by CFI Field Staff on December 18, 2012
As we find ourselves celebrating another holiday season – a season traditionally filled with friends, family, and good times – CFI encourages you to remember one important word.
Eternity.
This Christmas, as we remember the miraculous birth of Christ, please also remember that the support you give to our persecuted brethren around the world will have an eternal impact on the lives of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of believers who suffer in Christ’s name.
CFI’s many programs – our medical clinics, schools, Bible distribution, and other humanitarian aid – not only… Read more
by CFI Field Staff on December 7, 2012
Birgitta Almby, a 70-year-old Christian charity worker in Pakistan, is in critical condition after being shot by unknown assailants earlier this week.
Almby was heading home from the Full Gospel Assemblies office where she worked in Lahore when she was shot in the chest by two men, believed to be Muslim fundamentalists, as they rode past her on a motorcycle. According to local sources, Almby’s assailants had apparently been following her to her Model Town home before opening fire.
Almby suffered damage to the lungs and jugular vein, and has… Read more
by CFI Field Staff on October 1, 2012
Nine Christian families have fled from their homes in the city of Rafah, Egypt, after receiving death threats from Islamic extremists.
Muslims reportedly distributed flyers throughout the town, demanding that local Christians leave the area of face violent assaults on their homes, businesses, and churches. Although the threats were reported to local authorities, no action was taken to investigate the matter or heighten security in the city.
The threats became reality when, on September 24, masked gunmen on motorcycles opened fire on a Christian shop. According to a local church… Read more
by CFI Field Staff on September 14, 2012
CFI’s Egyptian co-worker has reported that danger is on the rise for Coptic Christians in Egypt, in the aftermath of the U.S. embassy attack that took place on September 11.
The attack, which was reportedly in retaliation for an anti-Islamic film created by an Israeli-American filmmaker that blasphemed the prophet Mohammed, was carried out this week in conjunction with a similar attack that occurred at the U.S. embassy in Libya. Four people, including Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other American workers, were killed in the bombing attack in Libya.
“This… Read more
by CFI Field Staff on September 13, 2012
Christian Freedom International (CFI), a Michigan-based organization dedicated to assisting persecuted Christians around the world, is expressing concern that Middle Eastern Christians will feel extended repercussions of the recent bombings in Libya and Egypt that killed four American workers, including U.S. Ambassador to Libya J. Chris Stevens.
The bombings came in retaliation for the anti-Islamic film “Innocence of Muslims,” a 14-minute video created by an Israeli-American filmmaker that allegedly blasphemes the prophet Mohammed. While four deaths occurred at the Libyan embassy on Tuesday, no casualties were reported following the attack… Read more
by CFI Field Staff on September 6, 2012
Winner Lynn has come a long way this year.
When the young Burma native and former refugee arrived in the United States several years ago to become a member of the Jacobson family, he had no real idea of what awaited him in his new life in America. Now, after having completed his first year as a student at Pensacola Christian College (PCC) in Pensacola, Florida, his vision for the future is as clear — and bright — as ever.
“I have gotten used to everything, and I’m not afraid… Read more
by CFI Field Staff on August 16, 2012
CFI-sponsored children in Orissa, India are doing remarkably well despite daily hardships, according to an encouraging new report. “Praise God, they are okay and doing well in their studies and Bible education,” says Karma, CFI’s contact in Orissa. “This Sunday, one of our CFI kids prayed…and she saw a great vision about CFI’s work and team. We are going to be blessed.”
The children recently participated in a CFI Sports Day, as well as a celebration of India’s Independence Day on August 15, which was marked with games, a picnic,… Read more
by CFI Field Staff on
In 1998, Nazier Akhtar had a dream.
From his home in Pakistan, this faithful Christian man dreamed of a life somewhere else — a vision of life in beautiful Thailand, though he never knew exactly how that vision would come to pass.
Incredibly, that nearly 15-year-old dream has come true for Nazier and his entire family.
