Fellowship

 
Passion-Of-The-Christ-Movie-Poster

By Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

9:44 PM EDT, April 30, 2011

Actor Jim Caviezel, his voice sometimes cracking with emotion, spoke of being “rejected in my own industry,” the   problems of his friend Mel Gibson and his son’s cancer in an appearance Saturday night at First Baptist Church of Orlando.

The star of “The Passion of the Christ,” whom First Baptist pastor David Uth described as “more passionate about God” than anyone he’s ever met, was in town to give witness to his faith, to urge others to share it and to sell a new all-star audio production of the Bible that he has produced.

During a 20-minute talk, Caviezel spoke of the troubles that have dogged Gibson, his “Passion” director, who has been labeled an anti-Semite in addition to being caught on tape ranting and cursing out the mother of his youngest child.

“Mel Gibson, he’s a horrible sinner, isn’t he?” Caviezel, 42, said. “Mel Gibson doesn’t need your judgment, he needs your prayers.”

The actor recalled Gibson’s offering him the role of Jesus in the film, then calling him back to beg him not to take it:

“He said, ‘You’ll never work in this town again.’ I told him, ‘We all have to embrace our crosses.’ ”

But the actor noted that Gibson wasn’t far off the mark when he spoke of the damage playing Jesus could do to his career.

“Jesus is as controversial now as he has ever been,” Caviezel said. “Not much has changed in 2,000 years.”

Caviezel said he doesn’t worry about the career price he paid with that film — a global box-office smash that led to fewer, not more, film offers for him. “The awards, the hall of fame” that actors get into here on Earth, he said, don’t matter to him. His reward, he said, will come in heaven.

“We have to give up our names, our reputations, our lives to speak the truth,” Caviezel said.

A native of Washington state and a lifelong Roman Catholic, Caviezel has never shied from films with religious subtexts, sometimes controversial ones, from “The Passion of the Christ” (2004) and “The Stoning of Soraya M.” (2008) to “I Am David” (2003) and “Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius” (2004).

Caviezel has said his faith is his guide, both personally and professionally. He speaks of being “called” to the acting profession and says it was no coincidence that “in my 33rd year, I was called to play Jesus.” He even joked about his initials — J.C. — with Gibson at the time of his casting, which “freaked him out a little.”

Caviezel and his wife have adopted “special-needs” children from China, and one has cancer.

“Maybe God, through my son’s death, is going to teach me something.”

Caviezel will speak at the 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. services Sunday at First Baptist, 3000 S. John Young Parkway.

rmoore@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5369

Copyright © 2011, Orlando Sentinel

 
Kabul Afghanizstan

The letter was written on June 8, 2010 by Afghan Christians “who are currently living in exile from their beloved homeland because they were forced to flee their country in order to save their lives and the lives of their families, due to orders of execution issued against them by the Afghan government for choosing to convert to Christianity.”

The full text of the letter follows.

“To the Body of Christ:

“This letter is written by the Afghan Christian Community in India which is a small community of 150 Afghan Christian refugees and asylum seekers.

“We left our country because we were sentenced to death on the account of our Christian faith (conversion), as Afghanistan is a Muslim Country, the Afghan Government is an Islamic government, and Islam is the only formal religion of the country, and according to the Constitutional law of the Afghan Islamic Republic, conversion is considered as a big crime, Christian are called pagans and infidels and are sentenced to death by the Afghan Government. Christians are considered criminals. Death penalty is waiting for all those who want to leave the darkness and come to the true light, repent from their sins, and put their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Lord and Savior of all human being.

“We believe that you (the Body of Christ) have already heard that some pictures and movies of the Afghan believers (from Delhi and Kabul) were shown by an Afghan Private TV (Noorin TV), this TV channel showed these picture in a especial program (Sarzameen Man), and the Government and people were encouraged and provoked to think about the issue of conversion, to make a stand against it and to take serious and practical measures and actions to destroy Afghan Converted Christians (Sons of God) and those who share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Lost.

