CNN is reporting that thousands of Christian Copts in Cairo are protesting outside the offices of an Egyptian broadcaster.

Indeed, thousands of Christians, joined by many Muslims, have been staging sit-in since March 5 in front of the Egyptian TV building on the Nile Corniche in Cairo, according to the Assyrian International News Association (AINA). 

What’s it abll about? An attack on the church in the village of Soul and the inaction of the Egyptian armed forces in preventing the Muslims from torching and demolishing the church and terrorizing the Christian Copts and forcing them to evacuate the village, AINA reports.

Military authorities running Egypt and representatives of Christian Copts demonstrating in central Cairo held talks on Thursday amid concerns over growing insecurity after deadly religious clashes, according to the AFP.

“A dialogue has started between a group of young Copts and priests with the leaders of the army, over demonstrators’ claims in order to put an end to the sit-in,” state television announced.

Will the talks stop the violence?

The revolutions in the Middle East and North Africa have inspired many others to the idea of change set off by revolt.

Activists working toward social equality in Burma have taken their mission online. There, they’re calling for true democracy and an end to the junta government.

While the timing could be ripe, Dyann Romeijn with Vision Beyond Borders says it wouldn’t be the first time people tried revolution: “The people in Myanmar have been very repressed for a long time. There was actually a rebellion in 2007, the ‘Saffron Rebellion.’ It was crushed then by the ruling party, but the people probably are encouraged by the response to Mubarak being removed from office.”

The brutality of the regime may be what’s keeping the idea of revolution from spreading. Romeijn agrees: “This government is characterized as one of the most repressive governments, and there is a huge need for prayer at this time.”

That, and there are reports that the government has added security to Burma’s former capital. It’s no surprise. “The communication out of Burma is very limited. They already watch the internet,” Romeijn says. “There is a close hand on all those things already within that government.”

State-owned media did not cover the protests, and they restricted Web site access. The government also banned Web sites that would allow users to bypass the government’s proxy servers. However, because government is bent on maintaining power, Romeijn says, “I’m sure that they are trying to get a handle on the people that are starting this. That’s why it would be very important for people to be praying.”

Technology played a critical role in the “Saffron Rebellion.” If the winds sweep over Burma, it will play a similar role once more. The government will likely take swift action to prevent this. “They’ve typically dealt with any dissent with a very hard hand,” says Romeijn, “so it is a time of prayer for these people.”

Because of the government’s heightened awareness and suspicion of outsiders, the outreach of Vision Beyond Borders could be affected. “It places everybody in a more dangerous position to go inside of Burma, especially now because we’ve produced that documentary on the situation in Burma with footage from three Burma rangers of the actual fighting inside Burma and the genocide that’s occurring. Anytime that you’ve exposed things, it does put you in greater danger,” explains Romeijn.

She goes on to say that “as long as God keeps that door open, we’ll continue to go, as long as we’re called there. If the door closes somehow, we’ll continue to try to find ways around that.”  

The silent genocide in Burma that’s been going on for nearly three decades prompts this dedication. “The people there are so in need of the Gospel, so in need of Bibles. 60% of the Karen [people group] are Christians,” says Romeijn. “It’s encouraging to see their faith, that in the midst of the persecution and suffering, they’re continuing to stand firm for the Gospel.”

What can you do? “God is moving through the prayers of His people. We’re seeing a change in Burma because people are praying,” Romeijn says. “They can send items just to help with these people; they can go on trips and encourage them and carry in Bibles and supplies.”

We’ve all heard our fair share of faith messages. We walk by faith. We speak by faith. We live by faith. We prophesy according to our faith. We inherit the promises of God through faith (and patience). You’ve probably memorized all those Scriptures, too.

We’ve all marveled at the heroes in the Hebrews 11 “Hall of Faith.” There we are edified by accounts of God’s faithfulness to His people throughout the Old Testament. There we learn the practical elements of how faith works in the New Testament. Your Bible is probably colored and underlined on those pages just like mine.

Indeed, we’ve all learned that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. We are convinced that acting on the Word brings results (see Rom. 10:17). We know (that we know that we know) that if we don’t doubt in our heart but believe those things that we say will come to pass we will surely have whatsoever we say (see Mark 11:23). We’ve learned well.

