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Central Nigerias lethal Christmas Eve attacks were religiously motivated despite the African nations complicated past of economically and socially fueled infighting, says a mission organization. Bystanders gather around a burned car outside the Victory Baptist Church in Maiduguri, Nigeria, Saturday, Dec. 25, 2010. Authorities say dozens of assailants attacked the church on Christmas Eve, killing the pastor, two members of the choir and two people passing by the church. Police are blaming members of Boko Haram, a radical Muslim sect. There are always disputes over land, said Rae Burnett, vice president and Africa director of Christian Aid Mission. However, Burnett insisted that last weeks attacks were the result of Muslim and Christian disputes. Its political in the sense that Muslims wand to take over Nigeria, she stated. They want their way. They want more Sharia (Islamic law). And in Nigeria where the country is split 50/50 between Muslims and Christians, Burnett identified violent intimidation as the key tool of radical Muslim extremists. Jos, Plateau states densely populated capital, fell prey to a series of six violent attacks on Christmas Eve. Two bombs exploded near a busy market where people were Christmas shopping. Then another blast occurred in a predominantly Christian neighborhood and a fourth bomb exploded near a road leading to the main mosque in Jos. Also on Christmas Eve, armed men attacked two churches in nearby Maiduguri, killing six people, including a church pastor and two men rehearsing for the carol service. The radical Muslim group Boko Haram, which has a history of violence against Christians, has claimed responsibility for the bombings in Jos and the church attacks. Boko Haram, literally Books, him bad, means Western, non-Islamic education is a sin. Jos, by comparison, means Jesus my Savior. Jos is located in a central area between Christian and Muslim communities. Burnett, who provided translations, argued that radical Muslims are well aware of Jos pivotal location and have long targeted the area since previous attacks in March. Burnetts contact on the ground, Gabriel Barau, reports that police have known of a Christmas plot. He is connected to the police. They warned that something would happen on Christmas, she shared. Yet Nigerian officials arent totally convinced that those March assaults which killed 500 Christians in Plateau state in one day, and 13 more Christians two weeks later, were religiously motivated. During a May World Council of Churches trip to Jos, the Nigeria minister of foreign affairs, Henry Odein, told the delegation that violence was incited by issues of social and economic nature. Villages may be razed and inhabitants massacred for control over the land. However, it is undeniable that religiously motivated Muslims are participating in the attacks, and the victims are primarily Christian. In the wake of the attacks, Virginia-based missionary support agency Christian Aid has set up an emergency hotline, collecting money for its affiliates in Jos. Barau, who is also chairman of the Nigerian Evangelical Missions Association, is one of its affiliates. Burnett explained that in the aftermath of the holiday tragedy, Christians are at odds with each other. Some nominal groups of name only Christians, as she described it, want to retaliate against the attack in a similar fashion. But those who really have the spirit of Christ are really praying that this will be an opportunity, she said, for reaching those in need spiritually and physically. The money is needed to address the poverty of resources left by both the March and December attacks. Burnett reported that people need clothes and food. On their own, they dont have resources, she stated. But with the money donated, Burnett hopes groups will be able to reach out to the lost and hurt. By Stephanie Samuel From: ChristianPost

Religiously Motivated Attacks Leave Great Need in Nigeria

"America's Beloved Gospel Singer" and longtime Billy Graham Crusade soloist George Beverly Shea received an early Christmas present this year, learning last week that The Recording Academy has decided to honour him with a Lifetime Achievement Award in conjunction with the 2011 Grammy Awards. "I was surprised to receive the call from The Recording Academy president before Christmas and am honored for the recognition," Shea said. "The music has been for God's glory." Shea, who will turn 102 years-old the week before receiving this honor, is among the oldest living persons to be honoured by The Recording Academy. He is still performing publicly, having sung at several Christmas concerts near his home in Asheville, North Carolina. Last month, he joined longtime colleagues Billy Graham and Cliff Barrows at an event in Charlotte celebrating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Over his musical and ministry career spanning more than 80 years, Shea has produced more than 70 albums of hymns, including nine CDs, with RCA and Word Records. He has already received ten nominations and one Grammy Award (1965) from The Recording Academy. Shea's 2011 Special Merit Award co-recipients are Julie Andrews, Roy Haynes, the Juilliard String Quartet, the Kingston Trio, Dolly Parton and the Ramones. According to The Recording Academy's website (www.grammy.com), the Lifetime Achievement Award honours lifelong artistic contributions to the recording medium, and is determined by vote of The Recording Academy's National Board of Trustees. "It is a great honor to recognise and celebrate such a distinguished and dynamic group of honorees who have been the creators of such timeless art," said Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow. "These influential performers and brilliant innovators have been of great inspiration to our culture and industry. Their legendary work has left a lasting impression and will continue to influence generations to come." The award recipients will be honored at a special invitation-only ceremony during Grammy Week on February 12 and a formal acknowledgment will be made during the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards telecast on Sunday, February 13. By ASSIST News Service From: ChristianToday

