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Hundreds of thousands of Christians are worshiping secretly in a rapidly accelerating house church movement in Iran, as a London-based theological center is aiding the movement by training the next generation of its spiritual leaders.
The Iranian government labels Christianity as a threat to the nation's Islamic identity and imprisons over 100 Christians for worshiping Christ. Such crackdowns on faith, however, have not prevented Iranian house churches from blossoming into a movement too big for the Iranian religious police to contain.
Some estimates, such as one provided by Open Doors USA, record as many as 450,000 practicing Christians in Iran, while other, more optimistic estimates, record over 1 million Christians in the Islamic republic.
...
The source explained that due to the fear of government crackdown, Iranian house churches consist only of about four to five members, and have to change their place of gathering every time they meet.
"If they want to sing, they have to sing very quietly or not sing at all," the source explained.
Good news to hear amidst all of turmoil over there.
Hundreds of thousands of Christians are worshiping secretly in a rapidly accelerating house church movement in Iran, as a London-based theological center is aiding the movement by training the next generation of its spiritual leaders.
The Iranian government labels Christianity as a threat to the nation's Islamic identity and imprisons over 100 Christians for worshiping Christ. Such crackdowns on faith, however, have not prevented Iranian house churches from blossoming into a movement too big for the Iranian religious police to contain.
Some estimates, such as one provided by Open Doors USA, record as many as 450,000 practicing Christians in Iran, while other, more optimistic estimates, record over 1 million Christians in the Islamic republic.
...
The source explained that due to the fear of government crackdown, Iranian house churches consist only of about four to five members, and have to change their place of gathering every time they meet.
"If they want to sing, they have to sing very quietly or not sing at all," the source explained.
Good news to hear amidst all of turmoil over there.
And hope for dying old time churches in the South:
Quote:
Attendance at the Southern Baptist church on Scenic Drive had dwindled to about 15 most Sundays. The potted plant by the pulpit was from yet another member’s funeral. There was $5,000 in the church bank account and $6,000 in bills when Larry Montgomery, a deacon, reached a conclusion once unthinkable in the heart of the Bible Belt.
“We’re just not going to make it,” he announced to the members of Scenic Drive Baptist, and then he told them he might have found a solution.
There was another congregation, he said, a small one that had been meeting in living rooms and whose pastor carried business cards that quoted from John 4:35: “Look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” Maybe they wanted to buy the church.
And so phone calls were placed, and a few days later, the prospective buyers held a prayer meeting about what to do.
“Abuna Semawi, nashkurak,” the pastor began in Arabic. “Heavenly Father, we thank you.”
Not long ago, none of this would be happening. There would be no dying traditional Southern Baptist church and no Arab Southern Baptist congregation to buy it. There would be none of that, because old-line Southern Baptist churches anchored practically every big city and little country town in the South, their oak pews filled with believers in eternal salvation through the blood of Jesus and the rest of what it meant to be good Christian Southerners: missionary training, handbells, casseroles for the homebound.
----------
“We don’t have time to dillydally,” Larry had said when he addressed the congregation, explaining that selling to the Arab Baptists might be their best hope of keeping the church from closing.
They prayed and then took a vote, and now, a few miles away in a suburban living room, the members of the fledgling Arab congregation were considering an opportunity they never anticipated in a place that never quite anticipated them.
“Ashkurak kainak gamatina marra taniya inu agtimaa amamak,” continued the pastor, Raouf Ghattas, leading the prayers. “Thank you for bringing us together one more time to gather before you.”
American church goers have done such an excellent job of driving other Americans away from church that the only hope for the organized church is "furreners."
American church goers have done such an excellent job of driving other Americans away from church that the only hope for the organized church is "furreners."
Maybe it has more to do with the principality of evil that has made so much progress against a country that once feared God............ now it is considered politically correct in this country to deny the same God who used to bless this country..................way back when it gave God His reverence due and we did not slaughter millions of innocents nor deny children the right to pray in school
Nowadays Christians are protected from attacks coming from atheists in Russia more than they are here
Maybe it has more to do with the principality of evil that has made so much progress against a country that once feared God............ now it is considered politically correct in this country to deny the same God who used to bless this country..................way back when it gave God His reverence due and we did not slaughter millions of innocents nor deny children the right to pray in school
Nowadays Christians are protected from attacks coming from atheists in Russia more than they are here
Hundreds of thousands of Christians are worshiping secretly in a rapidly accelerating house church movement in Iran, as a London-based theological center is aiding the movement by training the next generation of its spiritual leaders.
