Middle East Christian: 'Don't Pray for the Persecution to End'

Violent persecution at the hands of Islamic extremists is draining the Middle East of Christians. Nevertheless, one woman from the region says the Church shouldn't pray for the persecution to stop, but for Christians to stand strong.

Maryam remembers what it felt like to watch a Muslim man threaten to kill her father and permanently scar her and her sister with corrosive acid. Their crime? They were Christians.

"I will let you and your sister be orphans," she recalled the man saying as he blocked her father from entering his store.

After surviving the terrifying threat to her family's life, Maryam thought the situation would be resolved when her dad reported the incident to police. Unfortunately, her dream of justice violently collided with reality when her father was sentenced to six months in jail for reporting what happened.

Maryam, a false name given to her to protect her identity, knows thousands of Christians across the Middle East can identify with her story all too well.

China Lifts High the Cross (Right Off Dozens of Churches)

When a megachurch's walls came tumbling down in China's Jerusalem last month, the forced demolition drew widespread international attention thanks to photos circulating on Weibo, China's version of Twitter. Now, Weibo photos have documented how local authorities have continued their campaign this May to de-Christianize the skyline of wealthy Wenzhou, one of China's most Christian cities, and surrounding areas. 

The Latest in the reported " Three Rectifications and One Demolition " Campaign comes from thge city of Ningbo Where Famous missionary James Hudson Taylor once worked. Officials have ordered services to hold at the 1,000- member Xiaying Holy Love Megachurch, and demolition work has reportedly already begun after the church refused to tear down the large cross a top its 10 - Story Building 

Be a Vessel of Christ

“I will go in the strength of the Lord God; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.” (NKJV)Scripture: Psalm 71:16

As we navigate our way through this world, we need to remember that we are mere vessels. We are carrying precious cargo: the message of Christ to declare to a lost and dying world. Our mission is to proclaim his story, not our own story.

Only by the strength of Christ can we hope to live the Christian life in a credible way. The righteousness of God saves us and gives us right standing with God.

What does the Kingdom of God Looks Like?

Those who believe that every human is indwelt by God–and therefore, everyone is divine–love to quote (misquote) this passage. “The kingdom of God is in you.”

“Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the Kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, ‘The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is.’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst” (Luke 17:20-21).

The clear meaning of this teaching is that instead of God’s kingdom being something earthly, visible, and measurable, it’s spiritual and inner, thus invisible and immeasurable.

Dr. Ben Carson: Saving America's Future

Ben Carson in an Interview with CBN News, Anchor Efrem Graham about this, calls for him to run for the presidency and much more.

World-renowned neurosurgeon and New York Times bestselling author Dr. Ben Carson is one of the prominent leaders today taking a stand for the Christian faith and not backing down. Last year, he created a stir after a speech he gave at the National Prayer Breakfast criticized the president's policies. 

DISASTER RELIEF : Help for Florida Flood Victims

May 29, 2014, PENSACOLA, Fl., – When Marjorie woke to hear the sound of water sloshing as her dog paced the hallway, she knew something was terribly wrong.

Their home was quickly filling with flood water after unprecedented storms dumped roughly two feet of rain in a single day. Marjorie rushed to pull her young twins out of bed and get them to safety, but there was nothing she could do to save her belongings.

Miracle: Refugee's Family 'Raised from Dead'

The COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Nene Rwenyaguza, a permanent refugee living in Missouri, is a long way from home. He takes pride in his work and radiates unfathomable joy as he spends most days cleaning a local bank in downtown Columbia. Nene said the source of his joy is in knowing God has a plan, a statement he made in spite of a painful past filled with unimaginable loss.

  

A Rude Awakening

Nene's journey began in a country that has the unwelcome moniker of being home to one of humanity's deadliest conflicts since World War II: the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A husband and father to three young kids, Nene had big dreams for his family. But in 2002, that all changed during a deadly nighttime raid on his village.

Division in Nigeria on How to Save Kidnapped Girls

Nigeria's leaders reportedly can't agree on how to save those kidnapped schoolgirls.

The country's military chiefs say a rescue operation is too dangerous and would get many of the hostages killed.

