Hello and welcome to Elim church swanley, you're joining myself, Reverend Ben Cooper for today's podcast. Yeah. Good morning world, we thank you so much for gathering around the mics and listening to these podcasts that we are putting together here with Sandra Robson, as we just be still and know that our God is alive. And all is well, we are in the persecuted church. It's that Thursday morning, we are looking and seeing what's happening. We're on our catch up time. We're going to go back and we're going to recap base great to have Sandra with us today, as we just look and as we just see what's happening through Barnabas. And we're going to go into open doors as well into that ministry to great ministries that we're looking at today. Last week, we were just perusing through in a bit of a catch up and everything that went on. But we just want to say good morning and thank you to every listener across the globe that is sharing this sort of stuff. Can we ask that you push this out more we must get this out. It's really critical church leaders that are listening and congregation members and anyone that's just interested in in the world of the suffering church in the persecuted church around the world. Could we actually just push the share button there just to share it out a bit more. But Good morning, my god bless you and strengthen you wherever you are. And we are so pleased that you're listening, you're partnering with us. And we are getting God's word out and especially within the UK, to have Sandra with us talking week after week studying looking being involved in for the years as well of really lifting us up. We thank God for Transworld radio and Barnabas and open doors release international and some other ones that are out there for the great ministry work that they do and we lift them all up and we support them all. But this morning, we are just looking into Barnabas and we may just go into the world watch list 2021 through open doors and we might just have a quick look at that Sandra might be led to that but Good morning and welcome Sandra How are you?
Sandra Robson:I'm all right. Thank you
Reverend Ben Cooper:You had a busy busy weekend
Sandra Robson:I have I've got a busy schedule
Reverend Ben Cooper:yeah teaching teaching away well Sandra you know is so good that you have been called to this you know we thank God for your life and everything about you. May God bless you and your your teaching career. And what you do as a supply teacher and everything that goes along with that, may God bless you and strengthen you. But Sandra, we are starting to see aren't we are very clear, heavier press than we've ever seen before. In the world of persecution, yes,
Sandra Robson:looking at the map, yes, it's increasing the number of places that are also starting to be colored in on the world watch list is increasing. And I'm sure you know, when the new one comes out, we're going to see a lot more as we were just talking about, particularly in the African continent, which I'm going to be looking at today. And we last time we touched on the eight kinds of pressure, which Barnabas had been looking at in their article, because we were saying that this is a time of year when they really they have a whole time of thinking about persecuted church and getting people to pray, have a special week to lift up brothers and sisters and to say what's going on and encourage people to get together to pray and support. And so we looked at the government policies the top down pressure and the military and oppression in Maya Mar and the things in China and we looked at India and saying about how anti conversion laws or increasing violence there. And we that how in Muslim majority countries and you know, there's a lot of pressure on Christians particularly on those who come from Muslim faith to become believers. And they're really, you know, really persecuted and we talked about the different countries that that's carrying in so I don't know Do you want me to run through that list again? Or do you know
Reverend Ben Cooper:what Sandra whatever you bring to the table whatever you feel that you know, this is unscripted. This Yeah, we are being led by by God. We're literally going by
Sandra Robson:overload people with information. And I've been looking at this again and praying and saying, Lord, what is it you really want me to highlight because there are many things but I've really been, you know, paring it down to give you an overview. And then during the last couple of weeks, I've also been involved with zoom and online evenings with the difference organizations so I've been involved in their prayer evenings and I've got permission from from that and there's been a lot of There are testimonies and things we've talked about. And they've then talked more and said what the latest is how those stories progressed as well. And so, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Afghanistan, Modi's Somaliland, Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Iran, Kurdistan could no kaiju. Go Judas, Stan, apologies, I do find it tricky to pronounce these Yeah, I do practice it. But I still find it difficult to take jacket, Stan, and Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, and these are all places where Muslims are putting pressure on believers not to believe there's violence. And as you know, there's things in place by, you know, to stop people, violent, believing we know about penal codes in Iran, and all sorts of things, to try and prevent the church from growing. And though because they're concerned because it is growing. And that's why and that's why we refuse to remember why there's persecution, because Jesus said there would be and, you know, we know that the enemy doesn't like what's going on. He doesn't want people to know the truth. He wants them to be kept in darkness. And we've got the, you know, the Buddhists putting on pressure in Sri Lanka. And we know that there's been bomb attack, sadly there. But we know that the people in authority are really condemning this. And that's really good. We know that the President is really, you know, saying this is wrong. And this is terrorism. So that that is good. But it's sad that there are people who are doing that, right. So today, I wanted to look at community pressures, I think we started to look at that. Last time, I'm going to finish off doing that. And then we're going to look at the the rise of terrorism around, you know, particularly in Africa to get a bit of an understanding about that. So and the community pressures for Pakistan are the false accusations to do with the blasphemy law. And sadly, nurses have been accused and attacked and that's very sad because they're wanting to care, obviously for the sick. And you know, and they've got a real role and a lot of them are Christians because they believe that it's, you know, vocation that just wants Yeah. Cold Calling. Yes. So in spring attacks in January, April and May this year were batches it in Pakistan in different places in Pakistan. Can that
Reverend Ben Cooper:that's that's sad, isn't it? Yeah. It's very sad, got nurses out there that are given their life to save another human being and then they're coming under attack. This is an area for prayer. This is an area to lift up. So that case,
Sandra Robson:that was in Lahore, and it happened, and fast salad salad bad. That's f a ISALABAD. For salad, bad salad. Yes. And whoever attacked by their colleagues after being accused of blasphemy, and the same happened to nurses at Karachi hospital, as well.
