Barnabas Aid Magazine March/April 2021
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
barnabasaid.org MARCH/ barnabasaid APRIL 2021 BARNABAS AID - RELIEF AGENCY FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH - BRINGING HOPE TO SUFFERING CHRISTIANS NORTH KOREA INDIA ARMENIA Christian Survivors of the Secretive Old and New Forms of Barnabas Petition for Recognition State’s ”Re-Education” Camps Persecution on the Rise of Armenian Genocide The Barnabas Aid Distinctive What helps make Barnabas Aid distinctive from other Christian organizations that deal with persecution? We work by: communities, so they can maintain their presence and witness, rather than setting ● directing our aid only to Christians, up our own structures or sending out How to Find Us although its benefits may not be exclusive missionaries to them (“As we have opportunity, let us You may contact do good to all people, especially to those ● tackle persecution at its root by making Barnabas Aid at the who belong to the family of believers” known the aspects of other religions and following addresses: Galatians 6:10, emphasis added) ideologies that result in injustice and oppression of Christians and others ● channeling money from Christians through Christians to Christians (we do ● inform and enable Christians in the West International Headquarters not send people; we only send money) to respond to the growing challenge The Old Rectory, River Street, of other religions and ideologies to the Pewsey, Wiltshire SN9 5DB, UK ● channeling money through existing Church, society and mission in their own Telephone 01672 564938 structures in the countries where funds countries are sent (e.g. local churches or Christian Fax 01672 565030 organizations) ● facilitate global intercession for the From outside UK: persecuted Church by providing Telephone +44 1672 564938 ● using the money to fund projects comprehensive prayer material developed by local Christians in their own Fax +44 1672 565030 communities, countries or regions ● safeguard and protect our volunteers, Email [email protected] staff, partners and beneficiaries ● considering any request, however small ● keep our overheads low USA Office ● acting as equal partners with the 80 Abbeyville Road, persecuted Church, whose leaders often We believe: Lancaster, PA 17603 help shape our overall direction Telephone 703-288-1681 ● we are called to address both religious and ● acting on behalf of the persecuted Email [email protected] secular ideologies that deny full religious Church, to be their voice – making its liberty to Christian minorities – while needs known to Christians around the continuing to show God’s love to all people world, and the injustice of its persecution known to governments and international ● in the clear Biblical teaching that bodies Christians should treat all people of all faiths with love and compassion, even We seek to: those who seek to persecute them ● meet both practical and spiritual needs ● in the power of prayer to change people’s lives and situations, either ● encourage, strengthen and enable the through grace to endure or through existing local Church and Christian deliverance from suffering “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40) publication. Barnabas Aid apologizes for any errors or barnabasaid The Magazine of omissions, and will be grateful for any further information Barnabas Aid regarding copyright. Published by Barnabas Aid All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are 1934 Old Gallows Road, Vienna, VA 22182, USA taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, © Barnabas Aid 2021 Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New Email [email protected] International Version” are trademarks registered in the For permission to reproduce articles from this United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™ magazine, please contact the email address above. Front Cover: Christian girl in India To donate by credit/debit card, please visit www.barnabasaid.org or call 703-288-1681. To guard the safety of Christians in hostile environments, names may have been changed or omitted. Thank you for your understanding. Every effort has been made to trace copyright holders and obtain permission for stories and images used in this ...Editorial Contents Compassion in Action 4 Survivors of violence in Cameroon Redeemed and Triumphant find new hope as food aid arrives. ne of the remarkable aspects of human life is how an individual can triumph Indian Christians over adversity, bringing good out of the most difficult situations. An English 6 Face New Challenges pioneer missionary, John Williams, who was used by God to help establish Despite “tough days” and rising O the Church in the Pacific Islands (eventually being killed and eaten by the persecution the Church is growing