(dramatic music)
- [George] This week,on Christian World News:
blocked from refugee campsand denied basic help.
The persecution of Christianswho fled Syria's civil war
and the Western nations thatare doing nothing about it.
- [Wendy] And symbol of reconciliation
in a nation divided by religious violence.
Two women, one Christian, one Muslim,
work to bring peace to Nigeria.
- Plus, smartphones and Bible apps.
How the technology revolution is fueling
the spread of the gospeland the translation
of God's Word into thousands of languages.
(dramatic music)
Hello, everyone, welcome tothis special awesome edition
of Christian WorldNews, I'm George Thomas.
- Well, it is now!- It is now.
- If you declared it so.- (snaps) I have.
- Well, I'm Wendy Griffith,thanks for being with us.
Well, the UN is blockingChristian refugees
from their camps in the Middle East
and, while thousands of Muslimsare sent to Western nations,
only a trickle ofChristians are getting out.
- Now one former archbishopis going to court
to force the American andBritish governments to help.
Dale Hurd reports from London.
- A UN refugee camp in Jordan.
Christian Syrian refugeestell us they have been blocked
by Muslim UN officialsfrom living in these camps
or getting any help whatsoever.
One of them, Hasan, a Syrianconvert to Christianity,
told us in a phone call:
"Muslim UN camp officialsknew that we were Muslims
"who became Christiansand they dealt with us
"with persecution and mockery.
"They didn't let us into the office.
"They ignored our request."
Hasan and his family are now in hiding,
afraid that they will be arrested
by Jordanian police or even killed.
There is clear evidence of discrimination
by the United NationsRefugee Agency in Jordan
against Christians, andit's part of the reason
that, while tens ofthousands of Syrian Muslim
war refugees have been settled
in the United States and Britain,
less than 1% have been Christian.
And the two governments thatcould stop this persecution
of Christian refugees, the US and Britain,
have done little to nothing about it.
Christian refugees in the Middle East
have been persecuted, ignored,
and finally forgottenby Western governments,
but a former Archbishop ofCanterbury is saying "enough".
Lord George Carey has announced he's suing
Britain's home office, alleging that
politically correct officials have been
institutionally biasedagainst Christian refugees.
He also wants to find outwhy, out of the 60,000
Syrian war refugees accepted
into the United Statesand Britain in 2014,
almost none were Christian.
Lord Carey's attorney, PaulDiamond, explains the case.
- And so you have this absurd situation
that a scheme is set upto help Syrian refugees,
and the people most in need,
Christians who have been genocided,
they can't even get into theUN camps to get the food.
The Muslim UN guards willblock you getting in.
They'll laugh at you andmock you and fret on you.
- [Dale] Another Syrian refugee, Timothy,
who told us he became a Christian
after seeing Jesus in a dream,
said he was also blocked from entering
the refugee camp by Muslim UN officials.
- [Timothy] All of theUnited Nations, most of them,
99%, they are Muslims,
and they were treating us as enemies.
- Sunni Muslim officialshave blocked the way,
laughed at these people, fretted them,
said you shouldn't have converted,
you're an idiot for converting,you get what you get,
words to that effect.
- [Dale] Lord Careysays, by doing nothing,
Western governments arecomplicit in what he calls
the steady crucifixion ofMiddle East Christians.
- No simple measures were taken by both
British and the American government.
It'd be simple just toopen up a refugee camp
for religious minorities,
for Christians, Yazidis,whatever they are,
and they'd be safe, but no one does that.
- [Dale] Christianrefugees who have managed
to make it to Western countries
are increasingly beingdeported back to Muslim nations
where they face grave danger.
Swedish attorney GabrielDonner, who represents
Christian asylum seekers, says Sweden
is now deporting up to1/3 of Christian refugees
back to Muslim nations,
where they're likely tobe imprisoned or killed.
