Millions of Muslims Converting to Christianity

Islam, SVM News, 1 January, 2007: Millions of Muslim converts to Christianity celebrated Christmas throughout the world. According the reports of the various missionary organisations and news medias.

The Salem Voice Ministries evangelising Muslims in India and many other Muslim nations. There are about 500 evangelists ministering among Muslims in different African, Middle East and Asian countries. A vast number of Muslims finding the truth and attaining Salvation of Jesus Christ day by day.

'More Muslims converted to faith in Jesus Christ over the past decade than at any other time in human history. A spiritual revolution is underway throughout North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. As a result, a record number of ex-Muslims are celebrating Christmas this year, despite intense persecution, assassinations, and widespread church bombings'. Thease are the words of Joel C. Rosenberg, the author of the New York Times best selling political thriller.

He said, he and his wife and kids were lived in the Mideast for three months. During that time, he had the privilege of interviewing more than three dozen Arab and Iranian pastors and evangelical leaders throughout the region. The picture they paint is one of Christianity being dramatically resurrected in the region of its birth.

More than 10,000 muslims accepted Jesus Christ as their personal saviour throughout India during the last year. The Bible Society of India publishing thousands of New Testaments for the Muslims with their own terminology and vocabulary in different Indian languages and Tazi language. Pastor Paul Ciniraj Mohamed, the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries is one of the key persons of the Bible translators of the Bible Society of India to reach the Gospel to the Muslims. He is in the midst of persecution. Recently also he was threatened by the extremists to count down his days alongwith the whole family.

In Iraq, more than 5,000 Muslim converts to Christianity have been identified since the end of major combat operations, with 14 new churches opened in Baghdad, and dozens of new churches opened in Kurdistan, some of which have 500 to 800 members. Also, more than one million Bibles shipped into the country since 2003, and pastors report Iraqis are snatching them up so fast they constantly need more Bibles.

Thousands of Muslims turned to Christ and worshipping Lord Jesus in Morocco, Somalia, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Pakistan, Bengladesh and Maldievs.

Around a million believed in Jesus over the past decade in Egypt. The Egyptian Bible Society used to sell about 3,000 copies of the JESUS film a year in the early 1990s. As per the figures taken from the Millennium campaign in 2000, they sold 600,000 copies, plus 750,000 copies of the individual cassette tapes (in Arabic) and about a half million copies of the Arabic New Testament. Ramez Atallah, the General Secretary of the Bible Society of Egypt informed Pastor Paul Ciniraj by email. "Egyptians are increasingly hungry for God's Word," he said.

'Last Christmas, I had the privilege of visiting the largest Christian congregation in the Middle East, which meets in an enormous cave on the outskirts of Cairo. Some 10,000 believers worship there every weekend. A prayer conference the church held in May 2005 drew some 20,000 believers', Rosenberg told.

There were only 17 christians from Islam in Afganistan on 2001. But there are more than 10,000 believers at present. Every week dozens of baptisms being held there.

In 1990, there were only three known Christians in Kazakistan and no christians in Uzbekistan, but now more than 15,000 in Kazakistan and 30, 000 in Uzbekistan. There were only 500 Christians in Iran on 1979, but more than one million Iranians believing Jesus Christ today, most of whom meet in underground house churches.

In Sudan, more than one million have converted since 2000, and some 5 million have become Christians since the early 1990s, despite a radical Islamic regime and an on-going genocide that has killed more than 200,000. Seminaries are being held in caves to train pastors to shepherd the huge numbers of people coming to Christ. Why such a dramatic spiritual awakening? "People have seen real Islam, and they want Jesus instead," one Sudanese evangelical leader said.

In December 2001, Sheikh Ahmad al Qataani, a leading Saudi cleric, appeared on a live interview on Aljazeera satellite television to confirm that, sure enough, Muslims were turning to Jesus in alarming numbers. "In every hour, 667 Muslims convert to Christianity," Al Qataani warned. "Every day, 16,000 Muslims convert to Christianity. Every year, 6 million Muslims convert to Christianity."

