SVM News

Paul Ciniraj Bagged the Religious Harmony Award

2008-11-11T16:04:00.000-08:00

Chennai (India), SVM News, 12 November 2008: Paul Ciniraj Mohamed, the Indian Missionary bagged the award for religious harmony from the Inter-religious Movement for the World Peace. Award will be presented in a special function held in Chennai during the first week of April.
He was selected by a special committee of the cultural and social wing of the movement under the presidentship of Dr. S.P. Upadhyaya. Col. Veera Selvam, Mulayam Kocharath, Sadhu Johann, Prof. M.Abdul Majeed, Stephen P. John and Dr. Aparna Ahuja were the members of the award committee. The award consists of cash award, citation and plaque.
Paul Ciniraj Mohamed was born and brought up in a Muslim family named "Kochera" at Kalloor in Thiruvanandapuram, India as the son of a retired Headmaster Kassim Pillai and housewife Fatima Beevi.
Ciniraj did education at Kalloor Upper Primary School, Pothencode Lekshmi Vilasom High School, Trivandrum Mar Ivanios College and University College.
While he was a student he involved with the activities of Gandhi Peace Foundation, Sarvodaya Mandalam, Kerala Grandhasala Sangam and Alcoholic Prohibition Movement. He was fully involved with peace march conducted by the Gandhi Peace Foundation against the communal riot which was held at Vizhinjam - Poovar area in Trivandrum District under the leadership of Mr. C. Achutha Menon, who was the Chief Minister of Kerala at that time .A Dalit old widow Bhargavi and her children did a Satyagraha Strike against the Government in front of Kerala Secretariate under the leadership of Ciniraj Mohamed over a year during 1978 - '79 when they were expelled from their own house at Navaikkulam by previous land owner who was a rich Muslim.
Ciniraj was put into jail for few days for leading the strike during this time. At last the government gave Bhargavi and family two and half acres of land at Kilimanoor and solved the problem.
Paul Ciniraj used to read all kinds of religious books and was sharing its contents to others. He believed Hinduism, Christianity and other religions too alongwith Islam. He approached religious leaders of Hinduism and Christianity to learn more from them. And he made a good contact with Benedict Mar Gregorios, the Archbishop of Trivandrum, Guru Nitya Chaitanya Yati of Narayana Gurukula, Varkala. He shared with his friends what he learned. It provoked the leaders of Kalloor Muslim Jama'ath, where he was a member. They warned against his activities first and then excommunicated from the Jama'ath. So he came out from home.
While he was kicked off from the community he had certain personal experiences and with that he approached the Catholicose of the East Baselios Marthoma Mathews I and he enrolled him to the Indian Orthodox Church as a member upon request. He studied more about the faith and liturgy about Christianity. Holy Episcopal Synod under the presidentship of Baselios Marthoma Mathews II declared Paul Ciniraj as "Malankara Sabha Missionary". It was first ever in the history, a laity, who came from another religion appointed as the Church Missionary of the Indian Orthodox Church by the Holy Episcopal Synod.On 1988 January 17 he married with Mercy Ciniraj at Devalokam Catholicate Palace, Kottayam. They have two sons Besly Ciniraj and Lesly Ciniraj and a daughter Hepzy Ciniraj. Nearby the Catholicate Palace they owned a house and sheltered.His parents, brothers and sisters visited him at his house many years after his marriage. Though he was excommunitated from Kalloor Muslim Jama'ath, he was specially invited by Imam of Kalloor Mosque by the permission of the Jama'ath Committee to attend the funeral services of his father on 2001 and mother on 2004. It was unusual and an historical event that an excommunicated man from Islam was called back by the Imam and Jama'ath committee of the same mosque to attend funeral services of the parents.
Paul Ciniraj served as the President of the Baseelia Foundation, Director of the Salem Voice Ministries, President of the Kalloor Public Library, President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India, Secretary of the Kaduvakkulam United Christian Committee and the Organising Secretary of the Malankara Sabha Prarthanayogam. He is active for world peace, national unity and charitable works among children, poor and illiterates.
He is a well known convention speaker. He spreads the messages of Love and Peace.
He has written and published dozens of books in Malayalam. Some of the books are:-- 1. Maranavum Roopantharavum (The Death and Transfiguration), 2. Itha Ninte Amma (Behold Thy Mother), 3. Swargeeya Ayiru (The Heavenly Ore), 4. Bible Tablet and Quiz, 5. Vishudha Qur'an Quiz (Quiz from the Glorious Qur'an). He published many articles in periodicals too.

Rev. Shaji Ipe
Director,
Salem Voice Ministries.
http://salemvoice.org/svm315.html

The Patriarch of Antioch Ignatius Zakka I Visiting India

2008-10-17T20:01:00.000-07:00

(Paul Ciniraj, Kottayam-686038, India)

Cochin (Kerala, India), SVM News, October 17, 2008: His Holiness Patriach of Antioch Ignatius Zaka I was accorded a grand reception at Cochin international airport by various religious leaders, people's representatives and hundreds of devotees on Friday, the 17th of Ocober.

Addressing mediapersons at the airport, Ignatius Zakka I said that being the head of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church, he would work towards unification of different factions in the community.

The Patriarch of Antioch said that the communal harmony in the State of Kerala in India was a model to the world and expressed confidence that his visit would nurture it further.

He thanked the Kerala and Syrian governments whose joint effort, according to him, facilitated his fourth visit to the State. He had earlier visited the State in 1982, 2000 and 2004.

The Patriarch was accompanied by Rev. Mathias Mar Philippinosis, metropolitan from Damascus; archbishops of California and Beirut; two rambans; and two nuns.

During his 13-day visit, Ignatius Zakka I would attend various functions in Kerala including the conclusion of the golden jubilee of the priestly ordination of the Catholicos Baselios Thomas I on October 19 in Kochi.

Another main programs of the Patriarch will be the official announcement regarding the canonization of three fathers of Syriac Orthodox Church; Maphryono Mor Baselios Shakralla (AD 1764, Kandanad), Mor Coorilos Yuyakkim, the Patrirachal delegate (AD 1874, Mulanthuruthy) and Mor Coorilos Paulose Kochuparamabil, the former Malankara Metropolitan and the regional head of the Church in India (AD 1917, Panampady).

The Jacobite Syrian Christian Association and its Episcopal Synod also will be convened under the president-ship of His Holiness during this apostolic visit.

He will be leaving back to Damascus on 27 October.

Catholicos Baselious Thomas I and metropolitans Joseph Mar Gregarious and Kuriakose Mar Julius of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church were among the religious leaders present at the airport to receive the Patriarch on his arrival in an Emirates flight at 9. a.m. K. Babu, MLA; GCDA chairperson M.C. Josephine; Kochi Mayor Mercy Williams were also at the airport.

The Patriarch will be accorded the status of State Guest by the honourable Government of Kerala.

Paul Ciniraj Resigned from the Salem Voice Ministries.

2008-08-05T07:02:00.000-07:00

Kottayam (India), SVM News, August 05, 2008: We are sad to announce that Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the esteemed founder and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries resigned from the Directorship of the SVM.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj was under treatment for "leukemia" since last January. Recently it was found that the Lord has healed him from leukemia, but he was affected by liver cirrhosis and undergoing its treatment. Doctors say cancer medication and treatments are very hard on the body and they may cure the cancer, but can create other medical issues like liver cirrhosis and other major sickness.
Paul Ciniraj Mohamed resigned from the Salem Voice Ministries at the General Body which was held during the month of April. But the General Body compelled him to withdraw the resignation and unanimously re-elected him as its Director. So he was continuing the position.
Recently he found uncomfortable in the position of directorship because of unhealthy situation, he called for a special Governing Board meeting and declared his resignation again. Then he handed over all the records to Rev. Shaji Ipe, the secretary of the SVM.

Pastor Paul Ciniraj said in the meeting, "Lord Jesus has saved me from sin and death. And Lord has chosen me for His ministry. I believe I have faithfully and truthfully done it according the Word of God by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Whenever our Lord thinks my service is enough in this world, He has to call me back at any time to be with Him. I am always ready for it".
"I never earned or gain anything worldly for my wife and children from the ministry. I hand over the ministry and all of its assests, programmes and activities to the Governing Board in which my wife or children are not the members", Paul Ciniraj continued.
"Our Lord weighs our minds and hearts. He knows all of us very well. Do not misuse His physical and economical gifts for worldly pleasures like the sons of the Prophet Samuel. Do not misuse His spiritual gifts like Ba'laam. Yet we may be reviled, persecuted and experienced all manner of evil against us falsely. Certainly It strengthen our spirituality when it comes from gentiles and outcasters. But it is very difficult to tolerate if it comes from our dear brotheren of whom we love and trust in the name of Jesus. They may be called as missionaries, pastors and evangelists. Such experiences from them will make us desperate, depress and discourage. It affect both our body and spirit".
"This so called Christians may have power of money, power of the support of foreign agencies and power of human strength which they might have bought from money or throwing them some favours and small positions; but they may not belong to God. Those are false currencies or coins. They not know what they do. The Word of God teaches that they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ. Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things" (Phil 3:18-19).
"But we must careful that there are true and valuable currencies. It is indeed necessary for any transactions. That's why false currencies are spreading widely. But realise the false currencies have no value and it is to be destructed. Also handling the false currencies is a big crime. So distinguish the good and evil spirits. Our Lord allows the tares with the wheat together until the harvest. So recognise them by their fruits. Don't be cheated. Our Lord is the Burning Fire too", Pastor Paul Ciniraj continued.
"The harvest is plentiful; but the labourers are few. So our Lord asked to pray to the owner of the harvest for sending suitable labourers. In certain places, there were such a vast and beautiful harvest to reap. But unsuitable labourers got down the field and reaped some of it for their own use (not for the Lord) and destructed the rest of the harvest and soil became hard by their feet and made the fields desert. Even no more cultivation is possible. Then how can we reap? India is a best example for it.
60% of the land of the Kingdom of Israel is desert. It is not too far those desert lands can be formed as gardens. It can be possible by culturing the sea-water and make it flow to the desert lands.
The Bride Church of our Lord is called as the Israel of the New Covenent. Certainly still there are plenty of harvest to reap, but not full of harvest. Harvest must be reaped. But at the same time 60% of the New Covenant Israel also keep going on desert land. We have to sow the seed. Before sowing the seed, the land must be plouged and watered. Water must be coming from the sea as cultured, useful drinking water.
Sea water is salty and it is the synonym of sin. The religions of Muslims, Hindus, Budhists, Communists, Nominal Christians etc.around us are great oceans. By our deep faith and prayer we can culture the salty oceanic water which is sins of this world by the precious blood of Jesus and make it flow to the desert minded hearts and plough it by our loving deeds and dedicated services by the Holy Spirit and sow the seed of the Word of God. The Kingdom of God is not barren. There is no desert. There is no sea. It is the tabernacle of God with HIS Bride and He will be dwelling among us. For that we have to serve the Lord. He is not a Godly labourer, if a person comes for harvest without thinking of how such a desert land makes plenty of harvest. So sow with tears and reap with cheers," Rev. Paul Ciniraj added in the meeting.

Paul Ciniraj was a Muslim by birth, accepted Lord Jesus as his personal saviour and converted into Christianity in his early twenties while he was studying in the university. Since last 33 years he was serving the Lord and won thousands upon thousands of souls unto the fold of Jesus Christ, especially from Muslim community. He is a prominent Gospel preacher in India. Many times he was beaten, attacked, burnt and poisoned. Still he is being threatened.
Mercy is the wife of Paul Ciniraj, a member from the Roman Catholic Church who accepted Lord Jesus as personal saviour and involving ministries with her husband. They have two sons and a daughter. Elder son Besly is a biginner student of the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering. Daughter Hepzy is a Bible College student as well as studying first year Degree Course. Younger son Lesly studying VIII grade in a Hih School.
Kindly pray for this family. Also pray for his good health and total healing. They have no income to maintain their family and educate their children. Due to the financial crisis, his family suffered a lot for his recent treatments too. SVM Governing Board requested him to be the Patron of the society. He did not give any reply. But we expect he will encourage us as a patron for the growth of its activities and evangelisation.

Once again we thank Paul Ciniraj and family and offer our prayers on behalf of the prayer partners and well wishers of the Salem Voice Ministries. We request his prayers and guidance again and again.

Contact Paul Ciniraj and family by email ID: mercyciniraj@gmail.com
Email ID of SVM (Salem Voice Ministries): salemvoice@gmail.com
Support SVM and its projects: http://salemvoice.org/contact.html

16 Muslims Arrested in Iran for Embracing Christianity

2008-08-01T19:36:00.000-07:00

Isfahan (Iran), SVM News, August 01, 2008: Sixteen Christians were arrested in Iran on July 27 during the baptism service in Malakshahr, near Isfahan in Iran.

All were converted from Islam to Christianity.

Six women, eight men and two youngsters under 18 were arrested on Sunday when they were assisting in a baptism ceremony of three new members of an underground church.

After the baptism service, they were planning to have worship service with Lord's Supper. But the secret police raided the church and arrested them.

They were put into the prison in an unknown place.

Few months ago, the government presented a bill which is currently being discussed in parliament, to include in the penal code the crime of "Ertedad" which is the act of abandoning the Muslim faith.

If the parliament does approve the law, the punishment for abandoning Islam and embracing Christianity will be the death penalty:

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries requesting prayers for the safety of these converted christians. SVM spreading Gospel of Jesus Christ among Muslims in Asia, Africa and Middle East.

Iraq in the Bible; Pray for Iraq to be rebuilt with peace

2007-06-27T03:20:00.000-07:00

Paul Ciniraj Mohamed, India

It is a great responsibility for the descendants of Abraham, especially the children of God to pray for Iraq and the innocent Christians, Muslims, Jews and others who are being persecuted nowadays. Certainly Iraq was the part of our forefathers and it really makes sentiments on our faith. It is indeed Iraq must be having peace. It must be rebuilt at any cost by the grace of God Almighty.

Israel is the nation most often mentioned in the Bible. But do you know which nation is second? It is Iraq! However, that is not the name that is used in the Bible. The names used in the Bible are Babylon, Land of Shinar, and Mesopotamia. The word Mesopotamia means between the two rivers, more exactly between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The name Iraq means country with deep roots. Indeed Iraq is a country with deep roots and is a very significant country in the Bible.

Persia was in the location of modern day Iran. Assyria and Babylon are in different parts of modern day Iraq.

1. Adam and Eve were created in Iraq (Genesis 2:7-8).
2. The garden of Eden was in Iraq (Genesis 2:10-14).
3. Satan made his first recorded appearance in Iraq (Genesis 3:1-6).4. Mesopotamia which is now Iraq was the cradle of civilization. 5. Noah built the ark in Iraq (Genesis 6:13-22). 6. Nimrod established Babylon and the Tower of Babel was built in Iraq: (Genesis 10:8-97;11:1-4).
7. The confusion of the languages took place in Iraq: Genesis 11:5-11.
8. Abraham was from Ur, which is in Southern Iraq (Genesis 11:31;Acts 7:2-4). 9. Isaac's wife Rebekka is from Nahor which is in Iraq.
10.Jacob spent 20 years in Iraq (Genesis 27:42-45;31:38).
11.The first world Empire was in Iraq (Daniel 1:1-2;2:36-38). 12.Assyria which is in Iraq conquered the ten tribes of Israel. 13.Babylon which is in Iraq destroyed Jerusalem. 14.The three Hebrew children were in the fire in Iraq (that's good news to know that JESUS has been in Iraq too as the 4th person in the fiery furnace) -- (Daniel 3: 20-26)..
15.Belshazzar, the King of Babylon saw the "writing on the wall" in Iraq.16.Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, carried the Jews captive into Iraq.
17.The descendants of the Medes are the Kurds who are in parts of modern day northern Iraq. It was called the Medo-Persian Empire.
18.The greatest revival in history was in a city in Iraq (Jonah preached in Nineveh): Jonah 3.
19.The events of the book of Esther took place in Iraq: Esther.
20.Ezekiel preached in Iraq.
21.Amos cried out in Iraq.
22.The book of Nahum was a prophecy against a city in Iraq: Nahum. 23.The wise men were from Iraq.
24.Peter preached in Iraq. 25. The "Empire of Man" described in Revelation is called Babylon which was a city in Iraq! (Babylon was not only an empire but a capitol city at the heart of an empire. And that city, that heart, was in what is now Iraq): (Revelation: chapters 17,18).
26.No other nation, except Israel, has more history and prophecy associated with it than Iraq.

I suppose Esther was the queen of the Persian king, so that shouldn't have been in Iraq. Also, I'm unclear whether Daniel in the Lions Den would have been in Iraq since that, too, happened under the Persian king. However, he could have stayed in Babylon and had it happen under the Persian regent.

Present Geography of Iraq

Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait.
Iraqi Land Size : 432,162 sq km
Iraqi Climate/Weather : Mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers; northern mountainous regions along Iranian and Turkish borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows that melt in early spring, sometimes causing extensive flooding in central and southern Iraq.
Iraqi Population : 25,374,691 (July 2004 est.).
Iraqi Capital City: Baghdad.
Iraqi Main Industries : petroleum, chemicals, textiles, construction materials, food processing. Iraqi Agricultural products : wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep.
Languages: Arabic (official language); Other languages: Armenian, Assyrian, Kurdish.

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

Indian Persecuted Christians gathered in Bangaluru

2007-06-24T17:33:00.000-07:00

Bangaluru, SVM News, June 24, 2007: Christian victims of persecution and five widows of persons martyred for their Christian faith gathered in Bangalore on 21st and 22nd of June. A rally was also organized by the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) at MG Road, protesting the great increase in attacks against the Christian community in India.

The participants shared their grief and agony at the kind of treatment they faced at the hands of violent mobs, who indulged in raiding homes and places of worship and showed total disregard for law or any respect for human or constitutional rights.

Dr. Sajan K. George, national president of the Global Council of Indian Christians, said that though Christians composed less than 3 % of the country’s population their contribution of services of literacy, education, health, in areas where no one would – with the Leprosy affected, in remote tribal pockets, and among the poorest of the Poor. But still they were targeted for the worst violence like killing, public humiliation, destruction of churches and prayer halls, and exiling from the village.

“What crimes have they committed to get this kind of treatment? And instead of getting justice, the police often charge the victims and put them in jail. Bail is denied to them by magistrates. They are jailed on false charges. Murders are not investigated for years! We demand that justice be done in each case. We have documented 329 cases in the past 15 months,” he told.

Dr. Ruth Manorama, well-known human rights activist and Right Livelihood Award winner, said that the situation of violence against Christians in India was very grave. If there were no improvement, Christians would be forced to internationalise the issue by raising it inUNHRC, Geneva or in the United Nations.

GCIC submitted a Memorandum to the President of India requesting an independent enquiry into the country-wide incidence of violence against Christians by sections of Indian society. They urged the President to repeal the 1950 Presidential Order which abrogated some of the Constitutional Rights of Christians of Dalit descent by withdrawing their rights to reservations in education and employment.

Pastors Arrested in Zimbabwe for Giving Sweets to Children

2007-06-13T17:35:00.000-07:00

Masvingo (Zimbabwe), SVM News, June 13, 2007: Three pastors were arrested in Masvingo in Zimbabwe by the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) on Sunday, 10th June for distributing toys and sweets to the children.

Rev. Sonykis Chimbuya, Pastor Peter Bondai and Pastor Mugondi were the clergymen detained and interrogated by state security agents for distributing playing and eating materials to the kids.

In a bizarre case highlighting deep levels of paranoia in government, the agents of the Central Intelligence Organisation accused the pastors that they distributed campaign material of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), which is Zimbabwe's biggest opposition party.

Pastor Peter Bondai and Mugondi were released after they were interrogated for more than three hours while Pastor Chimbuya was kidnapped and dumped along the Masvingo-Great Zimbabwe highway hours after his arrest.

"We are living in constant fear after the harassment at the hands of the CIO agents," Rev. Sonykis Chimbuya said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

"They just came to us and picked us one after the other. They asked us about the material we were distributing to various church organisations," said the churchmen.

"One of us was kidnapped and was only released after they had proved beyond doubt that the items we were distributing were in fact toys," They added.

The CIO agents also demanded that the pastors write down their sermons and present them to the secret agents for vetting before delivery.

State Security Minister Didymus Mutasa could not be reached for comment on the matter.

President Robert Mugabe last month warned church leaders to steer clear of politics after Catholic bishops denounced the Zimbabwean government over its human rights record.

SALEM VOICE MINISTRIES NEWS SERVICE (SVM NEWS)
Web: http://salemvoice.org Contact: ciniraj@asianetindia.com
News items and headlines: http://salemvoice.org/news.html
Gospel for Muslims: http://salemvoice.org/gospel2muslims.html
Center for Persecuted Christians in India and third world:
http://salemvoice.org/center4persecuted.html

Woman Pastor Stabbed to Death in Great Barrington

2007-06-11T12:30:00.000-07:00

Great Barrington (USA), SVM News, June 11, 2007: The dinamic pastor of the Clinton AME Zion Church Rev. Esther Dozier, 65, stabbed to death in her Railroad Avenue home on Monday, the 11th of June., Her husband, Henry E. Dozier Sr., has been arrested and charged with her murder.

"Esther Dozier appears to have been stabbed multiple times. Her body was found early Monday morning," Police Chief William Walsh said.

Henry Dozier was spotted by Lenox Police as he was driving north on Route 7, and was arrested in the parking.

"He was taken to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, after telling police that he had ingested a poison substance," David Capeless, District Attorney of Berkshire County told to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

Prosecutors have not said how Esther died.

Esther Dozier moved to Great Barrington from Alabama in the 1960s. She had been pastor of the Clinton AME Zion Church since 2000.

Anthropologist David Levinson said in a book about history of the church that Esther Dozier helped create an African-American Heritage Trail that extends through the Berkshires from Pittsfield to the Connecticut line.

SALEM VOICE MINISTRIES NEWS SERVICE (SVM NEWS)
Web: http://salemvoice.org/ Contact: ciniraj@asianetindia.com
News items and headlines: http://salemvoice.org/news.html
Center for Persecuted Christians:
http://salemvoice.org/center4persecuted.html

Millions affected viral fever in Kerala; Several dead

2007-06-10T07:45:00.000-07:00

Kottayam (Kerala, India), SVM News, June 10, 2007: According the official reports, about 800,000 people in Kerala have been affected by viral fever and undergoing treatment in different government and private hospitals in the last three week till yesterday. The unofficial report says more than three million people affected by viral fever.

Thousands upon thousands have been identified with mosquito-borne chikungunya fever. Denki fever, rat fever and Malaria also found.

Reports from Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki and Ernakulam districts indicate that around 100 people have died due to high fever in the last three weeks.

Government was fighting hard to contain the spread of the epidemic in the State, V S Achuthanandan, Chief Minister of Kerala said.

With the viral fever spreading throughout the State and increase in number of cases each day, a cleanliness drive would be organised in the State for a week from June 12 to contain the spread of the epidemic. The Defence, police and various NGOs would be part of the drive, Mr Achuthanandan said.

