URGENT: Volunteers needed for OCMC Mission Team to Indonesia!

Volunteers Urgently Needed for OCMC Teaching Team to Indonesia at the End of June!

If you've been reading this blog, and wondering what you can do to share the Gospel, expand the mission, and reach Muslims for Christ, this may be the Lord opening a door for you to walk through!

From the official OCMC Announcement:

On June 28th, OCMC will be sending a team of Orthodox volunteers to teach the Faith in Medan, Indonesia.

This teaching is needed by the Orthodox faithful, especially the youth, in this predominately Muslim country, and volunteers are needed for this team now more than ever.

Please consider applying if you are able to give your time to help strengthen the Faith of Orthodox children in Indonesia by visiting http://www.ocmc.org, e-mailing teams@ocmc.org, or by calling 1-877-463-6784 ext. 141.

The Indonesian Jihad on Christian Churches

In the Aceh region of Indonesia, "Islamic leaders continued issuing messages and text messages saying, 'We will not stop hunting Christians and burning churches. Christians are Allah’s enemies!'”

Pray for the Indonesian Orthodox Mission, and help support them here.

The Indonesian Jihad on Christian Churches
by Raymond Ibrahim, Gatestone Institute, November 11, 2015

The remains of a church in the Aceh region of Indonesia, still on fire, after hundreds of Muslims attacked it on October 13, 2015. (Image source: CCTV video screenshot)

In compliance with Islamic demands, Indonesian authorities in the Aceh region have started to tear down Christian churches. Their move comes after Muslim mobs rampaged and attacked churches. At least one person was killed; thousands of Christians were displaced.

On Friday, October 9, after being fired up during mosque sermons, hundreds of Muslims marched to the local authority’s office and demanded that all unregistered churches in Aceh be closed. Imams issued text messages spurring Muslims from other areas to rise up against churches and call for their demolition.

On Monday, October 12, authorities facilitated a meeting with Islamic leaders and agreed to demolish 10 unregistered churches over the course of two weeks.

Apparently this was not fast enough to meet Muslim demands for immediate action. On the following day, a mob of approximately 700 Muslims, some armed with axes and machetes, torched a local church, even though it was not on the list of churches agreed upon for demolition.

The Muslim mob then moved on to a second church, an act that led to violent clashes. One person, believed to be a Christian, died after being shot in the head. Several were injured, as Christians tried to defend their church against the armed mob.

Approximately 8,000 Christians were displaced; many fled to bordering provinces. Their fears were justified: Islamic leaders continued issuing messages and text messages saying, “We will not stop hunting Christians and burning churches. Christians are Allah’s enemies!”

Instead of punishing those who incited violence and took the law into their own hands by torching and attacking churches, local authorities demolished three churches (a Catholic mission station and two Protestant churches) on October 19. In the coming days, seven more churches are set to be demolished; in the coming months and years, dozens more.

Authorities had originally requested of church leaders to demolish their own churches. “How can we do that?” asked Paima Berutu, one of the church leaders: “It is impossible [for us to take it down] … Some of us watched [the demolition] from afar, man and women. It was painful.”

Christian Churches Demolished in Indonesia to Appease Mob of Enraged Muslims

Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim country, and ranks in the Top 50 worst countries for persecution of Christians on Open Doors' 2015 World Watch List. Based on the below, it might move into the top 20 in next year's ranking.

See also: 

• Christian Community in Indonesia Asking For Prayers After Muslim Extremists Torch Churches, Leaving One Dead
• Indonesia: Muslims expel thousands of Christians from a Christian Scout Camp because it is Ramadan
• Indonesia: Muslims screaming “Allahu akbar” attack Roman Catholic Church during Sunday Mass
• Indonesia Destroying Churches as Islamist Influence Grows

Christian Churches Demolished in Indonesia to Appease Mob of Enraged Muslims

The Christian Post, via Pravoslavie — October 20, 2015

Authorities in the Aceh province of Indonesia began tearing down a number of Christian churches on Monday at the demand of hardline Muslims, as religious tensions have risen in the province in recent weeks.

According to Reuters, government workers in the Aceh Singkil district used axes and sledgehammers to dismantle several small Christian churches after many hardline Muslims in the area demanded that at least 10 Christian churches be demolished.

BBC reports that over 200 police officers and military personnel protected government workers as they destroyed the church buildings on the grounds that the structures lacked the proper building permits.

Fr. Daniel Byantoro and the Future of Orthodoxy in Indonesia

"Despite the presence of Islam in Indonesia, there is great hope for Orthodoxy there... We are seeing in the world today a rising culture of hatred and death, and the only way to defeat it is with the culture of love and life—that is, the culture of the Gospel, the culture of Orthodoxy."

