Islam's Version of Apostasy and the Heavy Cost, Pastor Saeed Back to Prison, Syrian Women Paying the Price of War, Ukrainian Christians Praying Publicly Under Fire, Crimean Baptists Uncertain of Life Under Russia
Islam: 'Appalling and Abhorrent' in the Eyes of a Blind World?
by Raymond Ibrahim
Human Events
May 21, 2014
Pastor Saeed Abedini Severely Beaten, Returned to Iranian Prison
DONETSK UPDATE: Pastor Sergey Kosyak writes about the events of 23 May 2014, "Friends, today was a tough day, but for me very difficult. To begin with, representatives of Donetsk People’s Republic destroyed our tent, and then there was the following story.
Several times I have gone to the city administration building to talk with the leaders of the Donetsk People’s Republic, so I went once again. I didn't find the person I had talked with earlier there but happened to see someone who attended my church. I was glad when I saw him, but he didn't seem too glad we met. He began to yell that I was manipulating the people and things like that. In short, the negotiations failed, in the eyes of these people I had become the enemy. You tend to have short conversations with your enemy.
People are very angry, because, first of all, their hearts are empty and not filled with God. I told them that God loves them, I harbored no anger or hatred towards them in my heart, even when they beat me. I will not describe the very beating, but that I am still alive, just the grace of God.
Among them were people who knew about our prayer tent, they cursed the others for what they did to me. After that, they gave me my things back and my money, then asked for forgiveness from me and that I would not be offended.
Before they started beating me I told them about Christ, called them to turn their hearts to God, and while they beat me I just prayed. I couldn't make it to the prayer meeting in the evening because I had to go to the hospital.
Dark times have come to our region, people hate each other, they’re ready to kill, beat for a preposterous idea, and to die for those ideas. And they can not see Him for Whom it is really worth living and dying. God save the people, turn their attention to yourself.
It hurts not physically morally, that Ukraine is wallowing in sin, and instead of people fighting together against the enemy they are pointing their weapons at each other." (translation thanks to Caleb Suko)
Original update in Russian by Sergey here:https://www.facebook.com/sergey.kosyak.3/posts/854590404555710
Photos originally posted here by journalist Solomiya Vitvitskahttps://www.facebook.com/S.Vitvitska/posts/
March 28, 2014
Crimean Baptists face uncertainty under new Russian rule
By Nicole Lee
Although there is freedom of religion in Russia, national identity is tied to the Orthodox Church. Protestant denominations, which are classified as cults, are treated with mistrust. Laws related to religious activity are more tightly controlled in Russia than in Ukraine, where evangelical Christianity has surged since the early ’90s.
“Baptist Church leaders are not sure what standing they will have with the new government,” said Tim Johnson,* an International Mission Board (IMB) representative in Kiev. “The freedoms of religion and the protection of the Ukrainian constitution are now lost and what standing they will have in the transition is uncertain.”
by Raymond Ibrahim
Human Events
May 21, 2014
Source: ACLJ
PUBLISHED BY KATEY HEARTH ON MAY 15, 2014
Yesterday Pastor Sergey Kosyak was beaten by pro-Russian separatist after he went to inquire why they had destroyed the groups public prayer tent and threatened to shoot anyone who gathered for prayer! He was treated in the hospital and later released.
DONETSK UPDATE: Pastor Sergey Kosyak writes about the events of 23 May 2014, "Friends, today was a tough day, but for me very difficult. To begin with, representatives of Donetsk People’s Republic destroyed our tent, and then there was the following story.
Several times I have gone to the city administration building to talk with the leaders of the Donetsk People’s Republic, so I went once again. I didn't find the person I had talked with earlier there but happened to see someone who attended my church. I was glad when I saw him, but he didn't seem too glad we met. He began to yell that I was manipulating the people and things like that. In short, the negotiations failed, in the eyes of these people I had become the enemy. You tend to have short conversations with your enemy.
People are very angry, because, first of all, their hearts are empty and not filled with God. I told them that God loves them, I harbored no anger or hatred towards them in my heart, even when they beat me. I will not describe the very beating, but that I am still alive, just the grace of God.
Among them were people who knew about our prayer tent, they cursed the others for what they did to me. After that, they gave me my things back and my money, then asked for forgiveness from me and that I would not be offended.
Before they started beating me I told them about Christ, called them to turn their hearts to God, and while they beat me I just prayed. I couldn't make it to the prayer meeting in the evening because I had to go to the hospital.
Dark times have come to our region, people hate each other, they’re ready to kill, beat for a preposterous idea, and to die for those ideas. And they can not see Him for Whom it is really worth living and dying. God save the people, turn their attention to yourself.
It hurts not physically morally, that Ukraine is wallowing in sin, and instead of people fighting together against the enemy they are pointing their weapons at each other." (translation thanks to Caleb Suko)
Original update in Russian by Sergey here:https://www.facebook.com/sergey.kosyak.3/posts/854590404555710
Photos originally posted here by journalist Solomiya Vitvitskahttps://www.facebook.com/S.Vitvitska/posts/
Crimean Baptists face uncertainty under new Russian rule
By Nicole Lee
“Baptist Church leaders are not sure what standing they will have with the new government,” said Tim Johnson,* an International Mission Board (IMB) representative in Kiev. “The freedoms of religion and the protection of the Ukrainian constitution are now lost and what standing they will have in the transition is uncertain.”
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