India: Convent was attacked in Mysore

Mysore (SVM News), November 30, 2006: Avila Convent and School in Mysore was attacked by a group of Hindutva militants of the Bajrang Dal and the VHP (Viswa Hindu Parishad) at 11.30 am today (Thursday, the 30th of November, 2006).

There was an attempt to assault Rev. Sister Francina, the Headmistress of the School and desecrating a statue of Infant Jesus placed on the premises.

A noisy group of five men barged into the school in the morning, dragging along a man who they had caught while he was distributing tracts near some other schools in the area. They accused the Headmistress, Sr. Francina, of having sent the man to distribute the tracts.

The tract distributor denied the accusation, said he had not been allowed to enter the school by the watchman. At this, the ruffians dragged the man out again, beating him badly. A while later, they brought him back, and this time the man pointed out the Headmistress as the one who had sent him to distribute tracts.

Then they attempted to beat up the sister, and she was protected by the attender and the peon, who received several blows in the process. The sisters called up the Mobile Garuda police van which arrived and asked the sister, the man who had distributed the tracts, and the goons to go with them in the van to the police station.

They started to do so, when the local Sub-Inspector arrived at the gate, and made everyone get out and tried to hush up the matter. The local Christian political leaders and other well-wishers quickly arrived and the issue was taken up and a press meet called. As the perpetrators had been let off and not arrested, they insisted on their arrest.

According the SVM News Service, the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) and the Ministers Council of India (CMCI) condemned the attack of the innocent nuns and Christian workers in India by Hindu and Muslim militants.

GCIC and CMCI appealed to the Central Government to call for an explanation for the increasing cases of violent and vindictive attack upon Christian minorities in Karnataka State in India. Also they appealed to the Governor, in his role of the upholder of the consitutinoal Rights of the people of the State, to look address the issue and provide immediate relief to the affected community. SVM News Service reported.

Pastor Paul Ciniraj,
Salem Voice Ministries.
http://salemvoice.org

India: Church Worker Knifed to Death in the Premise

Chennai, (SVM News), November 27, 2006: An employee of the St.Thomas Mount Church in Chennai, named Jacob (60 years old) was stabbed to death at the church shrine by an unidentified assailant on the evening of Sunday, 26th Nov. 2006. A large number of devotees gathered at the Church for the evening service at that time.

The victim Jacob, Tamil speaking man and a local resident of Butt Road, Tambaram in Chennai was managing sales of religious articles at the church.

He was knifed following a dispute over the price of an article, according to police. The assailant had come to the shrine at about 6.30 p.m. and had picked a quarrel with Jacob. But they could not immediately identify any other reason for the murder.

When the assailant began to attack him, Jacob took refuge in another room. The attacker followed and stabbed Jacob on the face, chest and abdomen. The assailant also threatened the shocked onlookers before fleeing.

A bleeding Jacob was rushed at once to a private hospital in Porur where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Greater Chennai Police Commissioner Letika Saran visited the spot and told reporters the police are investigating the case and would soon book the culprit as they have some strong leads.

SVM News Service reports that the Christian Ministers Council of India (CMCI) and the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) codemned the brutal killing of Jacob.

Pastor Paul Ciniraj,
Salem Voice Ministries.
http://salemvoice.org

Christmas New Year Greetings in 500 Languages

Kottayam (India), (SVM News), November 27, 2006: The Salem Voice Ministries published Christmas New Year Greetings in 500 languages in its website on November 25, 2006. It can be accessed at http://salemvoice.bravehost.com/

The Christmas and New Year greetings has been compiled and published by Pastor Paul Ciniraj, the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries and the Chairman of the SVM News Service.

Anybody can be copied the message of greetings from the website individually and send it to others in their own languages around the world for the free of cost. Also it will be permitted for those who asks to make a link with this greetings page for any of the websites, weblogs, news letters or any other publications. But it is an offense if using it without permission. The webmaster of the Salem Voice Ministries said.

Anglican Priest Killed in Uganda

Mubende (Uganda), (SVM News), November 26, 2006: An Anglican Priest named Rev. Godfrey Tabura killed at Kyenda in Mubende District on Saturday evening, the 25th of November. He was shot dead by unidentified gunmen while riding home on a motorcycle.

The gunmen's motive was killing the priest. They reportedly fled without stealing anything. It leads to the suspicion that it is defenitely a christian persecution.

Rev. Godfrey Tabura was trailed from Musozi.

The incident occured near Kyenda, which about 10 miles away from Mubende town at about 7.00 pm. Benson Oyo Nyeko, the police chief of the Central Region in Uganda told to the SVM News Service.

The priest was shot in the chest and died instantly. The Police suspect the thugs used an SMG rifle, Benson Oyo Neyiko said.

“We don’t think the thugs were looking for money. They never picked anything and even abandoned the motorcycle at the scene, which makes us suspect that the motive was murder,” Nyeko added.

No arrests had been made till Sunday evening. But the investigations of the police launched on quickly. CID officer of Mubende reached the spot and started investigation.

Pastor Paul Ciniraj
Salem Voice Ministries
http://salemvoice.org

India: SDA Preacher and AG Church Attacked

SDA Preacher Attacked in Haryana in India.

Yamuna Nagar (Haryana), (SVM News), November 23, 2006: The Gospel Preacher Captain Samuel was attacked by a group of radical Hindus at night on Wednesday, the 15th of November.

