HOPE AND AID FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH www.barnabasfund.

org

September/October 2010

Be on your guard: Preparing for Persecution

Suffering Church Sunday 2010 – 11
 Welcome from the Director

Contents
3 Project News
Relief for hungry

What price
Christians in Africa

6 Be on your guard

religious freedom?
Suffering Church
Sunday 2010 – 11

6 Poster
7 Introduction
8 Persecution in the
New Testament
According to The Times, in April this changed their vocabulary about religious
11 Sermon outline year there was a riot in the Afghan liberty. No longer do they call for freedom
12 Bible study town of Sistani, triggered by rumours of religion but merely speak about
13 Testimony that American marines had burnt a “freedom of worship”. Under Islamic law
copy of the Qur’an. Peace was restored and in most Muslim-majority countries,
14 Timeline by the marines’ presenting a gift of ten non-Muslims, such as Christians, may
16 What is Qur’ans and by their showing to the meet and worship according to their own
persecution? crowd a marine who had converted to beliefs, but sharing of their faith and
21 Resources Islam and changed his name to conversion from Islam are outlawed. Is this
Abdullah. The riot turned to celebration. limited freedom all that the US government
is now prepared to promote?

23
The following month a surge of public
Newsroom
outrage against converts from Islam to This disgraceful retreat from the defence of
Converts to Christ in human rights seems to have been
Christianity convulsed Afghanistan. There
danger in Afghanistan
were calls in parliament for all such prompted by a desire to appease Muslim
apostates to be killed, in line with sharia feelings for the sake of political and military
(Islamic law). President Karzai expressed expediency. But Western democracies

26
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© Barnabas Fund 2010
great concern about the existence of
converts from Islam within his country.
Neither Western governments nor their
allies in Afghanistan have publicly
condemned these threats against people
who have chosen to leave the faith they
were born in and to follow Christ. There
are no calls to spare the lives of converts,
even though they are threatened not only
in Afghanistan but also in Iran, Saudi
Arabia and increasingly in other countries.
The call of the prophet Amos to “let justice
roll on like a river, righteousness like a
never-failing stream” (Amos 5:24) goes
largely unheeded.
cannot oppose the regimes in Iran or North
Korea if we ourselves think freedom of
conscience not worth defending.
It was Benjamin Franklin who said, “They
that can give up essential liberty to obtain
a little temporary safety deserve neither
safety nor liberty.” We are already seeing
freedom of speech gradually sinking under
the rising tide of self-censorship, caused
mainly, I believe, by fear of Islam. What
would Franklin have said about this or
about sacrificing religious liberty in the
hope of avoiding Islamic hostility?

President Obama and his Secretary of Dr Patrick Sookhdeo

State, Hillary Clinton, have recently International Director

 BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

 Project News
These are the pages where we report how your gifts are transforming the
lives of Christians who suffer discrimination or persecution because of
their love for the Lord Jesus Christ. Gifts channelled through Barnabas
bring aid to individuals, families, churches and ministries, changing lives
and situations, giving hope for the future. We have space to mention only
a small selection of many projects we have been able to support
because of your gifts. Thank you for enabling these projects to
get the help they need. Please pray as you read.

Famine Relief in Niger and Burundi

The continent of Africa is afflicted by many
famines that are barely reported in Western
news media. This year has seen a particularly
severe drought in Niger, a West African state
that is largely Sahara desert. Niger has a
Muslim population of at least 97%. In Central
Africa, Burundi is also struggling with an
ongoing famine in certain parts, including
some Muslim-majority areas where
Christians are particularly vulnerable.
Barnabas has been helping with food aid for
Christians in Niger since 2005. Recent grants
for Niger total £64,860 (US$98,960; €77,860)
which provided 1,161 families with 100kg of
maize or millet and 50kg of rice, which
should last each family two to three months.
The cost per family was £55 (US$84; €66).
In Burundi we have been assisting hungry Project reference 38-568
Christians in Muslim-majority areas since Famine relief in Niger
2007. Our most recent grant of £13,090
(US$20,110; €15,640) provided 400 Project reference 67-681
families with beans, maize, cassava flour Famine relief in Burundi
and powdered milk. The benefits were more
than just filling empty stomachs. The project
leader wrote to Barnabas Fund that 324
children who had given up going to school
are now back at their lessons. What is
more, “The number of people who used to
go to Tanzania and Rwanda looking for food
has decreased. They are now settled and
working in their fields.”
Food aid arrives by truck for Christians in
Burundi...
... and Niger

BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 

 Project News
Cuba: Bringing the Gospel to Old
and Young, Urban and Rural
The Church in Cuba is growing rapidly despite
severe poverty and increasing persecution
from the communist government. Barnabas is
supporting 40 Cuban evangelists who are
working to plant new churches. We provide
£62 (US$95; €74) per person per month, which
covers family living costs and ministry costs.
Some of the evangelists are in urban
situations, but many are serving in the little
villages in the centre of the island that up until
now have lacked churches or sound Christian
teaching. One evangelist has a ministry aimed
particularly at the elderly; he is discipling a
group of 26 older people who have recently
become Christians, and hopes to baptise a
number of them soon. “I appreciate the Lord’s
Kyrgyzstan: In Times of Conflict
and in Times of Peace
This Central Asian country hit the
international headlines in June when large-
scale ethnic riots broke out in the south of
the country and hundreds of thousands of
Uzbeks fled from violence at the hands of
Kyrgyz people. Christian pastors sprang into
action, ignoring threats and hostility, trying
to help the needy, especially their fellow-
believers. As the crisis developed, Christians
began to be targeted for their faith, as well
as for trying to help across the ethnic divide.
Barnabas Fund sent an emergency first
grant of £2,140 (US$3,000; €2,360) and
stands ready to channel more
as required.
Project reference
00-345 Victims of
Violence Fund
Kyrgyzstan is a country where
Barnabas has already been
involved for many years,
assisting the Christians in a
variety of ways. For example, a
grant of £3,264 (US$; €4,060)
was used by a church as a
revolving loan fund to help
Christian converts from a
Muslim background set up
small businesses to support This cattle project provides a livelihood for
three Christians in Kyrgyzstan
 BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010
calling on my life,” he writes, “and that,
despite my age, He has allowed me to
serve Him in ministry for the elderly,
where 167 people attend: 63 men and
104 women.”
By contrast, another evangelist writes,
“In these past three months I have been
working with a great number of youth in
sports through the Third Christian
Evangelistic Football Cup ‘Emmanuel’... I
also work in evangelising sports players
through the Sports Ministry.” Through
this ministry the Lord has brought 40 people
to faith, and four cell-groups have been
planted “including a special one for the sports
players that have been saved”.
themselves. It is an area of high
unemployment, and it is extra difficult for
those who have left Islam to find jobs. The
first loan made was used for a cattle
project employing three people. The
business is thriving and has already begun
to return money to the church, which has
thus been able to give a second loan to
another convert to start a small business
with chickens and turkeys.
Project reference 00-356
Small Business Start-up Fund
New believers in Cuba
Project reference
93-824
Kazakhstan: Bringing
Peace with God to
Leprosy Patients
Last year Barnabas gave £8,120 (US$12,390;
€9,750) to print 5,000 copies each of three
Christian books in the Kazakh language. Now
we are receiving reports of how these titles are
being effective for the Kingdom. A Christian
nurse is using Billy Graham’s Peace with God to
share the Gospel at the
leprosy hospital where she
works, and encourages
other Christians nearby to
do the same. There is no
church for 100km in any
direction.
The same title was used Kazakh Christian
by a young Christian literature strengthens
family, all converts from Christians and
Islam, who were visiting spreads the Gospel
their Muslim relatives.
The Muslims said the Christians had betrayed
Islam and brought shame on the whole family
by deciding to follow Christ. But the Christians
testified about the Lord Jesus and their Muslim
relatives accepted a copy of Peace with God.
Another Christian writes, “We distribute the
book How to Know God in our little book store,
in personal discussions and during Christian
conferences. It is a great help to Bible study
groups at home who are preparing their
sessions on the basis of this book.”
Project reference 00-360
Christian Literature Fund

Burma (Myanmar): Grateful to You and to
Our Living God
Barnabas continues to assist with relief and
development projects for Christians in the
wake of the devastation caused by Cyclone
Nargis. Here we share some thank you letters
from some of those who have been helped in
the Irrawaddy delta area.
A fishing boat costs £62 (US$95; €75) and a
net costs £16 (US$25; €19). Our most recent
grant provided 20 boats with nets.
A gift of 100 ducks for one family costs £62
(US$95; €75), and we have helped 70
families in this way. Each 2-month-old duck
costs 62 pence (95 US cents; 75 Euro cents).
Project reference
75-745
“
By the grace of God, He has provided us a
boat and fishing net by using you. Thank you
“
so much. May the good Lord bless you more
and more.
Emergency Aid for
Afghan Christian
Refugees
At the end of May, Afghan TV showed footage
of Afghan Christians, including baptisms. The
country was rocked by calls for the death of
converts from Islam, some coming from
student protestors, some even from
legislators within parliament. Door-to-door
searches began, and a number of Christians
were arrested. Dozens of Afghan Christians
fled their homeland.
Barnabas has sent a grant of £5,780
(US$8,820; €6,920) to help some of these
Afghan refugees, who have had to seek
safety in other countries. It will pay for rent,
food, clothes, medical and other needs. All
Afghan Christians are converts from Islam.
Project reference
01-901
Project News
“
Thank you so much for all your heart
and help for our family. Words cannot
express how grateful we are to you and to
our living God. Even though we have
nothing and hopeless situation but through
“
you God has provided our daily bread and
the house where we stay.
Duck-rearing enables this family to support
themselves, and a new house keeps them dry
“Light of the world” says the blue and white sign on this fishing boat, provided to a
Christian fisherman who lost his boat in Cyclone Nargis
Pakistan: Medical Help and Literacy
for Needy Christian Women
A grant of £5,000 (US$7,630; €6,000) will works as a tailor, said that now she could
help support a church-run medical project write down all the measurements she made
for Christian women in Pakistan for one during her work, instead of having to
year. A further grant of £1,300 (US$2,380; remember them in her head.
€1,560) has also been sent to purchase an
ultra-sound machine. Project reference
41-697
The main focus of the project is health
awareness. Two female doctors visit each
Christian community weekly to discuss
women’s health issues, give check-ups
and prescribe medication. The women who
benefit are mostly too poor to get
healthcare from any other source.
A literacy programme has recently been
added to the project. One woman said she
had never been to school, but after learning
to read through the literacy classes she has
started to read her Bible. Another, who Health education class
BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 
BE ON YOUR GUARD