Stunned, the interviewer interrupted the cleric. "Hold on! Let me clarify. Do we have six million converting from Islam to Christianity?" Al Qataani repeated his assertion. "Every year," the cleric confirmed, adding, "a tragedy has happened."

One of the most dramatic developments is that many Muslims -- including Shiites in Iran and Iraq -- are seeing dreams and visions of Jesus and thus coming into churches explaining that they have already converted and now need a Bible and guidance on how to follow Jesus. This is the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy of Joel, "in the last days, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days....And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved." (Joel 2:28-32).

Within few years all of the Muslim nations will come to Christ by the work of the Holy Spirit. Satan knows it, that's why he tries to discourage and destroy the Christian workers and the believers through the persecution and brutal murdering. But our Lord Jesus will have the final victory. Pastor Paul Ciniraj said.

Idris Salahudeen, the Pastor of the Salem Voice Ministries said, hundreds upon hundreds ordinary muslims believing Jesus and secretly converting into Christianity by seeing brutal behaviour of fundamentalists towards Christians. Maybe this torturing is a purification of nominal Christians to have more faith and courage.

To reach the Salem Voice Ministries: http://salemvoice.org/

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

All the Staff of a Church Killed in Iraq

Baghdad (Iraq), SVM News, 30 December, 2006: All the staff of the church of Revd. Canon Andrew PB White has been killed during the last year in Iraq. Persecution against Christians increased during the Iraq war and several Christians murdered and so many have fled Iraq. Few remain to keep the Christ candle lit but they live daily in fear for their existence.

Christians throughout the Middle East have paid with their lives. If their bodies were not slain, they now breathe by looking over their shoulders.

Egyptian Coptics, Iraqi Chaldeans and the Palestinian Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant communities are facing violence and even death at the hands of their Muslim neighbours.

"My staff members disappeared about a year ago and we never saw them again. Of the rest of my congregation, most say they have been targeted in some way or have had letters delivered with bullets in them. People forget, or the Islamic groups don’t realize, that Christianity was in the Middle East before them and therefore they see Christians as being part of the Western coalition military presence. Things have got considerably worse since the Iraq war." Pastor Canon Andrew White, who is also the president of the Foundation for Reconciliation in the Middle East said.

Tensions have also increased elsewhere. In Syria one Christian Assyrian said that he was planning to emigrate to Canada because of growing Islamic fundamentalism in a society having to absorb huge numbers of Iraqi refugees. ‘I do not feel at ease any longer and I do not want my two sons to live in this polarized society and atmosphere,’ that man said.

“In Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Christian Arabs are a vulnerable minority caught between sympathy for their fellow Palestinians under Israeli occupation and their own tensions with the much larger Muslim Palestinian community.”

“In Gaza, Christians saw neighbors’ anger mount at the US-led occupation of Iraq. Matters were made worse by the publication of cartoons of Muhammad and by a speech from Benedict XVI that described Islam as a religion of violence.

“Hanna Massad, the pastor of Gaza Baptist Church, said that the conflicts highlighted a difficult issue of identity for Christian Arabs. ‘The issue is who we are. Are we first Christians or are we Palestinians?’ he said.

“For me my priority is my faith. I am a Christian first but I am also a Palestinian, I am Arab. Of course as a Christian Palestinian Arab we suffer with the [Israeli] occupation but at the same time I cannot, because of my personal faith, use violence."

Idris Salahudeen, the Pastor of the Salem Voice Ministries said it is very difficult to work as a christian. Even though, hundreds upon hundreds ordinary muslims believing Jesus and secretly converting into Christianity by seeing brutal behaviour of fundamentalists towards Christians. Maybe this torturing is a purification of Palastinians and Assyrian Christians to have more faith and courage.

Within few years the whole Iraq and the other Muslim nations will come to Christ by the work of the Holy Spirit. Satan knows it, that's why he tries to discourage and destroy the Christian workers and the believers over there. But our Lord Jesus will have the final victory. Pastor Paul Ciniraj Mohamed, the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries and also well known Gospel preacher and author of several christian books said.

