Jordan:Demonstrators of the Faith

"The world wants to see demonstrators of the faith rather than defenders of the faith." -Unknown


What is your reaction when Christianity is attacked? How do you feel when you hear that someone would be willing to burn the Bible but not the Quran? What do you think about people who take Christ's name in vain but won't dare to say anything negative about Muhammed? Some Christians feel angry. Others complain that it's not fair. Still others say that we as Christians should take a page from Muslims and raise more of an outcry. But in the end, perhaps the question we really should be asking is "What do we want to be known for?" Do we want to be feared more than we are respected? Would we rather be so imposing that no one would dare to insult Jesus Christ? And how would that further a message to a lost world? Really, you could argue with someone all day about your rights to be respected and how offensive their behavior is to your religion. But what will really make an impression on them is someone who is truly living out the Christian life. More often than not, we don't need to defend our faith as much as we need to demonstrate it. I pray that as we pray for Jordan this month, we will be inspired to demonstrate Christ in our lives, no matter the cost.
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Jordan

Basic Info: The country of Jordan is slightly smaller than Indiana and has a strategic location at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba. It is the Arab country that shares the longest border with Israel and the occupied West Bank. Arabic is the official language, but English is widely understood among the middle and upper classes. About 78% of the total population is urban, and since the conflict in Iraq, aproximately 2 million Iraqis have fled their country and the majority have relocated in Syria and Jordan.

Government: After World War I and the fall of the Ottoman Empire, Great Britain received a mandate to govern most of the Middle East. In the early 1920's, Britain carved out a semi-autonomous region of Transjordan from Palestine. The area gained its independence in 1946 and adopted the name of Jordan in 1950. The government is a constitutional monarchy. The monarchy is hereditary and the Prime Minister is appointed by the monarch. The country was ruled by King Hussein from 1953-1999. During this time, King Hussein was on good terms with the major world powers. In the 1967 war with Palestine, Jordan lost the West Bank to Israel and King Hussein permanently relinquished Jordanian claims to it in 1988. He signed a formal peace treaty with Israel in 1994. After King Hussein's death in 1999, his son King Abdallah II took command. Since becoming king, he has instituted major economic reforms. In 2003, Jordan supported the removal of Saddam in Iraq and has since then taken in thousands of Iraqi refugees. Municipal elections were held in July 2007 under a system in which 20% of seats in all municipal councils were reserved by quota for women. Their Senate has 55 seats and the members are appointed by the monarch to serve four-year terms. Their House of Representatives has 110 seats and out of these 6 seats are reserved for women, 9 seats are reserved for Christian candidates, 9 seats are reserved for Bedouin candidates, and 3 seats are reserved for Jordanians of Chechen or Circassian descent. The radio and TV are dominated by the government-owned corporation that operates a main network, a sports network, a film network, and a satellite channel. The first independent TV broadcaster aired in 2007 and international satellite TV and Israeli and Syrian TV broadcasts are available.

Economy: Jordan's economy is one of the smallest in the Middle East and it relies heavily on foreign assistance due to insufficient sources of water, oil, and other natural resources. The government has also faced high rates of poverty, unemployment, inflation, and a large budget deficit. Besides absorbing Iraqi refugees, Jordan has also taken Palestinian refugees from Isreal which has placed a further burden on their economy. King Abdullah has instituted major economic reforms, such as opening the trade regime, privatizing state-owned companies, and eliminating most fuel subsidies, which in the past few years have spurred economic growth by attracting foreign investment and creating some jobs. The global economic crisis has hindered Jordan's growth while foreign assistance to the government in 2009 plummeted, preventing the government's efforts to reign in the large budget deficit. Export-oriented sectors such as manufacturing, mining, and the transport of re-exports have been hit the hardest. Amman is considering sweeping tax cuts to attract foreign investment and stimulate domestic growth. Jordan is currently exploring nuclear power generation to forestall energy shortfalls.

Religion: Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox; some Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (several small Shia Muslim and Druze populations) Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1% Jordan is considered by the Western world to be one of the most tolerant Islamic societies and it is often held up as an example for maintaining good relations between Muslims, Jews, and Christians. The state religion of Jordan is Islam and the government appoints and financially supports all Islamic clergy. Christians and Jews are officially recognized and allowed to worship. However, encouraging Muslims to convert to Christianity is prohibited. Those who do convert to Christianity report social and government discrimination. In the eyes of the law, they continue to be Muslims and their children are considered Muslims. Both Jordanian and foreign Christians have been forced to leave the country due to opposition for their faith. In April 2008, a Jordanian Christian, Mohammad Abbad (40) was tried for apostasy for converting from Islam to Christianity in 1993. In a court hearing a month later, Abbad refused to deny his faith. He and his Jordanian Christian wife fled the country the following day. Also in July 2008, six Muslim men attacked a Christian church and cemetery with Molotov cocktails in response to a perceived insult to Islam.

World View: Violent Reactions from Muslims

In 2005 the world was astonished to see the violent reactions of Muslims in regards to the publication of Danish cartoons of Muhammad. Muslims rioted, burned embassies, and staged boycotts of all Danish goods, and many people died. Where does this kind of reaction come from? How can this behavior be justified in the minds of believers? In looking at the life and time of Muhammad, we can see exactly why this kind of behavior occurs.

*Muhammad himself ordered the execution of a poet who said his folk tales were better to listen to then the Quran; the man pleaded for his life because of his children, but Muhammad condemned them to hell.
*A nearly blind follower killed a woman poet who satirized the prophet; the follower tore her child from her while she was nursing and killed her; she had 7 children.
*Muhammad himself ordered his followers to kill a lyrist from Mecca who criticized the effectiveness and character of the prophet; the man was lured from his home and killed by the sword as the “Enemy of God”.
*When Mecca was conquered, only four people were executed; one was a female poet who had composed satirical lyrics against the prophet.

Islam has a history of reacting violently to criticism and they have an example for that behavior in their own prophet. According to Flemming Rose, editor of the Danish newspaper, this is not an issue of respect. “If a believer demands that I, as a nonbeliever, observe his taboos in the public domain, he is not asking for my respect, but for my submission. And that is incompatible with a secular democracy.” Deference and submission out of fear, is not the same as respect, and unfortunately, more people in the world fear Islam than respect it and it is clear why.

Info compiled from CIA World Fact Book 'Jordan'; VOM 'Jordan' www.persecution.net; "Unveiling Islam" by Ergun Caner and Emir Caner
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Persecution Report (Jordan is the second story)




Discover Jordan




Jordan a Biblical Land








Check out this great MSN video: Jordan's king on Mideast politics and terrorism

International Day of Prayer

"I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had absolutely no other place to go." -- Abraham Lincoln


This month on November 14th is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP). IDOP is a global day of intercession for persecuted Christians worldwide. Its primary focus is the work of intercessory prayer and citizen action on behalf of persecuted communities of the Christian faith. They also encourage prayer for the souls of the oppressors, the nations that promote persecution, and those who ignore it. As Chrisitans, we believe that prayer changes things. Exactly what happens is a mystery of faith. God invites us to present to Him our requests and to pray without ceasing. Persecuted Christians often plead for prayer to help them endure. The most we can do is the least we can do — pray.

SUBMIT this month will be meeting on the first and second Sunday at 8:00 am for class. Since we have started our study of persecution in Muslim countries, we will be watching the DVD "Islam Up Close". This video was made soon after 9/11 and takes place at a church where Christians submited different questions about Islam ahead of time to be answered by the panel of experts. The panel of 4 includes Tom White (Director of Voice of the Martyrs), Dr Nagy (Founder and President of Last Harvest a ministry in the Middle East, and former professor of Islam and Middle East Culture in SCBSS, California) Dr Bert Oubre (President of Cutting Edge Foundation, a ministry that builds teaching hospitals in Africa and to staff them with medical and technical missionaries and to use patient treatment as an avenue to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ) and Gary Lane (Senior International Correspondent for Christian Broadcasting Network). The video lasts for approximately 70 minutes, so we will watch about 30 minutes of it each Sunday and then have time to answer questions and discuss what we have learned. It is a great video with a lot of information communicated in a casual setting. If you're unable to make it both Sundays, the video will be put in GCC's Library under the Persecuted Church section when we are done with it.

