I just watched a really good video on what it is like to be a Christian in Somalia. You can watch it below
The website I Against My Brother also has a 4-page Bible study for use after watching the film. This would be great for Sunday School, small groups and even homeschooling. The below news report is by CBN:
Muslims turning to Christ in Somalia is the subject of the new short film "I Against My Brother."
At only 15 minutes long, producers hope the film will become an evangelism tool -- something that Somalis could even watch on a cell phone.
"I Against My Brother" dramatizes the true story of a Somali woman who came to believe in Christ.
For her the cost was extremely high. In Somalia, she says, being a Muslim is seen as a part of being Somali.
"Somali people are very close. We share everything," the woman said in the film. "In our house there was only one room and there were seven of us."
In a surprise move to the city, the Somali woman encounters a Christian family. They show her God's love as they befriend her.
She then started reading the Bible in secret.
"I thought, 'Even if this (the Bible) is true, there's no way I can accept it. I'm a Somali. There's no other world I can go live in. If I accept this I will be killed,'" the woman recalled.
Eventually, the woman converted. The movie shows the real dangers she faced after coming to Christ.
The filmmaker told CBN News those dangers make it tough for Somali Christians to worship. They've even had to remain anonymous for this story due to security concerns.
"Somali Christians are very underground. They don't know each other. As far as I know there's no church of Somali believers pastored by a Somali pastor," one of the filmmakers said.
The filmmakers hope the Western church will watch the movie and pray for Somalis.
"The Somali people make international news almost every week for stuff that's really terrible," the other producer added.
"There's piracy, there's terrorism, there's the war in Somalia, there's the refugee camps," he continued. "And we want the church as they read these headlines to have a different response than the world has."
The filmmakers also hope that small groups will take advantage of online bible study materials -- and commit to praying weekly for the persecuted church in Somalia.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
The Last-Day Church
This devotion by Pastor Wilkerson was so good, I just wanted to share it! It really gets me excited about what God is going to do in this world. May we be a part of it as we trust in the power of the Holy Spirit and live in obedience and anticipation of Jesus' return!
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2011
THE LAST-DAY CHURCH
by David Wilkerson
[May 19, 1931 – April 27, 2011]
I believe God’s vision for His last-day church is based on His revealed Word—because the Bible clearly outlines what the church of Jesus Christ will be like just prior to His coming.
The church in America is far from what God envisioned it to be. For the most part, entire denominations today operate without the Holy Spirit. They are devoid of the presence of Jesus and bankrupt of all spiritual gifts. They practice a form of religion without any power, conviction or saving message. They are cozy with the world and are more political than spiritual. They appease sin, wink at divorce and ridicule the supernatural, while tossing aside all teaching about heaven, hell, repentance and judgment.
The New Testament church made devils tremble! It drove legions of demons into the abyss, prayed prison doors open, made rulers cringe in fear. Those early believers had such faith and power that cripples rose up leaping and beggars became evangelists. They believed in the supernatural and they opened blind eyes, unstopped deaf ears and healed all manner of diseases. They even raised the dead!
I am not saying God’s last-day church will be a repeat or copy of the first-century church. No—I am saying it will be even greater than that! It will be mightier, stronger, with an ever greater revelation of Jesus. It will have greater unction from the Spirit than ever—greater even than at Pentecost! God always saves His best wine for last!
The prophet Daniel confirms this. He said that certain prophetic truths were locked up, only to be revealed in the last days: “For the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. . . . And none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand” (Daniel 12:9-10).
Today the Holy Spirit is revealing these things to spiritual, discerning saints! “It is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).
The Lord is preparing a powerful yet humble army of shepherds after His own heart and also a remnant congregation of hungry sheep who have turned away from the deadness and sin of the modern church. The scene is being set for that church which will be hot, not lukewarm—and it will rock the very foundations of hell. No power on earth will be able to ignore or despise it!
Saturday, November 12, 2011
International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church 13 November 2011 |
 Today, Christian believers all over the world will be setting aside time to intercede on behalf of our Brothers and Sisters who are facing persecution for their faith. The goal of this global concert of prayer is to increase awareness of the opposition and violence Christians are enduring worldwide, stand in the gap for these courageous men and women, and call the Church to action on their behalf. "We believe prayer changes things," the sponsors of this event say. "Exactly what happens is a mystery of faith. God invites us to present to Him our requests and to pray without ceasing. The most we can do is the least we can do - pray. " For more information on this important call to prayer, go to www.persecutedchurch.org. |
PRAY FOR:
|
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Not another wasted dollar this Christmas
"Honey, what do you want for Christmas?"
"What do the kids want for Christmas?"
"What do you think we should get our parents, sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews for Christmas?"
I DON'T KNOW (they already have everything)...