He was going back from the Gospel Convention meet at Jagadhari Seventh Day Adventist School after giving the message.

In the very first day of the convention, a group of radicals gathered in front of the venue and waited until the believers left the place after the meeting. As soon as the crowd left, they followed Captain Samuel who was going alongwith Pastor Hansraj Sainy of Godhagiri and Pastor Abishek of Patyala and attacked him.

Radicals stamped him on his chest, dragged and beat him severly that he could not breathe for a while. They then left the place. Even after such a cruel act, Captain Samuel refused to lodge a complaint at the police station or even go to the hospital. He commit everything unto the Lord.

Pray for Captain Samuel, the believers in Haryana and for the radical Hindus for their penitence.

AG Church damaged in Kerala in India.

Alappuzha (Kerala), (SVM News), November 23, 2006: Assemblies of God pastors were attacked and the Church was damaged by some radical Hindus on 3rd of November at Haripad in Alappuzha District in Kerala. Pastors are immediately admitted in the Government Taluk Hospital at Haripad.

Pastor Lallu Pappachen, Manoj Babu, K.J Ebenezer and B. Jayachandran are the victims.

The sufferers lodged a police complaint which made the attackers furious and they showed their immediate reaction by entering the AG Church and destroying the instruments in the church, furnitures, broke vessels and equipments and also broke the compound wall of the church.

Pray for the Christians in Kerala and for the radicals that they might not cause further disaster to man and material, but to be experienced the power of Salvation.

Pastor Paul Ciniraj
Salem Voice Ministries
http://salemvoice.org

Evangelist Shot Dead in J&K in India

Pattan (J&K in India), (SVM News), November 21, 2006: Evangelist Bashir Ahmad Tantray was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on 21st November, Tuesday morning at Mamoosa village in northern Barmullah district. He was a popular evangelist and very helpful to the christians in Jammu and Kashmir region in India. An Underground Missionary of the At Anycost Jesus Mission in Jammu and Kashmir reported to the SVM News Service.

The gunmen fired three pistol shots at Basheer Ahamed from a close range at 10:30 am. He killed on the spot in a public view. And the assilants escaped easily from the place, for nobody made any attempts to capture them. A villager who witnessed the incident told to the underground missionary.

Basheer Ahamed was born and brought up from the same village. By profession he is an Engineer. He converted from Islam to Christianity during the year 2000. For ministry purpose he was settled in Srinagar, the capital city of Kashmir. He had come to the village on Monday evening to see his ailing father.

He was spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ very boldly in and around Kashmir. A good number of people from his village accepted Jesus as their personal savior and Lord.

The village hit the newspaper headlines in March 2003 with the reports of mass conversion to Christianity by the residents. Some of the villagers denied the conversion, but some village elders privately admitted that several families had converted to Christianity.

Kashmir has been witnessing a discreet spurt in conversion from Islam to Christianity over the past 15 years. Sources say that some 15000 Muslims across the valley have converted to Christianity during this period.

Parts of Pulwama, Uri, Karnah, Baramullah and outer areas of Srinagar and Kangan are reported to be main centers of Christian missions. Around a dozen Christian missions and churches involving with the ministries.

Conversions have not encountered any major resistance from Muslim organisations, it has led to tensions among common people, who are increasingly getting vocal against the Christian missionaries. Hundreds of residents gathered outside a missionary school - Good Shepherded School - in Pulwama, holding demonstration against the school management and staff for “converting Muslim students to Christianity”. The protestors attacked the school building causing damage to the building.

Government had to order temporary closure of a missionary school in September this year and ordered probe into the allegations. The school was also target of a grenade attack by militants.

At Anycost Jesus Mission has three mission fields in Northern part of Jammu and Kashmir, doing underground ministries for the evangelisation of Muslims.

Pastor Paul Ciniraj,
Salem Voice Ministries
http://salemvoice.org

Habel, Leader of At Anycost Jesus Mission Missing in Pakistan

Bajaur (Pakistan), (SVM News), November 21, 2006: The Co-ordinator of the At Anycost Jesus Mission in Pakistan, Pastor Habel of 30 years of old, is missing since Friday, 17th of November, 2006. His wife Yemima Habel (25) informed by an email to Pastor Paul Ciniraj of the SVM News Service.

Both Yemima and Habel were involving with the underground ministries in Azad Kashmir.

Habel and family were threatened to death by the militants for last few months. So they were keeping themselves in a hidden place.

The missionary couple of the At Anycost Jesus Mission Dr. Mehaboob and Paulin Mehabooba were kidnapped by the militants along with their four children on 21 August. Shalom (older boy) and Sharon (older girl) were brutally murdered and burnt on August 31 midnight. Militants had a plan to give them a worst burial after exhibiting the dead bodies publicly in a savage way as Taliban model.

But Habel took initiative to move the dead bodies from the spot secretly and buried them with honourship. Because of this reason militants tried to kill him on September 3 and burnt his house. But Habel and his family escaped.

The dead body of Dr. Mehaboob was found near Ratti Galli Pass on October 18 and a week later, Paulin Mehabooba's body also found. Still there is no information about their remaining daughters Sherin (11) and Shelvin (7).

The militants are very strong in this province and there are many militant training camps too. Huge amount of money reaching them from outside for their activities. A good amount will be distributed among the local families. So the local people highly supporting them. Many of the families compulsarily sending their children for the training.