SUBMIT is also doing a special project this month for the IDOP. As a way to act on behalf of persecuted Christians, this year we are participating in the Bibles and Blankets program. Here is the link to the site: http://www.persecution.com/blanket
Taking Part in VOM's Blanket and a Bible Outreach is as Easy as 1-2-3
1. Collect good quality, new or used blanket(s)
2. Add $2 per blanket for handling, shipping into Sudan (VOM will add a He Lived Among Us illustrated Bible storybook.)
3. Send blankets and collected funds

SUBMIT will collect the blankets on the first and second Sunday and will then be sending them off to the Voice of the Martyrs. We would appreciate it if you would like to contribute a blanket or if you would like to contribute to the shipping of the blankets. Come by the class with your blanket or your donation.

Listed below are some videos that address the International Day of Prayer and can give you a better idea of what to pray for. As we go through the month of November and continue on our journey with the persecuted church, may we live up to what we have already attained in Christ (Philippians 3:16).








While this video is just a preview, the full story will be in the GCC Library.

Oman: Ibadhi Muslims

"Everything that we see is a shadow cast by that which we do not see." -Martin Luther King, Jr.


When Americans think of the Middle East, Oman is not usually one of the countries they picture. Instead, we might picture Iraq or Iran or Afghanistan; probably because those are the countries that the media most often portrays. But when we look at Iraq or Iran or Afghanistan, we see religious turmoil and strife and fighting between Muslims that we don't see in Oman. Why is that? I would suggest that one of the many varied reasons is because the dominating form of Islam in Oman is Ibadhi Islam. Ibadhi Islam developed out of the seventh-century Islamic sect known as the Khawarij, and shares with that group the desire to found a righteous Muslim society and the belief that true Muslims are only to be found in their own sect. However, unlike the Khawarij who believe that all Muslims who committed a grave sin without repentance are as guilty as unbelievers and merits the capital punishment deserved by all apostates of the faith, Ibadhis see such people as monotheists who are ungrateful for the blessings God has bestown upon them. So instead of practicing outright hostility to other Muslims, they practice dissasociation (or rather, the internal attitude of withholding, namely one's friendship or acceptance). According to the Professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Illinois, "British observers of Omani rule commented that Ibadis are the least fanatic and sectarian of all Muslims, and openly associate with people of all faiths and pray together with Sunni Muslims. Hostile action is reserved for one type of person: the unjust ruler who refuses to mend his ways or relinquish his power." The fighting that is occuring between Muslims in the part of the Middle Eastern world that we normally hear about is between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims. Their beliefs are not the same as Ibadhi Muslims, thus the country of Oman reflects a different attitude. As we look at Oman this month and pray for the Christians there, let's also thank God for the stability of the country and pray that Christians would have a chance to openly share their faith and God's love with the people of Oman.

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Oman

Basic Info: Oman is slightly smaller than Kansas and has a strategic location on the Arabian Peninsula adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz, which is a vital transit point for world crude oil. Oman has a middle-income economy that is heavily dependent on oil. However, oil reserves have been declining, so the country has been actively pursuing ways to diversify, industrialize, and privatize, with the goal of reducing the country’s dependency on oil to only 9% by 2020. Part of that plan is a switch to a focus on tourism and gas based industries. The country was affected by the global financial crisis. Their budget surplus was reduced for 2009 and investment and development projects slowed. About 72% of the population is urban. Just like many of the smaller countries on the Arabian Peninsula, most of the labor force is made up of non-nationals; for Oman about 60% of the workers are foreigners.

Government: Oman is a monarchy and is the oldest independent state in the Arab world and has been its own sovereign entity since 1650 when the Portuguese were expelled. The country has a long history of friendship with Britain. In the late 18th century, the sultanate signed the first in a series of treaties. While Oman’s dependence on British political and military advise increased over the next two centuries, it never became a British colony. The country did not truly open up however until 1970 when Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said overthrew his father and repealed his father’s oppressive social, economic, and diplomatic policies. He also suppressed a communist uprising in the interior. He has ruled as Sultan ever since. He implemented an extensive modernization program that opened up the country and preserved its friendship with Britain. On November 6, 1996, Sultan Qaboos issued a royal decree instituting a basic law that is considered by the government to be a constitution. The law clarified royal succession, instituted a prime minister, bared ministers from holding interests in companies doing business with the government, established a bicameral legislature, and guaranteed basic civil liberties for Omani citizens. Oman's moderate, independent foreign policy has also sought to maintain good relations with all Middle Eastern countries.

Religion: Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Other (including Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu) 25%
Islam is the state religion of Oman and its legislation is based on English common law and Islamic Shari’a law, with the ultimate appeal being to the sultan. Sultan Qaboos’ political and social reforms in 1996 included a ban on discrimination on the basis of sex, ethnicity, religion, and social class. It also guarantees freedom of expression and assembly. However, not all of these reforms have been fully enacted. Religious groups are required to register before they can legally join together or obtain places of worship. Non-Muslims have not been allowed to legally hold religious meetings in private homes since 2006. Although sharing the gospel with Muslims is not illegal, it is strongly discouraged and the government will sometimes pressure those who do evangelize. However, Muslims are permitted to evangelize to non-Muslims. Freedom of expression is very limited in Oman as the state controls all media and government approval is required for all public assemblies. The future of Oman‘s reforms and moderate policies remain uncertain since Qaboos is advancing in age and has no sons to succeed him.

The Pact of Umar (Regarding the history of Islam, a pact set down by the second Caliph, Umar, who conquered Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Persia, and Jerusalem)

America as an open and free society, offers freedom of religion and encourages the free expression of worship and witness, even of those religions we do not agree with. Islamic countries however, follow the principle that other faiths must be given no encouragement or opportunity to share their beliefs. This principle can be traced back to the seventh century after a swift increase in Muslim expansion. It is known as the Pact of Umar. The Pact of Umar states that Christians

“shall not build, in our cities or in their neighborhood, new monasteries, Churches, convents, or monk’s cells, nor shall [they] repair, by day or by night, such of them as fall in ruins or are situated in the quarters of Muslims”;
“shall not manifest religion publicly not convert anyone to it…[Christians] shall not prevent any of [their] kin from entering Islam if they wish it”;
“shall show respect toward the Muslims, and shall rise from their seats when [Muslims] wish to sit”;
“shall not display crosses or books in the roads or markets of the Muslims…[They] shall use only clappers in churches very softly.”

All minorities, especially Christians and Jews, were known as “Dhimmis” or protected people. Instead of being killed as part of jihad, they were given the rights of second class citizens and paid an extra tax. Their lives were spared and they were allowed to continue in their faith, but that faith was strictly controlled. The above pact may be from the seventh century, but this mentality is still held in many modern day Muslim nations. Here are a few examples. The country of Turkey has consistently denied permission to develop theological education or buildings for the Eastern Orthodox Church. Between 1905 and 1918, 2 million Armenian Christians were slaughter by the Ottomans, and as recently as 1994 and 1996, explosives were used in attacks against the Christian church. Morocco allows freedom of worship, but evangelizing is forbidden. Passing out Christian literature can result in a three year prison sentence and not participating in Ramadan can result in imprisonment. When Muslims came to power in 1983, jihad was declared against the millions of Christians living there. As a result at least 1.5 and 3 million people have been killed. More Sudanese have become victims than in Rwanda, Bosnia, Somalia, and Kosovo combined. Fifty thousand children of the Dinka tribe alone are held as slaves. Forced conversions to Islam are government policy and the Mujahidin (holy warriors) fight alongside government forces. Open preaching and evangelism is illegal and punishable by imprisonment or beatings. These are not isolated incidents. Christians who openly worship Jesus in many Muslim countries may be killed, imprisoned, forced out of work, or forced to convert to Islam. The idea that this is occurring by a small fringe group of Taliban radicals is simply not true. In reality, more than a dozen governments encompassing hundreds of millions of Muslims justify these acts by followers of the Qur’an and the prophet Muhammad.