Against all odds, this invaluable CFI co-worker and prayer warrior now lives and works among the persecuted in Thailand, and has dedicated his life to becoming a “voice for the voiceless.”
Watch and learn… Read more
by CFI Field Staff on August 13, 2012
Christian Freedom International (CFI), a Michigan-based ministry that supports persecuted Christians around the world, is one of the first selected nonprofit organizations to participate in the Giving Library, an innovative project being launched by the Laura and John Arnold Foundation.
The Library, which has been officially released today, is an online resource for philanthropists that seek detailed information about 501(c)(3) charities and ways to support their causes. To help donors make informed decisions about strategic, charitable giving, the Library features video interviews with key leaders of participating organizations, as well… Read more
by CFI Field Staff on August 2, 2012
CFI has received word from a source in Bangladesh regarding the recent kidnapping of numerous children from the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The youth were taken from their parents with the promise that they would be sent away for missionary studies; however, it was later discovered that they were being held in various madrasas, Islamic religious schools, in Dhaka and Ganzipur. CFI’s source, a Bangladeshi-based human rights organization that has requested to remain unidentified, was able to rehabilitate 11 of the children who managed to escape from their captors.
The organization… Read more
by CFI Field Staff on
New reports from Egypt indicate that the trends of assault and kidnapping against the Christian community are far from subsiding.
On Friday, July 27, Muslim thugs broke into the home of Mounir Eskander in Qalyoub City, wounding him and his three sons in the ensuing attack. All three men are currently hospitalized.
On Saturday, July 28, a Muslim mob abducted 24-year-old Maryam Fareed Saleh and her 3-year-old child, Beshoy, from a province in Upper Egypt. On the same day, 17-year-old Sandy Naeem Nady was kidnapped by several armed men, while… Read more
by CFI Field Staff on July 24, 2012
CFI has received reported of some of the latest persecution, which includes physical assaults, property seizures, and arson, against the Christian community in Egypt.
Last week, a Christian man, Hany Abdo Stephanos, was attacked by armed Muslims in the province of Giza. The men forced Stephanos and his family from their home, then seized their land and looted Stephanos’ store.
In another incident, a Christian lawyer, Magda Najib, was attacked by Muslim extremists, who destroyed her car and set her home on fire before attempting to murder her.
Several Christian… Read more
by CFI Field Staff on July 17, 2012
A CFI-supported church in Orissa, India continues to grow, despite the ongoing persecution and hardship suffered by its members. “By God’s grace, we arranged one more water baptism,” said CFI’s Orissa co-worker in a recent report. “Thank God day by day, the believers for His kingdom…are increasing. Of course, it’s hard and many problems rise up when we plan for and arrange for baptism programs, but thank God He is able and makes everything possible for His people. Keep praying for these new believers and newcomers to the Church.”
CFI’s… Read more
by CFI Field Staff on July 16, 2012
Christian Freedom International (CFI), a Michigan-based nonprofit organization that assists persecuted Christians around the world, is voicing concerns about the Melinda Gates Family Planning Summit that was recently held in London, England.
The summit, which was hosted by the UN Population Fund and the International Planned Parenthood Federation in addition to The Gates Foundation, was reportedly organized for the purpose of raising more than $4.3 billion for family planning services for women in Africa and Southeast Asia. But opponents of the summit, including pro-life organizations and the human rights group… Read more
by CFI Field Staff on July 11, 2012
Thoelay Tana is in trouble today.
This promising young Bible school student, one of CFI’s finest, has been checked into a hospital in Chiang Mai, after initially complaining of painful lumps in his neck. When doctors at a local clinic were unable to determine the source of the problem, Thoelay was simply given some aspirin for the pain and sent home. Since then, however, the lumps have continued to grow, and when the pain spread into his lower back and kidney area, Thoelay was finally checked into the hospital.
Tests… Read more
