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Syrian refugees long for happier Ramadan

ZAATARI REFUGEE CAMP, Jordan (BP) -- For many who escaped from the violent civil war in Syria, this is their fifth Ramadan in a foreign country. Families in the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan are going through a challenging time as they recall happier Ramadan holidays in Syria. Ramadan, which ends today (July 17), is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. This season is often known for family gatherings when Muslims will prepare a table with abundant food and celebrate together as the sun sets. However, the civil war has taken away those happy moments for these Syrian refugees. Ahmad,* a 60-year-old Syrian man, misses the days when his family was together. He said with tears, "I was able to escape from Syria, but my daughter's family is still there." The civil war took away not only the joy of family celebrations, but also their cozy and secure homes. Seven years ago, Abu Badr* built a large house in his hometown with the money he made from more than a decade of hard work in Africa. But he had to flee Syria with empty hands when the civil war broke out, and now he lives in the dusty, windy conditions of Zaatari. The desert sun is merciless on the refugee tents in the … [Read more...]

Religious freedom ‘under attack,’ Judge Roy Moore warns as God’s ‘natural order’ overturned

By Michael Foust, Christian Examiner MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- America is undergoing a sexual revolution that is defying "God's natural order" and will leave young children confused about whether they should be a boy or a girl, Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore warned members of a Baptist church in his state this week. Moore made the comments at Magnolia Springs Baptist Church in Theodore, Ala., a day after speaking to members of the Fresh Anointing House of Worship in Montgomery. Christians may be upset over the Supreme Court's controversial decision, but the primary "issue is not about same-sex marriage," he said, according to Al.com. "It's about a sexual revolution. It's about having people decide whether they are male or female," Moore said, speaking the same week that Bruce Jenner, now known as Caitlyn Jenner, received the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the ESPY's. "You're talking about overturning God's natural order." Moore expressed concern over what happens "when you start teaching kids that they have the right to choose whether they are male or female." "They don't know much. [But] they may learn fast," Moore said. "And when they get in their mind they can be a man if they're a girl or a woman if they are a … [Read more...]

Iran deal: persecuted church ‘left behind’

VIENNA (BP) - The nuclear deal struck by Iran and six world powers led by the United States has drawn criticism from evangelicals for its potential ill effects on Israel and persecuted Christians in the Persian nation. The American Center for Law and Justice lamented that the deal, which was announced today (July 14) in Vienna following 20 months of negotiations, apparently does not include the release of American pastor Saeed Abedini from an Iranian prison. Johnny Hunt, a former Southern Baptist Convention president who has led First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Ga., to do extensive mission work in Iran, said the Obama administration's willingness to negotiate with Iranian leaders likely encourages the regime to continue persecuting Christians and threatening Israel. "I fear for Israel and other Middle Eastern countries in light of Iran's hatred of Israel along with their many threats," Hunt told Baptist Press in written comments. "I find it so difficult for us as a nation to trust nations that are publicly known for their religious persecution. The lack of accountability of Iran in light of all their inconsistencies with the United Nations leads me to believe that [America's diplomatic engagement with Iran poses] an … [Read more...]

Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals rules against GuideStone in HHS mandate litigation

By Roy Hayhurst, GuideStone Financial Resources DALLAS — The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver ruled today that GuideStone Financial Resources and the ministries it serves in its health plans must comply with the government’s HHS mandate, which forces religious ministries to violate their faith or pay crippling IRS penalties. Churches and their integrated auxiliaries are exempt from the mandate as religious employers. GuideStone, its co-plaintiffs Reaching Souls International and Truett-McConnell College, and attorneys from the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and Locke Lord LLP are studying the opinion to determine next steps, including possible appeals to the full Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals or to the U.S. Supreme Court. “We’re disappointed with today’s decision, which leaves in place the federal government’s aggressive, discriminatory, and unnecessary attack on the core religious beliefs of private religious ministries,” said Mark Rienzi, senior counsel of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and lead attorney in the GuideStone litigation. “The government does not need to take over a church benefits plan to provide abortion-inducing drugs — the most powerful government in the world can obviously distribute … [Read more...]

Planned Parenthood Federation of America accused of selling aborted fetal parts

By Diana Chandler, Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) - A woman identified as a Planned Parenthood executive is shown in an undercover video released July 14 negotiating the sale of baby parts gained through partial birth abortions performed at Planned Parenthood facilities. The nonprofit medical watchdog group Center for Medical Progress (CMP) released the video showing a woman identified as Deborah Nucatola, Planned Parenthood Federation of America senior director of medical services, discussing the PPFA fetal parts business with an undercover investigator posing as a potential buyer at a July 25, 2014, lunch meeting. After the video surfaced, Planned Parenthood defended the action of donating such body parts, but said no monetary benefits are gained, other than the reimbursement of costs incurred in the delivery of the body parts. “In health care, patients sometimes want to donate tissue to scientific research that can help lead to medical breakthroughs, such as treatments and cures for serious diseases. Women at Planned Parenthood who have abortions are no different,” Eric Ferrero, Planned Parenthood’s vice president of communications, said in a press release posted on the PPFA website. “At several of our health centers, … [Read more...]