Around 80 militants have been killed in an air strike by Pakistani forces on a madrassa (religious school) used as a militant training camp on October 29. Jan Mohamed (38), another missionary of At Anycost Jesus Mission shot dead by the militants next day.

After Mondays air strike, militants simply alleged Jan as a US spy and killed. And they made a false statement that he was seen near the bombed madrassa in Chingai, talking on a satellite phone after the attack. Also they put a note left on his body accusing him of espionage. "We had suspicions that he had been working for US forces and the attack to the Madrassa confirmed that he was a US spy".

A strong believer in Jesus Christ named Salahudeen (44 years old) also beheaded in North Waziristan district bordering Afganistan on November 2. He was an Islamic Scholar, recently believed in Jesus Christ. His body was found in a drain with a note that he was a US spy.

There are few believers, secretly gathering for a prayer servcie on the Sabbath Day. Habel was the one leading the prayer service. But last Saturday he did not come to conduct the service. For the Sunday prayer service also he was absent. And there is no news about him till Tuesday late night. His family and believers feared he must be kidnapped by the militants.

Last week, a belt bomb killed around 40 people. Habel was their target. Because he was conducting a secret Bible class nearby the place the incident occured. But he changed the Bible class on that day. So Habel and the believers escaped from that tragedy on that day.

Yemima, his wife requesting prayers for Habel to be protected by our Lord without any harm. Habel and Yemima have two little children, Axa, three year old daughter and Victor, two year old son.

Visit the following link (website) of the At Anycost Jesus Mission to know more about them:
http://anycostjesus.baseelia.org

Pastor Paul Ciniraj,
Salem Voice Ministries.
http://salemvoice.org/

Priest Missing in Baghdad; feared kidnapped

Pastor Paul Ciniraj,
Salem Voice Ministries.
http://salemvoice.org

Baghdad (Iraq), (SVM News), November 20, 2006: Another Priest named Father Doglas Yousef Al Bazy of 34 years old found missing in Baghdad. He left home on Sunday morning and has not yet returned back home. He is the Parish Priest of St. Elias Chaldean Church. Christians in Baghdad feared that he has been kidnapped.

The community and the leaders of the Chaldean Church in Iraq believe it is “highly likely” he has been kidnapped. The alarm was raised swiftly throughout Iraq and the diaspora via the Internet and SMS.

If their misgivings are proved right, this would be the latest in a long list of kidnappings targeting Christian clerics. Not only gangs of common criminals are suspected to be behind the spate of kidnappings.

Mgr Shleman Warduni, the Auxiliary Bishop of Chaldean Churches in Baghdad told, “Patriarch Delly and I have activated our contacts, hoping they would give us hope but so far we have had no replies. That he was kidnapped is a very likely hypothesis, but there is no confirmation as yet.”

The Auxiliary Bishop said: “There are many theories about why Christians are kidnapped: crime, religious fanaticism, money, the intent to create division among the people.” He continued: “We hope that those who have taken him have a conscience and understand that we priests desire only to bring the Good News to people and to work for the good of all Iraqis. We are for the unity of Iraq and we ask to be able to work together with our co-nationals to rebuild our country and to attain peace and security.”

However, among the Chaldean community, the idea is increasingly taking hold that threats and kidnappings are not carried out indiscriminately, but that they “target those people who are most involved in the Christian community, the younger and more courageous ones, almost as if to give a warning to those who persist in hoping that they will be able to continue living in the country.” Mgr. Wardhuni Bishop added.

Finally, the Bishop made an appeal to the likely kidnappers of Fr Doglas: “If you have a conscience and believe in God, do not do him any ill and free him as soon as possible, safe and sound.”

The situation in the country has become “unbearable”. Christians rarely leave their homes but they are not the only ones to suffer. They say: “No place is safe anymore. Even workplaces are no longer safe. In recent months, bakers have been killed in Baghdad just because they formed typical rhomboidal shaped loaves, in the vague semblance of a cross.”

Fr Doglas was ordained as a priest about 10 years ago. Mgr Warduni described him as a man who was “very active in the diocese, committed especially to accompanying youth.” He is the secretary of the Institute for Religious Teaching and also of the Council of Church leaders in Baghdad. A few months ago, he was put in charge of St Elias Parish.

Fears are growing that these criminal moves are aimed at striking more active religious figures in a bid to discourage Christians from remaining in Iraq.

---------------------------------
Salem Voice Ministries News Service (SVM News)
Devalokam, Kottayam, Kerala-686038, India
web:http://salemvoice.org; email: salemvoice@gmail.com
SVM News Blog: http://svmnews.blogspot.com

Young Pastor Jailed in India for Prayed over a Sick

Pastor Paul Ciniraj,
Salem Voice Ministries.
http://salemvoice.org

Rourkela (Orissa in India), (SVM News), November 20, 2006: Pastor Ashis Kumar Muna of 25 years old is arrested on November 15 for prayed over a sick woman at Jhirpani of Rourkela Steel City in Orissa. Police charged against him force conversion of Hindus to Christianity and the court rejected the Bail petition filed on his behalf and sent him to the jail.

He was pastoring in the Church at Jhirpani of Rourkela Steel City. His father Rev. P.K.Muna is the Senior Pastor at the same Church.

Mr. Hridananda Majhi, the uncle of young pastor, who had experienced healing power by the prayer of his nephew Pastor Ashis Kumar Munha, asked him to go with him to a Hindu family to pray for the lady of the house, who was suffering from TB and kidney problems since several years. Ashish did not know that she was the wife of a VHP Dist. Co-ordinator Mr. Jibardhana Chouhan.