“The Afghan Parliament, Senate, Religious Council and Islamic Parties and leaders made statements that the Afghan Government has to search, find, arrest, deliver to courts and executes all Afghan Christians, and the Christian NGOs and Organization have to be stopped too. University students protested against Afghan Christians in Kabul and Herat Provinces, and the Afghan Government also made a statement that all Afghan Christians will be arrested and executed, and the Christian NGOs and Organizations which involved with the issues of conversion will be closed.

“Mr. Mujajdi, the Chairman Of Afghan Senate, said that if the Afghan Government does not take serious action, he and other Islamic leaders will call and request the Afghan people to take practical measures to kill all Afghan Christians. President Karzai himself showed his personal interest in this regard and said that all Afghan Christians will be arrested and executed and Christian organizations which are involved with this issue will be stopped. He ordered the Afghan security organs to take serious measures in this regard. The Afghan Home Minister and the Chairman of the Afghan Intelligence told the Afghan Parliament that 4 Afghan Christian individuals and one family have been arrested and they are under investigation, 13 NGOs have been named and suspended, the names of Afghan Christians have been listed, and the Afghan Intelligence agency is trying to arrest them. Two Church organizations have been closed. As we are in contact with our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan, many believers are arrested, our houses are checked by police and intelligence people in Afghanistan, our families and parents (though they are Muslim) are under investigation and even arrested, and all Afghan believers are misplaced.”

The letter-writers,

“(Afghan Christian Community) along with our other Afghan Christian brothers and sisters who are in Afghanistan” request you to:

“Pray for us and for this critical situation, pray for those who are arrested, and those who are under investigation. Please come together and help your Afghan brothers and sisters in Christ, as we are sentenced to death, we are arrested, we are under investigation, the Afghan Government kills us because we believe on Jesus Christ, we know that we should consider it pure joy when we suffer (James 1: 1 -4), and we are enjoying all suffering all joy. But we also know that faith without deeds is useless (James 2: 14 – 17), and this is the time to raise your voice for your brothers and sisters, for our children, for our old parents, for the execution of thousand Afghan believers. “This is the day that all of us should come together and pray, think, help and raise our voices to the International Community, to put pressure on the Afghan Government to stop killing, persecuting and executing Afghan Christians, to give us freedom of religion, to respect and accept us as Afghan Christians.

“We do not know how the whole world and especially the Global Church is silent and closing their eyes, while thousand of their brothers and sisters (Body of Christ) are in pain, facing life danger and death penalty, and are tortured, persecuted and called criminals because they believe in the Truth.

“We need to wake up, get up and speak up today, and to prove it that we are really in concern, and care for our brothers and sisters in Christ, we should help the persecuted part of the body of Christ, for His Glory. If we really believe that Lord Jesus Christ is God, then, He commands us to love Him and to love our neighbor, if our own brothers and sisters, are in pain and suffering, and we are silent and we ignore them and their suffering, then the question is that do we really obey Lord Jesus’ commandment to love Him and our neighbor?”

The letter concludes:

“So, dear brothers and sister (the Body of Christ), we (Afghan Christian Community in New Delhi) on behalf of all Afghan Christians request you to support us by your prayers and practical measures, let us tell the Afghan Government that we are not pagans and infidels, we are not criminals because of our Christian faith, and let us tell them not to sentence us to death.”

Recent Anti-Christian Outcry Highlights ‘Institutionalized Danger’ To Converts In Afghanistan

CSW, a UK-based human rights organization which specializes in religious freedom, working on behalf of those persecuted for their Christian beliefs and promotes religious liberty for all, has expressed its concern at the situation Afghan believers are facing.

In a media release, CSW says it is “gravely concerned that the ongoing rise in threats to the lives of Christians in Afghanistan is evidence of the ‘institutionalized danger’ to converts.

“Recent weeks have seen calls from high-level leaders within the country for the immediate arrest and execution of converts to Christianity. According to sources in the region, over twenty Afghan Christians had been arrested as of last week. Non-Christians known to be associated with Westerners are also being targeted for interrogation.”

CSW says the current situation was triggered in late May when a private television station aired photos of Afghans being baptized. Since that time, protest groups in four provinces have called for the execution of apostates, President Karzai has ordered a full investigation into the matter, two Christian humanitarian aid organizations (NGOs) are under scrutiny.