See also these feature articles:

• Orthodox Mission Profile: Archimandrite Daniel Bambang Dwi Byantoro and the Indonesian Mission
• Orthodoxy in Indonesia: An Interview with Archimandrite Daniel Bambang Dwi Byantoro
• THE KAABA AND JACOB’S PILLOW: A Discussion on Christian-Islamic Relations with Fr. Daniel Byantoro
• Indonesian Orthodox Mission thrives despite Muslim Death Threats and Persecution

Fr. Daniel Byantoro is also featured in my book, Facing Islam: What the Ancient Church has to say about the Religion of Muhammad.

via 'I Believe in the Future of Orthodoxy in Indonesia' — A Conversation with Archimandrite Daniel (Byantoro)
Pravoslavie — June 23, 2015 (Thanks to Bill)

Fr. Daniel at Sretensky Monastery, Moscow

On Monday June 15, Archimandrite Daniel Byantoro arrived in Moscow with his fellow priest Fr. Alexios. Fr. Daniel is the first Indonesian convert to Orthodoxy and the founder and heart of the struggling Orthodox Church there. He came to Russia for several days to visit holy sites, hierarchs and friends, and to spread the word of his mission to his spiritual brothers and sisters in Russia. On Wednesday he sat down for an interview with Pravoslavie.ru in which he spoke about his country and its Christian history.

At a public lecture the night before given at the Fund of Slavic Culture Fr. Daniel spoke more about his own conversion experience. Raised in an entirely Islamic village, all that he knew of Christianity came from the Koran: as Christians worship three Gods, turned a prophet into God and made God weak, unable to save His prophet from crucifixion, they are going to hell. Islam denies that Christ is the Son of God; they deny the Trinity as well as the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, and therefore, as Fr. Daniel noted, they deny the entirety of Christian teaching (see Koran 5:72, 73, 98:6 which Fr. Daniel referenced easily from memory).

Indonesia enacts Sharia Law for Public Schools and Universities

• Latest measure is part of authorities’ “efforts to implement sharia law fully.” 
• Sharia law rulings apply to all Muslims AND non-Muslims. 
• The Sharia movement led to demolition of 20 Christian churches in 2012 alone.


Related: Indonesian Orthodox Mission thrives despite Muslim Death Threats and Persecution

by THOMAS D. WILLIAMS, PH.D.

Breitbart News — 6 May 6, 2015

Proponents of stricter Islamic regulations in Indonesia have scored another victory with the passage of sharia measures mandating the separation of sexes in educational institutions and certain social situations.

On May 5, the North Aceh Parliament imposed a strict separation between the sexes in educational institutions, including middle and high schools, colleges and universities. The separation extends to both classroom and extracurricular activities on school property and will go into effect in a year.

The president of the North Aceh province, Fauzan Hamzah, said that the latest measure is part of authorities’ “efforts to implement sharia law fully.”

Drawing its inspiration directly from Islamic law, the new measures mandate the prohibition of mixed classes in the whole territory. The new qanun (local law) enacted Tuesday will require a substantial reorganization of educational practices in the region.

Indonesian Orthodox Mission thrives despite Muslim Death Threats and Persecution

"The whole territory was occupied by angry Moslems, many of whom were armed with knives. They were shouting that they would destroy the church and kill the priest, and they were demanding that we hand him over to them...

"...Despite some difficulties, I must say that the Lord protects the Orthodox, and in the past years there have not been any incidents where our churches have been blown up, or our brothers and sisters massacred..."  — Fr. George Maximov

_______

'IF JESUS IS GOD, LET MY DAUGHTER BE ALIVE!'

Notes about Indonesian Orthodoxy

by Priest George Maximov, Pravoslavie — April 23, 2015

See more articles by Fr. George Maximov...

What is the Crown Princess of Bali doing in an Orthodox church, why do Russians prefer to confess to Indonesians, and why Orthodoxy is a blessing for Indonesia — these and other themes are discussed in the Indonesian notes of Fr. George Maximov.

Jakarta, Indonesia.

The first thing that struck me upon landing in Jakarta was how undeveloped the airport was. You didn't have the familiar electronic information boards—you had to walk up to someone who works there and ask them which baggage belt they were unloading luggage from such-and-such a flight on. I was also amazed at the Indonesian practice of gluing large photographs of themselves onto their carryalls and suitcases, with their telephone number written underneath—apparently they are easier to find in case of loss. But when these suitcases with the portraits of their owners are moving one after the other on the baggage belt, it looks pretty funny.

