Urgent Prayers Needed for Our Iranian Brethren

Greetings in the name of Jesus, Head of the Church. Our dear friend who currently heads the Middle East Outreach yesterday sent a mail requesting for urgent prayers for our Iranian brethren. The prayers point is as result of three incidents.

First, three believers from a Muslim background (BMBs) in Shiraz have beenformally convicted. They were arrested in May 2008 and a series of six courthearings has concluded with their conviction on charges of anti-governmentactivity. They were given eight-month suspended jail sentences and were ordered not to engage in any Christian activities or to contact each other.

They were informed that if these conditions are broken then they will be jailed and tried again as apostates (i.e. for having left Islam).

Second, on 4th February three BMBs were reportedly arrested in the town of Isfahan. Two believers had been engaged in evangelism through the Internet.

They, together with the sister of one, were befriended by someone claiming to be a pastor who invited them to his "house church". However, this was a trap and when they arrived they were assaulted, arrested, blindfolded and taken into custody. The next day police officers searched the home of the brother and sister and confiscated computer equipment. The sister was released after a week when the authorities realised that she had not been

involved in evangelism. The whereabouts of our two brothers is unknown.

Third, a court order has been issued to close an Assyrian church in Shahrara. The church has held Farsi languages services for the past eight years and has welcome BMBs to attend. An Assyrian member of parliament has publicly criticised the church's leaders for allowing non-Assyrians to attend.

Christians supporting these believers request our prayers that:

a. Our three brothers in Shiraz will know the Lord's peace and presence at this time, and know the Spirit's guidance in responding to the restrictions imposed on them.

b. Our two brothers in Isfahan will know the peace and presence of Jesus,and will be released soon.

c. Our sister in Isfahan will fully recover from the ordeal of her detention.

d. The leaders of the Assyrian Church in Shahrara will know the Lord's enabling and empowering at this time.

e. The court order will be rescinded and the church remain a place of regular worship.

f. All officials involved in all three incidents will act with mercy and justice, and respond positively to the true message of Jesus.

g. All those who wish to participate in Christian worship across Iran will be able to do so freely.

Amazing Opendoors at Bhutan

Great opportunities have arisen in Bhutan recently, creating the need for 500
Christian teachers.

Bhutan became a democracy in 2006, and in 2008 created a new constitution that
recognizes religious freedom. Therefore, Christians are allowed to worship in
their homes in Bhutan, but some Christians still feel some pressure because of
their faith and choose to worship in secret. The number of Christians in the
country remains under one percent, and evangelism is forbidden.

With this in mind, it may be surprising to hear that the Education Minister of
Bhutan has called on Bibles for the World to provide teachers for the country.

While Bibles for the World founders Ro and Mawii Pudaite visited Bhutan with a
few others, they were able to meet with several extremely well-respected people.
They were first invited to meet with the Education Secretary, followed by a
meeting with Bhutan's newly-elected Prime Minister, Jigme Thinley. Since Bibles
for the World has not worked directly in Bhutan before, they answered questions
and discussed their ministry.

Soon after, the Pudaites met the king of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK,
and attended his birthday celebration with several dignitaries and members of
the king's family. They later met at the residence of the Education Minister of
the country since the offices were closed in honor of the king's birthday.

"The Education Minister asked if we could provide at least 500 teachers for
Bhutan, specifically to teach English, mathematics and science," says Mawii
Pudaite. "We would like to send as many as we can--well-seasoned men and women
who will live out their faith."

After such an experience, Pudaite has no doubt that the Lord is to thank for
this opportunity.

"As we got ready to depart from Bhutan, our little group gathered together. All
we could say was, `It is the Lord.' None could have imagined or worked out what
transpired during our short visit to Bhutan--a country and people we have prayed
for. To God be the glory! I must say, we left our hearts in Bhutan."

The Lord has opened doors widely for this organization; now people are needed to
respond to the call. "If you are qualified and interested in teaching any of
these subjects [English, mathematics or science] in the schools in Bhutan,
please let us know," says Pudaite. They are looking for qualified teachers who
will simply live out their faith in a different land.

Divine Health By Design II - By Lucy Abah

Our body is given to us by God to care for. God’s desire is for this body to be healthy. To attain this sound health, we must be careful with what we eat. Since the devil is out to oppose God’s pleasure for our lives, he presents those food that are harmful to our body as very attractive. This piece is a warning to be careful with what we eat. It is a continuation of the article in our last edition of health Issues titled: Food or Fooled?

Unfortunately most flour in the stores/market has been processed and all nutrients removed. This then is used to make foods like meat pies, cakes, pizza, hotdog etc. These are referred to as junk foods. They are generally prepared with unhealthy white flour, saturated fat and white sugar. They should be avoided from a health standpoint. The more they are eaten the more they cause diseases like diabetics, cancer, caries (dental), cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc. Use of baking powder is also harmful to the body. Natural yeast is preferable. Please eat whole flour meals brown bread and brown pasta not white refined flour.

FRIED FOODS
Fried meals are the tastiest of all. When I was young, I really enjoyed meals like fried yam, chips and fried meat and fish. The tomatoes of the stew were often well fried with no tomatoes juice to make it taste sour. All these looked so “good” then. With experience, I have realized that fried foods are dangerous to our health. The smoke from the frying causes cancer just like cigarette and frying food destroys the nutrients. And certain ones form toxic substances which are carcinogenic and promote the development of malignant tumors. Tumors like breast cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, etc can be noticed especially in women. Foods should rather be boiled or steamed instead of being fried for consumption.