Pastor visited that house alongwith his uncle and told them about the love of our Lord and the healing power by His stripes. Then he started praying. Suddenly the daughters of the sick lady reacted, and claiming that he was forcibly trying to make them Christians. They called out to the neighbours and the police as well. The police arrested Pastor Ashis Kumar Muna and charged with forcefully converting them to Christianity.

Based on the complaint, the Police filed a case bearing no.2204/06 dtd.15.11.06 at Uditnagar Police station of Rourkela against Pastor Ashis Kumar Muna under IPC 448, 354 & 295A & produced him before the Sub-Judge. The Court rejected the Bail petition filed on his behalf & sent him to the Jail. This case is going to be presented on 22.11.06 for further consideration of the said Court.

Please pray that the Judge releases him on 22.11.06 on Bail.

---------------------------------
Salem Voice Ministries News Service (SVM News)
Devalokam, Kottayam, Kerala-686038, India
web:http://salemvoice.org; email: salemvoice@gmail.com
SVM News Blog: http://svmnews.blogspot.com

Brazilian Missionary Murdered in East Timor

Pastor Paul Ciniraj,

Salem Voice Ministries.

http://salemvoice.org

Dili (East Timor), (SVM News), November 20, 2006:A Brazilian missionary was murdered in Dili as new fighting flared in the capital of East Timor late on Sunday, according to a U.N. spokeswoman and a government statement said on Monday (today).

A statement from the prime minister's office said the victim is a protestant missionary of the Assembly of God named Edgar Goncalves Brito of 32 years old. They did not elaborate on how he died.

Donna Cusumano, the U.N. spokeswoman confirmed the death but could give no more details on the incident. "The U.N. police are gathering up the details, the investigation is ongoing at the moment," she said.

A source close to the Brazilian embassy confirmed the man died about 8 pm local time (2200 AEDT) and said the victim's body had been taken to a clinic in the suburb of Bairro Pite.

Eyewitness Elizabete da Silva said she saw the man die as a mob attacked his car and killed him as he was driving near East Timor's main hospital in Dili. "He was our neighbour. I saw them stop his car, drag him out and cut his throat," she said.

It was the first foreign death in the sporadic East Timor conflict since it erupted in April.

UN police were at the scene soon after the murder and were reported to have used rubber bullets to quell the crowd.

A rival groups of people had been involved in clashes around and inside the hospital grounds since Friday, wounding 15 people, including five with arrows lodged in their bodies and three with bullet wounds.

Battles among gangs of youths are common in the impoverished country, which only gained full independence from Indonesia in 2002 and where youth unemployment is widespread.

Last month, authorities were forced to shut Dili's international airport after gang clashes, involving guns and bows and arrows, killed at least two people.

The former Portuguese colony has been struggling to return to stability after plunging into chaos in April and May when a series of protests developed into widespread violence after 600 members of the 1400-strong army were sacked.

Only days earlier rival factions had united in a peace march through the city.

An estimated 100,000 people were displaced in the fighting, which led to deployment of a 2500-strong international peacekeeping force.

A strengthened police element in the force has so far struggled to contain the sporadic violence.

-------------------------------------------------
Salem Voice Ministries News Service (SVM News)
Devalokam, Kottayam, Kerala-686038, India
web:http://salemvoice.org/; email: salemvoice@gmail.com
SVM News Blog: http://svmnews.blogspot.com/

Christian School Ransaked in Bangalore

Bangalore (India), (SVM News) , November 18, 2006: Angered by the disappearance of three girl students from a private Christian school in Chandra Layout police station limits, in Bangalore a group of Hindu radicals ransacked the school principal's chamber on Friday.

The police said that as the girls, who had gone missing had not returned home till Friday morning, some parents and local residents barged into St. Anthony's School on Gangondanahalli Main Road around 9.30 a.m., smashed the glass panes and a tabletop at the principal's chamber. The mob also damaged the glass of a notice board and pelted stones at the school building.

According to the police, the school authorities on Thursday "punished" three girls studying in seventh standard on the charge of stealing money from another student's bag. The girls, all aged 12, were told to bring their parents to school the next day. However, during the lunch break on Thursday, the three girls ran away from the school, leaving their bags in the classroom, Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) K.V. Sharathchandra said.

When the girls did not return home till late in the evening, their parents lodged a missing complaint with the Chandra Layout police on Thursday night. However, two of the girls returned to the school on Friday.

Fearing that their parents would scold them, all the three slept at a good Samaritan's house in Gangondanahalli on Thursday night, the police said, quoting the two girls.

While the two girls had gone home, search was on for the other girl, Mr. Sharathchandra said.

There was tension in the school for nearly an hour following the unruly incidents. Some in the guise of parents argued with the principal that the school authorities were not taking proper care of the students.

The mob also pelted stones at a shrine on the school premises.

The school has been functioning since 1978 and it has 1,800 students.

Chandra layout witnessed attacks against pastor Yona and Joseph three months ago.

Pastor's Son Knifed to Death

London (SVM News), November 16, 2006: Teenage boy of a pastor and a brillianat footballer knifed to death by a gang of 30 youths in the early evening on Saturday 4th of November in Lavender Avenue, Mitcham in London. Two of the victim's friends were also stabbed but survived.

Eugine Attram is 16 year old son of Pastor Issac Attram, 45, of Woolwich Church for the Greenwich Council and Mrs. Maureen Attram, 42, a finance officer at London Metropolitan University.