One of those Christian refugees
now facing imminent deportation
is Iman Amir-Ourang from Iran,
shown here with members ofhis church in a foot washing.
He says Swedish officialseither did not understand
or care about the evidenceof his Christian faith.
- Many atheists, they've beenin Sweden or are from Sweden,
so they can't believe insomebody that believes in God.
Just because they don'tbelieve in our Lord,
they don't trust anybody elseto believe in the Lord either.
- They don't understandthe message in the Bible.
It's just completely alien to them.
- [Dale] President Trumptold CBN News in 2017
that Christian refugeeswould be given a priority,
but Muslim governments officially classify
Christians as security threats,
causing their asylum applications
to Western nations to be rejected.
The UN's refugee agency did not respond
to our request for answers.
Lord Carey has publiclyappealed for financial help
in his suit againstthe British home office
which has already threatenedthe 84-year-old churchman
with all-court cost if he loses.
Meanwhile, the home officeis spending a lot of time
and money on the resettlementof ISIS children.
Dale Hurd, CBN News, London.
- Here, in America, theTrump administration
has severely restrictedthe number of refugees
allowed in the country.
Well, that has upset some
of the president's evangelical supporters.
- One reason is becausechurches are actively involved
in serving refugees.
Abigail Robertson showsus one Iowa congregation
that's setting a high standard.
- Good morning, how are you?
- [Abigail] Zion Lutheranis not your average church.
(speaks in foreign language)
On any given Sunday,
they offer services infour different languages
and those attendingspeak over 15 dialects.
(speaks in foreign language)
The inspiration that transformed
this 150-year-old ministryinto a 24/7 mission field
came from one simple question.
(crowd sings)
If our church closed,would anyone miss us?
- There was no consequence.
Can you imagine being a pastor of a church
that really doesn'thave a reason to exist?
- [Woman] Cleaning out the gum.
- [Abigail] In 2010, they prayed
about the future of the church.
God's answer revealed an unexpected plan.
- [Man] Everybody got their seat belts on?
- In Luke 14, we learn that he wanted us
to be a place that would bless people
who couldn't bless us back.
- [Abigail] So they took box lunches
to a nearby low-income apartment complex,
housing refugees from all over the world.
They asked each person:how can we bless you?
- We didn't plan anything.
We just walked down the street.
And everything unfolded because it's just
a matter of faithfulness to God.
- [Abigail] Zion beganmaking weekly visits
and also brought refugee children
back to the church for tutoring.
As word of their work spread,they caught the attention
of a group of Burmese Christian refugees.
The Mizos have been worshipingin a small apartment
and needed a bigger space.
- When I talked withPastor John, he was like:
everything He wants to do, He can do it.
This is God's house, not mychurch or no one's church.
This is God's house.
- [Abigail] Zion welcomed the Mizos in
and gave them a service time.
Then the church went a step further:
sending someone to Burma to bring over
a new associate pastor whospoke their own dialect.
- The first service was very emotional.
- We can freely worship inour style, our language.
You know, it's very awesome.
- [Abigail] Now the mission offers
Arabic and Swahili services
along with a diverse youth program
reaching over 300 students.
- It's a place where, if you're thirsty,
you'll get something to drink.
If you're hungry, you'll get fed.
If you don't have a place,you'll find a place.
And if you don't have afamily, you'll join ours.
(people sing)
- It's not always easy makinga place like Zion work,
but on Sunday, when all the nations
come together to worship God,
the results are just beautiful.
♪ You are holy ♪
- [Abigail] Reportingfrom Des Moines, Iowa,
Abigail Robertson, CBN News.
- [George] Coming up: religiousviolence racks Nigeria.
How a Christian and aMuslim are teaming up
to spread a message of peace.
- Hello, this is Pat Robertson.
The Bible tells us that there'sgreat power in God's Word.
Hearing, speaking, andobeying the Word of God
will transform your life.
That's why I recorded TheTransforming Word Volume Three,
Proverbs: Verses of Wisdom,Favor, and Anointing.