SUFFERING CHURCH
SUNDAY 2010 – 2011
Preparing for Persecution

DATE TIME

VENUE
 Be on your guard Suffering Church Sunday 2010 – 11

In many parts of the non-Western world, Christians find that

persecution is part of their regular experience. Whether this
takes the form of pressure or discrimination, harassment or
violence, they must always be prepared for it. But
Christians in the West often suppose that they do not –
and will never – suffer persecution for their faith,
and so they do not need to be ready.

Preparing for
Persecution
But now the Western churches are facing
several serious challenges: from a belligerent
and shrill secularism, from the growth of
Islamism (political Islam), and from legislation
that threatens our basic freedoms. It is more
and more evident that, like our brothers and
sisters elsewhere, we must be ready to suffer
for our faith.
This year’s Suffering Church Sunday resources focus in
various ways on the need to prepare for persecution. You
may like to choose a Sunday in November (or another
month in the next year if this is better for your church
calendar) and use the material in the following pages for a
special service or meeting on this theme. As you read,
pray that the Lord will help you and your church to be on
your guard against the perils that confront us.

Contents
8 Persecution in the New Testament
What do the Lord and His apostles say
about the sufferings of His followers?
14 Persecution timeline
Key moments in the history of anti-Christian
persecution

11 Sermon outline on John

15:18 – 16:4
“If the world hates you...”
16 What is persecution?
How and where do Christians suffer for their
faith, and who is responsible?

12 Bible study on John 15:18 – 16:4

For use in home groups or personal
Bible study
21 Resources for your service
Tithing your tithe for the persecuted
churches
To order
13 Testimony
“We rejoiced in the Lord”: faith
strengthened in Orissa in the face of hatred
The resources listed on pages 21 and 22 are available
free of charge from your national Barnabas Fund
office (addresses on back cover) or from our website,
www.barnabasfund.org/scs.

BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 

 Persecution in the New Testament
Be on your guard Suffering Church Sunday 2010 – 11

Persecution in the New Testament

“‘Blessed are those who are persecuted because of
righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“‘Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you
and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of
me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in
heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets
who were before you.’”(Matthew 5:10-12)
“The Gospel cannot be published without instantly
driving the world to rage.” (John Calvin, commenting
on John 15:18)
“As the love of God is inseparable from faith, so is the
hatred of God from unbelief.” (John Wesley, commenting
on John 15:23)

Christians have suffered for their faith

from the first days of the Church. The
New Testament describes the varied and
distressing persecutions endured by
many of Jesus’ early disciples. But it
does much more than tell their story. It
also shows how the churches’ afflictions
are a means of God’s blessing, and calls
its readers to respond rightly to their
own suffering. In this way it provides
encouragement and guidance for God’s
persecuted people in every generation.

The range of persecution

The early Christians’ experience of
persecution is described in many parts of
the New Testament. Jesus Himself is
persecuted: He is unjustly accused and
convicted, suffers mockery and violence,
and is executed by the agonising method of
Stephen, one of the leaders of the first church in Jerusalem, was stoned to death crucifixion (Mark 14:43 – 15:37). The first
church, in Jerusalem, is scattered by a

 BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010


great persecution (Acts 8:1b-3), and two of
its leaders are killed. (Acts 7:54 – 8:1;
12:1-2)
In Paul’s list of his painful sufferings for
Christ, he includes imprisonment, flogging,
beating and stoning (2 Corinthians 11:23-
25). Hebrews is written to Christians whose
property has been seized (Hebrews 10:34),
and the readers of 1 Peter have to bear
slander and insults (1 Peter 2:12; 4:3-4).
The churches of Revelation are enduring
hardships that include being put in prison
and even killed. (Revelation 2:9-10, 13; cf.
6:9-11)
The persecutions are inflicted by Jews and
Gentiles (Acts 14:1-5), by angry mobs and
hostile rulers (Acts 16:19-24), by former
friends (Acts 9:20-30) and new enemies
(Acts 19:23-27). Jesus predicts that even
family members will deliver each other to
death (Matthew 10:21). Persecution can
take the form of unofficial social pressure,
as in 1 Peter, or legal censure and
punishment, as in Revelation.
The reasons for
persecution
The reasons for anti-Christian persecution
are set out only briefly in the New
Testament, and vary according to the
victims and the agents. In the Gospels the
Jewish leaders see Jesus as a threat to
their nation (John 12:48), condemn Him for
alleged blasphemy (Matthew 26:65-66),
and accuse Him before Pilate of political
subversion (Luke 23:1-2). In Acts, the
successful mission of the Jerusalem church
arouses the jealousy of the chief priests
(Acts 5:12-18), and Stephen provokes the
council to fury by accusing them of
disobedience to God. (Acts 7:51-54)
Paul is persecuted by other Jews because
he does not require his Gentile converts to
be circumcised (Galatians 5:11). In Acts,
they accuse him of teaching against their
people, law and temple (Acts 21:28), and
the civil authorities in some of the cities
where he preaches regard him and his
friends as agents of disorder and perhaps
rebellion, and treat them accordingly (Acts
17:6-9). In Revelation the Roman state
demands the worship and service that is
due only to God, and ruthlessly attacks
Christians for their refusal to give it.
(Revelation 13)
Persecution in the New Testament
The meaning of
Be on your guard Suffering Church Sunday 2010 – 11
persecution
Several of the New Testament writers look
behind the human causes of persecution to
draw out its significance for believers. The
book of Revelation attributes the churches’
afflictions to the devil (Revelation 2:10). But
they happen only because God allows them
to happen; He also sets a limit on them and
uses them to work out His plans. (1
Thessalonians 3:2-4; 1 Peter 5:10; Acts
11:19-21)
In the Gospels Jesus predicts persecution
for His followers (Mark 13:9), and James
seems to take for granted that his readers
will encounter various trials (James 1:2).
Second Timothy makes the bold claim that
everyone who wants to live a godly
Christian life will be persecuted (2 Timothy
3:12), and 1 Peter tells its readers not to be The Roman state attacked the early
surprised at their fiery ordeal as though it Church for refusing to give it the
were something strange (1 Peter 4:12). worship and service due to God
Paul sees suffering for Christ as part of the
calling of believers. (Philippians 1:28-30)
and faithful endurance. Different
But although persecution is inevitable for circumstances may call for different
Christians, it is also a means of blessing for reactions, even from the same person.
those who suffer it. The persecution of
Jesus’ disciples is linked in the Gospels
Thus in Acts Paul escapes from Damascus
with the labour pains of the age to come
when his life is endangered (Acts 9:23-25;
(Matthew 24:4-12), and those who are
cp. 2 Corinthians 11:32-33), reflecting the
persecuted for the sake of righteousness
Gospel instruction to Jesus’ disciples to
are promised the Kingdom of heaven
flee when they encounter persecution
(Matthew 5:10). Paul affirms that those
(Matthew 10:23). But on another occasion
who suffer with Christ will also be glorified
he makes use of his right as a Roman
with Him. (Romans 8:17)
citizen to appeal to the emperor to avoid
being handed over to his enemies (Acts
Nor is such blessing only for the future:
25:11). And he also bears witness to his
suffering produces perseverance, character
endurance of persecution for the sake of
and hope in the present, so that believers
Christ (2 Corinthians 4:8-12; 6:4-10;
can even rejoice in it (Romans 5:3-4;
11:23-25), a response required elsewhere
James 1:2-3). And the blessing may pass
from all God’s people. (Revelation 13:10)
from those who are persecuted to their
brothers and sisters in Christ: it enables
However, disciples are not left alone to
Christians to comfort other believers with
face their enemies; Jesus will provide
the comfort they have received from God (2
them with words and wisdom to defend
Corinthians 1:3-7), and Paul’s afflictions
themselves (Luke 21:12-15). No-one can
are presented as his sharing in Christ’s
snatch them out of His or His Father’s hand
sufferings for the sake of the Church.
(John 10:28-29), and provided they stand
(Colossians 1:24)
firm to the end they will be saved.
(Matthew 24:13)
The responses to Some would argue that in the Old
persecution Testament the physical defence of the
community by military means was
Various responses to persecution are found permitted; they would go on to suggest
in the New Testament, including flight, that it could therefore be permitted in
appealing to the authorities for protection, certain circumstances today.
BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 
 Persecution in the New Testament
Conclusion
Be on your guard Suffering Church Sunday 2010 – 11

An ancient gate in the old city of Damascus. Paul fled

from persecution through a window in the city wall
The range of anti-Christian persecution,
and the reasons for it, are as varied today
as in New Testament times, and many of
the sufferings experienced by the first
Christians find echoes in those of the 21st
century Church. But the significance of
persecution, and the response that is
required from God’s people, are just the
same. Human and demonic forces continue
to wage war against the saints, and
suffering is the unavoidable result. But for
those who remain faithful to Christ,
persecution becomes a channel of God’s
rich blessing, both now and in eternity.