George Beverly Shea to receive Lifetime Achievement Grammy

Despite the distractions of the festive season and cutbacks on the horizon, the Barnabas Fund is asking Christians to remember the plight of their brothers and sisters in Iraq in prayer and practical ways. In the last couple of months, Christians in Iraq have been attacked and killed in their churches and homes and Al-Qaeda-linked militants have effectively waged war on them. Christmas was, as expected, a muted celebration for many Christians in Iraq who decided to mark the birth of Jesus in the safety of their homes rather than risk their lives attending church services. Barnabas Fund recently received a letter from an Iraqi archbishop warning that Christians were too afraid to leave their homes. The very real threat of being killed in broad daylight is making it difficult to do the very practical things like shopping and, more importantly, going to work. The international director of Barnabas Fund, Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, said: It is like living in a prison camp. You could leave the house but you dont know what is going to happen. Because of the targeted attacks, there is a chance that Christians venturing out to work or onto the streets will be attacked or killed. The fear is effectively leaving Christians stranded in their homes. The one million Christians not only have the difficulty of getting into another country, they are also faced with desperate poverty once they get there. Many of them are living in neighbouring countries like Syria, where the Barnabas Fund is providing practical assistance. In Lebanon, thousands of Iraqi Christian refugees have just received £50,000 from the Barnabas Fund to cover the cost of emergency food and schooling for the children. The difficult question for those still in Iraq is whether they too should now make the move and leave. The question is difficult because in spite of the dangers, the deaths, and the hardship, Iraq is their homeland and a country they love, a country they want to stay in. Whatever they decide, Dr Sookhdeo says it is important that support is given to those who choose to stay as well as those who go. He said: I dont think we can say to Christians in situations where they are facing kidnapping and death that youve got to stay. If they think it is right for them to leave then weve got to help them. Equally weve got to say to those who want to stay, we will continue to assist and provide for you and argue your case. There is no question that the situation has deteriorated. When Dr Sookhdeo visited the Christian community in 1999, it numbered around 1.4 million. Saddam Hussein was a pretty evil dictator but Christians were not persecuted, he says. But since the US-led invasion in 2003 the number of Christians living in Iraq has plummeted to around 3-400,000. There are various reasons for this, he explains. It was easy for Christians to be seen by militant Islamists and indeed the wider, more moderate Muslim population as supporters or colluders of the Western invaders. Then in 2005, Sharia law was enshrined and the constitution did not embrace Christians or other minorities  effectively classing them as dhimmis, or second class citizens. Dr Sookhdeo believes the US, UK and Australia should shoulder the lions share of responsibility in protecting minorities but instead he says the British government effectively washed its hands of the violence against Christians in Iraq and paid little attention to a petition Barnabas Fund presented to it last year raising awareness of the situation and signed by tens of thousands of British Christians. By Maria Mackay From: ChristianToday