                                             

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan is refusing to negotiate. He has turned down a demand from the terror group Boko Haram, which kidnapped the girls, that he release prisoners in exchange for them.

A community leader from the area where the girls were taken said the government is creating confusion by not speaking with one voice.

Now, Boko Haram is suspected in two more attacks that killed more than 54 in northern Nigeria Tuesday.

Why Persecution of Egypt's Christians Is Not Over?

Egypt's Christians are hoping they'll be better protected from violence when the country elects a new president next month. But that may be wishful thinking. CBN News Contributing Analyst Raymond Ibrahim says while attacks have subsided since the Muslim Brotherhood left power, persecution of the country's Christian minority is likely to continue. Longing for Harmony Islamic extremists often attack Egyptian churches during Christian holidays, but not this year.

                          

Easter services like the one led by Pope Tawadros at Cairo's Saint Mark's Cathedral proceeded without incident. Perhaps the tight security provided by police served as a deterrent to would

Death Sentence for Pregnant Christian Woman in Sudan Appealed; US Congress Calls for Her Release!

A pregnant Sudanese woman was sentenced to death for apostasy this month after she refused to renounce her Christian faith. She got some help from a local lawyer Thursday who filed an appeal of the controversial verdict, which has attracted international rebuke.

On Wednesday a bi-partisan group of members of the U.S. Congress also introduced a resolution condemning the sentence delivered to the 27-year-old Meriam Yahya Ibrahim by a court in Khartoum, Sudan on May 15, according to CNN.

                                      

The filing notes CNN asks the appeals court to reverse the sentence of the lower court and free Ibrahim, who was also, convicted her of adultery and sentenced to 100 lashes for marrying a Christian, Daniel Wani, who is a U.S. citizen.

Nigerian jailed 90 years in US for fathering six children with own daughters

An award-winning Nigerian music director, Aswad Ayinde, found guilty of fathering children with his daughters will spend the rest of his life in jail.

                                  

According to Mail Online, Ayinde, 55, of Paterson, New Jersey, United States, was sentenced to 50 years in prison on Friday after being found guilty in the second of five expected trials in which he is accused of repeatedly raping his six daughters, resulting in six children being fathered.

Do Christians Have Free Speech Rights to Preach That Homosexuality is a Sin? British Police Asked to Confirm

A Christian rights group in Great Britain has called on the chief of Scotland Yard to issue guidelines clarifying whether Christians have free speech rights, following the arrest of a street preacher in London earlier this month.

                                                                 

The Christian Legal Centre (CLC) has called on Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, to issue guidelines to his officers, clarifying that Christians are protected legally by free speech rights when quoting scripture relating to homosexuality being a sin.

Only 1 in 5 Americans Believe in Complete Evolution Without God - New Poll

A new poll indicates that only one in five Americans believe in evolution without the guidance of God, while a majority at 62 percent believe God played some role in human creation.

The results come from a recent YouGov poll, which was conducted among 1,000 participants in the U.S. from July 8 to 9 and questioned peoples' views on the origins of humans.

                                                    

The poll asked the question "Which of the following statements comes closest to your views on the origin of human beings," with 21 percent answering "Human beings evolved from less advanced life forms over millions of years, and God did not directly guide this process."

Health Alert! Secrets of the Processed Food Industry

When it comes to our health, processed food is public enemy number one. In order to win any battle, you must know your enemy.

                                        

Journalist Michael Moss went behind enemy lines. He learned the secrets the processed food industry uses to keep us hooked.

Most of us know that we should stay away from processed foods, and those sugary processed drinks, but they're just so hard to resist.

Former Archbishop Desmond Tutu Says He Would Choose Hell Over 'Homophobic' Heaven

Speaking recently at the United Nation's launch of its "Free & Equal" campaign to promote fair treatment of LGBT persons, former archbishop and South African anti-apartheid activist Desmond Tutu declared that the issue was so close to his heart that he "would refuse to go to a homophobic heaven" and instead choose "the other place."

                                              

The 1984 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former head of the South African Anglican Church and South African Council of Churches made the remarks last Friday, July 26, during the press event in his home country, where same-sex marriage is legal but where views remain antagonistic toward homosexuals.

