East & South East Asia
Countries Included in East & South East Asia:
Religious Club Closures in Schools Touch Nerve in Malaysia
In church building arson attack trial, one suspect acquitted.
By Jasmine Kay
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, August 11 (Compass Direct News) – More closures of non-Muslim religious clubs in Malaysian schools, including Christian fellowships, have surfaced since the first incident was reported on July 12.
Loh Seng Kok, central committee member of the Malaysian Chinese Association, said at a July 23 press conference that the situation was “getting worse” and that the initial incident at Klang High School was not an “isolated issue.”
Loh based his assessment on complaints received by various religious society representatives. Present with Loh at the press conference were Vice-President of the Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia Loh Yit Phing, President of the Subang Jaya Buddhist Association Chim Siew Choon and Executive Secretary of the Christian Federation of Malaysia Tan Kong Beng.
The Malaysian Insider online news agency reported that Chin Fook Khiang, a parent, disclosed that the Buddhist Society and Christian Fellowship in SMK SS17 in Subang Jaya, Selangor were ordered to stop activities in January 2009 – and that it was the second time the clubs were ordered to close by education authorities since 2005.
The religious clubs were closed even though they had been in operation since before 2000, excluding them from the need for official approval. According to Circular Bill 20/2000, non-Muslim religious clubs formed after education authorities issued the circular in 2000 must obtain their approval before they are allowed. Clubs that existed before the circular was issued do not require approval.
Malaysiakini news agency on July 23 cited an unnamed retired teacher who described the situation as “very serious,” to the extent that some teachers had been transferred because they were active in Christian fellowship activities in their schools.
Loh called for a fairer treatment of non-Muslim associations in the co-curricular activities listed in the co-curriculum management guidelines issued to schools. The guidelines only allow for Islamic religious societies to operate unconditionally without requiring prior approval from the education authorities.
Several political leaders, including veteran opposition leader Lim Kit Siang, have called on authorities to revoke outdated directives and circulars that contravene the Federal Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion.
Public Outcry
Reports of non-Muslim religious club closures first surfaced when The Sun reported on July 12 that three non-Muslim religious student groups, including the Christian Union at Klang High School, were ordered closed by the Selangor education department last month.
Following the report, the Rev. Dr. Thomas Philips, president of the Malaysian Consultative Council for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST), issued a strongly worded statement seeking “immediate confirmation” and “prompt explanation” from authorities.
“Needless to say,” Phillips added, “if indeed there had been such a directive to close non-Muslim religious societies in schools or to not permit the setting up of such societies in schools, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of National Unity should not be in doubt that MCCBCHST shall protest such a policy with the strongest possible vehemence.”
Following public outcry over the closure, Alimuddin Dom, director-general of education, reportedly said that the directive was a “misunderstanding” by the Selangor Education Department and ordered a reinstatement of the affected religious clubs.
Malaysia’s population is about 60 percent Muslim, 19 percent Buddhist and 9 percent Christian. About 6 percent are Hindu, with 2.6 percent of the population adhering to Confucianism, Taoism and other traditional Chinese religions.
Church Attack Trial
Reports of the religious club closures came amid the trial of three men who have been charged with arson in the attack on Metro Tabernacle church’s building earlier this year.
Brothers Raja Muhammad Faizal Raja Ibrahim and Raja Muhammad Idzham Raja Ibrahim, along with their friend Azuwan Shah Ahmad, were charged with committing mischief by torching the church building at 11:50 p.m. on Jan. 7. Since the trial started on July 6, however, the court has acquitted Azuwan due to lack of evidence.
Both brothers deny burning the church building, though they admit to witnessing the incident. They claim they left the scene of the burning to attend a barbeque at a friend’s house. Raja Muhammad Faizal claims he sustained burns from starting a fire at the barbeque, while his brother Raja Muhammad Idzham says he was injured in the course of helping his brother take off his flaming shirt on the occasion.
The trial is ongoing.
Metro Tabernacle Church was among several churches that came under attack in January following a controversial court ruling that allowed the Herald, a Catholic weekly, to use the word “Allah” in the multilingual publication. The Herald had challenged the ban imposed by the Home Ministry.
The court decision angered some Muslims in the country who claim the term is exclusive to Islam.
Following the high court decision, the Home Ministry filed an appeal in February and won a stay, preventing the weekly from using the word until the case was addressed in the court of appeal. To date there has been no indication when the case will be heard.
