AP

KAZAKHSTAN’S YOUNG PEOPLE
After decades of Soviet rule where the existence of God was denied, people in Kazakhstan have an increasing interest in religion. While many elderly people are returning to their Islamic traditions, many younger people are searching for truth and hearing the gospel. Members of a Christian radio team engage listeners in live talk shows, where interaction ranges from everyday issues to overtly Christian evangelism. Thousands more are reached through social media, whose mobile phone subscriptions number more than the entire population. Interested people are introduced to Bible studies and some have joined local gatherings of Christians where they can talk about the gospel openly.
Stories of life-changing transformations are encouraging, especially for a younger generation of Christians. Many of these are passionate about reaching the next generation of Kazakhs, even though they sometimes face threats because of their Christian enthusiasm. [Source: Far Eastern Broadcasting Company]

INQUIRY ORDERED INTO BLASPHEMY ENTRAPMENT GROUP IN PAKISTAN
 (Christian Daily International-Morning Star News) – A high court has advised the Pakistan government to establish a four man commission to investigate alleged collusion between the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Islamist clerics to entrap more than 400 innocent people, including Christians, in a surge of false blasphemy cases in the last two years. The high Court siad that among others, the Commission should include a senior expert of information technology to greatly assist the commission members in what is a technologically complicated chain that the commission will have to unravel.
The Islamabad High Court issued the order in response to petitions filed by families of more than 100 people booked by the FIA for allegedly sharing blasphemous content online. The petitioners claimed that the “blasphemy business group” had fraudulently trapped their loved ones into sharing blasphemous content on social media platforms and urged establishment of the investigative commission. The petitioners based their plea on reports by the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), which revealed that a suspicious gang was trapping young people in false blasphemy cases and extorting money in collusion with some FIA officials. The NCHR report also further highlighted procedural violations, including disturbing reports of torture during and after apprehension, and that detainees’ written statements were frequently obtained under duress, compromising their legitimacy.”
The order comes as Islamist elements have threatened to kill a prominent TV journalist, for raising the blasphemy issue on her show. A day after Jahangir’s show, a group of lawyers associated with the “blasphemy gang” held a press conference and protest outside the Lahore Press Club. The protesters condemned the journalist’s show on the issue and also rejected the Islamabad High Court’s order for the establishment of an inquiry commission. The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists slammed the targeted harassment and trolling of the Muslim journalist, and stated that they stand firmly in solidarity with her.
PRAY – that the Commission will receive the authority to do it’s work, and that it will result in the ‘blasphemy law’ being changed, and so protect the lives of Christians and other minority groups in Pakistan.

SOMALI CHRISTIANS USING MEDIA TO REACH AND DISCIPLE FELLOW SOMALIS

Somalia— is considered one of the hardest places to follow Christ in the world, second only to North Korea. That’s why stories like this one are so significant and worth celebrating. Shania came to faith in Jesus out of a Muslim background. Her husband, Shino, accepted Christ a few years later after much prayer. When they first began sharing their faith with fellow Somalis online, they kept their identities secret. They were met with distrust and suspicion. There were questions about whether they were Westerners pretending to be Somalis. Eventually, Shino and Shania decided to go public. They shared their real names and faces and even their contact information. “That,” Shania said in a recent conversation with The Voice of the Martyrs USA, “shook [the] whole Somali nation.”
Over 98% of Somalis follow Islam. Their story was covered by major news outlets. “All the imams, they sat down, and they said, ‘What [can we] do?’” Shania explained. “They give us (Shino and Shania) a fatwa. They said, ‘Anyone who see them, either kill them or find where they are from.’” Though Shino and Shania have had to move frequently for safety, they are still sharing the gospel through Somali Christian TV. The fruit of their ministry has been profound, but so has the opposition, Shania says.  “Millions of Somalis have seen what the Lord is doing. Many of them come to faith, but many of them are threatening us, and they are after us.” Many of them, when they come to faith, they will say, ‘I used to hate you. I was the person who [was] threatening you. Please forgive me,’” Shania says.
Pray for the gospel to spread and deepen among Somalis! No aboveground church can exist in the nation, and small underground churches are always in danger of discovery and violence. “If you are Somali, and they know that you are Christian, they will persecute you. They are scattered everywhere, and they are isolated,” Shania said, “The whole nation needs to know Jesus.” Please Shino and Shania and for those who are already believers in Somalia that the Lord’s Spirit will equip them and make them bold.” [Source:  (Missionary Network News)