The torturing towards christianity will be increasing more, because of the execution of Saddam Hussein, the country's former dictator. But Christians pray and pray more with a deep burden for the lost souls. Our Lord will give us strength and He will fight for us. Pastor Paul Ciniraj added. Saddam Hussin was hanged in Baghdad on Saturday, the December 30, 2006.

Anyhow it is a shame on those in free nations who proclaim the Christian pulpit while desecrating it with apostate teachings that offend the heart of God. Shame on those clergy and laity who foster devilment in the name of the Christian church while actually genuine Christians are giving up their mortal existences in order to further the gospel tidings of salvation through Christ Jesus alone. Pastor Canon white said with tears.

It is interesting that while many within the mainline Protestant denominations have gone apostate with teachings that are against biblical morality, in other parts of the world Christians are dying for that very biblical ethic. While portions of the Protestant segments abandon their allegiance to Christ as God, others elsewhere are laying down their bodies for execution in the name of “Christian.”, he added.

Pastor Canon Andrew White was a graduate of accredited college (BA) and seminary (M Div) with graduate work at Harvard Divinity School. Married for 44 years with 3 adult children. Author of 5 books and thousands of articles in various Protestant and Catholic magazines, journals, web sites, and newspapers.

GCIC affiliated to UN

Bangalore (India), SVM News, 28 December, 2006: The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) has been included in the list of groups affiliated to the World Council of Independent Christian Churches (WCICC), which is an accredited NGO in consultative status in Category Two (Special Status) with the Economic and Social Council and the Department of Public Information of the United Nations.

GCIC is thus part of a select group from India which includes the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of India and the Universal Human Rights Organisation who have this relationship with the WCICC.

"We are sure that, by the grace of God and the prayers of the children of God around the globe, this international affiliation will enable us to serve the needs of the Christian community in India in general and the oppressed and persecuted sections of the Indian Church in particular", Dr. Sajan George, the President of the GCIC said to the SVM News.

The President, Co-ordinators and the staff of the GCIC thanked and praised God and also for the prayer partners those who continue prayers and supports to GCIC.

Pastor Paul Ciniraj Mohamed of the Salem Voice Ministries is one of the Co-ordinators of the GCIC. The martyr Basheer Ahamed Tantray, who shot dead in Kashmir for the precious faith in Jesus Christ was another Co-ordinator.

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

Pastor and believers attacked and arrested in India on Christmas

Dhamtari (Chattisgarh in India), SVM News, 25 December, 2006: Pastor James Ram and another 10 members of the Church of God were arrested on false charges of illegal conversion by Chattisgarh Police on 24th of December at Dhamatari, which is about 40 miles from Raipur, the capital city of Chattisgarh State in India.

A group of the BJP and the Bajrangdal accused false charges of illegal conversion against the pastor and the christian believers and wanted the police to arrest them.

The pastor was released later at about 10.30 in the night of 24th and the rest of the believers released only on 25th, the Christmas Day at about 6.30 in the evening.

Before accusing the false charges of illegal convesion, a group of Hindu radicals attacked Pastor James Ram and the Church of God members for celebrating Christmas on 24th.

The pastor and about 20 believers and the Bible School students were beaten up for singing carols and distributing Christian literature.

One of the church members has lost his hearing ability because of the blow received. The hand of the Bible School student was fractured in the attack. Five of the believers were injured.

Pastor James Ram was a Hindu Brahmin, originally from Nepal, converted into Christianity about 30 years ago. Previously he was called as Vishnu Ram. His wife belong to an ancient christian family of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. He was one of the team members of the IMAM Gospel Crusade, lead by Pastor Paul Ciniraj of the Salem Voice Ministries to spread the redeeming love of Jesus Christ among Muslims and the Hindus.

The Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) and the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) condemned the attack and the arrest of Pastor James Ram and the believers.

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

Jesus was born to die for us once; Have you born again to live with Him forever.

You call me Master and obey me not
You call me Light and see me not

You call me the way and walk on me not
You call me Life and desire me not
You call me fair and love me not

You call me rich and ask me not
You call m eternal and seek me not
You call me gracious and trust me not

You call me noble and serve me not
You call me mighty and honour me not

You call me just and fear me not.
If I condemn you, blame me not !