Information compiled by CIA World Fact Book “Oman”; VOM www.persecution.net ‘Oman’; “Unveiling Islam” by Ergun Mehmet Caner and Emir Fethi Caner;
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People and Power Part 1


People and Power Part 2


Muscat-Capital of Oman


Beautiful Oman

UAE: Free or not Free?

“There is no such thing as a little freedom. Either you are all free, or you are not free.” -Walter Cronkite

When we here in the United States hear the words 'freedom of religion' we get a picture in our minds of what that means. We have certain expectations of what freedoms go along with those words. The United Arab Emirates claim to have freedom of religion, and I suppose it's true depending on what country one compares with them. In comparison to Saudi Arabia, the UAE definately has freedom of religion. But freedom of religion in the UAE is not the same as what we know here in the US. One could say that there is freedom of religion for foreigners to practice their own faith, but those freedoms do not extend to the nationals of the country. Conversions from Islam are not recognized, and distributing non-Islamic literature is illegal. Evangelism is forbidden. So in essance, the people of Islam are still being 'protected' from the 'corrupting influence' of Christianity if they are not allowed to learn about it or chose it for themselves. The UAE may be our close ally and they may be a progressive nation, but they still do not allow for a free exchange of ideas when it comes to religion and we should not be fooled into thinking they do. May we never take for granted the freedom we have to share our faith and to chose our own religion. Lets pray that one day the citizens of the UAE may have the right to chose their own faith as well.

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United Arab Emirates

Basic Info: The United Arab Emirates is slightly smaller than Maine and is located on the southern portion of the Arabian Peninsula. It has a strategic position in a vital transit point for crude oil, and 4/5’s of the UAE is desert. The official language is Arabic, but English is widely understood and is equally used in commerce. Back in the 19th century, what was then known as the Trucial States of the Persian Gulf granted the UK control of their defense and foreign affairs. It wasn’t until 1971 that six of these states merged to form the United Arab Emirates, and a latter state joined in 1972. The UAE is comparable to leading West European nations when it comes to their economy. Their extensive oil revenues and moderate foreign policy have made them into a leader when it comes to the affairs of the region.

Government: The United Arab Emirates is a constitutional federation of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah. The federal government has control over foreign affairs, defense and security, education, public health, etc. The constitution specifically states that any powers not granted to the federal government are left to the Emirates. When the federation was first formed, the seven Emirs set up a Supreme Council, with each ruler being a member. From their own number they elect the President and Vice President who serve for a renewable 5 year term. The Federal Supreme Council (FSC) has both executive and legislative powers, and there are no political parties. It ratifies federal laws and decrees, plans general policy, approves the nomination of the Prime Minister by the President and accepts his resignation. It also relieves him of his post on the recommendation of the President. They meet four times a year, and the rulers of Abu Dhabi and Dubai have effective veto power.

Economy: The UAE used to be a poor area of small desert rulers, but with the discovery of oil 30 yrs ago, the country has been dramatically transformed into a modern state with a high standard of living. The country has an open economy and they have successfully reduced the portion of their budget that is dependent on oil and gas output to 25%. The government has increased spending on job creation and infrastructure expansion and is opening up utilities to greater private sector involvement. The country's Free Trade Zones - offering 100% foreign ownership and zero taxes - are helping to attract foreign investors. The global financial crisis greatly affected UAE. The crisis hit Dubai hardest and it lacked sufficient cash to meet its debt obligations. In February 2009, Dubai launched a $20 billion bond program to meet its debt obligations. The UAE Central Bank and Abu Dhabi-based banks bought the largest shares. In December 2009 Dubai received an additional $10 billion loan from the emirate of Abu Dhabi. Dependence on oil and a large expatriate workforce are significant long-term challenges. Expatriates account for about 85% of the work force. The UAE's strategic plan for the next few years focuses on diversification and creating more opportunities for nationals through improved education and increased private sector employment.

Religion: Muslim 96% (Shi'a 16%), Christian, Hindu, and Other 4%
The state religion of the United Arab Emirates is Islam and all of the country’s citizens are considered Muslim. Approximately nine percent of the population is Christian. The country’s constitution grants freedom of religion and although this freedom is generally respected, there are some restrictions. For example, evangelism is prohibited and conversions from Islam to other religions are not recognized. The distribution of non-Islamic literature is not permitted. Non-Muslim men are not allowed to marry Muslim women. Although there are no laws to specifically ban missionary activity, the government is known to pressure those who try to spread their faith. Only foreign Christians have freedom to worship, but there are severe restrictions on Christian education and witnessing to nationals. Few believers have the opportunity to openly share the Good News because of possible arrest.

Is the God of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism the same?

Media coverage often portrays the similarities between Islam and Christianity and Judaism. But is the God in all three the same? The media seems to think so, but when asking Muslims if Allah is the same as Jehovah they will tell you no. Even though Christians use the term ‘God’ when referring to their deity, and ‘Allah’ is the generic Arabic term for god, the deities in these two religions are not the same and should not be confused because of semantics. The very nature of the deity must be examined. Three important questions to consider are these:

Is Allah triune? If not then we are not talking about the same God.
Does Allah have a Son? If not, then we are not discussing the same God.
Is Allah the victorious Redeemer and atoning Lamb of God, taking away the sins of the world? If not then we are not talking about the same God.

In more than 100 passages, the Quran emphasizes the absolute monotheistic nature of Allah. The first pillar of Islam, the profession of faith, is that ‘There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.’ Allah cannot be triune and does not share his power with anyone. Muhammad who knew the teachings of Christ, rejected him as Lord and as God’s son. He even says that it is an ‘abominable assumption…It is not worthy of Allah that He should take to himself a son’ (surah 19:88-92). The god of Islam is also a ‘god of scales’ as opposed to the atoning blood of Christ. ‘Those whose balance (of good deeds) is heavy,-they will be successful. But those whose balance is light, will be those who have lost their souls; in Hell will they abide’ (surah 23:102-3). Allah also has no love for the unbeliever. Muslims are not charged with evangelizing an unbelieving world, but with conquering it. Allah alone is to be worshiped and any one who doesn’t must be defeated, silenced, or expelled. Many Arabic speaking Christians use the Persian term ‘khudu’ for God, rather than causing confusion by calling Allah by the name God.

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Welcome to United Arab Emirates 2007



Abu Dhabi


Discovery Channel Look at UAE World’s Richest Country


Part 2


Part 3


Part 4


Part 5


Part 6

Qatar: To Gain the Whole World

"What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?" -Matthew 16:26a

At first glance, Qatar might appear to be paradise on earth. Imagine New York City in the middle of a desert, but right by the ocean. Education is free, hospitals are free, housing is free, there are no taxes, and the country is not in debt. The majority of people can even speak English...sounds like a place you'd want to be, right? As beautiful as Qatar sounds, and even though they are one of the least restrictive Islamic countries in the world, it is still illegal for foreign Christians to evangelize in the country and it is illegal for a Muslim citizen to change their faith. That is the harsh reality in this modern society, and for that reason the majority of Christians in Qatar are foreigners. Look at what a person would have to give up to become a Christian...but we know that without Christ these people are lost. As we pray for Qatar this month, I pray that the scripture above would be a part of your prayers; that the people of Qatar would see beyond the material things they have been given by their government and that they would search to satisfy their soul as only Christ can.

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Qatar

Basic Info: Qatar is a peninsula with a strategic location in the Persian Gulf, next to Saudi Arabia. It is slightly smaller than Connecticut, and much of the country is low barren plain covered with sand. The country has extensive oil and natural gas reserves, and because they were a British protectorate, English is commonly used as a second language. About 96% of the population is urban and the country has a .5% unemployment rate. Expatriates make up the majority of Qatar residents, and there are no political parties.

