world news
Theologian and pastor Eugene Peterson Spoke to ‘Angels’ as He Slipped Away
Influential theologian and pastor Eugene Peterson, author of The Message, passed to his heavenly reward on the morning of October 22nd, but not without an encounter with heaven immediately before his home-going.
On October 9th Peterson was admitted to the hospital as the result of an infection. Previously, heart disease and dementia had caused a steady decline in his health. The infection complicated his condition and one week ago it was announced that he had been placed on hospice care.
The family released a statement about the moments immediately preceding his passing, which seem to indicate “the veil” between this life and the next was pulled back, beckoning the great scholar home.
“During the previous days, it was apparent that he was navigating the thin and sacred space between earth and heaven,” they noted.
His family witnessed a remarkable exchange! “We overheard him speaking to people we can only presume were welcoming him into paradise. There may have even been a time or two when he accessed his Pentecostal roots and spoke in tongues as well.”
Among his last words were, “Let’s go,” which suggest his anticipation and perhaps a glimpse of the beauty and eternal delight set before him.
His countenance radiated that expectancy. “And his joy: my, oh my; the man remained joyful right up to his blessed end, smiling frequently.”
The family were hushed by the reverential moment of his passing. “In such moments it’s best for all mortal flesh to keep silence. But if you have to say something say this: ‘Holy, Holy, Holy.’”
“It feels fitting that his death came on a Monday, the day of the week he always honored as a Sabbath during his years as a pastor. After a lifetime of faithful service to the church—running the race with gusto—it is reassuring to know that Eugene has now entered into the fullness of the Kingdom of God and has been embraced by eternal Sabbath,” his family noted.
Peterson spent 30 years as the pastor of Christ Our King Presbyterian Church, a Presbyterian Church (USA) congregation he launched in Bel Air, Md. At the same time, he pursued his writing, which became influential.
Many esteemed his paraphrase of the Bible, The Message, written in contemporary language he thought would make the Scripture accessible to a wider audience.
Peterson wrote more than 30 books, including a 2011 memoir The Pastor and the Christian classic, “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction.”
His son Eric admired and respected his memory. “Every moment in this man’s presence is sacred,” he said.
world news
Northeast Syrian Minorities Seeking to Preserve Free Enclave, Ask for Western Help against Turkey, and for Christians’ Prayers
Just days after the fall of the Assad Government in Syria, the region is adjusting to the new realities on the ground.
One area inside Syria could be ground zero for another battle between Western values and Islamic ambitions.
While the leader of the main faction of Syria’s rebel forces is pledging no new war, a democratic enclave in northeast Syria that is home to Kurds, Yazidis, and Christians is being attacked by a proxy army of Turkey.
CBN News spoke with a Christian from northeast Syria by phone. To protect his identity, we’ve disguised his voice and can’t show his face. We’re calling him “Gabriel.”
Gabriel told us, “So, yeah, we are under attack, and we don’t think that (Turkish President) Erdogan and his proxies are going to stop (attacking) in this place in the north.”
The Autonomous Administration in Northeast Syria is unique in all of the Middle East. CBN News reported on the then-fledgling government in a 2019 report.
In that report, freelance journalist Karlos Zurutuza told us, “It’s completely new—completely new in the Middle East, and I’d say it’s completely new in the whole world.”
Zurutuza added, “So literally from day one, since 2012—since they liberated their territories—they are in the process of reconstructing civil society, integrated their components in the region; not just Kurds. It’s Arabs, Armenians, Syriacs.”
During the war to defeat ISIS, the Autonomous Administration partnered with the US and allied forces.
Charmaine Hedding, founder of the Shai Fund, an organization that helps people groups in volatile situations, explained, “They are most similar in human rights to what we believe in the West. And critically, they have freedom of religion and belief, and an overrepresentation of religious minorities. So, what’s happened is they stand in direct opposition to these jihadi, Islamist groups. And so today, we are seeing the Sunni is being used as the militia to break down and attack northeast Syria.”
The Autonomous Administration fears the Turkish government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has stated his intention to defeat the Kurds of northeast Syria.
Given the attacks by Turkish-backed forces and Erdogan’s threats, the people of northeast Syria are calling out to the US and the West, and the Christian world for help.
“We call on all the Christians in the world to call their nations and brothers and sisters in their administration to make the Christians, the Kurds and Druze, and all minorities to be able to protect themselves from these kinds of atrocities,” Gabriel told us.
He claims Northeast Syria is not asking for foreign troops, but for the resources to defend themselves.
“Especially [for the] Trump administration and the Israeli government to make this happen because, Christians all over Syria, Christians all over Lebanon, all over Iraq, they want to survive,” he declared.
Gabriel continued, “We are demanding to survive in our fatherland, to speak to our family, our language, and to be able to represent our religion, which is the ancient Christian, really ancient Christian religion, and speak freely our Aramaic language, which was the language of Jesus. We call especially America to stop Turkey from invading the project of Northeast Syria.”
Hedding believes it’s important to pray for this emerging Middle East democracy.
