Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.
In today's edition:
- Orthodox Christian Shot to Death in Mosul
- SAT-7 Celebrates 15 Years of Broadcasting in Arab World
- Ex-Followers of Harold Camping Voice Anger on Family Radio
- Religious Liberty Group Speaks Up for Minorities in Arab Spring
Orthodox Christian Shot to Death in Mosul
Christians in the northern city of Mosul, Iraq, are again mourning the loss of a fellow believer. Arkan Jihad Yacob was gunned down on his way to work this morning, when gunmen fired at him several times using a silencer, according to Asia News' sources. The married father of four was the victim of two previous abduction attempts but had so far managed to escape. Yacob's funeral took place in Mosul’s Syro-Orthodox cathedral, attended by the local Christian community. His murder follows the kidnapping death of a Christian in Kirkuk earlier in May. That man was allegedly mutilated and killed because his family did not pay a $10,000 ransom in time.
SAT-7 Celebrates 15 Years of Broadcasting in Arab World
This month SAT-& is celebrating 15 of Christian broadcasting in the Arab world, where the ministry broke down cultural barriers previously facing Christian programs. Christian Today reports that the ministry's broadcasts have expanded over the years to include SAT-7 Arabic, SAT-7 Pars, SAT-7 Turk and SAT-7 Kids. Rita El Mounayer, Executive Director for SAT-7's three Arabic channels, was there when SAT-7 made its historic first broadcast. "We're very excited about our shows and the people making them - people who want to make a real difference in the lives of our viewers," she said. "And we can see how much our programs are impacting people, especially those caught up in the current crisis." The 15th anniversary coincides with the Arab Spring sweeping across the Middle East and North Africa.
Ex-Followers of Harold Camping Voice Anger on Family Radio
Many of Harold Camping's disciples are leaving the ranks following the May 21 non-Rapture, even though the Family Radio president maintains the event came true in the spiritual sense. The Christian Post reports that for many of his followers, the adjusted Doomsday of Oct. 21 is too little, too late. Callers to Camping's radio broadcast say they are losing all faith, and not just in him. "I've been studying the Bible with you all those years," said one caller on May 23. "I thought nothing would shake my faith that I would go through all the tribulations and all that. But now that I see that it didn't happen once again, all I look at is disappointment from our Father."
Religious Liberty Group Speaks Up for Minorities in Arab Spring
Religious freedom organizations united under the Religious Liberty Partnership (RLP) are calling new governments in the Middle East and North Africa to protect religious minorities. The statement, released by the Religious Liberty Partnership (RLP), welcomes the "widespread calls for greater freedom" but “notes with concern the violence against peaceful protesters at different times and places.” Mervyn Thomas, Chairman of the RLP and CEO of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, UK, says Christians should make the most the so-called Arab Spring. “Now is a great opportunity for Christians across the region to show that, as national citizens, they have a role to play in bringing about justice for all peoples and recognition that this cannot be achieved without full religious freedom.”