Background to New Testament

teaching on persecution
During the mid-2nd century BC, the nation of
Israel was part of the Seleucid Empire. In the 160s
BC the Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes
attempted to unite his kingdom, including his
Jewish subjects, by imposing Greek culture on
them all. He forbade Jewish practices such as
circumcision and demanded that everyone offer
sacrifices to pagan gods, on pain of death for
disobedience.
Some Jews chose to suffer and die rather than
break God’s law. They believed that the shedding
of their blood would bring blessing to Israel, and
that they would be rewarded by God in the age to
come. Others submitted to the king’s edicts, but
some of these were put to death by zealous Jews
for their disobedience to God. The king’s actions
eventually led to a successful revolt against his
authority.
The Roman rulers of Israel (from 63 BC) were
more tolerant of Jewish religious practices. But
many of them despised the Jews for their strange
customs, separation from others and contempt for
Roman gods, and they feared the possibility of
Jewish rebellion against Rome.
Again, some Jews were willing to co-operate with
their pagan masters, and their leaders had
sacrifices made to God on the emperor’s behalf.
Others, however, preferred to die rather than to
call the emperor “Lord”, and they attempted to
establish the nation’s independence under the
rule of God alone, sometimes by violence. Some of
them murdered collaborators or others whom they
considered were compromising Israel’s
distinctiveness as God’s people.
This background helps to illuminate the early
Christians’ view of their own persecutions. Jewish
believers in Jesus were also accused by other
Jews of disloyalty to God and to His people, and
as a result many of them had to endure pressure
or even violence. The Roman authorities
suspected that Christians were disruptive and
rebellious because their common life was so
different and they proclaimed “another king, one
called Jesus”. (Acts 17:7)
Many Christians faced the same threefold choice
as their Jewish forebears and contemporaries:
first, to submit to their pagan rulers at the cost of
disobeying God; secondly, to rise up against them
in violent resistance; or thirdly, to accept
persecution and (if necessary) even death at their
hands. The New Testament forbids the first two
options and commends the third, encouraging
God’s people to endure persecution in the
knowledge that they will receive God’s blessing in
return, in the present and the future.

10 BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

 Sermon outline

If the World Hates You...

Be on your guard Suffering Church Sunday 2010 – 11

John 15:18 – 16:4
The following sermon outline can be used at a Suffering Church
Sunday service or meeting. We suggest that you follow the basic
structure, and brief notes are included to aid your study and
preparation. Various stories of persecution may be found on
pages 16-20, and some helpful commentaries are
recommended on the next page.

INTRODUCTION sometimes refers to the whole created THE RESPONSE TO HATRED

In today’s world hatred of Christ’s disciples
is widespread and severe. Discrimination,
harassment and persecution blight the lives
of our brothers and sisters in many parts of
the world. Even in some
Western countries, such as the
UK, Christians face increasing
hostility to their faith and find
themselves under pressure.
The hatred that Christians
experience raises many issues,
both for those who suffer it
directly and for those who
support and pray for them.
Why does it happen? How
should we respond to it? And
does it call our faith into
question?
But anti-Christian hatred is Anti-Christian hatred is a painful reality
nothing new. These same our brothers and sisters today
issues have confronted
believers since New
Testament times, and some sections of the
Bible are specifically addressed to
Christians facing persecution.
This passage from John’s Gospel is part of
Jesus’ farewell address to His first disciples, as it responded to Him, because they bear
which is intended to prepare them for the
challenges they will face after His departure. His Father.
The purpose of these verses is to explain
why the world hates them, to show them
how to respond, and to protect them against
falling away when persecution comes.
THE REASONS FOR HATRED
(15:18-25)
1. The world hates Jesus (15:18-21).
In the New Testament the word “world”
order, or to the human world in a neutral
sense. Here, however, it means humanity in
its fallenness and darkness, which are
expressed in an ideology and practice that
for many of
exclude the true God. This world hates
Jesus’ disciples because it has first hated
Him, and because they do not belong to it
but to Him. The world will respond to them
His Name, and because it does not know
2. The world hates the Father (15:22-25).
Whoever hates Jesus also hates His Father.
If Jesus had not spoken His word to the
world or performed mighty works among
them, their rejection of God would not put
them in the wrong. But now their hostility to
Jesus and the Father are inexcusable; they
have hated Them without reason, so
fulfilling an Old Testament scripture. (Psalm
69:4)
(15:26-27)
When Jesus sends the Spirit of truth to His
disciples from the Father, His role will be to
bear witness to Jesus. And the disciples are
to respond to the world’s hatred in the same
way, by bearing witness to what they know
about Jesus.
The readiness for hatred
(16:1-4)
Jesus is giving this teaching to the disciples
so that they will not abandon their faith. The
severe persecution that they suffer, at the
hands of a world that knows neither Jesus
nor the Father, may tempt them to do so.
But when it happens, they can now
remember that Jesus warned them in
advance, and their faith in Him will be
strengthened and not weakened.
CONCLUSION
This passage assumes that Christians should
not expect the world always to regard them
kindly – indeed, that they are to expect the
world to be their enemy. But for those
Christians who do face hatred, this passage
makes sense of their sufferings, in terms of
the hostility of the world towards Jesus and
His Father. It outlines the response required
of them, to bear witness to Jesus with the
help of the Spirit. And it provides a
necessary preparation for them, by giving
notice of what Jesus’ disciples can expect to
undergo because of His Name. In all these
ways it helps them not only to prepare for
persecution, but also to endure it.
Turn to page 13 to read the story of a young
Christian woman from India, Swaroopa, and
her family, whose faith in the Lord was
strengthened and not weakened by her
experience of anti-Christian hatred.

BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 11

 Bible study

Facing Hostility for Christ

Be on your guard Suffering Church Sunday 2010 – 11

John 15:18 – 16:4

This study looks at the same passage as the sermon outline
(p11). It can be used before or after hearing the sermon, or
separately. If it is used without the sermon, it may be helpful for
the group leader to read through the sermon outline beforehand.
The section at the end entitled “Digging deeper” is intended for
those who would like to explore the passage in more depth and
in its wider context.

INTRODUCTION READ JOHN 15:26-27

1. Have you ever experienced hatred or
discrimination because of your faith in
Christ, and if so, how did it feel? How do you
react to stories of anti-Christian hostility?
2. When Christians suffer persecution, what
questions does this raise for us? How might
we want to respond to such hostility?
READ JOHN 15:18-21
3. What do you think “the world” means in
verse 18? What reasons are given in these
verses for its hatred of Jesus’ disciples?
4. How should we live as those who do not
belong to the world? What twofold response
should we expect?
READ JOHN 15:22-25
5. How do these verses further explain the
hostility experienced by Christians? Why is
the world to blame for its attitude to Jesus
and the Father?
6. Can you think of reasons why some
people hate Jesus and the Father? (For
ideas, look up Luke 6:22-23; 14:11-14;
16:13; John 3:20; 7:7; 12:25.) How does it
help us to know that the world hates us
because it hates Them?
7. How are Jesus’ disciples to respond to the
world’s hatred? What help will they have
from Him in doing this?
8. When might we have to testify about
Jesus because of the world’s hostility? And
in what ways could we do this?
Read John 16:1-4
9. According to these verses, why might the
disciples “go astray”, and what do you think
it might mean to do this? How will Jesus’
teaching help them not to do so?
10. Can you think of any kinds of
persecution today that resemble those
described in verse 2? Who might be
responsible for them? What might be their
motives?
CONCLUSION
11. What forms of hostility do Christians
suffer in your country? Do you think that you
need to be “preparing for persecution”, and
if so why?
12. Share one new perspective that this
passage has given you on facing hostility for
Christ, or one action that you will now take
in response.
DIGGING DEEPER
13. Look up some other references to
“the world” in John’s Gospel (e.g. 1:9-
10; 3:16-17; 12:25, 31; 17:6-19;
18:36). How might these relate to the
teaching of this passage about the
world’s hatred for Jesus’ disciples?
14. Consider how Jesus’ words and
works in this Gospel cause others to be
hostile (see e.g. 5:1-18; 6:35-71; 9:13-
34; 10:22-39). How do these passages
illuminate verses 22-25 of chapter 15?
15. What do you think are some of the
key truths about Jesus to which His
disciples are called to testify? See (e.g.)
John 1:6-8, 34; 8:12-14; 18:37.
16. Look at some of the ways in which
Christians suffer persecution in the
New Testament. (See above, pp8-10.)
What parallels to these are there in the
contemporary world?

