On 25 November prime minister Scott Morrison introduced a controversial Religious Discrimination Bill, which will allow faith-based organisations to prioritise hiring and enrolment of people from their faith. The bill, tabled just months before next year’s election, is seen as an attempt to woo votes from religious citizens, as Mr Morrison is a Pentecostal Christian. When introducing the bill to parliament, he said it would protect those who expressed their religious faith outside the workplace as long as it did not cause financial damage to their employer. ‘People should not be persecuted or vilified because their beliefs are different from someone else’s. Australians shouldn’t have to worry about offending an anonymous person on Twitter.’ The bill will be put to vote in the lower house next week, but is unlikely to pass into law before the elections.
Nepal: missionaries’ prayer request
25 Nov 2021
Villagers shamed the family of a girl who took her own life, especially as her mother was a Christian. Local missionaries and other church members were the only ones who came to comfort them, making a deep impression on the mother’s unbelieving son; their love and care opened his heart to the gospel, giving workers a chance to share with him more deeply and lead him to Christ. Local missionaries saw 118 people put their faith in Christ over a six-month period, and they helped train 45 pastors and others for church leadership. Workers need donations for the means to carry out such evangelism and discipleship. They request prayer for provision to fulfill their outreach goal.
Solomon Islands: violent rioting
25 Nov 2021
Solomon Islands prime minister Manasseh Sogavare declared a lockdown on 24 November after a thousand anti-government protesters gathered in the capital demanding his resignation. Sogavare has been in power for twenty years, and foreigners have plundered the country’s resources. The people are not blind to this, and will not be cheated any more. A Honiara journalist said the cause of the chaos was a ‘mixture of a lot of frustration.’ The protesters breached the parliament building and set fire to buildings, including a police station. Sogavare requested Australia’s assistance under a bilateral security treaty; Australia will send a detachment of 23 federal police officers and up to 50 more to provide security at critical infrastructure sites, plus 43 defense force personnel, a patrol boat, and at least five diplomats. The deployment is expected to last for a few weeks.
Pakistan: false blasphemy accusations
25 Nov 2021
Two Christian nurses accused of blasphemy received bail and were released from prison in September. The decision was kept secret for almost two months to avoid backlash from Islamists. Mariam Lal and Nawish Arooj were granted bail by a sessions court in Faisalabad. Those charged with blasphemy in Pakistan usually languish in jail for years until the appeals process is exhausted. This is an unprecedented decision by any sessions court in a blasphemy case. Both women are currently in a safe location. They are very happy and relieved after their release, and are optimistic that the court will absolve them of the charge once the trial concludes. In Pakistan, false accusations of blasphemy are widespread and often motivated by personal vendettas or religious hatred. Accusations are highly inflammatory and have the potential to spark mob lynchings, vigilante murders, and mass protests.
Pastor tackled gunman at Sunday service
18 Nov 2021
American pastor Ezekiel Ndikumana said God helped him know what to do, after a man at the front of his church pulled a gun out and pointed it at the congregation. Pastor Ezekiel, who has been hailed a hero, was praying with members of his congregation when the incident happened. He can be seen on camera tackling the gun-wielding man into the aisle. He held him down until police arrived and arrested Dezire Baganda, 26, who also faces over a dozen aggravated assault charges. While Baganda is not a church member, the pastor said he has attended previous services. Congregation member Akimana Charite said, ‘We were so shocked seeing him come in the front and pull out a gun. The whole church was calm; we thank God, if we had started panicking he might have started shooting, but we all stayed calm.’
Former gay learned to love himself as a man
18 Nov 2021
Emmett Chang grew up with mostly female friends and was bullied by males his age; he grew to hate his masculinity. ‘I medicated, pacified, and drowned myself in homosexuality. I hated myself as a man. I didn’t feel like a man.’ But somebody talked to him about God and gave him a booklet. He read it because he wanted to see if God hated him. He found out God didn’t. Emmett said, ‘It said all sins are bad; they’re all worthy of death, including homosexuality. But that same sin was covered by grace.’ Next, a pastor prompted him indirectly by asking if God ever said he was gay? Emmett said, ‘It was a million-dollar question. It took 21 years for God to answer me in that fashion.’ After giving his life to Christ his transformation has been progressive. He now attends the Door Church in Tucson.
Liverpool terror incident
18 Nov 2021
Emad al-Swealmeen moved to the UK several years ago and converted to Christianity from Islam in 2017. He was looked after for several months by a Christian couple who volunteered at Liverpool Cathedral where he attended an Alpha course and was confirmed. In 2014 he had his asylum claim rejected. Associates believed he was only interested in converting to Christianity because he believed it would assist his asylum claim. He made a new application in 2017. He suffered mental health problems and was sectioned seven years ago after trying to kill himself by jumping off an overpass, while waving a knife. Then on 11 November he detonated a homemade bomb inside a taxi, killing himself and injuring the driver, David Perry, who survived and has been discharged from hospital. Four men have been arrested under terrorism laws. People who knew Swealmeen said, ‘We're just so, so sad. We just loved him, he was a lovely guy.’
Liverpool terrorist incident developments
18 Nov 2021
On 17 November police investigating the Liverpool taxi explosion sent a bomb disposal vehicle and fire engine to Sutcliff Street and extended a cordon around the Kensington area of Liverpool to allow them to assess ‘materials’ found during their search on the asylum accommodation. Residents living within the cordon were told they were not able to return home, while investigators continue to work on piecing together a motive for the blast. Apparently, Emad al-Swealmeen had been buying parts for his homemade device since at least April. Meanwhile, David Perry, who reportedly averted disaster by locking the bomber in his vehicle is said to have spoken to counter-terrorism officers for 90 minutes at his home. Priti Patel said the asylum system is ‘dysfunctional’. Patrols by armed police will be increased and security plans for major events reviewed after the terror threat level was raised following the attack.