AP

CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS FORCED TO CLOSE?: ATTACK ON CHRISTIAN FREEDOM

AUSTRALIA – The Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher, has warned the church will be forced to consider closing religious schools if the government strips them of the ability to preference the employment of teachers supportive of Christian teachings. Archbishop Fisher, one of the nation’s most senior Catholic leaders, declared more radical actions could be needed in response to the infringement of religious liberties. Action would need to be taken – “If we were told we were not allowed to take religion into account in who we employ, or in the ethos of our schools, which is quite a push at the moment”. Archbishop Fisher said. Catholic school closures would risk overwhelming the public system, with National Catholic Education Commission figures showing there were more than 800,000 students being educated at more than 1750 Catholic schools across the country.
Archbishop Fisher also suggested that Catholic hospitals could be forced to consider similar action if they were required to perform abortions or other procedures that were “deeply troubling ethically”. He noted the Church had “pulled out of adoption in many countries because they weren’t allowed to choose a married couple as the parents”. Faith-based educators are in open revolt against draft laws that would remove exemptions allowing schools to preference teachers who share the same spiritual ethos as the school.
Archbishop Fisher said more conventional approaches needed to be exhausted to defend religious protections as being in the best interests of individuals and society. [Source: Compiled from media reports.]

FLOODS IN NEPAL CRIPPLE LEPROSY MISSION’S FLAGSHIP HOSPITAL
The Leprosy Mission’s flagship hospital in Nepal has been crippled after record levels of monsoon rains triggered landslides. The main hospital building has been spared but landslides have swept away trees and other buildings. Borewells that provide the water supply are destroyed, leaving the hospital with only two days of stored water left. Access to the hospital has also been cut off because of damage to roads by the unprecedented rainfall – the worst to hit Nepal in half a century. 
The charity is preparing for the possibility of evacuating patients but says it they don’t know where to, or even how this is possible. This is the greatest challenge the hospital has faced after surviving the 2015 earthquake and forest fires earlier this year. Please pray for God’s wisdom to guide those making decisions in regards to the healing ministry of the hospital. [Source: Christian Today]

SOCIAL MEDIA BRINGS THE GOSPEL TO TURKISH SPEAKING PEOPLE
In a region where culture and religion create barriers to the gospel, social media is reaching millions. There are around 117 million people who are Turkic-speaking in and around the Caucasus, one of the places least-reached with the Gospel in the world. Operation Mobilisation (OM) says the deeply engrained majority faith creates barriers to engaging people with the message of Christ’s love. But social media ministry is one way OM is overcoming the challenge. People in the region spend hours a day on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, says Sam, the leader of the media ministry, and these are avenues to expand Gospel content.
Interested people who respond are directed to a website where they can request a New Testament or chat with an online operator. Over two years more than 2,000 people asked to receive a New Testament and meet with a national believer. [Source: Operation Mobilisation]

FURTHER ATROCITIES IN NIGERIA
Christians in Kaduna State in Nigeria’s Middle Belt are once again in need of our prayers. Three people were killed and 30 abducted when Islamist gunmen attacked two churches on Sunday 15 September. The armed assault was launched at around 10am on the churches in Bakinpah-Maro  community, Kajuru Local Government Area (LGA). Bernard Gajera, pastor of one of the churches, was one of those taken by the attackers. “The community is in shock, and we urge the authorities to take immediate action to rescue the kidnapped victims,” said Cafra Caino, the former Chairman of Kajuru LGA. An eyewitness said, “When the bandits arrived in large numbers, many worshippers fled the church. It was a horrendous sight. We were helpless as we watched the bandits wreak havoc.”
As recently as August 2024, the Maro community raised funds to build a security post for law enforcement agencies to address ongoing security issues after repeated attacks kept farmers from their fields. The attack happened almost exactly two years after gunmen abducted 43 residents, including many worshippers from a church service, in a raid on another community in Kajuru LGA.
INTERCEDE for Pastor Bernard and the other Christians abducted and ask that they are released from captivity unharmed. Pray that improved security in Kaduna State will prevent further attacks. Pray for Christian communities experiencing weariness at the cycle of violence affecting them in regions of Nigeria. Ask the Lord to instil in our brothers and sisters hope instead of despair, and a perfect love for God, the Church and even her persecutors that conquers fear (1 John 4:18).

SHOWING THE LOVE OF CHRIST TO MUSLIMS IN LEBANON
As the conflict in the Middle East escalates, Christian charity Youth for Christ Lebanon (YFCL) is providing practical support to Muslim communities affected by airstrikes. The bombing has displaced over a million people, about a fifth of Lebanon’s population. It has devastated critical infrastructure, including hospitals and schools and claimed hundreds of lives. Amid the chaos, YFCL is providing aid to displaced families, showing them the love of Jesus through action. Maher El Hajj YFCL’s National Director told Premier News people are terrified, crippled by anxiety, and unable to sleep.
He says we want to show the love of Christ in a very practical way to the Muslim community, so they can experience the unconditional love of Jesus. YFCL is reaching out to areas that have experienced heavy bombing providing necessities like food, water and medicine. Prayer is requested Muslims will be open to the Gospel message. [Source: Premier Christian News]

CROSSES REPLACED WITH PICTURES OF XI JINPING IN CHINA’S CHURCHES
 The Chinese government has ordered the removal of crosses from churches and replaced images of Jesus Christ or the Virgin Mary with pictures of President Xi Jinping, according to a new report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). The report states that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is targeting Catholic and Protestant Christians in a process known as “sinicization.” This includes the display of CCP slogans at church entrances, the censorship of religious texts, the imposition of CCP-approved religious materials, and instructions to clergy to preach CCP ideology.
Tens of millions of Christians in China have refused to join the permitted state-controlled religious organizations, known as “patriotic religious organizations,” and are worshipping underground. In 2018, the Vatican and China signed an agreement to cooperate on the appointment of bishops in the country. However, despite this, the Chinese government has unilaterally installed CCP-aligned bishops without the Vatican’s consultation and approval. [Source: Premier Christian News.]

ISRAELI CHRISTIANS ARE BEING SUPPORTED
Israeli Christians are being supported through the national crisis by the Slavic Gospel Association (SGA). Although SGA primarily operates in Slavic countries, up to 30% of Jewish people in Israel are Russian-speaking immigrants. SGA’s Eric Mock says the Soviets drove the Jews out of Russia and a lot of them settled in Israel. He told Mission Network News SGA is working with faithful Bible-teaching Russian-speaking Jewish pastors and their churches in Israel, assisting them in the current crisis. The ministry equips the church leadership with biblical training and helps provide resources so the churches can aid their communities.
Mr Mock says they send finances directly to churches that purchase aid locally and deliver it to people who in many cases won’t leave their homes because they struggle with fear and anxiety. The situation is an open door for the Gospel as churches minister compassion in word and action. [Source: Mission Network News]

– compiled by Guido Kettniss