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ICC report on religious persecution of Christians in China over the past year

International Christian Concern (ICC) has just published a new report on persecution in China. In it, ICC lists and analyzes over 100 incidents of Christian persecution between July 2020 and June 2021, a period marked by a significant campaign by the Chinese government to forcefully convert independent religious organizations into mechanisms of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
This forceful assimilation—also called Sinicization—has continued to intensify since it was introduced as part of the Four Requirements campaign launched in 2018. Since then, the government has only increased its attempts to use the Church for political purposes. It has gone as far as converting church buildings into propaganda centers and even regulating the content of sermons in order to promote communist party values.
Three-Self churches are part of the legal framework the CCP uses to systemically curb Christianity, including Catholicism. If a church is not registered as a state-sanctioned church, it is violating the law and the CCP can step in at any time to shut it down, prosecute individuals, and put enormous social pressure on attendees. As described in last year’s report, registered churches are at the mercy of laws that were passed entirely in contradiction to the constitution and enforced by multiple departments, bureaus, and agencies using them to suppress house church activity.
A significant trend throughout the past year was church raids. In them, not only were churches shut down or demolished, but pastors and church attendees were often arrested. One example of a church raid was in September 2020, in Sichuan province, when China’s Public Security Bureau of Nanbu deployed over 30 police officers to raid an underground Protestant house church, known as Sola Fide. When police arrived on the scene, they arrested 50 Sola Fide members. Throughout this process, the police tore down crosses and other Christian symbols and destroyed hymnals and Bibles.
With the intensified crackdown against churches, both state-vetted and underground, there is no longer a safe place to be a Christian in China. Almost every province in China has seen an increase in Christian persecution over the last year.
The Religious Affairs Bureau and the CCP have a single goal: to prevent religious influence from threatening their communist control.
Gina Goh, ICC’s Regional Manager for Southeast Asia, said, “China tightening down on people of faith comes as no surprise to observers. What is concerning is the depth and width of persecution and that it continues to expand. From Xinjiang to Sichuan, from state-sanctioned groups to underground churches, from verbal threats to imprisonment, believers in China are constantly watched and persecuted, as documented in ICC’s latest incident report. The international community should not appease Beijing and let it get away with its blatant disregard for human rights.”
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Church mourns pastor, wife who died trying to save son from drowning at the beach

A Brazilian church is mourning the loss of a pastor and his wife, who died attempting to save their teenage son from drowning at the beach.
Felisberto Sampaio, 43, and his wife, Inalda Sampaio, 42, saw their 13-year-old son, Ian Sampaio, struggling in the water at Camacari Beach in Brazil on Jan. 10. The couple entered the ocean to rescue the boy, but they failed to reach him.
As Brazilian news outlet Universo Online reported, the incident occurred around 10 a.m., citing the Civil Police, who reported that the boy was rescued by a fisherman and another family member while his parents were not pulled from the water in time.
The Fire Department confirmed to UOL that the two victims were removed from the water. The department attempted to revive them, eventually declaring the couple dead at the scene.
The Sampaio family was from the city of Campina Grande in Brazil, and the father had been a pastor for 12 years at the Assembly of God Church in Quixaba, Paraíba, according to The Daily Mail. The family was spending a couple of days in the Paraíba city of Lucena.
Members of the church mourned the couple’s death, as well as Leonardo Meneses, a pastor at a church that the family had frequently attended.
“I know that the circumstances are painful and difficult for us to understand. Only eternity will explain all the mysteries of life,” Meneses said
The couple’s oldest son, Issac Sampaio, told TV Borborema on Jan. 11 that he planned to visit his parents before their tragic deaths. The eldest child said he last saw his parents on Jan. 8.
“The thing that goes through people’s minds is that it’s a lie,” he said.
Sources:Christian Post
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NAMB church planter Clint Clifton dies in plane crash: ‘His passion for the kingdom was always on display’

Clint Clifton, a church planter with the North American Mission Board, tragically died in a plane crash in Georgia on Thursday at the age of 43, sparking an outpouring of grief from the church planting community.
In an email sent to NAMB and Send Network staff and missionaries, NAMB President Kevin Ezel revealed Clifton died in a small plane crash in north Georgia on Thursday evening. Clifton was the only person in the plane and was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, according to the Dawson County News.
