1,200 former Muslims prepare for baptism

Report: Bibles for Mideast

Close to 1,200 former  Muslims who now believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are preparing for baptism in a dozen Middle Eastern countries, as well as some Asian and African nations. All personally requested the pastors of Bibles for Mideast to baptize them as soon as possible.

The pastors and gospel teams of Bibles for Mideast have been fasting and praying along with the believers for the guidance of our Lord and His will to be done. God willing, baptismal services will be held within a few days in these different regions..

Terrorists, militants and religious police vigilantly oppose evangelical activities in all of these areas, and will do all they can to prevent the baptisms. God alone can protect the people from harm.

Bibles for Mideast baptized 24 former Muslims in the Arabian Sea last week. Islamic militants, on discovering the plans, arrived on the scene ready to shoot those in attendance. But our gracious Lord created a giant dust storm between the candidates and the militants, protecting them all. The incident encouraged the new believers tremendously, strengthening their faith and determination.

We request the earnest prayers of God’s children around the globe for this great task. May the power of the Highest overshadow all of the candidates, ministers, attendees and other believers and seekers. May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ seal them by His precious victorious life-giving blood, shed on Calvary for the salvation of humanity. May the power of the Holy Spirit cover them all with His Mighty flame. May our Lord be with them and use them as His witness to many, especially within the Muslim world. Amen and halleluiah!

"But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.  Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."  (Matt. 9:36-38)

Pope Francis and Canterbury Archbishop Justin want Christian unity

Pope Francis and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby are thinking seriously about Christian unity. "Ecumenical and interreligious dialogue is not a luxury, but something which our world, wounded by conflict and division, increasingly needs," they say.

Meeting formally for the third time to mark the 50th anniversary of the Anglican Centre in Rome, they reported in a joint statement they are "undeterred" by the "serious obstacles" to full unity between Anglicans and Roman Catholics.

Archbishop Justin and Pope Francis at Vespers in Rome

In their Common Declaration, they said that differences over issues such as women's ordination "cannot prevent us from recognizing one another as brothers and sisters in Christ by reason of our common baptism."

"Nor should they ever hold us back from discovering and rejoicing in the deep Christian faith and holiness we find within each other's traditions."

The Common Declaration was made at a service of Vespers in the Church of Saint Gregory on the Caelian Hill in Rome, from where in 595 AD, Pope Gregory sent Augustine to evangelize the Anglo-Saxon people. Augustine became the first Archbishop of Canterbury in 597.

During the service, 19 pairs of Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops from across the world were commissioned by the Pope and Archbishop before being ‘sent out’ in mission together.

"Fourteen centuries ago, Pope Gregory sent the servant of God, Augustine, first Archbishop of Canterbury, and his companions, from this holy place, to preach the joyful message of the Word of God,” Pope Francis told them. “Today we send you, dear brothers, servants of God, with this same joyful message of His everlasting kingdom."

"Our Savior commissioned his disciples saying, 'Peace be with you',” Archbishop Justin Welby added. “We too, send you out with His peace, a peace only He can give. May His peace bring freedom to those who are captive and oppressed, and may His peace bind into greater unity the people He has chosen as His own."

The meeting comes 50 years after Pope Paul VI and Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey met in Rome in a historic spiritual healing of the four-century rift between the two churches.

Pope John Paul II later went on to meet Archbishop Robert Runcie, and then Archbishop George Carey, and Pope Benedict XVI met Archbishop Rowan Williams, also praying together at St Gregory's.

"Fifty years ago our predecessors recognized the 'serious obstacles' that stood in the way of a restoration of complete faith and sacramental life between us,” Archbishop Welby and the Pope declared. "Nevertheless, they set out undeterred, not knowing what steps could be taken along the way, but in fidelity to the Lord's prayer that His disciples be one. Much progress has been made concerning many areas that have kept us apart.

"Yet new circumstances have presented new disagreements among us, particularly regarding the ordination of women and more recent questions regarding human sexuality."

Behind these differences lies a perennial question about authority.