MILK
Undoubtedly, milk is one of the most complete single foods. The human milk which God provided for the human species is the richest in monoun saturated fatty acids similar to those found in nuts and seeds. These fatty acids are necessary for the development of the human brain. When we talk of milk, people think more about the cow milk. It is widely believed that cow milk also contains nutrient that helps in growth. People take it a lot but studies have shown that unlike human milk, the several diseases occur as a result of milk intake. Examples of such diseases are arteries, lymphoma, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer and coronary diseases. Saturated fats in cow milk foster cholesterol production in the body.

If you must take milk at all, you are advised to take non-fat milk. The protein in milk called casein increases the cholesterol level, constipation and diarrhea. Milk causes digestive disorders in many adults. Patients that have undergone stomach surgery, experiences what is known as dumping syndrome some 15-30 minutes after milk intake. It causes nausea, dizziness, cramps, etc. These symptoms will disappear when you avoid milk and sweetened foods. Also, many livestock keeper injects Bovine Somatotropin (a hormone for increase in milk production). It has negative effect in human health because part of it is found in the milk is a very good alternative to animal milk.

SOFT DRINKS
These are carbonated drinks with no nutritional value. They are made from sugar and other unnatural ingredients which are harmful to the body. They consist of carbon dioxide which God has ordained man to breathe out, acids which are harmful to the blood, etc. Fruit flavoured drinks has so much of additives like preservatives, coloring, flavoring, etc. We have caffeine in cola drinks. Diet/light drinks contain aspartame which is synthetic sweeteners. All these are harmful to the body. You are advice to desist from taking them because they destroy God's temple your body given to you to care for. They weaken the immune system and eventually lead to untimely death. They don't kill you in one day. They are like drops of water that form an ocean, which drowns a man.

RAW FOODS
As I write this piece , what comes to my mind is exotic breed birds we popularly refer to as 'agric' and local chicken. If we are familiar with these two species of birds, it will serve as good illustration. The 'agric' birds are fed on growth hormone for few months and are ready for food. Some broilers take 10-12weeks to be ready. They are prone to diseases, (epidemic) bird flu and dirty. Hundreds of them can die in one day leaving their owners heart broken.

The layers lay eggs that are twice the size of the natural organic eggs. It is so because of the hormones they are fed on and therefore are big for nothing. This type of chicken cannot endure stress and for any reason if they have to run they just take two or three steps and lay on the ground. The local chicken is not so. It feeds on organic raw foods. It does not get sick easily. Not bothered by bird flu, endure stress, can run and ready for food in about 2years i.e. 96weeks as compared to just 12weeks.

This is the situation with man who feeds on raw foods (either fruits or vegetables) and those who feed on cooked and fried junks foods. These days we have so many 'agric chicken' children in the entire globe. They cannot think properly. They cannot go through the stress of studying and sitting for examination. Certificates are bought for them by their parents. What a shame! They behave and grow like 'agric chickens' and we are so proud of them. A girl of 8-9years of age has grown breasts. The fault is not theirs but the parents who will not feed them with the right kinds of food - the proper diet that will develop them and keep them alert. Thank God that the medical scientists have come to realize that God have put all essential nutrient in the mothers breast milk for the babies mental and physical development.

It is true that we are brought up to eat cooked fried foods but we can allow ourselves to be “born again” in our diets. We are born into sin but we will not remain sinners the moment we realize it. We seek for Gods forgiveness and change our ways.

Dan 1:8, 16-20 “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.
And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. (KJV)

One of the wonders of God is embedded in raw vegetables and fruits. All raw food contains three elements namely: natural distilled or pure water, roughages or fiber and nutrients. The body of man is 70% water and raw fruits and vegetables contain the purest water for man's use. Roughages or fiber is necessary to keep the colon clean and function properly. It is liken to broom or brush. Lack of it causes constipation. Nutrients are the smallest element present in raw fruits/vegetables but when received raw into the body provide all we need to be properly nourished.

At a point my daughter was always complaining of fever. One day I decided to flush her bowel using ENEMA method. I mixed warm water and raw lemon juice together which I used in flushing her bowel. I gave her a bowl of vegetable salad with no salad cream, egg, mayonnaise or baked beans. She woke up the next day okay and since then she has not complained about fever. Part of our meals in the house is raw fruits /vegetables. Eating vegetables salad has become a time of joy on our table now than when we first started. Initially it was not fun for my family but I persisted. Our best soup was okro. I insisted on the half cooked vegetable soups made up of all kinds of vegetables like bitter leaf, water leaf, sweet potato leaf, spinach and moringa. I discovered children generally do not like it but they must be taught. At times I mix some of the vegetable especially leaves blend with water melon, sweet melon (to sweetened), sieve and the family drinks.

Dr. George Malkmus book “GOD'S WAY TO ULTIMATE HEALTH” emphasized so much on the need to eat raw fruits and vegetable. God has arranged it in such a way that at each season of the year, we have different types of fruit such as mangoes, guavas, oranges, pineapple, grapes, water melon, sweet melon, lemon, etc. There will always be one of these fruit in season at each point in time.

When I decided to go into my first two-month of eating only fruits and vegetable, my husband tried to persuade me not to because I was weak and frail to do that. I told him that 'by two months time I will be the healthiest person in the house'. When I did a medical check- in South Africa including test of my blood, the Doctor exclaimed: “your blood is beautiful” . It worked for me. I am a living testimony.