Kerala's central districts like Kottayam, Pathanamthitta and Idukki were among the worst affected, accounting for nearly two third of the affected.

Following the request from the Health Minister P K Sreemathi, Union Defence Minister A K Antony has urged the Army, Navy and Military forces to give full support to the state government in the fever containment measures.

The Southern Naval Command deputes medical teams to assist the authorities including doctors and para-medical staff, fully equipped with required medicines and medical equipment to treat the patients. And also an expert team from the Defence comprising doctors and paramedical staff from Pune Armed Forces Hospital reached to help the state government in containing the spreading of viral fever and chikungunya.

The expert teams from Secunderabad, Hyderabad, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram visiting the fever-affected areas of Kottayam, Pathanamthitta and Idukki.

Meanwhile, Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramdoss will send the Director General of Health to the state to assess the situation.

It has asked private hospitals to open special wards for patients suffering from fever and to submit a list of the number of patients arriving for treatment.

Free ration would be supplied for a month in the affected regions adding that the Government was also considering payment of relief for the relatives of the dead, Chief Minister said.

All political parties in the State promised their active involvement in the cleanliness drive when Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan called the leaders for an all-party meeting here on Saturday to discuss the measures required to handle the crisis.

The affected people came mostly from the weaker sections of society.

Viral fever severely affected several mission stations of Salem Voice Ministries and hundreds of it's members admitted in different hospitals. "We pray and give top priority for the cleanliness drive to prevent the spread of the disease to new areas," Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries and the national president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) said.

"Please pray for our people. They face Christian persecution in one side, and another side poverty and congagious diseases," Paul Ciniraj said.

News at the SVM site: http://salemvoice.org/news173.html

SALEM VOICE MINISTRIES NEWS SERVICE (SVM NEWS)
Web: http://salemvoice.org Contact: ciniraj@asianetindia.com
News items and headlines: http://salemvoice.org/news.html
Center for Persecuted Christians: http://salemvoice.org/center4persecuted.html

Christian worker severly beaten in Kerala

2007-06-09T16:10:00.000-07:00

Kannur (Kerala, India), SVM News, June 9, 2007: Sunny Thomas, 40, one of the Gospel workers of the Salem Voice Ministries severly beaten by Hindu radicals at Korom Pallithara at Payyannur in Kannur District on 6th of June.

Radicals under the leadership of Prasad, a neighbour, attacked Sunny on Wednesday night. Both of his hands were broken. Immediately he is admitted at Pariyaram Medical College hospital.

Police registered a case and started investigation.

Prasad and Sunny had a quarrel because water has been spread out at Prasad's land when Sunny pumped the motor.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the national president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries condemned the attack towards Sunny and the christian persecution of the entire nation.

SALEM VOICE MINISTRIES NEWS SERVICE (SVM NEWS)
Web: http://salemvoice.org Contact: ciniraj@asianetindia.com
News items and headlines: http://salemvoice.org/news.html
Gospel for Muslims: http://salemvoice.org/gospel2muslims.html
Center for Persecuted Christians in India and third world:
http://salemvoice.org/center4persecuted.html

Church Converted into Mosque by Force

2007-06-07T06:26:00.000-07:00

Baghdad, SVM News, June 7, 2007: Muslim extremists attacked two churches in the Dora district of Baghdad on Tuesday, the 5th of June. They killed security guards at one church and forcibly turned the other church into a mosque.

Several security guards were killed at St John the Baptist Church in Hay Al-Athoriyeen. St Jacob's Church in Hay al Asya was vandalized and forcibly turned into a mosque. St Jacob's Church had previously been attacked in October of 2004.

At the same time as the churches were being attacked, the funeral Mass for Chaldean Catholic Priest Father Ragheed Ganni, was being celebrated in Karamles by Archbishop Faraj Rahho of Mosul amidst tight security.

Sarkis Aghajan, the minister of finance of the regional Kurdish government attended the service.

By this time some christian groups said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service that they demand an Assyrian region at the border with Kurdistan in Northern Iraq.

Fr Ragheed Ganni, 35, a parish priest, and three deacons, were shot dead on 3 June, in front of the Holy Spirit Church in the Nur District of Mosul.

SALEM VOICE MINISTRIES NEWS SERVICE (SVM NEWS)
Web: http://salemvoice.org Contact: ciniraj@asianetindia.com
News items and headlines: http://salemvoice.org/news.html
Gospel for Muslims: http://salemvoice.org/gospel2muslims.html
Center for Persecuted Christians in India and third world:
http://salemvoice.org/center4persecuted.html

Bishop of Indian Orthodox Church killed in accident

2007-06-06T17:39:00.000-07:00

Kottayam (India), SVM News, June 7, 2007: Augen Mar Dionysious, 52, one of the metropolitan's of the Indian Orthodox Syrian Church and the bishop of Idukki diocese, was killed in an accident at Kodungoor in between Kottayam and Thekkady in Kottayam District of Kerala in India at about 9 am on Wednesday, the 6th of June.

The metropolitan was proceeding to the bishop's house at Chakkupallom in Idukki from Vallikkatu Dayara (Monastery) at Vakathanam when his car collided with a private bus which was on its way from Mundakkayam to Kottayam, police sources said.

Augen Mar Dionysius was ordained as bishop on the month of March, 2005. He was the youngest of the Bishop's Council of the Indian orthodox Church.

Baselios Marthoma Dydimos I, the Catholicose of the East is the Supreme head of the Indian Orthodox Church. He is the 90th successor of St.Thomas, the Apostle of Jesus Christ.

Driver of the car was admitted to the medical college hospital in Kottayam.

The body was taken to the office of the Supreme headquarters of the Indian Orthodox Church at Devalokam Catholicate Palace in Kottayam after postmortem. He will be laid to rest today at Vakathanam Dayara, official sources said.

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Bodies of Indian Children found in Missouri City Creek

2007-06-06T11:26:00.000-07:00

Missouri City (USA), SVM News, June 6, 2007: The bodies of Simpson Simon, 12, and Sharon Simon, 10, were discovered on the banks of Oyster Creek near Murphy Road in Missouri City on Saturday morning. The siblings, children of Simon Jacob and Cicily Thomas of Mudiyoorkunnel were reported missing Friday night.

According to police reports, Simon Jacob was with the children at the family's home near the 4500 block of Shadow Briar when the children apparently decided to walk to a nearby Wal-Mart. Cicily Thomas discovered the children missing when she returned home from work at 9 p.m.

Missouri City police officers, along with officers and bloodhounds from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, were mobilized to search the area surrounding the home before the children's sandals were located near FM 1092.

Houston Police Department divers retrieved Sharon's body at 7:30 a.m. and Simpson's body was found 15 feet away five hours later. Foul play was not suspected, they said.

They are the immigrants from Mudiyoorkunnel House of Kuruppanthara at Kottayam in India. Recently they purchased the Missouri City home.

Rev. James Charuvil said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service that Simon and Cicily are parents and they had only two children, so it's a big loss for them. Rev. James Cheruvil is the pastor of Knanaya Catholic Community Center in at Houston. "It's very sad. They were a close family. It affects lots of the (Indian) community," he added.A prayer service, sponsored by the Knanaya Catholic Community, was held at the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church on Saturday evening. The wake for the children is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday from 5-10 p.m. at the Houston Knanaya Catholic Community Center, 2210 Staffordshire Road in Missouri City. Funeral services are tentatively scheduled for Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 12627 W. Bellfort in Sugar Land."As Christians, we must have faith. We are pilgrims here. We are just travelers here and everyone has to die. We have to convince (the parents) to accept the truth. It takes time." Rev. James Cheruvil said.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, Director of Salem Voice Ministries and the National President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) visited Mudiyoorkunnel family at Kuruppanthara in Kottayam and expressed deep condolence.

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Kuwaiti Pastor speaks on church rejection

2007-06-05T18:06:00.000-07:00

KUWAIT: "Freedom of religion in Kuwait is absolute and it's stated in our constitution. We are happy that we can practice our religion freely and we enjoy the support of the government," Reverend Pastor Emmanuel Ghareeb, a Kuwaiti pastor and a titular head of the National Evangelical Church in Kuwait told Kuwait Times yesterday on the issue on the alleged refusal of the Kuwaiti government to grant a permit to build a new church for Catholics in Hawally.

The Catholic Church was not available for comments when contacted by the Kuwait Times, but according to previous reports, it was the same application that was earlier rejected years back when other branches of the Christian faith applied for the same permit and were reportedly rejected.

The Roman Catholic Church has the biggest number of followers in Kuwait with parishioners hailing from India, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Egypt among others. They have churches in Ahmadi, Kuwait City and Salmiya but they believed the Hawally Church could benefit and serve more believers living in the vicinity and neighbouring areas.

The reports of refusal was carried by Al-Watan newspaper recently which cited no reasons for the rejection, but prompted Moussa Al-Sarraf, the Minister of Public Works and Minister for Municipal Affairs to inquire about the decision. Al-Sarraf explained that the Municipal Council had no clear justification for refusal and no details of any voting procedure, which should have been followed before making any decision.

It can be recalled that in 2006, Pope Benedict XVI delivered a lecture in Germany, which sparked worldwide protests by Muslims for offending Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The Pope later apologized for offending Islam, but cited it was a quote taken from a centuries-old religious leader and it was not intentionally quoted to offend Muslims but was to support his lecture about 'Faith, Reason and the University - Memories and Reflections'.

"I am sure there is no refusal issue. We can build a church and it is guaranteed by the constitution. But we accept the fact that we cannot evangelize openly and we respect that because we are living in an Islamic country," Ghareeb noted.

There are about 200 Kuwaiti Christians here and according to Ghareeb, they are "enjoying freedom and are not experiencing suppression or persecution by the dominant religion". According to Ghareeb, their children can play, work and enjoy privileges just like Muslims. The Church compound also welcomes a number of Muslims exchanging goodwill greetings with each other, stressed Ghareeb.

Source: Kuwait Times.

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Pastor arrested second time for 3 days in Belarus

2007-06-05T10:37:00.000-07:00

Republic of Belarus, SVM News, June 5, 2007: Antony Bokun, the pastor of the John the Baptist's Church in Dauginausky Trakt in Minsk was sentenced by the Central District Court to 3 days' arrest.

Pastor Antony Bokun was detained in his apartment when he was conducting worship service. He was brought to the militia department of the Central District of Minsk.

John the Baptist's Church is a Protestant Church, associated with United Church of Christians of the Evangelic Belief.

The law enforcement body participants declared that Antony Bokun conducted a religious service in his house on Sunday without special sanctions. It is to be mentioned that for the same reason he was detained 27 May. Then he was brought to the prison in Okrestina Street where he was kept until the trial. 28 May the Central District Court penalized the amount to the amount of $290 USDollars for the unsanctioned religious service.

"A police squad entered the house during what they described as an "unauthorized" religious service and arrested Pastor Bokun. The minister was brought to the Tsentralny district police department and then taken to the detention center on Akrestsina Street, where he was expected to spend the night. He is likely to stand trial on a charge of organizing and conducting a religious meeting with permission on Monday", lawyer Syarhey Lukanin said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

"Given pastor Antony Bokun's second arrest within a week and the fact that police officers were recording the license plate numbers of the cars entering the territory of New Life Church of Belarus' Association of Full Gospel Christians on the morning of June 3, one may say that the authorities have declared an open war on Protestants," Mr. Lukanin added.

Members of all Minsk-based congregations affiliated with the Association of Full Gospel Christians were scheduled to gather in a church on Sunday to pray for the democratization of the country's religion law.

A co-chairman of the Belarusian Christian Democracy and an applicant for holding a rally Alyaksei Shein has received a refusal of Minsk city executive committee for holding a picket in defense of freedom of worship. The protest was to take place on June 8 in Bangalore Square in Minsk.

Original news at SVM site: http://salemvoice.org/news167.html

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Muslim Extremists Stormed Church in Indonesia

2007-06-04T02:09:00.000-07:00

Jakarta, SVM News, June 4, 2007: Muslim extremists vandalized a church in Indonesia during services, smashing images of Jesus Christ and demanding that it be closed down, the pastor said on Monday.

Dozens of churches have had to be closed in the Muslim-majority country in recent years, and Sunday's attack was the second on the small Protestant church in the West Java town of Soreang since 2005.

Reverend Robby Elisa, who heads the church, said around 100 hardliners attacked while Sunday school was in session. He said his wife was beaten and that at least four stained glass depictions of Jesus were smashed.

"They came and forced their way into the church," he said. "The attackers claimed to be from the Anti-Apostate Movement Alliance. The same group had already attacked the church in 2005."

The secretary of the church's headquarters in Jakarta, Reverend Budi Setiawan, said that the attack had been reported to the Indonesian Church Association (PGI).

West Java, where Islam is strong, has seen a series of attacks on churches to force their closure.

The Jakarta Post newspaper said that more than 30 churches have had to close their door in West Java since 2004 because of attacks by Muslim hardliners. Dozens of churches have also been forced to close in other provinces, it said.

According to a current decree by the religious affairs ministry, houses of worship must obtain the approval of at least 60 percent of local residents and have at least 90 followers to be able to operated.

Elisa said that his church was small and only had a congregation of some 20 adults and 40 children and teenagers.

"Where else can we go? We are too far from the city and our congregation needs a place to worship," Elisa said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service..

The district police chief could not be immediately reached for comment, and the officer on duty at the district police declined to comment.

Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim-majority nation with over 90 percent of its 220 million people adherents of Islam.

Although the constitution gives all religions equal footing, laws make it difficult for religions other than Islam to establish houses of worship.

News at SVM site: http://salemvoice.org/news166.html

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Chaldean Catholic Priest and three deacons shot dead in Iraq

2007-06-03T23:30:00.000-07:00

Baghdad, SVM News, June 4, 2007: A Chaldean Catholic Priest Father Ragheed Ganni, 35, and three deacons, who were his assistants shot dead overnight of June 3 in northern Iraq.

The murder took place right after Sunday mass in front of the Holy Spirit Church in the Nur District of Mosul, where Father Ragheed Ganni was parish priest.

"They finished mass ... and the four of them got into the priest's car to drive away. After they had gone about 100m a car cut them off. Four armed men got out and shot them dead," Brigadier-General Mohammed al-Wagaa, police chief in the divided northern city of Mosul said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

The Catholic news agency AsiaNews told that hours later the bodies were still lying in the street because no one dared retrieve them. Given the situation tensions in the area remain high.

Last month, the leaders of Iraq's Christian minority called on the country's beleaguered government to protect their community from attacks by al-Qaeda-inspired Muslim extremists.

In a joint statement, Patriarch Mar Dinka IV of the Assyrian Church of the East and the Chaldaean Catholic Patriarch Emmanuel Delly of Babylon said Baghdad's remaining Christians were facing persecution.

They blamed the so-called Islamic State of Iraq, an alliance of Islamist insurgent groups that serves as an al-Qaeda front, for much of the violence.

"Christians in a number of Iraqi regions, especially those under the control of the so-called Islamic State of Iraq, have faced blackmail, kidnapping and displacement," the May 10 statement said.

Before the US-led invasion of March 2003, there were estimated to be about 800,000 Christians in Iraq, about three per cent of the otherwise largely Muslim population, living mainly in urban centres such as Baghdad.

Although there were some attacks on churches in the immediate aftermath of the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, Iraq's Christians were not especially targeted while rival Sunni and Shiite Muslim factions went to war.

As a relatively wealthy community, however, many Christians fell prey to kidnap and ransom gangs and many - probably more than half - of them have fled the country or moved to the relative safety of Iraqi Kurdistan.

Now there are reports that Salafist groups such as al-Qaeda, fundamentalists who believe Islam can be renewed by returning to the values of the era of the Prophet Mohammed, are targeting Christians on purely sectarian grounds.

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent bipartisan government agency, last month voiced concern at the deteriorating situation for freedom of religion and belief in Iraq.

Christian communities now face the threat of eradication in their historic homelands in Iraq under pervasive and severe violence and discrimination at the hands of both government and non-government actors, it warned.

Father Ragheed himself had been targeted several times in previous attacks. The Church of the Holy Spirit has also been repeatedly attacked and bombed in the last few years, the last time occurred but a few months ago.

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Malaysian High Court Denied Woman's Conversion to Christianity

2007-06-01T16:35:00.000-07:00

Kulalumbur (Malaysia), SVM News, June 1, 2007: The highest federal court of Malaysia in earlier this week refused to recognize the conversion of a Muslim-born woman to Christianity. The panel ruled 2-1 that the decision was beyond the secular court's discretion.

Lina Joy, 43, converted from Islam to Roman Catholic Church in 1998. Her troubles began shortly thereafter when she tried to change her religious affiliation on her national identification card. Because Islam requires adherents to marry within the faith, Joy would not be allowed to wed her Catholic fiancée if she was registered as a Muslim.

Government officials denied the request, forcing her to turn to the courts. The Boston Globe reports that the six-year battle for her most basic right, the right to believe, came to a close on Wednesday. Writing for the majority, Federal Court Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim admonished that Lina Joy can't at whim and fancy convert from one religion to another….... She must follow rules.

Justice Richard Malanjum, the panel's lone non-Muslim, protested that Joy's "fundamental constitutional right of freedom of religion" had been denied. Malaysia's constitution is conflicted on church-state relations because it simultaneously establishes Islam as the official religion and defends free exercise of other religions.

Her options have to be faced before the Islamic Sharia court or flee the country, Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service learnt from the majority. She could face fines, imprisonment or execution if she goes before the Islamic tribunal.

The decision shocks the conscience because Malaysia is considered one of the world's most modern and forward thinking majority-Muslim democracies. Christians, Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs, representing about 40 percent of the country's population, have lived peacefully with Muslims for decades.

Lina's case marks a disturbing trend in church-state relations around the world, and reminds us that democracies are not immune to theocratic control. Christian persecution also could be increased.

The American constitutional principle of church-state separation protects us from egregious violations of conscience such as that suffered by Ms. Lina Joy. But we must remain ever alert to the forces of religious extremism within our own borders that pose a threat to that most precious freedom.

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Thousands protest against Christian Persecution

2007-05-30T17:58:00.000-07:00

NEW DELHI, INDIA – May 29, 2007: More than 4,000 protestors marched through the streets of India’s capital today to call for the Union Government of India to break its silence on violence against Christians across the country. The rally, called “Stop Violence On Christians”, was organised after two recently televised attacks on Christians and an increase of anti-Christian incidents in the first few months of 2007.

The rally started at 10am at Jantar Mantar near the Parliament in New Delhi. Rally organisers had expected 2,000 people, but attendance was estimated at 5,000. Speeches demanded human dignity and constitutional rights for the Christian community and other repressed minorities. Minorities are facing harassment from Hindutva fundamentalists and, in many cases, local government officials.

The Station House Officer, Parliament Street Police Station, said he had “arrested” approximately 4,000 people at 1:05pm and released them at 2:10pm. It is standard practice for protestors who obstruct traffic to be detoured into the police station yard. They are temporarily detained for their own protection and allowed to state their demands to police authorities. “This was the first time since November 1997 that such large numbers of Christians have been arrested in the Parliament Street Police Station. It was incredible to see Catholic nuns, Protestant pastors, civil society activists and more singing Christian songs of liberation within the police station,” said John Dayal, Secretary General, All India Christian Council.

Large numbers of Catholics and Evangelicals were joined by Muslims, Buddhists and progressive Hindus, leaders of various women’s organisations, students groups from several universities, and Christian lawyers, teachers, and professors. Rally organisers reported attendees from at least seven states in India.

Dr. Joseph D’souza, President, All India Christian Council, said, “The diversity of protestors, from several religious communities, different Christian denominations, and even civil society groups, show that India’s citizens want a truly secular India. People should be able to practice their faith without violent attacks. The government’s silence in the face of recent anti-Christian incidents is not only an injustice, it is dangerous.”

Christian leaders fear copycat attacks could come in the future due to silence by government authorities after recently televised beatings of pastors. Throughout the morning crowds chanted, “Prime Minister, your silence kills”.

At 12:15 pm, crowds began a march to present a memorandum of demands to the Prime Minister of India. However, a majority of the attendees were detained at the Parliament Street Police Station. Organisers said that they decided not to submit the memorandum as originally planned. Instead, it will be released as an open letter to the government.

Recent victims of anti-Christian violence spoke, such as Rev. Walter Masih from Jaipur, Rajasthan, whose beating by masked attackers on April 29, 2007 was broadcast nationally. Rev. Masih walks with a limp due to the attack and shared his experience with the crowd inside the police station with the help of a police PA system.

Throughout the day, other speakers protested the recent wave of violence, demanded immediate implementation of the Misra Commission recommendations, and even proposed new legislation.

Bishop Karam Masih, Bishop of Delhi, Church of North India (CNI), said, “Today I don’t come as a CNI leader. I come as a Christian. All denominations should unite until all the anti-Christian atrocities stop.”

Dr. Ms. Begum Fatima Shahmaz, India Peace Organisation, said, “Those parties and groups who are persecuting Christians should be treated as terrorists. It is unacceptable to attack others based on a difference in spiritual beliefs.”

Dr. Udit Raj, National Chairman, All India Confederation of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes Organisations, said, “Today there is a special unity of Christians and Dalits around the country. We, Dalits, have been attacked for thousands of years and you have been recently attacked. Christians have given much to this country so I want to teach you how to be united, and, if you are united, we can stop the attacks.”

Mr. Mudra Rakshas, noted Hindi writer and theatre artist, said, “Because of the increasing attacks, we need a new law that tells police how they should handle people who are mistreating Christians. We should agitate until the new law comes.”

The Misra Commission, officially called the National Commission for Religious & Linguistic Minorities, recommended last week that the Union Government change a 1950 law which restricts government benefits to Scheduled Castes who are Hindu, Sikh or Buddhist. Scheduled caste is the official term for the Dalit or, formerly “untouchable”, community. Millions of poor Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians would benefit from the change and the recommendations will likely affect pending cases before the Supreme Court of India.

The All India Christian Council (aicc) was a co-sponsor of the rally. Other organisers included several Christian groups and the All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations.

The aicc said meetings similar to the Delhi gathering were planned for today in Mumbai and smaller cities like Nagpur and Pune. They also confirmed that yesterday, in 23 of 25 districts in Andhra Pradesh, protest marches were held under the leadership of local aicc chapters.

In 2006, there was an incident of harassment or violence against Christians approximately once every three days. In the first four months of 2007, there has been an attack every other day on average, according to records kept by the aicc. In addition to the televised attack on Rev. Masih, an attack by Hindutva activists on two pastors in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, was televised on May 9, 2007.

The All India Christian Council, birthed in 1998, exists to protect and serve the Christian community, minorities, and the oppressed castes. The aicc is a coalition of thousands of Indian denominations, organizations, and lay leaders.

Source: All India Christian Council

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Couple and son stabbed to death in Lancaster

2007-05-19T00:43:00.000-07:00

Lancaster (USA), SVM News, May 18, 2007: Three of a Christian family of the native of Lancaster were stabbed to death by an intruder in their suburban home on a street in an upper-middle-class neighbourhood of Manheim Township in Lancaster on 12th of May.