"These are today some of the concerns that constitute serious obstacles to our full unity. While, like our predecessors, we ourselves do not yet see solutions to the obstacles before us, we are undeterred.

"In our trust and joy in the Holy Spirit we are confident that dialogue and engagement with one another will deepen our understanding and help us to discern the mind of Christ for His Church. We trust in God's grace and providence, knowing that the Holy Spirit will open new doors and lead us into all truth."

The human person is demeaned by personal and societal sin, they added.

"In a culture of indifference, walls of estrangement isolate us from others, their struggles and their suffering, which also many of our brothers and sisters in Christ today endure. In a culture of waste, the lives of the most vulnerable in society are often marginalized and discarded. In a culture of hate we see unspeakable acts of violence, often justified by a distorted understanding of religious belief.

"Our Christian faith leads us to recognize the inestimable worth of every human life, and to honor it in acts of mercy by bringing education, healthcare, food, clean water and shelter and always seeking to resolve conflict and build peace. As disciples of Christ we hold human persons to be sacred, and as apostles of Christ we must be their advocates."

MAY OUR LORD'S NAME BE GLORIFIED. EACH AND EVERY PERSON MUST HAVE THE BORN-AGAIN EXPERIENCE OF THE SALVATION OF JESUS CHRIST AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER THROUGH OUR UNITY IN CHRIST. WE PRAY FOR IT. OUR LORD SAID, "THIS IS MY COMMANDMENT, THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER, AS I HAVE LOVED YOU" (JOHN 15:12).

Heavenly dust storm protects newly-baptized from militant gunfire

Report: Bibles for Mideast

October 2, 2016: Some 50 Christians in the Middle East directly experienced the mighty protection of the Lord Jesus today at a water baptismal service in the Arabian Sea. Following three days of fasting and prayer and by God’s ever-loving grace, Bibles for Mideast officiated at the baptism of 24 new converts from Islam.

In spite of the area being unsafe to practice Christianity openly, the new believers themselves requested the service.

“When gentiles received the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Peter asked the disciples how any could forbid them being baptized,” reflected Pastor Paul, Director of Bibles for Mideast. [Acts 10:47]  “So we together prayed with fasting and obeyed the great commission of the Lord to the baptismal candidates.”

“About 50 people, including the baptism candidates, attended the service,” explained newly-baptized Rizwan. “We all went by a bus. After the service and prayers, we entered the bus to return back in our house church for the worship service and the Lord’s Supper.” Every effort had been made to keep the service secret.

“Maybe it was their plan to kill us in the sea during the baptism service,” Rizwan wondered. “But somehow we finished earlier [than planned] and tried to return back.”

A small convoy of militants suddenly appeared behind the bus and opened fire. All they knew to do was pray to the Lord for protection as they sped away, the gunmen in hot pursuit.

When a massive dust storm formed behind them, they now feared being trapped in the dark, churning grime and becoming easy prey for their pursuers. 

Then, just as suddenly, Jesus materialized in the storm clouds and dust.

“He appeared as a mighty and wonderful man showing his protecting and lovely hands towards us with a sweet smile,’ exulted Rizwan. “Jesus saved us! He himself blocked the road of militants in the form of a dust storm.”

The gunfire slowed and stopped, enabling the bus to drive safely back to the church.

Once again we praise and thank our Lord Jesus Christ for showing His love and care towards His children. Thank You and praise You Lord.

UPDATE:

Dec 13: Saharan snake bites Muslim woman, Jesus heals, family believes

Dec 20:  At the sound of Jesus’ voice, militants toppled, guns blown from their hands

The ministries of Bibles for Mideast operate on faith alone. 
We appreciate the support and prayers of the children of God.

Christian teacher in Pakistan threatened with death unless he converts to Islam

Moosa with his family

Report: Bibles for Mideast

Moosa, 42, has for years been a teacher in Pakistan, helping his students learn English and Urdu. He also teaches Social Studies, along with the compulsory Islamic studies. Recently however, the government made the teaching of the Koran and Islamic prayers in schools mandatory as well.