On Aug. 1, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein was widely reported as saying his predecessor, Syed Hamid Albar, should not have banned the word “Allah” from being used by the Roman Catholic Church, and that the decision will continue to haunt his ministry for a very long time.
Iris March Newsletter - Rolland Baker
Pressing on to the Best Yet!
Heidi and I are back in Pemba after traveling since January on an intense ministry schedule that has taken us all over Asia, to Europe and across Africa. It has been a thrill to see the power of God fall on hungry believers all over the world. The Body of Christ is getting more and more desperate for God, willing to pay any price to experience His presence and companionship. There is no pleasure like walking and talking with Him, leaning on Him alone for every possible care and desire of our hearts.
How much more of Him do we want? He is able and willing to pour out His Spirit without measure. May we never lose our appetite for more righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit! All these are found only in our magnificent Savior, with all the intensity and fire of the author of life Himself!
This is not the time to be hindered by doubts, divisions and politics in the church. We don't have room for worrying about titles, positions, credits and recognition. We can't be bothered with concerns over support and publicity. We don't know how to engineer and program revival. We are dependent on our God like humble little children. What we have already seen and heard has raised our expectations to new heights. He is able to keep us, and finish what He began in us. We can trust Him with our hearts, our spirits, our health, anything that has to do with our well-being.
His power among us knows no limits. He baptizes us with His Spirit, and all things are possible when that happens. Deep conviction and repentance, sobs of love and gratitude, tongues and prophecy, waves of heat, purest peace and refreshment, super hunger for the Word of God, visions and visitation, revelation, healing, floods of heavenly joy, insatiable longing, wrenching intercession, singing in the Spirit, angels all around, weakness under the tangible, heavy weight of His Glory, a sense of wonder and awe at His presence...
We love His gifts, and all the touches and demonstrations of His love. They all propel us toward that ineffable goal written of by Christian mystics for centuries: union with God! "But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him" (1 Cor. 6:17). When fruits of character are joined by gifts of power, truly our lives reflect His glory and presence. We need His love in our hearts. We also need His anointing to accomplish anything. We need both Word and Spirit.
We are still learning to go lower still, which is the only way forward. And we are still learning to stop for the one, in the middle of a sea of need. We are still learning what it means to be a friend of God, and value fellowship with Him and each other above all else. We are not professional, high-power, efficient missionary machines. We measure the quality of our lives by the depth of our relationships. We are learning to love...
Asia
We can't talk about all the things we saw and did, and places we went, but we can say that we sense a rising tide of desire for God that is opening the way to revival that will increasingly transform the nations of Asia. Ministry opportunity is huge. The multitudes are ready. The time is ripe for harvest. Time after time we saw crowds of the hungry and desperate surge forward to be touched and healed by the power of the Holy Spirit. Churches were incredibly generous to us in helping with the needs of the poor.
We were especially encouraged by churches in Singapore and Korea, with whom we have developed close relationships over the years. They were so fervent, responsive and eager to help. We also had a terrific time in Taiwan, where I spent so many years growing up in school. This is Taiwan's hour. There is a stirring and rising up that is fresh and exciting. We took part in a major conference in the Taipei Arena that was an historic milestone for the church. May such hunger and seeking after God be met with more and more outpourings of the Spirit.
Back to Pemba
We made it back in time for our monthly party on the beach for all our children with birthdays in January. Again they were thrilled to race and play, kicking soccer balls and doing flips in the sand. We celebrated with cake and Coke, and lots of presents. They love to pray and worship too, and so we are hugely grateful to Jesus for transforming and enriching their lives thoroughly in every way.
We also had time to revisit Londo, where we are pioneering ministry to a village that can only be reached by boat. Again they greeted our arrival on the beach with excited jumping, waving and laughter. Transformation has come to their isolated habitat. Now we have a school/church there, solar Bibles, a teacher, schoolbooks and pens for the children, and most importantly, a knowledge of the Lord! It was a joy to meet with them, and teach and pray with them far into the night. On the floor, in the light of one dim bulb, powered by our generator, we felt the rich presence of the Lord invade their joyous hearts. Later, drifting off to sleep in prayer on our rope bed in our very own mud-grass hut, we considered how much wealth Jesus has brought to this simple, bare, primitive village. Every child and believer here is just as important as any mega-achieving, influential personality in the West.
It was great to wake up in the morning and emerge to beautiful skies, a gorgeous ocean, and a village full of people who have become family. Simply relating to them in the Lord is the stuff of the Kingdom! They of course also need the power of God in every way, and every day, so we continue to pray for their extreme needs. In Jesus we will keep ministering to them in word and action, and also to others in our over one thousand churches among this last people group to be reached in Mozambique.