- [Narrator] The TransformingWord Volume Three
will deepen your faithand help you discover
the promises God has for you.
- [Pat] I encourage you tolisten to these verses often
and say them aloud with me.
You will find honor, guidance, favor,
and the wonderful abidingpresence of the Lord.
Let the powerful Word of God
transform your heart, mind, and life.
- [Narrator] Get The TransformingWord Volume Three audio CD
and The Three Blessings DVD.
Call now or go to cbn.com.
- [Efrem] I'm Efrem Grahamand this is Studio 5.
Cruise with me as Idiscover the good things
happening in the world of music, sports,
television, and movies.
- I heard Ryan Coogler wasgonna be directing the film.
I knew that somethingspecial was gonna happen.
- [Efrem] We'll chat with artists
at the forefront of entertainmentand explore the connection
between popular culture and faith.
- I asked my pastor, I said, well,
does that mean I'msupposed to be a preacher?
He says no, you already have a pulpit.
- [Narrator] Watch Studio5 Wednesday night at 9:30.
- [Narrator] As the worldwatches from the outside--
- It's a big diplomatic tug ofwar here in the Middle East.
- [Narrator] Go inside thestory with Jerusalem Dateline.
- Israeli archeologists aretalking about a discovery
that could change the thinkingabout the Temple Mount.
- [Narrator] Join CBN JerusalemBureau Chief Chris Mitchell
and get the Biblical perspective
on the events shaping the world.
- It's what starts in Israel,
then ends up going to other places.
- [Narrator] Watch Jersualem Dateline
Friday night at 9:30 onthe CBN News Channel.
- Welcome back, a new day could be dawning
in the African nation of Sudan.
Members of the US Commission
for International Religious Freedom
recently met with thenation's new prime minister
and other officials.
Commissioner Johnnie Moore tells CBN News
that the new government has finalized
a constitutional declaration
which no longer references Islam
as the primary source of law,
has replaced laws giving security forces
the authority to enforcereligious moral teachings,
and plans to change the apostasy
and blasphemy laws in the criminal code.
That is a dramatic change
from former dictator Omar al-Bashir.
He enforced strict Islamic laws
and persecuted Christians andother religious minorities.
Bashir was deposed in a coup last year.
Moore says these are just initial steps
and emphasized that there'sstill much work to be done.
However, he says Sudan has the potential
to become, quote, thenation most astonishingly
transformed in theshortest period of time.
- At least 10 gunmenstormed a Protestant church
and killed 14 worshipers Sunday
in the West Africannation of Burkina Faso.
Burkina Faso's population is around
2/3 Muslim and 1/3 Christian,
but the two religions havecoexisted peacefully for years.
That all began to change in 2015
with the rise of Islamicextremism that destroyed the peace
and has frequently ledto attacks on Christians.
- Well, Esther is a Christian in Nigeria
who watched Islamic radicalsburn her family home.
Khadija is a Muslim whoexperienced the same thing
at the hands of Christians.
- Their shared experiencedrew both men to each other
and it made them determined
to bring peace to their homeland.
- [Reporter] Esther Ibangapastors a church in Jos, Nigeria.
She remembers the day in 2010
when Islamic militants setfire to her mother's home.
- It really hurt me because it was like
my whole childhood just went into flames.
- [Reporter] That same year,less than five miles away
in Dogo Nahawa, more than500 women and children
were slaughtered by Islamic militants.
- The Christian women leaders in the city
began to come to my house
and they said to me: PastorEsther, what should we do?
I mean, this cannot go on.
- [Reporter] Esther saysthey dried their tears
and organized a protest.
Thousands of women marched,petitioning the government
to end the corruption and violence.
Shortly after, women froma nearby Muslim village
responded with a march of their own
where women and childrenkilled in an earlier attack
by Christian militants.
- So I decided to reachout to the Muslim woman
and I said, listen, you're not my enemy
and I'm not your enemy.