Iraqi Christians face an uncertain New Year

Before the clock strikes midnight on Friday, Americans will look to the heavens before they look forward to a brand new year. A new Rasmussen Reports found that a majority of Americans dont plan on skipping prayer even though they wont attend parties this New Year's Eve. An estimated 66 percent say they will say a prayer before the start of 2011, with men more likely than women to do so. Black Americans are also more likely than whites to pray in the last hours of 2010. About the same proportion of Americans, 64 percent, say they dont plan on attending a New Year's party, while only 21 percent say they will. Fifteen percent say they cannot predict whether they will attend a party to celebrate the new year or not. As for when the clock actually strikes midnight, 69 percent of Americans intend to be at home, seven percent will be at a friend's house, and five percent will be at a restaurant or bar. Others surveyed said they will be somewhere else, nine percent, or aren't sure where they will be, ten percent. More people said they will not be drinking, 48 percent, than say they plan to consume alcohol on New Years Eve, 42 percent. In an effort to provide family-friendly alternatives, many churches will be offering parties, concerts, and activities on New Years Eve. Phoenix First Assembly in Arizona will host an all-night celebration for its youth that includes a movie, games, and breakfast. Young adults enjoy their own event while married couples can dress up for a New Year's Eve Ball. A lot of worship houses  like The Potter's House, headed by Bishop T.D. Jakes  will observe New Year's Eve the traditional way, with church services. The nondenominational church will provide services at its Dallas, North Dallas, and Fort Worth locations, and live broadcast for online viewers. Meanwhile, Mars Hill Church, based in the greater Seattle area, is opting for a more fellowship-style celebration with a New Year's Eve Bowling night. "We'll knock over pins and kneel in thanks to our gracious God for the year He has given us and waiting enthusiastically for the year that lies ahead," the event organizers wrote on the church's website. The Rasmussen Reports result are based on a survey of 1,000 adults nationwide conducted on Dec. 26-27, 2010. By Elena Garcia From: ChristianPost

Most Americans Ring in New Year's with Prayer

The Circuit Courts three-judge panel ruled Tuesday that the memorial cross at Mt. Soledad violates the U.S. Constitution. soledad cross Judges for U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit decided 3-0 in the case of Trunk v. City of San Diego that the Mt. Soledad cross paying homage to fallen soldiers is unconstitutional. Alliance Defense Fund Senior Counsel Joe Infranco labeled the ruling a tragedy. Its tragic that the court chose a twisted and tired interpretation of the First Amendment over the common-sense idea that the families of fallen American troops should be allowed to honor these heroes as they choose, he expressed in a statement following yesterdays ruling. The California war memorial was erected in 1954. The memorial includes a Latin cross and six concentric walls holding black granite plaques engraved with the names and photos of war veterans. It was originally dedicated as a Korean War Veterans Memorial but now also honors U.S. veterans of World War I and World War II. The memorials cross has been at the heart of a two-decade-long dispute. The cross is 29-foot tall and stands in La Jolla, Calif. The American Civil Liberties Union sued the city of San Diego in 1989 to remove the cross. The groups plaintiff, atheist war veteran Philip Paulson, argued that the cross was a religious symbol and that its display on public land was unconstitutional. The Jewish War Veterans has also found fault with the crosss presence and is also suing for its removal. Prior to this ruling, U.S. District Judge Larry Alan Burns ruled in 2008 that the cross does not violate the separation of Church and State. "The court finds the memorial at Mt. Soledad, including its Latin cross, communicates the primarily non-religious messages of military service, death, and sacrifice," Burns wrote in his decision. "As such, despite its location on public land, the memorial is constitutional." However, on appeal, the judges overturned Burns ruling. Still, Infranco contends that the cross does not violate the Establishment Clause maintaining a separation between church and state. The cross has the right to stay where it is, he says. War heroes have earned the right to be remembered. The memory of those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom shouldnt be dishonored because the ACLU finds a small number of people who are merely offended, he stated.   Christian Post

English

Religiously Motivated Attacks Leave Great Need in Nigeria

Religiously Motivated Attacks Leave Great Need in Nigeria

George Beverly Shea to receive Lifetime Achievement Grammy

George Beverly Shea to receive Lifetime Achievement Grammy

Iraqi Christians face an uncertain New Year

Iraqi Christians face an uncertain New Year

Most Americans Ring in New Year's with Prayer

Most Americans Ring in New Year's with Prayer

Calif. War Memorial Cross Unconstitutional, Court Rules

Calif. War Memorial Cross Unconstitutional, Court Rules

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