Thomas Alan Haines (50), Lisa Ann Haines (47) and their teenage son Kevin Haines (16), were the family members found stabbed to death on Saturday around 2 am.

The couple's daughter, Margaret Haines (20), known as Maggie, was home at the time and called 911 from a neighbor's house, police said. She was awakened by a noise and went into her parents' bedroom. There she found her father was lying on the bed and the mother sitting on it and asked her to leave the house and get help. But Maggie did not see an intruder.
Police authorities arrived minutes after receiving the 911 call and found the three victims dead inside the two-story stone house. The parents were in their bedroom, and the son was in a hallway.

"Autopsies showed they died of stab wounds. But no weapon was recovered," Chief Neil J. Harkins said.

The Haineses were the members of the Otterbein United Methodist Church and Thomas Haines had served as a trustee. Presently Rev. Robert Bailey is pastoring the Church.

Thomas Haines spent more than 20 years at Motion Industries as a salesman and branch manager. He set school running records at Manheim Township High School before joining the track and cross country teams at Slippery Rock University, from which he graduated in 1978.

Lisa Haines received a bachelor's degree in early childhood education from Elizabeth Town College in 1981.

"Lisa was a teacher at Lancaster Brethren Preschool and Sunday School," Jeffery B. Rill, Pastor at the Lancaster Church of the Brethren said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

Kevin Haines was a very bright Manheim Township High School sophomore who wrote for the school newspaper and was working toward becoming an Eagle Scout.

Maggie Haines was a 2005 graduate of Manheim Township and had just completed her sophomore year at Bucknell University. She returned home on Thursday.

Police found the Haineses' back door open when they responded to the 911 call. But Chief Neil Harkins would not say whether that was how the killer entered, but he noted that there were no signs of forced entry and that nothing was taken from the home.

The search warrant for the home was sealed, Lancaster County District Attorney Donald Totaro said.

Totaro said Maggie Haines has cooperated with investigators, and Harkins said investigators had no reason to believe she was involved in the killings.

Harkins said that police had no new breaks in the case and that investigators continued to pore through the victims' backgrounds, looking for clues. "Profilers with the FBI are expected to be in Lancaster to help with the investigation. They've just given us some tips on what we should be looking for," he added.

Link: News at SVM site: http://salemvoice.org/news162.html

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Freedom of Religion Bills Against Christianity: Nagaland Chief Minister

2007-05-17T13:27:00.000-07:00

Paul Ciniraj,

Salem Voice Ministries.

New Delhi, SVM News, May 18, 2007: Neiphiu Rio, Chief Minister of Nagaland State in India said that the so-called freedom of religion bills are basically directed against Christianity, having been used to prevent conversion to this religion, and to harass Christian missionaries, who have renderd so many philanthrpic services to the poor and the marginalised.

He was addressing the two-day international conference on 'Empowerment of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Minorities', convened by Lok Sabha Deputy speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal on 17th of May. He said such legislations deprived the people of their right to freedom of religion guaranteed by the Constitution.

"This is a subject about which I feel strongly as a tribal and a Christian,"' said Mr Neiphiu Rio sharing a forum on empowerment of dalits and tribals with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and leader of the Opposition LK Advani.

He also registered his strong protest against what he called "grave injustice to dalit Christians" who because of religion and faith have been deprived of their right to reservation, which the dalit Hindus enjoy. He sought to underline that the socio-economic condition of these dalit Christians had not changed after their conversion to Christianity.

'"This Ministry implements tribal sub plans in those states which have pockets of tribal areas, but has no such plan for the fully tribal states of the North east. I consider this a great paradox. We had taken up this issue at various fora in the past, but with no results so far," he said in the conference.

Mr Neiphiu Rio also came down heavily on the policy and functioning of the Tribal Affairs Ministry.

The Chief Minister of Nagaland asked the conference to deliberate upon these issues and come out with its recommendations.

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Priest shot in New Delhi; 57 Old Dalit brutally persecuted by Police in Kerala

2007-05-15T07:06:00.000-07:00

Priest shot and injured seriously in New Delhi

New Delhi, SVM News, May 15, 2007: BREAKING NEWS: Rev. Father George, the Principal of Vincent Pallotti School shot and seriously injured today before noon.

Father George was shot by two men who came to seek the admission of the school.

Father George is admitted in a private hospital.

Link: News at SVM site: http://salemvoice.org/news159.html

--------------------------------

57 old Dalit brutally persecuted by the Police in Kerala

Thodupuzha (india), SVM News, May 15, 2007: A Dalit Christian named Chacko (57) was savagely tortured by the Police on 14th of May at Karimkunnam Police Station in Thodupuzha in Idukki District of Kerala in India.

Police brutally nailed Chacko's penis with steel pins.

And Chcko was admitted to the District Co-operative Hospital when he became unconcious. Doctors removed the steel pin from his penis through an immediate surgery.

Chacko of Vellappuzha House at Purappuzha Village went to the police station alongwith his wife Kuttiyamma to give a complaint. In the complaint they stated that Kaniyamparambil Manoj and his wife Maya forcely entered their house and beaten them severely due to a quarrel.

Police called both families to the station to make a mutual understanding. But at the station, police sent back Manoj and family and tortured Chacko very crually and beaten him up.

Prasannan, the Circle Inspector of Police in Thodupuzha reached the hospital, met Chacko and started investigation.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the National President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries condemned the cruelty of police towards Dalit Christians. He asked the government for giving a model punishment to the related policemen of Chacko's incident.

Thodupuzha Block Committee of Congress (S) condemned the attack.

Link: News at SVM site: http://salemvoice.org/news160.html

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Parents of missing four year Madeleine believe she is safe

2007-05-14T18:47:00.000-07:00

LISBON, SVM News, May 15, 2007: - Gerry and Kate McCann, the parents of Madeleine, the four-year-old British girl kidnapped 12 days ago in Portugal, said they remained positive that their daughter was safe and vowed to keep up the search for her. She found missing on 3rd May.

Medeleine's mother Kate continues her visits to pray at the church service in the Algarve village of Praia da Luz.

‘Until there is concrete evidence to the contrary, we believe that Madeleine is safe and being looked after and that is how we can continue in our efforts,’ said Gerry McCann in a statement read to reporters on Monday.

‘We can’t even consider returning home at the moment, I absolutely can’t even let it enter my head,’ his wife Kate said when asked when she was considering going home.

It was the first time Kate McCann had answered questions from the media since Madeleine was snatched from her bed on May 3 in a popular resort in the Algarve in southern Portugal, just yards from where her parents were dining in a nearby restaurant.

‘We do of course wish to keep communicating with the media and we would like to thank you all publicly for the excellent job you have done to keep Madeleine’s profile so high,’ Gerry said.

She was four years old on Saturday, the 12th of May.

On Sunday afternoon, Mr and Mrs McCann left the confines of the apartment complex where Madeleine was snatched.

They walked hand-in-hand on the beach and mingled with other holiday makers in the village of Praia Da Luz.

Mr. Gerry McCann has spoken of a "tidal wave" of devastation caused by Madeleine's abduction from the resort of Praia da Luz.

"The devastation affects everyone we meet here in the resort and has affected this community," he said.

The strongest lead police have involves a blonde woman and two men who were captured on CCTV at a petrol station near Praia da Luz with a girl matching Madeliene's description.

One of these men was reported to have been seen taking photos of children on a nearby beach a couple of days before she disappeared on May 3. Madeleine and her siblings are believed to have been amongst those he photographed.

The second lead is a sighting of a man seen lurking near the apartment complex on the day Madeleine went missing.

He is described as having dark skin and dark hair, aged around 30-35. He was about 5 foot 8 inches tall - and was wearing white trousers and a blue jacket.

The home of a British woman and her adult son is being searched and sealed for forensic tests by Portuguese police. The man questioned and taken to the police headquarters from the house just up the road from where Madeleine and her family were staying. But his mother is insisting he has not been arrested.

Police are also reviewing witness statements already gathered - including those of the McCanns. Detectives are looking for any clues they may have missed the first time around.

Local television station SIC Noticias said a member of the family at the villa often spoke to reporters and had said Madeleine looked like his daughter in England. He is believed to have helped Portuguese police and acted as a translator.

The McCanns praised the Portuguese police for their work and thanked people for the widespread support they had received.

‘You know that we are taking tremendous strength from the warmth and the spiritual outpouring that we have received here and from all around the world,’ Gerry said.

A spiritual and financial network is being built around the parents of Madeleine, to help them stay in Portugal as long as necessary.

Father Paul Seddon, the priest who married Gerry and Kate McCann and baptised Madeleine, has flown out to join the family.

And two British lawyers have gone to the Algarve to advise the couple who are expected to make their witness statement to Portuguese magistrates tomorrow.

Gerry McCann's brother, John, said the lawyers would help Madeleine's parents in their daily dealings with Portuguese police but would not interfere with the criminal investigation.

They are also providing Gerry and Kate McCann with advice on setting up the fighting fund to continue the search for the youngster using donations from the public.

The fund will pay for an international appeal and help the McCanns' hire private investigators if they are needed.

Celebrity donations also have been pushed up the reward offered for Madeleine’s safe return to 2.6 million pounds ($5.14 million).

J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter, tycoons Sir Philip Green and Sir Richard Branson, Wayne Rooney and Simon Cowell have all contributed and a special fighting fund is being set up.

Madeleine's uncle John McCann has launched a campaign to keep the family's plight in the public and has met Glasgow marketing bosses ahead of the Espanyol-Sevilla Uefa cup clash being held in the city on Wednesday.

The plan is to show Madeleine's picture on large screens in the city where around 30,000 fans are expected to travel from Portugal's neighbour, Spain, for the match.

Investigators say most abductions by strangers end within 24 hours. After that, the chances of finding the victim diminish significantly.

‘Its obviously extremely difficult. We have had excellent help from a travel trauma consultant, who has really enabled us to utilize tools to help us look forward, to try to put the speculation out of our heads and channel everything into looking forward,’ said Gerry.

SALEM VOICE MINISTRIES NEWS SERVICE (SVM NEWS)
Web: http://salemvoice.org/ Contact: ciniraj@asianetindia.com
News items and headlines: http://salemvoice.org/news.html
Gospel for Muslims: http://salemvoice.org/gospel2muslims.html
Center for Persecuted: http://salemvoice.org/center4persecuted.html

51 year old Christian Doctor and wife attacked in Kerala

2007-05-10T14:04:00.000-07:00

Kottayam (India). SVM News, May 10, 2007: A group of four people attacked Christian physician Dr. Thomas Mathai (51) and his wife Hansy (46) in Kottayam District of Kerala State in India on 7th of May.

Dr. Thomas Mathai is the Superintendent of Government Taluk Hospital at Kanjirappally in Kottayam Dist. The attack was held at his residence at the Village named Cheppampara.

Dr. Thomas Mathai was an efficient physician since last 25 years. Beside his duties he was interested to do personal evangelism and also was helping charitable and missionary works.

The attackers came by a car, knocked the doctor's residence at Cheppampara on Monday 12.15 midnight and asked him to attend an immediate accident case of a youth who seriously injured by motor byke. Doctor opened the door of the consultation room. Suddenly attackers caught him by force, shut his mouth, tied up his legs and hands and beaten him with steel pipe. He was severely injured.

Suddently doctor's wife Hansy came to rescue the doctor. But attackers shut her mouth, tied up her legs and hands and tighten her at a window.

The attackers robbed Indian Rupees 5000, 250 grams of gold ornaments and two mobile phones from doctors house.

When the attackers left, doctor tried very hard and untied his hands and legs and his wife too. Then they went to Ponkunnam Police Station and reported the incident.

And Dr. Thomas Mathai was admitted at the Taluk hospital at Kanjirappally.

Deputy Superintendent of police N. Ramachandran and Circle Inspector T.A. Antony are investigating the case under the guidance of S. Sreejit, the District Superintendent of Police.

District Congress leaders, social leaders and local public leaders conducted different meetings and condemned the attack of Dr. Thomas Mathai and family.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the National President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) condemned the attack of Dr. Thomas Mathai and family. "It seems not only the intention of robbery, but a planned attack towards Christian public servants and Christianity". Paul Ciniraj said. He urged the Government to find out the attackers and the brain behind it.

Few weeks ago, Salem Voice Ministries evangelists at Mullakkudi and Brotheren Church evangelists at Marayur were beaten up in Idukki District, which is the neighbouring district of Kottayam. And also Carmal Gospel Center was vandalized at Pampady in Kottayam District itself.

Maheen Sathar, a converted Christian was locked up in a cellar for 17 days also just last month in Malabar in Kerala.

SALEM VOICE MINISTRIES NEWS SERVICE (SVM NEWS)
Web: http://salemvoice.org/ Contact: ciniraj@asianetindia.com
News items and headlines: http://salemvoice.org/news.html
Gospel for Muslims: http://salemvoice.org/gospel2muslims.html
Persecuted Christian Center: http://salemvoice.org/center4persecuted.html

FMPB Missionaries Attacked by VHP Activists

2007-05-09T11:25:00.001-07:00

Kolhapur (Maharashtra), SVM News, May 9, 2007: Two missionaries of the Friends Missionary Prayer Band (FMPB) was severely beaten up by Viswa Hindu Parishat (VHP) and Bajrangdal activists at Ichalkaranji village in Kolhapur District of Maharashtra State in India on Sunday, the 6th of May. They accused the Christian missionaries of converting seven Hindus to Christianity.

FMPB Missionaries Ajit Billawi and Ramesh Kagargole were dragged to the local police station through the streets. At the station the police arrested the missionaries and beaten up in full public view. But did not detain the fundamentalists in a shocking twist to the episode which was recorded by television news channels.

"It's highly shameful. It's as if the Bajrang Dal does just not understand the concept of law and order," said Congress leader Rajiv Shukla, reacting sharply to the incident.

Maharashtra Deputy Home Minister RR Patil said the state government has ordered a “high-level probe” and the “guilty will get the strongest possible punishment.”

Sukhwinder Singh, Kolapur's Superintendent of Police, said a complaint was registered against the people who were involved in the attack on the two priests. Singh said investigations were on to identify the attackers, who were local residents, as also said to be VHP activists.

And with pressure mounting from state and central political leaders, the police began rounding up those who unleashed the atrocities and eleven VHP members have been arrested on Tuesday.

Last week, a pastor in Jaipur was attacked by a right wing group for preaching Christianity. The police felt that time that the presence of media cameras added fuel to the fire.

Few days ago Christoppara mission field of the Salem Voice Ministries also attacked by the RSS and Bajrangdal activists. They tied Evangelist Anthony Dasa's hands and feet and then gagged him.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, National President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) condemned the attack to the missionaries.

Link (News at SVM site): http://salemvoice.org/news156.html

SALEM VOICE MINISTRIES NEWS SERVICE (SVM NEWS)
Web: http://salemvoice.org Contact: ciniraj@asianetindia.com
News items and headlines: http://salemvoice.org/news.html
Gospel for Muslims: http://salemvoice.org/gospel2muslims.html
Persecuted Christian Center: http://salemvoice.org/center4persecuted.html

Marthoma Church and believers attacked in Karnataka

2007-05-06T23:41:00.000-07:00

Kolar (Karnataka), SVM News, May 7, 2007: Newly dedicated Narasapur Marthoma Church in Kolar District (Hoskote Mission)was attacked by suspected Hindu militants on 6th of May in Karnataka State in India.

A mob of around 50 people arrived the church with saffron flags and headbands right after the Sunday worshipping service. They were abusing slogans against Christians and demanded to close down the Church permanently.

The attackers destroyed the electrical circuits of the church.

The militants asked the believers to hand over their evangelists named Jeyaraj and James to be finished up. Somebody said that they left to conduct worship service in another mission church at Baelemananahalli. Immediately the radicals rushed to the Baelemananahalli church by using vehicles.

But they could not find the evangelists at Baelemananahalli mission church. So they attacked the believers and several were beaten up including an woman named Leelamony. Govindappa, Santhosh and Philip were also injured by the attack.

The attackers happened to see two local christian youngsters, doubted as evangelists Jeyaraj and James and beaten them severly.

And also the militants ordered to vacate the tenants within 10 days and hand over the evangelists to them.

A complaint have been lodged to the Venkal Police Station. Rev. Sabu Thomas is the new vicar of the Narasapur Marthoma Church.

Just three months ago Santhosh of Baelemananahalli mission was severely by the radicals. That was also registered as a case at Venkal Police Station.

Hoskote Mission was established by the Marthoma Syrian Church of Malabar on 1946. Six congregations have been developed in this mission.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, National President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) condemned the attack at the Narasapur Marthoma Church. He asked the Central and State Governments to take quick action

“India is a great democratic and secular country. Absolutely it is a shame for the social and cultural leaders in India for keeping silence when the minorities and Dalits are being persecuted. They must open their mouth and react against innocent persecutions", Paul Ciniraj said.

"Those who persecute dalits, minorities and christians are public nuisance. They should be considered as the enemies of the nation", Ciniraj added.

"Persecution towards minorities and dalits, particularly Christian persecution is increasing widely throughout India. Pastors, missionaries, evangelists and believers being murdered, beaten and jailed. Churches are vandalized. Authorities are often silent or protect the attackers. Hearing these shocked news, many of our leaders express their sympathy but next they are simply forgetting it. It is not good. We must react. We must strike against the persecution. It is our responsibility to make sure that the life and property of each and every citizens are safe and secure", Paul Ciniraj said.

SALEM VOICE MINISTRIES NEWS SERVICE (SVM NEWS)

Web: http://salemvoice.org Contact: ciniraj@asianetindia.com

News items and headlines: http://salemvoice.org/news.html

Gospel for Muslims: http://salemvoice.org/gospel2muslims.html

Persecuted Christian Center: http://salemvoice.org/center4persecuted.html

Christoppara Mission of Salem Voice Ministries Attacked

2007-05-01T14:10:00.000-07:00

Karwar (India), SVM News, May 1, 2007: Christoppara Colony, a mission field of the Salem Voice Ministries (login the following link for the details with pictures: http://salemvoice.org/christoppara.html) attacked on 20th of April.

A group of young activists of Hindu RSS, Bajrangdal organisations from outside village entered into the prayer shed by shouting slogans while women, children and aged men were holding a prayer service on Friday.

The attackers tied up the elder of the mission Anthony Dasa who was leading the prayer meeting. And asked the believers to stop singing Christian songs and Christian prayers.

Then they started taking class about Hinduism. They did not allow the believers to go out from the shed, but kept stand surrounding them. They advised everyone to join with them to wipe out Christianity.

But one of the woman who happenly came late for the prayer meeting seen this incident and she informed everyone in the colonyand their work fields. Immediately more than hundred men gathered together against the attackers. When attackers saw the colony people coming with the weapons and stones, they left taking Hinduism class and ran away from the Christoppara Colony and escaped.

Christoppara Colony is situated on a rock in a jungle at the border of two states. More than 350 people consisting of approximately 70 families live in this colony. "Christoppara" means 'The Rock of Christ'. Previously it was having some other name. The believers themselves changed the name as Christoppara.

People of the Christoppara mission are very poor. They earn daily for their life. Usually they are jobless and without income for more than 15 days of a month. Most are illiterate. The way of living is not hygenic. There is no electricity, no telephone and not even to drink purified water. They drink from a country well. Tin bottle lamps and lanterns with kerosine oil using as their lamps.

There was not a single believer of Jesus Christ within 20 miles of the colony. Salem Voice Ministries reached that interior remote area about eight years ago. They started Bible class as well as adult education. All of them were interested and attended the classes.

They had no problem from the anti christians, because everybody turn to Christ in that colony.

But recently RSS, Bajrangdal groups influenced two unemployed youth from the Colony and by their support they entered the colony to wipe out Christioanity.

The governing board members of the Salem Voice Ministries immediately visited Christoppara colony, conducted a continuous fasting and prayer service for the entire colony.

Eight member team of the SVM governing board travelled 20 hours by train; then six hours by bus; then four hours by a Bullack Cart; and after four miles by walk to reach Christoppara colony. (SVM doesn't have a vehicle to travel as a team. Please pray that our Lord may provide at least an eight seated vehicle for Salem Voice Ministries to travel to the mission fields).

They did not even take a rest, but gave councilling to the families and conducted three days fasting prayer. And again they took about 36 hours to reach back to the SVM headquarters as they gone up to the mission.

By God's grace, the backslided youths repented before God and asked pardon to the total community of the Christoppara mission and turned back to the Christian spiritual services of the mission.

SALEM VOICE MINISTRIES NEWS SERVICE (SVM NEWS)
Web: http://salemvoice.org/ Contact: ciniraj@asianetindia.com
News items and headlines: http://salemvoice.org/news.html
Gospel for Muslims: http://salemvoice.org/gospel4muslims.html
Persecuted Christian Center: http://salemvoice.org/center4persecuted.html

Underground Church Worker Beheaded in J and K

2007-04-16T04:38:00.000-07:00

Shopian (Jammu Kashmir in India), SVM News, April 16, 2007: One of the active members of the SVM (underground) House Church in Kashmir was brutally murdered on Saturday, the 14th of April in India.

Manzoor Ahmad Chat, 33, beheaded by Hizbul militants on Saturday before dawn and police recovered the head and the remaining part of the body from Gundi Pora and Pinglana villages in Pulwama District.

Manzoor and family were believing Jesus Christ from Islam and attending prayers of the Salem Voice Ministries (Underground) House Church. He was the one leading the prayer section.

And also Manzoor was a Government employee as a lineman of the Power Development Department (PDD) in the Kakapora area.

On Friday he has gone by his Scooter No. JK13 7831 for the duties. While he was going he met two believers and reminded them about the prayer meetings. But on the way he had been kidnapped by the militants, police suspects.

On Saturday people of the Pinglena village found the headless body from a nearby paddy field. Also found the head kept in a polythene bag near the mosque.

Militants had a plan to kill him earlier. A gunbattle between militants and armed forces had taken place at Manzoor's house last year. He seemed to have been brutally tortured and finally slaughtered to death.

Police registered a case and investigations have been launched. The dead body was handed over to the family after the post mortem.

By this time police killed two leaders of the militant group Leshkar-e-Toyiba.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) and also the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries condemned the murdership of Manzoor Ahamed. Also he congratulated the State and Central governments for the quick action against terrorists and the continuous fight against terrorism.

Pray for the widow and children of the Martyr Manzoor Ahamed Chat.

Four months ago Evangelist and Campaigner Basheer Ahamed Tantry, who was also a government employee (engineer) was shot dead in Kashmir in front of the public during the day time.

Pastor Ashir of the SVM Underground Church in Kupwara in Kashmir was severely attacked on last month.