Iran grants imprisoned pastor Fathi early release

By Diana Chandler, Baptist Press KARAJ, Iran (BP) -- Pastor Farshid Fathi, imprisoned in Iran for his faith since 2010, has been granted a Dec. 10 release from the notoriously brutal Rajai Shahr prison, two years earlier than expected, Elam Ministries has announced. Ann Buwalda, a board member of the Iranian-led ministry that engages in evangelism and discipleship in the Mideast nation, called the early release "positive news which has greatly encouraged Farshid and his family. We join them in praising God for this development and for those who have made it possible." The reason for the early release was not given, but Fathi was informed July 4 of his new release date, and the news was revealed to the public two days later, Elam Ministries reported. Fathi had been imprisoned since his arrest the day after Christmas 2010 at his home in Tehran and was originally taken to Evin prison. In a February 2012 trial, he was convicted of "action against the national security," accused of "cooperating with foreign organizations and evangelism," Elam Ministries said. His original sentence of six years was extended by a year in December 2014 on false charges. He had been injured in an attack by Evin prison guards on April 17, … [Read more...]

Christian colleges divided on response to SCOTUS

By David Roach, Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) -- Though some Christian colleges and universities are extending benefits to employees' same-sex spouses in the wake of the Supreme Court's nationwide legalization of gay marriage, the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities says it sees no legal reason for institutions of higher education to do so. Meanwhile, the Weekly Standard reported that Senate Democrats are divided on whether religious schools that oppose gay marriage could lose their tax-exempt status. Shapri LoMaglio, the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities' vice president for government and external relations, told Baptist Press Christian colleges and universities are not obligated by the Supreme Court's June 26 ruling to adapt employment, admissions or other policies to recognize same-sex marriage. CCCU is an association of "181 intentionally Christ-centered institutions around the world," according to the group's website. "The court's affirmation of the First Amendment ensures that institutions will be able to maintain policies consistent with their religious convictions," LoMaglio said in email comments. "The new legal status of national same-sex marriage paired with the First Amendment … [Read more...]

Pastor wants more churches to fly Christian flag above the American flag

By K. Allan Blume, Biblical-Recorder SHELBY, N.C. (BP) - North Carolina pastor Rit Varriale wants to see churches fly the Christian flag above the American flag as a biblical statement, reversing flag etiquette that calls for the American flag to be flown in the prominent position. Varriale, as senior pastor of Elizabeth Baptist Church in Shelby, N.C., said the church installed its first-ever flagpole in order to raise the two flags in a special ceremony after morning worship on Sunday (July 5) in which the Christian flag was raised in the higher position -- which prompted interviews by Charlotte-area NBC, CBS and Fox affiliates. "If you stop and think about it, [flag etiquette] is inconsistent with what the Bible teaches us," Varriale said. "We are first and foremost Christians who are called to serve the living God." Varriale said the national motto of the United States, "In God we trust," signed into law in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, acknowledges there is a Divine Being who is the greatest authority and to whom each person is accountable. "Before our accountability to government is our accountability to God," the pastor said. "So from a Christian perspective, our flag etiquette is completely … [Read more...]

Two churches burned after Nigeria mosque bombing

By Staff, Morning Star News JOS, Nigeria (BP) - The bombing of a mosque by the terrorist group Boko Haram sparked destruction at two churches in Jos, a major city in Nigeria’s north-central state of Plateau. The churches were attacked the night of July 5 amid a week of violence attributed to Boko Haram in which as many as 300 people were killed, both Muslims and Christians. The terrorist group’s stated aim is to impose sharia (Islamic law) throughout the country. An initial bomb was detonated at a shopping complex near the University of Jos while the second blast targeted the Yan Taya Mosque just minutes later, according to a report from a pastor in Jos relayed to Baptist Press. The explosion at the mosque, according to the information received from the pastor in Jos, has been widely seen as direct retaliation against Sheikh Sani Yahaya, who has encouraged Muslims to coexist peacefully with those who hold other religious beliefs. Subsequently, a crowd of Muslims attacked St. Michael's Parish of the First African Church Mission and, near the mosque, the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Good News Church. The attacks on the church buildings occurred at about 11 p.m. Isaiah Oluwagbayibi, pastor at St. Michael's, … [Read more...]

Cooperative Program 1.5 percent above projection at Fiscal Year three-quarter mark

By Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) - Year-to-date contributions to Southern Baptist national and international missions and ministries received by the SBC Executive Committee are 1.45 percent above the year-to-date SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget projection, and 1.24 percent above contributions received during the same time frame last year, according to a news release from SBC Executive Committee President Frank S. Page. The year-to-date total represents money received by the Executive Committee by the close of the last business day of June and includes receipts from state conventions, churches and individuals for distribution according to the 2014-15 SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget. The $143,051,247.48 received by the Executive Committee for the first nine months of the fiscal year, Oct. 1 through June 30, for distribution through the Cooperative Program Allocation Budget represents 101.45 percent of the $141,000,000.00 year-to-date budgeted projection to support Southern Baptist ministries globally and across North America. The total is $1,752,801.88 or 1.24 percent more than the $141,298,445.60 received through the end of June 2014. The Cooperative Program is Southern Baptists’ channel of giving … [Read more...]