Crisis: Persecuted Christians

     Few know the following about the number of Christians killed just for believing in Jesus.  During the last hundred years, the number exceeds the total of Christians killed in all the previous centuries combined--including the period of the Roman Empire.  

     Today a Christian is martyred for the faith every eleven minutes somewhere in the world.  

     A shocking 80% of Christians today live where they suffer some form of persecution--that is, not just being looked at funny or mocked, but jailed, denied employment or schooling, beaten, home burned, or outright killed--just for naming the name of Jesus.

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     Take India, for example.  Last month Kande Munda, a bricklayer, and his wife Bindu began to receive death threats.  Bindu's mother, not a Christian or part of the same community, came to visit.  Villagers raped her to to threaten Bindu into rejecting the Lord.  

     Kanda and Bindu discussed fleeing their village.  But on June 7 a mob unexpectedly arrived at their home, demanding that Kinde come outside to them.  He looked at his wife and said he may now be killed, asking her to stay close to Jesus and never to give up her faith.  

     They decided to try to escape together, but the mob stormed in and caught Kande.  Bindu grabbed her two daughters and ran out the back door.  She went to her relatives, but they were afraid and refused to help her.

     Kande was beaten brutally.  They broke his ribs and pelvis, and continued to beat him until he died.  They were infuriated that he would not give up the faith.

     Bindu ran from house to house with her daughters.  But no one would help them, even her husband's brothers who, it turned out, were involved in the killing.

     The next day Kande's body was found in a clearing in the jungle by the neighbors.  No one reported the matter to the police.  Finally it was written off as a property dispute, and no one has been taken into custody, or even held accountable.

     After Kande's funeral, Bindu's father tried to get her to reject Christ.  She replied, "I will live for Jesus and I will die for Jesus, and I will never turn back."

     Bindu and her two daughters are now in secret protective shelter with an underground church mission organization. 

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     Another recent example comes from Nigeria.  Christians in the Kajuru local government area of Kaduna state face continue attacks by Hausa-Fulani Islamic militants.  Because there is no police protection, many displaced people from all-but-destroyed communities are facing severe food-shortages.

     Jim, a courageous missionary serving with an underground church mission, was secretly bringing food, water, Bibles, and simple prayers.  He recently asked believers why they have the courage to return to their ruined homes.  One answered, "We must return so the jihadists will not sing a song of victory over the Church of Jesus Christ."

     In an attack on May 13, a gang of armed men stormed the communities of Bakin-Koji, Idanu, and Makyali.  At least one person was martyred in Bakin-Koji, and eight in Makyali.  Of course there were many displaced.  They ran for their lives into the bush, and their homes were burned to the ground.

     That attack came two days after a massacre in Gonan Rogo village, where 18 were killed.

     The home that was hit first there was that of Jonathan Yakubu, age 40.  They killed him, his wife Sheba, 32, and their three children: Patience, 13, Revelation, 6, and Rejoice, 4.  

     At the next home, they murdered Kauna Magaji and her daughter Faith.

     Next they went to the home of newly-married Saraunia Lucky, 25, gunning her down while she held her new-born in her arms.  They shot the baby too.

     They continue through the village seeking out anyone they could find.

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     Persecution of Christians is rising rapidly around the world.  It is attempting to rear its head here in the U.S.  I watched with horror the news clip of a vicious mob cheering as they pulled down a statue of St. Junipero Serra, cursing his legacy as they did so.  If they would do that to the memory of a man as compassionate, loving, and holy as St. Junipero, they would do worse to any other Christians.

     As our nation descends into increasing chaos, pray fervently for protection from St. Junipero and from the Holy Family.  Our country is founded as "one nation under God, with liberty and justice for all."  We need our Lord today more than ever.