Link: http://salemvoice.org/news153.html

SALEM VOICE MINISTRIES NEWS SERVICE (SVM NEWS)
Web: http://salemvoice.org Contact: ciniraj@asianetindia.com
News items and headlines: http://salemvoice.org/news.html

Christian believers severly attacked in Kashmir

2007-04-15T13:52:00.000-07:00

Shopian (Jammu & Kashmir in India), SVM News, April 15, 2007: Families who believe in Jesus Christ from Muslim community and gathering for prayers at Gundi Pora village in Shopian District of Jammu and Kashmir in India were attacked by the militants on Friday, the 13th of April late night.

Some of them injured and women and children were abused. But the people afraid to say what exactly was happened.

There are very few families believing in Jesus Christ.

By their talk to Pastor Paul Ciniraj, Salem Voice Ministries News Service found that they were shivering with fear. Women and children were crying. Everybody afraid to say what exactly was happened.

"We doubt, some one of their members might have been kidnapped or brutally murdered", Paul Ciniraj said.

Suspecting the attackers belong to the militant group of Lashker-eh-Toyiba.

Pray for those families.

Converted Christian was locked up in a cellar for 17 days

2007-04-11T12:22:00.000-07:00

Malabar, SVM News, April 11, 2007: Maheen Sathar, a Christian convert from Islam was locked up in a dark room for 17 days and released on April 9. He was locked up in a cellar by his brother-in-law (wife's brother) with some other extremists on March 24.

Maheen Sathar was a strong believer in Jesus Christ since four years. But his wife Muneera did not believe in Jesus Christ. Maheen tried to convince her several times about the need of the Salvation, and also the importance of reading and meditating the Bible, the Word of God. But Muneera did not even listen him because she was infuenced by her brother Siddhiq Yasin, who is an extremist, working in Riyad in Saudi Arabia.

Last month Maheen Sathar was baptised. Actually he was waiting for the baptism for a long time, because he wanted his wife Muneera to be baptised with him. At last he alone decided to take baptism.

Muneera informed this to her brother and immediately he landed from Saudi Arabia. He wanted Maheen to confess back to Islam. He tried to carry him to Saudi Arabia by offering a great position. Also he offered a big house and its property as Maheen's own. But Maheen thoroughly said, "Lord Jesus is far... and very far above than any of the offers of this world. I may be killed, but I will never deny Jesus, for He is my Lord and Saviour who granted me eternal life."

This provoked Siddhiq Yasin and his gang. They brutally beaten him in front of his wife Muneera and locked him in a cellar. They did not provide him proper food and facilities. They did not even allow Muneera to see him at the cellar.

Everybody thought Maheen will be changed his decision and come back to Islam. But they found he is becoming stronger in the faith of Jesus day by day. So they took a decision to save Muneera from Maheen by killing him.

It was a shock for Muneera, for she never expected such a thought of killing would come from her brother and father. She personally prayed God, the Almighty. While she was praying she saw Heaven and Lord Jesus is sitting on the thrown. Maheen is at the palm of His right hand, praising Him alongwith the angels and washing human souls by the blood which flows like a beautiful stream from the heart of Jesus Christ alongwith the Word comes out of His mouth. Muneera tried to reach Maheen, but she could not. Because there was a big gap in between Heaven and Muneera. In fact, she had seen a bridge in the shape of a Cross over the gap; but it was taken back to heaven when she attempted to enter in it. That's why she could not go to heaven.

Muneera confessed with tears, accepted Lord Jesus as her Saviour and prayed for Maheen not to have any harm.

Then she called Rev. Paul Ciniraj Mohamed, the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries by telephone and told him all the details. He reached the place and met the believers first. There were very few Christian believers and all of them were converted. They prayed together and approched a politician. By his help they met a senior police officer and the police forcely released Maheen from the cellar.

At the same evening, a mob gathered with weapons to attack Pastor Paul Ciniraj under the leadership of Siddhiq Yasin. Immediately, some of the local people, who are secretly believing Jesus Christ did hide him from the spot to another house. Ciniraj believes that he was protected by God because of the prayers of the children of God.

Maheen and Muneera started a new life in a seperate house, under the special care of the Police Officer. But it is not good for them to continue their future life. Indeed they have to be rehabilitated to another safety place as soon as possible.

It is true that the politician and the police officer were somewhat useful for releasing Maheen from the cellar. But nobody can fully trust them, for they themselves being afraid some political or religious powers. They specially requested the SVM News Service not to mention their names anywhere regarding Maheen's case.

Maheen and Muneera did not overcome the dangerous situation yet. God alone has to protect them in His mighty hands. Asking continuous prayers for them.

"Christian persecution is increasing widely thoughout Asian and African countries. Many pastors, believers, evangelists and believers murdered, beaten and jailed. Churches vandalized. Authorities keeping silence or protecting attackers in several places. Hearing all these, many people showing their sympathy and leave it. We need prayers; continuous prayers from the dedicated prayer warriors", Rev. Paul Ciniraj Mohamed, who is also a converted Christian from Islam said.

SALEM VOICE MINISTRIES NEWS SERVICE (SVM NEWS)
Visit our web: http://salemvoice.org

Officials Locked the Church Against Singing Songs

2007-03-28T11:14:00.000-07:00

Malabar (India), SVM News, 27 March, 2007: New Testament Pentecost Church was established 35 years ago. Eleven years ago, the church successfully registered with the government, and has grown to include 11 branches and various ministries, and does not operate using foreign assistance.

However, 12 years ago a Muslim family living nearby started making life difficult for the church. The father of this family tried many different ways to get rid of the church, first by attempting to buy it from the Pastor. When that did not work, he and his son would disturb their worship by shouting loudly over their singing. But the real trial came when four months ago the neighbor and other Muslims joined together and sued the church. The Pastor, Sam George, was summoned to the police station 4 times. Twice the police were favorable to him, but the last two times the police became hostile.

Recently, a notice came from the municipality showing that the church’s worship was causing a disturbance to the neighborhood. Police stopped Sunday services 22 times, verbally abusing the church members and attempting to arrest Pastor George. The police gained a court order against the church, prohibiting their use of a sound system because the sound was more than 55 decibels, the volume of a normal conversation.

Four weeks ago the church received a notice from the municipality showing that the church hall would be sealed if they sang songs or did any preaching. The next day the building was sealed without an order from the high court. For the last four weeks they have been worshipping in another house.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) condemned locking of the church. It is against the fundamental right of a citizen of India for the freedom of worship. CMCI sent petitions to the Central and State governement authorities to take an immediate action and open the Church for the regular worship. Otherwise we will be forced to conduct march for protesting freedom for the worship and against the Christian persecution. Paul Ciniraj said.

Salem Voice Ministries

http://salemvoice.org

Catholic Nuns were attacked in Kerala

2007-03-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

Palai (Kerala, India), SVM News, 27 March, 2007: Catholic nuns were attacked in their convent by unidentified people at Bharanaganam, near Palai in Kottayam District in Kerala in India on 23rd March.

Medical Mission Sisters of Bharananganam were attacked at Friday early in the dawn and two sisters got head injuries. It is suspecting that attackers beaten them by iron rods or steel pipes. One of the sisters told to the Salem Voice News Service.

Rev. Sister Dr. Stella M.M.S, 65, who is also a medical doctor among the nuns was seriously injured at her forehead. And the other one got injury at the back side of the head. They are under the treatment of Indo-American Brain and Spine Hospital at Chemanagiri, Vaikom in Kottayam District.

A complaint filed to the Palai Police Station and they are investigating the attack.

There are 12 Medical Mission Sisters living and doing their spiritual and medical services at Bharananganam M.M.S. Convent. Nobody has any idea about the cause of the attack, Mother Superior said to the SVM News Service.

Bharananganam is a small village, but it is an important pilgim place of Kerala. The Blessed Alphonsa's tomb is here. Pope John Paul II visited this place and he declared Sister Alphonsa as a blessed lady of the Church. It was an imporant religious function for Sister Alphonsa before enlisting her as a saint.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) condemned the attack at the Bharanaganam Medical Mission Convent and beaten the sisters there.

Salem Voice Ministries,
Devalokam, Kottayam,
Kerala-686038, India.
http://salemvoice.org

Evangelists of the Salem Voice Ministries beaten up by Fundamentalists

2007-03-24T14:31:00.000-07:00

Idukki (Kerala in India), SVM News, March 24, 2007: A group of evangelists of the Salem Voice Ministries were beaten up by Muslim fundamentalists at the village called Mullakkudi near Thekkadi in Idukki District on 24th of March.

There were three evangelists named Satheesh Kumar, George Thomas and Kunjumon Mani were preparing for a corner meeting after visiting houses and personal evangelism on Saturday before noon. Suddenly a group of fundamentalists questioned them and started beating.

Evangelists were using a handy megaphone for amplifying the message of Gospel to the public. But the extremists totally destroyed it and thrown out in the Periyar river alongwith tracts, literature and Bibles.

Recently some youngsters believed in Jesus and joined with the evangelists of the Salem Voice Ministries to distribute tracts and literature. This may be the cause the evangelists were attacked.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries complained to the police authorities.

Some evangelists of the Brothren Church who were doing personal evangelism also were beaten up in another place of Idukki District. They were beaten up by some zealots at the place called Marayur in Idukki District in Kerala on Thursday, the 22nd March.

After distributing the tracts in the village, brethren evangelists were in the lodge preparing to go for the evening Bible class. A group of people suddenly came and beaten them severly.

Pray for the evangelists that they may be cured soon. Also pray for the persecutors that they may also know the love of the Lord.

Both the evangelists of the Salem Voice Ministries and Brothren plan to continue the work with great burden for the perishing souls.

Read the news at the original site: http://salemvoice.org/news149.html

Pastor shot dead in Trinidad while Praying

2007-03-23T15:12:00.000-07:00

Moruga (Trinidad), SVM News, 23 March, 2007: Pastor shot dead while he was praying with the church prayer warriors on Wednesday, the 21st of March at the St. Mary's Village of Gomaz Trace in Moruga, the southern sea town in Trinidad.

Kelvin Austin (34 years of old), the pastor of the church named Independant Assembly of the Mantle Sword of the Spirit (IAMSP) was the one brutally murdered on Wednesday early in the morning at the galvanised shack, which is being used as the worshipping Center.

Some members of the church told that the Leader knew his life was in danger and was written to Patrick Augustus Mervyn Manning, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago asking for police protection.

He and the church members were on prayers at 5 am. Unexpectedly there were two armed men wearing black wigs with red streaks entered into the church and introduced themselves as police. They ordered the people to lie on the ground and asked "Who is Pastor Austin and let him be stood up". Then Pastor stood up and said I am Pastor Kelvin Austin. Immediately they shot him. Two bullets gone through his head and he died on the spot.

Pastor Austin, his wife Natasha Austin, their two children and some of the believers recently started their mission at Gomez Trace.in Moruga. Before they were in Erin.

The congregation consisted mainly of young people. Few infants, including a three-month-old baby also among them.

They occupied a three bedroom galvanised house, which was without electricity, telephone or even pipeborne water. Apart from the house, there were two small tents outside the building where Austin and another adult was sleeing separately.

"Pastor Kelvin Austin was a dedicated man of God. He founded the IAMSP about five years ago. He used to be called as "Leader". His vision was to eastablish Gospel villages by trained people from the age of younger stage. That's why we started a mission here", his wife Natasha said to the Salem Voice Ministries News Service (SVM News).

“We go wherever our Lord sending us. The Lord sent us here, so we came”, Kimberly John, 19, one of the members of IAMSP, said about their ministry.

Sean Reyes, another member of the mission, said he knew about the letter Austin had sent to the Prime Minister asking for police protection. But when questioned as to how Austin knew someone was trying to kill him and why, Reyes replied that the information came from God.

Local people of the Gomaz Trace said they know nothing of Pastor Austin and his church, for we don't keep much contact with new residents for a few period.

View the pictures alongwith the news: http://salemvoice.org/news148.html

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

Evangelist of the SVM says, "Lord Jesus fights for His children"

2007-03-16T10:28:00.000-07:00

Kottayam (Kerala in India), SVM News, March 16, 2007: "Lord Jesus mightly fighting for His children, if anybody persecuting Christians, for which I am a clear evidence", says Thankappan corner to corner by holding the Bible in one hand and showing his terrific stomach to the public. "I was an enemy of Christians, but Jesus Christ loved me, made me alive and saved me from sin and death. Now I am His servant". Thankappan says.

Evangelist Thankappan, a clear evidence

Thankappan was a taxi driver and also a fanatic Hindu. He never liked Christian missionaries. He used to speak against Christianity and was organising people near the temples against the evangelism activites.

Once he was driving his taxi, he was happened to go nearby a Corner Gospel Meeting, which was conducted by the Salem Voice Ministries. There he noticed a former Muslim and a former Hindu were witnessing Jesus Christ. He became very angry and spit at the meeting.

Suddenly his car was hit with a truck and he was seriously injured with a comma. His intestines, both small and large came out of the stomach. Doctors tried their best, but they could not replace the intestines back to the stomach. They had not even .01% hope about his life. So they just simply kept intestines together as a pack and stitched the stomach.

After few days, while he was still in the comma, he had a vision that Jesus Christ touched him and told, "I am giving you life again. Confess your sins and show yourself as my witness".

Thankappan opened his eyes. He saw Pastor Paul Ciniraj praying over him. Some others including his wife standing around with tears with an expectation of his death.

Though Thankappan was unable to speak, but slowly opened his mouth and said to Pastor Paul Ciniraj, "Pastor, I spit at you. I spit to my Lord Jesus. I persecuted my Lord's servants. I persecuted my Lord Jesus. Forgive me. Forgive me. Ask my Lord to forgive me". Thankappan wept deeply.

While this time, somebody called the doctor. Doctor was amazed to see Thankappan speaking and crying. He said it is a great miracle.

When Thankappan totally healed, he was baptized and became an evangelist of the Salem Voice Ministries, distributing tracts and literature and witnessing Jesus Christ corner to corner. His wife also helping him.

But his children not yet fully saved. Some extremists trying to get Thankappan back from Christianity through his unsaved children. Pray for Thankappan and family.

News with picture: http://salemvoice.org/news147.html

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

Gospel Center vandalized in Kerala in India

2007-03-11T10:11:00.000-07:00

Kottayam (India), SVM News, 11 March, 2007: Gospel Center run by the Indian Pentacostal Church was vandalized by the Hindu extremists on 6th February in Kottayam, which is known as literal district in India.

Carmel Gospel Center at the village named Kooroppada in Pampady, around 10 miles east from Kottayam town was the one attacked on Tuesday just before the midnight.

Gospel Center was started three months ago. Around 50 people attending the worship service.

"The glasses of the front side windows were totally destroyed because of stoning and the pieces were scattered in and out side of the bulding. Number of stones they used for stoning", Pastor Baby Paul (30), the minister of the Gospel Center said to the SVM News Service.

"After a prayer meeting I and my wife were having our lunch at the dining room. Our son Barose of 5 years old and daughter Basia of 2 years old were sleeping in the front room. Suddenly we heard the sound of stoning at the front room where our children were sleeping. We cried aloud and rushed to the room to protect the children. When the attackers heard our voice, they stop stoning and left", Pastor Baby Paul told.

"They were a group of people came by motor bykes and attacked us", Anu Baby, the wife of Pastor Baby Paul said. "Our Lord Himself protected our children under His wings without having any harm".

Later we saw that the attackers had been written some Hindu symbals of "Oum" and "swasthic" on the public road at the front of the Gospel Center. Anu Baby added.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) visited the vandalized Gospel Center. He condemned the incident and asked the State Government to find out the attackers very soon.

Pastor Baby Paul alongwith the Church Secretary Alex complained a petition to the Pampady Police Station. Police investigating the case and also keep patrolling the total area.

SVM Missionary attacked (leg broken) in Kashmir

2007-03-08T08:11:00.000-08:00

Kupwara (Kashmir in India), SVM News, March 7, 2007: Pastor Ashir, the missionary of the Salem Voice Ministries was attacked on 6th of March in Kupwara in Jammua and Kashmir in India.

Pastor Ashir was returning back home on Tuesday afternoon after a prayer meeting in a small village Rikwaza, which is about 6 miles away from Kupwara. Suddenly a group of masked people attacked him with steel pipes and wooden sticks. He was severly beaten.

Ashir became unconcious and fallen down. Some of the local people found him lie-down on the street and admitted him to the hospital.

He was seriously injured and one of his legs has been broken. Police registered a case against some unidentified militants.

Tahira, the wife of Pastor Ashir and their four month old child Noorul Masih also under threat.

Pray for this family and the believers. They are having few families believing in Jesus Christ in that locality.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries condemned the attack against Pastor Ashir, the SVM missionary of Jammu and Kashmir.

Send Prayer Requests for Night Vigil and 3 days fasting and prayers

2007-03-01T17:04:00.000-08:00

By the grace of our Lord we will be having our next full night prayer on 9th February Friday 6 pm to 10th Saturday 6 am (Indian time).

And also we will be having a three days fasting and prayer on 21st March Wednesday morning 9 (am) to 23rd Friday evening 3 (pm).

Those who need prayers may go to the website http://salemvoice.org and submit prayer requests at the window of "submit prayer". We will be interceding their prayer requests throughout the night vigil and our fasting and prayers. (We print out all the prayer request from the website, distribute among the participants of the night vigil and fasting and prayers and pray for it by name). Let us hope that they may not forget to send a praise report, when they are being answered for their prayer requests.

Also I request you to join with us in prayers at the time of our night vigil and three days fasting and prayer. Indian time is GMT +5.30 (It is easy to find out through the BBC TV channel. For the time of BBC is according to GMT. If BBC shows 12 noon, that means Indian time is 5.30 pm. So we start our night vigil on Friday, the 9th March on 12.30 pm of BBC time. In India it is 6 pm. Likewise, we start our fasting and prayer on Wednesday, the 21st March on 3.30 am BBC time (In India it is 9 am).

Wherever you may be, but you can join with us in prayers, if possible with fasting and prayers. Kindly pray for me, my family and entire Salem Voice Ministries. Increasing our persecutions as different types by different ways. Your prayers are our fort.

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

Praise the Lord! Website salemvoice.org retained

2007-03-01T17:01:00.000-08:00

Praise the Lord that the website service provider websuvidha.com made apology and retained our website salemvoice.org. Certainly it is because of your prayers. Thank you, thank you so much for your prayers. We praise and thank God again and again for His loving care and mighty protection.

Kindly continue praying for us and the Salem Voice Ministries. Increasing our persecutions as different types by different ways. Your prayers are our fort.

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

Website salemvoice.org suspended unnecessarily

2007-02-28T12:41:00.000-08:00

Pastor Paul Ciniraj,

Salem Voice Ministries

Kottayam (India), 28 February, 2007: Our website salemvoice.org has been blocked unnecessarily by the webhosts named websuvidha.com. Our website was an upgraded website of websuvidha.com as Salem Voice - business plan and was renewed with full payment for 3 years, till 13 September, 2009.

The webmaster of websuvidha.com claims that somebody (1 person) complaint an abusement against salemvoice.org that we sent Unsolicited Bulk E-mails (UBE). They attached a UBE.txt (726 bytes) for the reference of the email with a subject "Millions of Muslims Converting to Christianity" sent by one George Hendrickson alias geohendrickson.

We neither sent out Unsolicitary Bulk E-mails, nor even any of the personal E-mails to anybody from the domain salemvoice.org since more than months. We always send out mails from different server, which doesn't have any connection with websuvidha.com.

And also I clearly checked my address list and found there is nobody in our whole address book by name George Hendrickson or by email ID geohendrickson. Certainly that complaint was a spam or a false abusement.

But I wonder, why websuvidha.com did not attempt to verify their server whether the complaint was right or wrong.

Also I don't understand why the websuvidha.com did not ask me an explanation about it before suspending our website salemvoice.org.

I am very much doubt that it is a funny trick made by websuvidha.com itself to block our website salemvoice.org because of the strong performance of the spreading of the Gospel and high-lighting the christian and persecution news.

The reason of websuvidha.com to block our website salemvoice.org is undoubtedly Christian persecution. Certainly they are persecuting us and our ministry against spreading the Gospel and high-lighting the christian and persecution news. They are violating our fundamental rights and humanitarian rights.

Also I suspect that they block our website now because they afraid the brutal murdership of Pastor Goda Israel, 29, who was found with stab wounds on February 20 in a canal in Krishna district of the southern state of Andhra Pradesh will be high-lighting as a news in our website. The headquarters of the websuvidha.com also is in Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh.

We will be forced to take the legal action immediately, if websuvidha.com doesn't say apology and retain our website salemvoice.org immediately.

We love India as our mother. And we love Jesus as our Saviour and Lord. So it is our duty to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and win our brothers and sisters unto the redeeming love of Jesus Christ. We don't convert anybody from one religion to another. But asking people to find out the love of Jesus Christ and change their hearts unto His love. His love gives us peace. His love can make our nation unity and integration. His love brings everybody unto the eternal salvation.

To present the love of Jesus Christ, we do charitable, rescue, rehabilitation and relief services among the poor, sick, illiterates, children and women.

Mahatma Gandhi followed His love, life and mission. Mother Teresa lived in His love, life and mission. All of the national and international leaders appreciated His love, life and mission. We too love to follow and live in His love, life and mission. We ask others to do the same.

It is an unoffensive law for any Indian Christians to live, pray and worship freely and peacefully in India. Nobody can deny our faith, believe and existence. If anybody violate this rights and persecute Christians, certainly we will condemn them against persecution. For India is our birth-right.

We are fully convinced and faithful to say that our ministries receive no financial aids or supports from any of the foreign missionary agencies and organisations. Certainly we do this ministry by faith alone. We never ask anybody to help us; but pray to God. Hardly, few of the individuals helping us voluntarily with prayers and assistance.

Under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, we, the Indians together raised our voice and attained freedom. Likewise against the Christian persecution, we will be crazing our noise and raising our voice for our religious freedom in India by the Spirit of our Lord Jesus. Neither any weapons, nor any form of harassments can stop our faith and ministry. We are ready to face any torturing with courage. For we believe that the Lord our God will be fighting for us.

And also the Bible says and we believe, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13).

Paul Ciniraj
Salem Voice Ministries,

Devalokam (P.O), Kottayam,

Kerala-686038, INDIA.

Boat drowned; 26 school children killed in Kerala

2007-02-20T08:59:00.000-08:00

Paul Ciniraj,

SVM News Service

Cochin (India), SVM News, 20 February, 2007: Tourist boat has drowned and number of school students below 10 years of age were killed in Periyar river at the reservoir area of Bhoothathankettu Dam at Kothamangalom, which is around 20 miles away from Cochin in Kerala on Tuesday, the 20th of February at about 6.30 in the evening.

According the reports, 22 dead bodies were found including three teachers by 9.30 at night. Several children found missing.

Local people including the members of the Salem Voice Ministries, navy, fire service, police are involving in rescue operations under the District Colector of Ernakulam. Ministers and leaders of the Kerala Government are rushing to the spot.

Dead bodies are kept at Kothamangalom Baselios and Dharmagiri hospitals.

Students and teachers of the Elavoor St. Antony's Upper Primary School near Ankamali were on the excursion trip. More than hundred children and their teachers were going for the out trip in two buses. On the evening they were having boating at Thattekkad lake reservoir.