FURTHER READING

For further explanation of this passage, please see the following:

C. K. Barrett, The Gospel according to St John, 2nd edition. London: SPCK, 1978, pp478-485
George R. Beasley-Murray, John (Word Biblical Commentary), 2nd edition. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1999, pp275-278

12 BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010


Consoled in Suffering
for Christ
At Christmas 2007 Hindu extremists
launched a series of violent and
premeditated attacks on Christians in
Orissa State, India. Some 730 homes
were destroyed, and 95 churches were
razed to the ground. Eight months later
the violence was renewed, leading to the
deaths of at least 20 Christians.
Thousands were injured, and tens of
thousands were forced to flee their
homes. The Christians were told, “Come
back as Hindu or don’t come back at all!”
One of the families caught up in the second
outbreak of violence was that of Swaroopa
Naik, whose story is told below.
Escape in the jungle
Swaroopa was brought up in a Christian
home with her brother and two sisters. Her
father, Sunil, is a farmer. On Monday 25
August 2008 the family was busy with the
housework as usual while Swaroopa was
having a bath. Suddenly she heard terrible
noises outside, and running out of the house
she saw her family rushing into the forest.
Swaroopa ran too and was chased by the
attackers, but she was quick enough to
escape them.
Swaroopa eventually found her parents in
the jungle. Taking shelter under a tree, they
heard the dreadful sound of homes being
Swaroopa (second left) and other girls displaced from Orissa by
anti-Christian violence but now training to be nurses and midwives
destroyed and saw a plume of smoke rising
into the sky. But Swaroopa says, “Both of
my parents were consoled by the very
thought that this tragic attack has been
due to the fact that we believe in Jesus
Christ and are Christians. ‘“Blessed are
those who are persecuted for righteousness
sake for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.”’
(Matthew 5:10)”
After a while the family heard the attackers
coming along the path they themselves had
taken, so they ran and hid themselves in the
bush. The sunny weather changed to cloudy
skies, and they prayed that the Lord would
send rain. And then – a heavy downpour!
The pursuers called off the chase and went
back the way they came. Swaroopa and her
parents praised God.
The Lord who provides
When the rain stopped the family went back to
their village. There they found that their house
had been reduced to a pile of ashes and debris.
No-one in the village would take them in for
the night, so they returned to the jungle to
shelter under the trees. Early next day they
set off to escape the pursuing assailants.
In the evening Swaroopa and her family
reached Phulbani, a large township, where
they felt safe enough to stay for two weeks.
After this they moved on to Cuttack, the
Testimony
Be on your guard Suffering Church Sunday 2010 – 11
largest city in Orissa, where they stayed
with a family member.
After the anti-Christian violence had
subsided, Swaroopa’s parents were able to
return to their village to visit what was left of
their house. They learned from their pastor
about a ministry (supported by Barnabas
Fund) that offers vocational training to young
people displaced from Orissa by the violence.
This is designed to equip them to return to
the region later, not only to live there, but
also to make a positive contribution to the
community and to witness for Christ.
Swaroopa obtained a college place to study
nursing and midwifery and is about to
complete her first year of training. She
writes, “We thanked and rejoiced in the
Lord for having miraculously saved our lives
and now for providing me with an
opportunity to become a nurse. The Lord is
really ‘Jehovah Jirah’ [the LORD who
provides].”
This year Barnabas Fund has been
supporting 27 girls on three different
vocational courses. Swaroopa and the others
training to be nurses and midwives will be
continuing their studies for another three
years, with continuing help from Barnabas.
Project reference
21-723
BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 13
 Timeline

Timeline of Anti-Ch
Be on your guard Suffering Church Sunday 2010 – 11

Early Christian History Rise of Islam

35 Stephen
stoned to
death after
248 The Decian Persecution – beginning of
mass persecution of Christians initiated
by Emperor Decius
570 Birth of
Muhammad, who
by 631 rules most
being tried throughout the Roman of the Arabian
by Jewish Empire. All citizens had Peninsula.
court. (Acts to prove that they had

600s
7:54-60) performed pagan
sacrifices and faced
punishment of
imprisonment or
execution if they Early Christian symbols
carved on a stone
refused.

AD 500 10

64 Nero launches
persecution of
Christians after
341 Zoroastrian
Shapur II
orders the
1370 Rise to power of
Timur (Timurlane)
in Central Asia.
blaming them for massacre of Christianity in the
the Great Fire of all Christians region is wiped
Rome. in Persia. out and millions of
Christians killed. Timur, ruler of Central
Asia in the 14th century

31 3 Roman Emperors
Constantine I and Licinius
issue the Edict of Milan that
391 Christianity
becomes the
state religion of
1453 Fall of
Constantinople
and subjugation
legalises Christianity across Rome under of Christians as
the whole Empire. Theodosius I dhimmis in the
Ottoman Empire.

303 23 February – The “Great Persecution” begins.

Edicts call for church buildings to be destroyed,
sacred writings burned, Christians to lose civil
1715 China: The
Kangxi Emperor
forbids
1898
rights, clergy to be imprisoned and forced to missionaries
sacrifice and (in 304) all to perform pagan from entering
sacrifices on pain of death. China.

14 BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

 Timeline

hristian Persecution

Be on your guard Suffering Church Sunday 2010 – 11

Spread of Christianity - The Moder Era -
new challenges rise of state persecution

1614 Japan: Emperor

Tokugawa Ieyasu expels
all Christian missionaries
1828 Queen Ranavalona I (reigned
1828–1861) issued a royal edict
prohibiting the practice of
and orders the execution Christianity in Madagascar.
of converts. Anyone found possessing a Bible
was executed, often using
particularly brutal and cruel
Rapid Arab conquests: Damascus methods. Some estimates say
(634), Jerusalem (638), Carthage that up to 150,000 Madagascan
Queen Ranavalona I
(697). These lead to the decline of of Madagascar
Christians were murdered.
Christianity in the Middle East and
its complete extinction in North
Africa, through soft and hard
coercion.

00 1500 2000

1800s Indian
subcontinent:
Huge growth in
1915 Armenian Genocide:
Massacre of up to
1,500,000 Armenian
1979 Iranian revolution:
Establishes strict
Islamic state under
Christianity and Assyrian sharia, oppressing
causes angry Christians by Ottoman Christians through
backlash from Turks. This was the closure of churches
Muslims and single worst year in and arrest, torture
Hindus. some decades of anti- and sometimes
Christian violence in murder of converts
the Ottoman Empire. from Islam.

1917 Russian Revolution: Oppressive anti-Christian

policies in the 1920s and 30s, as the militantly
atheist Soviet Union aims to wipe out any Christian
presence within its borders. Tens of thousands of
churches destroyed, millions of Christians
imprisoned and killed, thousands of clergy executed.
Restrictions on worship and aggressive church
closures continue into the later 20th century,
particularly under Khrushchev (1955-1964). A forced labour camp in the Soviet Union

China: Start of the Boxer rebellion, a

nationalistic uprising against the perceived
influence of foreigners, leading to the murder
of thousands of Chinese converts to
Christianity and the targeting of missionaries.
1983- War in Southern Sudan: Attempts by
Islamic Arab government in the North of
Sudan to enforce sharia law on the
2005 South starts a war that leads to two
million deaths in the mainly Christian
and animist South of the country.

BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 15

 What is persecution?
What is Persecution?
Be on your guard Suffering Church Sunday 2010 – 11
Persecution. It’s a word most Christians know. We read it in the Bible, and in Christian
books and magazines. We hear it from preachers, and from Christian leaders in the
media. We know it has to do with people being made to suffer by others, and that many
Christians experience it.
But what exactly is this
“persecution” that we hear
about? What forms does it
take, who is responsible for
it, and in what contexts
does it take place?
It is difficult to classify the
many kinds of persecution.
Whatever categories we use,
many incidents will fit in
more than one box. But
three helpful ways of
dividing them up are by
form, context and source.
Forms of persecution
Anti-Christian persecution takes many
forms, and it is practically impossible to
produce an exhaustive list. But the
following are seven of the most common
and serious.
Violence. Physical attacks on
Christians and Christian property
are all too common in many
countries. Homes and churches
may be destroyed by angry mobs,
and whole Christian communities
driven by force from their villages.
Individuals are raped or kidnapped, beaten
up or thrown into prison, and some are
murdered or even officially executed
because of their faith. This violence is not
only distressing and destructive at the time
for those who suffer it; it also leaves a
legacy of fear and insecurity that can
undermine the assurance and threaten the
ministry of local Christians.
Inadequate education. Where Christians
are very poor, parents may be unable to
afford fees for their children’s schooling.
16 BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010
Two women survey the damage in the Christian
village of Dogo Nahawa in March 2010
In Nigeria, horrific violence and massacres struck the town of Jos in January
and
March 2010. Only the Lord knows how many of His people were killed. In
the
early hours of Sunday 7 March, men from the Muslim Fulani tribe, armed
with
swords and machetes, arrived in three mainly Christian villages south of
Jos. The
villagers were woken by the terrifying sound of gunshots; the noise was
so loud
that frightened residents ran out of their houses on to the streets, where
the
attackers were waiting for them. All the churches in Dogo Nahawa were
burned
and many homes were torched. The day after the attacks, dozens of bodies
were
buried in a mass grave as Christians looked on, singing hymns to Jesus.
In the very poor Chin region of Burma
are
(Myanmar), Christians as young as 11
offer
lured away from their parents by the
Without an education the children, when of a good education. Instead, they find
their
they grow up, can get only very low-paid themselves in a Buddhist monastery,
jobs, and so a vicious cycle of poverty heads shaved, forced to train as novice
again.
and illiteracy continues through the monks. Some never see their parents
generations. In Muslim-majority contexts
Christian children may be able to attend
government-run schools, but Islam is
often strongly promoted in such schools
and they are likely to face hostility from
the teachers and other pupils. They
may even be marked down in
their exams or denied
Christian children are
university places simply because
extremely vulnerable
they are Christians. in Burma
 What is persecution?
Poor employment. Christians