Sometimes ago, I traveled to visit my dad and he was complaining about the BP drugs he was using and that he was tired of taking the drugs. He had problem sleeping at night. Most times, he will not be able to sleep until around 11pm and will wake up between 1-2am with a terrible headache. I stressed the need for him to dwell more on fruits and vegetables. He accepted. Two weeks later he called me to say that he sleeps by 9pm and wake up by 5:00am and his BP has gone down. Since then his diet is dominated by fruits and vegetables.

AGEING AND MENOPAUSE
Some of us are trying so hard to remove wrinkles from our faces. You do not need cream to do that. You only need change of diet. Everywhere I go people say I am looking younger instead of older. “I simply say it is the glory of God”. Raw fruits and vegetables rejuvenate the body cells. They contain a lot of vitamin E.

Menopause was never a problem in the life of woman of the Bible, not even their menstrual cycle. But today the story is different. What went wrong? Young women complain of pre-menstrual syndrome or menstrual pain as it is popularly known. While the older women complain of various ailments at menopause ranging from, hot flush, arthritis, depression, headaches, high blood pressure, etc. As a young lady I dreaded my menstrual period. My prayer always was “God please let this cup pass over me”.

Before I started having my babies I will vomit, roll on the bed in pains. I was rushed to the hospital on several occasions by my parents only to be told by doctors that it is nothing serious. I was being given pain killer drugs. When I started having my babies the pain reduced. A friend told me of the pain on waist and breast due to menstrual period. I simply told her to take more of raw fruits and vegetables in her diet, it worked like magic. She called the day her next period came that “I cannot believe I am in my period without pain and the usual nagging. God is indeed interested in our diet”.


The Healing Power of Laughter

One of the greatest stress relievers God has given us is laughter. It not only makes us feel better, but it actually releases healing throughout our system. When we laugh, it restores and rejuvenates what the pressures of life have taken out.

Proverbs 17:22 puts it like this, "A happy heart is like a good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing." Notice, when we're good-natured and full of joy, taking time to laugh and play, it's like taking a good medicine. That's what helps us to stay healthy. People that laugh regularly are 40% less likely to have a heart attack than people that don't laugh regularly. Laughter triggers the right side of the brain, which helps release creativity and helps us to make better decisions.

There is too much sickness in our world today. Much of it is related to sadness. It's directly related to the fact that we don't smile enough. We live uptight and stressed out.

But even during trials and hard times, God says to us, "I've got a solution. In difficulties, cheer up. In famine, laugh. Keep your joy." You can laugh your way to victory, to better health and to more energy.

God knows the end of the story. He knows the final outcome. The good news is you and I win. God always causes us to triumph. We should have a spring in our step, a smile on our face, joy in our hearts and unshakeable faith. God's plan for our lives is for good and He has the answer to our every question. Knowing this, we can laugh at the days ahead!

The Jos Genocide By Andrew Abah

While Jesus was responding to His disciples’ question on the signs of the end time, one of the hints He gave them was that they will be hated for His name’s sake. A All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. (Matt 24:8-9). Even before then, he had prepared them for this hatred as every book of the gospel stress so much on it.

For example, in Matthew 10:22 He said “ And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved”. In Luke 21:17-18, He said “And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost” and in Mark 13:13 Jesus disclosed “ And you will be hated by all men for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved”.

These passages became so real in the last few days as Christians’ homes were recently invaded, 40 churches were burnt down and over 500 persons were killed. The attackers were said to have started killing and burning churches at about 2am on the night of November 28, 2008. They claimed that they were protesting a just concluded Local Government election which result had not even been announced. Common sense bears witness that the Local Government election has nothing to do with killing innocent Christians who are not politicians and places of worship. It is HATRED for Christ followers and all for Christ name's sake.

With the help of GSM phones, news quickly filtered to us informing us of the outbreak of Jihad in some part of the city. I quickly sent SMS to as many loved ones to make sure they don't move out of their house without caution. As at that time, the murderer were already at the doorpost of one of our missionaries at about 7.30am. Their house was set ablaze and there was no sense in remaining indoor. Just as they stepped out of their room which was already been razed down, they entered into the hands of the murderers. As the Lord will have it, they released his wife and baby to go. He was abducted but before they could think of slaughtering him like hundreds of others, he took to his heel. They pursued him but they could not catch up with him. Unfortunately, he ran into the hands of other murderers. Again, God spared his life. He later ran into an uncompleted building and rested there. All through these period, we had lost touch with him. We only worked with the report his wife brought on how he was abducted. We mobilised the body of Christ across the country and beyond and brethren took time to fervently prayed for us. In the evening of the same day, he made it to our missions headquarters. We shed tears of thanksgiving.

We had to move him and all other headquarters staff and the kids from the Unreached Children Home (orphans and vulnerable kids) to my residence because it was relatively safer. The Jihad was not over. The Jihadist were marching to the direction of our headquarters which house our School of Cross-Cultural Missions classroom/hostel, offices, staff residence, etc. apparently to set the place ablaze. The natives engage them in fight and with the help of the military, the Jihadists were overpowered.

The Jos Genocide II By Andrew Abah

Oluwaleke Olalekan Akande : A Case Study of the Many Horrors

Several Nigeria Newspapers report on Oluwaleke Olalekan Akande bring tears to the eye. When the young boy of 28, was posted to Jos, the Plateau State capital in the North Central area of the country for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, he thought he was lucky. He had prayed not to be posted to the far northern states because of fears that violent ethnic or religious crises such areas were known for, might break out and he did not want to be caught in any of that.

 He must have sympathised with his colleagues at the Polytechnic Ibadan, who were posted to Sokoto, Borno, Kano and such states further north. To him, the posting to Plateau State was a prayer answered.  Since his arrival in Jos on August 26 as part of the Batch A, Stream Two of the 2008 programme, Oluwaleke Olalekan, fondly called Baba Eto' meaning an organizer, had not complained.