Reverend Ben Cooper:So let's clear this up. So this is under the blasphemy
Sandra Robson:law. Yeah, they've been accused of Yeah, yeah. And, and apparently, some Muslims occupied the staffs hospital chapel as a protest. So this false accusation going on. Often it's to settle grip personal grudges. And at the moment, there are 20 Christians being held on death row on blasphemy charges. And since nine, we know in 1990, at least 15 Christians have been murdered because of blasphemy allegations have come due for their trial. So that's, that's very, very sad to hear. and India, we're talking about Hindus how they're disrupting particularly prayer meetings. So we were saying how they must think this is really important that prayer, you know, they feel to particularly disrupt prayer meetings and they're assaulting believers and pressurizing landlords to stop them meeting and buildings, taking away the buildings and basically intimidating Christians.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Yeah, they must think it's important my son Yeah.
Sandra Robson:Particularly. Things
Reverend Ben Cooper:Yeah. I know how Prayer yeah so we need to put that before we need we need to put that before the Lord in prayer here within the UK that the Hindus in India are being very disruptive to prayer meetings because they know that there's there's power in prayer you know the power of when the church comes together and praise God God moves moves it's great yeah a bit of a smile on my face they shouldn't be but come on Lord this this is this is good nose This is good nose. Yeah. And we
Sandra Robson:pray that when these Hindus come that they will sense the presence of the Holy God's presence in no sense god yeah, and that it will freeze them I pray that it will just like you know, it was so be so powerful. So we pray for our brothers and sisters to continue praying and to not give up and to to be bold, producing I know they are being and I thank the Lord for the way he got open doors to share those videos, how it turned things around. So the things that the extremists were sending out, say, look how good we are. See what we're doing to the Christians actually gave evidence to show firsthand what's going on. So that
Reverend Ben Cooper:so the enemy set themselves up. Yes, exactly. A biblical area again, isn't it when you look what happened, you know, the enemy was overplaying their hand, taking the videos, putting them out there, and then suddenly, we've got the evidence that, that you're actually putting yourself Yeah, in the firing line for what you're doing.
Sandra Robson:Yeah, that so the British government have got all those because loads are sent in all that information that open doors, sent. Now Egypt's So again, we have an improving situation for the church. Oh, it's improving, it is improving. But there's always a little bit of a burst. And that's why they wanted it highlighted, praise God that the President al Sisi and the government have very supportive of Christian, my minorities. Those have been brought in to enable church buildings to be built and to be open and registered. And so people can gather, and they express the the President and others have expressed outrage and sympathy after anti christian violence. And they're giving support to victims and bringing cases to court.
Reverend Ben Cooper:The government, the Egyptian Government is supporting Yeah. Houses of what house of worship? Yeah, supporting, getting them open getting a movement. Yes, this is very good news.
Sandra Robson:Yes, they say as a thing of stability, and they want to have that freedom. So but however, in the grass roots, and this causes the problem, there are Muslim extremists that are embedded in the community that are putting pressure on people. And it's it's that that's causing the attacks on churches and businesses. So although the government is you know, being positive towards Christians and seeing their value, then the Muslims have been that these extremist have another agenda and are trying to undermine that and are and as we know, sadly, I did talk about this, that there were some Muslim brothers. Rather, there was some Christian brothers who owned a shop, and they were attacked by two Muslim brothers. And one of them died of his injuries. And now those two Muslim brothers have been charged with the murder of rameses bulus.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Should they have been broken? They have I had been broken Yes. To task.