Economy: The discovery of oil in the 1940’s changed the state of the country’s economy. It is now considered to be one of the wealthiest countries in the world. It has a high standard of living with many social services of a modern state and is comparable to living in the West. In 2007, oil and natural gas revenues enabled Qatar to attain the second-highest per capita income in the world. Despite the global financial crisis, Qatar has maintained its economic growth. The drop in oil prices in late 2008 and the global financial crisis reduced Qatar's budget surplus and slowed the pace of investment and development projects in 2009, but GDP growth still registered more than 9% for that year. Proved oil reserves of 15 billion barrels should enable continued output at current levels for 37 years.

Government: Qatar is a constitutional monarchy that is ruled by the Al Thani family with consultation from a council of ministers, an appointed advisory council, and an elected municipal council. The Al Thani family has been in power since the mid 1800’s. Qatar was a British protectorate that received independence in 1972. For over 20 years the Emir Khalifa bin Hamad al-Thani ruled the country with no balance of power, and he crippled the economy by pocketing money from the extensive oil reserves. The Emir was overthrown by his son Hamad in a bloodless coup in 1995. The new Emir proceeded to transform the country’s economy with social reforms and an extensive system for tourism. He even provided the major financial backing for the founding of the all-news satellite station, Al-Jazeera, which has gained significant international prestige. Sunni law is the basis for the government. Compared to Saudi Arabia, the laws would be considered liberal, but not as liberal as UAE or Bahrain. It is a discretionary system of law controlled by the Emir, although civil codes are being implemented. Islamic law still dominates family and personal matters. Qatar became the first country in the Persian Gulf where women gained the right to vote as well as hold positions in senior government. Women can legally drive and for the most part can dress as they please in public, but local Qatari women will wear the black abaya. Also, men are allowed to wear shorts in public.

Religion: Muslim 77.5%, Christian 8.5%, Other 14% (2004) Islam is the state religion of Qatar and the royal family follows the Wahhabi interpretation of Sunni Islam that was founded in Saudi Arabia. The constitution does grant freedom of worship, but within the "standards of public order and morality." Religious groups must be registered in order to be recognized legally, and one requirement is that a minimum of 1500 community members must live in the country. No foreign missionary groups can operate openly in the country, but expatriate believers can practice their faith. In March 2008, the first church building was built in Qatar since the advent of Islam in the seventh century. For the 100,000 Catholics who live there, it was an occasion worthy of celebration. Religion is not indicated on national identity cards and passports, and is not a criteria for citizenship. However, proselytizing Muslims is forbidden, and criticizing Islam or the royal family is a crime. Before 1985 there were no Qatari believers, but several have become believers outside of the country and have since suffered for their faith.

Wahhabi Islam

Wahhabism is a reform movement that began 200 years ago to rid Islamic societies of cultural practices and interpretation that had been acquired over the centuries. Some examples include:
praying to saints; making pilgrimages to tombs and special mosques; venerating trees, caves, and stones; and using votive and sacrificial offerings. Wahhabism focuses on the Muslim principle that there is only one God, and that God does not share his power with anyone. The Wahhabites also believe in the literal sense of the Koran and the necessity of deducing one's duty from it apart from the decisions of the four schools. The literal interpretations of what constitutes right behavior according to the Quran and hadith have given the Wahhabis the title of "Muslim Calvinists." To the Wahhabis, for example, performance of prayer that is punctual, ritually correct, and communally performed not only is urged but publicly required of men. Wine is literally forbidden in the Quran, but under the Wahhabis, the ban extends to all intoxicating drinks and other stimulants, including tobacco. Modest dress is prescribed for both men and women in accordance with the Quran, but the Wahhabis specify the type of clothing that should be worn, especially by women, and forbid the wearing of silk and gold, although the latter ban has been enforced only sporadically. They forbid the pilgrimage to tombs and the invocation of saints. The severe simplicity of the Wahhabis has been remarked by travelers in central Arabia. They attack all luxury, loose administration of justice, all laxity against infidels, addiction to wine, impurity and treachery. Wahhabis consider Wahhabism to be the only true form of Islam. They do not regard Shi'as as true Muslims.

Wahhabism also converted political loyalty into a religious obligation. According to Wahhab's teachings, a Muslim must present a bayah, or oath of allegiance, to a Muslim ruler during his lifetime to ensure his redemption after death. The ruler, conversely, is owed unquestioned allegiance from his people so long as he leads the community according to the laws of God. The whole purpose of the Muslim community is to become the living embodiment of God's laws, and it is the responsibility of the legitimate ruler to ensure that people know God's laws and live in conformity to them. The Wahhabi emphasis on conformity of external appearance and behavior makes a visible expression of inward faith. Therefore, whether one conforms in dress, in prayer, or in other activities becomes a public statement of whether one is a true Muslim. Because adherence to the true faith is demonstrable in tangible ways, the Muslim community can visibly judge the quality of a person's faith by observing that person's actions. In this sense, public opinion becomes a regulator of individual behavior. Therefore, within the Wahhabi community, which is striving to be the collective embodiment of God's laws, it is the responsibility of each Muslim to look after the behavior of his neighbor and to admonish him if he goes astray.

Information compiled from www.persecution.net ‘Qatar’, CIA WorldFactBook ‘Qatar’, Global Security.Org ‘Wahhabi’

note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation for Qatar falls between cutter and gutter, but not like guitar



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Qatar Drowning in Petro Dollars




Qatar 1 2007



Qatar 2 2007

Nepal: The Living God

"This is what the LORD says— Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God. Who shapes a god and casts an idol, which can profit him nothing?" Isaiah 44:6,10

If one thing stands out about Nepal, it is the fact that they are known for having the "Living Goddess." In a very real sense, they 'shape' their god. They take a young girl who has barely begun even to understand her own life, and tell her she is a goddess and divine. They instruct her in what to do, what to say, and how to behave. They look to her for favor and exalt her to an unimaginable status...but it is temporary. One day she will lose her divinity and she will be considered no different than anyone else. Pushed aside to make room for the new goddess. As sad a fate as this is for the goddess herself, how much sadder is it that a whole nation looks to her for blessings and favor? She has been made into an idol that really cannot benefit them at all. We know that apart from God, there is no other, and there is no other savior than Christ. This month let's pray that the hearts of the people will turn away from what cannot save them and find true hope in the real Living God.



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Nepal

Basic Info: Nepal, known as the “Land of the Deities,” is a land locked nation slightly larger than Arkansas, with a strategic position between India and China. It contains 8 of the 10 highest peaks in the world, including Mt Everest. Despite being one of the most picturesque places in the world, Nepal is one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world with nearly 25% of the population living below poverty. The nation experiences severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, and drought and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons. All of these effect economical development, along with civil strife and labor unrest. The main focus of the economy is agricultural for the 28,951,852 population.

Government: Nepal was ruled by a monarchy until 1951 when the monarch established a cabinet system of government. In the 1990’s a constitutional monarchy was set up with a multiparty democracy. In 1996 a civil war started that would last 10 years between government forces and Maoist extremists (communist forces). The cabinet and parliament were dissolved and the king retook control. In 2006 weeks of mass protests were followed by many months of peace negotiations and ended in a peace accord and an interim constitution (a new constitution was supposed to be established by May 2010, but was extended for another year to give them more time). After a nation wide election in 2008, Nepal was declared to be a federal democratic republic and the monarchy was abolished. The Constituent Assembly elected the country's first president that July. The Maoists, who received a plurality of votes in the Constituent Assembly election, formed a coalition government in August 2008, but resigned in May 2009 after the president overruled a decision to fire the chief of the army staff. On June 30th, 2010, the prime minister resigned under intense pressure from the Maoists in order to end a year long stand off with the Maoists. The Maoists true aim is to make the country into a completely communist country.