 He had adjusted well, enjoying his primary assignment and was always in regular touch with his parents, Mr. Adeagbo Akande and wife, Oluremi who live in Ibadan, Oyo State. But it turned out that the very Jos that Leke was thankful to have been posted to turn edout to be the soil that soaked his blood as he bled to death, having fallen to rampaging killers during the recent Jos mayhem in which hundreds of people were slaughtered.

His heartbroken mother, who had fondly called Leke, oko mi, meaning my husband, on Saturday, could not say much except to murmur in awe and disbelief asking: " How can a human being born of and suckled of a woman kill his fellow human being with whom he never ever disagreed in cold blood? Did the same God we worship create such people?"

His father said he and his late son "had such an understanding that it was like between husband and wife." He was also his father's favorite cook. To his siblings and members of the family, "Leke was the ultimate organizer and you could entrust anything to him and rest assured it would be done as you hoped. But now the organizer is gone forever so soon, long, long before his time," his brother,  Leke's death was still like a fairy tale. "What have Youth Corps members to do with Local Council elections? "Why would anybody break into their apartment and kill three of them and take his phone," asked a family member, Abimbola. Leke was one of the members of NYSC posted in August to serve in Jos. He was the toast of the family.  Leke was in the house of a family friend, Mr. Akinjogbin, whose son Ibukun and another, whom the rioters met in the compound, were also killed.  When they entered the compound, Leke was said to be making calls to a family member, telling him that the rioters were getting closer. He was still talking when he was attacked and murdered. Up till last Wednesday, whenever we called his number, a voice in Hausa would answer and quickly put it off. By Thursday, the line had been switched off.

The murder is terrible. The slaughter has brought pain, not only to the family but also to families of the victims. Hundreds of fathers, mothers, sons and daughters were slaughtered in that carnage.

According to President-General of the Yoruba Community Council in the state, Chief Toye Ogushuyi, the losses suffered by his people were heavy.  About 113 Yorubas, he said, lost their lives in the recent crisis. He stated this at a meeting between Governor Jonah Jang and community and religious leaders saying most of their corpses have been taken to their states for burial. Houses and businesses were destroyed and right now we are collating the losses of our people to be sent to the governors of the Yoruba states for possible assistance. An elderly man of 72 years had his house and business places burnt. 

With tears in their eyes, including the state Deputy Governor, Mrs. Pauline Tallen, Ogunshuyi narrated how his people were hacked down or burnt over a crisis they knew nothing about.

He said many of the victims were caught unawares because their assailants wore military uniforms. He said Yorubas were peace loving adding, “we have been carrying out legitimate businesses in Jos since 1891 and we built the first church in Jos but we have been living peacefully without fighting to rule Jos”. The Yoruba leader said those who unleashed the violence should be identified and punished to restore the confidence of people in government's ability to protect lives and property.

The Igbo also suffered serious losses in the crisis because many of their shops and businesses were targeted by the hoodlums during the riot. Apart from the timber shed in Katako which was completely razed, the second hand vehicle parts market at Farin Gada where they sold vehicle engines, spare parts and other things was attacked, torched and looted. Many of their shops in other places were also not spared

Today, Laranto Market is now reduced to rubbles, more like an open field, as it was razed down and levelled in what could be described as mutually assured destruction or what in Nigerian parlance is called 'do me, I do you'. It was learnt that victims of initial attacks fought back to ensure that they all suffered the pain. 

About 10,700 displaced persons have so far been identified by the Plateau government as a fall out of the politico-cum ethno religious crisis plaguing the state at the moment. These, according to the state government, are scattered all over the place, thereby creating serious problems bordering on their wellbeing and other health issues.

The state government, which disclosed that it is currently battling to cater for the displaced person scattered in different camps in Jos, appealed to the Federal Government and philanthropic individuals and organisations to assist the government in providing the necessary succour to the people in order not to allow epidemic situation in the state

The government admitted that out of the number, there are 7,650 Christian displaced persons while 2, 970 Muslims were presently in refuge camps in Jos.

The Church Reacts 

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Plateau State chapter has said no fewer than 40 places of Christian worship were burnt down in the Jos crisis. The PFN, at a press conference in Jos, said this is in addition to the many number of Christians murdered in the various worship centers. State chairman of the PFN Rev Samuel Alaha, who addressed the conference, said the PFN is disappointed with the role played by the Federal Government and its agencies like the Nigerian Army, saying it is suspicious how some of the hoodlums got army and police uniforms.

“Can the presidency, the Chief of Army Staff and the Inspector General of Police explain to the whole world how items like uniform and ammunition got into the hands of the teenagers that were recruited to carry out such dastardly acts against fellow citizens?'', he asked.

The PFN observed that the military brought three armored tanks and stationed all three at the Jos Central Mosque including the camps where displaced persons are concentrated, when according to him, the Churches suffered more losses. He said there is equally segregation in the distribution of relief material provided by the people of goodwill to the affected families and individuals now taking refuge in over 20 camps at various locations in the state due to the crisis.

Reacting to the horrors, the Prelate, Methodist Church of Nigeria Rt. Rev. Ola Makinde decried the killing and called on the President to set up a panel to investigate the matter. Very upset, he called the crisis, "one too many". He condemned the way Christians are ill-treated in the North whenever there was a riot. " This is unacceptable. How many times will some set of people think they could commit crime and go free. It happened in Bauchi, Kano, and Kaduna. It happened in Jos sometime ago and now this.  At the least provocation, Christians and churches become targets". The Prelate called on government not to allow the culprits in the Jos crisis to escape being brought to book and punished.

