testimonies will draw nonbelievers into fellowship with Christ.

Colombia: "Christians are dangerous!"

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, also known as the FARC guerrillas, have inflicted violence upon Colombians for the last 40 years. Guerrilla leaders are constantly recruiting children to join their Marxist movement to replace the children and young adults who are killed. Those who speak against the violence or encourage others not to join the guerrillas are targeted, especially Christian leaders, like Dora and Ferley.

Dora Lilia Saavedra and her husband, Ferley, spoke freely about Christ to the children they taught in Santana Ramos, a farming village deep in the Colombian jungle and a hotspot for guerrilla violence. Each day children ages six to 12 piled into Dora's one-room, wooden schoolhouse and listened to her talk about Jesus, but this was risky. She was luring more away from the guerrillas’ cause. Guerrillas also didn’t like Dora’s commitment to truth. “Christians are dangerous,” they repeatedly said. “Christians cannot lie. If the army asks them about us, they will tell the truth.”

One day, while Dora was in the schoolhouse, a neighbour told her some shocking news: guerrillas were going to kill her and her husband the next day. Even though the neighbour was a guerrilla sympathizer he felt bad for the couple. “You can take your family and run,” he said. “You can leave this village right now.” Calmly, Dora told the messenger not to worry, reassuring him that she and her husband were ready to meet their Lord.

After the neighbour’s warning, Dora and her husband had a final devotion with their three children. The couple spent all night praying and fasting.

The following school day was like any other until around 10 a.m., when two armed guerrillas entered the school. “There will be no more school today!” one shouted. “Go home and return tomorrow.” The children quickly filed out the door as the guerrillas ushered Dora and her family to the back of the schoolhouse. They told Dora and her husband to say goodbye to their children. Suddenly more guerrillas burst into the room. One of them pointed to 12-yearold Marcella, saying, “We will kill her first.”

“No, please,” Dora pleaded as she stepped in between the guerrilla and her daughter. “It is me you want. Take me. Leave her here and take me now.”

Marcella cried as the armed men walked her parents across a field to a river just 300 yards away from the school. They ordered Dora and Ferley to lie face down on the ground. Marcella could not see her parents, but she remembers hearing the two shots as her parents were executed.

Just months after Marcella's parents were murdered, she said, "If I met the men who did this I would forgive them. I know this would be hard, but I know God forgives them. So I have to as well.” When asked what she would say to others who have to live with bad things happening to them, Marcella said: “In the name of Jesus nothing just happens.”

Young Marcella demonstrates the assurance that even in times of great suffering and loss, God is at work in the lives of His children. She is among many of the Christians taking a stand for Jesus in nations hostile to Christ.

You can read the full article and other testimonies of courageous believers from around the world in our Special Edition newsletter. Click here to sign up for your free copy today!

This week in Church history: Procopius, first of the Palestine martyrs

When the Roman Emperor Diocletian launched the last and most ruthless of the ten Roman persecutions against Christians, his first victim in Palestine was a young man named Procopius. Eusebius was alive at the time. The Christian author, who became bishop of Caesarea and wrote the most famous history of the early church, left an account of the martyr: 

"The first of all the martyrs who appeared in Palestine was named Procopius. In truth he was a godly man, for even before his confession he had given up his life to great endurance: and from the time that he was a little boy had been of pure habits, and of strict morals: and by the vigor of his mind he had so brought his body into subjection, that, even before his death, his soul seemed to dwell in a body completely mortified, and he had so strengthened his soul by the word of God that his body also was sustained by the power of God. His food was bread only, and his drink water; and he took nothing else besides these two. Occasionally he took food every second day only, and sometimes every third day; oftentimes too he passed a whole week without food.

"But he never ceased day nor night from the study of the word of God: and at the same time he was careful as to his manners and modesty of conduct, so that he edified by his meekness and piety all those of his own standing. And while his chief application was devoted to divine subjects, he was acquainted also in no slight degree with natural science. His family was from Baishan; and he ministered in the orders of the Church in three things: First, he had been a Reader; and in the second order he translated from Greek into Aramaic; and in the last, which is even more excellent than the preceding, he opposed the powers of the evil one, and the devils trembled before him.

"Now it happened that he was sent from Baishan to our city Caesarea, together with his brother confessors. And at the very moment that he passed the gates of the city they brought him before the Governor: and immediately upon his first entrance the judge, whose name was Flavianus, said to him: 'It is necessary that thou shouldest sacrifice to the gods': but he replied with a loud voice, 'There is no God but one only, the Maker and Creator of all things.'

"And when the judge felt himself smitten by the blow of the martyr's words, he furnished himself with arms of another kind against the doctrine of truth, and, abandoning his former order, commanded him to sacrifice to the emperors, who were four in number; but the holy martyr of God laughed still more at this saying, and repeated the words of the greatest of poets of the Greeks [Homer], which he said that 'the rule of many is not good: let there be one ruler and one sovereign.'