You celebrate feasts in my name
But allowed me not enter in your heart

You enjoy a birthday telling my names sake

But not seen your born again day in my book.
If I condemn you, blame me not !

You call me Jesus and believe me not
You call me Savior and accept me not

You call me God's Son and pray to me not

You call me true and follow me not

You call me healer and touch my stripes not

You call me pure and look up to me not

You call me Lord and worship me not

You call me forgiving and forgive others not

You call me sharing and you share not

You call me Christ and listen not

You call me Messiah and come to me not.

If I condemn you, blame me not !
Those who have ears, let them hear !!

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

Catholic Arch Bishop, Priests and a Pentacostal Church attacked in India

Bangalore (India), SVM News, 18 December, 2006: The Roman Catholic Arch Bishop of Bangalore Rev. Bernard Blasius Moras was attacked along with the Diocese Secretary Father Anthony Swamy and Father Francis in front of the police on Monday, the 18th of December by the Hindu radicals of Sangh Parivar.

Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) and the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) contempt attack on Bishop Bernard Moras and the priests. They demand CBI inquiry in the new wave of attacks against christians.

A group of Sangh Parivar activists damaged St. Thomas Church and St Claret School in Jalahally, 10 miles from Bangalore on Sunday, the 17th December at about 11.30 at night. They attacked the School Principal Fr. Mathew and Father Jacob Arackal also.

Arch Bishop and the Diocesan Secretary came to St.Claret School on 18th morning at 9.30 to find out the late night attack on the Church, School and the Priests. As soon as the bishop arrived near the school gate, the agitated members of the Sangh Parivar pulled out the Bishop from the car and attacked the priests travelling with him. They also damaged the Bishop's car. A witness told to the SVM News Service.

The Arch Bishop Bernard Moras is also the President of the Karnataka Regional Catholic Bishop's Conference. And he was the one who received Pallium from the Pope Benedict XVI last year. The Pallium is made of wool obtained from the two young lambs, which have been blessed at the high altar of St. Agnes Church in Rome and then offered to the Pope.

SVM News found, in connection with the same, the Sangh Parivar activists attacked a Pentacostal Church too. Sharon Assembly of God Church in Jalahally was damaged related with this incident.

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

Hanukkah and the Christian Faith

The Jews remembered the purification of the Jerusalem Temple that was defiled by the Syrian King Antiochus Epiphanes in 169 B.C. The defiled Temple was purified and dedicated in 165 B.C by Judas Maccabeus. This event was celebrated every year thereafter. This is the popular festival of lights of the Jewish community called “Hanukkah”. It is also known as the Feast of the Lights. This 8-day event was established by King Hezekiah as seen in 2 Chr 29:17.

At the time of our Lord Jesus, the Temple of Jerusalem had in it a seven branched lamp (Menorah), and also an eight branched lamp called the chanukan lamp. During the eight day festival, the first candle of the eight branched lamp would be lit on the first day. Two candles lit in the second day and so on until the eigth day when all the candles would be lit.

At the purification of the temple, jewish tradition states that a miracle took place. Only a small amount of sacred oil was available to light and keep alight the lamps. The miracle was that the lamps kept going until new oil was consecrated. The small amount lasted eight days.

Hanukkah is briefly mentioned in the Gospel and only it seems in passing. "And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication and it was winter" (John 10:22).

We do not have much to go on. Perhaps the reason for this maybe that the real miracle that brought deliverance so often to the people of Israel had for the first time their Messiah, their Saviour in their midst. But for now he was passing through on his way to the place waiting for him, a place only he could go for you and for me to the Cross. It is here for Jew and Gentile that Jesus took our place and judgement for our sins.

Hanukkah reminds us that God is with us in a miraculous way and that after 2000 years the oil of the Holy Ghost has not dried up. The glow of eight candles burning together is much brighter than one. It also reminds that though we may not fully understand all that God is doing we know that one day "All the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord".

Perhaps there is another reference to Hanukkah in the Gospel of St. John 20: 26 that, when the Apostle Thomas desperate and wants to believe but found things so tough. We read that Jesus came to his rescue after eight days. If at this time we too are finding things tough Hanukkah gives us encouragement to keep going through our struggles for Jesus will surely come. Amen.

