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THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS

The power of God’s forgiveness was broadcast across Australia on a recent 7NEWS Spotlight. Samuel Davidson, the drugged and drunk driver who killed three of Danny and Leila Abdallah’s children, declared that he now looks up to Danny as a godfather and said, “I want to be like Danny.” The one-hour program revealed that Danny’s extraordinary act of forgiveness has transformed Samuel’s life and brought deep healing to Danny himself.
On 1 February 2020, the lives of the Abdallah family were tragically turned upside down. Three of their children were lost to the reckless driving of Samuel Davidson, who was intoxicated and under the influence of illicit substances. Three days later, despite being  grief-stricken parents, Leila told the world that she and her family chose to forgive. It is only Christ-like love that can empower that readiness to forgive. At the 2023 NSW National Prayer Breakfast, Danny told those present: “The reason I forgave was I wanted to be obedient to our Lord and Saviour and honour Him at whatever cost.” Samuel recalls what it was like to have Danny forgive him: “I’ve now got a second chance at life here. He’s forgiven me, so that’s massive. I look at him like a godfather, I want to do everything to be like him.” Danny has since visited Samuel several times in prison, sharing Scripture and chapel time together.
He has also reached out to Samuel’s parents. Danny shared with the 7NEWS reporter, “What [Samuel’s parents] have been through isn’t easy. They’re grieving as well.” This instalment of Spotlight mentions that Danny and Samuel are participating in the New South Wales Correctional Services’ Restorative Justice Program. Through this program, victims have the opportunity to meet with the offender, where the perpetrator can “confront the consequences of his crime, provide an apology and show remorse.” But we can see that Danny’s heart for Samuel goes far beyond his participation in this program. From a Christian perspective, we understand it as a powerful form of prison ministry. [Sources: 7NEWS Spotlight and The Daily Declaration]

CHRISTIANS SPEAKING BIBLICAL TRUTHS UNDER THREAT
AUSTRALIA – Women’s advocate Kirralie Smith, and her organisation Binary Australia face up to $200,000 in fines after their statements calling male-born soccer players “men” were ruled unlawful vilification under the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act. The decisions arose from two separate complaints lodged by Stephanie Blanch and Riley Dennis earlier this year. Blanch, who adopted a female identity in 2016, plays for Wingham FC. Dennis, also trans-identifying, is the top goal scorer in Football NSW’s Women’s League One First Grade. On social media and in emails, Kirralie Smith questioned the fairness of their participation and referred to them as male. Smith’s posts highlighted Dennis’s dominant performance, asking why there was a women’s division “if anyone is a woman”. The New south Wales Court concluded that these statements had the capacity to incite “severe contempt” or “hatred” under section 38S of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW). The judge ordered Smith and Binary to delete existing content, publish apologies, and create compliance programs to prevent future “vilification”.
Failure to comply within two months could result in significant financial penalties. Family First National Director Lyle Shelton described the rulings as “a further blow for girls and women’s rights and for freedom of speech.” How long before Christians are brought before the Court, because they believe and teach that: “… God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27} [Source: The Daily Declaration]

IRAN – CONVERT DEPORTED FROM TURKEY
Mehran, a 37-year-old convert from Islam, fled Iran earlier this year after he and two other Christian converts were sentenced on 8 March to prison terms on charges concerning their beliefs and participation in worship meetings. However, Turkish authorities arrested Mehran and flew him back to Mashhad, north-eastern Iran, where he was detained by police. Mehran, along with Narges Nasri and Abbas Soori, was arrested during a series of raids by intelligence agents in November 2024. The Christians’ appeals against their convictions were rejected on 26 April.
It is now understood that all three had fled the country by the time the rejections were issued, when they were given five days’ notice to report to Evin Prison, Tehran, to begin their sentences. Mehran was sentenced to more than 10 years’ imprisonment. The term comprises eight years for “propaganda activities” and two years and eight months for belonging to an “opposition group”. He was also fined 250 million tomans ($US2,750). It is not clear at this stage whether Mehran will start serving his sentence at the notorious Evin Prison.
Numerous prisoners – including Christians – were transferred to other prisons after Evin was bombed in an Israeli airstrike on 23 June. Some prison officers were reported to have been killed in the airstrike on the prison. The two prisons to which Evin prisoners were relocated are reported to be significantly overcrowded. More than 60 Christians were either serving sentences or being detained at Evin Prison awaiting trial on charges concerning their faith.
PRAY that Mehran will draw encouragement from the Scriptures (Romans 15:4) and know the Holy Spirit’s comfort as he faces this long prison term. Pray for the safety of Narges and Abbas, and for the protection and welfare of Christian prisoners evacuated from Evin Prison. [Source: Barnabas Aid]