Sandra Robson:Yes, but I haven't heard what Okay, now, what's happened since. But anyway, they have been charged now with this vicious assault. So that's an encouraging move. Because before, as we said that, you know, the police would take the, the perpetrators side of caution. Yeah. And they they weren't listening to what had happened. You know, but now they are dealing with it. So that's,
Reverend Ben Cooper:that's good news. Encouraging very good news,
Sandra Robson:and Islamist in Libya. This isn't so good. They're forcibly converting Christians and they're being sold in modern day slavery markets.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Really, really, Christians are being sold as slaves. Yes,
Sandra Robson:they're being converted. They're being forced to convert Islam, and then they are being sold. Yes. So be aware of that. So that's your model. You know, to get again, with the Was it human trafficking and all?
Reverend Ben Cooper:Yeah, human exploitation and all that that goes along with everything, Father. Lord, we need some we need some more. So on a good side in Egypt, there's a there's a there's a nice improvement. There's some good news and then drop back into Libya. And it feels like he's gone back. Further. There really? Yeah. On the map. They're out there, aren't they? Yeah. So we're about to they sitting at Number Number four, number four here, Senate number four, wowee. Look at that.
Sandra Robson:Yeah. And there's also violence against refugees in that area, from West Africa and Eritrea. So you know, if, you know, they find out you're a Christian refugee, then you can make your home life hard. And, you know, but we know that many are coming to the Lord in these refugee camps as well. And we're going to see that when we look at some other things, then another Praise God. So it's a very mixed picture.
Reverend Ben Cooper:It's a very
Sandra Robson:louse. Praise God in 2019. I didn't I didn't know this. The Communist government passed a law of freedom of worship, and organize seminars across the country, so everyone would know about it. Whereabouts is it? That's Laos? Wow.
Reverend Ben Cooper:That's good news.
Sandra Robson:Yeah, Laos. That's 22 on the world watch list. Yeah. So that happened. Again, however, although these things are happening, just like in Sudan, there is now a move for freedom of religion. It's getting to the grassroots is getting where, you know, yes, though, overall, people are saying, Yes, we put it in practice. And we need to pray for hearts to change that village chiefs and local officials in remote areas don't continue to order people to harass and persecute Christians. So although the government has said, Yep, you know, you should be able to worship freely. And they're a communist government. And the village priests and village chiefs are saying, No, you know, yeah, Christianity is not what we do.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Try about our culture, it doesn't fit. So there's a there's quite a strong. It's a stronghold, isn't it? Yeah. So where the government's are flexing the government's are being more open to it. Yeah. When you get down into the villages, get down to the tribes, you know, the tribal areas of that. Yeah, we can we can see that. That's probably a very strong resistance. Yeah. to Christianity
Sandra Robson:because they see that as identity and everything coming under
Reverend Ben Cooper:culture is what we've been birthed in. Yes, everything. Yeah. So
Sandra Robson:this is, so that's why it's a community pressure. Yes. So although things are working out well, in the overalls, yeah. And it's then getting down to community level, and it's one on one. And it's, you know, it's just the beautiful witness of Christians there and praying for them, and blessing them. And you know, that that those parts will be changed, you know, as they see Christ. So that's that. Now the big one, obviously, that you're aware of, here we go happening, which is a big, big pressure is terrorism. Yeah. So it's hard
Reverend Ben Cooper:to read this. This is very, yeah, very deep. This is heavy, heavy push.
Sandra Robson:So the in April 2021, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, you SCIRF if you're looking it up, said the is a Christian genocide if the government can't protect Christians. Wow. So that's what they are saying now. So that's April. They said if the if the government can't protests, protect Christians, then you know, yeah, that's, that's what they're, they're saying. Very sad isn't Yes, it is. And, you know, but again, we know the spiritual things going on. The terrorist groups operating in Nigeria, you've got Booker around. They started in 2002 in northeast Nigeria, their day to day aim is to establish a caliphate. And we know what I have talked about that what the caliphate is that they want to build, you know, a center that assuring Isa, so in this state, yeah, Islamic State Islamic State, that's what they want. And that's what they're so there is a spiritual, you know significance how, why and why it's all increasing
Reverend Ben Cooper:very much so
Sandra Robson:it's interesting that their leader died in May this year, but the followers remain
Reverend Ben Cooper:followers remain Yeah, that was a big, big story, wasn't it? Maybe God is working, maybe he's gonna break this down.
Sandra Robson:And then the other group that are working in a Nigeria or Islamic State, West Africa province, and they are an offshoot of buco around and they are armed. And then we've got jihadists and we've got Fulani herdsmen who are also armed.