Certain fundamentalist teachers of Islam have used this as an opportunity to inject hatred towards Christians, Hindus and other minorities into the minds of young learners. They have been teaching the children terms such as ‘kafir’—a derogatory expression for anyone not believing in Islam, as well as encouraging them to believe people of other faiths are spies of Israel, America and India.  

“From the primary classes, children are learning to fight against other religions and practice terrorism,” Moosa reports to Bibles for Mideast. “The process is easy to abuse and permits fanatical religious zealots to inculcate vulnerable young minds with their evil ideology.”

As Christians, he and his family have found themselves under increasing persecution by Islamic extremists—including threats of death.

When Moosa reported the threats to the school’s head master, things only got worse. A Muslim teacher came into his classroom shortly afterwards, called him “a son of a pig” (a terrible insult in the Islamic world) and then beat him up in front of his students.

He was again threatened with death if he dared challenge the content of Islamic and Koranic classes. Even the children have been encouraged to shout abuse and spit at him.

Extremists attacked and beat him one recent evening.

“Either convert to Islam and teach the children Islamic sharia, or get ready to die with your family and your hated religion,” they yelled at him. He reported to us with tears he had found human excrement from many people right at his doorstep.

Moosa and his family seek the sincere prayers of the children of God. Please pray for him and for the whole difficult situation in Pakistan­­—that all would come to faith in Jesus as the only way to God.

Jesus casts Satan from Muslim girl; her healing brings her family to Christ

Zaina, a 20-year-old Muslim girl from the Middle East, had suffered heavy bleeding for three years.  She consulted a gynecologist, who ordered an ultrasonography. When the scan revealed cysts on both ovaries, the doctor advised her to get a hysterectomy. Since she is unmarried, her parents advised her against the procedure—which they would not have been able to afford anyway. They lived ordinary lives, the father working in a shopping mall.

A few weeks ago, Zaina met a woman evangelist from Bibles for Mideast. The evangelist befriended her, and soon became a regular visitor at the family home.  Zaina’s mother, sisters and brothers liked the way she presented herself, and her behavior towards them.

The evangelist reported regularly to 'headquarters' about Zaina and her family, so all of the Bibles for Mideast gospel teams were praying for their salvation.

While the mission worker gradually and effectively conveyed the gospel of Jesus Christ to them, Zaina’s family did their best to convert her to Islam, telling her about the Koran and Hadith [sacred texts in Islam—Ed.].

One day, the evangelist arrived with two fellow evangelists after some serious prayer and fasting. They shared the story of the woman with an issue of blood which had plagued her for twelve years, and how simply coming up behind Jesus and touching the border of his garment had resulted in her healing [Matt. 9:20-22]. They told the family that Jesus Christ could and would heal Zaina if they would simply believe in Him as savior and Lord. The gospel teams of Bibles for Mideast were also fasting and praying for them that day.

Zaina’s mother could not accept what the evangelists told her. But Zaina asked them to pray for her. Her brothers and sisters remained silent, without objecting.

While the evangelists prayed over Zaina, the demon within her manifested, and she began screaming like a wild creature. She pushed the evangelists away, as the demon possessing her told them not to send it away from either Zaina’s body or the family home.

So the evangelists inquired, “Who you are and why are you here?”

“A slave from Satan," they heard in response, "taking this family to hell and destroying their generations!” 

The evangelists explained that Jesus Christ had bruised the head of Satan by His crucifixion on the cross of Calvary and His resurrection from the dead.

"Now Satan and his slaves are bound in everlasting chains under darkness until the judgment of our Lord’s great day," they proclaimed with authority. "Zaina and her family belong to the Lord and to His heaven. Go away from here! We cast you out of Zaina in Jesus’ Name!"

Zaina fell to the floor, unconscious.

As the evangelists prayed over her, she came to, praising the Lord. She joyfully explained to them how Jesus had come to her and healed her. She said she gladly accepts the Lord Jesus as her personal Savior.

Her sisters and brothers followed suit, accepting the Lord Jesus into their hearts. And they ended up  convincing their mother to do the same!

Now, very secretly but joyfully, they all attend worship services in a Bibles for Mideast underground church. Please pray for them and for the ministry as a whole.