Be on your guard Suffering Church Sunday 2010 – 11

can suffer serious discrimination
in the jobs market and have very
restricted career choices. Many find it
hard to get work at all, or have to take the
lowliest and worst-paid employment. Even
well-educated Christians may find certain
careers closed to them, or cannot advance
to the more senior positions. This treatment
attaches a social stigma to many Christian
communities, reducing their self-respect and
dignity and putting pressure on their faith.
Deprivation of basic needs. Christians
suffer the same as anyone else when food
and water are in short supply, or when
disease ravages their communities. But they
can suffer more in a context of anti-Christian
discrimination. This can plunge them in to
acute poverty or deny them access to the
essentials of life. They may be deprived of
their provisions or displaced from their
homes and homelands, forced to flee with
little or nothing. And when disaster strikes
an area where they are a despised
minority, they may find
themselves left out in the
distribution of aid.
“We left everything behind
us. We took only our souls,”
said Ni’ma Noail (50), a civil
servant in Iraq who had to
abandon his home when
Sunni Muslim extremists
turned to threats and violence
in order to purge Mosul of
Christians. Taking only what
they could carry and leaving
most of their possessions
behind, Christians fled from their
communities, their jobs, friends
and church. Leaving jobs means
they can no longer work and earn
money, at least not in the short
term. Without money, they cannot
buy food or other basic needs.
In Pakistan, as many as 40% of
Pakistani Christians work as
“sweepers”, cleaning the streets and
sewers. Arshad Wicky and his three
children live in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
His parents could not afford to send
him to school and because of this he
found it difficult to get a decently
paid job. If work was available, it
was often the lowest paid and most
dangerous. Some days he could not
get work at all.
in a private home. In some countries it is also
forbidden to own a Bible or to read or hand
out Christian literature, and sometimes
Christians have no means of accessing
suitable materials anyway. The growth of
believers in the knowledge and
understanding of their Christian faith can be
seriously hindered.
Attacks on leaders. In many places
Christian pastors, evangelists and church
planters face acute challenges in their
discipleship and ministry. Their churches
may be too poor to support them at more
than a basic level, and they can lack even
the most basic training and resources,
leaving those they lead vulnerable to falling
away. They are often targets of violence
from those who resent their preaching of the
Gospel and gaining of converts, or
simply because, as leaders, they
represent the Body of Christ.
Ravi Murmu, a Christian
evangelist in India, was
murdered on 2 May 2010. When
asked how the family was coping
with the murder, Ravi’s brother
(also an evangelist) replied, “The
peace of God still reigns in this
house and in this family.”
Since the death of his wife, Arshad Wicky
is the sole breadwinner for his family
They may be thrown into jail for sharing their
faith, and even where this is not illegal, they
cannot rely on the authorities to protect
them or their freedom of speech.
Converts to Christianity
in Iran are regularly harassed by
the authorities; very often, they are
imprisoned for extended periods of
time. Sometime they are
mysteriously murdered. In 2009,
two young Christian women were
arrested and detained for 259
days. They suffered ill health in
prison, but held firm to their
faith in the Lord Jesus and were
released in November 2009. All
charges against them were
dropped by May 2010.
Persecution of converts.
Those who turn to Christ from other
religions, especially from Islam, can be the
most vulnerable of all Christians to
persecution. Their decision often arouses
strong opposition and hostility, which can
rapidly lead to ill-treatment of many kinds.
Islamic sharia law requires the death penalty
for men who choose to leave Islam (and for
women too according to some versions of
sharia). Although governments rarely carry

In parts of Uzbekistan, the Bible is ban

ned, and so believers often have to
use Bibles and other Christian literatur
Lack of resources. Legal restrictions are e that have been smuggled into the
country. But the authorities often raid
often imposed on the building, extension and worship services and private
gatherings, carrying out searches and
repair of Christian meeting-places. Where seizing any Christian literature they
can find, leaving the Christians without
Christians are despised and discriminated their Bibles. In May 2010, Tashkent
City Church of Christ, one of the larg
against, it can be impossible to find anyone est and most active churches in the
Uzbek capital, was raided by several
to rent them a place to meet. This forces government agencies during morning
worship. Christian literature was con
congregations to squeeze into private fiscated, and the church was officially
sealed by the police. A Christian from
homes, which may be very small if the an unregistered church in Tashkent
asked, “If they do that to the Church
Christian community is poor. This makes of Christ [a legally registered church]
what will become of the rest of us?” ,
ministry activities difficult. Furthermore,
in some parts of the world it is
effectively illegal to meet for worship

BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 17

 What is persecution?
out this sentence, it is normal for apostates
Be on your guard Suffering Church Sunday 2010 – 11
from Islam to face serious harassment and
aggression, sometimes ending in death.
They are also cut off from their former
friends and networks, leaving them isolated
and without support.
Contexts of persecution
Although persecution can occur in any
setting, some forms are particularly likely
in certain kinds of society. Muslim-
majority countries, and those with
aggressively secular regimes, are
especially hard places for Christians to
live, worship and witness, but Western
and other contexts may provide fertile
soil for persecution of other sorts.
Muslim-majority contexts. In traditional
Islamic teaching Christians (and Jews) are
known as dhimmi, a word that suggests
inferiority and submission. In most Muslim
countries today Christians are given a lower
status than Muslims, either officially or
unofficially. This is worked out in various
ways according to the degree of control
exercised by the Muslim majority. It
ranges from discrimination in
education, jobs and business, through
restrictions on religious and other
freedoms, to prohibition of any kind of
Christian practice. The worldwide
resurgence of Islam and its increased
political power is intensifying the pressure
on the churches in many places, notably the
Middle East and Africa.
Secular contexts. Governments that
regard any religion as a threat to their
authority seek to regulate it strictly, or even
to ban it altogether. Meeting for worship,
constructing or repairing church buildings,
and printing or distributing Christian
literature may all be severely restricted.
Many regimes require churches to
register with them, control the
If arrested, Christians in Eritrea are
often held in metal shipping containers,
which can become baking hot during
the day and freezing cold at night. On
23 April 2010, a young Christian woman
who had been imprisoned for two years
tragically succumbed to malaria and
severe anaemia – it is reported that
“she was offered freedom and medical
care in exchange for abandoning her
Christian faith”.
18 BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010
activities of those that do register, and
harass those that refuse. Some secular In the UK, Immanuel House of
states, such as North Korea and Eritrea, are Worship Church in Walthamstow,
notorious for the brutal treatment meted near London, received a noise
out to Christians imprisoned for their faith. abatement notice following a
complaint from just one Muslim
Western contexts. Although the intensity of neighbour, living next door to the
persecution suffered by Christians in the church. An environmental health
West is generally much less than in other enforcement officer told the pastor
parts of the world, the pressure on them has that the church had to keep the
grown significantly in recent years. noise down so as not to offend
Aggressive secularism and radical Islam are Muslims living in the area. He said,
both seeking to weaken the influence of “This is a Muslim borough; you have
Christianity, while a number of well to tread carefully.” In May 2009, the
intentioned but deeply flawed new laws are church won an appeal to have the
driving it out of public life into a purely notice amended.
personal sphere. (Please see the
booklet enclosed with this edition
of Barnabas Aid for further
information on the marginalising of
Christians in the UK in particular.)
In July 2010, there were calls from
Afghan media and politicians for
the execution of converts from
Islam, in line with Islamic sharia
law, leaving Afghan believers – all
converts from Islam – living in fear.
Other contexts. In some Hindu- and
Buddhist-majority countries, such as India
and Sri Lanka, Christians suffer similar
discrimination and harassment as in Muslim
nations, as well as violent attacks. Secular
regimes such as the military junta in Burma,
may use the majority faith as an ally in the
oppression of their Christian community.
Other countries, for example Sudan
and Nigeria, are divided between
Christian- and Muslim-majority
areas, leading to tensions and
violence, and sometimes civil war.
And Christians are likely to be
affected with everyone else by the
Christians in Laos face harassment and per
In January 2010, 48 Christians,
including women and children,
were forced out of their homes
Christians are often imprisoned in Katin village in the Saravan
in Eritrea in metal shipping province of Laos when a group
containers similar to these of 100 officials raided a

destructive policies of corrupt governments,
as in Zimbabwe, especially Christians who
speak out for justice.
Sources of persecution
In most countries anti-Christian persecution
does not arise from only one source. It is
usually the result of a whole society’s basic
suspicion or hostility towards the Christian
faith and those who practise it, and so it
finds expression through all the fundamental
structures of that society: family,
community, religion and government.
Family. In cultures where family ties are
fairly loose, persecution from relatives may
amount “only” to criticism and mockery. But
rsecution from the authorities
Sunday morning worship service. With
guns drawn, the officials seized all the
Christians’ personal belongings and told
them that they would be allowed to return
to their village only if they abandoned their
Christian beliefs.
What is persecution?
where such ties are much stronger, and
Be on your guard Suffering Church Sunday 2010 – 11
loyalty to one’s family is a major part of life,
those who leave the family’s religion
to follow Christ will experience
much more intense pressure.
They are perceived to have
In September 2009, Bangladeshi
shamed the family, and they may
be exposed to emotional blackmail, mother, Khainur told her husband
threats and ostracism to persuade them to that she had converted to
abandon their Christian faith. They may Christianity. Enraged, he tied up his
even be killed as a way of restoring the wife and his daughter Arifa, who
family’s honour. had also become a Christian, and
brutally beat them in front of the
Community. A society that is hostile to younger daughters. He also burned a
Christianity will regard Christians as a copy of the Bible, threatening to give
harmful influence and will try to limit their them “similar treatment”. Arifa
participation in community life. For this says, “We pray regularly that one
reason Christians are treated as inferior day my father might find the love of
and unfit for certain privileges and Christ. I forgive him even if he beat
responsibilities, and are unjustly accused me like a dog.”
by individuals or the media of crimes
against society. Communities may take
the law into their own hands, and
punish Christian individuals or
whole Christian
communities, sometimes
with extreme violence.
Christian businesses were looted and burned in Farshoot in November
2009 (Source: AINA, www.aina.org)
In November 2009, a Muslim mob in Egypt attacked Christians and
Christian property in Farshoot and neighbouring villages, forcing
Christians to seek refuge indoors. Christian-owned shops and
businesses were looted, vandalised and burnt, cars were attacked
and some Christian families were thrown out of their homes. At least
seven Christians were injured in the violence, including one Christian
leader who went to hospital with a fractured skull. On 6 January 2010,
the hostility became even more violent, spreading to the neighbouring
town of Nag Hammadi. Six Christian worshippers and a security guard
were killed when three gunmen stormed a worship service on the eve
of the Eastern Christmas Day, on 7 January.
BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 19
 What is persecution?
Religion. Where a non-Christian religion is
Be on your guard Suffering Church Sunday 2010 – 11