Reverend Ben Cooper:So it's a very big, very big issue. very strong, very powerful. But God, God is greater than any enemy. And it's an area of prayer. It's an area where sometimes the human mind can't go to because it's a sir, absolutely ghastly, the things that go on in that world of terrorism, and they will stop for nothing. So we need to, we really need to see God's face and his presence, and ask him to really to move on these children, the families, the women, the fathers, the Christians, and the scores and, and everything there is out of control. And we pray that the government's will, will will be strong, God will strengthen the governments and God will strengthen the believers that are going through these atrocities. Yeah.
Sandra Robson:So was northern Nigeria that was particularly being hit. And then it's moved to the central belt. Now it's moving towards the border. Right. And they are concerned, because there's not been anything because as you know, people think of Nigeria as being one
Reverend Ben Cooper:is divided up, isn't there? Yeah, the the
Sandra Robson:South aren't really very much in touch with what's going on going on what was going on in the north. But they are now because it's coming on to they're coming onto them onto them onto the border. And of course, it's spilling out into the other areas, as we're going to say. And one thing again, that this the global terrorism index report, that is part of that other one set are saying that there's been a shift, and is activity has moved from the Middle East to Africa, leading to a surge in terrorism in many countries in the region. And so we
Reverend Ben Cooper:don't like that word search, Lord, we don't want that word, surge. Lord, Father, we want them to back up in the name of Jesus. We do not want to search. Protect the borders. Come, Lord, holy spirit. Yes, Andre. So this is a very deep press, isn't it? It is this.
Sandra Robson:But we will show the other size. And you know, why their concerns? That I mean, there's, you know, there's issues in Burkina Faso in car, that Central African Republic DRC. That was what was the Congo. That's the democratic Congo, in Kenya, in Mozambique, Mali, and Niger. So we're going to have a little look at Mali,
Reverend Ben Cooper:Santa Monica, what's going on in terms of an idea was so much information sound was talking about information earlier, information is good. information is needed. And Sandra, please don't worry about overload because this is never an overload. You know, God is always just dropping in what he needs to drop in. But we're all Well, so what we're going into there, Sandra,
Sandra Robson:I did have something on Molly but a moment.
Reverend Ben Cooper:And we're awash. We're awash with info
Sandra Robson:locate it. I'll come I'll come back to that's not fine. I've got some an asterisk there. So I must have had something in your spirit that I was going to mention. Anyway. Yes. So we know this is going on. But we know that God is working through this. We know there are many underground churches, we know that there are a lot, you know, the people, you know, sadly, who had lost their lives, lots of pastors. They were involved in work, where they were, you know, Muslims. coming to Christ, lots of Muslims have come to Christ. And obviously, again, the enemy is pushing back. There's different ways that this happens. And you know, and yeah, so
Reverend Ben Cooper:the enemy is very strategic. The enemy knows how to move military style. You've only got a look at Goliath, they were trained for war, there was birth for war. Napoleon, the giants of old, you know, the Old Testament, they was led very, very powerfully by demonic forces. They was they was giants, they was fierce warriors. So, there is the same for today, you know, there is the war is, is a very dangerous, a very bleak area, you know, a mix that spiritually, it is very highly infused and very powerful. Ah, we got it back. Hey,
Sandra Robson:it's not it's not unfortunate. It's not a very good piece of information, but it's just something I didn't know about. And I, you know, thought, a no just to increase our awareness. A senior Christian leader in Mali reported in April 2021, that more than 50 Christians, men, women children, has been brutally killed by the isthmus. And, you know, I say more than that, you know, what they what they do? Yeah. And in central Mali, seven Christians were abducted by Islam, this between November 220, and 2021, which is a new thing. And they were forced to speak in Arabic and recite Islamic prayers in an effort by their captors to force them to deny Christ. And snow. Yes. So that's something you know, pray Marley for our brothers and sisters and Marley.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Okay, so there we have it, you got song. And then you see your most assigned
Sandra Robson:class a lot. And they're just coming in to jehedis are coming in on motorcycles. So they're there, and then they're gone
Reverend Ben Cooper:in very quick, easy to disappear on a motorbike? Yeah,