Religion: Hindu 80.6%, Buddhist 10.7%, Muslim 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other 0.9% (2001)
Nepal was previously the world’s only Hindu nation. Because of the civil unrest in 1990, the government now allows the freedom to profess and practice any religion, but not to evangelize. Proselytizing has a jail sentence of three years. Local persecution of Christians still continues, especially for those who evangelize to Hindus. Those who convert to any religion other than Hinduism face social rejection and possibly violence; some are even forced from their homes. If someone is convicted of converting others, he will face fines or imprisonment, and foreigners can be barred from the country. Not only do the communist Maoists attack the Christians, but militant Hindus with supporters in India as well. Both want to purge the country of all Christianity. In 2009, an extremist group called the Nepal Defense Army claimed credit for the brutal murder of a Catholic priest. This group seeks to restore Nepal as a Hindu nation and targets Christians and other non-Hindus. They also bombed a Catholic church in 2009, killing two women and one teenager while wounding dozens of others. Despite persecution, the church has grown. It is estimated that there are 500,000 Christians in 3,000 or more congregations. The Bible translation into Nepali was completed in 1915. The Old Testament is now available in 7 languages, and the New Testament is available in 11 more. Christian literature can now be freely printed and distributed without censorship. Christian broadcasts are little known, but the JESUS film is being widely used.

Kumari: The Living Goddess

It is impossible to understand life in Nepal without understanding the Living Goddess. This tradition of worship started back in the 17th century. There are many legends regarding the start of this worship, but all of them do agree on this point. The goddess Taleju used to come down and play dice with the King of Nepal while they discussed the affairs of the country. At some point she said that she would no longer come herself, but would instead come as a spirit in the body of a young girl.

There is more than one Kumari, but the most sacred one is the royal Kumari. She is to protect and bless the royal family/leaders of the country. Kumari is not determined by one’s birth, but she does have to belong to the Goldsmith caste. Kumari is normally selected from girls ages 2-4 who have to first satisfy a list of all 32 perfections, such as: black hair and eyes, no blemishes, straight teeth, etc. Her horoscope must be appropriate and she must not show fear, like being scared of the dark. One of the final tests for Kumari is that she must spend a night alone in a room among the heads of ritually slaughtered goats and buffaloes without showing fear. Once a girl is selected as Kumari, she goes through a purification process for her mind and her body, and then it is believed that the goddess spirit of Taleju enters her and she is now possessed by her spirit and reborn as a goddess.

Her glance is believed to bring good luck, even the king of Nepal bowed before her, and she bestows blessings to worshippers through marigold flowers that she offers. Her parents are her guardians and perform all rituals and worship her as well. In the past, Kumari were not educated because it was believed that she was omnipotent and she spent a life confined to a temple. Now a days though due to petitions by human rights organizations, Kumari attend school, except for the royal Kumari who has private tutors. Even at school though she can not be told what to do even by adults and the other children must do as she wishes.

A girl does not remain Kumari forever though. She can lose her divine spirit by receiving a blemish or even something as small as a cut. She truly loses her divine status though and is no longer worshiped when she becomes a woman with her first menstruation. Many Kumari have had a hard time readjusting to life after being a goddess. Kumari also have an obstacle in getting married because they are said to bring bad luck to their husbands and only a truly strong man can marry a former Kumari.


Information compiled from www.persecution.net, www.sim.org, CIA World Fact Book “Nepal”, Journeyman Pictures “Living Goddess”

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Living goddess




Living goddess



History of the goddess

Burma: Conquerors in the Midst of Chaos

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39

When our world is in chaos, we can hold tight to the promise that nothing can separate us from the love of God that we have in Christ. For Christians in Burma, this is a truth to cling to. Most of the Christians in Burma are from the minority tribal populations. The Burmese ethnic group which makes up the majority of the population, generally considers people from the tribal groups to be inferior to them. This attitude in the culture hinders the spread of the gospel message because of the Burmese' unwillingness to listen to a tribal person. Tribal members also face hostilities from the government for other reasons. The Karen minority group has been at war with the Burmese military government for years. They are not only fighting for demoncracy but for their very lives. They do face death all day long in so many different ways; be sure to check out the videos below to give you a better understanding of what life in Burma is like. Also, in the GCC library there is the biography of Adoniram Judson, one of the first Protestant missionaries to ever set foot in Burma. It's part of the Christian Hereos Then and Now Series and is a wonderful testament to how our God loves to do impossible things. This book will help give you a better understanding of the Burmese culture and how Christianity came to be established in Burma. Christianity may be outnumbered in Burma, but the Christians that remain are a remnant and a testament to what faith and persistance can do to transform the hearts in a culture. This month lets focus our prayers on praying that Christians in Burma will conqueror everything that the prince of this world brings their way and that they will have and know victory in Christ from a God who loves them and will not be separated from them.


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Burma/Myanmar

General Info: The name of this country in Southeast Asia is a point of debate. Known as Burma since the time of British colonial rule, the military government officially changed the name to Myanmar in 1989. However, many opposition groups and countries still refuse to acknowledge the name change since they do not recognize the ruling military government as being legitimate. The country is slightly smaller than Texas and consists of central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands. It also has a strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes. Over half of Burma’s 48,137,741 population is made up of diverse ethnic groups who have substantial numbers of kin in neighboring countries. Thailand deals with Karen and other ethnic refugees, asylum seekers, and rebels. Despite being a country with rich resources, most of the public is in poverty due to the government’s strict controls, mismanagement, and the exploitation of military leaders and businesses. The business climate is widely perceived as corrupt and highly inefficient. Burma is the world’s second largest producer of illicit opium, and methamphetamine and heroin are produced for regional use. The government is currently unwilling to take on major narcotrafficking groups. Burma is also a source country for women, children, and men trafficked for the purpose of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation. Burmese women and children are trafficked to East and Southeast Asia for commercial sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, and forced labor. Burmese children are subjected to conditions of forced labor in Thailand as hawkers, beggars, and work in different industries. Trafficking within Burma is a significant problem occurring primarily from villages to urban areas. Military and civilian officials are directly involved in forced labor and the unlawful conscription of child soldiers, with reported cases increasing annually.

Government: After Japanese occupation in WWII, Burma gained independence from Britain in 1948. In 1962, the army overthrew the elected government and established what has been called an iron-fisted rule against any democratic movements. In 1988, an estimated three thousand pro-democratic demonstrators were killed when the military gunned them down and imprisoned thousands more. Two years later, the first democratic elections in three decades took place. When the opposition National League for Democracy won 392 of the 485 seats, the ruling party jailed hundreds of NLD members, refusing to give up power. After the ruling junta in 2007 unexpectedly increased fuel prices, tens of thousands of Burmese marched in protest, led by prodemocracy activists and Buddhist monks. One month later, the government brutally suppressed the protests, killing at least 13 people and arresting thousands for participating in the demonstrations. Since then, the regime has continued to raid homes and monasteries and arrest persons suspected of participating in the pro-democracy protests. The government consists of Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. There is no guarantee of a fair public trial because the judiciary is not independent of the executive, and 25% of both houses in the legislative are to be reserved for appointed members of the military. The government strictly controls the media, censoring not only criticism of the government, but most ‘bad news’ like natural disasters and even defeats of the national football team. They do report on the daily official and religious ritual activities of the ruling generals, accounts of progress in the implementation of policies, and denunciations of alleged US and UK plots against Burma.


Religion: Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim 4%, animist 1%, other 2%

After the military take over, most Christian missions were expelled in 1966 and the military regime maintains controls over religious activity. There have been many cases of forced conversion from Christianity to Buddhism as well as violence against Christians. All gatherings of more than five people are illegal (not just for Christians) and all houseguests must be reported or face imprisonment. Many of Burma's Christians are part of ethnic minorities (northern Chin groups, Lisu, and Karen) who are opposed for ethnic, political, and religious reasons. The minority Karen people are among the most discriminated against in Burma. Buddhism is strongly entrenched in the Burmese majority and only about five percent of Christians in Burma are converts from Buddhism. Christian sites and graveyards are frequently demolished and replaced with pagodas, often using Christians as forced labor. Christians have been raped, tortured and murdered. In the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis, which devastated the country in early May 2008, Burmese authorities reportedly denied relief aid to several Christians. In an act of opposition to the presence of Christianity in Burma, government forces defaced and then destroyed a fifty-foot concrete cross on a hilltop on Matupi Township of southern Chin State on January 3, 2005. A cross had been in that location for two decades as a testimony to their faith in Christ.