The Primate of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) Archbishop Peter Akinola, has urged government to fish out the perpetrators of the crisis that trailed Thursday's local government election in Plateau State. Scores of people had been killed since violence erupted in Jos even before the election results were announced.

Speaking at the Diocese of Abuja Carnival for Christ celebration, he accused government of ``playing the ostrich'', on the recurring sectarian crisis in the country.  ``We know these people who are bent on destroying the nation and for goodness sake they should be brought to justice,'' Akinola told journalists in Abuja. ``The problem in my opinion is that our government has never been able to bring to book the perpetrators of this evil. When it happened in Bauchi, we cried aloud, they said they would make arrests, they never did. When it happened in Kano, they never arrested anyone and when it happened in Zaria too, no-one was arrested. Even where they were arrests they were later released. 

 ``So if government has had the courage to bring justice to those who engage in the evil, it would have served as a deterrent to others. I call on this government to stop playing the ostrich and stop being hypocritical,'' he asserted. 

The Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC) condemned the crisis, saying it should have been prevented to avoid the wanton destruction that followed its aftermath. Addressing newsmen in Kaduna, its National President, Rev Dr. Reuben Chuga, and General Secretary Rev (Dr) Solomon Ishola, decried the situation appealed for peace and restraint from all residents of Jos. The church outrightly condemned the killings by saying that there was no justification for certain elements in the state to resort to killing and burning of religious houses and property of innocent people who had nothing to do with the local government elections. "Based on the sensitive nature of Jos, in view of past crises, the government and security agencies should have pre-empted the crisis and made more adequate preparations to nip it in the bud before it degenerated to the present level.

While some Nigerians have demanded for investigation, others were of the opinion that an attempt to sweep the matter under carpet like previous ones may amount to setting the nation on a keg of gunpowder. A legal practitioner condemned the killings, describing such as "a barbaric act of the 21st Century. This may draw the nation backwards and cause distrust and hatred.  Imagine young vibrant men whose parents have invested a lot to train, only for some hoodlums to just kill without reason.”

At the Vatican, Catholic Pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI, prayed for the victims of the Jos mayhem. He urged the world to express horror and disapproval at the senseless violence. Executive Director of the Christian Foundation for Social Justice and Equity, (CFSJES), Mr. Joseph Sangosanya, described the situation as "genocide."

The CFSJES director said the state government mismanaged the whole situation because it allegedly ignored security reports about in-flow of people into Jos.  "The information system by all the government agencies was not properly managed. Late deployment of soldiers contributed to the mass killings, which we see as genocide and the process of the election itself, which was not credible, led to the mayhem.

"And we see the aggressors as the few individuals who want to perpetuate their expansionist tendencies and we ask that the government should immediately set up a judicial commission of inquiry to unravel the immediate and remote cause(s) of the carnage and those arrested should be charged to court immediately.

Security Situation

The Nigerian Army had taken over security in Jos. Chief of Army Staff, General Abdulrahman Dambazza, personally led fully armed troops to take over security in the Plataeu State capital. The police had earlier dispatched an Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mr. Richard Chime, to assist in quelling the riots, but when security reports became alarming, Dambazzau had to be moved to Jos.

In the days following these senseless killings, we have seen official and unofficial sympathisers resorting to familiar scripts. The President ordered the police and service chiefs to hotfoot it to Jos; political and religious leaders called for calm; and talks of panels and commissions of enquiries became rife. These actions and talks would have been comforting if they were products of a quest, by federal and state officials, to atone for the abysmal failure of leadership that caused the crisis to escalate in the first place. On the contrary, this isn't about penance; it is business as usual.

Some fellows have been commending President Umar Yar'Adua for 'bringing the situation under control'. Their motives are questionable. This government deserves no such pat on the back. It failed to respond to early warning signals, waited for four days before moving decisively. In India, where 178 lives were lost during the Mumbai terrorist attacks, a number of public officials have resigned and government has made profuse efforts to assuage public anger. In Nigeria, where the Jos fatalities exceeded those of Mumbai by hundreds, not a single resignation has been recorded.

Continuing Tension

Tension still continue to mount as the the Jos North Muslim community in Plateau State has alleged that 564 of its people were being detained illegally at the Jos Central Prison after their arrest in the wake of the sectarian crisis penultimate week.

The group in an open letter to the Comptroller General of Prisons in the state, signed by counsel to the community Barrister Lawal Ishaq, said, “We hereby write to complain about the illegal detention of our clients who were arrested by the police and other security operatives under the guise of participating in the recent Jos crisis.” It said the suspects were being detained at the Jos prison at the instance of the police without order of any court. The community said the action of the prison service amounts to the abuse of prison services rules and regulation.

Ishaq told newsmen that a suspect is only taken to prison on two conditions: “When the suspect is arraigned in a court and the court does not have the power or jurisdiction to hear the case; or where a suspect is being convicted by a competent court of law. But neither the first nor the second instances are applicable in this case.”

The Hausa Community in Jos, Plateau state has said it won't appear before a state instituted judicial panel of inquiry to look into the recent crisis because they have lost confidence in the state government. Rep Samaila Mohammed (ANPP, Plateau State) told newsmen that the state government is culpable in the crisis and constituting any panel of inquiry by the Governor Jonah David Jang is tantamount to him adjudicating in its own case.