Sandra Robson:so that was something I just wanted to just to bring to the table to the table. So just just pause about that a moment. And just think of all our brothers and sisters and pray for wisdom for the for the governments, that they won't bury their heads in the sand. We pray for those who are colluding as well, because unfortunately, we know there is some confusion. Yeah. And that they will sue people as people. And that the laws yet we'll do his work in that in these places. And that he will have his way, Praise the Lord. And as it comes nearer to the border with the south, that the South will wake up with lots and lots of Christians in southern Nigeria. And so we do pray and we pray for the governments are including our governments, and to put pressure on you know, the Nigerians, they have information, they have things. So far, the but we know that prayers are what the people need. And we send our prayers to them. We send our prayers to the widows Lord, we send our prayers to the churches who've lost pastors, we send prayers. Our prayers of support, Lord to build those churches, again, have been torn down. We pray for those that have had to run into the bushes to escape. We pray for those who have been had to run several times, though, that they have been uprooted so many times because their their villages have been attacked on multiple occasions. We pray for those who've lost their children. We pray for those whose children are in captivity. Now. We pray for those girls and boys that have been kidnapped Lord, we pray that their Christian witness would shine through that they would encourage one another that they would, that that their captors, captors would see the love of Christ in them, though, that you would have your way Lord, we thank you for the trauma centers that have been set up, Lord, we thank you for the wonderful work that is going on. We thank you for the way you're bringing different Christians together to support one another Lord, we thank you, Lord, for the wonderful testimonies. We've heard from the Centers Lord, how you have healed and restored and in that that has become a testimony and others have Strength and encouragement and even come to faith through that. We don't we just see, you know what the world wants to see. But you have a greater bigger plan, Lord. So in the darkness, we know the light is shining greater and greater. And we thank you for all those pastors who are continuing to stand for you and Shepherd their flocks in these really, really difficult times. And we just stand with them. And we say, we are with you. We are one we are the body of Christ together, Lord. And I thank you, though, that I can just say these things, and help people to know what's going on and law where we can support and encourage where we can give that we will, we will give generously to help our brothers and sisters Lord me, thank you, Lord, for those who are putting their lives at risk, to find information to support Lord, in these areas in Nigeria, and in Africa, Lord, and we pray that many of these fighters Lord will turn to you and we pray that the money sources will be stopped, Lord, because so many are poor, and they're looking for work. And they get caught into doing these atrocities and kidnappings and all these things, Lord, we know many of them don't want to be doing it Lord, and they get caught up into it. Lord, we pray for the young people, Lord, and we pray also for forgiveness for the God that there would be for that they would be able to keep you from forgiving. As you know, you say that you forgave much and and they say that too. So Lord, I just bring all that to you, Lord. In Jesus name, amen.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Amen. Thank you. You know, Sandra, it's been a good morning. It's been a good morning, we've, we've traveled, you know, you've brought some fantastic stuff to the table. And we just pray for our listeners out there, you know, and never forget in as well. That great radio Transworld radio for the information that they have, and then you can get out so we've been in Barnabas, we've just very briefly very just skipped on to open doors on the map we've had there, we've got anything else to wrap this up, Sondra?
Sandra Robson:Well, we'll carry on with a few things next time. But it's really to say, you know, there are so many good projects that are going on. So in the face of all this, as Barnabas say, you know, God is faithful, I mean, in Pakistan, helping people, but the brick kill people, they're being released from slavery, and, you know, their children have been able to go to school. And, you know, as I said, Those trauma centers set up for, you know, people who are dealing with, you know, terrorism and violence. And, you know, food aid is getting through to these people. God is making a way where there seems to be no way and that's the thing and it says, you know that good news is God is building his church because he said, so he said, he will, amen. And he who began a good work, he will carry it on till completion. And as we remember, you know what it says on here Actually, I noticed it has that two Corinthians four, eight to 10. We are afflicted in in every way, but not crushed, perplexed, but not driven to despair. persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed, always carrying the body, the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies,
Reverend Ben Cooper:man, praise God. Sandra, we thank you so much. May God bless you for the rest of the day and the rest of your life Sondra and everybody listening we thank God for what you brought to the tables and was we spoken as we've been still in the presence of God in the studio, we thank you so much for sharing everything that we do here. We're in the world of the persecuted church. And we do ask you again as I started out at the very beginning of this podcast, please can you share this out concerning that persecuted church, please, please push this as much as you can. Thank God will for your lives. We will see you next week. My God strengthen you and bless you and keep lifting up these nations that we've mentioned. Pray for the government, pray for the persecuted and pray for those that are bringing in the atrocities to the believers. We got to keep praying prayer is changing things prayer is a is moving very clearly and very powerfully. There is good news. We must emphasize that this morning. There is good news out there. Thank you so much for listening. We'll catch you soon. Stay blessed and stay in the Word of God in Jesus name, Amen.
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