Eugine was studying AS levels in art, English, sports science and business at Ernest Bevin College in Tooting. He played for the Wandle Wanderers football team and was learning how to teach other children to play table tennis.

He was on his way to a fireworks display with friends in Mitcham when he was murdered in a "ferocious" and random assault.

Police say there is nothing to suggest Eugene was part of a gang and there is no known motive for the attack.

Detective Inspector Nick Mervin said up to 30 youths may have been involved. "We believe there are a significant number of people that were present on the night who have still not come forward, either through fear of what they have seen or fear of other people," he said.

Twelve youths have been arrested in connection with the attack and released on police bail.

"As a family we have been very, very hurt. I want the boys who murdered my son to look at themselves", his father Pastor Issac Attram said. "The loss of any life is painful, but the loss of a 16-year-old boy is extremely painful. We appeal to anybody who has heard anything, however insignificant, to contact the police because that information could be very important to solving Eugene's murder." He added.

"Nothing was too much for Eugene. He was a warm, warm person — always full of jokes", his mother Maureen told. She made a tearful public appeal to help find her 16-year-old son's killers.

"I feel totally lost. I don't know what to think or do. It hurts so much." His sister Amanda, 21, said he was "courageous and very determined" and a "fit, talented and intelligent young man".

Pastor Paul Ciniraj
Salem Voice Ministries
http://salemvoice.org/

Ask Urgent Security to Churches

Dharwad, (SVM News), November 15, 2006: Representatives of various Christian organisations have urged Deputy Commissioner of Police M S Srikar yesterday to provide urgent security to Christians, in the wake of rising attacks on them in Hubli-Dharwad in Karnataka State in India.

Of late, anti-social elements had targeted the community and attacks on Churches and Pastors were on the rise.

In a memorandum submitted to the DC, christian leaders referred the following incidents recently occured. And they asked to arrest the culprits immediately.

A church at Kalyan nagar set on fire by some miscreants.

A Church in Hubli to shut down its Sunday worship service within the city limits, recently, as it could be attacked by miscreants.

The Rashtriya Hindu Sena activists threatened a pastor not to visit the Christians at Revadihal Village in Hubli Taluk.

The militants attacked a person and a prayer hall at Sangolli Rayanna Nagar in Dharwad.

They insulted’ the Bibles in the presence of the police.

The police should conduct an inquiry into the incident and trace out the culprits, leaders said. They also demanded the police security to all the churches in the twin cities during night.

M S Srikar assured them that an inquiry would be conducted into the incidents.

Father Fidilino Aarojo, Rabort Dadapuri, Father Diric Fernandes, Father Moris Muskaranas, Father Philip Kutti, Father Pramod Dhalabhanjan, Sister Irin and others led the delegation.

Pastor Paul Ciniraj,
Salem Voice Ministries.
http://salemvoice.org/

Protection sought for Christians in Karnataka

Bangalore (SVM News), November 15, 2006: The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) has appealed the National Commission of Minorities in India and the Ministry of Home Affairs to extend protection for Christians and their institutions across India.

Dr. Sajan K. George, President of the GCIC made the appeal on November 14 saying Christians are facing “persecution” because of their faith in several places in the country, especially in Karnataka state.

A press release of the GCIC said, "Hindu radicals have unleashed a rein of terror in the state of Karnataka. The recent reports and of increased terrorism shows , targeting of Christians by the Hindu radicals is creating a conducive environment to facilitate operations of international terrorists in southern states of India. The indigenous terror mongers will further vitiate the peace and tranquility prevailing in India. We also appeal to the political parties and religious leaders supporting the indigenous hate mongers that if they continue to sow terror and hate they should be prepared to reap them in India and abroad in many folds".

Press release continues:

In 1991, Pastor C S John started an orphanage with two children, in Lakkavalli village, Tarikere taluk, Chikmagalur District in Karnataka state. The children stayed with the pastor's family in their home, a small hut. In the year 2001, a friend of Pastor John sponsored a building for the orphanage and it was moved to a more spacious location in Rangahalli village, about 6 km away.

Right now there are about fifty children, between the ages of 5 and 17 in the orphanage, with about 12 girls, the rest being boys, being cared for by Brother Andrew and his family. Andrew used to be one of the first inmates of the orphanage.

Since the change of government in Karnataka, there have been sporadic but growing numbers of incidents against Christians in the state. With the BJP coming to power in the coalition government, the areas where they have a strong presence have witnessed various attacks against Christians, churches, and Christian institutions. In the same vein, Pastor CS John heard of a complaint being filed against him to the District commissioner by some BJP supporters . But his efforts to get information about this failed.

On 8th November, he heard that a complaint had been filed against him in the Police station by some BJP supporters. Pastor John called on the Lakkavalli panchayat president and they held a discussion with about 25 BJP supporters, who alleged that John was visiting slums and Dalit villages and inducing the Dlaits and other poor people to convert to Christianity. Pastor John vehemently denied any inducements or conversions, and challenged them to produce proof. They were not able to do so.

On 11 th November there were rumors afloat that a big procession was being planned against the work of CS John. Though this did not happen, on the Sunday morning, a few of the BJP activists stopped tow boys from the orphanage on the road and questioned them about their names, families and what they were being taught in the orphanage. Another young man, Prashant, the neighbor's son, was also stopped and abused in very strong language, because his family had become Christians about ten years ago.

