"A
Word"
From Your Shepherd
 Dr.
Leland (Gus) O. Flaherty Past
"Words" E-mail
Pastor Gus | July
2005
July is the month we celebrate the freedom that is such a precious
part of our American Heritage. As Christians, freedom to worship is, indeed, a
wonderful blessing. How privileged we are to be able to gather every Sunday and
Wednesday and publicly worship God, without fear of governmental retaliation or
persecution.
Such is not the case in many parts
of the world. I visited the web site of "Open Doors USA" and saw the
following information about Eritrea. This is just one example of what the Persecuted
Church around the world faces every day -
Santa
Ana, CA. (May 23, 2005) - The persecution of evangelical Christians in the eastern
African country of Eritrea continues to increase at an alarming rate. This small
country located on the Red Sea Coast has been embroiled in conflict since its
bid for independence in 1961. Between 1998-2000, Eritrea was engaged in a bitter
border war with Ethiopia. Economically, they continue to struggle to build a viable
infrastructure. However, the most alarming trend
is the government's increased hostility toward their Evangelical Christian population,
resorting to imprisoning some believers in metal storage containers and underground
jails.
Currently
16 full-time pastors and nearly 900 Eritrean Christians are known to be held in
prisons, military confinement camps and shipping containers for meeting secretly
for prayer and worship outside government-approved churches, according to Compass
Direct.
None
of the prisoners have been charged in court or brought to trial by government
authorities, who since May 2002 have refused to legalize religious groups outside
the Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran and Muslim faiths.
"The
situation continues to deteriorate for Christians in Eritrea, "says Open
Doors USA President Dr. Carl A. Moeller. "Over the past year the number of
evangelical Christians imprisoned for their faith has doubled. Some of them, including
young people, are locked in shipping containers placed in the hot sun. In February
a group of Sunday School teachers and their students were arrested while holding
classes in their church compound.
"Please
join with me in praying for these imprisoned brothers and sisters in Christ. Open
Doors USA is stepping up its advocacy on their behalf. We want to put the pressure
on the Eritrean government to give religious freedom to all worshippers."
As
you are thinking of the freedoms we have in the United States, be sure to breathe
a prayer for our brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world who are making
a stand for the faith, in spite of hardships, threats and persecution. God
Bless
Pastor Gus Flaherty |