-- Last year, in America, pre-Christmas sales were $584.3 billion 2010 Holiday Shopping Statistics
Mid-morning Christmas day -
"Look at that mess of wrapping paper and bows...I think I'm going to need three garbage bags to pack it up and throw it all away."
"Mommy, my toy just broke...can you fix it?"
Call from grandparents - "So what did you get for Christmas?" "Oh, a bunch of toys and some candy. Thanks for the presents."
Two weeks after Christmas -
"I'm bored Mom." "Why don't you go play with some of your new Christmas toys?" "I already have...I'm tired of them."
"I sure am glad Christmas comes only once a year...I'm still trying to recover from the rush of the season."
"Wow, honey, we need to spend less on Christmas next year...we really ran up the credit card!"
-- According to the American Consumer Credit Council, the average American spends $935 on Christmas each year and carries an average credit card debt of $8,562 American Consumer Credit Council
Does this scenario sound anything like your house at Christmas time? Is this the tradition we want to pass down to our children, year after year...memories of gifts, gifts and more gifts at Christmas so that Christmas seems like just one more birthday?
It is a birthday after all...the birthday of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But do our gift giving traditions convey this truth? Will our children grow up thinking about Christmas as a time of giving gifts to Jesus or giving gifts to ourselves?
But how do we give gifts to Jesus? "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:40
We can give gifts to Jesus by helping others at Christmas, by giving gifts to the "least of these." While more than 580 billion was spent on Christmas last year in America, over half the world has yet to hear Christ's name.
Please take a minute to watch this 2 minute video to learn about a different type of gift giving this year...one that can make a difference in eternity.
Forgotten Christmas
Saturday, October 1, 2011
The way of victory
"because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace."
Luke 1:78-79
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened
in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you,
the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
That power is like the working of his mighty strength,
which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead
and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms"
Ephesians 1:18-20
During this past week, there has been much talk within my own family, on Facebook amongst friends and in the news, about two Christians who are facing the death penalty from Muslim governments for believing in Jesus - Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani of Iran and Asia Bibi of Pakistan. In addition, the news is full of reports about the killing of Al Qaeda leader Anwar al-Awlaki.
How should we respond as Christians and Americans? What response would glorify God?
I believe we can find the right response if we look to our Lord Jesus as an example. He modeled for us both tenderness and strength. These two qualities, living within us and working in agreement, are what we need to respond to the Muslim question.
"Christ Jesus is the artist. He created the world with colors and textures human artists have tried for thousands of years to imitate. Christ Jesus is the musician. He gave the angels their voices. Christ Jesus is the tenderhearted, ministering to our every need.
Christ Jesus is also the warrior, forever leading us in triumphant procession, if only we will follow
(2 Corinthians 2:14). In our great weakness, He is strong. Christ Jesus is the blessed embodiment of both characteristics. He has set an example before us of true manhood and true womanhood," (from A Heart Like His by Beth Moore).
We must model the tenderness of Christ toward the Muslims. Each Muslim was created in God's image, tenderly and lovingly by His own hand. He desires their salvation. He loves them and asks each of us to love them, to desire good for them, to befriend them and share with them the good news of salvation.
Ultimately, the battle is not for freedom in America or anywhere else on this earth. It is ultimately for the freedom of each soul. Hatred and anger will only close doors to the Muslim world that need to be left open if they will ever have the hope of finding Christ as their Savior.
We must also model the strength of Christ toward the threat of an Islamic take-over of our nation and the world. When I survey the evil that is done in the name of this religion it chills me.
I believe that Satan knows his time is short. Christ will return in triumph and strength, but in the mean time, the devil is throwing every kind of evil and stronghold he can at the human race, and much of it is embodied in Islam. We must, as a nation, recognize this evil and do all we can to stop the spread of this religion to our own land and the other nations.
Yet, how do we show the strength to stop this evil? Is it ultimately through our military might? I don't think so. Take Afghanistan and Iraq for an example. Has our military presence in these two nations truly stopped the spread of Islamic fundamentalism? Are the people any more free to choose Christ as their Savior or do they still live under the fear of honor killings and other such violence if they leave Islam?
Do we kill them all? Does that really stop Islam? No...more and more young men, angered by loss and brainwashed by Imams, will step forward to fill the shoes of those who died in jihad. And ultimately, is that victory in Christ...killing human enemies? That was the mistake made by the Crusades.
The only way to truly stop the spread of Islam is to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, showing strength toward Satan and gentleness toward the Muslims. We must win them with the love of Christ.
That is how the Romans, Vikings, Goths, African and Asian tribes, Irish Druids and so many others were turned from their murderous ways. It was with strength toward Satan and tenderness toward the individuals. They were stopped with the love of Christ.
We must model gentleness and strength toward any enemy in this world. It is not the way of weakness but the way of victory.
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