Two men knocked on the gate of Pastor John's house. As he was away attending a meeting in Bhadravathi, Pramod, (the brother of Prashant) who had just been discharged from hospital and under treatment for blood cancer, came out and asked them what they wanted. He informed them that pastor was away at a meeting. The men asked his name and then assaulted Pramod and left. Pramod at once called pastor up and informed him. Pastor John contacted the Sub-Inspector on the telephone. In a few minutes the police arrived and tried, with Pramod's help, to find the perpetrators but they had escaped.

On 13th November, one of the ringleaders called Nagesh came by Pastor John's house. Pastor greeted him in a friendly manner. Pramod's mother looked out of her (the neighbouring) house and Nagesh asked her name, which was Lakshmi – the name of a Hindu goddess. So he said to her " We are waiting to beat up your elder son Prashant. You converted Christians will not be allowed to enter into the church."

According to Pastor John they are planning a big procession on the 15 th Nov. against the alleged conversion "activities" of Pastor John. But he adds that the local police, and the present and former MLAs are quite supportive. Local Dalit groups are also coming out in support of the Christians of the area. We request your prayers for the peace and harmony and for good sense and the rule of law to prevail in the situation. It is sad that even a cancer patient is not spared by the hate mongers because he happens to be Christian.

The attacks are also aimed to threaten GCIC as CS John is one of the senior rights activist attached to Global council of Indian Christians(GCIC). Dr. Sajan K. George's family members also underwent hate and terror in his home on 6th March by the Rajasthan state police and Hindu fanatics.

Anglican Priest brutally murdered in Jamaica

Kingston, (SVM News), November 14, 2006: One of the well known Anglican priests of Jamaica Rev. Richard Johnson of 45 years old was brutally murdered on 12 of November, 2006 in Stony Hill section of Kingston in Jamaica. He was the rector of the St Jude's Anglican Church and chief cleric of the St Phiilips, St Michael's and Tom's River Anglican churches in West Rural St Andrew.

He was found dead at his residence located a short distance from the 119-year-old St Jude's Church on Rectory Road in Stony Hill minutes before 10:00 o'clock Sunday night.

The Constant Spring Homicide Unit reported that a caretaker at the house heard Rev. Johnson screaming for help. When the caretaker ran into the house, he found body on the staircase, with over 25 stab wounds.

The main suspect in the killing, a man known only as 'Bomber', turned himself in to the police late Monday and was being questioned by senior detectives. We know 'Bomber' was known to pay frequent visits to the priest's dwelling," head of the Criminal Investigation Department, Asst Supt Denver Frater told.

"It has been a huge loss. He was like a Mother Teresa to us. I don't understand why someone would take a life like this and they can't give life," moaned senior server and member of the church committee, Dave Dennie. His eyes reddened from crying, Dennie described his priest as a jovial, caring person.

Parishioners recalled that in his last sermon that same Sunday morning, Rev. Johnson had preached about the Good Samaritan, the biblical figure who assisted a wounded man left for dead at a roadside by bandits, when others had only passed him by. The underlying message was about loving one's neighbour.

Another church member present at Sunday's service said it was like Dr. Martin Luther King preaching about being to the mountain top just before his assassination. "It was like Rev. Johnson knew what was going to happen and was telling his congregation," the man said, staring at the ground.

One female church member pointed sadly to a newly built wooden chair inside the church in which Rev Johnson sat for the first time on Sunday. "The chair was just put in last week. It was commissioned by the women's guild in memory of another departed member," she sighed.

He was serving at St. Jude's since 2003. Prior to that, he ministered at St. Michael's in Kingston, and Gilnock in Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth. A graduate of the United Theological College of the West Indies, he was ordained a priest in 1992. He was married to Heather Johnson, the principal of a prominent high school in St. Ann. She was not at the home when the murder took place.

Pastor Paul Ciniraj,
Salem Voice Ministries
http://salemvoice.org/

Long Term Pakistan Christian Prisoner Released

Islamabad (Pakistan), November 12, 2006, (SVM News): The long term Pakistan Christian prisoner Ranjha Masih (58 years of age) has been released from the jail on Saturday, the 11th of November, 2006 by Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khausa. More than eight and half years Ranjha Masih was in prison, after the Lahor High Court acquitted him of blasphemy charges under the Blasphemy Law of Pakistan. The ordere of his release will come about on 14 November after “bureaucratic requirements” have been sorted out.

Ranjha Masih was arrested on 8 May 1998, allegedly having disfigured an Islamic sign during a funeral procession for former Faisalabad Catholic Bishop John Joseph. Ironically, Bishop Joseph had committed suicide in front of the Faisalabad court house to protest Pakistan’s harsh blasphemy laws.

He denied damaging the sign, and police testified in court that its invocation of Muhammad as the prophet of Islam was in perfect condition. But the Faisalabad Additional District and Sessions Court sentenced Masih to life imprisonment in April 2003. Throughout his imprisonment, police kept him in solitary confinement “for security reasons”. He will be released thanks to the efforts of the Centre for Legal Aid Assistance of Lahore.

Khalil Tahir, one of the lawyers of Masih, told SVM News: “We are very happy that Masih has been acquitted but he was subjected to eight years of unjust imprisonment in an isolation cell. This sentence proves once again that the blasphemy law is used to settle personal scores with people like Masih, known for his firm Christian beliefs.”