Ultimately, whatever we receive from God, it comes by faith. I’m oversimplifying, but that’s the anatomy of faith in a nutshell. Now what about the other side of the coin?

There’s so much focus on receiving God’s promises by faith, winning battles by faith, taking the spoils by faith and so on. But what about living a life of holiness by faith?

Don’t stop reading now just because I’m not promising you three keys to receiving your blessing—you need to eat your meat and veggies before you get to dessert.

The Bible says whatever is not of faith is sin (see Rom. 14:23). In order to get sinful habits, behaviors, speech and the like out of our lives, we have to rely on God. Jesus is our deliverer.

Beloved, we’re not going walk out of fleshly acts by the power of the flesh. It takes the Holy Spirit—the spirit of grace—to help us avoid caving in to the sinful weaknesses in our carnal nature. Just as we were saved by grace through faith, we must continue living the same way (see Eph. 2:8). Remember the foolish Galatians who thought they could begin in the Spirit and be made perfect in the flesh? (See Galatians 3.) The apostle Paul set that straight in a hurry and we’d do well to remember the lesson.

We’ve been delivered from the power of darkness. We’ve been made free from the law of sin and death (see Rom. 8:2). We don’t have to sin. But we’ll have to rely with everything in us on the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus to walk after the Spirit—so that we don’t fulfill the sinful desires of the flesh. And we’ll have to do that by faith.

Mind you, I’m not even talking about the abomination-type sins here ala Proverbs 6 (the proud look, the lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that are swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaks lies, and he that sows discord among brethren). No, I’m talking about the idle words of our mouths that come from a tongue no man can tame. I’m talking about the selfish ambition in our hearts that causes us not to walk in love. I’m talking about the temptations we live with every day that squeeze our spiritual fruit.

None of us is perfect, and it’s absolutely marvelous news that He doesn’t expect us to be. Yes, we strive to be perfect (mature) even as our Father is perfect. But we all fall short of the glory of God each and every day of our lives. I’m not writing this unto condemnation. My point is that we in American society so often use our faith as a means to get what we want. What if we wanted holiness as much as that new car, that unseen husband, or that physical healing?

What I am trying to say is this: Exercise your faith to receive God’s best for your life in every area—financially, health-wise, socially, etc. But don’t stop there. Exercise your faith to avoid the trap of sin. Like David, ask the Lord to show you if there is anything in you that offends Him (see Ps. 139). And when He starts convicting you, repent by faith, receive forgiveness by faith and determine not to walk with sinful thoughts, attitudes, words or actions—by faith. Amen?

Jennifer is news editor at Charisma. She is also the author of several books, including Breakthrough! Develop the 7 Habits of Victorious Christian Living. You can email Jennifer at [email protected] or visit her web site at www.jenniferleclaire.org.

When Sam Rodriguez speaks, evangelical Hispanics listen—and they aren’t the only ones.

As president of the National Hispanic Association of Evangelicals—America’s largest Hispanic Christian organization—Rodriguez has plenty of political firepower, yet he isn’t known for politicizing the Gospel.

In the face of President Obama’s recent Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) directive, however, Rodriguez is speaking out loudly. Passed by Congress in 1996, DOMA defines marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman for purposes of all federal laws, and provides that states need not recognize a marriage from another state if it is between persons of the same sex.

In late February, the U.S. Department of Justice and Obama are indicating they will no longer defend a key component of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. Rodriguez has partnered with the Freedom Federation, an evangelical faith-based organization, to urge Congress to oppose Obama’s DOMA directive. The groups are supporting the plight of
Republican House Speaker John Boehner.

Boehner has promised to convene a meeting of the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group to initiate action by the House to defend DOMA, which was enacted by a bipartisan vote in Congress and signed by President Bill Clinton. 

“It is regrettable that the Obama Administration has opened this divisive issue at a time when Americans want their leaders to focus on jobs and the challenges facing our economy,” Boehner says. “The constitutionality of this law should be determined by the courts—not by the president unilaterally—and this action by the House will ensure the matter is addressed in a manner consistent with our Constitution.”