“We don't have faith in the administration of Governor David Jonah Jang, his government is culpable, he is part of the problem, should the government decide to constitute a judicial panel of inquiry we would not appear before it, because doing so would mean Governor Jang is presiding over his own case. What we want is a judicial panel of inquiry instituted by the Federal government and not by the Plateau state government, if the Governor is thinking along that line; because the crisis is a premeditated plan to teach some people a lesson never to protest again”, he added.

Concerted Prayers Needed

We must continue to pray for absolute peace to return as no meaningful missionary work can be launched out from a base where war, pain and agony thrives. Beside, we have no option but to love the Muslim. We are enjoined to love our enemies and to do good to them that hates us. All those killed without Christ will go to hell. The devil is full of wrath and is responsible for sending humanity to untimely hell knowing that he has but a short time. (Rev. 12:12). We must bring back the King via the preaching of the gospel to all nations. Maranatha!

THE MOSUL MADNESS, ORISSA CHALLENGE & OTHER WORLD EVENTS By Andrew Abah

Hatred for Christians for Christ's name sake is not localised to Jos. It is a global phenomenon. In October 2008, Armed Terrorists in Mosul known in the Bible days as Nineveh located in Iraq displayed their madness and hatred for Christ. They walked the street asking people of their identification card. The religion of the owner is written on every ID card, either Muslim or Christian. When "Christian" is read by the terrorists, the owner of the card is sometimes murdered on the spot with a bullet through the head. No fewer than 40 persons were murdered.

A source said: "There used to be 200,000 Christians in Mosul , but now, there's about 90,000 left."  They could be leaving soon, too, unless something changes. Some claim this is genocide. Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has vowed to protect Christians in Mosul and sent 1,000 police to the region. Iraqi believers are text messaging, requesting urgent prayer. One person wrote, 'We left with only our souls.' It's really terrible. 

Another source revealed that some of the extremists that were in other parts of the country have moved north and come to Mosul where there has been a vibrant Christian community. One of the prayer requests received was for the terrorists, for the extremists, that they would have a 'Pauline experience'--that instead of being persecutors, they would become lovers of Jesus through what's happened. 

Earlier, a group of men fired rockets on the Chaldeans Church of the Holy Spirit and detonated an explosive device outside the church door. Other regions of Iraq are not spared. It was reported that several car bombs have killed more than 100 people and it was especially dangerous for Christians who are minority. Before the Mosul madness, there were estimated 600,000 to 800,000 Christians in Iraq but more than 250,000  Christians have fled to Syria since the Gulf war.

More than 100,000 Christians have fled from Iraq to countries like Syria, Jordan and Turkey since the start of the war in March of 2003. More than 250,000 Iraqi Christians have fled to Syria since the first Gulf War. Pray for Christians facing caught in the dilemma of whether to stay and risk the lives of their families or flee to another country away from their churches and friends. Pray for those who have experienced trauma and fled because of the violence, for those who want to leave but can't, and for those who have chosen to stay and be a light in the midst of the darkness.

The Orissa Challenge

At Orissa, India between September through November, no fewer than 60 Christians killed, more than 200 churches,  40 religious institutions were damaged in an attack against the Christians and 10,000 Christians were forced to flee their homes as violence spread.  It all started when a mob of raging, machete-wielding Hindu zealots appeared above the hills  and swarmed over a hamlet in Orissa. By dawn, Christian homes in the village were smoking heaps of burnt mud and concrete shells. Churches were razed, their wooden doors and windows stripped off.

"We could hear them come shouting 'Jai Shri Ram'," one of the victim simply known as Digal said, referring to the rallying cry of Hindus hailing their warrior-god. The mob poured kerosene on the thatched rooftops of the village homes, then threw matches. Church spires were hacked down.

The Hindu part of the village was untouched. For four days Digal and his stricken Christian neighbours hid in the teak forests, before being herded to a government-run relief camp. The violence replicated itself in village after village, as the rural Kandhamal district of Orissa convulsed from some of the worst anti-Christian attacks in India.

Christians responded with some -- not proportionate -- violence. Almost all the villages bore evidence of attacks on Christians. Relief shelters were packed with Christian refugees, most of them women and children as their men folk were too scared to emerge from forest hideouts. At one temporary camp in Raikia village, some 8,000 people crammed into two floors of a government office, sleeping on the bare floor and surviving on rice and lentils given twice a day.

"It was the hate campaigns of the Sangh Parivar which led to untold misery for Christians," said Sam Paul of the All-India Christian Council, referring to an apex body of Hindu radicals. There has not been a long tradition of rivalry between Hindus and Christians, who form less than three percent of officially secular India's 1.1-billion population.

On the contrary, the missionaries have a reputation of running some of the finest schools in India. Intolerance has risen, though, in the last two decades with a revival in Hindu nationalism in India, and a new agenda to fight "foreign faiths" said to be undermining Hinduism. With political power, Hindu nationalists in several states have made religious conversion either unlawful or extremely difficult. Orissa has seen some of the worst violence against Christians.

"There is an atmosphere of fear," said Krishan Kumar, the chief administrator of Kandhamal, a land dominated by "Adivasis" or traditionally animist forest-dwellers where Christian proselytisers arrived on horseback more than a century ago. The missionaries built schools and hospitals, and their work persuaded many Adivasis and ethnic Panas, who belong to a Hindu lower caste, to convert to Christianity.

The region turned into a hotbed of communal strife after hardline Hindu groups, who accuse Christian missionaries of converting people under duress or through inducements, arrived half a century ago to counter an expansionist evangelist drive.

The violence was largely a backlash against the murder of a Hindu proselytiser who ran a local campaign against Christian conversion. Maoist rebels said they had carried out the murder, but Hindus blamed Christians.