Read detailed news with pictures:

http://salemvoice.org/news144.html

Salem Voice Ministries,
Devalokam, Kottayam,
Kerala-686038, India
http://salemvoice.org/

Millions of Muslims Turning to Jesus

2007-02-18T20:35:00.000-08:00

Joel C. Rosenberg, the author of the New York Times best selling political thrillers, THE LAST JIHAD (2002), THE LAST DAYS (2003), THE EZEKIEL OPTION (2005), and THE COPPER SCROLL (2006), with more than one million copies in print, who writes that, "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.

"Secular media rarely reports such advances of Christianity, especially those thrusts into Islamic territories. However, there are evangelical efforts that know daily of such progress. Finally, God knows and that is ultimately what makes all the difference", Rosenberg 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.

“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.

The American Daily reports in the article titled "Muslims turn to Christ" that one evangelistic agency alone, Salem Voice Ministries, reports that Muslims in India and many other Muslim nations have surrendered their souls to Christ. “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.

Read the full news story about "Millions of Muslims Converting to Christianity"
-- http://salemvoice.org/news117.html --

There itself you can read the related articles of: "Muslims turn to Christ" (article of the American Dailey), "Persecution Harder Among Muslims Who Convert to Christianity, But Saved Souls Bring Great Joy to Believers" (news story of Assist News Service), "India: Islamic Extremist Threatens Christian Convert" (news story of the Compass Direct News), "Persecution harder; but saved souls bring great joy" (news story of SVM News), "Gospel to Muslims" (article of SVM), "Rehabilitation Center for the Persecuted Christians" (article of SVM), "6 Million Muslims LEAVE Islam every year" (Interview of AL-Jazeera TV between Maher Abdallah and Shiekh Ahmed Katani).

Suspect Extremists Behind Stanley's Murder in Kerala

2007-02-17T13:19:00.000-08:00

Thiruvanandapuram (India), SVM News, 15 February 2007: An innocent Christian, S. Stanley, 58, brutally murdered for his faith on Saturday afternoon, the 10th of February in Thiruvanandapuram, the capital city of Kerala in India.

Mr. Stanley and his family are members of Rev. & Mrs. Devasahayam Memorial C.S.I. (Church of South India) Church, Kalliyoor. They are one of the keys to spiritual activities and a very active member in the church. The entire congregation and their vicar Rev.Christudas are shocked at his brutal murder.

Stanley is commonly known as Samkutty. He was stabbed five times in both side of his necks, back and stomach by a strong cutting knife at his house, for which his wife Sisiletbai was witness.

Mr. Stanley (Samkutty) resided at Pavaloor near Kalliyoor in Thiruvanadapuram City. This places comes under Nemom Police Station. He and his wife Sisiletbhai were both retired binders of the Kerala Public Service Commission. They have two daughters Sherin and Celine who are married and are mothers for two children each.

Stanley’s wife, children, and their husbands are still shocked on the death of their loved one, and they have not recovered from it. When Pastor Paul Ciniraj, the Chairman of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) and the co-ordinator of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) visited Mrs. Stanley at her resident, though she was on bed yet made it to meet Pastor Paul Ciniraj.

"We tend to think that our houses is the safest place and we do not have to be afraid, but it is hard for us when we know being killed by others at our own house is a great tragedy". Mrs. Stanley said.

She explained about the incident, which is shocking for all of us too. During the afternoon when they were taking rest after lunch, there were three youths who were all drunk, among which she knows two of them . One of them named Lalu (30) who is the son of V. Soman a retired police constable, and the other named Akhil (30) living in the neighboring houses came and stood in front of the house, and started using slang words (bad language) abusing them, and hit the gate with full force and anger.

Seeing this Mr. Stanley went out and politely asked them to go away from there. This made them even more angry and violent and they started using slang on Christ and started abusing Christians.

Mr. Stanley could not tolerate this and he went inside his house to telephone the police, immediately Lalu ran to his house and brought with him a strong cutting knife, and stabbed him to death.

Watching this Mrs. Stanley stopped Lalu and asked him “child, what enmity do we have with each other? Why do you want to kill us? He had no answer to the question, but he started beating Mrs. Stanley up and pushed her to one corner.

While she talks about the incident, she has her husband’s photo in her hand and weeps throughout the time.

The daughters of Mr. Stanley cried out loud and said that their Daddy fallen down near his scooter which was kept in the back room of the inside house. They saw his large and small intestines came out.

Jeyakumar the Son-in- law of Samkutty says that both Lalu and Akhil are professional rowdies. Few days ago when he was having a conversation with Lalu, he asked Lalu, how would he escape from the police after an attack or murder? This is what Lalu said, that they would hide themselves at the RSS - SHIVSENA office, as the police would never come there.

"There could be extremists behind the murder of my father-in-law, as we had no problems with the three youths or their families", Jeyakumar told to Pastor Ciniraj.

"It seems the cutting knife is strong and purposely made for the murder", Vincent, Stanley's another son-in-law said.

Pastor Ciniraj noticed a group a police camping at the area. He went up to them and asked why they were camping there even after four days of the incident. They said that the murdered man was from one religion and the murderer was from another, so as a precaution against other communal incidents they are there. When Pastor Paul Ciniraj asked them if they think it’s a case to do with persecution of Christians, they had no answer and they denied answering him.

Please remember the family in your prayers.

Read this news with 7 pictures at the original site:
http://salemvoice.org/news142.html

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

Indonesian Muslim Ulemas forcely close down home church

2007-02-13T06:39:00.000-08:00

Paul Ciniraj,

Salem Voice Ministries

Bandung (Indonesia), SVM News, 13 February, 2007: A Muslim mob of the Anti-Proselytism Division of the Indonesian Muslim Ulemas Forum (FUUI) entered to a home church in Bandung regency in the Indonesian province and forcely stopped the worshipping service and closed the house on Sunday, the 11th of February.

Around 100 people of FUUI members and local residents involved to stop the Christian worship organised by the Group of Bethel Church International (GBI) at the house of Tayung in Padawulun village.

Tayuing's house was used on a weekly basis as a place for prayer and worship for the GBI. Almost all of the members of the church were present and they were forced to leave when the worshipping service was disrupted.

Some extremists of the local residents said that Tayung's house is situated near a mosque and it has been illegally converted into a church. "We complaint several times to GBI to stop their religious activities from that house. But we got no response". One of the leaders of the anti-Christian activities said to the SVM News Service.

It is not the first time such incidents have taken place in Bandung. Suryana Nurfatwa of the FUUI said Sunday's move was not prompted by hatred for Christians. "We are in favour of all legal churches but the GBI transformed a house into a church and this is against the law."

"One of the GBI members got drunk last week and shouted that no one can close the church", the village leader Omar Kamarudin said, "that time we decided to close their church".

It was a false accuse. Our members are not drunkards. They are saved from sin and inequities by the Saviour Jesus Christ and worshipping Him in the Spirit and the Truth", Almer, the minister of GBI told to SVM News Service.

"Getting a permit to build a place of worship in Indonesia is not easy", Almer said.

Salem Voice Ministries also having around 30 home churches like this in different parts of the country attending hundreds of muslim converts for the worship. The ministers and the believers are threatened by the fundamentalists very often. They request humble prayers from the children of God.

Read this news at the original site:
http://salemvoice.org/news141.html

------------------------------------------------------------
Rev. Paul Ciniraj is the founder-director of the Salem Voice Ministries. He is the Chairman of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) and also one of the Co-ordinators of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC). He was a muslim by birth, accepted Lord Jesus Christ as his Personal Saviour and called for His ministry about 32 years ago. He is a well known Gospel Preacher and the author of many Christian books, literature and Gospel tracts. Several times he and his family were attempted to death and still facing persecutions. Around 500 missionaries of the Salem Voice Ministries spreading Gospel to the Muslim populated countries of Africa, Asia and Middle East.

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

"Maramon Convention" Asia's Largest Gospel Gathering

2007-02-12T15:40:00.000-08:00

Rev. Paul Ciniraj,

Salem Voice Ministries

Pathanamthitta (Kerala in India), SVM News, 12 February, 2007: Asia's largest eight days Gospel Convention called "Maramon Convention" began at the sandbed of the river Pampa at Maramon in Kerala in India on Sunday, the 11th of February afternoon.

It is held every year under the auspices of the Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association, the missionary wing of the 900,000 strong Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar. It is the 112th annual Gospel Convention. It will be going on till 18th of Sunday afternoon.

Marthoma Syrian Church is an episcopal, protestant and Gospel spreading Church reformed from the Orthodox Syrian tradition.

The week-long event brings some 200,000 Christians to each session from all over the country and Diaspora Indians from other continents.

There are three public meetings everyday as per schedule. 9.30 to 12.00 in the morning, 2.00 to 4.00 in the afternoon and 6.30 to 8.30 in the evening. And also Bible classes everyday in the morning 7.30 to 8.30 and meetings for families in the evening 4.30 to 6.00. Friday and Saturday 7.30 to 10.00 in the morning is the dedication service.

Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Metropolitan, the Supreme head of the Marthoma Church inagurated the convention. Dr. Zacharias Mar Theophilos Saffragan Metropolitan of the Marthoma Church presided over the inaugural meeting. Bishop Robert M. Solomon of the Singapore Methodist Church delivered the keynote address.

Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) will be the chief guest and one of the main speakers.

Rev. Kobia will address the convention on two separate occasions. On 17 February, he will inaugurate the year-long celebrations of the Platinum Jubilee (75th anniversary) of the Mar Thoma Youth Association - The Mar Thoma Yuvajana Sakhyam- which has over 900 branches in India, the Middle East, Africa, North America and Europe. He will preach at the convention later the same day, and on 18 February will preach again at the convention's valedictory session.

Ann Graham Lotz, founder of AnGeL Ministries and daughter of world renowned evangelist Billy Graham also one of the speakers of the Convention this year.

The origin and growth of the convention can be traced to the revival movement started in the wake of reformation in the Syrian Churh in the state pioneered by Abraham Maplan, in the first quarter of 19th century. It is regarded as one of the oldest indigenous missionary movements in India.

With over 24 million Christians, comprising 2.3% of the country's population, Christianity is India's third-largest religion. The first Christians in India were converted by the apostle Thomas, who arrived on the Malabar Coast in Kerala in 52 AD; Christianity in India underwent major transformations during the colonial and post-independence periods. The two main regional concentrations of Christian population are in Kerala, South India, and in North-East Indian states.

Government departments of Kerala have made elaborate arrangements for the Maramon Convention.

Read the news and view pictures at the original site:
http://salemvoice.org/news140.html

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

58 year old Christian brutally murdered in Kerala, India

2007-02-11T08:25:00.000-08:00

Thiruvanandapuram (Kerala in India), SVM News, 11 February, 2007: A Christian house owner and a retired government employee S. Stanley, 58, was brutally murdered at his house in front of his wife by a group of youngmen on Saturday aternoon, the 10th of February at Kalliyoor, the border area of Thiruvanandapuram, the capital city of Kerala State in India.

Some alcoholic non-christian youngsters launched in front of Stanley's house, shouted with slang words against christians and christianity, hit the gate violently and stoned the house. Stanley and his wife came out of the house and asked them to go away from the front of their house without making nuisance. But they became more violent.

Then Stanley got into the house and telephoned the Police. While he was ringing to the Police, the attackers entered the house and stabbed him several times at his back, neck and stomach. He died on the spot. Attackers severely beaten and thrown out his wife Sisilet Bhai, who is also a retired government employee. Police authorities said to the SVM News Service.

Both husband and wife were retired binders of the Kerala Public Service Commission.

Paul Ciniraj, the Chairman of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) and the Co-ordinator of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) condemned the incident. He asked the Government to find out whether there is any influence of any fanatic groups behind it.

A group of Police camping at the incident occured area under the leadership of V.C. Mohanan, the Assistant Commissioner of Fort in Thiruvanandapuram City Police and A.R. Prem Kumar, the Circle Inspector of Nemom.

The three youth, of which one was Lalu, 30, son of V. Soman fled the scene on a two-wheeler, which was later found, abandoned at Nedumcad near Karamana. Police said.

Stanley's daughters are Sherin and Celine and Jeyakumar and Vincent are son-in-laws.

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

Pastor kidnapped, murdered and buried in South Africa

2007-02-09T11:30:00.000-08:00

Limpopo (South Africa), SVM News, 9 February, 2007: A Pastor of the Good Soil Church was kidnapped, murdered and buried by a group of youngmen on Sunday, the 4th of February in Limpopo in South Africa.

Musa Maluleke was the Pastor kidnapped by the attackers at gunpoint from his recording studio and driven away in his own car and murdered.

Pastor's dead body found on Thursday. It was seen as buried in a shallow grave in the bushes at Thokgwaneng village in Lebowakgomo.

Police arrested two suspects aged 30 and 32 on Thursday and another suspect on Friday.

Pastor Maluleke's car, a Nissan Almera, and a revolver were also recovered by the Police.

Mohale Ramatseba, the Police Superintendent in Limpopo said to the SVM News Service that the arrested men will be sending before the court on Monday, the 12th of February on charges of murder and armed robbery . They will appear in the Polokwane Magistrate's Court in connection with the murder of Pastor Musa Maluleke. He said.

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

US Baptist and Methodist Missionaries Killed in Honduras

2007-02-07T22:51:00.000-08:00

Pastor Paul Ciniraj,

Salem Voice Ministries

Olancho (Honduras), SVM News, 7 February, 2007: Three US missionaries of Baptist and Methodist Churches were killed and ten others injured on a road accident in Honduras on 6th of February.

A truck the Georgia-based missionaries was riding went off the road in flipped over in rugged terrain near the village of Mal Pais in eastern Olancho province near the border with Nicaragua, said Honduran police spokesman Jose Andino. It is seven hours from the capital city of Tegucigalpa.

Those killed and injured were part of a group of 28 adults on a charity mission to Honduras sponsored by four churches, Tabernacle Baptist in Cartersville, First United Methodist, First Baptist, and Cornerstone United Methodist of Newnan. The short-term trip was organized by Decatur-Ga.-based Honduras Outreach Inc.

Perry Goad, 45 and Richard Mason Jr., 58, are from the Tabernacle Baptist in Cartersville, and Martha Fuller, 66, from First United Methodist in Newnan were the dead.

Honduras Outreach chairman Jerry Eickhoff said, "We are devastated that this tragic accident occurred with the heartbreaking loss of three members of this outreach effort. Our hearts go out to the families of these individuals". He also said that about 10 others on the mission team were injured, "ranging from head injuries to a broken femur as well as other non life-threatening injuries. They were airlifted by the U.S. Army to a Honduran hospital."

"Members of these mission teams are here because they are dedicated to serving others," he said. Honduras Outreach sends about 1,100 people a year on short-term trips to bring fresh water to villages, build chimneys and concrete floors in Honduran homes and construct latrines.

Honduras Outreach describes itself as a non-denominational, Christian organization "dedicated to building life-changing relationships between the people of the Olancho province of Honduras and caring North Americans."

Ledy Pacheco, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Embassy in Honduras, told the Embassy would return the victim's bodies to Georgia as soon as possible, but she did not give an exact timeframe. The injured were rescued and taken to private hospitals by U.S. military helicopters stationed at the U.S.-owned base in Palmerola in central Honduras, she said.

"The men died doing what they loved to do. They epitomized the great mission of taking the good news of Jesus Christ around the world," said Dr. Don Hattaway, Pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church. "I believe that message of hope, peace, and salvation. So they in essence died the way they lived. So although we are grieving and we will miss these men, they were parts of our congregation and the ministry here, we know they are with the Lord and we will see them again." He also told, "The church is working with the funeral home and embassy in Honduras to bring the bodies back. Two other Tabernacle members, Carey Roth and David Apple, sustained minor injuries and are expected to return home in the next few days".

The flag at Tabernacle Baptist flew at half-staff Wednesday. The church, which has about 1,200 members, held a vigil Tuesday evening.

Wednesday, family and friends streamed into the Goads' ranch-style home in the rural woods of Barrow County.

"He was doing what he wanted to do," Sharon Goad said of her husband and the father of their three children. "There was no way you could stop him."

Perry Goad owned his own heating and air conditioning repair business and loved to work with his hands, family members said. "He was a fix-it person," said his brother, Danny Gibson, of Dalton. "That's why they liked to take him on mission trips. Perry has always been inspired by helping others." Gibson said Goad often described Honduras as "where my heart is."

This was Goad's third trip to Honduras. He paid for all the trips out of his own pocket.

His daughter, Kendra, a 20-year-old sophomore and basketball player at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in south Georgia, said her father had always been her coach. "It's going to be hard playing basketball and not having him there," Kendra Goad said.

Richard Mason was the executive director of The Etowah Foundation, a nonprofit that raises money for college scholarships for Bartow County students to stay in school and has awarded more than $2.3 million in scholarships.. This was his fifth trip to Honduras. DeeJay Jackson, program director at the foundation, said her boss often talked of his trips there. When he returned last year, he said some of the villagers had recognized him from previous trips.

LaDonna Jordan, chairwoman of the foundation, said Mason was involved in nearly every aspect of the Cartersville community, serving on boards and volunteering his time. Before coming to the foundation, he owned several restaurants in town. "You name it and he had either done it or was doing it currently," Jordan said. "That was his whole life: church, family and the community."

Mason's daughter, Joannah Mason Sadler, 27, said she accompanied her father on a 2004 mission trip to Honduras. He returned home a different man. "You can't go somewhere like that and it not give you perspective and change you," Sadler said.

Martha Fuller is a wife and mother of two grown children and five grandchildren, coordinated all mission trips for her church in Newnan. The trip was her seventh mission trip and her third to Honduras, but she had told the church she would retire from doing missions abroad after this trip.

Fuller was the only member of Newnan First United Methodist Church on the mission trip, according to church secretary Beth Zechiel.

"The church is in shock. The whole community's in shock," said the Rev. Med Roach, senior pastor of the 2,000-member congregation. He called Fuller "an inspiration to all of us." Roach told, "She believed in mission work and put her heart into it. Some people talk about faith, but she was living out her faith."

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----------------------------------------------------

Pastor Paul Ciniraj is the founder-director of the Salem Voice Ministries. He is the Chairman of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) and also one of the Co-ordinators of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC). He was a muslim by birth, accepted Lord Jesus Christ as his Personal Saviour and called for His ministry about 32 years ago. He is a well known Gospel Preacher and the author of many Christian books, literature and Gospel tracts. Several times he and his family were attempted to death and still facing persecutions. Around 500 missionaries of the Salem Voice Ministries spreading Gospel to the Muslim populated countries of Africa, Asia and Middle East.

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

Lebanese Christian Leader Samir Geagea Is Attacked

2007-02-07T14:07:00.000-08:00

Pastor Paul Ciniraj,

Salem Voice Ministries

Beirut (Lebanon), SVM News, 7 February, 2007: Lebanese Christian leader Dr. Samir Geagea was attacked by the unidentified assailants on Tuesday night, the 6th of February.

Samir Geagea is the current leader of the Lebanese Forces. Lebanese internal security forces have thwarted an attempt by unidentified assailants to open fire on his residence. An LF statement said on Wednesday. It said that while Geagea was appearing on LBCI's "Bi Koul Jour'a" talk show broadcast live from his Bzemmar residence Tuesday night, a vehicle approached the security dragnet and a gunman tried to open fire in the direction of the LF leader's house.

Security forces immediately opened fire at the red 'VW-Golf' which sped away to an undisclosed destination. Statement added.

Geagea waves to the crowds during a rally, scoffed at Hezbollah claims of victory in its conflict with Israel and avowals that it wanted a strong state in Lebanon.

Samir Geagea was born in Ain el-Rummanah in Beirut on 25 October 1952. While studying medicine at the American University of Beirut, he became an active member of the right-wing Phalangist Party, which became the main Christian fighting force upon the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War in 1975.

He was the imprisoned leader of the Lebanese Forces (LF) militia. Geagea served what were to be several life sentences for crimes allegedly committed during the Lebanese Civil War of 1975-1990.

The Lebanese Parliament passed legislation on 18 July 2005 to free Geagea. Only the Hezbollah deputies abstained from voting. His party, the Lebanese Forces, held major celebrations throughout Lebanon.

Speaking to a delegation from the Lebanese Parliament's Human Rights Committee, which visited him in prison in November 2004, Geagea said, "I would prefer to remain in prison for another 20 years than bargain my beliefs for freedom."

Geagea was released from prison 26 July 2005 and left Lebanon for medical tests. "I have spent 11 horrific years in solitary confinement in a 6-square-meter dungeon three floors underground without sunlight or fresh air. But I endured my hardships because I was merely living my convictions," he was quoted saying upon his release. He returned on his birthday, the 25th of October, and currently lives in the cedars region in north Lebanon.

Meanwhile, in Southern Lebanon the rest home of the Beirut mayor, Abdel-Monem Aris lashed out at Hezbollah over the attack, "He who cannot control his supporters should not mobilize the streets and engage in scuffles," he added. "What happened is a clear message to the citizens of Beirut and the example of coexistence they give to all the Lebanese."

Aris then read from a note he said was left by those who burned down his business.

"To the agents of Israel, we warn you this land will not be cursed. To the followers of (MPs) Saad Hariri, Walid Jumblatt and (Lebanese Forces leader) Samir Geagea: We swear by the blood of the martyrs that if you step on this land one more time you won't get out of it alive," it read.

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

Palestinian Authority seized Gaza Baptist Church

2007-02-06T09:31:00.000-08:00

Gaza (Israel), SVM News, 5 February, 2007: Newly built Gaza Baptist Church has been seized by the police of the Palestinian Authority (PA) on Friday, the 2nd of February.

Gaza fighting pits forces, including the police are controlled by the secular Fatah party is against of Hamas, the majority Islamic party. Palestinian Authority claims that the church seized as a watch point against militants supporting the governing Hamas movement.

Gaza Baptist Church is a six story building, dedicated on last November. The sanctuary of the Church, a Christian library of Gaza, a guest hostel and a mammogram clinic are in the houses of the new building.

Former location of the church was a rented house across from the Palestinian Parliament, Israeli attacks on nearby PA targets caved its ceiling several times. One time, years ago, fighting near Parliament forced cancellation of Sunday services.

Hanna Massad, pastor of Gaza Baptist Church said that Palestinian Authority (PA) police officers demanded the key of the six story building from the church's lone guard.

The guard, who had no key, informed church leaders, who refused to give the key to police. Police then broke into the building, taking up positions on the sixth floor. The guard called a church leader, who informed Pastor Massad.

Because of the battles raging on Gaza's streets, Pastor Massad has been unable to leave his house to check on the building. He said the situation is worst have ever gone through in Gaza.

A fresh cease-fire was declared Sunday evening, but there was no indication it would be any more successful than previous truces in recent weeks of factional fighting, reported the Associated Press (AP) on Sunday. Gaza Baptist Church leader Khader Khoury noted that nine cease-fire attempts have occurred in five days.