- [Reporter] She called Khadija Hawaja,
a Muslim community leader,to come up with a solution,
but Esther struggledwith giving her own anger
and bitterness over to God.
- And I told the Lord,no, I'm not gonna forgive
because I was hurting so much.
I just did not want to haveanything to do with any Muslim.
- [Reporter] Then sheheard Khadija's story.
- Her personal house was also set on fire
by Christian youth.
When she said that, I juststopped right there in my track
because she understood what I felt
and I understood what she felt
and we just realized weneeded to come together
and help these kids.
And so that healed me and that
brought me to the pointof actual forgiveness.
- [Reporter] It was then they established
Women Without Walls initiative,
working to help Muslims and Christians
resolve their differencesto bring peace to Nigeria.
They believe women are natural agents
for social and national change
because they know the keyto transforming Nigeria
is to reach the children.
- The mothers who basicallyis raising local women
to be the first line of security
for their families and their communities.
And so we take themthrough a ten-week training
on how to recognize the science
of radicalization in their children.
- [Reporter] They'realso giving at-risk youth
scholarships to finish school,
offering support forphysically challenged students
and helping communitiesengage in dialogue.
But Esther says their message of peace
hasn't always been welcome.
- They said we don't have to drink
your water in this community
and you're coming totalk to us about peace.
What is peace?
So we said to them: okay, ifwe get you to drink your water,
will you talk with us?
They said yes.
- [Reporter] Women Without Walls persuaded
an engineering company to digwhat they call the Peace Well,
a source of clean drinking water
shared by Christians and Muslims alike.
Through this and other efforts,
Esther sees lives being changed.
- I've had a Muslim boy call me Mother.
I've had a Muslim boy listen to my tape
and just quote my sermon.
And he said he can relateto what Pastor is saying.
So, for him to want tosee Jesus, to hear Jesus,
just through associating withme, I think God is glorified.
- [Reporter] Esther has beencriticized by Christians
for partnering with the Muslim community,
but she's not quitting any time soon.
She says the stakes are high
and the only way to bring peace
is through God's message of hope and love
through Jesus Christ.
- He died for the sins of the whole world.
He didn't die for Christians.
He died for those Muslims, Hedied for those unbelievers.
God is ready to transform lives
if we would let Him use us as vessels.
- [Wendy] Amen, up next:
how technology is fueling the gospel
and speeding up the timetable
for completing the Great Commission.
- [Narrator] It's about the competition.
- I kind of put that pressure on myself
and I think people had expectations.
- [Narrator] It's about overcoming.
- We use this phrase all the time:
keep chopping, keep practicing hard.
- [Narrator] It's aboutgoing the distance.
- I think, as a father,it's my job to lead,
just to be the best husbandand father I can be.
- [Narrator] Watch Going the Distance
with Shawn Brown Saturday night at 7:30
on the CBN News Channel.
- Orphan's Promise is committed
to loving and serving at-risk children,
to helping keep families together,
and to creating opportunities
for strong and sustainablecommunities around the world.
We're working in over 60countries around the world
and, with your help, we can do even more.
There's an old African proverb I love
that says, "if you wannarun fast, run alone,
"but if you wanna run far, run together."
At Orphan's Promise, we want to run far
so we can touch thelives of as many orphaned
and vulnerable children as possible.
But we don't wanna go alone.
We're out to change the world
one child, one family,one community at a time.
Will you join us?
(upbeat music)
(child laughing)
- [Narrator] CBN presents:
The Transforming Word Volume Three.
- [Pat] Those who walkin wisdom are kept safe.
The wise inherit honor.
- [Narrator] Take a journeythrough the Book of Proverbs
with Pat Robertson inthis dynamic audio CD.
You will learn Biblical principles
for gaining wisdom, favor, and anointing.
Plus, as a special bonus,you will receive a DVD
of Pat's teaching, The Three Blessings.