Hanukkah celebrates during the month of December and it is the Feast of the Lights. Christmas also consider as the feast of the lights, for it is the remembrance of the birth of the Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.

Article by:--
Pastor Paul Ciniraj,
Salem Voice Ministries,
Devalokam (P.O), Kottayam,
Kerala-686038, India.
http://salemvoice.org/

Converted Christians in Morocco Need Prayers

Rabat (Morocco), SVM News, 13 December 2006: Thousand of people converted into Christianity from Islam in Morocco. Salem Voice Ministries requesting prayers for the converted christians of Morocco to be protected from the persecutions and also to be growing in the Spirit. Christian persecution in Morocco is increasing fastly.

At the end of the last month, a Moroccan court in Agadir jailed a German tourist named Sadek Noshi Yassa of 64 years of old for six months for attempting to convert Muslims on Wednesday, the 29th of November. He is a German of Egyptian origin. He was arrested for distributing books and CDs about the Christian faith to young Muslim Moroccans in the street. The court also fined him 500 dirhams ($60) in its verdict issue.

Islam is the state religion in Morocco around 30 million people. There are some Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant churches which are recognized by Morocco, but they are only for foreigners living in the country. Moroccan Christians have no right to pray in these churches. But many of the converts are baptized secretly in Morocco's churches.

Some of the Christians discovered their faith accidentally, while others have been converted by churches, mostly Baptists.

"I discovered Christianity by His grace alone," a young Moroccan woman who wants to remain anonymous said. "I found a Bible on my night table in a French hotel room, and what I read appealed to me. On the same trip, I met a Moroccan Christian, and we had a long discussion."

But like hundreds of her sisters and brothers in faith, she has to practise her religion secretly in Muslim Morocco.

At the moment, they are preparing to celebrate Christmas clandestinely at home, possibly in the presence of a pastor who also has to hide his faith.

The converted Christians of Evangelical Protestant Group have fifty independant churches across the big cities of the Kingdom. Out of it, six churches are in the city of Casablanca, five churches in Rabat and one church in El Ayoun, the regional capital of the western Sahara.

Seven of these are "Free Churches" in Marrakesh, having no links with any international Protestant churches.

"As we are tolerated, but not recognised (by the state) we must, for security reasons, conduct ourselves as a clandestine organisation," said the 57-year-old, who also preferred to use a pseudonym.

"As soon as a church has 20 worshippers it splits in two," said Dr. Abdul Halim, who converted to Christianity 16 years ago when he was living abroad. At the beginning of the 1990s there were only 400 christians in Morocco. But when he returned home seven years ago, he was astonished by the growing number of converts around 700 and today more than 1000. Abdul Halim told SVM News.

Though they are Christians, in the eyes of the state they remain Muslim. And their names also like Muslim names.

Dr. Abdul Halim said, "Officially, my son and I are Muslim. We hold Christian marriages and bless the young couple but this is not recognized by the state. They must go before the Muslim clergy and marry according to Sharia (Islamic law). If they don't do this, they can be charged with adultery."

The same goes for death also. They cannot be buried in a Christian cemetery, only in a Muslim one.

"We have to be careful because ordinary people cannot understand that we can be Arabs without being Muslim. For us the biggest danger is ignorance," Dr. Halim added.

Discretion is the order of the day for Morocco's Christians, with the faithful holding services in their homes, against a background of suspicion from the Islamic world.

The Christian converts also have article 220 of the penal code hanging over their heads, which provides for prison sentences of between six months and three years for anyone who tries to undermine a Muslim's faith or to convert him to another religion.

"For many of us, Islam is perceived as a social straitjacket and not as a real faith, and Christianity as a religion of tolerance and love," said the businessman, who converted at the age of 19 and was later followed by his family.

"We have to live as if we were criminals," a young woman from Casablanca. People who reveal their conversion risk being banished by their families and marginalized by their communities.

Christians in Morocco badly need prayers from the children of God around the globe for their spiritual gowth and physical protection.

Salem Voice Ministries spreading Gospel and planting churhes in India and the third world nations, especially among Muslims.