"And on account of his answer, which was insulting to the emperors, he, though alive in his conduct, was delivered over to death, and forthwith the head of this blessed man was struck off, and an easy transit afforded him along the way to heaven. And this took place on the seventh day of the month Heziran, in the first year of the persecution in our days. This confessor was the first who was consummated in our city Caesarea."

Over time, Eusebius' simple account became greatly exaggerated. So many conflicting details were added that the makers of church calendars became confused and honored three different men named Procopius! His feast is on July 8.

(Source: Christianity.com)

Write to Pakistani Christian imprisoned for blasphemy

On July 1, 2009, Pakistani police arrested Imran Ghafur in Punjab province after Muslims accused him of burning pages of the Qur’an. While cleaning his brother’s retail shop, Imran removed the trash he had collected, intending to burn some of it. While burning the trash, pages of an Islamic book flew into the fire and burned. Imran’s neighbour, Haji Liaqat, saw the burned pages of the Islamic book and alerted other Muslims in the area.

“Haji Liaqat saw the burned pages, and he aggressively told all resident people and travelers that Imran burnt the pages of a Qur’an also,” a VOM contact said. “He was telling everybody that Imran Ghafur is burning the Qur’an … he should be killed.”

Imran and his father were severely beaten before police arrested Imran. Following the arrest, news of the incident spread throughout the city, and angry Muslims threw stones at the police station where Imran was being held. “Give the death sentence to him who disgraces the Holy Qur’an, and hang him who disgraces the Holy Qur’an,” the Muslims said. “Christians are dogs; Imran is a dog,” they shouted.

On July 2, 2009, Imran was moved to a jail. “The situation is very tense in Hajwari town, where the Christian families live,” the VOM contact said. “Haji Liaqat and his friends are saying that they will not allow Imran’s family to live in the colony or run their business.”

Imran and his family have been managing businesses in the area and are actively involved with other Christians in the area.

Write a letter of encouragement to Imran today, reminding him that Christians in Canada and around the world are aware of his plight and are praying for him. Please do not mention The Voice of the Martyrs in your letter or write anything negative about Pakistan’s government.

You can compile a letter to Imran in his own language online at www.PrisonerAlert.com or write to him directly at:

Imran Ghafur
Central Jail of Faisalabad
Faisalabad
Pakistan

For more information on writing letters to prisoners, please click here. To write to other Christians who are imprisoned for their faith, click here.

Orissa riot sentence 'falls short of justice'

It has been nearly two years since anti-Christian violence erupted in India's Orissa state. The attacks claimed the lives of approximately 100 Christians while dozens of church buildings and homes were destroyed (click here to read more about these attacks). 

Justice and peace remains elusive for Christians in Orissa. Many believers remain in relief camps, unable to return to their villages due to threats from militant Hindus. Others no longer have homes to return to. Churches that were destroyed in the violence remain in ruins.   

According to Union of Catholic Asian News, two men were recently convicted of culpable homicide and sentenced to six years' imprisonment for burning alive a paralytic man on August 24, 2008. The lenient punishment has disappointed local Christians, who fear such light sentences could encourage more crimes.

You can read the full report below:

A verdict of culpable homicide for two Indian men accused of killing a paralyzed Christian during anti-Christian riots in Orissa has disappointed Church people.

The lenient punishment of six years’ jail for the two would encourage more crimes, said Father Dibakar Parichha, a lawyer assisting the 2008 riot victims. “It was the gruesome killing of a man, who could not move out of his bed.”

A court on June 30 convicted Sushanta Sahu and Tukuna Sahu of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and sentenced them to six years’ jail for killing Rasananda Pradhan. It also fined them 5,000 rupees (US$111).

Pradhan, a paralytic, was burnt alive when his house was set on fire by Hindu extremists on Aug. 24, 2008, according to the prosecution.

“I am disappointed at the prosecution and investigation that has led to the judgment,” said Bishop Sarat Chandra Nayak of Berhampur.

“If there is no justice, people would lose confidence” in the legal system, the prelate said.

Pradhan’s brother Ravinder also expressed dissatisfaction over the outcome of the case as the men were not convicted for murder. “There are other accused still to be arrested and prosecuted,” he said.

A total of 831 riot cases have been registered and two fast-track courts are processing 189 cases. The courts have tried 87 cases as of June 28, acquitting 621 people and convicting only 154 people, Father Parichha said.

The seven week-long riots in the state killed 93 people, destroyed some 5,000 houses and displaced 50,000, according to Church records.

Please continue to pray for Christians in Orissa as they rebuild their lives. Pray that, in the midst of such injustice, they will have the patience to entrust true justice into the hands of God (Romans 12:17-21).