Call now to get TheTransforming Word Volume Three
and The Three Blessings today.
- Welcome back to Christian World News.
The YouVersion Bible appreports a record-breaking year
in people engaging with God's Word.
Founder Bobby Gruenewaldreports people read
and listened to the Bible30% more over last year.
YouVersion records over35 billion chapters
were read in 2019
and people shared 478 million verses.
Incidentally, the most engaged Bible verse
in 2019 is Philippians 4:6.
It says, "don't worry about anything;
"instead, pray about everything.
"Tell God what you need andthank Him for all He's done."
YouVersion grew by nearly50 million installs,
reaching a total of 400 million.
The app has also partnered with a network
of Bible translation agencies
to bring the Bible to morepeople in their native languages.
- Well, for more onthese exciting advances
and their impact, we're joined right now
by Dr. John Chestnut,the new president and CEO
of Wycliffe Bible Translators USA.
And Dr. Chestnut, congratulationson your new position
and welcome to the show.
- Thank you, Wendy, greatto be with you here today.
- Well, first question: how has technology
made Bible translationsimpler and quicker?
- You know, technology is changing
the world of Bible translation.
What used to take years and years to do,
now, for example, a New Testament
may have been 20 years, 30 years.
Now, many times, we can bring it along
in about six to eight years,which is pretty incredible.
- [Wendy] Six to eight,that's a big difference.
- It is a big difference.
- Well, how does it help indigenous people
translate the Bible intotheir own languages?
- So the technologytoday is allowing people
from the language communities themselves
to engage much more in the work
than what has happened historically.
And many have training orwe get to train with them
in order to use this technology.
And so, more and more, theyare actually doing the work,
and our hope is that theywill continue translation on
for many years,translating into the things
that they believe are importantfor them and their churches.
- What about smartphones?
How are they revolutionizing
Scripture distribution and reading?
- You know, smartphones, they really are.
More and more, we're seeingsmartphones replace print.
And smartphones can go andtake text and scriptures
and videos, places where print cannot.
Particularly in countries where it may be
a safety or security issue for them
to be caught withsomething that's printed,
they can take their smartphonesand the videos and text
and go wherever they need to go with them.
- Have you ever been present
when someone actually, for the first time,
gets to hold the Word ofGod in their own language?
- I sure have.
Man, I'll tell you, it's just getting
to see the expression.
I mean it's something we don'tunderstand here in the US
'cause I was born withGod's Word available.
But when a community has God'sWord for the very first time
and they're getting to experience that
"this is in my language,it's not in another language,
"it's in my language,God speaks my language",
and that is transformational.
- Is it still dangerous, though?
Of course, we remember thestory of those missionaries
in the 1950's who went in,I think it was the Amazon,
and they didn't come back.
Many of them died there.
Is it still dangerous togo into some of these areas
and do what you guys do?
- It is very much so.
The unreached people groups of the world
are unreached for a reason:
they're in some of the hardest areas
and most difficult areas of the world.
And sometimes, for those of us from the US
that, when the times get tough,
we get kicked out of the country.
But those that are from these communities,
often, they're the ones thatare in the greatest danger.
And so it is, it continues to be
a sacrifice for all involved.
- Wow, well, Dr. John Chestnut
with Wycliffe Bible Translators USA,
thanks so much for being with us.
- Thank you, Wendy, for your time.
- And when we come back: getting ready
for Christmas in the Holy Land.
Stay with us.
- [Narrator] From Washington, D.C.,
uncompromising stories,interviews, and analysis
from veteran journalists.
David Brody.- Escalating fight.
- [Narrator] Jenna Browder.- Those his words carefully.
- [Narrator] Ben Kennedy.- Plan to join him.
- [Narrator] And Amber Strong.
- For impeachment growsa little bit louder.
- [Narrator] Bringing you thepolitical news that matters.
- We get out and tell the story
of the progress that we'remaking in this country.