Rodriguez has made his position clear: he whole heartedly disagrees with Obama’s DOMA directive. “Traditional marriage is the number one antidote against the social ills—drugs, teen pregnancy and high school drop out rate–that plague races of color,” he says. “We applaud Speaker John Boehner’s action to build a legal case defending DOMA.”

Rodriguez is hardly alone. Matthew Staver, dean and professor of Law at Liberty University and director of Liberty Center for Law And Policy, agrees that traditional marriage is the cornerstone of America.

“Redefining marriage is not in the best interest of the family unit,” Staver says. “Abandoning the Defense of Marriage Act is tantamount to declaring war on the family. The more than 40 million people represented by the organizations that comprise the Freedom Federation call on Congress to act now to defend natural marriage between one man and one woman.”

At least a dozen people were killed and roughly 140 wounded in violence between Christians and Muslims in Cairo on Tuesday night.

Carl Moeller with Open Doors says, “A local imam called out their people of the village to ‘kill all the Christians.’ It is disappointing that so close on the heels of a grand sweep of democracy and good feeling between Christians and Muslims in that country, we see such a quick turn back to the extremism.”

The mob formed quickly as anger rose over last week’s burning of a church in a Cairo suburb–the result of a relationship and a feud between the families. It was the second burst of religious fighting in a week, adding to the sense of chaos growing in a leaderless country.

The concern is that this could give rise to more reprisal violence. Moeller agrees: “The situation is, unfortunately, not much different than the situation in some of these villages that was happening under Mubarak. In fact, in some ways, the fears are that the situations are worse because of the lack of centralized governmental control.”

Although the military was supposed to be in control after Mubarak stepped down, there aren’t enough troops to keep every street from erupting. Still, there’s an expectation brimming with hope. “Our brothers and sisters in Egypt have had the most optimistic view on this because, frankly, their situation was bad,” Moeller says. “Any change put forth the promise of a better Egypt and a better life.”

The transitional period is key to the freedoms minorities will experience. The Muslim Brotherhood is taking a pro-democracy stance. What that means in practice could be very different from “freedom.” Moeller explains, “Unfortunately, as is often the case in revolutions, the ones that emerge as the most organized and the strongest on these things are the ideological committed In this case, these are the extremists groups that are calling for a more radicalized Sharia law based Egypt in the future.”

“Our prayer is that it doesn’t take a violent turn, as these indicators [predict]. However, we recognize that the church will be under pressure in the next few months–and maybe more pressure than ever before,”  Moeller says.

Right now, it’s hard to anticipate what the future holds for believers. Pray for those facing economic and social challenges because of their Christian faith. Pray that the new government will uphold the constitutional freedom of religion. Pray that the ministry of churches in Egypt will continue and that the Gospel will be preached throughout this nation.

Discipleship programs in prisons worldwide are booming.

Prison ministry Crossroad Bible Institute (CBI) has grown in no small numbers across Africa and has expanded to reach people on nearly every continent of the globe. But more growth means more resources. Without a few key resources, personal growth can hardly move forward at all.

A problem arose within CBI programs, especially in developing nations. “These prisoners were finding it very difficult to obtain Bibles when just getting enough food to eat is a big enough issue,” says Spanish and International Programs Coordinator Cynthia Williams. “And on top of that, our satellite campus directors were themselves facing limited resources.”

CBI provides lessons for inmates across the globe to learn more about Christ, Christianity and discipleship. In places like Zambia, though, some prisoners had been using one Bible for as many as 50 people. Not only did that cause a problem for the spiritual growth of these new believers who had such limited access, but it also hindered instructors, who could not easily implement their program with their students couldn’t refer to the Word for added counsel.

Clearly something had to be done, and CBI stepped up to the challenge. “We are now implementing the international inmate program where we provide Bibles along with the initiation of the program to our students, especially in developing countries,” explains Williams.

CBI now ships Bibles worldwide to provide every one of their students with a Bible. Hopefully now the only Bible-sharing that will need to happen is when a new believer chooses to share the Gospel with a fellow inmate.

Williams says CBI has been receiving responses on a daily basis, attesting to all God has done in their lives through the power of His Word.