The city itself is large, but by comparison with, for example, Bangkok, it doesn't produce such a good impression.

I had occasion to serve an all-night vigil in St. Thomas's Church in Jakarta (ROCOR). The rector was an Indonesian, Fr. Boris. When I saw him, I thought that he was hardly over 20, and the thought flashed through my mind: “How could they have ordained such a young man?” It turned out that he was really 38 years old. Asians tend to look younger than their age, but Fr. Boris broke all records in this regard.

Inside St. Thomas Church

An Indigenous Mission

I found Indonesian Orthodoxy very touching, both in this church and in another that I served in. The priests, the servers, the choir, and the parishioners are all Indonesians, mostly former Moslems. No 'white' missionary travelled to them or preached—these Indonesians converted themselves, preach to others themselves, serve themselves, and try to lead a Christian life themselves. St. Nicholas of Japan's preaching was very well organized, so that for the most part he was the only Russian missionary, while the Japanese converts—catechizers and priests—carried out the business of preaching; he only guided them and set them on the right course. It was thought through splendidly. And in Indonesia we see something even more amazing: where there is not one single missionary come from the outside at all to direct and supervise, but where everything is done by the Indonesians themselves.

Indonesia: Muslims screaming “Allahu akbar” attack Roman Catholic Church during Sunday Mass

"The incident coincides with the start of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and prayer..." 

...and the Month of Jihad.

Yogyakarta, to cries of ‘Allah is great’ unknown assailants attack Sacred Heart parish

by Mathias Hariyadi, AsiaNews, June 30, 2014 (via Jihad Watch)

Jakarta (AsiaNews) – Another Catholic community is now under attack in Indonesia in a climate of increasing cases of violence and abuse against religious minorities.

The Parish of the Sacred Heart in Pugeran, in the South of Yogyakarta was targeted early yesterday morning by three different groups of unknown assailants on motorcycles. The attack took place during the first morning Mass: the authors, dressed in black with their faces covered by masks, broke through the parish gates shouting “Allah is great”.

The incident coincides with the start of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and prayer which officially began today in Indonesia, although it started on June 28th in most Muslim countries.

According to reports from Fr. Priya Pr, Sacred Heart parish priest, the unknown assailants targeted some objects and posters placed by members of the local Catholic community, most of which are only displayed on the weekend during the celebrations. The reasons behind the attack remain unknown; the authorities have tightened controls around the Christian place of worship, in fear of more attacks.

U.S. Becomes Chief Enabler of Christian Persecution: Muslim Persecution of Christians, January 2014

by Raymond Ibrahim, Gatestone Institute — May 14, 2014

Human rights organization Open Doors published its 2014 World Watch List in January, highlighting and ranking the top 50 nations that persecute Christians.  The overwhelming majority of countries making the list—and nine of the top ten worst offenders—are Muslim, and include nations from among America’s allies (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait) and its contenders (Iran); from among economically rich nations (Qatar) and poor nations (Somalia and Yemen); from among “Islamic republic” nations (Afghanistan), “democracies” (Iraq), and “moderate” nations (Malaysia and Indonesia).

The report also indicates that every Muslim nation that the U.S. has helped “liberate,” including in the context of the “Arab Spring,” has become significantly worse for Christians and other minorities. Previously moderate Syria is now ranked the third worst nation in the world to be Christian, Iraq fourth, Afghanistan fifth, and Libya 13th. All four receive the worst designation in the ranking process: “extreme persecution.”

Three of these countries—Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya—were “liberated” in part thanks to U.S. forces, while in the fourth, Syria, the U.S. is actively sponsoring “freedom fighters” against the regime, many of whom have been responsible for any number of atrocities—including massacres, beheadings, and the crucifixion of Christians and others.

Despite this track record of interfering in Islamic nations only for the human rights of minorities to plummet, and despite the fact that Syria has gotten dramatically worse for Christian minorities, Secretary of State John Kerry declared in January that, if only Bashar Assad goes away, “I believe that a peace can protect all of the minorities: Druze, Christian, Isma‘ilis, Alawites—all of them can be protected, and you can have a pluralistic Syria, in which minority rights of all people are protected.”

The same was predicted of Iraq over a decade ago, yet today, well more than half of the Christians are either dead or fled, after years of constant attacks on their churches and persons once Arab dictator Saddam Hussein was ousted.

Libya offers a more recent precedent.  Since U.S.-backed “rebels” overthrew Qaddafi, Christians—including Americans—have been tortured and killed (some for refusing to convert), their churches bombed, and their nuns threatened.

January’s roundup of Muslim persecution of Christians around the world includes (but is not limited to) the following accounts, listed by theme and country in alphabetical order, not necessarily according to severity.