Even if police abandon the church building, gunfire flies on the streets as rival factions vie for control. Frightened Gazans remain in their homes. Massad told about the Sunday, the 4th of January, early morning worship had been cancelled because Gaza was not stable. It had a noisy morning Sunday. Some shooting here and there.

"It's a very dangerous situation. It's in God's hands," he said. "Nothing I can do, nothing anybody else can do can help the situation. He’s the one who protects."

Pastor questioned that should PA police fire at Hamas militants from the commandeered church, reprisal fire could severely damage the building as has happened before.

The Gaza Strip is one of the world's most densely populated areas, with 1.4 million people—some 900,000 of whom live in 12 different camps as refugees from the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Gaza City has some 400,000 citizens. The border, a coastal territory of 27 miles long and 5 miles deep has been closed. Food and other basics are running short. In their midst, the Gaza Baptist Church engage in a variety of evangelical ministries that bring God’s love to a long-suffering people while meeting basic human needs.

Pastor Hanna Massad has been the church's pastor since 1987. He was born in a Greek Orthodox family in Gaza city itself, but later started attending the Baptist church. Then he went U.S. in 1991, graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary and returned to Gaza in 1999 and became churche's first native Gazan pastor. While a student, he served as an American Baptist pastor and served the First Baptist Church of Azusa, California.

He also founded Christian Mission to Gaza (CMG), which provides food and medical care to needy people in Gaza City and in the nearby Beit Lahia refugee camp.

"We try not just to deliver the food, but to have a relationship with them, to express God's love. We usually even ask if we can pray for them and most of them allow us to do that", Pastor Massad said to SVM News Service.

He continued saying, "We minister to about 150 people throughout the week, plus 80-100 children and teenagers. We have two services on Sunday, plus women's, students and youth groups during the week- almost every day there is something going on. Most of our congregation are originally from Greek Orthodox or Catholic backgrounds. We also have a few from other faiths - such as Muslims - who like to come and listen".

A creative outreach of the Gaza Baptist Church is its Culture and Light Library. The library was established in 1968 and serves nearly 1,000 people every month. The oldest and largest public library in the Gaza Strip, it contains some 17,000 volumes, including Christian books. As the only Christian public library in the whole territory, Pastor Massad explains that it both strengthens the Christian community and provides an important service to the people of Gaza.

Read this news and view pictures at the original site:
http://salemvoice.org/news135.html

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

Four Americans attend Christian conference attacked in India

2007-02-05T02:18:00.000-08:00

Raipur (India), SVM News, 5 February, 2007: A Christian conference attacked by Hindu extremists on the 2nd February in Pandri in Raipur, the capital city of Chattisgarh State in India.

Number of pastors, evangelists, health and educational trainees and volunteers from different parts of India were attending the conference. The conference was discussing about the quick action against HIV/Aids from Indian villages and to propagate health and hygenic problems and leading a holy life among the villagers. Dr. Victor Choudheri, the former professor of the Ludhiana Medical College was organising the conference.

The alleged attack took place on Friday afternoon, after lunch -break, when the meeting convened again, a mob of Hindu Radical barged into the Meeting and attacked the participanats without any provocation.

Four American tourists and a local couple were also attacked on the conference.

Mr. Jack, Mr. Coli and Mr and Mrs Ted Olsen were the Amercian tourists, interested to listen the classes about Indian villages and its health and hygenic problems. But they were allegedly assaulted and looted by unidentified youths "for involving in religious conversion", police said on Saturday.

According to the complaint filed against the attackers at the Moa Police station in Pandri, Lodi Para, Raipur by Pastor Harish Patel and Sewa Sing, the hindu extremists, who were raising "Jai Sriram" slogans, dragged the foreigners a distance of 1 Km and beating them. The attackers took away their two laptops, digital cameras, mobile phones and Rs.5000.

A Young local Christian man Sakha Ram brutally beaten and suffers injuries all across his body. Women also mishandled by the attackers.

The extremists accused the gathering of involving in conversion activities and damaged some properties before escaping with the costly gadgets.

A case registered against unknown persons as the complainant has not named anyone in the FIR. Police said to the SVM News Service.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, Chairman of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries condemned the attack to the Christian educational health conference which was held in Raipur. The State government of Chattisgarh and the Central government of India quickly take action against the attackers of the American tourists who were interested for learning the Indian culture and enjoying with Indians, he said.

Following the incident, former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ajit Jogi demanded arrest of those responsible for the incident. A delegation from Christian community called on Jogi on Saturday. Jogi spoke to B.S. Maravi, the Superindent of Police of Raipur and asked him take steps to check such incidents in future.

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http://salemvoice.org/news134.html

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

Indonesian Churches urge Government to Stop Persecution

2007-02-03T08:47:00.000-08:00

Pastor Paul Ciniraj,
Salem Voice Ministries

Manado (Indonesia), SVM News, 3 February, 2007: Nationwide conference of the Protestant Churches urged the Indonesian government to stick on stopping the Christian persecution and solve the social problems very quickly.

A five days assembly of the communion of Churches in Indonesia called Persekutuan Gereja-Gereja di Indonesia (PGI) held in Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province on 22 to 26 January. There were 282 participants from 82 Protestant Churches from all over Indonesia along with foreign observers and partners attended the conference.

The leaders of the entire community made a statement at the end of the assembly, asked the government to stop Shari'a (Islamic law) inspired bylaws fairly from being enacted, solve killings in Poso and treat indigenous Papuan people.

Rev. Andreas Yewangoe, the chairman of the PGI told participants the Churches see that commitment to nation building has faded, with groups placing their own selfish interests over the common good. So it is very important that the government should refresh its commitment to the common good by acting on various issues threatening the country.

"It is because the Churches are an integral part of the nation, we decided to remind the government of the commitment to the common good," he added.

The Shari'a to be abrogated according local laws and regulations in secular Indonesia. Statement urged. Such bylaws create religious friction and worry for the country.

Indonesia has the world's largest Muslim population but is not an Islamic state, and the Christian leaders cautioned that implementation of Shari'a could divide the nation. Moreover, they maintained that some district heads and governors are enthusiastic about implementing Shari'a in order to strengthen their political standing.

Aceh is the only one of Indonesia's 33 provinces that is allowed to enact and enforce Shari'a law, by virtue of a special autonomy arrangement, but 22 district and municipal governments have adopted Shari'a-based bylaws. Statement said.

Many of the leaders strongly said in the conference that the Indonesian government must solve the legacy of violence in Poso quickly and amicably. The government must solve this case using persuasive ways and not by force.

On 22 January, anti-terrorist police in Poso, a coastal town in Central Sulawesi province, clashed with suspected militants. This resulted in the deaths of 14 people including a policeman. The police raid came after 29 suspects on a most wanted list failed to meet a police ultimatum to surrender by last November.

According SVM News Service, leaders told the suspected militants are accused of keeping weapons and being involved in the Christian-Muslim clashes that gripped Poso, southwest of Manado on Sulawesi Island, from 1998 until 2001. Periodic violence has continued since then. They are accused of burning homes and worship places, killing Protestant pastors and Christian girls, attacking policemen and bombing markets.

Predominantly Christian and tribal Papua province faces discrimination, and it called on the government to treat Papuans fairly by ensuring them equal opportunities in all fields.

An armed separatist movement has existed ever since Papua, formerly a Dutch colony, passed to Indonesian control in 1963. A special autonomy law that then-president Megawati Soekarnoputri ratified in 2001 gave Papuans hope that their social, economic and cultural rights would be fulfilled. There has been no real improvement, that Papuans are continually deprived of their rights and still experience injustice. Church leaders argued. SVM News reporting.

Rev. Yewangoe told media persons after the end of the assembly that PGI in 2007 will prioritize political education in Churches, so that congregations understand their rights and obligation as citizens of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.

Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who opened the assembly, credited the Protestant Churches with fostering interreligious harmony in Indonesia.

North Sulawesi Vice Governor Freddy Harry Sualang, a Protestant, said in his address that the PGI daring to reject Shari'a-inspired bylaws and regulations, is a prophetic voice that the government must hear.

Sacred Heart Bishop Josephus Suwatan of Manado attended the assembly's opening ceremony, told, "We praise the contribution of the Churches to improve the life of the nation and the state."

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----------------------------------------------------------------------

Aid women killed in Nairobi were Prsbyterian Missionaries

2007-01-31T18:59:00.000-08:00

Paul Ciniraj,

Salem Voice Ministries

Nairobi (Kenya), SVM News, 31 January, 2007: Two US women aid workers were shot dead in Nairobi in Kenya were the retired Presbyterian Church missionaries of Pannsylvania (USA), known to thousands of Africans as "Mama Lois" Anderson, 79, and her 52 year old daughter Zelda White. They were murdered by carjackers on Saturday, the 27 January in a village just a few miles outside the capital city of Nairobi.

On the same day Geoffrey Chege, the CARE International for East and Central Africa also shot dead in a most upscale suburbs of Nairobi during another carjacking attempt.

Mrs. Anderson was a native of Beaver and both were graduates of Geneva College. Her husband and Zelda's father, Rev. William Anderson, who also was in the car, survived the attack, along with two other people. Rev. Anderson is a graduate of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and a onetime minister in Beaver.

Zelda White was in Seminary in Kenya, whose husband Mr Craig White is a US embassy official - was an English teacher in the US before coming to Kenya. She was a student at St Paul’s United Theological College in Limuru, where only last December, she completed her studies for a Bachelor of Divinity after four years of study. She had two children in college and one in high school. She felt she could go back to school and wanted to become a minister to extend her family's legacy.

Lois and Bill Anderson had traveled to the east Africa nation from their South Carolina home for a family gathering.

They were driving down Waiyaki Way, enjoying the Kenyan countryside as they had always done for years when carjackers blocked their way. Those in the back seat escaped, including Mr. Anderson, but shot the two women dead at the scene.

According to an e-mail from their daughter Sylvia, a witness, the Andersons, their two daughters and Sylvia's teenage son were in a U.S. Embassy vehicle near Nairobi, waiting on the roadside for a friend. A car pulled up and gunmen jumped out firing AK-47s.

The e-mail concludes with a biblical paraphrase: "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord; they rest from their labors."

According to the police, the suspected killers of the US women, who were travelling in a car with diplomatic license plates, allegedly shot dead by police later. On Saturday around 20 km west of Nairobi, these two US women were stopped by carjackers bearing rifles. "At least one woman was shot because she took too long to leave the car. Five people were travelling in the vehicle, which was then towed to the US embassy", Police authorities said to the SVM News Service.

"The Andersons served as PC (USA) missionaries for more than four decades in Sudan and Kenya. They are known across east Africa for their decades of service to the church, especially in the area of theological education," Doug Welch, the PC (USA)'s area coordinator for Africa.said.

The Andersons were popular speakers at the annual New Wilmington Mission Conference at Westminster College.

"Everybody loved them -- Lois particularly because she had such an outgoing personality, overflowing with joy," said the Rev. Donald Dawson, director of both the New Wilmington conference and the World Mission Initiative at the Pittsburgh seminary.

They are a storied missionary family. Mr. Anderson was born in Egypt to missionary parents. He and his four siblings all became missionaries and many of their children and grandchildren have done likewise, Mr. Dawson added.

After graduation from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 1950, Mr. Anderson became an associate pastor at Park Presbyterian Church in Beaver, where he met Lois Crawford. They married in 1951 and spent their honeymoon studying Arabic at the Summer Institute of Linguistics in Norman, Okla.

Mr. Anderson trained African pastors -- including 40 who became Anglican bishops -- while Mrs. Anderson reached out to families.

They were in Southern Sudan from 1952 to 1959, when foreign missionaries were expelled. They worked in Uganda from 1959 to 1962 and Kenya from 1962 to 1973. Then, in what they called "a miracle," a new government of Sudan allowed them to return.

They resumed work in the Christian South, but in 1984 civil war forced them to move north to the capital of Khartoum, where reports of the Presbyterian Church (USA) indicate a Christian revival despite an increasingly radical Islamist government. They helped to found a seminary, Nile Theological College, in Khartoum.

Both women will be buried Friday at St. Paul Seminary at Limuru, near Nairobi, where Mr. Anderson taught from 1959 to 1971 and where Mrs. White was a student.

Salem Voice Ministries, which is doing charitable and Gospel services in Africa, Asia and Middle East, strongly condemns the murder of Mama Lois Anderson, Zelda White and CARE leader Geoffrey Chege.

Click the link and see the news alongwith pictures at the original site: http://salemvoice.org/news132.html

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

CARE Regional Director and two US Aid Workers Killed in Nairobi

2007-01-30T09:29:00.000-08:00

Nairobi (Kenya), SVM News, 30 January, 2007: Geoffrey Chege, 57, the regional director of aid agency CARE International for East and Central Africa was shot dead on Saturday night, the 27th January in a most upscale suburbs of Nairobi during a carjacking attempt. He was returning from a prayer meeting with his wife, who was not hurt.

Chege was directing CARE USA's programs in East and Central Africa as a 25-year veteral of CARE.

On the same Saturday, another two US women and an employee of an international aid organization were also shot dead in a village just a few miles outside the capital city of Nairobi.

One of the murdered woman is Mama Lois Anderson, 79, a former Presbyterian Church (USA) Missionary in Africa and another is her daughter Zelda White of 52 years old.

Zelda White lived with her husband in Kenya, and the Andersons had traveled to the east Africa nation from their South Carolina home for a family gathering.

According to the police, the suspected killers of the US women, who were travelling in a car with diplomatic license plates, allegedly shot dead by police later. On Saturday around 20 km west of Nairobi, these two US women were stopped by carjackers bearing rifles. "At least one woman was shot because she took too long to leave the car. Five people were travelling in the vehicle, which was then towed to the US embassy", Police authorities said to the SVM News Service.

"The Andersons served as PC (USA) missionaries for more than four decades in Sudan and Kenya. They are known across east Africa for their decades of service to the church, especially in the area of theological education," Doug Welch, the PC (USA)'s area coordinator for Africa.said.

The US embassy has declined to comment on the incident.

Geoffrey Chege is a native of Nairobi, began working for CARE in 1983 as a project manager for Primary Education and Youth Polytechnics. Over the years, he held various positions at CARE in Kenya, Egypt, Sierra Leone and Tanzania, where he was country director. He became regional director, based in Nairobi, in the summer of 2003.

He leaves his wife and three daughters.

"We are deeply saddened and stunned by this senseless death," CARE President and CEO Dr. Helene Gayle said. "No one was more committed than Geoffrey to uplifting the poor and vulnerable; no one was a greater champion for women's equality. Everyone who knew Geoffrey held him in the highest regard. The CARE family sends our heartfelt condolences to Geoffrey's wife and daughters and to his extended family."

"Geoffrey was a warm, engaging man, passionate about his commitment to the poor and vulnerable and thoroughly loyal to CARE and its mission," said Denis Caillaux, CARE International Secretary General. "With his intelligence and talent, he could have succeeded in any other professional field, but decided to remain true to his lifelong ideal. In his soul, Geoffrey was a teacher, an educator. His way was to convene and to convince; always open to listen and to find common ground. CARE has lost a great leader." Caillaux added.

"Perhaps I shall remember him best as a proponent of gender equity and equality. As the father of three daughters he was most sensitive to the injustices that most cultures heap on women and girls. …As we struggle to bring dignity and hope for a better tomorrow to the world's downtrodden, Chege's life and sacrifices help me remember what our work means." Paul Barker, the National Director of CARE in Sudan said.

He was the man called Darfur first as the world's greatest humanitarian crisis. 'And I don't know why the world isn't doing more about it; one could say the same today', Chege told it one year ago the UN Representative told the BBC, "Just as the international community came together to support that effort, it should provide sufficient engagement, political will and resources to ensure a just and lasting peace throughout the country. Members of the UN Security Council, heads of state and elected officials, and non-governmental organisations need to keep the spotlight on Darfur, with a concerted, consistent approach to ending the crisis."

Nairobi has gained a reputation for theft and carjackings, which often turn violent.

Last year saw a wave of attacks on foreign diplomats. Between July and September, the Russian ambassador, a Danish diplomat and a US military attache were wounded and robbed in three separate incidents.

Salem Voice Ministries, which is doing charitable and Gospel services in Africa, Asia and Middle East strongly condemned the murder of Geoffrey Chege and the women aid workers. Any kind of torturing to the humanitarian aid workers must be condemned; for they are angels of earth to the poor and helpless. Certainly the poverty, contageous diseases and violence are not spreading to the world because of their sincere and innocent services. Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries said.

Read this (detailed) news and view the pictures of Mama Lois and Zelda White at the original site: http://salemvoice.org/news131.html

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

Masked Mob Attacked Christian Prayer Meet in Bihar

2007-01-29T12:52:00.000-08:00

Sasaram (Bihar in India), SVM News, 29 January, 2007: A Christian Prayer fellowship meeting of Seventh Day Adventist Church at Sasaram in Rohtas District of Bihar State in India was attacked by suspected Bajrang Dal activists on Sunday, the 28th of January.

Several people injured and were immediately admitted 12 to the hospital.

Witnesses of the attack said that about 40 masked men entered the prayer hall at the time of the prayer meet, beaten the pastor and the believers with sticks, truncheons and iron rods and warned against holding similar weekly meetings.

Charging that the Christians are involved in conversion activities, the mob beat up the gathering of 15 Christians, Pastor Joseph Mathew, the Church's spokesperson told to SVM News Service.

They beat up people present there, tore down posters and burnt Bibles, song books and leaflets, ransacked the hall, damaged the furniture and assaulted the worshippers, sparing the three women. The pastor said everyone was caught unaware and did not "even get a moment to run for safety."

"The attackers shouted slogans against the conversion of Hindus to Christianity," he added.

The pastor denied his people engage in conversion activities. The Church works for the social and spiritual empowerment of poor Dalit, people from castes once called "untouchable," in various parts of Bihar, he explained.

"We don't convert anyone to Christianity. We simply hold prayer meetings and invite people for spiritual encounters with God's healing powers," he continued, adding that their prayer meetings have gained popularity.

Pastor Mathew said the Sunday program was a regular prayer-healing session.

According to Krishna Kumar Sharma, the Deputy Superintendent of Police of Sasaram, a group of armed men Sunday attacked the worship service of Seventh Day Adventist Church in Sasaram in Rohtas district, which is about 130 miles away from Patna, the capital city of Bihar. "One of the hospitalized men named Umesh Ram, lodged a complaint with police in which he named nine Bajrang Dal activists and said he could identify 25 others on sight". K.K. Sharma said to the SVM News.

Police would soon arrest the attackers. "We can't allow these anti-social elements to vitiate the social and interfaith milieu here," Sharma added.

Bajrang Dal leaders in the district were apparently unhappy over the missionary converting many Dalits. In the last two months, nearly 50 Dalit families have reportedly converted to Christianity.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the Chairman of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries condemned the attack to the prayer meet at Sasaram.

"Such an attack to the poor Christians and Dalits is a big shame for us Indians which was happened in between the Republic Day of India and the World Peace Day, which is the memorial day of Mahatma Gandhi's assasination". Paul Ciniraj said. He asked the Governement of Patna and the Central Government of India to take immediate action to stop the Christian persecution in India.

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

Church Stoned and Damaged in Northern Turkey

2007-01-29T07:40:00.000-08:00

Pastor Paul Ciniraj,

Salem Voice Ministries

Samsun (Turkey), SVM News, 29 January, 2007: Samsun Agape House, a Protestant church in the Turkish Black Sea Port city of Samsun was damaged by unknown assailants on Sunday, the 28th of January.

The attackers stoned the two story church building in an overnight and broke more than 10 windows.

"The attack was the latest against Christians in this predominantly Muslim country" Pastor Mehmet Orhan Picaklar, the priest of the Samsun Agape House said to the SVM News Service. "There were no casualties, but this makes damage to Turkey. This attack depicts Turkey in a bad way before international public opinion," he commented.

"It is the seventh or eight such attack over the past three years. Separately, I am constantly receiving death threats by e-mail", Mehmet Picaklar told.

He said the church had moved into the building just two weeks ago. Uniformed police officers were deployed outside the church after the attack, the private Dogan news agency reported.

The attack came nine days after a Turkish-Armenian journalist, Hrant Dink, was gunned down outside his office in Istanbul on 19th January, provoking widespread condemnation.

Nationalists have been angered by pro-Armenian sentiment in Turkey following responses to the murder of Hrant Dink He was among those, including church groups, who have tried to speak out about the 1915 Armenian genocide, which claimed one million lives. It is illegal in Turkish law to raise this issue, and the authorities deny that the event happened.

A rise in nationalism among young people from Turkey's Black Sea towns has come under the spotlight since the teenager suspected of killing Hrant Dink and his alleged supporters were found to have come from the town of Trabzon.

Last February, Rev. father Andrea Santoro, a Catholic Priest was shot dead by a Turkish teenager, as he knelt in prayer in his church in the Black Sea port of Trabzon. The attack was believed linked to widespread anger in the Islamic world over the publication in European newspapers of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. Two other Catholic priests were also attacked last year.

Of Turkey's 72 million people, Armenians, Greeks, Syriacs, Catholics, some Protestants who are mostly converted from Islam and Jewish - make up less than one percent of the country.

The country, now 99 per cent Muslim, has a significant Christian past going back two millennia.

After Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem, his followers scattered across the ancient world. What is now called Turkey was a key crossroads between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, and the fledgling Christian faith took hold in what was then a Roman province with a rich Greek heritage.

Some of the Christian groups, including Agape House Church involving to spread the Gospel in Turkey. The Salem Voice Ministries also involves reaching the Gospel to the Muslims and establishing house churches in the midst of afflictions. Many Muslims are converting into Christianity. This also provoking Muslims to attack Christian leaders and Churches.

The Salem Voice Ministries requesting prayers for the missionaries, converted christians from Islam and all other christians in Turkey and all over the Middle East, Africa and Asia to be sealed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ as the protection of God, the Father Almighty through the Holy Spirit. Also requesting the UN authorities as well as the Humanitarian Rights Organisations to ask Turkey to stop Christian persecution immediately.

Read this news at the original site: http://salemvoice.org/news129.html

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Pastor Paul Ciniraj is the founder-director of the Salem Voice Ministries and the Chairman of the SVM News Service. He was also one of the Co-ordinators of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC). He was a muslim by birth, accepted Lord Jesus Christ as his Personal Saviour and called for His ministry about 32 years ago. He is a well known Gospel Preacher and the author of many Christian books, literature and Gospel tracts. Several times he and his family were attempted to death and still facing persecutions. Around 500 missionaries of the Salem Voice Ministries spreading Gospel to the Muslim populated countries of Africa, Asia and Middle East.

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

Church Attacked in Somalia; Five Killed and Four Injured

2007-01-27T17:23:00.000-08:00

Pastor Paul Ciniraj,
Salem Voice Ministries.

Mogadishu (Somalia), SVM News, 27 January, 2007: Christians in Somalia remained on edge and five were killed and at least four injured in clashes at Darmoley 6 miles north of seaside in Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia on Friday, the 26th of January.