“We just are again seeing the Lord open doors in the most amazing ways through our international program into countries we would never have anticipated getting into,” says Williams.

The World Turned Upside Down was the title of Sir Christopher Hill’s history of the English Civil War. Today, as then, our world is being turned upside down. From Tunisia to Libya, the Middle East is quaking. Not since the fall of the Berlin Wall has the world witnessed such far-reaching geo-political reconfiguration, human tragedy and hope mixed together. The question on the minds of world leaders is “What’s next?”

There is great uncertainty among many that the people in the Middle East cannot govern themselves, having become so dependent upon despots and rogue dictators. I have even heard reasonable people opine that the ability to govern democratically is a uniquely Western European concept thus beyond tribal, autocratically-ruled peoples of the Middle East.

I reject that idea. History demonstrates that there is only one reason why Western nations have been endowed with democracy: because such expressions of liberty are built on the bedrock of the Bible. Before Jesus taught that you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free (John 8:32), Barbaric tribes roaming across Europe would have given the worst Middle Eastern dictators a run for their money.

Ronald Reagan displayed firm resolve when he looked at the situation of people living behind the iron curtain. According to Dr. Paul Kengor, in The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism, “Reagan not only hoped for Communism’s demise; he often predicted it. More so, his administration went beyond hoping for the end, and…went so far as to design and implement action, policies and even formal directives intended to reverse the Soviet empire and win the Cold War.” Reagan believed that people could “attain the unattainable,” through the power of truth.

The Church’s call today is to speak prophetically, respectfully, to all nations that liberty comes from the Lord. Reagan said, “It is time for the world to know our intellectual and spiritual values are rooted in the source of all strength, a belief in a Supreme Being, and a law higher than our own.” It is the love of Jesus Christ that sets people free and liberates human beings to discover their potential in every area of life. Only such faith can “attain the unattainable,” set human beings free, bring democracy, and turn the world right-side up.

Dr. Michael A. Milton, Chancellor and CEO-Elect of Reformed Theological Seminary.

Despite some skeptics, many Islam watchers report that the Muslim Brotherhood is an extremist group—and no friend of Israel.

Now, Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood is forming a political party called Freedom and Justice. Sa`d al-Katatni has been asked to lead the charge. This is a significant development because it marks the first time in the nearly century-long history of the Muslim Brotherhood that it has successfully organized a political party.

So rather than all out hijacking the revolution in Egypt as many expected, the Muslim Brotherhood has essentially walked through the open door of political upheaval.

The installation of al-Katatni to lead the group’s efforts is intriguing. The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s Guide to Egypt’s Elections notes al-Katatni as a university professor, head of the Muslim Brotherhood’s parliamentary bloc, and a member of the group’s Guidance Office.

“He is generally regarded as a key pragmatist within the Brotherhood’s conservative-pragmatist leadership divide and a prominent advocate of the Brotherhood’s participation in formal politics. A member of the group’s younger generation, al-Katatni and other pragmatists joined the Brotherhood at the time of its return to the political arena during the 1970s.”

The maneuvers of the Muslim Brotherhood should be a key area of prayer, according to Shaddy Soliman, pastor of Every Nation Church in Lake Mary, Fla. and co-author of Islam and Terrorism. Soliman says the Muslim Brotherhood is rising up in a strong manifestation that is diluting a pure, honest revolution among Egypt’s youth.

“Sheik Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, who was kicked out of Egypt a long time ago, recently returned and there was a big celebration at Tahrir Square,” Soliman says. “The Muslim Brotherhood ushered him right to the pulpit and he spoke to the crowd. He did not allow any of the young people that were leaders of the revolution to speak or any Christians speak. The Muslim Brotherhood is starting to show its true colors. They have shown their sharp teeth.”

Al-Qaradawi is widely recognized as an intellectual force behind the Muslim Brotherhood. His sermon to the approximately one million people in Tahrir Square was venomous, calling for war against Israel and a takeover of Jerusalem.

“Al-Qaradawi asked the Egyptian army to open wide the Rafah crossing and to pray for the re-conquest of Jerusalem by the Muslims, so that he and the Muslims could pray in security at Al-Aqsa Mosque. This part of his sermon was cheered and applauded by the crowd,” reports the Middle East Research Center.