Fr Daniel Byantoro: Christ, Our True 'Qurban'

Pascha is the ideal time to post this powerful message from Fr Daniel, encapsulating the heart of the Gospel not only for Christians, but for Muslims whom the Lord is drawing to Himself:

"Holy Week and Pascha are when the mystery of the healing and restoration of our nature is manifested... Hence we are made near to God through the Sacrifice of Christ; Christ is our true Qurban."

by Fr Daniel Byantoro — Friends of Indonesia
Originally published January 13, 2012

In the Feast of Sacrifice pilgrimage, Muslims perform rituals at and around their holiest shrine, the Ka’ba, in Mecca. The ritual itself reminds them of what they believe to be the reenactment of Abraham’s near Sacrifice of his son (Ishmael not Isaac according to Muslims) which God replaced with an animal sacrifice. At the conclusion of their rituals, they slaughter animal sacrifices, called “Qurban,” to be distributed to the poor.

This word “Qurban” was also used by the Jews during the time of Christ to signify anything that is sacrificed to God, as it is said:” “But you say, `If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me [is] Corban” (that is, a gift to God) (Mark 7:11).

This word is also used by the Syriac Orthodox Christians for the Divine Liturgy/Holy Communion in the form of “Holy Qurbana,” and is also used by the Coptic Orthodox Christians for the “prosphora” bread, which they simply called it as “Qurban”.

In itself the word “Corban/Qurban” is derived from the word “Qarab/Qarib” which means “to be near/to be close”. Therefore a Qurban is a sacrifice that makes the sacrificer closer to God; it is a way to unite with God.

Indonesia: Armed Muslim mob blocks construction of church

by Robert Spencer, Jihad Watch — Feb 21, 2014

Islamic law forbids Christians to build new churches or repair old ones, so that their communities will be in a perpetual state of decline and the hegemony of Islam assured. That is what is behind this action in Indonesia and others like it, and is why “the process for building a church in Indonesia – Catholic or Protestant – is quite complicated and may take five to ten years to obtain all permits required by law.”

As part of that process, “permission must be obtained from a number of residents in the area where the building is to be constructed and the local Group for Interfaith Dialogue.” It’s a bitter irony that the Interfaith Dialogue on which Western Christian leaders have placed so much hope and in which they have invested so much time and money is used in Indonesia to deny Christians equal rights.

“South Sumatra, hundreds of Islamists block the construction of a Protestant church,” by Mathias Hariyadi for Asia News, February 21:

Jakarta (AsiaNews) – Late yesterday afternoon, hundreds of armed men, led by local Muslim leaders, stormed and forcibly occupied a plot of land owned by the Indonesian Christian community Huria Kristen Batak Protestan (HKBP). The incident occurred in the village of Talang Kelapa , located in the sub-district of Alang -alang Lebar in the regency of Palembang, South Sumatra province. The raid was motivated by an attempt to build a place of worship. In fact, on February 17 the ceremony of laying the first stone was held, amid protests from local residents. A decision that has created discontent among Muslims, who organized a task force to occupy the land – two acres in all – and to send a strong message to HKBP leaders: churches are not allowed in the area.

John Kerry tours Giant Indonesian Mosque...

... panders to Muslims by spouting 'Same God' and 'Abrahamic Faith' Heresies

Someone please send Mr. Kerry copies of Mark Durie's books, Which God? and The Third Choice. 

While the U.S. Secretary of State is openly endorsing Islam in Indonesia, Muslims in Indonesia (and the world over) are openly persecuting Christians, often with government support. (Regarding Indonesia, see here, here and here for starters.) 

Mr. Kerry is also calling for urgent action on climate change on his Asian trip, claiming it to be a "weapon of mass destruction." It's a shame he and President Obama don't have any sense of urgency concerning Muslim warfare against Christians in Syria, Iraq, Iran, Nigeria, Central African Republic, Sudan and elsewhere. Instead, they support the Muslim jihad groups and are complicit in the persecution of Christians. These are very ominous signs... 


via John Kerry Tours Giant Mosque, Meets with Sharia Students
Creeping Sharia — Feb 18, 2014

via Kerry Tours Giant Mosque In Indonesia – Carbonated.TV. h/t TROP

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry spent part of his Sunday in his stocking feet at an Indonesian mosque, at one point beating a huge drum used to call Muslims to prayer.

Kerry’s visit to the modern Istiqlal Mosque in central Jakarta, said to be the largest mosque in Southeast Asia with a capacity of 130,000, was designed to demonstrate his respect for Islam as he visited the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation.