On to Sudan
I made my first and very significant visit to our base in Yei, Sudan, led by our young, energetic, anointed and very happy Michele Perry, director of Iris South Sudan. Yei is not much more than a collection of dirt roads and shacks (see photos!), and the south of Sudan is barely functional, severely diminished by many years of war, but to us it is an exciting frontier that is showing what only God can do.
In the bush near Yei, Michele and her missionary friends and national helpers have built an attractive children's village and primary school that is our leading Iris ministry in southern Sudan so far. Through faith in God they have persevered though hardships, threats and dangers of all kinds, and now have a center full of the love and presence of God. Here, as in Mozambique, needy children have been gathered into the Father's heart, and now are filled and thrilled with the life of God. Their brilliant smiles, laughter, worship and play are a portent of the life of heaven from a child's point of view. We keep learning how to be as humble and believing as a child...
We held a conference for Iris pastors and leaders from around southern Sudan, and any who wanted to join us in seeking the Lord together. Their eyes were opened in a fresh way to the fire and presence of the Holy Spirit, and they widened their hearts to receive all the teaching we could bring them in a few days. Ernest, broken crying out to God on the floor was combined with an upbeat taste of the joy of the Lord. Intensity, freedom and abandonment began to replace programmed order in a way they had not seen before. Knowledge of the head became knowledge of the heart... To top it off, God multiplied food when a hundred unexpected children showed up at a lunch. Everyone had plenty, and a lot was left over!
Religious legalism, restrictive tradition and doctrinal confusion have crept into traditional churches over the years, even in the bush, and nominal Christianity is often the norm. Righteousness and the purifying fire of God must overcome corruption and profiteering in the church all over Africa. By example leaders need to resist strongly and categorically the witchcraft that is so prevalent, and even mixed deceitfully into the church. In this conference we took up the challenge to pursue the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
We are proud of our Iris family in Sudan, and will count it a privilege to encourage them all the more as we pursue revival all over Africa.
Pouring on the fire, love and joy back in Pemba
Heidi was ministering with great grace, favor and the presence of the Lord in Switzerland and France while I was in Sudan. We returned to Pemba and thoroughly enjoyed ministering again to our own family here in our "hometown." It is a rich experience to watch local Mozambican mamas with their babies and brightly-colored clothes pray their hearts out at the altar along with our missionaries, staff and many children. Jesus knows just exactly how to touch each one with what they need at the moment. We will not be satisfied until every one we encounter is saved, filled and healed!
Just yesterday we dedicated yet another new village church near us along the ocean. It was a rough ride over a very rutted dirt road in our Land Rover, but we arrived in the village to find an excited band of believers waiting eagerly for us. They were so proud of their new mud and thatch building. From the youngest to the oldest they all celebrated and praised God with bright, laughing faces. We prayed the Lord's richest blessing on them, dedicating the building, the pastor, the people and the whole village to the service of God. This a significant breakthrough, because earlier this village was very opposed to the gospel and Heidi was stoned there. After a deaf man heard they dropped their rocks and slowly opened their hearts to the Lord Jesus. And so the family of God is growing in this whole province, one simple church at a time.
After the dedication, we all began filing down a footpath to the beach for some baptisms in the ocean. It was a brilliant African day, with dazzling cloud formations spanning deep blue sky over an even deeper blue and very warm ocean. As our faithful onlookers sang and danced on the sand, one by one our new believers waded out to Heidi and our Mozambican pastors and were baptized. With upraised arms and shouts of joy they came out of the water, consciences washed clean in the blood of the Lamb. New creatures, created in Christ Jesus for good works! Overcomers, heirs of the promises, destined for glory and eternal life! Heidi said the water was hotter than a bath, and she got stung by many little sea creatures, but it was worth it!
Our stirred and contented party returned through bushes and trees back to the village, and everyone feasted on beans and rice for lunch, hot and appetizing by now. Spiritually and physically fed, the village is ready to press on in Jesus. Remoteness and poverty will not marginalize this resting place of the Holy Spirit. May "the least of these" receive the best...
Thanks
For thirty years Heidi and I have depended on God to bring us support without our pressuring anyone. And all these years we have stood amazed by His faithfulness and your sensitivity and tangible love. We thank you yet again for believing in what we are doing in God, and for continuing to give, encourage and help in every way possible, no matter what is happening or how often you hear from us.
