On Wednesday, October 15, 2014 7:33 AM, "ANS@Assist-Ministries.com" <ANS@Assist-Ministries.com> wrote:
Persecution of Middle East
| ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net -- E-mail: assistnews@aol.com Tuesday, October 14, 2014 Christian, Jewish leaders Sign Historic Letter to Halt Persecution of Middle East Christians  By Michael Ireland Special Correspondent, ASSIST News Service JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (ANS) -- Prominent leaders of major Jewish and Christian global organizations have signed an historic joint initiative calling on world leaders to take firm action to halt the brutal persecution of Christians in the Middle East. The letter was sent to 95 democratic countries and co-signed by Dr. William M. Wilson, president and co-chairman of the Empowered21 Global Council and president of Oral Roberts University (www.oru.edu); International Christian Embassy Jerusalem executive director Dr. Jürgen Bühler; and World Jewish Congress president Ronald S. Lauder. The joint initiative was unveiled at a press conference on Monday, October 10, in Jerusalem during the annual Feast of Tabernacles celebration sponsored by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) www.icej.org.
"This letter gives an important voice to Christians who are being persecuted and even killed for their faith around the world, especially in the Middle East," said Dr. Wilson of ORU and Empowered21. "In this age of technology, we have a greater awareness of these types of alarming oppressions and a greater responsibility to protect Christian communities. Most Christ followers in these difficult situations will not respond with violence and therefore need global governmental authorities to stand with them against these injustices." Wilson continued, "I was humbled that Mr. Lauder, whose people have persevered through some of the greatest persecution in the world's history, joined to sign this historic letter. To see this prominent Jewish leader stand with Christians in this moment should speak volumes to these world leaders." According to The Voice of the Martyrs, there are more Christian Martyrs today than there were in 100 AD-in the days of the Roman Empire. Of the top 10 countries of the worst Christ ian persecution listed by Open Doors, eight are in the Middle East. The rise of ISIS, or the Islamic State (IS), has continued to raise concern for the safety of Christians in the Middle East. Information from World Watch Monitor shows an example of the threat: "Where Islamic State has gained power, their reign of terror is driving all Christians and other minorities out. "Before Islamic State began its rampage, about 3,000 Christians had been living in Mosul, down from 35,000 after the 2003 war. Now, there are virtually no Christians left. The mainly Christian town of Qarakosh has been abandoned as well, along with other villages; the last Christians have left the northern town of Bartella. Tens of thousands of Christians have become internally displaced, fleeing to the Kurdish region, with cities like Erbil and Dohuk taking in thousands of them." Also on hand to speak at the press conference was Canon Andrew White, known as the 'Vicar of Baghdad,' an Anglican cleric who has become one of the leading voices of the persecuted Christians of Iraq. International Christian Embassy Jerusalem executive director Dr. Jürgen Bühler said: "The current plight of Middle East Christians is heart-breaking and even western churches have to do more to bring the suffering of our fellow believers to the forefront worldwide. "But to have a prominent global Jewish leader lend his voice to this moral call for protecting the region's persecuted Christians is unprecedented in modern times. We welcome all others of goodwill who will take a stand now for these vulnerable ancient Christian communities." In explaining his participation, World Jewish Congress president Ronald S. Lauder stated: "Just as Christians defend Jews against anti-Semitism, just as Christians support Israel, we Jews have an obligation to speak out against the growing persecution of Christians in many parts of the world." "Islamist extremists have launched a full-fledged assault on our Western values, on our civilization, and Jews and Christians must work han d in hand to defeat this threat. For too long, the world has remained silent in the face of this evil. We must act before it is too late," Lauder added. According to a media release about the event, "There are more than 600 million Spirit empowered Christians around the world. Empowered21 aims to help shape the future of the global Spirit-empowered movement throughout the world by focusing on crucial issues facing the movement and connecting generations for inter-generational blessing and impartation." Their vision is that every person on Earth would have an authentic encounter with Jesus Christ through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit by Pentecost 2033. More information on Empowered21 can be found at www.empowered21.com. Empowered21 will bring Christians together to contemplate the critical issues facing the Spirit-empowered movement at the upcoming Global Congress to be held May 20-25, 2015 in Jerusalem. This Congress is a call to all believers from around the world to celebrate Pentecost in th e land of Pentecost. The event is expected to bring thousands of Christians to the region for a time of teaching, praise and prayer. Main sessions will be held in the new Jerusalem Payis Arena with the final session on Pentecost Sunday scheduled as a intergenerational global launch toward renewed world evangelization under the theme "To the Ends of the Earth." More information can be obtained at www.jerusalem2015.com. Among world leaders addressed in the letter are Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations, Prime Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom, US President Barack Obama, President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany. Read the full letter at http://empowered21.com/feast-press-conference/feast-joint-letter.pdf See the list of world leaders it was sent to at http://empowered21.com/feast-press-conference/feast-list-of-leaders.pdf For More Information: Diane Morrow, Diane@BarnabasAgency.com, 800.927.1517 or Jeremy B urton, jburton@oru.edu, 918.495.6649.  See all ASSIST News articles at www.assistnews.net
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