dominant and largely defines the identity of
a particular society, Christians are often
perceived as divisive, anti-social and
disloyal. In these contexts public expressions
of the Christian faith, such as corporate
worship or evangelistic outreach, may be
restricted or completely forbidden. Christians
may be offered material or
financial inducements to
convert to the majority faith,
or be forced to do so by
threats of violence.
A prominent Russian church
minister was murdered in his
church in Moscow in November
2009. Danil, 34, was approached
on the night of 19 November by a
masked gunman who checked
his name and then shot him in
the head and chest. Danil had
been active in evangelistic
outreach to Muslims and many
people think that he may have
been killed because of this
ministry to Muslims.
Pastor Wang Dao and his wife
Haiping Sun (Source: Voice of the
Martyrs)
State. Institutional injustice
against Christians is endemic
in many societies. When Christians
suffer at others’ hands the police and courts
will often not take action against their
persecutors or will even arrest the victims.
Some countries have laws that specifically
discriminate against Christians, but even
The Public Security Bureau (PSB)
routinely harass and raid churches in
China. For example, Liangren Church
in
Guangzhou City has been repeatedly
targeted by the PSB, as reported by
ChinaAid. On many occasions the chu
rch
has been suppressed and even illegally
banned by the authorities and, since the
beginning of 2010, the congregation
have had to move location over 10 time
s.
On 4 March the senior pastor, Wang Dao
,
was violently arrested as he ate with
other Christians in a restaurant. He had
already been interrogated many times
by
PSB officers, who were apparently
seeking to discredit him and the
Christian faith.
where there are no such laws, police may
find pretexts to punish Christians anyway.
Converts are especially vulnerable. In some
countries there are laws or a constitution
that seem to guarantee equality and freedom
for all faiths. But these may be ignored by
local officials on the ground.

What does “persecution” mean?

In the Greek New Testament the word
used most often for “persecution” is
dioko. This can be a neutral term,
referring simply to running or seeking
after someone or something. Mostly,
however, it denotes the ill-treatment of
Christians by others. In many verses the
exact nature of the harm is not
specified, and the Greek term could be
used for various English words and
phrases, such as “hostile pursuit” and
“harassment”, as well as “persecution”.
English dictionaries also give wide
definitions to the word “persecution”.
The Compact Oxford English Dictionary
defines “to persecute” as “to subject to
prolonged hostility and ill-treatment, to
persistently harass or annoy”. The Free
Dictionary says, “To oppress or harass
with ill-treatment… To annoy
persistently; bother.” The term is
especially associated with the hounding violence or legal punishment. But the
of people on the grounds of their religion,trouble with this is that when the
beliefs etc. Western Church experiences various
forms of discrimination and
These broad definitions are accurate and marginalisation, we may fail to
helpful, but they can also be misleading. recognise these as persecution, and
When the term “persecution” is used in a even deny that we are persecuted for
very general way, it can blur the major our faith at all. And if we do not
distinctions between the different kinds understand what is happening to us,
of mistreatment endured by Christians. we will struggle to respond to it as we
As a result it can trivialise the acute should. Narrowing the meaning of
suffering endured at the hands of others “persecution” thus creates as many
by at least one in ten of our brothers and problems as it resolves.
sisters across the world, by seeming to
put this on the same level as the very We do need a general term to cover all
mild pressure experienced by Christians kinds of hurt that are inflicted on
in the West. Christians because of their loyalty to
Christ, and “persecution” is the most
So some Christians prefer to work with a suitable word that we have. But we
much narrower definition, using the word need also to distinguish between the
“persecution” to refer to only the more different types of persecution as clearly
severe forms of ill-treatment, such as as we can.

20 BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

 Resources

Be on your guard Suffering Church Sunday 2010 – 11

A prayer for
Suffering
Church Sunday
Our Father in heaven,
We give you thanks and praise that You
revealed Yourself to us in Your Son and
drew us to Yourself. We pray for those who
endure discrimination and persecution,
violence and injustice for the sake of Your
Holy Name. We pray that you will grant
them daily strength to persevere in the
hardships they may face.
We pray for those who seek to persecute
Suggested hymns and songs for your
Suffering Church Sunday service
n Stand up! Stand up for Jesus (George Duffield, Songs of
Fellowship 513)
n Soldiers of Christ, arise (Charles Wesley,
Songs of Fellowship 506)
n It is well with my soul (Horatio Spafford,
Sacred Songs and Solos 210)
n Who can sound the depths of sorrow? (Graham Kendrick,
Songs of Fellowship 604)
n I will say (Lou Fellingham, Treasure)
n Beneath the cross (Keith & Kristyn Getty,
In Christ Alone)
Prayer-and-

“Whatever you did for one

■ considering any request,

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needs known to Christians
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help shape our overall direction

persecuted Church, whose
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to persecute them
even those who seek
of all faiths with love and
harassment and even persecution for

Christians should treat all

all people
– while continuing to show
religious liberty to Christian
and secular ideologies that

comprehensive prayer materials

persecuted Church by providing

their own countries

Islam to Church, society
to respond to the growing
(Matthew 25:40)
Prayer for the Suffering Church Your Response

deal with persecution?

SUFFERING CHUR

Christ. Should we find ourselves suffering available to order free of charge from CH

teaching that
SUND AY 2010

to change
– 2011

or through
Our Father in heaven, I/We would like to receive regular news and prayer information about the

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both religious

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We give you thanks and praise that You revealed Yourself to us in Your

your national Barnabas Fund office. The

Please find enclosed our/my gift of for the

because of our faith in You, we ask that

Son and drew us to Yourself. We pray for those who endure suffering church to be used:
discrimination and persecution, violence and injustice for the sake of
Where it is most needed
Your Holy Name. We pray that you will grant them daily strength to
persevere in the hardships they may face. To support Christians suffering through violence

You will enable us to stand firm in all our cards are a great resource for We pray for those who seek to persecute Your children, that they will
turn their eyes to You and come to know Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
To help Christians support themselves by starting up a small business

To support Christian pastors and evangelists

distribution to your congregation on

We pray too for ourselves. Lord, we know that we are not immune to To help feed our persecuted brothers and sisters

trials. May we know that You are with us

mockery, harassment and even persecution for Christ. Should we find To help Christian children to get a Christian education
ourselves suffering because of our faith in You, we ask that You will
enable us to stand firm in all our trials. May we know that You are with Name:
us and that You are always faithful to your people.

and that You are always faithful to your Suffering Church Sunday – please order
Address:
In Jesus’ Name

Amen

people. as many FREE copies as you need, one

Postcode:

UK Australia New Zealand Telephone:

9 Priory Row, Coventry CV1 5EX Postal Suite 107 PO Box 27 6018, Manukau City,
Telephone 024 7623 1923 236 Hyperdome, Loganholme QLD 4129 Manukau, 2241 Email:

for every member of your congregation!

Fax 024 7683 4718 Telephone (07) 3806 1076 or 1300 365799 Telephone (09) 280 4385 or 0800 008 805
From outside the UK Fax (07) 3806 4076 Email office@barnabasfund.org.nz
Telephone +44 24 7623 1923 Email bfaustralia@barnabasfund.org
Name of church:
Fax +44 24 7683 4718 USA

In Jesus’ Name
Email info@barnabasfund.org Jersey 6731 Curran St, McLean, VA 22101
Registered Charity Number 1092935 Le Jardin, La Rue A Don, Grouville, Telephone (703) 288-1681 or
Company Registered in England
Number 4029536
Jersey, Channel Islands JE3 9GB
Telephone 700600 Fax 700601
toll-free 1-866-936-2525
Fax (703) 288-1682 “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
Email bfjersey@barnabasfund.org Email usa@barnabasaid.org
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:10
International Headquarters

Amen
The Old Rectory, River Street, Pewsey, Wiltshire SN9 5DB, UK Telephone 01672 564938 Fax 01672 565030
From outside UK Telephone +44 1672 564938 Fax +44 1672 565030 Email info@barnabasfund.org Please tear off and send to your nearest Barnabas office with you gift SCS 08/10

Original song: “Broken bones for Jesus”

We are grateful to Andrew Fleet for permission to publish his song “Broken bones for Jesus”. Andrew is a Barnabas Fund staff member
who also writes music and lyrics for Christian worship. The song below is based on 2 Corinthians 4:8-10, which says that although we
may face struggles in our walk with the Lord, “We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may
also be revealed in our body.”(v.10)
Andrew has written music to accompany the words; this can be downloaded from our website (www.barnabasfund.org/scs). In addition,
he has recorded versions of the song, with and without accompanying vocals, which are also available from the website or on CD.