CSW explained:

“Afghanistan is one of ten Muslim-majority countries officially declared as Islamic nations. In matters with which the Afghan Constitution does not deal explicitly, Islamic Shari’a Law applies. This includes the question of apostasy, for which the death sentence is prescribed. Afghanistan has however ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which protects the individual’s ‘freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice.’”

CSW’s Chief Executive, Mervyn Thomas, said:

“Christian converts in Afghanistan have long faced extreme obstacles and threats but recent events have brought to light the institutionalised nature of the danger. Groups continue to flee the country and an urgent plea for help from Afghan Christians in Delhi has been circulated among Christians around the world. We call upon the international political community to act for the security of Afghan Christians and to urge the Government of Afghanistan to adhere to their obligations under international law.”

Crisis in Afghanistan Prompts Evangelical Response

The Religious Liberty Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA RLC) is also deeply disturbed over the recent developments in Afghanistan, calling for the death of converts from Islam to other religions.

The group says the anti-Christian reaction followed the airing of a controversial television documentary on May 27, 2010, on ‘Afghan Christian Converts’ by a local television station in Afghanistan wherein they revealed the identities of a some supposed Afghan Christian converts.

In a media release, WEA RLC says it is also

“deeply troubled by the statements made by Afghanistan Officials including the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan H.E. Hamid Karzai. It is reported that the President has instructed government officials and the Afghan intelligence agency to take immediate and serious action to prevent further conversions from Islam.”

WEA RLC says the events of the past few weeks where Afghan Officials suspended two church based aid organizations on alleged charges of proselytizing and the crack down on converts from Islam are “further disturbing developments which signify a non tolerant attitude toward religious freedom.”

An Afghan Christian leader who fled to safety, in an appeal to the WEA RLC, stated: “We do not know how the whole world and especially the Global Church is silent and closing their eyes while thousands of their brothers and sisters (Body of Christ) are in pain, facing danger to their lives, death, torture, persecuted and called criminals.”

WEA RLC calls on the worldwide church to pray for Afghanistan that there will be respect for the freedom of religion and that the government of Afghanistan will take a all necessary action to safeguard the lives and the rights of all Afghans and expatriates working in Afghanistan.

“It is a cause of serious concern that the mere accusation of converting from Islam has resulted in such strong and violent reactions by the Afghan authorities and the public. While we recognize the challenges faced by the Afghan government in rebuilding and restoring peace in Afghanistan after decades of war and division, we urge the Afghan government to take urgent and immediate action to protect the lives of all Afghans,” said Godfrey Yogarajah, Executive Director of the WEA RLC.

World Evangelical Alliance is made up of 128 national evangelical alliances located in 7 regions and 104 associate member organizations. The vision of WEA is to extend the Kingdom of God by making disciples of all nations and by Christ-centered transformation within society. WEA exists to foster Christian unity, to provide an identity, voice and platform for the 420 million evangelical Christians worldwide.

_______________________________________________

For further information from Christian Solidarity Worldwide or to arrange interviews please contact Kiri Kankhwende, Press Officer at Christian Solidarity Worldwide on +44 020 8329 0045, email kiri@csw.org.uk or visit www.csw.org.uk.


World Evangelical Alliance Contacts:
Godfrey Yogarajah, Executive Director – Religious Liberty Commission; wearlc@sltnet.lk
Sylvia Soon, Chief of Staff – WEA; sylvia@worldevangelicals.org
Reprinted from Assist News Stories

 
Lake McDonald, Glacier National Park, near Hungry Horse, Montana

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Join us for a truly faith-based Family Bible camp this summer next to the Glacier Mountains in northern Montana.

Mjorud Family Bible Camp, an evangelistic, prayerful, Bible based ministry, came into being during the Charismatic Movement of the 60′s & 70′s, with the first one being in the summer of 1969. Although not affiliated with the AofG, it found a home at Glacier Bible Camp; an Assembly of God Camp ground in Hungry Horse, Montana. There, it grew from a small group of about 70 people to as many as 1,000, with an average attendance of about 600.