Attackers fired four mortar bombs at an Ethiopian camp near Mogadishu overnight, in the latest attack on the newly victorious government's strongest allies. Three dead bodies were seen with gunshot wounds lying in waste ground and two more bodies elsewhere in the city.

Police Commissioner Ali Mohamed Hassan Loyan said the attackers were "hell-bent on undermining the security of the country. The police will track them down." Another government spokesman Abdirahman Dinari told that there were not enough police officers to cover Mogadishu.

Insecurity, including attacks against Christians, increased in and around the capital since the ousting of Islamists last month.

Friday's violence came after human rights investigators confirmed that a Muslim gunman opened fire on Somali house church where Christians were worshipping, seriously injuring the church leader on January 2 in the Southern town of Tayeglow, 200 miles from Mogadishu.

The leader of the house church was reportedly hit by gunfire several times and assumed dead for about an hour before he regained consciousness. He is currently seeking medical care and his status is critical. The gunman is reportedly still threatening other Christians in the surrounding area.

The attack to recent clashes when Ethiopian troops assisted the provisional Somali government in pushing back the powerful Somalia Islamic Courts Council (SICC) which had taken over and imposed Sharia, or Islamic law, in much of Southern Somalia.

The desire to oppress Christianity existed long before Ethiopia put pressure on Somalia, and this house church attack is a red flag for an increase in violence and persecution for Christian believers in the Horn of Africa.

Ethiopia and Somalia have been engaged in two other wars in the past. For many Somalis, Ethiopia is the enemy and because most Somalis are Muslim, and Ethiopia is considered Christian, Somalis view Christians as enemies also.

Although the SICC is not currently in power, Christian observers say the combination of fresh "anti-Ethiopian sentiment" and the last ten years of civil and governmental chaos will likely worsen the situation for Somali Christians.

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Pastor Paul Ciniraj is the founder-director of the Salem Voice Ministries and the Chairman of the SVM News Service. He was also one of the Co-ordinators of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC). He was a muslim by birth, accepted Lord Jesus Christ as his Personal Saviour and called for His ministry about 32 years ago. He is a well known Gospel Preacher and the author of many Christian books, literature and Gospel tracts. Several times he and his family were attempted to death and still facing persecutions. Around 500 missionaries of the Salem Voice Ministries spreading Gospel to the Muslim populated countries of Africa, Asia and Middle East.

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

Baptist Pastor and Radio Presenter Shot Dead in South Africa

2007-01-27T10:52:00.000-08:00

Pastor Paul Ciniraj,
Salem Voice Ministries

Fish Hoek (South Africa), SVM News, 27 January 2007: Pastor Philip Zanikele Mokson, 65, a prominent radio presenter and the founding pastor of Masiphumelele Baptist Church in Pokele Road, Ocean View was shot and killed while he was taking a Bible class at the Church on Monday evening, the 22nd January. Family members including his wife, children, and grandchildren witnessed the event.

He was a peacemaker who acted as a link between Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool and afflicted communities. He was also featured in a column on page two of the April 16, 2005, printed edition of the Biblical Recorder.

His attacker, 30 year old Mvusi Dondolo also shot and seriously wounded a young woman named Tamara Bemba of 32 years old, who was known to have spurned his romantic advances, despite the efforts of another pastor named Joseph to protect her. Bemba is paralysed down the left side of her body. After others had left the church, the man reloaded, turned the gun on himself, and took his own life, according to John Thomas, a close friend of Mokson who arrived at the scene soon after the shootings.

John Thomas is the pastor of Fish Hoek Baptist Church, which sponsors the work in Masiphumelele, a teeming township of more than 20,000 residents. Residents are predominantly young and poor. As many as 25 percent of them are HIV positive.The man who shot Mokson had been baptized as a member in late 2006, and the pastor had sought to counsel him during a period of deep depression. The man, known as Vusi, had attempted suicide at least twice. On one occasion Mokson had discovered him hanging inside the shack where he lived and cut him down.

Others had also counselled Dondolo. Thomas said Dondolo had apparently asked Bemba to marry him, but she told him she was not interested. "Look, this could have sparked the shooting. We don't know for sure," Thomas said.

"Pastor Philip Mokson was a peacemaker and a godly community leader, a committed Christian, who gained the respect of the community. Whenever there was a problem in the community, residents would call him. For He stood as the face of justice, and had a deep caring for his community", John Thomas said to SVM News Service.

"He was a founding trustee of Radio CCFM and their Xhosa presenter. In addition, he was a trustee of the Living Hope Community Centre, a health-based NGO in Masiphumelele and a member of the Cape Town division of the Baptist Church's Seminary".

"A relative of a Masiphumelele resident had drowned in the Eastern Cape while Mokson was on holiday in Uitenhage in December, and the pastor had called the resident to offer his condolences. When the family had travelled up to the Eastern Cape, he said, their car rolled and they were injured. Mokson later fetched them at an Eastern Cape hospital and drove them to their relatives' home in the Eastern Cape. That's the type of man he was," said Thomas.

JohnThomas said that he had worked with Mokson for 18 years and had known him for 20. "Technically, I'm his boss, but we were more than colleagues - we were great friends," he added.

"Pastor Philip's death came as a big shock (to myself) and my department", Sifiso Mbuyisa, the Director in the Social Dialogue and Human Rights department in the Premier's office, said on Tuesday:

"He was a key leader in the Masiphumelele community near Ocean View. I remember his great help in dealing with the Somali crisis and the fires. And we worked closely together whenever there was a crisis". Sifisco said, "His death is a great loss to the community, his church and to us".

Following the shootings, thousands of township residents surrounded the church building in hushed silence, remaining into the early-morning hours in quiet tribute to the respected and influential pastor, who was considered a leading elder in the community.

Pastor Philip Mokson leaves his wife Minah (65), and his daughters Nolifa (33), and Nomzana (35).

Mokson's funeral held in his home town of Uitenhage. A memorial service for Mokson is scheduled for Jan. 27 at the King of Kings Baptist Centre, a multi-pronged ministry center sponsored by Fish Hoek Baptist Church.

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Pastor Paul Ciniraj is the founder-director of the Salem Voice Ministries and the Chairman of the SVM News Service. He was also one of the Co-ordinators of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC). He was a muslim by birth, accepted Lord Jesus Christ as his Personal Saviour and called for His ministry about 32 years ago. He is a well known Gospel Preacher and the author of many Christian books, literature and Gospel tracts. Several times he and his family were attempted to death and still facing persecutions. Around 500 missionaries of the Salem Voice Ministries spreading Gospel to the Muslim populated countries of Africa, Asia and Middle East.

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

Pak High Court ruled Church in Muslim Institution not Un-Islamic

2007-01-24T18:46:00.000-08:00

Pastor Paul Ciniraj,
Salem Voice Ministries

Peshawar (Pakistan), SVM News, 24 January 2007: Chief Justice of a Pakistan High Court said that a church within an educational institution in a Muslim country is not against the tenets of Islam, which teaches tolerance.

"There is no ban on the construction or reconstruction of a mosque in non-Muslim countries around the world. Being Muslim, we should be tolerant, as Islam teaches us the same", Tariq Pervaz Khan, the Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court ruled out on Tuesday, the 23rd of January, while hearing a writ petition filed by two students.

The petitioners, Salahuddin and Murtaza, had challenged the reconstruction of a church in Christians colony inside the University of Peshawar campus. The church was damaged in the mid-80s when some students attacked it.

They contended that the worship places of minorities could not be allowed in educational institutions of Islamic countries where the Muslims were in a majority and that it would "trigger sectarianism" among students of minorities and Muslims and lead to similar demands from other groups.

They withdrew their petition after the court observed that construction or reconstruction of the church is not un-Islamic.

The court asked: "Why did the head of a religious party's government allocate funds and attend the reconstruction ceremony as a chief guest, if the church's construction were un-Islamic?"

Akram Khan Durrani, the Chief Minister of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) laid the foundation stone for the reconstruction of the church on December 19, 2006, terming it as a gift from the ruling MMA, which is an Islamist alliance. He also announced Rs 3 million aid for the reconstruction work. SVM News reports.

The petitioners' counsel also accepted that Muslims were given facilities at the missionary schools.

To see this news at the original site: http://salemvoice.org/news126.html

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Difficult for Christians to Survive in the Middle East

2007-01-20T17:26:00.000-08:00

Pastor Paul Ciniraj,

Salem Voice Ministries

Beirut (Lebanon), SVM News, 20 January, 2007: The Presbyterian Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon reported to the Presbyterian Church delegation of USA that being of Christians in the Middle East, especially in Lebanon is very difficult.

The Presbyterian Church delegation visiting the Middle East reported Friday, the 19th of January that Christians in Lebanon expressed difficulties surviving in an unstable and Muslim-dominated region.

"We are tired. Our young people are leaving. We want our children to live like any other children and pray that they may have time to dream", the Middle East Christian leaders shared to the delegation.

Top leaders of the Presbyterian Church of USA expressed concern in a letter for the indigenous Christian population that is dwindling not only in Lebanon but elsewhere in the Middle East.

Violence, terrorism and the Islamists’ growing influence pose a threat to Christianity in the Middle East. In some countries, members of an unpopular Christian minority are already fighting for their survival - or fleeing for their lives.

Instability, insecurity, persecution and economic hardships are only some of the many factors prompting Christians to flee the region.

Christians have lived in the Arab world for the past 2,000 years. They were there before the Muslims. Apostle Paul also had been to Arabia according the Bible (Galatians 1:17).

Saudi Arabia has no Christian of its own but employs Hundreds of thousands of Christian guest workers from the Indian subcontinent and Africa. Christian church services are banned and punishable with severe penalties. Bibles and crucifixes are routinely confiscated. Recently they decide to ban the english alphabetical letter "X" in Saudi Arabia, because that letter shows the symbal of a cross. The Wahhabite religious police, the Muttawah, have even been known to raid private religious services. Even though thousands of Saudi origins accepting Jesus as their personal saviour.

There are no reliable figures on the size of Christian minorities in the Middle East. This is partly attributable to an absence of statistics, and partly to the politically charged nature of producing such statistics in the first place. Lebanon’s last census was taken 74 years ago. Saddam Hussein, a Sunni who is himself part of a minority, was fundamentally opposed to compiling denominational statistics. In Egypt the number of Christians fluctuates between five and 12 million, depending on who is counting.

Given the lack of hard numbers, demographers must rely on estimates, whereby Christians make up about 40 percent of the population in Lebanon, less than 10 percent in Egypt and Syria, two to four percent in Jordan and Iraq and less than one percent in North Africa. But the major political changes that are currently affecting the Middle East have led to shrinking Christian minorities.

In East Jerusalem, where half of the population was Christian until 1948, the year of the first Arab-Israeli war, less than five percent of residents are Christian today. In neighboring Jordan, the number of Christians was reduced by half between the 1967 Six Day War and the 1990s. There were only 500,000 Christians still living in Iraq until recently, compared to 750,000 after the 1991 Gulf War. Wassim, one of the seminary students now fleeing to Kurdistan, estimates that half of those remaining Christians have emigrated since the 2003 US invasion, most of them in the last six months.

Actually nobody can imagine Lebanon without its Christian community. They played a major role in Lebanon after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Christians were the leaders in the Cedar revolution that drove the Syrians out after nearly 3 decades of occupation.

It was a Syrian Christian, Michel Aflaq, who founded the nationalist Baath movement in 1940, a career ladder for Iraqi Christians until 2003 and still a political safe haven for many Syrian Christians today. Former Egyptian President Gamal Abd al-Nasser had no qualms about paying homage to the Virgin Mary, who supposedly appeared on a church roof in a Cairo suburb after Egypt’s defeat in its 1967 war with Israel. And former Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, who died in 2004, insisted on sitting in the first row in Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity during the annual Christmas service.

But those days are gone. The last prominent Christians — Chaldean Tariq Aziz, Saddam’s foreign minister for many years, and Hanan Ashrawi, Arafat’s education minister — have vanished from the political stage in the Middle East. And since the election victories of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and Hamas in the Palestinian Authority, the rise of Hezbollah in Lebanon and the bloody power struggles between Sunni and Shiite militias in Iraq, the illusion that Christian politicians could still play an important role in the Arab world is gone once and for all.

A Middle East scholar during visits to the nation’s capital last year warned that the lost of religious minorities in the region would adversely affect Islamic moderation.

Dr. Habib Malik, professor of history and cultural studies at the Presbyterian-founded Lebanese American University in Beirut, said that Christians provide a “dimension of universality – openness towards other culture” that help Muslims in the region become more accepting of others different from themselves.

For example, Christian beliefs such as respect for women’s rights, acceptance of religious pluralism, rejection of suicide bombings and religious domination can facilitate Islamic moderation when the two groups co-exist in the region.

“There is a new breed of Muslims that emerges after this interaction with a generally relax, secure, and stable non-Muslim, indigenous community,” said Malik in a conference last November.

Preserving a Middle East Christian population is also important for mediating western ideas into the region and maintaining a population that the international community can ask for reciprocal equal treatment as Muslims receive in their country.

Pastor Paul Ciniraj, Director of the Salem Voice Ministries request prayer supports as well as financial supports for the persecuted Christians in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. It is very very important to get support and helps for those who are converting to Christianity from Islam or other religions. Because sometimes the Christians can seek and get supports from their relatives, friends and the people of own community from other countries. But the converted Christians have nobody to show empathy when they are facing persecuted.

To see this news item at the original site, log-on to: http://salemvoice.org/news125.html

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Pastor Paul Ciniraj is the founder-director of the Salem Voice Ministries and the Chairman of the SVM News Service. He was a muslim by birth, accepted Lord Jesus Christ as his Personal Saviour and called for His ministry about 32 years ago. He is a well known Gospel Preacher in India and the author of many Christian books, literature and Gospel tracts. Several times he and his family were attempted to death and still facing persecutions.

Salem Voice Ministries,
Devalokam (P.O), Kottayam,
Kerala-686038, INDIA.
http://salemvoice.org/

Persecution harder; but saved souls bring great joy

2007-01-12T16:04:00.000-08:00

Malabar (India), SVM News, 12 January, 2007: The persecuted christians forget hardships and forgive torturings when they see the unlimited number of lost souls are coming towards Christ and experiencing the Salvation. It is a marvellous experience like a woman forgetting the harder pain and rejoice when she see the baby of which she gave birth with an unspeakable pain. Pastor Paul Ciniraj Mohamed, the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries said.

He was inagurating the one day fasting prayer for the persecuted christians as well as the annual conference of the SVM which was held in Malabar in India on Friday, the 12th of January.

Christian missionaries to the Muslim world and the converted Christians from Islam facing severe persecution around the globe. Many are murdered, shot dead, burnt dead, beaten, kidnapped, lost houses, lost children and families. But their blood becoming the seed of the church and millions of million muslims are converting to christianity day by day. The Salem Voice Ministries involving in this great task to evangelise and establish the underground house churches in different nations. Paul Ciniraj continued.

There are about one billion and six hundred million Muslims all over the world. You may think is it possible to evangelise them. Yes! It is possible and within few years all of the muslim nations will accept Jesus as Lord. Because our Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

So each and every believer must be having the missionary spirit to convey the Gospel of the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to the Muslims without pride, prejuidice and fear. Paul Ciniraj quoted from the Bible Eze 3:18-21.

He described how the Salem Voice Ministries approach the Muslims with the Gospel.

Allah and Yahweh are not the same God. He said. If one did not believe in Jesus as the living God then it is impossible to say they are the same God. We, the Christians must be clear that Muslims believe in Jesus, although not the same exact Jesus of the Bible, and be direct and unabashed about our faith when we witness to Muslims.

Jihad is prescribed in the Koran and Hadith. But there are some specific protocols in Islam like women do not go for Jihad. And also Islam has a lower view of woman than Christianity.

Though Jesus is acknowledged in the Koran, but it has a low views of Jesus. He is portrayed as only human, not as the saviour. According to Islam Jesus never died on the cross but was replaced by someone before he was crucified. And Islam has a low view of the Bible too.

Islam does not believe in religious freedom. But it is the most work-based religion in the world. A Muslim works hard to do good deeds and hope that Allah will like him and allow him to go to heaven when he dies - but there are no guarantees. And Islam is divided among denominations.

Millions are coming to faith in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is mainly because of eternal security. And also they are attracted by the unconditional love and intimacy with God offered in Christianity. Paul Ciniraj added.

Pastor Shaji Ipe, the General Secretary of the SVM submitted the report.

About 500 missionaries of Salem Voice Ministries labouring Muslim populated countries. They approach Muslims with prayers and the devine love of Jesus Christ. Firstly they find out and visit the depressed families of which any of its members held in prison or having long term sick. Usually they won't get enough care and love from the neighbours or relatives, but were criticising and abusing unnecessarily.

Missionaries show them real love with counseling, nurturing, clothing, medicating and healing. They assist those families by cleaning the house, cooking the food, bathing the sick etc. Such a concrete relationship they make with each of the families. At the same time they keep good relationship with neghbouring families too. And they gather children to share them stories and funs in which adults also enjoying the programmes. By this way they start Bible classes and worshipping services. Report continued.

Another dramatic development 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).

According to the research of Prof. Ilyas Ba Yunus, Al Jazeera.net, a leading Islamic TV channel reported that six million Muslims converting into Christianity in Africa every year. Thousands of Bangladeshi, Pakistani, North African, Kashmiri, Indian, Central and Sout Asian Muslims turn to Christ. Around 50,000 youngsters ex-communicated from Islam in Malaysia because of their Christian faith. Some 35, 000 Turks converted to Christianity last year. A vast number of Mullahs and Imams accepted Christ. 2 million ethnic Muslims converted to Christianity in Russia. 200,000 UK Muslims and 10,000 French Muslims also converted to Christianity.

Report concluded with the quoting of Joel C. Rosenberg, the author of the New York Times best selling political thriller. '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'.

A huge crowed was attended the conference in which the majority was the believers of Jesus Christ from the Muslim community. Rev. P.U. Abraham, Pastor Abdul Naseer, Pastor K.I. Kurian, Sister Rukhia Masih, Benny John shared their experiences in the conference.

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

Severe Persecution of Various Places in India

2007-01-08T13:49:00.000-08:00

Pastor Paul Ciniraj,
Salem Voice Ministries

Kottayam (India), SVM News, 8 January, 2007: Christian pastors and believers are facing severe persecution in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra in India in between 29 December to 7 January.

Bangalore (Karnataka): Pastor Robert and a church member Mr. Rajendran suffered severe injuries in a daring daylight attack inside their church, the Jeus Preethi Church in Laggere, Bangalore in Karnataka on 7th January 2007. A couple of men dragged Pastor Robert and beaten him up. They shouted and asked them to stop worshipping Jesus in that place. “We will crucify you in the same way that Christ was crucified”, they threatened Pastor.

The church member Mr. Rajendran rushed to the pastor’s defence. But the attackers detached the mike base from the stand and attacked him with it, causing severe head injuries which later needed 13 stitches. The pastor was attacked with the mike stand made by steel pipe on his face, back and head. Pastor has three daughters between the ages of 10 and 17.

Nizamabad (Andhra Pradesh): Pastor M. Gabriel of Nizamabad in Andhra Pradesh was attacked on 6 January 2006. He is hospitalized due to broken ribs and head injury and his wife remains terrified as a result of the attack on their home.

Pastor Gabriel is a Dalit, and planted a church in Shivalingam village. He was warned against his christian services several times by the upper class Hindus. A mob attacked him while he was going back home after a prayer meeting on Saturday night.. They beat him up severely, using clubs. "He is severely beaten on the head that his face is fully swollen up and cannot open his eyes and was taken to hospital", Mr. Lion Francis, the Co-ordinator of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) said.

Kaldurki (border of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh): A mob severly attacked Pastor Pavan Kumar and 14 believers at Kaldurki, a border village of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh on 29th December, 2006.

The Pastor and 15 members of the Hebron Prayer House of Bodhan in Andhra Pradesh, including 8 women and a baby hired a taxi and visited the house of Mr. Issac to conduct a prayer service at Kaldurki. As they were conducting the prayer meeting in the small hut, about 200 people surrounded the house. At first they sent the jeep away, damaging its glass. Then they entered the house, switched off the mains, and began to beat up the pastor and the believers. They made a heap of their Bibles, song books, sound system, etc, and set them on fire.

Sister Mariamma tried to prevent the pastor, but she was also terribly beaten and the attackers even stamping on her.

Nagashettihally (Karnataka): Pastor Michael and the believers of Nagashettihally, near Bangalore in Karnatake were attacked on 31st of December, 2006, the New Years eve.

Pastor and believers were putting up a shamiana to conduct the watch night service for the New Year at about 4 pm. Suddenly, a group of young men gathered and stopped them from putting up the shamiana. A woman church member, Anjanamma severly injured in an attack by one of the assailants who was trained in karate. She suffered from chest pain after the attack and was admitted to the KC General Hospital for observation for 3 days. The gang attempted to slash the face of the Pastor’s wife, Stella Geetha, with a razor, and another one also injured.

The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) and the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) condemned the attacks towards christians in India and asking prayers for the persecuted Christians.

Salem Voice Ministries
http://salemvoice.org/

Russian Priest Brutally Murdered on Orthodox Christmas Day

2007-01-07T11:12:00.001-08:00

Yekaterinburg (Russia), SVM News, 7 January, 2007: The Orthodox priest Rev. Father Oleg Stupichkin (40 years old) brutally murdered in the Sverdlovsk Region, ltar-Tass in Russia on Saturday night, the 6th of January, the day on which Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas. He was the Church prior of St. Peter and St. Paul Church of Neivo-Shaitanksy in the Alapayevsky district.

The dead body was found after putting out an insignificant fire at the Church. A wound, cut by a heavy article, was found on the priest's head.

More than 21 icons have been stolen from the church, including icons of the 18th century.

It was established that on Saturday evening, the robbers came to the temple which is now under reconstruction and where no services are conducted, and asked the prior to have a talk with them. The priest did not turn them down and told his wife that he would return in an hour.

When he did not turn up at a fixed time, the wife came to the temple and saw smoke. On murdering the priest, the robbers set fire to benches along the perimeter of the church so as to conceal the traits of the crime. However, the fire did not flare up in flames, since the building was built of brick. SVM News reported.

"Proofs of the suspects' involvement in the crime have been gathered. A part of stolen icons has been seized from them and the remaining icons have been found at the local cemetery where the robbers hid them," Valery Gorelykh, the head of the regional police department said. "Probably, the robbers set the church on fire to conceal their crime," he added.

Several reinforced investigative groups from the prosecutor’s office of the Sverdlovsk Region and the regional police department rushed to the place of the crime. The investigation was also joined by operatives from organized crime division and the homicide squad.

Prosecutor of the Sverdkovsk Region Pavel Kukushkin and chief of the regional police department Mikhail Nikitin took the investigation under their personal control. Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliev personally called the region and expressed interest in the progress of investigation.

The murdered priest survived by his wife and four children.