The Iranian government labels Christianity as a threat to the nation's Islamic identity and imprisons over 100 Christians for worshiping Christ. Such crackdowns on faith, however, have not prevented Iranian house churches from blossoming into a movement too big for the Iranian religious police to contain.
Some estimates, such as one provided by Open Doors USA, record as many as 450,000 practicing Christians in Iran, while other, more optimistic estimates, record over 1 million Christians in the Islamic republic.
...
The source explained that due to the fear of government crackdown, Iranian house churches consist only of about four to five members, and have to change their place of gathering every time they meet.
"If they want to sing, they have to sing very quietly or not sing at all," the source explained.
Good news to hear amidst all of turmoil over there.
The internet and on-line missionary programs have opened the doors for the Gospel to get to places like Iran and it is spreading like a wildfire.
Maybe it has more to do with the principality of evil that has made so much progress against a country that once feared God............ now it is considered politically correct in this country to deny the same God who used to bless this country..................way back when it gave God His reverence due and we did not slaughter millions of innocents nor deny children the right to pray in school
Nowadays Christians are protected from attacks coming from atheists in Russia more than they are here
What a bunch of crap. No further response is needed. This is nothing more than another "Woe is us poor persecuted Christians" refrain, when the real history of this nation is about how, in virtually every time frame from Colonial America to the present, so-called Christians have practiced ostracization against one group or another--and often against other Christians who didn't have the "correct" belief system.
Maybe it has more to do with the principality of evil that has made so much progress against a country that once feared God............ now it is considered politically correct in this country to deny the same God who used to bless this country..................way back when it gave God His reverence due and we did not slaughter millions of innocents nor deny children the right to pray in school
Nowadays Christians are protected from attacks coming from atheists in Russia more than they are here
What a bunch of crap. No further response is needed. This is nothing more than another "Woe is us poor persecuted Christians" refrain, when the real history of this nation is about how, in virtually every time frame from Colonial America to the present so-called Christians have practiced ostracization against one group or another--and often against other Christians who didn't have the "correct" belief system.
Count me as one of them.
There was never, ever, a "golden" age of Christ in this country.
What a bunch of crap. No further response is needed. This is nothing more than another "Woe is us poor persecuted Christians" refrain, when the real history of this nation is about how, in virtually every time frame from Colonial America to the present so-called Christians have practiced ostracization against one group or another--and often against other Christians who didn't have the "correct" belief system.
Count me as one of them.
There was never, ever, a "golden" age of Christ in this country.
I have not said there ever was a golden age of Christ in this country.......... the OT Jews never had a "golden age of Christ" as you put it but God honored them when they walked in obedience fulfilling all that could be fulfilled as per the dispensation of grace they lived under............. Get it?
Meanwhile you post the same words twice as if there is something in them worth remembering............. NOT!
However, it is no surprise to me to see you think your own posts are worth repeating
Hundreds of thousands of Christians are worshiping secretly in a rapidly accelerating house church movement in Iran, as a London-based theological center is aiding the movement by training the next generation of its spiritual leaders.
The Iranian government labels Christianity as a threat to the nation's Islamic identity and imprisons over 100 Christians for worshiping Christ. Such crackdowns on faith, however, have not prevented Iranian house churches from blossoming into a movement too big for the Iranian religious police to contain.
Some estimates, such as one provided by Open Doors USA, record as many as 450,000 practicing Christians in Iran, while other, more optimistic estimates, record over 1 million Christians in the Islamic republic.
...
The source explained that due to the fear of government crackdown, Iranian house churches consist only of about four to five members, and have to change their place of gathering every time they meet.
"If they want to sing, they have to sing very quietly or not sing at all," the source explained.
Good news to hear amidst all of turmoil over there.
Iran has a total population of 78 million. Do the math.
Unfortunately, the theocracy is not threatened. These are brave people, though.
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