Pope Francis 'I Will Not Judge' Priests for Sexual Orientation, Reaffirms Catholic Stance on Homosexuality, Women, Abortion and Sin

Pope Francis has spoken openly about the issue of homosexuality on Monday, saying that he would not judge priests for their sexual orientation.

"If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge him?" the pope said at an 80-minute news conference with reporters on his plane as he returned from his recent trip to Brazil.

                                      

The pope's remarks have been interpreted as a landmark act of conciliation, and although some media outlets have promoted his latest comments as a big shift in the

Nigerian Christians Urge US Dept. to Label Boko Haram as Terrorist Group

WASHINGTON – Organizations representing Nigerian Christians have called on the United States to officially recognize Boko Haram as a terrorist group at a press conference on Thursday in the nation's capital.  

Leaders from the Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans (CANAN) and the Christian Association of Nigeria made their case, sharing that they have tried to get the Islamic jihadist militant organization in Africa to be labeled a terrorist group by meeting with members of the U.S. Congress, drawing up petitions, and working with other organizations, including several American groups.

Divided Egypt Putting Christians in the Crosshairs

Protests and rallies are taking place in Egypt almost daily now, weeks after Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi was removed from office.

Morsi supporters have taken to the streets, demanding the Muslim Brotherhood leader be reinstated to the presidency.

                                  

"I'm saying to Major General Sissi, you betrayed us and carried out the coup. But God will punish you if you are not implementing his rules," Morsi supporter Mohammed Abdul Mageed said.

Rick Warren Returns to Pulpit after Son's Suicide

"Rick" Warren who is an American evangelical Christian pastor and author; 

LOS ANGELES - Nearly four months after his son's suicide, popular pastor Rick Warren has returned to the pulpit at the Southern California megachurch he founded.

   At services Saturday and Sunday, Warren took the stage at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., with wife, Kay Warren. They were greeted with standing ovations by their congregation.

   It was the first time Warren had taken the Saddleback pulpit since his 27-year-old son Matthew shot and killed himself April 5.

Can a nation be saved in a day?

Thousands of American missionaries joined with Latin American believers to prove this prophecy of the prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament. (Isaiah 66:8)

They targeted Honduras, one of the most violent nations in Central America. Their rallying cry: One nation, one day.

It started with a record-breaking team of 2,000 short-term missionaries that spread out around the country for a week-long gospel invasion unlike any seen before.

Welcome to Best Gospel Gist ***Latest online Update***

It takes believe to stand in this present world, to stand we are needed to believe in the unseen force

That drives us into places we are really wanting to be or in other words were we might not want to get to, we are set to get you news from allover the world about Christianity latest updates, sit back relax as we give you most recent updates of christian related news.

Pastor Indicted for Plotting To Poison Wife on Honduras Mission Trip

Local church members in Union City, Tennessee, may be standing behind their former pastor—even though he is accused of plotting to kill his wife while on a short-term missions trip.

Local news sources report that Eddie Mallonee, who served as pastor at Second Baptist Church for 15 years, has been indicted for conspiracy and attempt to commit first-degree murder.

Megachurch Restores Founding Pastor Removed for Adultery

Five years ago, "inappropriate sexual behavior" led Jim Bolin to resign from the Georgia megachurch he founded and led with his wife Robin, also a pastor, for 30 years.

Now Trinity Chapel Church of God in Powder Springs has re-installed Bolin as senior pastor,

Christian Music : The Moses of Soul

When 64-year-old soul singer Charles Bradley talks about releasing his debut record in 2011, he hearkens back to a conversation with his mother. "My mother always told me, 'Son, Do you believe in Moses?' And I said 'Yes I do.' 'Moses was an old man before he found who he truly was.' And now that's where my story is coming from."

                            

At age 13, Bradley's sister took him to see James Brown at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. His life's dream was changed forever. "[As a child,]

Bishop Jakes ready for TV Talk show

T.D. JAKES PRESENTS:

MIND, BODY, AND SOUL”

STARTS PRODUCTION IN ATLANTA

Actor/Rapper LL Cool J, Gospel Great Marvin Sapp and Sony Pictures Executive DeVon Franklin Are Among Inaugural Show Guest

June 12, 2013 – Atlanta, GA – Embarking on a new path as a talk show host, producer