Pope Benedict has condemned the latest violence and the Italian government has told India it was "very worried and sensitive to" the attacks on Christians. The United Nations has warned India could face more religious violence as delays to bring justice and prosecute perpetrators of attacks on minorities were encouraging an atmosphere of impunity in the country.

In Orissa, international and local human rights groups say the state government was a "silent spectator" to the violence, and Christian villagers say police often failed to protect them.

"When the mob arrived it asked police to drop its guns to the ground," said Phillomina Digal, who lives by a police station. "The policemen were outnumbered and went into the police station. The mob set my house on fire, burnt our tractor and also another government vehicle. Then they all celebrated and left." Orissa's police say they swung into action as soon as the riots broke out, but could not reach many affected villages because rioters had blocked roads with tree trunks and boulders.

Experience of a GFA Missionary

I"On November 24 at 11 a.m., while I was going for outreach ministry in a village 20 kilometers (12 miles) from my home, a group of young people belonging to an extremist group stopped me. They asked me several questions, such as what was I doing and where was I going. Then they opened my bag and found Gospel literature and teaching CDs. 

"The extremists started to beat me. They took my bicycle, mobile phone and two thousand rupees (US$40). They forcefully took me on their bike to a remote village, where around 200 people had gathered, and they made me sit in the middle of the crowd. They asked me several questions and told me to read Hindu literature, leave the Christian faith and worship one of their gods. I said "No," so they started to beat me again. 

"Then the crowd called for their leader. They took me to a small hut and locked me inside. They kept me locked up from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. "During that time, I was praying to the living God. I remembered the verse where Jesus said, 'In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.' Through this Bible verse, I got courage to face any problem. 

"When they took me out of the room at 8:00 p.m., I was very hungry and cold. They took me to a road to meet the extremist leader. But I was thinking and looking for some way to escape. So I told them I needed to use the bathroom, and they let me walk into the forest. I walked a little ways and then started to run. Some started to chase me and loudly told the others that I was running away, and so many people ran after me. 

"I don't know from where I got such power to run. The mob even took their jeep and bike to catch me, but as I was running through paddy fields, they couldn't catch me. I even fell in a small well, but God helped me to get out. And again I started to run through the forest. "Up until midnight, I was sitting in the forest. My whole body was in severe pain, but God gave me strength to walk 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) through the forest without fear. I found a village where I know a Christian family. 

"Around 3 a.m., I reached their house and told them what had happened to me. They gave me a place to sleep and kept me there for two days, until I went to another village and got some medicine. On November 27, I safely reached a GFA district office. Now I am in the office resting, but I still have pain in my chest and legs. “I thank God that He has saved my life. I also want to give thanks to all those who sincerely prayed for me. Kindly keep remembering me in your prayers." 

Missionary  Couple Captured In Gambia

Also in Gambia, A British missionary couple is in custody after being charged with sedition. The Gambian government claims 60-year-old David Fulton and has 46-year-old wife, Fiona, are accused of sending letters criticizing Gambia's government to individuals and groups. 

The Fulton's had lived in Gambia for 12 years, serving as chaplain with the Gambian army. Both of them were very active in spreading the Good News among the Muslims in the country. 90-percent of the people in the Gambia are Muslims." 

Gambia is a tiny West African nation of 1.7 million people and is among the world's poorest nations. The couple's two-year-old adopted daughter has also been affected. She was also originally imprisoned with her mom. But after a few days, authorities decided to remove the two-year-old from the mother. She's not being taken care of by family friends. 

Sources said the Muslim-led government arrested the couple because they feel threatened by the Christians in that country so they want to stop them from spreading the Good News. Another source said: "Currently he is in a very serious condition. He is been put in a very high-security prison, and he's very sick. He's unable to eat." Pray that the couple will be released and be reunited with their daughter.

Restrictive religion law passes parliament in Nagorno-Karabakh

A restrictive religion law passed its final parliamentary reading in the unrecognized Azerbaijani breakaway republic of Nagorno-Karabakh on November 26, according to a December 4 report from Forum 18. President Sahakyan has one month to either approve or reject the law that imposes ambiguous restrictions on religious groups. The law includes an apparent ban on unregistered religious activity, even though a minimum of 100 adult citizens would be necessary in order to register. Further restrictions include the censorship of religious literature by the state and the ban on some religious groups from spreading their faith.

Pray that the President will reject this law. Ask God to grant boldness to the Christians who suffer hardships in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Church Demolished in Somalia

Recently, Muslim militants demolished a church in Kismayo, a town in southern Somalia that has been in the control of a militant Islamic organization affiliated with Al-Qaeda since August. The militants have vowed to launch similar attacks on all other local non-Muslim places of worship. They plan to replace the destroyed church with a mosque. Islamists have reportedly imposed Sharia law in another southern town, Celwaq, elevating concern for Christians in the region. 

Pray that the believers in Somalia will be steadfast in their service for the Lord. Pray that they will rejoice in the opportunity to grow in Christlikeness through their tribulations (James 1:2-4).

Children are not Left out of the Attack in Egypt

A Christian mother discovered that her twin thirteen-year-old sons, Mario and Andrew, had been placed in Islamic education classes to reflect their father's religion, despite the fact that their father moved out when he converted to Islam and remarried in 2002. Upon his conversion he used his legal right to change his sons' religion to Islam on their birth certificates; in Egypt a child's religion is dictated by the religion of their parent. 