They face the trials of broken bones for Jesus.
They take the pain that others won’t endure.
Yet in their hearts they sing of His salvation;
They know His love
They live His way
Their faith in Him is sure.
We smart as we see others treated badly,
Indignant that they should be treated so;
Yet righteous anger turns away from vengeance
For goodness sake
God’s spirit makes
Forgiving others grow.
We praise our God whose kingdom knows no limits,
Who binds the wounds and sets the captive free.
He raises those who suffer for His kingdom
And they’ll be found,
On higher ground,
His glorious face to see.

The chains of bondage imposed by human hatred, In this sad world we pray O Lord for justice; May I be found
Give cries of hurt healed only through His blood. Your Holy Spirit working for the right, On higher ground
They live so poor and yet they know His bounty As Your protection covers those who love You; Through Him
When strivings cease, That all may know, Who died for me.
They find His peace Who vengeance grow -
And turn to Him in love. They’ve no place in Your sight ©asfleet 2009

There is a crown that martyrs wear, There is a crown that martyrs wear,
Seated with God on high. Seated with God on high.
The cross of Christ their bodies bear The cross of Christ their bodies bear
To live and never die! To live and never die!

BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 21

 Resources
Be on your guard Suffering Church Sunday 2010 – 11

Suffering Church
Sunday offering
Our Christian brothers and sisters are our
family. Did you know that 1 in 10 Christians
live with persecution? We are the other
nine, living with the right to own a Bible
and to worship our Lord Jesus freely.
The Bible calls us to give generously (2
Chronicles 31:5 and 2 Corinthians 9: 6-8).
Many churches today give a tenth of their
income to support mission and relief of
poverty around the world. If your church
does this, why not ask them to consider
giving a tenth of that tenth to the
persecuted Church?
Barnabas Fund supports a range of
projects around the world to help our
persecuted brothers and sisters. Please
consider giving “a tithe of your church’s
tithe” or taking up a Suffering Church
Sunday offering for one of the following
funds:
00-345 Victims of Violence Fund:
helping individuals, families or
communities who have been singled out and
victimised because of their Christian faith.
00-356 Small Business Start-Up
Fund: helping poor Christian families
to support themselves by setting up their
own small businesses.
00-477 Pastor Support Fund and
00-478 Evangelist Support Fund:
supporting pastors ministering in Christian-
minority contexts and evangelists and
church-planters ministering to other faiths in
a number of different countries. Many of
them face hostility and violence because
of the nature of their work.
00-636 Feeding Fund: providing
food for Christian families in the
Middle East, Asia and Africa who live in
desperate poverty, struggling even to have
enough to eat.
00-794 Christian Schooling for
Christian Children: enabling
children of the poorest Christian families
to get an education in a Christian
environment.
Please turn to pages 3-5 to see recent
examples of projects supported by
Barnabas Fund.

Feedback Order your free suffering

from
supporters
We very much appreciate the
comments and suggestions that our
supporters give in relation to the
material we produce. We have
responded to your comments on last
year’s Suffering Church Sunday
literature by making some changes in
the resources this year.
We would be grateful for your
comments about the 2010-2011
Church Sunday resources
The following resources are available free of charge from your national
Barnabas Fund office (addresses on back cover) or from our website
(www.barnabasfund.org/scs), or please use the form below to order.
n A3 version (approx. 300x420 mm) of the poster (see page BE ON YOUR GUARD
6), to advertise your Suffering Church Sunday service.
n P rayer-and-response cards (see page 21), including the
“Prayer for Suffering Church Sunday” and a response
form.
n S CS 2010-2011 CD containing music for Andrew Fleet’s SUFFERING CHURCH
SUNDAY 2010 – 2011

material and have prepared a feedback song, “Broken Bones for Jesus”, and recorded versions Preparing for Persecution

of the song, with and without accompanying vocals.

form that can be found on our website
DATE
TIME

VENUE

(www.barnabasfund.org/scs), or n P owerPoint presentation to accompany the sermon

alternatively you can email or write to outline on John 15:18 – 16:4 (see page 11). This is also
us (address details on the back cover). available on the CD (listed above) and to download from our website.

I would like to order the following free resources: (please indicate quantities in boxes)
A3 poster “Be on your Guard” CD and PowerPoint presentation
Prayer-and-response cards Copies of the Suffering Church Sunday issue of Barnabas Aid (Sept/Oct 2010)
Name: (Mr, Mrs, Miss, Ms, Rev, Dr)
Address:
Postcode:
Email:
Name of church:
Send this form to your nearest Barnabas Fund office. Addresses on back cover. Resources can also be ordered or downloaded from www.barnabasfund.org/scs.

22 BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010


INDONESIA: CHRISTIAN MAN THREATENED WITH DEATH
On 3 July, in Bekasi, West Java, Indonesia,
a banner showing a Christian man with a
noose around his neck was hung outside a
mosque with the following words: “This
man deserves the death penalty!”
Andreas Sanau, 29 (the man on the
banner), and Henry Sutanto have been
accused by the Islamic Defender Front
(FPI) of organising mass baptisms. The
accusations came after 14 buses full of
people arrived on 30 June at the home of
Sutanto, the President of the Mahanaim
Foundation, a Christian organisation that
helps the poor.
EGYPT: MUSLIMS ATTEMPT TO
BEHEAD CHRISTIAN CONVERT
Christian convert Maher el-Gohary has
survived an attempted murder after two
unknown men on a motorbike attacked
him outside his home on Sunday 5 July.
El-Gohary says that during the attack one
of the men shouted the Islamic cry of
“Allah is Great” while stabbing him with a
dagger. The attackers called him an
infidel, and cursed his Christian faith. He
says, “They were aiming at my neck to
behead me.” El-Gohary fell to the ground
covered in blood, and he maintains that,
had it not been for the action of passers-
by, he would probably have succumbed to
his injuries.
El-Gohary had been a Christian for 36
years but his conversion was first
brought to public attention in May 2009
when he tried to have the religion on his
ID card changed to reflect his faith.
Shortly after his conversion from Islam
became public, El-Gohary and his 15-
year-old daughter Dina, who is also a
Christian, were forced into hiding,
moving home as often as once or twice a
month to avoid being discovered. This is
not the first attempt on his life, since his
conversion became public.
The Foundation stated that they had no
intention of carrying out baptisms. But
according to Murhali Barda, the local
leader of the FPI (a radical Islamic group
known for violence against religious
minorities, especially Christians), “Sutanto
must be killed; he wants a mass baptism.”
Nine members of different Islamic
organisations in Bekasi, including Barda,
have joined together to plan a roadshow
that aims to persuade mosques in the city
to prepare for the possibility of “war”
against “Christianisation”. The group,
which was formed on 27 June, the last
On 13 June 2009, an Egyptian court ruled
against el-Gohary’s request to have his
religious status changed on his ID card.
After losing the court case, the father and
daughter tried to leave Egypt, but they
were stopped at the airport by the
authorities, who also took their passports,
without any legal reasons. In April 2010,
Dina, who had appealed to President
Obama by letter in December 2009 about
their plight, was subject to an acid attack;
fortunately she escaped unharmed.
Maher and Dina have been living in
hiding because of their faith
BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010
Newsroom
day of the Bekasi Islamic Congress, is
recommending that each mosque should
have its own armed militia and that the
Bekasi municipality should introduce
some sharia-compliant policies.
The Regional Leader of the Indonesian
Muslim Forum, Bernard Abdul Jabbar,
said, “They will guard the Islamic faith
and preach the right path to the people.”
According to Barda, “We are doing this
because we want to strike fear in the
hearts of Christians who behave in such a
way. If they refuse to stop what they’re
doing, we’re ready to fight.”
EGYPT: YOUNG
CHRISTIAN WOMAN
OVERCOMES
ABDUCTION AND
ATTEMPTED FORCED
CONVERSION
Christian teenager Zeenahom Nady
Adly, 19, was stopped by two Muslim
men as she walked to the shops in her
small village near Samalut on 12 June.
The men sprayed a substance in her
face to make her lose consciousness.
When she awoke two hours later she
found herself at the Islamic Sharia
Association, facing a Muslim leader
who tried to intimidate her and force
her to convert to Islam.
Zeenahom’s father sent telegrams to the
authorities, and her family demonstrated
outside the police headquarters
demanding her return, compelling the
security forces to intervene and return
the girl to her family. The girl’s father
requested protection for his family,
after he was told by the man in charge
of the abduction that they will be
pursued “until we all convert to Islam”.
23
 Newsroom
KYRGYZSTAN: VOTE BRINGS HOPE FOR
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
A new constitution that was overwhelmingly
approved by the people of Kyrgyzstan offers
hope for greater religious freedom following
the repressive Religion Law passed last year.
The document gained the backing of more
than 90 per cent of the vote in a referendum
held on 27 June, where the turnout was
nearly 70 per cent. It was held just two
weeks after violent ethnic clashes between
Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in southern Kyrgyzstan
that left hundreds dead. Kyrgyz Christians
became targets in the conflict as they
sought to help their Uzbek brothers and
sisters flee the violence. The referendum
went ahead even though many of the
400,000 people, mainly ethnic Uzbeks, who
had been forced to leave, had not returned.
There were no major reports of violence or
voter fraud.
The Constitution, which creates a mandate
for Central Asia’s first parliamentary
24 BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010
democracy, paves the way for greater
freedom of religion in Kyrgyzstan under
interim president Roza Otunbayeva. She
established a provisional government after
an uprising in April that led to the
overthrow of President Kurmanbek
Bakiyev. Article 32 of the new constitution
guarantees freedom of conscience and
religion, including the right freely to
choose and profess any religion or none;
Article 16 states that no one shall be
discriminated against on the grounds of
religion; and Article 7 underlines the
separation of religion and state.
Though it remains to be seen if the
government will uphold these rights in
practice, the new constitution offers hope
for Kyrgyz Christians after the previous
parliament unanimously approved a
restrictive Religion Law in January 2009.
This required any religious organisation to
have at least 200 members in order to
A government building burnt out in the riots in Kyrgyzstan
in June (Source Brokev03 (Wikimedia Commons))
register, making it virtually impossible for
most churches to gain the protection of a
legal status. The restrictive law also
banned the distribution of religious
literature in public places and activities
directed at the conversion of others.
There have been encouraging signals from
the interim government that the Religion
Law will be reformed. On 15 April this year
government spokesman Kanybek
Imanaliyev told Forum 18 News Service:
“We want to establish freedom of speech
and freedom of religion. We will reform the
Constitution, the laws as necessary and
the Religion Law.”
Before the 2009 Religion Law was passed,
Kyrgyzstan was one of the least restrictive
of the Central Asian countries for Christians
and there is now reason to hope that they
may enjoy greater freedom again.