A CHURCH IN KHARTOUM (SUDAN) DEMOLISHED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING.
The church in the Al-Haj Yousif area in the north-east of Khartoum was destroyed by bulldozers. Church officials received no notice of the demolition. Sudan has been affected by civil war since April 2023, with tens of thousands killed in the ongoing conflict. The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) regained control of the capital from the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in March 2025. The Sudanese Council of Churches has reported numerous attacks on church leaders and church buildings since the start of the conflict.
On top of all this, the civil war in Sudan has brought famine on top of catastrophic damage to people’s lives. Greg Kelley with Unknown Nations says as war and famine take hold of the land, Sudan’s people face daily survival, desperate for help. There are literally millions of people living on the threshold of starvation, he says. Reports show many survive on just one meal of millet porridge a day, while others fill their stomachs with wild plants and weeds. In North Darfur, some people resort to sucking on coal to ease hunger. Mr Kelly told Mission Network News this crisis calls urgently for Christians to unite in prayer. And for the global community to act for the Sudanese people, as they suffer from war, famine, and spreading disease. In areas where n food is available, prices are skyrocketing. [Source: Mission Network News and Barnabas Aid]

GOD IS STILL AT WORK IN IRAN
An underground church leader in Iran was stopped at a police checkpoint with dozens of Bibles in tow. That is a crime punishable by imprisonment or even death. A policeman confiscated the Bibles but let Amir, the leader, go free. When Amir arrived the next evening at the house church that expected the Bibles, they were already there. They were delivered by none other than the policeman who had confiscated them. He had divulged to the householder that he is a Christian.
Iran Alive Ministries founder Hormoz Shariat told Baptist Press that Christians are often found in unexpected places in Iran. Mr Shariat estimates there are at least 2 million Christian converts from Islam in the country. He says some house church leaders believe that estimate is too low. Mr Shariat sends evangelistic messages around-the-clock to Iranians on satellite television from the headquarters of his nondenominational ministry outside the country. [Source: Baptist Press]

INDIA – THOUSANDS OF CHRISTIANS LOSE HOMES & LIVELIHOODS
Thousands of Christians in north-eastern India lost their homes, livelihoods and communities when anti-Christian violence erupted in Manipur. At least 200 were killed, 400 churches were burned down, and more than 30,000 Christian families were forced to flee to cramped temporary displacement camps. Barnabas Aid is working with church partners on the ground to help these traumatised and impoverished families to rebuild their lives. They have set up sewing and tailoring classes to equip Christians with valuable skills that can enable them to earn a living. Finished garments are often given to other families in need, further demonstrating Christ’s compassion. Trainees who have attended the classes tell Barnabas that, using the skills they learned, they can now earn enough to support their families and send their children to school. [Source: Barnabas Aid]

CALLS FOR US INTERVENTION MOUNT AS CHRISTIAN GENOCIDE IN NIGERIA CONTINUES
Life is fragile and dangerous for Christians living in the northern and Middle Belt regions of Nigeria. They face violence that often leads to death, the destruction of their homes, villages, and places of worship. Ultimately, they are forced to flee from the danger, which creates mass displacement for tens of thousands. It is a growing crisis that involves more than three million Christians who face persecution because of their faith. Islamic terror groups are behind the vicious attacks, and the Nigerian government appears to be doing very little to stop the brutality. Making matters worse, recent studies on persecution show the atrocities committed in Nigeria account for nearly 70 percent of all Christians killed globally.
A documentary about a recent attack on Christians was produced by Truth Nigeria, a news division of Equipping The Persecuted, a humanitarian non-profit organization, with headquarters in Sioux City, Iowa. The documentary focuses on the barbaric assault on a village in northern Nigeria. People who endured the attack described how 210 villagers were slaughtered in less than 24 hours, and includes horrific images of people burned alive, families attacked and homes destroyed. The documentary was released to sound the alarm about an ongoing radical Islamic terror campaign to eradicate Nigeria’s  Christians. Judd Saul, a missionary and founder of Equipping The Persecuted, is calling on the United States government to intervene to stop the religious persecution.
Republican Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey, who has travelled to many dangerous areas in Nigeria, has introduced a resolution in Congress to help stop the attacks fuelled by radical Islamic groups.”There has been an exponential increase in attacks on Christians and some Muslims, but Christians in particular ….,” said Smith. His resolution points to the Nigerian government’s apparent open border policy that allows almost free access to the country. Fulani militants and ISIS-linked extremist groups from neighbouring countries take advantage of this policy to carry out mass murder, rape and kidnappings. Looking beyond any government response, Judd Saul is calling on the church and Christians in America to stand with the persecuted in Nigeria. “They need to pray. They need to be a voice for the voiceless. They need to be a voice for our persecuted brothers and sisters.” [Source: NBN News]

– compiled by Guido Kettniss