Mjorud Camp has operated for years without charge to the hundreds of diverse families who have attended and continues to do so. Families received housing, three full meals a day, solid speakers, prayer, music, sports, hiking, fellowship and rest at no cost. Nightly, the ministry made a request for free will offerings. Every year, by God’s Grace, they met their budget. Yet, there has never been pressure to donate.

Twenty years ago I told Pastor Mjorud that if not for this camp, my family wouldn’t be able to afford going to any family Bible camp. He responded, “That’s why we do it.”

The camp has historically had a strong conviction that we are to believe and proclaim that the whole Bible IS the Word of God, and then to actually DO God’s Word in our daily lives, homes, churches, businesses and governments.  The results have been manifold as many came to the reality of being Born Again and experienced the powerful touch of the Holy Spirit.

After 30 years under Pastor Mjorud’s leadership, he and the rest of those in leadership retired from the camp ministry in 1998, passing the reigns on to new and separate ministry. Pastor Mjorud went to be with our Lord Jesus the next year. Then, 9 years later, some asked about having a 10 Year Reunion. After praying and consulting with many that had previously attended the Camp, several members of the former leadership agreed and the Camp was held in 2008. God richly blessed each of us.

Mjorud Family Bible Camp is scheduled again this summer, August 15-19, in Hungry Horse, Montana. The Family Camp continues to rent the Glacier Bible campground for the week, where there are cabins, lodge’s, camping spaces, a cafeteria, and large sanctuary available, as well as playground, miniature golf, and close proximity to Glacier National Park.

The program format is basically the same as always: classes, music, sports, prayer, etc. for all ages with Holy Spirit anointed speakers and leaders, having liberty in the Spirit for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit to operate – and wonderful fellowship!

Most importantly, it is a chance to pull away from the business of the world and spend precious time in worship, prayer, discipleship, and fellowship. We’ve always come away blessed for having taken the time.

So in the words of the organizers, “Come and renew acquaintances with old friends – and/or make new ones. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors. Expect great things from our wonderful Lord Jesus Christ as we gather to honor, worship, and learn from Him.”

Mjorud camp is Christian, evangelical, and non-denominational, and praying fervently for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit this year.  Visit – http://caicw.org/Mjorud_Camp.html – to find out more or to register.

Looking forward to seeing you there! .

 

.There’s still time to sign up for a truly faith-based Family Bible camp. Mjorud Family Bible Camp, an evangelistic, prayerful, Bible based ministry, has operated for years without charge to the hundreds of diverse families who have attended and continues to do so. Families received housing, three full meals a day, solid speakers, prayer, music, sports, hiking, fellowship and rest at no cost. Nightly, the ministry made a request for free will offerings. Every year, by God’s Grace, they met their budget. Yet, there has never been pressure to donate.

Twenty years ago I told Pastor Mjorud that if not for this camp, my family wouldn’t be able to afford going to any family Bible camp. He responded, “That’s why we do it.”

Pastor Mjorud retired the Family Camp twelve years ago, and two years later, he passed away. But there is interest to continue.

Mjorud Family Bible Camp is scheduled again this summer, August 15-19, in Hungry Horse, Montana. The Family Camp rents the A of G Bible campground for the week, where there are cabins, lodge’s, camping spaces, a cafeteria, and large sanctuary available, as well as playground, miniature golf, and close proximity to Glacier National Park.

Most importantly, it is a chance to pull away from the business of the world and spend precious time in worship, prayer, discipleship, and fellowship. We’ve always come away blessed for having taken the time.

So in the words of the organizers, “Come and renew acquaintances with old friends – and/or make new ones. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors. Expect great things from our wonderful Lord Jesus Christ as we gather to honor, worship, and learn from Him.”

Mjorud camp is Christian, evangelical, and non-denominational, and praying fervently for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit this year. Visit – caicw.org/Mjorud_Camp.html – to register.
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There’s still time to sign up for one last summer Family camp. Mjorud Family Bible Camp, an evangelistic, prayerful, Bible based ministry, has operated for years without charge to the hundreds of diverse families who have attended and continues to do so. Families received housing, three full meals a day, solid speakers, prayer, music, sports, hiking, fellowship and rest at no cost. Nightly, the ministry made a request for free will offerings. There has never been any pressure to donate.