“God generously gifted Clint in so many ways. He had a pastor’s heart and was a talented church planter with a passion for reaching people for Christ. He loved what we do here at NAMB and poured his heart and life into it. We miss him already and he leaves a void that can’t be filled,” Ezel wrote.
“As we pray for and encourage Clint’s family and closest friends, let’s all take care of each other as we walk through the grief and shock of this moment. Nothing can prepare you for news like this, but we have a Savior who will carry us and sustain us in the days ahead.”
According to Dawson County News, the crash occurred Thursday evening but was not reported until Friday morning. Clifton was reportedly in his personal plane when the accident occurred.
Clifton and his wife, Jennifer, had been married since 2000 and had five children: Noah, Ruthe, Isaiah, Betchina and Moses. Clifton hosted the New Churches podcast and served in numerous ministry positions throughout the Southeast prior to planting Pillar Church in Dumfries, Virginia, where he served as an elder, according to Baptist Press.
In a letter sent to the members of Pillar Church, Colby Garman, teaching pastor of Pillar Church, said the news of Clifton’s death comes as a “tidal wave of sorrow” to both the church and his family.
“There are not adequate words to express the feeling of loss that they have experienced. In addition to being a great pastor he was a better husband and father,” he said.
“We share in the sorrow and loss with them not only because in Christ we have been made family together but also because of the powerful and practical impact Clint’s life has had on all of us. He was a special person that we are going to miss so deeply. It is impossible to imagine Pillar Church without his unique passion and joyful presence.”
In a social media post on Friday night, pastor and author David Platt mourned Clifton’s passing.
“Words can’t express the respect I have for Clint as a husband, dad, church planter, & friend. I’m stunned & really sad. And I really long for the day when news like this is no more,” he wrote. “Please pray for Clint’s amazing wife, Jennifer, & their incredible kids.”
Trevin Wax, NAMB vice president for research and resource development, said his team was “stunned” by the loss.
“Clint was a gifted leader who loved pouring his life into mentoring and resourcing church planters. His passion for the kingdom was always on display, and he devoted ceaseless energies into seeing pastors strengthened and equipped for mission.”
In a recent Instagram post, Clifton revealed he was gearing up for the release of a new book titled How to Start a Residency, which he said answers nine practical questions about turning everyday members into ministry leaders.”
In a 2014 interview with The Christian Post, Clifton shared his passion for bringing the Gospel to underserved communities and areas resistant to the Good News.
“The truth is, lost people don’t see a need for new churches so the communities are always resistant to churches, especially churches that are clear on the Gospel,” said Clifton. “It’s an uphill battle planting churches in a city that doesn’t see a use for them. The challenges are numerous, the city is expensive, the culture is diverse but Jesus saves. His Gospel is powerful and will grow wherever it’s planted.”
In his email, Garman reminded Pillar Church members that as believers, they “do not sorrow as those without hope.”
“As you process this news I would encourage you to bring your sorrows to the Lord and share the burden with one another,” he wrote. Share stories together of Clint’s impact on your life, give fresh consideration to the purpose God has given each of your lives, and endeavor to make the most of the moments God has given us to walk together.”
Sources:Christian Post
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അമേരിക്കയില് സാത്താന് ആരാധക സമ്മേളനത്തിന് പദ്ധതിയുമായി സാത്താനിക് ടെംപിള്

ബോസ്റ്റണ്: പൈശാചിക പ്രവര്ത്തികള്ക്കെതിരെയുള്ള പ്രതിഷേധത്തിനിടെ ചരിത്രത്തിലെ ഏറ്റവും വലിയ സാത്താന് ആരാധകരുടെ സമ്മേളനം നടത്തുമെന്ന് അമേരിക്കയിലെ സാത്താനിക് ടെംപിളിന്റെ പ്രഖ്യാപനം. തങ്ങളുടെ വെബ്സൈറ്റിലൂടെയാണ് സാത്താന് ആരാധകര് ഈ പ്രഖ്യാപനം നടത്തിയിരിക്കുന്നത്. ഏപ്രില് 28 മുതല് 30 വരെ മസാച്ചുസെറ്റ്സിലെ ബോസ്റ്റണില് ‘സാത്താന്കോണ് 2023’ സംഘടിപ്പിക്കുമെന്നാണ് ഇവരുടെ പ്രഖ്യാപനം. ‘ഹെക്സെന്നാഷ്ട് ഇന് ബോസ്റ്റണ്’ (ബോസ്റ്റണിലെ ദുര്മന്ത്രവാദികളുടെ രാത്രി) എന്നതാണ് കോണ്ഫറന്സിന്റെ പ്രമേയം. രോഗികളില് നിന്നും ദുരാത്മാക്കളെ ഒഴിവാക്കുന്നതില് പ്രസിദ്ധയായ ജര്മ്മനിയിലെ വാല്ബുര്ഗ വിശുദ്ധയായി പ്രഖ്യാപിക്കപ്പെട്ടതിന്റെ വാര്ഷികമാണ് മെയ് 1. ഇതിന്റെ തൊട്ടുതലേന്നാള് വരെ പൈശാചികമായ കൂട്ടായ്മ നടത്താനാണ് ഇവരുടെ പദ്ധതി.
