Ethnic Fulanis crying 'Allahu akbar!' attack church, communities
BARKIN LADI, NIGERIA (ANS) -- Compass Direct News (CDN) is reporting that Fulani Muslim herdsmen along with Muslim soldiers have killed at least 45 ethnic Berom Christians in Plateau state in the past week, Christians in this northern-central Nigerian town said. Smaller attacks beginning on Nov. 20, reportedly over allegations by Fulani Muslims of cattle theft, preceded an attack on a Barkin Ladi church on Wednesday (Nov. 23) that killed four Christians, and an assault the next day left 35 Christians dead in Barkin Ladi and nearby Kwok village, according to area Christian leaders.
Some Background
“In addition to ethnic tensions, Nigeria has experienced frequent and intense bursts of sectarian violence between Christians and Muslims, especially in the areas where the two religions overlap, like Jos in the northern tip of Plateau state. This struggle pits the powerful Hausa-Fulani from the north, which tends to be Muslim, against a number of smaller local ethnic groups that tend to be Christian. Indeed, Boko Haram has been involved since its inception in several outbursts of inter-communal violence, including the November 2008 violence that saw some 800 people killed in Jos, the July 2009 violence that saw more than 700 people killed in Jos, and the January 2010 violence in Jos that claimed 450 lives.
Following the July 2009 violence, which brought Boko Haram to the world’s attention, Boko Haram founder Mohammed Yusuf and his deputy, Abubakar Shekau, were both killed. Yusuf died in police custody, allegedly during an escape attempt, though his followers have called his death an extrajudicial execution.
Since the destruction of Bobko Haram’s leadership, the exact structure and makeup of the group has been unclear. Boko Haram now seems to lack organizational structure or strong leadership. If the group has any central leadership, it has maintained a very low profile since Yusuf’s killing. It may even be in hiding, possibly in a neighboring country. Mixed messages have emerged from various individuals claiming to speak for Boko Haram. Some figures have come across as more moderate and willing to negotiate, while others have been more strident, rejecting talks. This difference makes it appear that Boko Haram comprises a loose confederation of militants operating relatively independently from one another, rather than a cohesive, hierarchical organization pursuing a unified set of objectives.
Boko Haram initially was involved mostly in fomenting sectarian violence. Its adherents participated in fairly rudimentary attacks involving clubs, machetes and small arms. By late 2010, the group had added Molotov cocktails and simple improvised explosive devices to its tactical repertoire, as reflected by the series of small IED bombing attacks against Christian targets in Jos on Christmas Eve in 2010.”
Excerpted from “The Rising Threat from Nigeri’as Boko Haram Militant Group Created” Nov 10 2011
http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/burton_and_stewart_on_security
Please pray for healing, reconciliation and love to prevail in this interreligious tension and for protection, restraint and wisdom for His people who live in the area.
For more information, please go to: www.compassdirect.org.
In ‘Garbage City’ in Cairo, thousands of people live amidst the growing garbage piles which they sort each day for their livelihood. The stench is overwhelming at times. The people are the poorest of the poor and many are believers. They have a renowned church called the Cave Church, which they have hollowed out in a mountain, and which has seating capacity of 20,000 people. All along the sides of the mountain, they’ve engraved Bible scenes and Bible verses in Arabic. It’s an amazing sight.
This was the location of an all-night prayer meeting on November 11, which had an overflowing 75,000 people in attendance from all denominations to pray for the nation. It was the first time in the history of Egypt that leaders from all denominations united together for such an event. Many people watched the service on screens set up all over the mountain and joined in—hands lifted up, eyes to heaven, and tears flowing down their faces. Check out this impressive video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q62ZcqIukfI) of the prayer gathering.
Praise the Lord for this massive prayer effort and continue to pray for Egypt in its journey to find a new political reality that will ensure full freedom and human rights for its citizens.
A prayer convocation took place in Prague from December 1-3. If you would like to know more about it, please see the attached websites
…as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. 2 Corinthians 1:11
A number of prayer outreaches and seminars occurred during the month of November in Pakistan:
Please pray for those who took part that they would be built up and that they can have the victory through prayer. Many are feeling very threatened and overwhelmed by the evil that is going on in their country. Pray that the Christians will REALIZE that the situation is very CRUCIAL but not hopeless and that they will be united in spite of their different denominations and ethnic or caste groups. (Because of the caste system, tremendous divisions have come into the church.)
To accomplish the above, we feel that a spirit of REPENTANCE and FORGIVENESS must come. (In the culture where 95% of everything is based on saving or losing face, this will be a difficult thing to accomplish. We need prayer and wisdom on how to handle this.) Pray the Holy Spirit will work and lead.
From a prayer leader working in Pakistan
Latest reports from sources close to Pastor Nadarkhani’s case informed CSW that Pastor Nadarkhani’s lawyers have been told to expect a decision from the Supreme Leader in mid-December. Verdict expected mid-December but may be delayed until Christmas. CSW learned this week that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, is expected to make a decision on Pastor Nadarkhani’s case in mid-December, raising fears that it may be issued to coincide with the Christmas season in order to avoid an international outcry. The court in Rasht has sent two letters about the case to the Supreme Leader but is still awaiting a response.
Please pray for his vindication and release and for his courage in witness for Christ during the rest of his imprisonment and trial.
“The presidents of Sudan and the new nation of South Sudan are both predicting the possibility of a new war in an oil-rich region that has seen a spike in cross-border attacks.