- [Narrator] Watch FaithNation weeknights at six
on the CBN News Channel.
(intense percussion music)
- [Narrator] On the Homefront.
- Thanks for joining usfor CBN's On the Homefront
where we highlight what the men and women
of America's military doto defend our country.
CBN honors the men andwomen in our military
with an initiative calledHelping the Home Front.
It partners with churchesacross the country
to meet the needs oftheir military families
from repairing homes to wiping out
medical bills for wounded veterans.
- [Narrator] On the Homefront,Tuesday morning at 10:30.
- [Pat] The Lord gives wisdom.
From His mouth comesknowledge and understanding.
He holds success in store for the upright.
He is a shield to thosewhose walk is blameless.
For He guards the course of the just
and protects the way of His faithful ones.
- [Narrator] Pat Robertson records
this dynamic audio CD: TheTransforming Word Volume Three.
Available now.
(upbeat music)
- Meet the pastors whoare preaching the gospel
in a fresh, fearless way.
(upbeat music)
I'm Roberto Torres-Cedillo.
Join me each week for Next Gen Voices.
(upbeat music)
And watch God transform a generation.
(upbeat music)
- Christians in the Holy Land
are getting ready to celebrate.
- Indeed, our Emily Jones has the story
and much more from Jerusalem.
- Welcome to Jerusalem forthis Inside Israel report
where we tell you what's happening
in Israel and the Middle East.
Israel's defense minister announced plans
to build new Jewish homes in Hebron.
Hebron is considered holy toMuslims, Christians, and Jews
because it's the very place where Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob, and their wives were buried
in the Cave of the Patriarchs.
CBN News recently spoke with the man
who helped discover Abraham's bones.
- Many people come to prayhere from all the world,
from all the religions.
Today, they speak aboutAbrahamic religions.
Well, Abraham is right here.
This is the memorial of Abraham.
Actually, the cave is locatedright beneath this memorial
and we have in here three couples,
Abraham and Sarah, Isaac andRebekah, and Jacob and Leah.
- When Israelis discoveredthe Cave of the Patriarchs
decades ago, they also found vessels
and pottery from the ninth century BC.
No one is allowed inside the cave anymore,
but that doesn't stop thousands of people
from around the world fromvisiting this special place.
Iran admits it slaughtered demonstrators
who protested the nation'sskyrocketing gas prices.
Thousands of angry citizenspoured into the streets
of cities across the nation last month.
Iranian state televisionnow says security forces
shot and killed what it calls rioters.
The US State Departmentsays the number of dead
is potentially much higher
than human rights groups estimate.
- It appears the regime could've murdered
over a thousand Iranian citizenssince the protest began.
We cannot be certain becausethe regime blocks information.
Among those murdered areat least a dozen children,
including 13- and 14-year-olds.
- One Iranian scholar on state TV said
the protesters deserved to be killed
because of their fighting against Allah.
(speaks in foreign language)
- The US is considering sendingmore troops to the region
to counter the rising threat from Iran.
It's officially the mostwonderful time of the year
in the Holy Land.
Hundreds of people packedthe little town of Bethlehem
for the annual Christmastree lighting celebration.
The event took place in frontof the Church of the Nativity,
the spot where many Christians believe
is the place where Christ was born.
Christians also celebrated the return
of a tiny wooden relic believed to be
from Jesus' manger to Jerusalem.
It was sent to the Vaticannearly 1400 years ago.
The relic was unveiled toworshipers in Jerusalem
before finding itsfinal home in Bethlehem.
Christian pilgrims will flock to Bethlehem
throughout the month of December
in honor of Jesus and His birth.
That's it for Inside Israel.
For more stories just like these,
you can watch our JerusalemDateline program every week.
- Thanks, Emily, itlooks like summer there.
- It sure does.
- I guess they won'thave a white Christmas.
That's gonna do it forus, thanks for watching.
(dramatic music)