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

Persecuting and Brutally Murdering Christians

Pastor Paul Ciniraj Mohamed

Kottayam (India), SVM News, 14 December, 2006: An anti christian, claimed as a leader of an Islamic militant group threatened me by telephone with naughty words and gave me warning to count down the days of myself and my whole family. He was very angry and was shouting like anything.

"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Phil 1:21). My wife also have some courage. But all my three children, particularly the youngest son of 12 years old having so much fear in his mind. During the night time he sees bad dreams and waking up in a sudden with loudly crying. We try to give him hope, we pray for him by sealing the precious blood of Jesus and ask him to repeat 'the Blood of Jesus is our Victory". He does it, but still some fear ruling over him. He doesn't allow my other children to sleep in seperate rooms. He wants all of the five members together in a room. When he cry, my daughter also start crying. I request the children of God to continue praying for us, especially my children Besly (18), Hepzy (17) and Lesly (12). The intercession of the children of God is our Fort.

Dr. Shameema Badru, one of the strong believer in Jesus from Islam seriously injured. Gunmen entered the home of Dr. Shameema and shot her at pointblank range. She got four bullets, which damaged vital organs like the kidney, liver and caused other major internal injuries. She is now fighting for her life in the hospital. Dr. Shameema is a mother of four, lost her husband Abdul Majeed Dar, who was the President of the dar Foundation was shot on November 28, 2003 at Srinagar by unidentified militants.

Aashir and Tahira are the missionaries in J&K. Pray for them and their new born baby Noorul Masih.

Pray for the family of Martyr Bashir Ahamed Tantray, who was killed two weeks in Jammu & Kashmir because of spreading the Gospel. Pray for his wife, daughters Shabnam (18) and Shakeena (14) and sons Ajas (16) and Adil (11).

Still there is no news about Pastor Habel of the At Anycost Jesus Mission. He is kidnapped on 17th of November. His wife Yemima and two little children Axa (3) and Victor (2) are suffering. Also there is no news about the missing daughters of the murdered missionary couple Dr. Mehaboobs named Sherin (11) and Shelvin (7). Pray for them. Shalom and Sharon, the older children of the martyrs Dr. Mehaboobs were brutally murdered on 1st of September.

Many of the first Christians, who are called Apostles and Disciples were persecuted and brutally murdered. Lord Jesus' name sake they gladly suffered it until their death. For us Christians, we don't mind to suffer persecution and death on His behalf. If we suffer, we will not be ashamed; but glorify God. Suffering persecution is a gift. And we are sure that we will be having an eternal happiness with our Lord in heaven.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God was slain and redeemed us by His precious blood. He came down from above as God's only begotten Son by the power of the Holy Spirit to reunite all the human beings unto the Merciful God through the sacrificial death of the Cross on the Calvary. He did it as a ransom for many.Those who are beeing persecuted and killed for Him, for the word of God and for the testimony is crying out to the Lord with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" Then a white robe will be given to each of them and say to rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brothren, who would be killed as they were, was completed (Rev. 6:9-11). Certainly, those who have washed the robes and made it white in the blood of the Lamb will live with Jesus as His Bride in eternity forever. For Jesus Christ is our ever living and ever loving Bridegroom.

The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.

"For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also suffer for His sake" (Phil 1:29).

"If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf" (1 Peter 4:14-16).

Martyrdom of the Apostles of Jesus Christ

1. When Peter was sentenced to be crucified at Rome, he was crucified with his body upside down at his request.

2. Andrew was nailed to a trace at Edessa. He hung on the tree for two days in pain. On the third day he died still preaching Jesus.

3. Jacob (son of Zebedee) was killed by the sword of Herod in Jerusalem.

4. John was put into boiling oil at Jerusalem. But as he was not harmed he was exiled to Patmose Island. Later he died at Ephesus.

5. Philip was hanged from a pillar at Hiropolis.

6. Bartholomew was burnt to death by the Armenian king.

7. Mathew was killed in a toen in Ethiopia.

8. Thomas was speared to death at Mylapur near Chennai in India.

9. Jacob (small Jacob, son of Alphaeus) was pushed down from the top of a temple and then beaten to death by a club.

10. Jude (Thaddaeus) was put to death by an arrow at the town of Oruch.

11.Simon, the Zealot was crucified in Persia.