in India. inhabitants of Erromango island, part of modern Vanuatu) wrote of a cheerful and persevering believer he met on Rarotonga (one of the Cook Islands). The man’s name was Buteve and he had neither hands nor feet but still managed to cultivate his patch of A Brave New Dawn for Sudan land and grow plenty of food for his wife and children. He could not walk with the other 8 After decades under sharia, local people to church to hear John Williams preach on a Sunday, but he would sit by the Sudan is taking great strides toward road when the people returned after the service and “beg a bit of the Word” from each one religious freedom. as they passed by. He would receive a variety of brief answers, some remembering one point in the sermon and others another. Buteve would store up in his heart all the answers and prayerfully meditate on them until he understood them. In this way he became a staunch Meditation on The and faithful Christian. Three times a day he would pray: 10 Lord’s Prayer “O Lord, I am a great sinner, may Jesus take my sins away by His good blood; give me the righteousness of Jesus to adorn me, and give me the good spirit of Jesus to Understanding Islam instruct me, and make my heart good, to make me a man of Jesus, from a Christian Perspective The Muslim Jesus (part 1) and take me to heaven when I die.” Pull-out Buteve shows us the triumph of hope over despair, of light over darkness. This is the message of the Christian faith at Easter, when Jesus burst from the grave and rose victorious from the dead. True Comfort Last Christmas, the UK television program Songs of Praise ran a survey to discover the 12 Exploring the meaning of nation’s favorite Christmas carol. To the surprise of the presenters, it turned out to be “O Biblical comfort and the peace and Holy Night”. This was sung on the program by Andrea Bocelli, with the original French strength it offers Christians words, which focus as much on Easter as on Christmas, as much on our redemption as on the incarnation. The final words in French are “Noël Noël, chantons le Rédempteur” meaning “Christmas, Christmas, we sing the Redeemer”. We could just as well sing “Easter, Bethlehem Project Update Easter, we sing the Redeemer.” For Jesus’ redeeming work is at the heart of Easter. 11 Healing and happiness for The Bible character Job endured intense suffering. In the midst of his agony of sickness, Christian schoolchildren in Bethlehem pain, loss, bereavement, rejection and dishonor he cried out, “I know that my Redeemer lives” (Job 19:25). When all seemed hopeless, then came the vision of a Redeemer. As Christians, we too can hold on to the knowledge that we have a Redeemer. The Old More Than Conquerors Testament Hebrew word is goel, that is, a kinsman-redeemer, the closest relative who will 14 Brave survivors of North deliver us and rescue us. For Ruth it was Boaz (Ruth 3:9). For us it is Jesus (Galatians 3:13; Korea’s “re-education” camps Titus 2:13-14). Our Kinsman-Redeemer is our blessed Lord, on Whom we have set our hope. describe their ordeals. There is a Redeemer Jesus my Redeemer Jesus, God’s own Son Name above all names In Brief Precious Lamb of God, Messiah Precious Lamb of God, Messiah 17 Islamist militants brutally Holy One Oh, for sinners slain slay four Christians in a remote Indonesian village. Whatever we must face today, whatever uncertainties lie in the future, we can affirm with Job that our Redeemer lives, singing: Recognize The I will sing of my Redeemer, I will sing of my Redeemer, 18 Armenian Genocide And His wondrous love to me; And his heav’nly love to me; Support Barnabas’ call for governments On the cruel cross He suffered, He from death to life hath brought me, to recognize the Armenian Genocide by From the curse to set me free. Son of God with Him to be.1 signing our petition. DR. PATRICK SOOKHDEO International Director In Touch 19 USPS issues have delayed our 1 Keith Green, 1982 2 Philip P. Bliss, 1876 mailings and the receipt of donations. ... How Barnabas Is Helping Armenian Refugees Fleeing Conflict in Food Aid Raises Up Nagorno-Karabakh Christian Survivors of Will Never Forget Adult Literacy Attacks in Cameroon Barnabas Friends Classes for Brick-Kiln Workers in Pakistan “Nothing is impossible to God,” “Though we lost both our home and proclaimed widow Madeleine, who has our garden, our faith in our God twice escaped attacks by jihadists on Adult literacy rates in Pakistan keeps us hopeful for the future,” said her village. “God remains a source of are among the lowest in the world, grandmother Lyuba who, with eight help and hope,” she added, dancing for especially among women. Barnabas members of her family, fled the recent joy as she received millet and maize to supports five adult literacy centers conflict in her homeland of Nagorno- feed herself and her four children.