Troop build-ups are being reported on both sides of the Sudan-South Sudan border, the world’s newest international boundary, and rebels in Sudan announced a new alliance with the aim of overthrowing their own government, which is seated in the capital, Khartoum.
The U.S. is pleading for cooler heads to prevail, even as aid workers are withdrawing from the region after two bombing runs into South Sudan by Sudan, its northern neighbor, last week.
After two long wars that spanned decades, South Sudan formally declared independence from Sudan in July following a successful independence referendum in January that was guaranteed in a 2005 peace deal. The world celebrated the peaceful break-up of Sudan. But big disputes that have long lurked in the background are now festering and flaring into violence.
An agreement to split the region’s oil revenues was never reached. The borders were never fully demarcated. And perhaps most important, the break-up left two large groups of people in Sudan’s south in the lurch, groups that Sudan has labeled rebels and that Khartoum’s military has been attacking for months.
In addition, the Khartoum government is facing a financial crisis due to the loss of oil revenue and rising food prices, said John Prendergast, the co-founder of the U.S.-based Enough Project, which closely monitors Sudan.
THECRY HEART: TheCRY Hollywood full day of prayer, fasting and worship in the heart of Hollywood. The focus is to call the world to bless what God is doing in entertainment media both in Hollywood and globally. We believe there is tremendous power in blessing and speaking life. We believe there is power in prayer and fasting. We believe there is power in lifting up the name of Jesus in anointed and pure worship. We believe God loves Hollywood and has an important plan for her in this hour of human history. We believe that as Christians, both locally and from across the world, unite in prayer in the heart of Hollywood God will do exceedingly above all we can ask or Imagine. We believe.
We are very excited about TheCRY on March 15th and wanted to genuinely invite you all to be a part of it in any way you feel led. We so honor the Body of Christ and recognized the tremendous work each one of you has done in raising up prayer in the area. Again, we want to say how grateful we are for you. As you have been faithful on your post it has impacted the world because of the calling on Hollywood, LA and Southern California.
We do pray that TheCRY Hollywood will be a source of tremendous blessing and strength to all the Lord is doing in the Hollywood community and entertainment media. We look forward to walking together with you towards March 15th! Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions at all! We would be honored to connect.
Faytene Grasseschi (Kryskow) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Pray and Thanksgiving for Hollywood
• Praise God for seven ways He is blessing our industry and community
• Praise God for seven of our HPN Local Chapter Directors around the world
• Thank God for screener season
• Thank God for the people who work at Theme Parks across the world
• Thank God for Christians who are producing independent films
• Thank the Lord that some parts of the business are doing well
• Thank God for creative people who also use their art to reach out to others
• Thank God that TV can be used to honor people
• Thank God for the gift of entertainment
• Thank God for Christians who understand how important Hollywood is to Him
• Thank the Lord for his miraculous healing hand
• Thank God that Justin Bieber is a Christian
PRAISES:
• Praise God for the growing Christian community in Hollywood – now over 6,000 strong.
• Praise God for the many Entertainment ministries that are meeting the needs of thousands of Christians and non-believers through their work. HERE is a link to the list of Hollywood ministries.
• Praise God for the many non-believers who have Christian friends and associates (solid ambassadors) to faithfully teach them about God and Jesus.
• Praise God for our HPN Local Chapter leaders across the country and the world, who are praying with us, mobilizing others to pray and inviting God into the lives of the world’s entertainment professionals. Click HERE to check them out.
• Praise God that there are solid Christians in key leadership, mentoring and decision-making positions in Hollywood.
• Praise God for the growing number of mentorships happening between Christian young professionals and experienced professionals which hold people accountable, encourage and inspire one another and prepare talented believers to be in leadership positions in the near future.
• Praise God that we are seeing miracles in this industry, and experiencing God moving in the world’s most influential mission field.
For the past 3 1/2 years, a team of Christian filmmakers in Hollywood has been working diligently on developing plans for a feature film that has the potential to be the most spiritually significant movie ever made. The film is called The Messiah, and it picks up where The Passion left off. It naturally and powerfully communicates the Gospel message of Jesus Christ - from the Cross, through the Resurrection, to Pentecost (planned release Christmas 2013 or Easter 2014).
Budgeted at $100 million USD, with state-of-the-art special effects, including being shot in 3D, The Messiah will be an epic film that will wow audiences (by comparison The Passion’s budget was $30 million USD). And for the first time in history, the born-again experience, what it means to have a personal relationship with God, will be shown on screen. This means the Gospel message will be communicated in a way that everyone can understand regardless of education or language, and because it will be a mainstream blockbuster movie, it truly will reach everywhere in the world.
To learn more, please see The Messiah
(http://www.injesusnameproductions.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=100530).
Also, we encourage you to read the quotes
(http://www.injesusnameproductions.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=100539)
from Christian leaders and prominent Hollywood filmmakers who have read the script and have been involved with guiding the project.
The Messiah is in the final stages of funding. A number of investors are currently reviewing our plans and making their final decision on whether to fund the movie.
We are calling on Christians throughout the world to pray for The Messiah and this unprecedented opportunity to leverage a state-of-the-art feature film to take the Gospel to the ends of the Earth.
Please pray that:
1. God would move the hearts of the potential investors to fund The Messiah.
2. God would lead the team involved to make the highest quality, God-honoring, God-glorifying, feature film ever made.
3. God would leverage The Messiah once it is released to take the Gospel message to the ends of the Earth and 100’s of millions of people would be saved, and would trigger a worldwide Revival.
4. God would raise up more than a million people to pray regularly for The Messiah.
And the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14)