On September 3, the court hearing to decide whether or not the twins can "re-convert" to Christianity was adjourned indefinitely, according to a September 5 report from Compass Direct. The adjournment was due to the boys' attorney not attending the hearing because he believed that the outcome of another case involving converts to Islam seeking "re-conversion" could affect their case. The court will also decide whether or not the twins will remain in their mother's care. According to many interpretations of Islamic law, which is enshrined in Egypt's constitution, custody of children must be granted to whichever parent is Muslim. A law that grants the mother custody of her children until they are 15 only applies to Muslim women. 

Pray that the Christian faith of these two boys will be legally recognized. Pray that their faithfulness will be a light that draws their father and other nonbelievers to Christ. Pray for all Egyptian Christians that are serving the Lord in an environment of opposition.

Food or Fooled?

 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" 2 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.' " 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. Gen 3:1-7

Starting from creation at the garden of Eden, the devil is  out to destroy man. His effort did not just stop at the garden of Eden. Even now, he is working at it. He comes in subtle ways making you feel he is a trusted friend whereas he is not. When he visited Eve in the above passage, he presented himself as  friend  and projected God as unfriendly, insincere  in creation  and does not want His creatures  to be like Him. Until now the devil still do the same. Some of such  deceits are: painting junk food as good for the body, divorce as better than mending our homes, all in the bid to destroy the beautiful body and homes that God has given us to enjoy.  

 “And God said behold I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed, to you it shall be for meat” (Genesis 1:29). 

Here, the creator or simply put the manufacturer of the machine called man was kind enough to have given man the guide on how to keep the body well.  If anything contrary goes in to the body, it is death. The three fold ministry of the devil as recorded in  John 10:10 which is to kill, steal and destroy were put into play since the garden of Eden. He does this by presenting the opposite of what God asked His children to eat. In our days he diverts people's attention from fresh fruits to processed foods. With  this we ignore all the nutrients which are supposed to keep the body away from diseases and go for chaff  which are of no VALUE to the body.  Instead of fresh juices/fruits  we opt for canned and packaged  drinks with so much preservatives, sugar, caffeine, etc. which are harmful to the body.

As I sat in theater waiting to be operated on the breast for cancer, a doctor came to me and said, madam, after the operation I advice you to eat “good food”. I asked what kind of food do you refer to as good food because I believe in balance diet - protein, carbohydrates, vitamin etc. He answered prepare your food with plenty fish, meat, vegetables etc. I thanked him for that information. The devil has fooled us to make us think that, “good food” is plenty fish, meat etc.

 I remember a sight I saw in a restaurant one day. A man sat for a plate of pounded yam with a bottle of malt, pepper soup of chicken with plenty meat popularly referred to in Nigeria as roundabout or kayan chiki. In my heart I thought this man was enjoying himself. I felt maybe his wife might be suffering at home. With what I know now, I recall the event and I feel sorry for him. He was “enjoying” himself in ignorance.

MANUFACTURER'S GUIDE 

Every manufacturer has a guide on how to use, handle and maintain their product called the manual. The manual  always accompany the product. You are suppose to study the manual so as not to make mistake in its usage and thereby last longer,  as per life span. For example, if you buy a car you are suppose to study the manual to know whether you are to use diesel or petrol. You also need to study to know where to pour the water etc. If you use petrol instead of the recommended diesel by the manufacturer you will get your car knocked. So also it is with the body. The manual given by the creator (manufacturer) for the upkeep of this body is Gen.1:29. What that means is that herbs and fruits are what we need for the maintenance of the body. He has his reasons for saying that. The same thing goes to the animals. Gen. 1:30. 

Reading/studying the Bible we discover that until the time of Noah, men were living hundreds of years. The word of God said Noah was six hundred years old when the flood came(Gen. 7:6). At this age Noah was still strong, mentally alert and had good sight all because of the kind of the food he was eating. After this period, the life span of man started dropping on the face of the earth and now it is worst. We even  hardly get to the 70years promised for our generation in Ps. 90:10 “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away”(KJV). Today, So many sicknesses, diseases and infirmities have invaded the land and some doctors tagged it INCURABLE.

To understand why God said the herbs and fruits (raw vegetables and fruits )are for food unto man, we need to know and also understand how this body is made to function. The first thing we need to realise is that the body is a living organism made of millions of living cells. Each cell requires nutrients and oxygen to generate the power needed by the body. The body also has a defence mechanism call the immune system. The nervous system transmits impulses throughout the body. Respiratory system controls our oxygen intake. Indeed the Bible was right when in Psalms 139:14 it says “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well”(KJV). 

Cooked foods generally looses a lot of its nutrient which the cell need. Our environment is polluted with industralisation therefore the air we breathe is no longer pure. There is scarcity of portable water especially in Nigeria where pure clean water is meant for the rich. With these the cells get weaker and  weaker by the day and thereby causing us to be sick. That is the reason why these days by 40years of age about 70% of the human population has a sickness or diseases which the doctor calls genetic and incurable etc. Nobody in the Bible were told had genetic ailment. We read in the Bible that “and he died” Not “and he had an incurable disease and died”. We shall talk about some of the diseases called incurable or terminal later. But let me quickly mention here that sickness like cancer, diabetics, high blood pressure(BP) are just our bodies reacting to foods we eat which the Almighty creator never planned for us to take into the body. If we want to reverse the situation then we must go back to the manufacturers guide -fresh herbs and fruits. By following this guide the immune system takes care of any unwanted visitor (sickness) and we will not need to spend  so much money on drugs (which also has side effect).

* This is an extract from Lucy Abah’s book,  How God Delivered me From Cancer Through Eating Fruits and Vegetables.