Kerry spent about 20 minutes touring the mosque, chatting briefly with women studying Islamic law and admiring the blue ceiling of its dome.

Having removed his shoes in keeping with Islamic custom, Kerry at one point was shown a gigantic, skin-covered drum which rests sideways on the mosque’s floor and stood several feet taller than his head.

After witnessing a demonstration by the Grand Imam, identified by the State Department as K.H. Ali Mustafa Yaqub, Kerry then used a club to beat the drum, which is used to call Muslims to prayer.

“It has been a special honour to visit this remarkable place of worship,” Kerry said in a handwritten note to memorialize his visit. “We are all bound to one God and the Abrahamic faiths tie us together in love for our fellow man and honour for the same God.”

Indonesian jihadists dreaming of a bloody Christmas

via Jihad Watch — 12/12/2013

"President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono did not name the groups" that were threatening the Christians -- because he knew that if he did name them, they would take that in itself as a new offense, and possibly target him as well. The whole world is cowed and terrified in the face of the intimidation from these groups.

"Indonesia warns of possibly violent Christmas" 

from Reuters, December 12 (thanks to Twostellas):

(Reuters) - Indonesia's president has ordered police to step up security around churches over the Christmas holidays following reports of possible attacks.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono did not name the groups, but it was a clear reference to Islamic extremists. Though major terror groups have largely been crushed following a series of deadly attacks in the early 2000s, small Muslim extremist cells still operate.

Indonesia's President Expresses Concern Over Religious Intolerance in His Country

This report drives home the warnings Fr Daniel Byantoro of the Indonesian Orthodox Christian Mission has been sounding for many years. Wherever Islam grows to 10% or more of the population, persecution of non-Muslims is the result. Indonesia is a Muslim majority nation, and like all Muslim nations, over the past decade has seen a sharp increase in persecution of Christians (and other minorities). For more info, see the Friends of Indonesia website here.

Indonesia's President Expresses Concern Over Religious Intolerance in His Country ICC Note: The president of the world's most populous Muslim country has recently expressed concern over the growing religious intolerance that has spread across Indonesia. According to a recent report by Human Rights Watch, violent incidents of persecution against Indonesia's religious minorities, including Christians, has been on the rise since 2012. Indonesia's president has said he was concerned and will take steps to insure the religious freedom of all people living in Indonesia.  8/19/2013 Indonesia — ICC (The Irrawaddy) - Indonesia’s President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he was concerned by growing religious intolerance in the country with world’s largest Muslim population, which many analysts say his administration has failed to contain. Indonesia has recently seen a series of increasingly violent attacks on religious minorities like Christians, Shia Muslims and members of Ahmadiyah, a small Islamic sect which is considered heretical by mainstream Muslims.

The Fate of Indonesia

This is a brief follow-up to Raymond Ibrahim's article, Buddhist Common Sense vs. Western Nonsense.

Fr Daniel Byantoro is a convert to Orthodox Christianity from Islam, and founder of the Indonesian Orthodox Mission. In his endorsement for my book, Facing Islam, he provides a short history of how Indonesia became an Islamic country.  Myanmar's Buddhist monks are certainly keenly aware of the fate of Indonesia:

For thousands of years my country (Indonesia) was a Hindu Buddhist kingdom.  The last Hindu king was kind enough to give a tax exempt property for the first Muslim missionary to live and to preach his religion. 

Slowly the followers of the new religion were growing, and after they became so strong the kingdom was attacked, those who refused to become Muslims had to flee for their life to the neighboring island of Bali or to a high mountain of Tengger, where they have been able to keep their religion until now. 

Slowly from the Hindu Buddhist Kingdom, Indonesia became the largest Islamic country in the world. 

If there is any lesson to be learnt by Americans at all, the history of my country is worth pondering upon. We are not hate mongering, bigoted people; rather, we are freedom loving, democracy loving and human loving people. We just don’t want this freedom and democracy to be taken away from us by our ignorance and misguided ‘political correctness’, and the pretension of tolerance. 

—Archimandrite Daniel Byantoro, Orthodox Christian Convert from Islam, and founder of the Indonesian Orthodox Mission.

Indonesia: Muslims Force Closure of 17 Churches

AsiaNews — h/t Jihad Watch and The Religion of Peace

Jakarta (AsiaNews) - The Islamist pressures against Christian communities in Aceh "have become intolerable. Within a year, with non-existent legal pretexts, 17 house churches have been closed: these also include Catholic chapels. The islamization of the province continues , just as promised by the governor Abdullah. " It is the sense of the Annual Report published by IndonesianChristian.org, Protestant organization which monitors the situation of the Christian community in Indonesia.