“Because in this area you have people who can believe whatever they want. Christians, Yazidis, [and] even Muslim background Believers who have come to faith in Jesus are able to practice their religion in this area. So, pray for northeast Syria that it will remain stable and that the international community would stand and back northeast Syria against these Islamist jihadis.”
Sources:BREAKING CHRISTIAN NEWS
world news
നൈജീരിയയിൽ ക്രൈസ്തവ കൂട്ടക്കൊല തുടരുന്നു; 19 പേരെ കൊലപ്പെടുത്തി
നൈജീരിയയിലെ പ്ലാറ്റോ സ്റ്റേറ്റിൽ ഫുലാനി തീവ്രവാദികൾ 19 പേരെ കൊലപ്പെടുത്തി. മുൻപ് തീവ്രവാദികൾ തട്ടിക്കൊണ്ടുപോയ വ്യക്തിയും അതിൽ ഉൾപ്പെടുന്നു. ഡിസംബർ ഒന്നിനാണ് ആക്രമണങ്ങൾ നടന്നത്.
ഫുലാനി തീവ്രവാദികളെന്നു കരുതുന്ന ആറ് തോക്കുധാരികൾ ഡിസംബർ ഒന്നിന് റിയോം കൗണ്ടിയിലെ ക്വി ഏരിയയിലെ ദുവാങ് ഗ്രാമത്തിൽ മോട്ടോർ സൈക്കിളിൽ സഞ്ചരിക്കുകയായിരുന്ന രണ്ട് ക്രിസ്ത്യാനികളെ പതിയിരുന്ന് ആക്രമിച്ച് കൊലപ്പെടുത്തിയതായി മനുഷ്യാവകാശ അഭിഭാഷകൻ അറ്റോർണി ഡാലിയോപ് സോളമൻ മവന്തിരിയുടെ പത്രക്കുറിപ്പിൽ പറയുന്നു.
അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ മൃതദേഹം കണ്ടെത്തിയത് ഒരു മണിക്കൂറിലധികം നടത്തിയ തിരച്ചിലിനുശേഷമാണ്. പ്രദേശത്ത് നിലയുറപ്പിച്ച സൈനിക ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥർ പ്രദേശം സന്ദർശിച്ച് മൃതദേഹങ്ങൾ മോർച്ചറിയിലേക്കു കൊണ്ടുവന്നതായി മവന്തിരി പറഞ്ഞു.
Sources:azchavattomonline.com
world news
Islamic Extremists Kill Pastor, Christian Woman in Nigeria
Nigeria — A pastor and Christian businesswoman were killed in two separate attacks on Dec. 6 in Taraba state, Nigeria.
The first attack occurred at midnight in the Mayo Dasa area of Jalingo, the state capital. Reports from the Taraba State Police Command spokesperson, Abdullahi Usman, reveal that assailants entered the home of a young businesswoman and shot her to death. In a separate attack in the Jerbanbur area, a clergyman was murdered in his home.
Residents have expressed concerns regarding the attacks, and some have identified the attackers as Muslim extremists, with accusations pointing to more than 100 deaths of Christians since January. However, authorities have only categorized the attackers as unidentified gunmen.
The latest attacks reflect a broader trend of violence against Christians in Taraba and surrounding states. Notably, in November 2023, Oluwakemi Moses Konye, a pastor’s wife, was killed while traveling with her infant child. Such incidents, despite the presence of the military and police, highlight the ongoing security challenges that Christians face in Nigeria.
Advocates for Christian rights are calling for increased accountability and a more responsive approach from authorities regarding the plight of persecuted communities. Many believe that these targeted attacks indicate a concerning trend aimed at destabilizing Christian populations in Nigeria’s Northern and Central regions.
Sources:persecution
-
Travel7 months ago
യാക്കൂസ കരിഷ്മ:ഓല സ്കൂട്ടറിനേക്കാൾ വിലക്കുറവിൽ കുഞ്ഞൻ കാർ; സിറ്റി യാത്രകൾക്ക് ഇനി ഇവൻ മതിയാവും
-
Movie4 weeks ago
For KING + COUNTRY Stars’ Big Plan to Bring Message of Jesus, ‘Redemption of Humanity’ to People Across America
-
Tech5 months ago
ചിത്രങ്ങൾ എഡിറ്റ് ചെയ്യാം; വാട്സ്ആപ്പിലെ ‘നീല വളയം’ സ്മാർട്ടാകുന്നു, കാര്യമായ മാറ്റങ്ങൾ
-
Movie3 weeks ago
For KING + COUNTRY Stars’ Big Plan to Bring Message of Jesus, ‘Redemption of Humanity’ to People Across America
-
National10 months ago
300,000-Member Indian Church to Plant 40 More Megachurches
-
Movie9 months ago
Actor Ryan Phillippe ‘Craving’ Relationship With God After Movie About Christian Missionary
-
National10 months ago
നെയ്തേലിപ്പടി ക്രൂസേഡിന് അനുഗ്രഹീത സമാപ്തി
-
Movie12 months ago
Brazilian gospel singer Pedro Henrique dies of heart attack after collapsing on stage