Masih’s strong faith has earned him recognition from the International Society for Human Rights, which in May awarded him for “steadfastness in maintaining his Christian beliefs”.

The Pakistan Blasphemy Law stipulate life imprisonment for defamation of the Quran and the death sentence for blasphemy against Muhammad. No blasphemy convict has been executed since the law was established in 1986, but extra-judicial killings of blasphemy prisoners are common.

Human rights organizations claimed that Christians and other religious minorities are disproportionately targeted under the blasphemy law. At least 23 people involved in blasphemy cases have been murdered in Pakistan, according to the National Commission for Justice and Peace. A quarter of the victims were Christians, although Christians constitute less than 2 percent of the country’s population.

Cleared of blasphemy charges few months ago after spending eight years in prison, Christian brothers Amjad Masih and Asif Masih have been forced to live in hiding due to threats from radical Muslims.

Most blasphemy charges in Pakistan are leveled against Muslims. In unrelated incidents, two Muslims in Punjab province were killed on June 15 and 16 for their involvement in blasphemy cases.

An angry mob in Hasilpur killed elderly school teacher Mohammad Sadiq when he tried to save a Muslim leader whom the mob was torturing on charges of blasphemy. The next day, blasphemy suspect Abdul Sattar was knifed in Muzaffargarh while on his way to court in police custody.

The problems of Ranjha Masih are not over yet: he has received death threats and the Christian community will keep him in hiding for his safety as soon as he comes out of prison. There have been suggestions that he and his family emigrate to Germany. His wife and six children undergone severe persecutions from radical muslims last years.

Pastor Paul Ciniraj,
Salem Voice Ministries
http://salemvoice.org

Lutheran Pastors Killed in El Salvador

Jayaque (El Salvador), November 9, 2006; (SVM News): Lutheran Pastor Rev. Francisco Carrillo and his co-pastor wife Jesus Calzada de Carrillo were brutally murdered in El Salvador on Saturday, the 4th of November 2006. They were gunned down by three males on bicycles as they were leaving the Montes de Pensbert congregation church of Dos de Mayo in the Jayaque Municipality in El Salvador's central department of La Libertad.

The Carrillos were serving the Pan de Vida and the Montes de Pensbert congregations in Jayaque. The SLS statement says they were tireless defenders of human rights. Among other responsibilities, Rev. Francisco Carrillo was president of the Green Cross (La Cruz Verde) in Jayaque, which includes medical charities and organizations providing health care to the local people. The couple is survived by two adult children.

The gunmen are unidentified, and an investigation has not been completed, said Mary Campbell, chairwoman of the Milwaukee synod's El Salvador committee and a former missionary who worked with the Carrillos for four years in El Salvador. The pastors may have been killed by a gang, or their deaths might have been politically motivated, she said.

The General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Geneva, Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko said, "this tragic news serves to impress upon us again the serious and increasing violence afflicting society in El Salvador, and the important work being undertaken by the Salvadoran Lutheran Synod in an often difficult and dangerous context".

Noko expects the Salvadoran authorities will conduct a swift and thorough investigation of this crime, and to bring those responsible to justice.

In a joint letter of condolence to the SLS Bishop, Dr Medardo E. Gomez Soto, the LWF Area Secretary for Latin America and the Caribbean, Rev. Martin Junge, and Dr Guillermo Kerber, the World Council of Churches (WCC) program executive for Latin America and the Caribbean in the international affairs team say, "We are aware of the fact that these cruel events unfortunately have become a daily experience in the Salvadoran society, making human life increasingly precarious and the population more vulnerable to becoming victims of such violence."

Pastor Paul Ciniraj,

Salem Voice Ministries

http://salemvoice.org

Priest, Missionary Killed in Moz

Angonia (Mozambique), November 7, 2006, (SVM News): A Brazilian Jesuit priest named Waldyr dos Santos and a Porugese lay leader Ilda Neto Gomes were murdered in the western Mozambican province of Tete on 6th of November. A gang of six unidentified armed men with Makarov pistol attacked the Fonte Boa mission in Tsangano district and killed them on Monday morning. The underground missionary of the At Anycost Jesus Mission in Mozambique and Malawi reported to the SVM News.

Due to the attack, a Mozambican named Jose Araujo de Andrade of 75 years old, and a Portuguese citizen Fernando Carvalho also seriously injured. They are admitted at the Ulongue Rural Hospital in the neighbouring district of Angonia for further medical assistance. Both are the members of the Fonte Boa Mission.

Frei Moura, the Commander of the Tete Provincial Police Corporation that they will immediately send an investigation team to Fonte Boa.

The motive of this attack may be robbery, because the attackers made off with a suitcase containing clothing, a camera and a purse full of documents; the police authorities suspect.

Frei Moura said, "We are truly worried, because that area is close to the border with Malawi, and this is the second time that armed men have attacked the Fonte Boa mission. A similar attack was happened two years ago and stole a vehicle, that was later recovered in Malawi. We are going to work on the present case to solve it as soon as possible".

"The thieves managed to steal the vehicle only on the first attack, because of the resistance offered by father Waldyr dos Santos", Moura added.

The Fonte Boa mission runs a school, and local people afraid that the school may be closed because of the attack.

Assyrian Genocide Discovered

Zirabebaba (Turkey), November 5, 2006: (SVM News): A mass grave was discovered in late October near the village of Zirabebaba. Local villagers digging a new grave came across a cave full of the remains of 40 people. It is assumed the remains are of Assyrian Christians and others who were massacred in the Assyrian Genocide of 1915. According to local history over 300 had been killed at the site.Underground Missionary of the At Anycost Jesus Mission reported to the SVM News.