A ‘CONTACTLESS CURIOSITY’ BRINGS YOUNG PEOPLE TO INQUIRE ABOUT CHRIST.
UK – More and more young people with no church connection are beginning to attend services in the UK. They are coming not though invitation or an outreach program but in what is called “contactless curiosity”. The phenomenon is being described by church leaders, as people being stirred by God alone. A youth ministry worker for Vineyard churches told Premier News the best thing about ‘contactless curiosity’ is that there is nothing we can do to create it. Strategies, plans or programs are useless, he says. He shared the story of one teenage girl who told her mother she wanted to find out more about Jesus. This girl turned up at a Tuesday night discussion group and brought a couple of friends. All three girls are now regularly attending. The youth Worker has shared his experience with youth leaders across the nation and found this intriguing new trend is wide-ranging. PRAY that God will sovereignly and graciously work in the hearts of young people in Australia. [Source: Premier Christian News]

FOUNDER OF MAF WITH THE LORD
Jack Hemmings, the founder of Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) and a veteran of the Second World War, has died at the age of 103. Mr Hemmings’ life in the air began at the age of 19, when in 1940 he volunteered as an air crewman. During the war he saw action against Japan and was awarded the Air Force Cross for exemplary gallantry while flying.
After the war Mr Hemmings established MAF with fellow RAF veteran Stuart King. Christian Today reports that in 1948 they flew a Miles Gemini aircraft around central Africa, assessing the needs of communities. Their survey was cut short when their plane crashed into a mountain. Both men were unharmed and MAF eventually grew into one of the largest aerial aid organisations in the world. Today, MAF operates 120 aircraft in Africa delivering aid, medicine and the Gospel to communities throughout the continent. [Source: Source: Christian Today]

CHRISTIAN SCHOOL WORKER SACKED OVER LGBT+ COMMENTS WINS APPEAL
The Court of Appeal has reversed a ruling which defended the dismissal of a Christian teaching assistant over online comments made about the LGBT+ community and sex education. Kristie Higgs, was removed from her role as pastoral administrator and work experience manager at Farmor’s School in Fairford in 2019 for gross misconduct. The disciplinary action came after she expressed concerns on Facebook in 2018 about the introduction of LGBT+ relationship education at her son’s Church of England primary school. An anonymous complaint was lodged with the school, leading to a six-hour disciplinary hearing and her eventual dismissal. In October 2020, a judge ruled that, despite Mrs Higgs’ posts not being ‘homophobic’ or ‘transphobic’, the school was justified in sacking her because others could perceive them to be so.
After a six-year legal battle, the Court of Appeal has overturned the previous ruling that upheld her dismissal, declaring it unlawful discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief. In the judgement, three judges ruled in her favour. Higgs’ employer argued that its justification for sacking her was due to her language in posts online, not her Christian beliefs – judges ruled that her language was not “grossly offensive” and “dismissal was unquestionably a disproportionate response.” Court of Appeal judges said there was no evidence that Higgs’ posts had damaged the schools’ reputation and there were no concerns that her personal views on sex education would impact her treatment towards pupils or staff at her place of employment. Responding to the Court of Appeal decision, Higgs said:  “Expressing biblical Christian teaching on gender and sexuality may appear to be offensive to those who hold the opposite views, but as today’s judgment signals, Christians have a right to express their beliefs publicly… without fear of being punished by their employer. I pray that today will prove to be a landmark day for Christian freedoms and free speech.” [Source: Premier Christian News]

LOST INDIGENOUS COLOMBIAN TRIBE FOUND IN THE AMAZON JUNGLE
Missionaries have found a lost indigenous Colombian tribe in the Amazon jungle. Brazilian missionaries trekked the Amazon to assess the tribe’s living situation. They found hunger and destitution. It was a very sad situation, they say. Ten years ago, the tribe fled into the jungle after drug traffickers and guerilla groups took over their territory. Though the missionaries visit was meant to be a study of the tribe’s current situation, they knew they were sent with a bigger purpose.
They told Christian Aid Mission God sent them to tell the tribe about Jesus Christ who can change the history of a people. After their initial visit, they knew they would return to preach the Gospel, teach the Bible, and supply necessities for better living. There has been much joy as many members of the tribe have come to faith in Christ. [Source: Christian Aid Mission.]

– compiled by Guido Kettniss