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

16 Tamil Civilian Christians Killed by Bombing in Sri Lanka

2007-01-06T00:06:00.000-08:00

Pastor Paul Ciniraj,

Salem Voice Ministries

Illuppaikadavai (Sri Lanka), SVM News, 6 January, 2007: Sixteen innocent Tamil Civilian Christians including seven children under ten years killed and around 60 injured by aerial bombing that took place at Padahu Thurai near Illupaikadavai, in the un-cleared area of the District of Mannar in Sri Lanka on 2nd of January, 2007.

Four planes of Israeli K-fir jet bombers swooped down from the skies on Tuesday at 9. 35 am. There were twelve explosions in ten minutes. Catholic parish priest Rev. Father Arulnathan said to SVM News Service.

Illuppaikkadavai is a small village. Its population had increased over the years with more than 4000 displaced people from other parts of the North seeking refuge there. The village falls within areas in Mannar district controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Mr. D.B.S. Jeyaraj described.

The place along the sea shore where fisherfolk beach and launch their boats and rafts is generally known as Padaguthurai. Such places known as Padaguthurai are widely prevalent in coastal areas with a fishing tradition.

All families in Padaguthurai remaining at home to celebrate the new year on 1st of January. None went out to sea. The following day of Jan 2nd began with a lingering hangover from the previous day's festivity. But aerial terror was to strike.

The exponents of aerial terror flew away leaving behind a scene of death and destruction. Around 25 of the Padaguthurai dwellings were destroyed and damaged. The thatched cadjan roofs caught fire in many instances. About 50 - 60 people were injured. Some of them succumbed to injuries.. There were people whose bodies were blown to pieces. Others were maimed losing limbs.

There were two small hospitals in the region. One was at Mulankaavil to the north and the other at Pallamadhu to the South of Iluppaikkadavai. But they did not provide the needed assistance. The closest big hospital was at Mannar town only a 40 minutes ride away. An urgent message was sent. Mannar hospital authorities promptly despatched two ambulances.

The entry - exit point for the Government of Sri lanka (GOSL) and LTTE controlled areas was at Uyilankulam. The security officials at Uyilankulam refused to let the ambulances go to Iluppaikkadavai. No amount of pleading by civilian officials would make the army relent. This was not due to the individual whims of security personnel. They were acting on orders from the Defence ministry in Colombo.

There is a visible design here. In the East the security personnel at the Mankerny entry - exit point display the same conduct when it comes to helping the beleaguered civilians of Vaaharai get medical treatment. There too the callous cruelty is due to orders from Colombo.

The next best alteranative was the hospital at Kilinochchi which is an LTTE controlled area. Two ambulances drove down from Kilinochchi and transported the serious cases there. Instead of being taken to Mannar hospital that was only 15 miles away the injured had to be taken to Kilinochchi 60 miles away.

27 people from Padaguthurai were warded at Kilinochchi. Those classified as "less serious" among the injured received treatment at the Pallamadhu and Mulankaavil hospitals. Eight bodies were at Pallamadhu and five at Mulankaavil. The body of a youth killed in the bombing was taken away by the tigers. The victim was a member of the LTTE and had come on "leave" for the new year to visit his family at the mother - in - law's place in Padaguthurai. Sinnathurai Vejendran, the Village Service Officer (Gram Sevak) told to SVM News.

Mrs. Anthonipillai Rasakumari (52) and her children Anthonipillai Kutti (26), Anthonipillai Velastin (30), Velastin's husband Kugan (34), their 4-year-old daughter Dayalini and 2-year-old son Dayalan, 1-year-old baby boy Madusan, V. Tharsini (8), Johnson (9), Vinosan (6), Uthayakumar (55), V. Vijitha (28), Kili (32) are among the dead. The killed LTTE cadre's name is not known yet.

Two of those admitted to Kilinochchi hospital died subsequently. 27 year old Malini Uthayakumar and her 18 month daughter Dharshika died in the hospital.

At least ten of the injured in the Kilinochchi hospital are under ten years of age. Three pregnant women are also seriously injured. Of the twenty - five warded at Kilinochchi seventeen are reportedly serious. Among them six are said to be in critical condition. Five of the injured have lost limbs. The eyesight of another three is impaired severely. Some of those killed too had their limbs blown away.

The bombing at Iluppaikkadavai and the damage inflicted on civilians caused shock tremors as details began to emerge. A Press Release on the incident was issued by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

"Sri Lankans continue to suffer deeply due to this conflict, and today's loss of life is a source of deepest concern," said Margareta Wahlstrom, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Acting Emergency Relief Coordinator. "It is imperative that both sides to the conflict take all measures to fulfil their obligations under international law to protect civilians in this conflict; we have too often seen them fall short in this duty."

"The United Nations calls once more for a cessation of hostilities between the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and resumption of the peace process, and recalls the responsibility of all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and uphold international human rights and humanitarian law"

Even as this civilian tragedy was unfolding the official version related a different tale. The Sri Lanka army website had this to say -: " Mannar with a view to eradicating Sea Tiger capabilities in north of Mannar, Air Force Kfir jets this morning bombed several identified Tiger terrorist targets in Illuppailadavai, Mannar and Panichchankerni of Vakere.

The LTTE is currently spreading false information that the SLAF has bombed a civilian settlement in an attempt to discredit the Security Forces and to win the sympathy of the International Community. The Air Force categorically denies bombing a civilian settlement north of Mannar.

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Mannar - Vavuniya Diocese Rt. Rev Joseph Rayappu was at Iluppaikkadavai at 12. 45 pm on the day of the bombing. He inspected Padaguthurai and spoke with survivors. He also made detailed inquiries about the alleged presence of an LTTE sea tiger base in the vicinity. The prelate also went to Pallamadhu hospital.

Thereafter Bishop Rayappu who has met Mahinda Rajapakse, the President of Sri Lanka on more than one occasion wrote a letter on the bombing incident. He also released the letter to the media.

"I, in the presence of the Catholic priest of this area saw eight civilian bodies of the above tragedy at the Pallamadhu hospital out of whom three were children of 2, 6 & 11 years old. They were all limbless and three of them headless. The parish Priest of this area had seen five bodies of civilians known to him who succumbed to death at Mulankavil hospital, this morning. I was told by the Doctor of the Pallamadhu hospital that more than 35 wounded people had been dispatched to Mulankavil hospital and from there, nearly 25 serious cases had been sent to Kilinochchi hospital most of whom are, I was told children and women. A good number of these may not survive, I was told by a doctor. There were no LTTE killed in this incident except one who was on leave and had come in civil, minutes before the attack to this place to pay New Year visit to his mother-in-law, as I came to know from my inquires." Bishop Rayappu said.

Salem Voice Ministries
http://salemvoice.org

Police Fired Gas Bombs During Church Service in Sudan

2007-01-03T19:04:00.000-08:00

Pastor Paul Ciniraj, Salem Voice Ministries.

Khartoum (Sudan), SVM News, 4 January, 2007: All Saints Episcopal Cathedral Church in Khartoum in Sudan was fired tear gas by the police on Sunday, during new years evening mass. Many of the worshippers injured and six of them were hospitalised. Missionary of the Salem Voice Ministries reported to the SVM News Service.

Rev. Canon Sylvester Thomas, the Provost of the Cathedral said he did not know the reason for the attack. Twenty minutes after the new year service started, the explosions rang out insde the cathedral. There were nine gas grenades shot into the crowed of more than 500 worshippers. which included such eminent people as Abel Alair, the former Voce President of Sudan.

Among those injured were Alair's wife and the secretary of Sudan's current first vice president are among the injured and hospitalised, including someone burnt by a plastic chair that had caught fire. In the ensuing melee, several members of the congregation were beaten by baton-welding policemen as they fled the building. Canon Thomas added.

While no official explanation for the attack has been given by the Islamist government in Khartoum, the Arabic-language newspaper Al-Sudani reported that police were pursuing a man who had carried out an assault with a knife and had tried to hide among the worshippers gathered outside the main door.

However, it quoted Thomas as saying no one but worshippers was at the door.

A majority of Sudan's population is Muslim, but there is a sizeable Christian minority, particularly in the south and in the capital.

A spokesman for the Church of the Sudan’s provincial office in Juba told The Living Church a protest would be filed with the government over the incident.

All Saints Cathedral- Khartoum belongs to the Diocese of Khartoum of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan (ESC). The present Cathedral is a new site which was given by the Sudan government to replace the old Cathedral near to the Republican palace. The foundation of the old Cathedral was laid in 1904 and was consecrated and opened in 1912. The consecration of the new church was done on the 18th of September 1983, at which Oliver Alison, the Last English Bishop to leave Sudan, was invited back to preach on the occasion. SVM News reported.

Rev. Canon Sylvester Thomas was appointed Acting provost by the Bishop of Khartoum Diocese, on the 25th December 2000, and was confirmed in the office, the following year to become the 3rd Sudanese provost For the Cathedral. Rev. Elia Komondan, Rev. Emmanuel Natania, Rev. Joseph Taban, Rev. Malis Alison, and Rev.Hassen El Fil also assisting in this Cathedral.

The Episcopal Church is an autonomous province of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The present Bishop of Khartoum Diocese is the Rt. Rev. Ezekiel Kundu, who is the third Sudanese Bishop of Khartoum. Jack van Tilburg, the Consultant Sudan Council of Churches said.

Salem Voice Ministries
http://salemvoice.org/

BIBLE AND PRAYER IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICA

2007-01-02T21:03:00.000-08:00

The U.S. Constitution was founded on Biblical principles, and it was the intention of the authors for this to be a Christian nation. There were 55 signers of the Declaration of Independence on the year 1775, of which 52 were orthodox, deeply committed evangelical Christians. The other three all believed in the Bible as the divine truth, the God of scripture, and His personal intervention. The founding fathers understood that for a country to stand it must have a solid foundation; the Bible was the source of this foundation. They believed that God's ways were much higher than Man's ways and held firmly that the Bible was the absolute standard of truth and used the Bible as a source to form the government.

It is the same Congress that formed the American Bible Society. Immediately after creating the Declaration of Independence, the Continental Congress voted to purchase and import 20,000 copies of scripture for the people of this nation.

The founding fathers took ideas from the Bible and incorporated them into the government. "For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king... (Isaiah 33:22)." The founding fathers took this scripture and made three major branches in the government: Judicial, Legislative, and Executive. They strongly believed that man was by nature corrupt and therefore it was necessary to separate the powers of the government. For instance, the President has the power to execute laws but not make them, and Congress has the power to make laws but not to judge the people. The simple principle of checks and balances came from the Bible to protect people from tyranny. Directly or indirectly, 94% of all their quotes were based on the Bible. Donald Lutz and Charles Hyneman reviewed an estimated 15,000 items with explicit political content printed between 1760 and 1805 and from these items they identified 3,154 references to other sources. The source most often quoted was the Bible, accounting for 34% of all citations. Sixty percent of all other quotes were from men who themselves used the Bible to form their conclusions.

Patrick Henry, who is called the firebrand of the American Revolution, is still remembered for his words, "Give me liberty or give me death." But in current textbooks the context of these words is deleted.

Here is what he actually said: "An appeal to arms and the God of hosts is all that is left us. But we shall not fight our battle alone. There is a just God that presides over the destinies of nations. The battle sir, is not to the strong alone. Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it almighty God. I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death."

The following year, 1776, he wrote this: "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great Nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here."

Consider these words that Thomas Jefferson wrote on the front of his well- worn Bible: "I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus. I have little doubt that our whole country will soon be rallied to the unity of our Creator ".

He was also the chairman of the American Bible Society, which he considered his highest and most important role.

The U.S. Constitution is the form of its government, but the power is in the virtue of the people. The virtue desired of the people is shown in the Bible. This is why Biblical morality was taught in public schools until the early 1960's. Government officials were required to declare their belief in God even to be allowed to hold a public office until a case in the U.S. Supreme Court called Torcaso v. Watkins (Oct. 1960). God was seen as the author of natural law and morality. If one did not believe in God one could not operate from a proper moral base. And by not having a foundation from which to work, one would destroy the community.

Government was never meant to be the master as in a ruthless monarchy or dictatorship. Instead, it was to be the servant. The founding fathers believed that the people have full power to govern themselves and that people chose to give up some of their rights for the general good and the protection of rights. Each person should be self-governed and this is why virtue is so important.

Government was meant to serve the people by protecting their liberty and rights, not to serve by developing an enormous amount of social programs to "take care of" the people. The authors of the Constitution wanted the government to have as little power as possible so that if authority was misused it would not cause as much damage. Yet they wanted government to have enough authority to protect the rights of the people. The world-view at the time of the founding of the government was a view held by the Bible: that Man's heart is corrupt and if the opportunity to advance oneself at the expense of another arose, more often than not, we would choose to do so. They firmly believed this and that's why an enormous effort to set up checks and balances took place.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely. The founders wanted to make certain that no man could take away rights given by God. They also did not set up the government as a true democracy, because they believed, as mentioned earlier, that man tends towards wickedness. Just because the majority wants something does not mean that it should be granted, because the majority could easily err. Government was not to be run by whatever the majority wanted but instead by principle, specifically the principles of the Bible.

On July 4, 1821, President Adams said: "The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity."

Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States reaffirmed this truth when he wrote, "The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country."

The fathers who formed the government also formed the educational system of the day. John Witherspoon did not attend the Constitutional Convention although he was President of New Jersey College in 1768 (known as Princeton since 1896) and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. His influence on the Constitution was far ranging in that he taught nine of fifty-five original delegates. He fought firmly for religious freedom and said, "God grant that in America true religion and civil liberty may be inseparable and that unjust attempts to destroy the one may in the issue tend to the support and establishment of both."

In 1782, the United States Congress voted this resolution: "The Congress of the United States recommends and approves the Holy Bible for use in all schools."

William Holmes McGuffey is the author of the McGuffey Reader, which was used for over 100 years in our public schools with over 125 million copies sold until it was stopped in 1963. President Lincoln called him the "Schoolmaster of the Nation."

Listen to these words of Mr. McGuffey: "The Christian religion is the religion of our country. From it are derived our notions on the character of God, on the great moral Governor of the universe. On its doctrines are founded the peculiarities of our free institutions. From no source has the author drawn more conspicuously than from the sacred Scriptures. From all these extracts from the Bible I make no apology."

Of the first 108 universities founded in America, 106 were distinctly Christian, including the first, Harvard University, chartered in 1636. In the original Harvard Student Handbook, rule number 1 was that students seeking entrance must know Latin and Greek so that they could study the scriptures: "Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ, which is eternal life, John 17:3; and therefore to lay Jesus Christ as the only foundation for our children to follow the moral principles of the Ten Commandments".

One of the first appropriations by the first Congress of the United States was for the purchase of 20,000 Bibles for use in evangelizing the Indians in the Northwest Territory. And, in 1782, the Congress voted this resolution: "The Congress of the United States recommends and approves the Holy Bible for use in all schools." James Madison, the primary author of the Constitution of the United States, said this: "We have staked the whole future of all our political constitutions upon the capacity of each of ourselves to govern ourselves according to the moral principles of the Ten Commandments."

The beginning of the END

Unfortunately, in October 1961 the Supreme Court of the United States removed prayer from schools in a case called Engel v. Vitale. The case said that because the U.S. Constitution prohibits any law respecting an establishment of religion, officials of public schools may not compose public prayer even if the prayer is denominationally neutral, and that pupils may choose to remain silent or be excused while the prayer is being recited. For 185 years prayer was allowed in public and the Constitutional Convention itself was opened with prayer.

The 1961 prayer in question was not even lengthy or denominationally geared. It was this: "Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers and our Country."

Removing this simple acknowledgment of God's protecting hand dramatically increased the birth rates for unwed girls 0f 15-19 year olds, and sexually transmitted diseases among 10-14 year olds. It improved the social fabric of the students. Moral character has plummetted resulting in a much higher divorce rate, tens of millions of abortions, and a suicide rate among teenagers that is one of the leading causes of death. The Bible, before 1961, was used extensively in curriculum. After the Bible and the prayer was removed from the schools, scholastic aptitude test scores dropped considerably.

It is sometimes said that it is permissible to pray in school as long as it is silent. Although, "In Omaha, Nebraska, 10-year old James Gierke was prohibited from reading his Bible silently during free time... the boy was forbidden by his teacher to open his Bible at school and was told doing so was against the law." The U.S. Supreme Court with no precedent in any court history said prayer will be removed from school. Yet the Supreme Court in January, 1844 in a case named Vidal v. Girard's Executors, a school was to be built in which no ecclesiastic, missionary, or minister of any sect whatsoever was to be allowed to even step on the property of the school. The Justices argued over whether a layman could teach or not, but they agreed that, "...there is an obligation to teach what the Bible alone can teach, viz. a pure system of morality." This has been the precedent throughout 185 years.

The removal of public prayer of those who wish to participate is, in effect, establishing the religion of Humanism over the reality of Christianity. This is exactly what the founding fathers tried to stop from happening with the first amendment.

Article by:

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

India: Hindu Militants Burnt Church in Orissa

2007-01-02T04:48:00.000-08:00

Koraput (Orissa in India), SVM News, 2 January, 2006: Christian Church was attacked and burnt by Hindu militants at a tiny village called Biriguda of Briguma Block of Koraput District in Orissa State in India on 23rd December, 2006.

Sangh Parivar activists set to fire on Biriguda Pentecostal Church on Saturday midnight to stop worshipping Jesus on Sunday and the following Christmas day.

Normally youth wing of the church stay inside to decorate for the Christmas Day on 23rd night every year. The attackers had a plan to burn them together along with the Building. But fortunately, the youth somehow decided not to stay this time, but come in the next day morning to complete the decoration works for the Christmas celebration. So there was no loss of life.

All the furnitures, mattresses, doors and windows along with the Pulpit and a Gunny bag full of Paddy offered by a believer, wooden planks and pillars including the roof were completely burnt.

Pastor Esau Suna and the believers filed a F.I.R no.150(5), Dt.24.12.06 under section no.436 and asked the Police protection for 24th & 25th day to celebrate Christmas in the village. It was granted and they arranged hired tents & P.A. Systems & celebrated Christmas in a more joyful way inside the village in a centrally located open ground while praising God in the midst of trauma, repeated financial loss and loss of mental peace and place of worship etc. Immanuel God is with us, a poor believer of the church told to SVM News.

The local M.L.A. Mr. Rabi Narayana Nanda was also contacted and briefed about the incident who on request of GCIC (Global Council of Indian Christians). He visited the spot and advised all the villagers to remain in unity and brotherhood integrity. GCIC also in touch with the District Collector, Superintendent of Police, and other Government Officials for the Issue.

The Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) and Pastor Paul Ciniraj of the Salem Voice Ministries condemned the attack and burnt the Biriguda Church. They asked the Central and State Governments to stop anti christian movements in India immediately at any cost.

Biriguda village has around 150 families out of which 27 families have come to the Lord through Pastor Esau Suna, the Elder of Berseba Pentecostal Church. It was a Dalit village and all were Hindus. The main profession of these villagers are Brick making during summer as hired skilled labourers and after the summer, they work in the fields as daily labourers in the cultivation.

Through Pastor Esau's regular pursuance of the gospel to these people and praying with them, ultimately God opened the door in 1998. In the same year, a miracle took place in the house of one witchcraft fellow called Samudu Harijan whose son Sri Sanu Harijan was seriously ill for a very long time suffering from unknown disease . The so called witchcraft method and all other treatments could not heal that young man but finally when

Pastor Esau fervently prayed in the name of Jesus having requested by his witchcraft father who had also left all hopes for his son's life and dedicated that young man to Pastor Esau, God did a miracle and Sanu got healed and believed in Jesus Christ. Sanu was the first convert and slowly along with his family consisting his wife and children and relatives have also come to Lord and thereby subsequently a need of a common worship center called Church was felt when the number of the believers went on increasing. Prior to which they used to meet in small groups in different believer families. Presently the strength of the said Church is around 150 members.

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

Pastors Killed in Uganda and Eastern Cape

2007-01-01T20:07:00.000-08:00

Entebbe (Uganda), SVM News, 2 January, 2007: A pentecostal christian pastor from Denmark was beaten to death in Entebbe in Uganda on Friday night, the 29th of December, 2006.

Pastor George Hilby Lukonge was beaten to death by thugs a few meters away from his residence at Kitubulu in Entebbe. The New Year turned distant for him, when the thugs who had apparently waylaid him grabbed him.

Another pastor of Eastern Cape named Berrington Madaza (41) murdered in an apparent car hijacking on 25th of December at Tsolo in Umtata.

George Hilby Lukonge is a pastor with a Pentecostal Church in Kansanga in Uganda, was returning home when he was attacked.

His body was discovered by the neighbour on Saturday morning.

Murderers also stole property from his home. It is suspected the thugs got the keys from his pockets after the attack as there were no signs of a break-in.

Entebbe Police Criminal Investigation Department chief Stanley Owor said: “They hit him on the head with a big stick. He had a big wound on the head and was lying in a pool of blood a few meters from the house.”

Pastor Lukonge stayed alone as his family lives in Denmark.

The LC1 chairman, Adam Agada, said the pastor had just moved into the area.

Eastern Cape Pastor Berrington Madaza was forced into the boot of his car in Umtata by two men. His damaged car was later found abandoned near a hotel. Nondumiso Jafta, a police spokesperson, said.

Police have found a pistol in the car and it will be sent for ballistic testing. Pastor Madaza sustained a single bullet wound.

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

Millions of Muslims Converting to Christianity

2006-12-31T23:48:00.000-08:00

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

2006-12-29T20:53:00.000-08:00

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

2006-12-27T22:11:00.000-08:00

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

2006-12-25T12:50:00.000-08:00

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.

2006-12-21T09:42:00.000-08:00

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

2006-12-18T11:07:00.000-08:00

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

2006-12-15T17:07:00.000-08:00

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

2006-12-14T19:17:00.000-08:00

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

2006-12-14T05:24:00.000-08:00

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

2006-12-08T10:34:00.000-08:00

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

2006-12-05T19:54:00.000-08:00

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/

India: Convent was attacked in Mysore

2006-11-30T07:43:00.000-08:00

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

2006-11-27T05:33:00.000-08:00

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

2006-11-26T22:29:00.000-08:00

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

2006-11-26T19:20:00.000-08:00

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

2006-11-23T05:55:00.000-08:00

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

2006-11-21T16:29:00.000-08:00

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

2006-11-21T13:00:00.000-08:00

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

2006-11-20T10:00:00.000-08:00

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

2006-11-20T09:00:00.001-08:00

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

2006-11-19T22:28:00.001-08:00

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

2006-11-18T16:30:00.000-08:00

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

2006-11-17T03:11:00.000-08:00

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

2006-11-15T21:19:00.000-08:00

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

2006-11-14T18:26:00.000-08:00

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

2006-11-14T11:00:00.000-08:00

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

2006-11-11T12:07:00.000-08:00

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

2006-11-10T07:19:00.000-08:00

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

2006-11-10T06:56:00.000-08:00

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

2006-11-10T06:20:00.000-08:00

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.