As Soliman sees it, Al-Qaradawi’s sermon added to the confusion that’s already hanging over Egypt. Soliman is calling for prayer for clarity over the minds of Egyptians so they can discern what is happening in their nation through the Muslim Brotherhood’s legal agenda.

“There’s such a spirit of confusion that governs the people. People are not sure what’s going on. People are not sure what is true and what is not,” Soliman says. “A lot of decisions are being made while people are confused. We need to pray against that confusion.”

Finally, Soliman notes there are many agendas trying to find a foothold through the revolution—and the Church is somewhat divided. Although Christians all want the same outcome, believers in Egypt don’t agree on who should be involved or how to get involved. Soliman says, “We need to pray for unity in the Church.”

In today’s world you can do just about anything over the phone. You can order food. You can pay your bills—and you can get your healing.

At least that’s the premise of an evangelism outreach in Seal Beach, Calif. If you are too busy to visit a church and have hands laid on you, two Seal Beach area ministries have your back.

Benjamin Altschul, pastor of Great Among The Nations, and Gwyn Vanghn, senior pastor of Faith Christian Assembly, are partnering on a March 20 event to let people phone in their prayer requests for healing—and they are expecting miracles.

Altschul says his ministry’s outreaches are generally well-accepted, but the phone-in healing is the most popular because it takes modern technology to a higher level. Apparently, these phone-in healing prayers are bearing fruit.

Altschul, a holocaust survivor-turned Christian pastor, claims “hundreds of miracles” over the years of the phone-in healing outreaches, including a crippled man who threw away his cane and walked strong and a bed-ridden woman who jumped up, got dressed and rushed to the church to testify of God’s healing power.

“The power of God’s word to heal and restore people can easily be delivered via the telephone line,” Altschul says, “because we all know that Jesus healed the sick, and Jesus continues to heal the sick.”

The Ivory Coast’s political deadlock is degenerating quickly into civil war. Essentially, November’s election results are being ignored by the incumbent, Laurent Gbagbo, who refuses to step aside. The internationally-recognized president, Alassane Ouattara, has yet to take office in spite of the appointment of a parallel government.

Meanwhile, beginning last weekend, supporters of both began engaging each other. Gbagbo commands the loyalty of the army and much of the south while Ouattara has the support of the north.

Curt Cole, HCJB global vice president of International Ministries, says one of their partners, Fréquence Vie (Life Frequency), was caught in the crossfire in Abobo, a northern suburb of the capital of Abidjan: “They are still on the air, but they actually had one of their repeaters knocked off the air during a demonstration and destroyed.” Repairs are estimated at $20,000.

It didn’t end there. Cole says, “We also have another partner station in the north that, as far as we know, is still on the air but has suffered tremendously mainly because of the power cuts. They’ve had to go off the air.”

HCJB Global Voice has partnered with Fréquence Vie since 1999 when it began broadcasting a message of hope in four languages: French, Baoule, Bambara and Dioula. 

Tim Welch, Côte d’Ivoire director for SIM which operates radio station Fréquence Vie, adds his concern for staff members over the tensions. “[Recent] reports from our missionaries are that some checkpoints in town are getting more difficult to get through,” he said.

The crisis in Ivory Coast is creating another “forgotten emergency.” Cole explains: “There are between 30,000-40,000 that have gone across the border as refugees into Liberia. That’s something that Liberia is ill-equipped to handle as well, so we have an emerging refugee situation there.”

Although Liberia has welcomed the refugees and is trying to meet the immediate emergency, Cole says they will need help. HCJB Global is readying their response: “ABC University, in the northern part of Liberia, is looking at a program to begin to assist in some of these refugee camps. We’re looking at the possibility there of engaging with medical teams. Pray for peace. Cole notes that “many Liberians, during their civil war, were in Ivory Coast as refugees. So now they have the opportunity to really minister to the Ivoirians that are in their country as refugees. Pray for that.”

Response will be more than food and shelter. Cole says their teams will need to be ready to plant the seeds of the Gospel: “There will be openness because they’re displaced, they’re out of their element, and their hearts are usually more tender.”