God is expanding Iris Ministries in response to exponentially growing opportunities around the world. And we are thinking not just of evangelism, spiritual revival and child care, but also development and economic transformation. Child sponsorship, micro-investment, business startups, well drilling and so many other things are part of our larger outlook, and offer new opportunities for service. As a new website is being developed we want to present these things to you in a more accessible way. Please write for details.
Bless you for your huge encouragement! We are looking for what may be credited to your account!
Much love in Jesus,
Rolland and Heidi
Iris Ministries, Inc.
Pemba, Mozambique
Five More Christian Leaders Sentenced
Arbitrary administrative decision sends church leaders to re-education labor camp.
LOS ANGELES, December 3 (CDN) — Bypassing the court system, China arbitrarily sentenced five more leaders of the Fushan Church in Linfen City, Shanxi Province, on Monday (Nov. 30), this time to re-education labor camps for two years, according to China Aid Association (CAA).
A Chinese court last week sentenced five house church leaders to three to seven years in prison after they were arrested en route to Beijing to file a complaint about an attack on their church, according to the advocacy organization. The five leaders sentenced to labor camps this week were accused of “gathering people to disturb the public order” after they organized a prayer rally of 1,000 people the day after military police and others attacked their church members and building on Sept. 13.
In what CAA termed “an arbitrary administrative sentence by the Public Security Bureau enacted so the leaders would not be ‘required’ to go through the court and prosecution system,” China delivered the verdicts to church leaders Li Shuangping, Yang Hongzhen, Yang Caizhen (wife of Pastor Yang Xuan, who was sentenced to three years of prison on Nov. 25), Gao Qin (also known as Gao Fuqin), and Zhao Guoai.
“Yang Caizhen was seen being beaten severely during an interrogation,” CAA said in a press statement. “Having had one of her front teeth knocked out during a beating, and fasting and praying during her detention, Ms. Yang is reported to look very fragile.”
The church leaders, the latter four women, were arrested on Nov. 11. They had helped to organize a prayer rally after the Sept. 13 attack on the Fushan Church branch congregation in Linfen, when some 400 uniformed police and civilians bearing shovels, batons, bricks, iron hooks and other weapons had beaten members of the church who were sleeping at the nearly finished factory building used as a worship site.
With several Fushan County officials involved in the attack, more than 30 Christians were seriously injured among the 100 Christians who were hurt, CAA reported. According to the Epoch Times, a church member’s relative obtained a license to build the shoe factory and was allowing the group to meet there, as the church was growing too large to meet in homes and the building could hold up to 400 people.
As Chinese authorities had kept the families of Gao Qin and Zhao Guoai under tight surveillance, CAA relied on church sources to confirm their sentences to labor camp. The organization said family members had confirmed the sentences of the other three.
“Linfen house church Christians continue to be monitored by Chinese military police, including neighboring Golden Lampstand Church (Jin Dongtai) in Linfen City,” CAA stated.
The organization said authorities violated Chinese law by refusing to provide family members of the prisoners with copies of documents notifying them of the sentences.
All 10 of the Fushan Church leaders plan to appeal their sentences, according to CAA.
“To arbitrarily send five innocent citizens to labor camps is in direct violation against the international human rights covenants and norms the Chinese government has signed and even ratified,” said CAA President Bob Fu.
The five pastors previously sentenced were arrested on Sept. 25 without a warrant, according to CAA. Yang Rongli was sent to prison for seven years for “illegally occupying farming land” and “disturbing transportation order by gathering masses.”
She and four other pastors were sentenced on Wednesday (Nov. 25) at the People’s Court of Raodu district, Linfen City, Shanxi Province. Yang’s husband, Wang Xiaoguang, was handed a sentence of three years on the charge of “illegally occupying farming land.” Cui Jiaxing was sentenced to four and half years, and Yang Xuan to three and half years, on the same charge; Zhang Huamei received four years of prison for “disturbing transportation order by gathering masses.”
The pastors were arrested by Shanxi Province officers of the Public Security Bureau (PSB). Fu characterized their trial as a farce, saying the case demonstrated a deteriorating state of religious freedom in China.
Yang Rongli and Wang Xiaoguang had led the Fushan Church, part of a 50,000-strong house church network in Linfen and the surrounding villages, for more than 30 years.
The Beijing PSB has misrepresented the demolition and attack on the Linfen branch church as a response to a “violent uprising,” Fu said.
Source: www.compassdirect.org
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