LEBANON: THREATENING LEAFLETS AIM TO
FORCE CHRISTIANS OUT
In June, threatening leaflets were
distributed around Christian villages near
the southern port city of Sidon. The
leaflets stated, “Lebanese Christians, you
have one week to leave the areas of
Sharq-Sidon and the Sidon suburbs.
Everyone must tell his brothers in order for
them to preserve their lives ... There is no
God but Allah and Muhammad is His
Prophet.”
Christians and Muslims, including Grand
Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani,
condemned the leaflets. Qabbani said they
AFGHANISTAN: CONVERSION FOOTAGE
PROVOKES ANTI-CHRISTIAN FURORE
A TV report on 27 May apparently showing
Afghan converts from Islam to Christianity
engaged in various Christian activities
sparked a frenzied anti-Christian response
with public demonstrations and threats
from within parliament.
The two-year-old footage, which included
scenes of baptisms, triggered a protest by
a group of Kabul University students, who
shouted death threats against the converts
(in line with sharia law) and demanded the
expulsion of foreigners accused of trying to
convert Afghans from Islam.
Two of the Afghan Christians who
appeared in the broadcast were arrested
and shown on national TV again three days
later. One was pressurised to return to
Islam, while the other was shown
repeating the Islamic creed and asking
forgiveness for having converted. The TV
presenters urged viewers to find more
Afghans who had left Islam and report
them to the police. The following day a call
was made in Parliament by the Deputy
Secretary of the Afghan Lower House for
the public execution of the Afghan
Christians shown in the TV programme.
The activities of foreign organisations
allegedly involved in preaching Christianity
in Afghanistan were strongly condemned,
with members of parliament calling for
groups seeking the conversion of Muslims
to be expelled from the country. That same
day two Western NGOs with the word
“church” in their name were suspended,
accused of promoting Christianity, while
were distributed to incite friction and
create more tension in an already volatile
area. The deadline for Christians to leave
the area has now passed, and it seems
there have been no repercussions. On 30
June, it was reported that a man had
been arrested in connection with the case.
In a separate incident, on 19 June, a
bomb exploded in the predominantly
Christian city of Zahle; it is believed that
the bomb was intended to coincide with
the visit of a Christian denominational
head the next day.
other groups were put on a list for further
investigation.
On 1 June, President Hamid Karzai’s
spokesman said the president was taking a
personal interest in the situation and had
ordered immediate and serious action to
prevent any more conversions. It was later
announced in Parliament by Interior Minister
Hanif Atmar that the Government had a list
of 23 people, Afghans and foreigners, whom
they were seeking to arrest. Subsequent
reports indicate that more Afghan Christians
have been arrested. Many homes in Kabul
have been searched, prompting dozens of
Afghan Christians to flee their towns and
even leave the country.
On 9 June Afghan Christians in exile in New
Delhi, India, responded to the unfolding
crisis with an urgent appeal to believers
worldwide to help stop the Afghan
Government from arresting and seeking to
execute Afghan Christians. Execution is
possible under Afghan law, though no
Christians are yet known to have suffered
that fate.
The letter said: “We do not know how the
whole world and especially the Global
Church is silent and closing their eyes while
thousands of their brothers and sisters are in
pain, facing life danger and death penalty
and are tortured, persecuted and called
criminals...
“Let’s tell the Afghan Government that we
are not pagans and infidels; we are not
criminal because of our Christian faith, and
let’s tell them not to sentence us to death.”
BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010
Newsroom
Pastor Suleimanov was gunned
down outside his church on 15 July
CAUCASUS,
RUSSIA:
CHRISTIAN
PASTOR
ASSASSINATED
Christian leader Artur Suleimanov (49)
has died after being shot in the head as
he was leaving his church in Dagestan,
a strongly Islamic republic of Russia.
A gunman approached and opened fire
as Mr Suleimanov, a convert from
Islam, got into a car outside Hosanna
House of Prayer in Makhachkala on
15 July. He was taken to hospital but
died from his wounds an hour later.
He leaves behind a wife, Zina, and
five children, the youngest of whom
is twelve.
Mr Suleimanov’s church is one of the
largest Protestant churches in
Dagestan. Barnabas Fund’s co-ordinator
for the Former Soviet Union met Pastor
Suleimanov a number of times and says
he was “a wonderful Christian brother
and his shocking death is a devastating
loss for the Dagestan church ... We see
his murder as an attempt to put further
pressure on Christian converts in
Dagestan.”
The population of Dagestan is 98%
Muslim, and the Church faces
harassment and intimidation from
various groups in a very lawless and
violent context.
25
 In Touch

Christmas Already?
The summer may only just be over, but if you are already starting to think
Apostasy Campaign
Update
about Christmas, please keep an eye out for boxes of Christmas cards that
support Barnabas Fund. Boxes contain 20 We would like to thank those of you who
assorted cards, with a Bible verse in each responded to our suggestion of writing to
card, and are sold through selected Christian your local paper about the Islamic law of
bookshops. The scheme is run at no cost to apostasy, which specifies a range of
us, and a percentage of the price of each punishments including the death penalty for
purchase goes directly to support our work. Muslims who leave their faith.
In the November/December edition of the Several letters from supporters relating to
magazine we will also be including a form for our campaign have appeared in local papers
packs of cards that you can order by mail. in recent months; we have reproduced one
example from the Western Morning News,
Plymouth, UK.

Coming for Christmas:Year Journal Western Morning News

The Barnabas Fund year journal is
an inspiring collection of short
testimonies, prayers and
poems from Christians
around the world as well
as uplifting Bible verses
and lined pages for
you to record your
own thoughts and
reflections throughout
the months.
This valuable devotional resource is
available to order now at the special
offer price of £5 (plus £2
P&P), for delivery from
November onwards. It
will both encourage you
in your spiritual journey
and be an ideal
Christmas present for
your Christian friends.
Tuesday 2 March 2010
Persecuted Christians
Many of us would be very grateful to you
if you allowed the plight of Christians
abroad to be highlighted in your paper.
We are so ignorant about the beatings,
burning of church buildings, rape,
imprisonment of pastors and appalling ill
treatment of any Muslim who becomes a
Christian elsewhere.
Barnabas Fund is collecting as many
signatures as it can to send to the
Government to bring their plight to notice

Free Alimujiang Yimiti before we in this country, start to suffer the

Please join with us in support of
Alimujiang Yimiti, a Christian convert from
Islam in China, who was sentenced to
15 years in prison on 27 October 2009.
“Born an ethnic Uyghur, Alimujiang
Yimiti faced extreme persecution when
he ... [became] a Christian. A beloved
father, husband and house church
leader, Alim is known for his kindness
and love for the Uyghur people.
“On 12 January 2008, Alim was
arrested and detained on charges of
conducting ‘illegal religious activities’.
Later, the charges were changed to
‘divulging state secrets’. After two
secret trials, Alim was given the
extreme sentence of 15 years in
prison, simply for being a Uyghur
Christian.
“Alim has been held unjustly behind
Alimujiang Yimiti’s 15-year prison sentence
bars for more than two years.
reported to be the longest sentence agai
ChinaAid has now joined forces with
house church believer in nearly a decade
other concerned organisations to
bring his story to light. Every night,
Alim’s wife, mother, and two sons pray
for his freedom. Will you?” (Source:
ChinaAid)
Barnabas Fund is sending practical
help for Alim’s family (project reference
09-879).
Visit www.freealim.com to sign the
petition against Alim’s detention.
is
nst a
persecution happening in many eastern
countries.
A single signature has little impact, but
1,000 would. So may many fair and just
readers add their own protest - or better
still, phone the Barnabas Fund on 024
7623 1923 to help the petition.
Miss A Hartford-Burch, Plymouth
Reader Response
to Barnabas Aid
We would like to know what you like
about Barnabas Aid and what would
prompt you to give your copy to a friend
who doesn’t know about Barnabas Fund.
Please write and tell us or send us an
email (contact details on the back cover).
You may also have noticed some design
changes in recent editions of Barnabas
Aid. Our design evaluation is ongoing, so
there may be further changes to come,
but we hope you are pleased with the
fresher look so far.

26 BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010