With the long history of denying the Assyrian Genocide, local police and military units according to a local newspaper told villagers to keep the discovery quiet.

As the news has leaked out, the local police have visited villagers and demanded they tell who gave the news and warned to not allow anyone to go to the site.

It is believed by experts that the bones are part of a group of 120 or more Assyrian Christians from the village of Oguz that were massacred on June 14, 1915.

Having suffered the loss of nearly two thirds of their population during the Assyrian Genocide which peaked in 1915, the community continues to suffer most recently in Iraq where over 100,000 are refugees in neighboring Jordan and Syria.

Fearing another `Assyrian Genocide` this time at the hands of the same radical moslem movements, the Assyrian Christians along with other non-moslem minorities are streaming out of Iraq, not afraid of the danger but of their growing influence in the country.

The recent beheading of 14 year old Ayat Taariq in Iraq was the latest in a long string killings that have brought back the past to this long suffering community.

Amidst all the bad news, one piece of Good News has come to the Community. The Iraqi Government, alarmed at the dramatic `brain drain` asked the Assyrian community to formally request a province.

On September 19, the Assyrian Nation formally requested an Assyrian Province in the Northeast of Iraq. As soon as the Province is formally approved and the administration set up, members of the community are expected to return to Iraq.

The recent discovery of remains from the Assyrian Genocide, though has sent a note of caution to the community.`I remember my Grandfather waking up in the middle of the night screaming` says one Assyrian Christian who wished to remain anonymous. `It was 60 years later, but the terror was still real.

`When the Assyrian Province is formally approved by the Iraqi Government, the Assyrian Christians will finally have a `home`, but it will take slow, confidence building to finally bring them back.

The recent discovery in Turkey was a stark reminder to the community of the difficult road ahead – 90 years later the neighboring Turkish government still refuses to admit the Assyrian Genocide even took place.

Missionary Killed Alleged as Spy

Bajaur (Azad Kashmir in Pakistan), November 3, 2006: One more underground missionary of the At Anycost Jesus Mission in Azad Kashmir named Jan Mohamed of 38 years old shot dead by the militants in Bajaur district in Pakistan on Tuesday.

Since last three years he was involving with the underground ministry in this region by giving family counseling, adult literacy, helping the poor and teaching Bible classes. Militants threatened him several times. But he boldly continued the ministry.

After Mondays air strike that killed 80 people, militants simply alleged him as a US spy and killed. And they made a false statement that he was seen near the bombed madrassa in Chingai, talking on a satellite phone after the attack.

The militants put a note left on his body accusing him of espionage. "We had suspicions that he had been working for US forces and the attack to the Madrassa confirmed that he was a US spy".

Another strong believer of Jesus Christ through the At Any cost Jesus Mission named Salahudeen (44 years old) also beheaded in North Waziristan district bordering Afganistan. He was an Islamic Scholar, but recently believed in Jesus Christ. His body was found in a drainage with a note that he was a US spy.

--------------------------------------------------
At Anycost Jesus Mission doing underground ministries in Asian and African Nations for spreading the Gospel to the Muslims and winning them unto the saving power of Jesus Christ at any cost. Get more details from their website: http://anycostjesus.baseelia.org

Trust in Christ than Religion

To know and trust CHRIST is Christianity !
It is not an ism of religion, but it is spirituality !!

Something to believe and do is religion.
Religion doesn't change hearts
Not bothering about a lost soul
And projecting God without having HIS spirit.

Religion offers the approval of men rather than God
Religion makes hypocrites of us
Religion makes a hard life harder
Religion makes it easy to deceive ourselves.

Religion hides the key of knowledge
Religion leads its converts astray
Religion leads to fanaticism that grows communalism
Religion is different than spirituality.

Spirituality encourages everybody to get away from sin
And attain salvation of Jesus Christ for the eternal Kingdom
Ancients worshipped God in the spirit and the truth
And were commended in faith as living sacrifice

Wanted generations to hold spirituality than religion.

Lord help us being spiritual saints than the slaves of religion;
That world know we love one another as You loved us.

--- Paul Ciniraj, Kottayam-686038, India

Salem Voice Ministries

The Salem Voice Ministries give all the glory and honour to God - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It is an Inter-denominational, evangelistic and charitable mission, registered as a society in India. The Bible is the final authority of our faith and life. It is having a special concentration for the evangelisation of the Muslims.

The Salem Voice Ministries spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is not for converting anybody to a particular religion, but changing human hearts towards God's love. It is to share the redeeming love of Christ in India and the third world and winning their souls unto the power of salvation through Gospel campaigns, healing ministries, church planting, charities, child care, and relief services. Also it helps the persecuted christians on the front lines.

The Lamb of God Messiah Yeshua is our eternal Bridegroom. And He is the head and His believers are the body. His name is above all names. He gave His life as a ransom for many. In Him we have redemption through His Blood, the forgiveness of sins. By His death we got eternal life. By His resurrection we learned that we will be rising up. And with a great hope, we are expecting His second coming on clouds, so that, we of those who have washed the robes and made it white in the blood of the Lamb will go with Him as His Bride with a heavenly body. We invite you all to join with us for that great feast which will surely be in heaven very very soon.

Home page of the Salem Voice Ministries: http://salemvoice.org