The leading form of Buddhism is Theravada and that belief holds that the path to nirvana is an individual pursuit making it totally dependent on self-effort and it is primarily atheistic. The folk religion of Burma was ‘Nats’ and that was incorporated into Buddhism with Buddha himself being seen as a nat. Nat refers to any number of animistic spirits, but there are inside and outside nats. The inside nats are made up of 37 figures who were humans who died violent deaths, either royalty or connected to royalty in some way. Outside nats are spirits such as those in fields, rivers, and trees. All nats can cause harm and sometimes offer protection, but they must always be respected and appeased in order to ward off evil. Mount Popa is the most important center of nat worship and is considered the home of the most powerful nats. They form a structured system made up of four levels: the territorial nats reign over a region; the village nats guard a human settlement; the mizaing and hpazaing are nats at the family level inherited from the mother and father; and there are nats connected with special activities such as travel, domestic protection, and other mundane activities. Nats are often represented in carved figures or other symbolic modes such as the coconut and red cloth of the house-protecting nat, found on a house pole in almost every Burmese home. There are also festivals held to honor certain nats. The most important nat festival, of national prominence, is the celebration consecrated to the Taungbyon brothers, a pair of nats. At some nat festivals, and at other occasions where many people are gathered, there is often dancing by natgadaws. These nat wives are said to be possessed by their nat spouses, and in the trance of possession they offer fortunes for onlookers who feed them strong drink and tobacco. The natgadaws do not take actual husbands, since the nats are said to fill that particular role and is a common practice.


Information compiled from CIA WorldFactBook ‘Burma’; VOMC ‘Burma’, BBC ’Burma’, Encyclopedia Brittanica ‘Nats’


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Video from Burma: Shoot on Sight(Warning)



Opressive government in Burma



A Secret Genocide



A Quick Look at Myanmar / Burma




Political Context of Burma

Bhutan: Spiritual Warfare

"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." -Hamlet Act 1, Scene 5

Most Americans today are skeptics. We've surrounded ourselves with science and tell ourselves that everything has a reasonable, logical explanation. And if we are presented with something that doesn't seem to have a rational explanation, then it must be a superstitious hoax or the person is lying. We don't give much credence to spiritual things. You'll even find that many Christians struggle with belief in the spiritual realm. Sure, they'll admit that the miracles in the Bible happened, but mention anything miraculous in the present day and they wonder if its really true. People raising from the dead, being transported from one location to another instantly, communication through dreams, facing off against demons and curses...well, that's just a little to much for them to believe in happening in the here and now. It just doesn't fit with their reality of how the world works.

But what if you lived in a different reality? What if the spiritual world was so blended with the natural world that you couldn't separate one from the other? What if your daily reality was blessings and curses, demons and gods, shamans and sacrifices, trances and levitations, miracles and predicting the future? What if your people still worshiped the deity in the sky and practiced sky burial by offering their dead bodies as sacrifices to be eaten by vultures that are over four feet tall? What if your people believed that by scaling a certain cliff they could have all of their sins up to that point in their life erased? What if you had to wait two years to celebrate an event because you had to wait for the appropriate astrological day? How would your philosophy of what is possible or not possible in this present modern day life change if that was your reality?

Spiritual warfare is very real, and the Christians in Bhutan are living in it right now. Making up less than 1% of the population, the Christians there are outnumbered as they face the shamans and monks and demonic forces that are at work among the people. But they serve the risen Savior and we know that at the name of Jesus every knee in heaven and on earth and under the earth will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. When Christ is living in us, there is no power on this earth or beyond that can defeat us. But as Ephesians chapter 6 tells us, part of the armor of God is prayer, and we should always keep on praying for all the saints. This month as we pray for the Christians in Bhutan, let us ask God for boldness and power and protection for our brothers and sisters. Pray that the Holy Spirit would move with power and purpose as he changes the hearts of people who live in a reality so far different than anything we could ever imagine.

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Bhutan

General Info: Bhutan is a land locked nation about one half the size of Indiana with a population of about 691,141 people. Known as the last ‘Shangri-La’, it is a land of stunning beauty which bans plastic bags and does not have street lights because they are thought to be unseemly and traffic cops are used instead. The concept of ‘Gross National Happiness’ is this country’s focus. It holds a strategic position between China and India and controls several key Himalayan mountain passes. In fact, the violent storms that come down from the Himalayas are the source of the country’s name, which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon.

Government: In 1865, Britain and Bhutan signed a treaty stating Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding some border land to British India. Under British influence, the country became a unified kingdom with its first hereditary king in 1907. A treaty was also signed saying the British agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal affairs and Bhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs. This role was assumed by independent India after 1947. Two years later, a formal Indo-Bhutanese accord returned the areas of Bhutan annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. The government is currently in transition to a constitutional monarchy. King Jigme Singye Wangchuck abdicated the throne on December 14, 2006, and his son immediately succeeded him. However, the nearly two-year delay between the former King's abdication and his son's coronation on November 6, 2008, was to ensure an astrologically fortunate coronation date and to give the new king, who had limited experience, deeper administrative expertise under the guidance of this father. King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck is the current Chief of State.

Economy: Bhutan’s economy is one of the smallest and least developed in the world. It is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for more than 60% of the population. Agriculture consists largely of subsistence farming and animal husbandry. Rugged mountains are prevalent, making the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive. The economy is closely aligned with India's through strong trade and monetary links and dependence on India's financial assistance. The government of India finances nearly three-fifths of Bhutan’s budget expenditures. The industrial sector is technologically backward, with most production of the cottage industry type. Most development projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian migrant labor due to a shortage of skilled laborers in Bhutan. Model education, social, and environment programs are underway with support from multilateral development organizations. Each economic program takes into account the government's desire to protect the country's environment and cultural traditions. For example, the government, in its cautious expansion of the tourist sector, encourages visits by upscale, environmentally conscientious tourists. Detailed controls and uncertain policies in areas such as industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment. Hydropower exports to India have boosted Bhutan's overall growth. New hydropower projects will be the driving force behind Bhutan's ability to create employment and sustain growth in the coming years.


Religion

Lamaistic/Tibetan Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%

Tibetan Buddhism has been the dominate religion in Bhutan since it was first introduced in AD 746. As legend tells, the king of Bunthang had a conflict with another king in the south of Bhutan. Because of this conflict, the king of Bunthang was possessed by a demon and the great master Guru Rimpoche exorcised the demon by capturing it and converting it to Buddhism. The two kings were also converted to Buddhism and peace was restored to the country. Today, Tibetan Buddhism is a complex mix of Buddhism, shamanism, and animism. The spirit world is taken very seriously with a host of spirits, ghosts, demons, and deities. Astrology means everything to the people and everything revolves around choosing the right day. Shamans specialize in trances, exorcisms, curses, and controlling the weather. There are also witches who are believed to harm others with magical powers. Most Tibetan Buddhists are less concerned about discovering the ultimate truths of the universe than solving the problems in their everyday lives. Tibetan Buddhism is perhaps most well known for the Dalai Lama, who in Bhutan is seen as the reincarnation of the Bodhisattva of Compassion.