12. Mathias was beheaded after stoning him down.

13. Paul was beheaded by Ceaser Nero in Rome.

14. Stephen was stoned to death at Jerusalem.

15. Mark was dragged along the main street of Alexandria in Egypt and died.

16. Luke was hanged on a big olive tree in Greece.

17. Barnabas was stoned to death at Salemis.

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

Police Helped Radicals to Close Worship Centers

Kanyakumari (India), (SVM News), 8 December, 2006: The Hindu radicals stopped Christian worship service and closed the Prayer Hall at Vellamody village in Kanyakumari District in Tamil Nadu on Sunday, the 5th of December by the help of the Police.

Pastor Jesurathinam and the congregation were assembling for the Sunday worship. Prayer service was started at 7.30 in the morning.

A mob of 200 Hindus, inclusing women forcely entered the prayer hall during the worship service. They were led by the BJP propagation wing leader S.S. Mani and some other local leaders.

The radicals arrived at the prayer hall for disturbing the worship service purposely by shouting the slogans. They demanded to stop the christian worship and remove the prayer hall from the entire village. A believer said to the SVM News Service.

The anti christians held a noisy demonstration for about two hours claiming that a Hindu temple existed close to the prayer hall and there must not be a christian worshipping center.

Tamil Nadu Police arrived on the scene and asked the pastor to stop the worship. Pastor Jesurathinam was compelled to close the prayer hall.

Mumbai

In Mumbai also Hindus stopped a Christian Healing Crusade.

There was a Healing Service organised by the Christian Missionary organisations at Kalidas theatre in Mulund, a suburb of Mumbai to heal the physical and emotional diseases of the people.

The activists of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) protested against such a Healing service accusing the Christian missionaries of alleged conversions of Hindus under the guise of curing incurable diseases.

Another program was to be held again on 3rd December at the same venue; but it was later cancelled.

The manager of the theatre, confirmed that the Christian organization had earlier planned to have such program on Sunday December 3rd, but the program has since been cancelled.

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

Priest and three children burnt alive in Russia

Moscow, (SVM News), 5 December 2006: A Russian Orthodox Priest named Rev. Father Andrei Nikolayev, his wife Oksana and three young children were burnt alive in their home on overnight to Sunday, December 3 in the village Dalekushi in Central Russia's Tver region.

At the time of the fire all of them were in the house. The firefighters arrived to see a collapsed roof and ceiling supports, and a central part of the house already burnt down. The remains of the family were found under the ruins.

The oldest of the children was a boy named David of 9 years old. His two younger sisters, Anna and Anastasia, were 7 and 4 years of age.

The Russian Interior Ministry set up an operational headquarters for an investigation into the family's death. Acting Chief of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Interior Ministry Lieutenant-General Iskandar Galimov was put in charge of the investigation.

Prosecutors of Tver region have opened a criminal case into the death of priest and his family. A criminal case was opened on charges of "murder committed by method posing common threat"

Regional Governor Dmitry Zelenin has brought the investigation under personal control. "If it was an atrocious crime, the criminals responsible should be severely punished. Notwithstanding Christian leniency such crimes are never forgiven," Zelenin said.

"I appeal to law enforcement bodies, asking to thoroughly investigate the crime and get the best experts take part in the investigation," the governor added.

The members of the church and the residents of the village told SVM News that Father Andrei Nikolayev and family brutally burnt alive on overnight to Sunday in what could be a case of arson to stop his efforts to combat alcohol abuse.

He was threatening from alcoholics over his unwillingness to let them raid parish funds to fuel their drinking habits. They have stolen icons and other religious objects from the church and then sold them to buy drink. SVM News reports.

According a Deputy Prosecutor of the Tver Region, priest Andrei Nikolayev and family died from carbon monoxide poisoning when their home went up in flames.

Funeral of the Priest and family was held in a cemetery in the settlement of Vasilkovo in the Tver reign on Tuesday.

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