Endangered Christians | Ain't Complicated

Found: Fathima Rifqa Bary

She’s been found safe!

Missing Teen Found Safe

Nearly three weeks after she was reported missing, a 16-year-old girl was found safe in Florida, police said on Friday.

Fathima Rifqa Bary, of New Albany, was last seen on July 19.

According to police, Bary’s friends told detectives that it was possible she ran away because of conflicting religious beliefs in her home.

I’m glad to learn she is safe.

I hope she continues safe…in every way.

Arrangements were being made for her return to central Ohio.

I know the media seems to have a knack for getting some of these stories out of whack. So maybe she comes from a truly loving home. And maybe her disappearance has nothing to do with tensions between a Christian teenager and Muslim parents.

Even so, it’s difficult not to think of cases such as that of Sarah and Amina Yaser Said.

May God be near her.

Are You a Fishing Spot?

Or to put it another way, did you cause anyone’s flag to wave?

Still not getting my drift?

Facts are stubborn things: Flag the fishy spots!

Facts are stubborn things, indeed. 😯

OK, so maybe Macon Phillips will end up resigning or being fired over that Facts Are Stubborn Things, If You Smell Something Fishy, Be An Informant post at the White House blog. Or maybe we will end up losing some of our trust in those with whom we interact, as we wonder whether they will find us fishy in some way. Or maybe freedom of press and informants will co-exist just fine

But, really, what about what we say?

How did your speech and/or email communications qualify today? Or Facebook or Twitter or MySpace or Xanga or Blogger or WordPress or other online forums?

Something fishy?

Will you and your writing/speaking make a good fishing spot?

Would you want someone to inform on you?

Look. What the White House is thinking and opining is important enough.

But what God opines and thinks is infinitely of greater importance and consequence.

“In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19).

“He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction” (Proverbs 13:3).

“Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles” (Proverbs 21:23).

“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (Matthew 12:36,37).

“I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me” (Psalm 39:1).

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

Oh, you’re wondering why I would file this under Endangered Christians? Hmmm. If this fishing expedition sticks, do you really think it will be remain under its publicly posted limitations?

Now chew on that one, will ya?

After all, facts are stubborn things!

Missing: Fathima Rifqa Bary

Fathima Rifqa Bary

First, from the The Jawa Report:

Girl Who Converts to Christianity Goes Missing in Ohio

I’m not sure I have all the fact in the Fathima Rifqa Bary case. Here’s some of the info I’ve read and have been told about.

The 16 year old girl lives in a Muslim household, but recently made some professions that she was converting to Christianity.

She was last seen on July 19th. Her facebook account has been closed and her cell phone deactivated. Her friends are worried and claim this isn’t like her.

There is a missing persons report out on her, so I’m assuming that it was the family that filed the report.

There may be nothing in this related to her recent alleged conversion to Christianity. She could be just a kid that ran away from home for the normal reasons that kids run away from home. Or worse, the victim of an abduction.

Then this from 10TV News:

After Nearly 2 Weeks, New Albany Teen Still Missing

Police on Friday were still looking for information about a central Ohio teenager who vanished nearly two weeks ago.

Investigators said there is no evidence that Fathima Rifqa Bary, 16, is a victim of foul play, but they could not rule out that she is not in danger, 10TV’s Maureen Kocot reported.

[…]

Investigators said Bary is affiliated with two central Ohio churches: one on Cleveland Avenue and the other near the Ohio State University campus.

[…]

Anyone with information about the case was asked to call Columbus police at 614-645-4545.

Prayer Request: Fathima Rifqa Bary

Canada: Eroding Freedoms

Two stories via Persecuted Church:

Hutterite colony loses battle over photo ID

Yesterday (July 24, 2009) the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that all driver’s licences in Alberta must require photo ID regardless of one’s religious beliefs. After hearing the appeal by members of the Wilson Hutterite Colony more than nine months ago, the Supreme Court of Canada delivered a close 4-3 judgment to uphold Alberta rules requiring a digital photo for all new licences. Some Hutterite sects, however, believe the second commandment forbidding idolatry prohibits them from willingly having their photograph taken.

Saskatchewan marriage commissioner loses appeal

Saskatchewan Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Janet McMurty has upheld the ruling of the human rights tribunal that marriage commissioner, Orville Nichols did not have the right to refuse to marry a same-sex couple in April 2004 on basis of his personal Christian beliefs. The tribunal had also ordered Nichols to pay the complainant (a man identified only as M.J.) $2,500 in compensation.

Nichols had appealed the May 23, 2009 ruling, arguing that his religious beliefs should be protected under Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms. McMurty dismissed his argument, however, in her 39-page ruling today, concluding that the human rights tribunal was “correct in its finding that the commission had established discrimination and that accommodation of Mr. Nichols’ religious beliefs was not required.”

The Hutterite story is of particular interest to me since their historical roots are Anabaptist, just like mine.

Pakistan: Intense Persecution

So a bunch of pastors there have designated this coming Sunday as a day of prayer for Pakistan:

Pakistan allowed the Taliban to impose sharia law Islamic law in the region, and Pakistani Christians are asking the world to pray for their nation.

Todd Nettleton with Voice of the Martyrs explains. “We know of more than 300 pastors in Pakistan who have joined together to mark Sunday July 26 as a day of prayer for their country–a day of prayer particularly for the church there, which is facing intense persecution.”

Nettleton says even though Christians are facing incredible amounts of persecution, the church is growing. “Depending on the area of the country where you are, it can grow openly above ground. In other areas, particularly the areas that have recently gotten under the control of the Taliban, the church is forced to grow in sort of a quiet way.”

While many Christians left the Taliban-held areas for fear of their safety, there is still a Christian witness, says Nettleton. “There are still some solid believers who are committed to reaching Muslims for Christ. They have said, ‘There are still some Muslims here who still need to hear the Gospel, who need to hear about Jesus’ love, so we’re going stay and we’re going to keep ministering.'”

Nettleton says they don’t do this lightly. “They face incredible risk, literally risking their lives to be in that area, to be a follower of Jesus Christ in a place that’s controlled by the Taliban. The Taliban believe that any Muslim who follows Jesus is an infidel and should be killed.”

Source: Mission Network News

Iranian Birdies?

Look, I’m no gullible neophyte, OK? Maybe what I’m linking to is a set of shams.

But the idea of using Twitter this way is fascinating to me.

That was allegedly taken in Iran. (Click for larger image.)

And here are links to two Twitter-ers claiming to be in Iran: Change_for_Iran and persiankiwi.

May the Lord keep His people. And use them as lights in the night.

HT: WorldMagBlog

Tightening Screws

Iran: Screws Tighten on Christians in Government Crackdown

The threatening environment facing Christians in Iran continues to worsen. That’s saying something, considering Christians there have faced incredibly hostile responses for a long time.

[…]

Open Doors tracks the hatred and distrust of Christianity internationally, assigning rankings to the most dangerous spots for Christians to practice their faith. For the past seven years Iran ranked third behind No. 2 Saudi Arabia and No. 1 North Korea. In January, Iran moved into a tie for second with Saudi Arabia.

[…]

The government is reacting to the growth by expanding the powers of Parliament to effectively persecute Christians. Currently, anyone charged with apostasy goes before a court, where the judge rules on a case-by-case basis. The penalty might be hard labor or prison or simply a fine.

If the recent bill becomes law, however, it would create a new penal code by which conservative Muslim clerics would make the final decision on each case of apostasy. Any Iranian man found guilty would be put to death, while women would receive life imprisonment.

Hat Tip: International Christian Concern