Christian activity in Bhutan was tightly restricted until 1965 when the country became more open and receptive to Christian activity. When the country no longer remained closed, Indian Christians entered the country as development workers and brought the gospel. Also Bhutanese students began traveling abroad to study and some returned home as Christians. However, by the 1990s, restrictions were placed on missionaries because Christianity was making noticeable headway in the country. The growth of Christianity is seen as a threat to ’social harmony’ and many debates relating to this fact have occurred in the National Assembly. Christians have faced problems such as ostracism from their families, educational and job advancement difficulties and isolated job placement. Young men are required to make an oath of allegiance to Buddha when they are fifteen and it is considered a great honor to a family to send their sons to a monastery. In September 2002, 40 Christians were arrested and tortured for their faith. In another incident, the government identified and deported 500 Christian families by going to the public schools and asking the Christian children to raise their hands. Bhutan’s new 2008 constitution recognizes religious freedom, but some Christians continue to face pressure because of their faith. Christians make up less than one percent of the population, while the large majority of Bhutanese people are Buddhist. Although Christians are generally free to worship privately in their homes, some Christian communities worship in secret to avoid problems from authorities. The government requires a license for the construction of religious buildings, and some feel that licenses are often withheld from religious minorities. Evangelism is also forbidden in the country.
Information compiled from CIA World Fact book ‘Bhutan‘, VOM Canada www.persecution.net Bhutan, “Peoples of the Buddhist World”;

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Dragon Kingdom (Click to start the video, then click the link that says "Watch on Youtube")


Gross National Happiness (Click to start the video, then click the link that says "Watch on Youtube")

Bhutan: The Journey Within


The Journey Within Part II


The Journey Within III

Sri Lanka: In Search of the Truth

"Buddha never claimed to be God. Yet Jesus Christ claimed to be the true and living God. Buddha simply said, 'I am a teacher in search of the truth.' Jesus said, 'I am the Truth.' "
-Unknown

What are people looking for in this life? For a Buddhist, the ultimate salvation is to reach nirvana, the state of finally escaping the unending cycle of life and death, sorrow and happiness, health and sickness. This ultimate goal can only be reached by the elimination of personal desire and the ultimate elimination of any personal identity; and yet actually attaining this is generally considered to be beyond the grasp of most ordinary Buddhists today and could take thousands of life cycles to perfect. In contrast, for a Christian, the ultimate salvation is for man to be lifted out of his fallen state and be reconciled to the God that he fell away from. This ultimate goal cannot be accomplished by any work on the part of man himself, but can only be reached by the blood and sacrifice of Christ, who took our punishment upon himself and brought us peace and healing in the process. And because Christ is at the right hand of the Father interceding for us, we can approach his throne of grace with confidence and receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

What a difference there is between Buddhism and Christianity! One is in search of the truth, and the other has The Truth. And here lies the heart of the difference of Christianity. Christianity does not follow a path that in the end we hope will lead us to God; instead God comes to meet us! We start Christianity by meeting Jesus Christ! We should never forget how blessed we are to know the Truth, instead of being on a path that is endlessly searching for it. The reality of God with us should be something that we never cease to share with others for it is truly an amazing wonder that occurs only in Christ. Let us pray this month for the Christians in Sri Lanka, that by the example of their life, they might prove to their countrymen that they no longer need to keep searching. The Truth is waiting to meet them.

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Sri Lanka

Buddhist 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, Unspecified 10% (2001)

Basic Info: Sri Lanka is an island, slightly larger than West Virginia, off the south of India. It was originally named Ceylon, but after gaining its independence from Britain in 1948 and becoming its own republic, the island’s name was changed to Sri Lanka which means “Sacred Island” in Sanskrit. Despite its name, Sri Lanka has faced some major problems. Sri Lanka is known for its gems and tea, but it is also a source and destination for men and women trafficked for the purposes of involuntary servitude and commercial sexual exploitation. About 1.5 million Sri Lankans work abroad, 90% of them in the Middle East. Men and women migrate willingly to the Persian Gulf, Middle East, and East Asia to work as construction workers, domestic servants, or garment factory workers. They send home more than $3 billion a year; however, some find themselves in situations of involuntary servitude when faced with restrictions on movement, withholding of passports, threats, physical or sexual abuse, and debt bondage. Children are also trafficked internally for commercial sexual exploitation. Pedophilia and alcoholism are major problems, and the nation’s suicide rate is one of the highest in the world. In 1983, fighting broke out between the Sinhalese majority and armed Hindu Tamil separatists which left tens of thousands of people dead. Since then, several hundred thousand Tamil civilians have fled the island and more than 200,000 Tamils have sought refuge in the West. In December 2001, a peace accord was signed that seemed promising in returning stability to the country. However, several areas of the country still experience ethnic violence and conflict. Christians are the only people group where the two ethnicities co-exist peacefully.

Religion: According to tradition, the Apostle Thomas first brought Christianity to Sri Lanka. In AD 537, a Nestorian reported many churches on the island. Buddhism was introduced to the island in the third century, and Catholicism was first introduced by the Portuguese in the 16th century. However, Buddhism remains the state religion and is officially protected and promoted. Because of their experience of colonization, many Sri Lankans consider Christianity to be a foreign religion. While the Constitution contains a statement guarding freedom of religion, many Christian activities are seen to violate the special status awarded Buddhism. However, there has been significant growth of evangelical Christianity since 1980. This has resulted in increased opposition from militant Buddhists, frequently led by local monks. Christians were subjected to a significant increase of violence in 2005, partly because relief efforts following the tsunami were used as an occasion for accusations against Christians that they were using aid as incentive to convert to Christianity. Today, mobs frequently threaten violence unless all Christian work is stopped in their area. Churches have been burned, believers beaten and Christian leaders killed. Sri Lankan believers continue to battle legislations that could bring about increased and legitimized persecution and harassment of minority religious groups in Sri Lanka by outlawing the “inducing of voluntary conversions from Buddhism” and punishing with jail terms those caught “spreading the faith.” In 2004, the leader of a party of Buddhist monks proposed one such legislation as a private members bill and was met with opposition from The National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka and other Christian groups and denominations and civil rights organizations. The Supreme Court then ruled the bill to be valid except for two clauses which were deemed unconstitutional and taken out of the legislation. In 2008 and early 2009, renewed efforts to implement the revised anti-conversion bill began, heightening concern for Christians.




Buddhism in Sri Lanka

Buddhism originated in India, but Sri Lankans believe their island to be the home of the form of Buddhism they consider to be the most orthodox and the closest to the teachings of Buddha. This is because Buddhism persevered on the island due to the Theravada Buddhist monks, while Buddhism was dying out on the continent due to the aggressive spread of Hinduism and Islam. Sri Lankans welcome foreigners, mostly from the West, who want to study and follow the path of the Enlightened One. When looking at Buddhism in Sri Lanka, there are three avenues to consider: traditional orthodoxy, folk Buddhism, and protestant Buddhism.

Traditional orthodoxy is what most people picture as Buddhism: monastic orders, the Buddhist scriptures, Buddhist doctrines (such as the Four Noble Truths and The Eightfold Path), and Buddhist rituals. One reason Sri Lanka claims to be the home of true Buddhist orthodoxy is that the only complete cannon of Buddhist scriptures Tripitaka exists in the Pali language and comes from Sri Lanka. Buddhism has also always been closely associated with the Sinhala ethnicity, and it would be fair to say that to many people to be a true Sinhala is to be Buddhist. That is why converting to Christianity is often seen as a betrayal of one’s culture, language, and history.

Folk Buddhism is mixed from spirit religions of Sri Lanka’s native peoples and the influence of Hinduism brought by Indian invaders. While traditional Buddhism focuses on the lives to come, it offers very little practical help for this current life. This is where people turn to the animistic world of gods, devils, planets, and stars. Before the arrival of Buddhism, Sri Lankans were polytheists and had a well developed demon-deity system that served their daily needs of living in fear of unpredictable gods and evil spirits. With the influence of Hinduism by the Tamil invaders, the main gods of Hinduism merged with the Sri Lankan gods and the four main gods have been nationalized in the fact that they are considered to be the guardian deities of the island as well as the protectors and preserves of Buddhism. The gods are considered to have great power and millions seek out their priests and temples, which are distinctly different from Buddhist monks and monasteries. Charms and counter charms, evil eye and evil mouth, palmistry and horoscopes are all part of how most Sri Lankan Buddhist view and live their lives.

