Nepal: Church grows exponentially to one million believers
The number of Christians in Nepal is growing exponentially. This is reported by American researcher Dr. Cindy Perry, who recently finished a study on the Nepali church. Many new churches have not just been planted in Nepal, but also in nations where Nepali workers have migrated to. ‘This is a special development,’ Perry says. ‘When a Nepali comes to Christ, he apparently also becomes an evangelist straight away.’ Until 1951 Nepal was closed to the outside world. Nepali Christians were few and mainly lived in north India on the border with Nepal. 1990 in the Kingdom of Nepal it was officially prohibited to have another religion than Hinduism. It was hard for Christians to fellowship and many were imprisoned. In 1990 a revolution broke out, followed by a new constitution that granted freedom of religion. In 50 years the number of baptized Christians has grown from 26 in 1960 to one million today. Pray: God for this wonderful growth of His church in Nepal and long may it continue. (Ps.95:1) More: http://www.joelnews.org/
Israel: Jewish Christian seeks protection following repeated attacks
A Christian of Jewish origin who has been attacked on the streets here four times because of his faith in Christ and is seeking police protection. Jerusalem resident Yossi Yomtov said police have been slow to investigate hate crimes against him by youths wearing kippahs, cloth skullcaps typically worn by observant Jews. In two of the attacks a youth plied him with pepper spray and stun gun shocks, he said. 'This young man cursed me for my belief in Christ,' Yomtov told Compass. ‘He used ugly curses and spoke in highly abusive language.’ Yomtov, who founded the social activist group Lemallah (‘Upward’) after moving to Israel from the United States in 1999, said he was last attacked on Dec. 19. On that occasion his group was holding a demonstration in downtown Jerusalem, he said, when a man chanting anti-Christian slogans and using foul language approached him and began striking him. Police never showed up in spite of many calls to the police station, he said. Pray: that Jewish believers would be given protection against persecution by non-believers. (Ps.5:11) More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/israel/13055/
Indonesia: Thousands celebrate Christmas despite attacks
Thousands of Christians have celebrated Christmas in a volatile area of Indonesia's West Java province, despite concerns of more attacks against them. At least 5,000 worshipers living in the city of Bekasi reportedly gathered in the unfinished St. Albertus Church for a Christmas Eve mass, a week after it was attacked by an angry Muslim mob. Christians said hundreds of Muslims began the Islamic New Year last Thursday, December 17, by attacking the Catholic Church, throwing stones and setting fires to it. Kristina Maria Rentetana, head of the church building committee, told reporters that the crowd shouted ‘destroy it’ and that ‘even women carrying babies’ participated in stone throwing. Most damage was reportedly done to the makeshift security post and the developer’s office. The Indonesian Committee of Religions for Peace has urged authorities to increase security for Christians, who comprise a minority in this mainly Muslim nation. Pray: for the security and protection of believers as they worship in volatile places. (Ro.8:35) More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/10513-thousands-celebrate-christmas-in-indonesia-after-attacks
Record number visit Bethlehem
The little town of Bethlehem has seen the highest number of Christmas pilgrims in a decade, according to the Israeli military. More than 100,000 people from around the world gathered in the birthplace of Jesus this Christmas, up from 50,000 the previous year. The increase in tourists is most likely down to a decrease in violence between Palestinians and Israel in recent years. Included among the pilgrims are about 500 Christians from Gaza Strip who were granted a rare holiday entry permit by Israel. There are about 3,500 Christians among Gaza’s 1.5 million population. Palestinian officials said all 24 of Bethlehem’s hotels were fully booked. The Middle East’s senior Catholic cleric Fuad Twal travelled to Bethlehem from Jerusalem and held a midnight mass at St Catherine’s Church, next to the Church of the Nativity. Twal called for peace and reconciliation between Israel and Palestinians. Praise: God for this increased number of pilgrims gathering to worship at the stable. (Lk.2:15)