Twenty years ago I told Pastor Mjorud that if not for this camp, my family wouldn’t be able to afford going to any family Bible camp. He responded, “That’s why we do it.”

Pastor Mjorud retired the Family Camp eleven years ago, and two years later, he passed away. But there has been enough interest to continue.

Mjorud Family Bible Camp is scheduled again this summer, August 16-20, in Hungry Horse, Montana. The Family Camp rents the A of G Bible campground for the week, where there are cabins, lodge’s, camping spaces, a cafeteria, and large sanctuary available, as well as playground, miniature golf, and close proximity to Glacier National Park.

So in the words of the organizers, “Come and renew acquaintances with old friends – and/or make new ones. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors. Expect great things from our wonderful Lord Jesus Christ as we gather to honor, worship, and learn from Him.”

Mjorud camp is Christian, evangelical, and non-denominational, and praying fervently for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit this year. Visit www.caicw.org/Family_Bible_Camp.html to register.
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I’m not ready to say, as some do, that President Obama is a Muslim. But I certainly question his commitment to Jesus Christ.

The Apostle John, who walked with Jesus Christ, quotes Jesus; “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 ISV. John also wrote, “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”1 John 5:11-12 NKJV

President Obama stated, “I am a Christian, but my father came from a Kenyan family that includes generations of Muslims.” He said, “As a boy, I spent several years in Indonesia and heard the call of the azaan at the break of dawn and the fall of dusk. As a young man, I worked in Chicago communities where many found dignity and peace in their Muslim faith.”

But a Christian – a disciple of Jesus Christ – who truly believes Jesus when he says he is the only way, truth and life, and that there is no way to the Father other than through Him, knows there is no other way to peace other than following Jesus Christ. To say that there is, with complete rest in one’s heart, would mean that the person doesn’t believe what the Holy Scripture states for fact.

President Obama went on in his speech, saying, “As the Holy Quran tells us, ‘Be conscious of God and speak always the truth.”

But a Christian would never call the Quran Holy. A Christian knows that the Bible alone is God’s Word, and therefore, the only Holy Scripture.

President Obama stated, “And I consider it part of my responsibility as president of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.”

When did it become the responsibility of the President to “fight against negative stereotypes of Islam”? He has never promised to defend Christianity in the same way, and in fact, appears to go out of his way to distance himself from Jesus Christ as much as possible, from refusing to acknowledge the day of prayer to asking Georgetown University, a Catholic Institution, to cover up and hide its inscription “IHS” during his speech there on April 14. Apparently, he and his staff didn’t want Jesus’ name to show up on TV.

How come he has never offered to fight against negative stereotypes of Christianity? Well, that would involve a daily rebuke of CNN, the ACLU, Wahington Post, the AP, the New York Times, MSNBC, ABC, and too many liberal organizations to mention. Much too time consuming.

Obama’s grasp of and respect for the Holy Bible – the Scriptures from which he told us last year that he was seeking God’s truth – also seems non-existent.

Instead, during his mid-east tour he quotes a Muslim story that the Bible does not support at all.

President Obama said, “…when Jerusalem is a secure and lasting home for Jews and Christians and Muslims and a place for all of the children of Abraham to mingle peacefully together as in the story of Isra — as in the story of Isra, when Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed — peace be upon them — joined in prayer.”

The Bible holds no record of such an event. Interestingly, neither does the Quran. There is even disagreement within the Muslim community whether the event happened at all.

Barack Obama’s Muslim background was taboo to talk about during the campaign. All evidence of his anti-Israel position was hidden. Obama’s friendship with PLO member Rashid Khalidi was important to his world view, but the LA Times refused to release the video proving that this relationship helped mold Obama’s views regarding Israel.

I can’t tell what’s really in President Obama’s heart. I can only discern from the outside fruit. I don’t believe that attending a Christian church necessarily makes one a Christian anymore than sitting in a garage makes one a car. From what I see, it appears that his years at Rev. Wright’s church were more about networking with potential constituents and furthering his political career than it was about giving one’s heart over to Jesus Christ and becoming His disciple. That’s why it was so easy for him to walk away when it appeared that the church was threatening his political career. Outside of South Chicago, it was no longer an asset. It was now a liability.
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