Protestant Buddhism was created from a period in history known as the ‘controversies’ and significantly influenced the expression and attitude of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. The controversies originated from Protestant missionaries who used the press to attack Buddhism. The Buddhists responded in similar form and a cycle of written and oral controversies between Buddhist and Christian leaders followed. This came to a climax in 1873 at a series of public debates between the leading clergy of both sides, which was covered intensively by the press and followed closely by an aware and literate public. The perceived outcome is that the Buddhists won and showed clear superiority over Christianity. Past and present Buddhists believe these events to be a highly significant event in their religious history. Spurred on by the debates, Buddhists began to exploit many of the methods brought by the missionaries to the island such as: the use of tracts, Buddhist missionary societies, fund raising campaigns, developing Buddhist colleges and Sunday schools, Buddhist preaching tours, Buddhist catechisms, and prayers for healing in the name of Buddha. Today, many of the institutions of Protestant Buddhism are at the forefront of attempts to protect the Sinhala Buddhist identity and to limit the growth of the church and the Christian faith on the island.

Information from www.persecution.net “Sri Lanka”; CIA World Fact Book “Sri Lanka”; People of the Buddhist World: An Overview of Buddhism in Sri Lanka

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Kazakhstan/Chiapas: World's Apart; United in Christ

"He who is the Bread of Life began His ministry hungering. He who is the Water of Life ended His ministry thirsting. Christ hungered as a man, yet fed the hungry as God. He was weary, yet He is our rest. He paid tribute, yet He is the King. He was called a devil, but He cast out demons. He prayed, yet He hears prayer. He wept, and He dries our tears. He was sold for thirty pieces of silver, yet He redeems sinners. He was led as a lamb to His slaughter, yet He is the Good Shepherd. He gave His life, and by dying He destroyed death." -Unknown


I chose this quote because of it's contradictions. When we look at Jesus' life, to an outsider it wouldn't seem to make any sense. But as believers, we see the beauty in it because we know that we have a God who can understand us. While he was on this earth, Jesus suffered as we suffered and he was tempted as we are tempted (Hebrews 4:14). Despite Jesus being God and us being mere people, we are one with Him and can approach the throne of grace with confidence because of that. The idea of having unity inspite of being world's apart, is the theme for this month. As I was preparing for this month's study, I was struck by the opposite nature of the two countries we are focusing on. Kazakhstan is very affluent and has a thriving economy; Chiapas is a very poor region and 40% of the population suffers from malnutrition. In Kazakhstan, the people speak two languages and they have a 99.5% literacy rate; in Chiapas, most of the general population does not even speak the language of their country (Spanish) let alone know how to read it. Kazakhstan is very stable politically; Chiapas has suffered for years from fighting by leftist revolutionaries who even control parts of the state. But despite all these differences, the Christian people in these countries are united in their suffering for Christ. It just shows that no matter our walk in life, we will always face persecution because of our stand for Christ. But more importantly it also shows that the bond we share as believers in Christ transcends any man made distinctions. Wealth or poverty, educated or uneducated, at peace or at war; all these differences pale in comparison to the unity we find in Christ. I pray this month that as we lift up our brothers and sisters who are worlds apart from us, that we would remember that no matter how different our lives might seem, we are united in Spirit and connected in a way that transcends the space between us.
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Kazakhstan

Religions: Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, Other 7%

Basic Info: Kazakhstan was conquered by Russia in the 18th century and was a mix of Turkic and Mongol nomadic tribes. When the Soviet Union came to power, they encouraged people to move to the northern pastures of Kazakhstan to help cultivate them. This resulted in a large immigration of Russians and other ethnicities who eventually outnumbered the native Kazakhs. Kazakhstan is the largest of all the former Soviet territories and its economy is larger than all the other Central Asian states combined due to their vast natural resources and political stability. It has a significant illicit cultivation of cannabis and the government does little to destroy these drug crops. It is also a significant consumer of opiates. About 58% of the 15,399,437 population is urban. Even though the state language is Kazakh, the official language for everyday business is Russian and is spoken by 95% of the people. Also the country has a 99.5% literacy rate.

Government: The government is a republic with an authoritarian presidential rule with little power outside the executive branch. The leader is President Nursultan A. Nazarbayev. The President appoints the Prime Minister and the First Deputy Prime Minister with approval from the Mazhilis, part of the bicameral parliament. Constitutional amendments in May 2007 shortened the presidential term from 7 years to 5 years, and established a two term consecutive limit. However, the changes don’t take effect until President Nazarbayev is done with his terms; he is allowed to run for president indefinitely. The legal system is based on Islamic and Roman law. At 18 years of age citizens have compulsory military service for 2 years.

Religion: The constitution has guaranteed freedom of religion since 2002, but parliament also passed a law requiring all church groups and missionaries to register. The President however did not approve the new law. Still, a new draft has passed parliament that would require all churches and religious organizations to register with the government. Despite not having passed into law yet, authorities consistently act as though registration is required. Believers who remember the communist regime of the Soviet Union recall how government control was part of forced registration and are reluctant to register now. Churches and pastors have faced fines and church closures due to their refusal to register with the government. The draft law was further amended in November 2008 to include mandating a fixed fine of 50 times the minimum monthly salary for those found guilty of worshipping, building or opening places of worship, or publishing or distributing religious literature without government permission. The amendment would also require both parents to give permission before a child could attend a religious event and would ban believers from expressing their faith beyond their "own circle."


Video Encyclopedia of Kazakhstan (gives an overview of the country; good for anyone who would like to picture the country better)




Chiapas

Basic Info: Chiapas is the southern most state of Mexico and borders Guatemala. It has the ruins of five ancient Mayan city states within its borders, and about 25% of the population are either of full or predominately Mayan descent. The area is mostly made up of poor, rural, small farmers and many people in rural areas do not even speak Spanish. The state has the highest rate of malnutrition in Mexico, affecting more than 40% of the population. The Mexican Constitution grants religious freedom with some restrictions, such as only gathering in their own building and church leaders are not allowed to criticize Mexico’s laws or authorities.

Religion: After 300 years of rule by Spain, most know that the Catholic Church has a strong presence in Mexico. However, in Chiapas, due to the Mayan descent of most of the population, Catholicism has been blended with traditionalist pagan practices creating what is known as traditionalist communities. These traditionalists sponsor “festivals” 13 times a year, like the Day of the Dead, and many villages require residents to pay a fee to cover the costs of the event. However, many evangelicals say that these festivals are really just drunken orgies, and refuse to participate or pay for them. This has resulted in believers being jailed, even though there is no law requiring them to pay for the festivals. Reprisals, such as the destruction and burning of church buildings has occurred as well. Traditionalists have even threatened to burn the Christians inside the church, and leaders face death threats.

Persecution: Protestants are sometimes seen as a threat to Mexico because they are seen as having ties to the United States, and persecution against evangelicals is escalating. In 2007, twenty incidents were registered with the government. In 2008, a Christian family was attacked by neighbors who accused them of witchcraft. Three were killed and six were seriously injured. A lot of the persecution originates from the Caciques, powerful community chieftains/town bosses, who try to keep the evangelicals out of their villages. They often make up their own rules to ‘protect’ their culture. Christians have been jailed and even killed for sharing their faith with a non-believer or for even entering a traditionalist town. Thousands have been forced from their land and expelled from villages for simply accepting a non-traditionalist faith. Christians also face persecution from Zapatistas (leftist revolutionaries) and the pagan native tribes (especially witch doctors). After the Zapatistas revolution against the Mexican army in 1994, they confiscated land from evangelical Christians. Although some of their guns are hidden, they continue to control some villages and mountainous areas. In 2003, they declared all Zapatistas territory an autonomous area independent of the Mexican government. Human rights attorney and pastor Esdras Alonso has documented hundreds of incidents against evangelical Christians. He says that people are violating individual believer’s rights for the sake of the lifestyles and customs of the indigenous peoples. In their efforts to ‘protect’ these native groups, they have threatened and even killed evangelical Christians, denying them their constitutional protection and rights.




The Persecution of the Church in Chiapas, Mexico




Persecution in Chiapas Mexico