Barnabas Fund Christmas Appeal

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Barnabas Fund Christmas Appeal

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Barnabas Fund Christmas Appeal

Project(s): 91-721, 13-755, 21-723

Dear Christian friend,

Children starving in Zimbabwe, rumours of another severe famine in Ethiopia, Indian Christians hiding in the jungle without any water or food ...

God’s people are in dire need of our help this Christmas

“...if you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.” (Isaiah 58:10)

Throughout the Bible God encourages us to care for the needy, to remember the widows and orphans and to share what we have with those who are worse off than we are. Our ministry at Barnabas Fund is to help those of God’s people who are facing hunger, deprivation, pressure and persecution, to help those who cannot help themselves.

In this last year one of our main concerns has been to provide food for the many Christians around the world who are facing severe hunger and starvation. Among other things, we have been able to give food parcels to hundreds of very needy families in Zimbabwe, even since President Mugabe banned all NGOs (non-governmental organisations) from entering the country. We have set up feeding projects in Ethiopia, working together with churches to help those families who are struggling to survive, including in areas where Christians are persecuted. And we have been able to react quickly to the double crisis in Orissa, India, distributing food parcels, medicine, clothes, blankets and shelter for those worst affected by the ongoing anti-Christian violence.


Sharing our Lord’s blessings this Christmas

I would like to ask you prayerfully to consider giving a gift this Christmas to help our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world. As we prepare to celebrate the greatest gift of all, God sending His only Son to earth to save us, let us send a ray of hope to those in God’s family who are struggling to keep up hope for their and their families’ future.

Most importantly however, please continue to pray for Christians who are being persecuted for their faith and pray for the work of Barnabas Fund. The prayers of the saints are powerful and God loves to hear and answer them (James 5:16).

With our Lord’s blessings this Christmas

Dr Patrick Sookhdeo,

International Director, Barnabas Fund

 

Ehiopia 13-755::Distributing food in Ehiopia
Ehiopia 13-755::Helping Christians in Ehiopia
People in Ethiopia are facing the threat of another severe famine. According to estimates 4.6 million Ethiopians are affected, and around 75,000 children are at immediate risk of starvation. Barnabas Fund has been working with local churches to provide food for the neediest, including in areas where Christians are persecuted.
Zimbabwe - Project 91-721::Child receiving aid in Zimbabwe

The UN says 3.9 million Zimbabweans are in need of food aid in order to survive. If nothing changes the figure will rise to 5.1 million next year - half of the country's population. In some areas families have to make do with one meal a day; some have nothing at all. Staple foods such as maize meal are too expensive to afford, even for those who still have jobs. Barnabas Fund has been working with South African Christians who bring food parcels into the country and give them to those in dire need. One Zimbabwean Christian says: "Bless you for remembering us in Zimbabwe."

In Orissa, India, anti-Christian violence has left thousands of Christians homeless and in desperate need of food and shelter. Barnabas Fund has been helping Christians in Orissa since January 2008 after the brutal Christmas 2007 attacks. When Hindu extremists again went on the rampage in August we were able to step in quickly and provide emergency aid for those worst affected by the attacks.

Orissa - Project 21-723::Supporting Indian Christians in Orissa
christian, persecution, charity, church, persecuted, sookhdeo, Islam

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  • Sharia court issues fatwa ordering expulsion of pastor from Indian state http://t.co/WmolORuB 3 hours ago

  • Christian converts in Cameroon under threat from militant Islamists http://t.co/At7ndHJk Tue, Feb 2012 10:23

  • Acid attack on pastor highlights growing religious intolerance in Uganda http://t.co/4BRXLXfh Mon, Feb 2012 09:50

  • Court ratifies death sentence for three men convicted of 2010 attack on Iraq church that left more than 50 dead http://t.co/ZVI9p68G Fri, Feb 2012 16:33

  • Egyptian Christians are concerned about their future under the new parliament. http://t.co/GwXFiJxM Thu, Feb 2012 16:47

Daily prayer

Daily prayer_icon
  • Just as Paul worked as a tentmaker while bringing the Gospel to others (Acts 18:2-4), so nine recent Bible school graduates in Senegal learned a practical skill to support themselves in their ministry while also receiving a solid nine-month Biblical training. Support from Barnabas made this possible. Every weekday morning the students immersed themselves in theological training, and in the afternoons they learned skills such as farming, baking and breeding livestock. Pray that God will inspire and lead them as they work and witness amongst non-believers in Senegal, where the overwhelming majority is Muslim. Ask the Lord that their Muslim neighbours will respond with faith to their message. Subscribe to the prayer points rss feed 12 hours ago

  • Since the fall of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in February, hard-line Islamist groups that his regime had kept on a tight leash have grown in strength and influence. They have emerged with the largest share of the vote in the first parliamentary elections since the revolution. Key figures from the leading party, the Muslim Brotherhood, have made statements revealing their intention to implement sharia law, which would be a very worrying development for Egyptian Christians and also for the revolutionaries who wanted to see Egypt become a secular democracy. Pray that the country will not become an Islamic state and that all citizens will be fairly represented in the new political order. Subscribe to the prayer points rss feed Tue, Feb 2012 00:00

  • The protest in Cairo (see yesterday’s prayer point) was sparked by the destruction of St George’s Church in Aswan province on 30 September 2011. Muslims, angry about renovation work that was being carried out on the dilapidated building, had previously threatened to demolish the church. A mob descended on St George’s after Friday prayers and demolished the dome, walls and columns before torching the building. Other property owned by Christians was also burnt. This incident was the latest in a long line of violent attacks on Christians in Egypt, which have intensified since the revolution. Pray that the Lord will encourage the congregation that has lost their building and provide them with alternative premises in which to meet and worship Him. Subscribe to the prayer points rss feed Mon, Feb 2012 00:00

  • At least 25 people were killed and hundreds injured when Christian protestors were brutally assaulted in Egypt on Sunday 9 October. Video footage showed military vehicles charging at Christians who were demonstrating in Cairo against the torching of a church and other injustices. They were also shot at, beaten and dragged through the streets by soldiers, Islamist attackers and plain-clothed thugs. Although Muslims were among the aggressors, some were also reportedly present to defend the Christians from the security forces. Adding insult to injury, generals from the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces blamed Christian protestors for the violence, and denied that troops had fired at protestors and rolled over them in military vehicles. Pray for all those who were bereaved and injured in this attack, and ask that Egyptian Christians will be treated justly as equal citizens. Subscribe to the prayer points rss feed Sun, Feb 2012 00:00

  • Twenty-two children of Arab Christian workers who minister in a Middle Eastern country are receiving a Christian education thanks to support from Barnabas. State schools in this country are often in extremely poor physical condition, classrooms are overcrowded, and under-qualified staff teach by rote. Islam is heavily promoted, and the memorisation of extensive passages from the Qu’ran is compulsory. Discrimination against non-Muslim children is often open and aggressive. One of the Christian mothers said, “My son is so thankful. He was so frustrated with the national curriculum, but now he feels motivated to learn and enjoys school.” Give praise that these Christian children can receive a Christian education and pray that they may grow up into mature believers. Subscribe to the prayer points rss feed Sat, Feb 2012 00:00

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