ഈ മാസം ആദ്യം ‘സാത്താന്കോണ് 2023’യുടെ പരസ്യം ഇന്സ്റ്റാഗ്രാമിലും പ്രത്യക്ഷപ്പെട്ടിരുന്നു. സംഘടനയുടെ പത്താമത് വാര്ഷികത്തോട് അനുബന്ധിച്ച് നടക്കുന്ന ഈ കോണ്ഫറന്സ് സാത്താന് ആരാധകരുടെ ചരിത്രത്തിലെ ഏറ്റവും വലിയ കോണ്ഫറന്സായിരിക്കുമെന്നും, കോണ്ഫറന്സിന്റെ ഭാഗമായി സാത്താന് ആരാധനയും, സാത്താനിക ചര്ച്ചകളും, സാത്താനിക മാര്ക്കറ്റും ഉണ്ടായിരിക്കുമെന്നും പരസ്യത്തില് പറയുന്നു. ഇതിന്റെ ഭാഗമായി പുറത്തുവിട്ട വീഡിയോയില് “സിക്കുട്ട് മാട്രിബസ് സിറ്റ് സാത്താന നോബിസ്” (സാത്താന് നമുക്ക് അമ്മയേപ്പോലെ ആകട്ടെ) എന്ന പരസ്യവാചകമാണ് ഉപയോഗിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത്.
നേരത്തെ ‘ക്രിസ്ത്യന് സംഘടനയെ പതാക ഉയര്ത്തുന്നതിന് വിലക്ക് ഏര്പ്പെടുത്തിയ ബോസ്റ്റൺ നഗരസഭയുടെ നടപടി റദ്ദ് ചെയ്ത അമേരിക്കന് സുപ്രീം കോടതിവിധിയെത്തുടര്ന്ന് ബോസ്റ്റണ് സിറ്റി ഹാളില് തങ്ങളുടെ പതാക ഉയര്ത്തുവാന് അനുവാദം നല്കണമെന്ന് ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടുകൊണ്ട് സാത്താന് ആരാധകര് അപേക്ഷ സമര്പ്പിച്ചിരുന്നു. എന്നാല് ബോസ്റ്റണ് സിറ്റി ഇത് തള്ളി. ഇതിന്റെ കൂടെ വെളിച്ചത്തിലാണ് പൈശാചിക സമ്മേളനം നടക്കുക. സ്കൂള് വിദ്യാര്ത്ഥികളില് സാത്താനിക വിഷം കുത്തിവെക്കുക എന്ന ലക്ഷ്യത്തോടെ നടപ്പിലാക്കിയ ആഫ്റ്റര് സ്കൂള് പരിപാടികള്ക്കും, ആഫ്റ്റര് സ്കൂള് സാത്താന് ക്ലബ്ബിനുമെതിരെ കടുത്ത വിമര്ശനം ഉയര്ന്നിരിന്നു. ഇതിനിടെയാണ് പൈശാചിക സമ്മേളനവും ഒരുങ്ങുക. വരും നാളുകളില് ഇതിനെതിരെ വ്യാപക പ്രതിഷേധം ഉയരുമെന്നാണ് നിരീക്ഷിക്കപ്പെടുന്നത്.
കടപ്പാട് :പ്രവാചക ശബ്ദം
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