Home > Today's Christian > People of Faith > Persecution Report
Today's Christian, May/June 2006
Guilty of Faith in Christ
In Indonesia, Islamic extremists are making life hard for Christians.
By Jerry Dykstra
 |
| Prisoners of the Gospel: These three Indonesian women were sentenced to prison for running a Christian school. |
On Sept. 1, 2005, an Indonesian court found Dr. Rebekka Zakaria, Eti Pangesti, and Ratna Bangun guilty of breaching the 2002 Child Protection Law and sentenced them to three years in prison.
The three were convicted simply for running a Christian education program for children in their community. Islamic leaders became angry when several Muslim children were attracted to the classes. Muslim fundamentalists then put pressure on the judges to convict the women while also threatening the women with death if they were released. They even brought caskets to the courthouse.
The conviction of the three Christian women is just the tip of the iceberg regarding the escalation of persecution in Indonesia, which has the world's largest Muslim population (172 million compared to 34 million Christians). Attacks on Christians in 2005 alone included the beheading of three girls from a private high school, the shooting of a man and woman leaving a church service, and a machete attack that killed one and left two more in serious condition. And on New Year's Eve, eight people were killed and 45 injured—mostly Christians—by a bomb that went off in a meat market in the Central Sulawesi town of Palu.
Indonesian media reported that over 150 churches have been destroyed or closed down in Jakarta and throughout the island of Java in recent years.
The increase of terrorism, intimidation, and persecution of Christians is part of the fundamentalist Muslims' goal to implement Shariah Law—strict Muslim law—throughout Indonesia.
Despite facing three years in prison and missing the companionship of their husbands and children, Rebekka, Eti, and Ratna are still preaching the gospel. They are leading worship in prison and have led several Muslim women to the Lord.
Rebekka said: "It is hard being here, but I know I am pleasing God by doing His work."
Persecution Report is presented in cooperation with Open Doors USA, which serves the Persecuted Church through training, Bible distribution, and community development. For more information, call 1-888-5-BIBLE-5 or visit www.odusa.org.
|
What to pray for:
• That the three imprisoned Christian women and their families will stand strong in their faith.
• That those who lost loved ones, homes, and jobs in the tsunami will not be forgotten while they continue to put their lives back together.
• Freedom of religion for people of all faiths.
|
Copyright © 2006 by the author or Christianity Today International/Today's Christian magazine.
Click here for reprint information.
May/June 2006, Vol. 44, No. 3, page 61
Browse More Today's Christian
Home | People of Faith | Stories of Hope | Today's Culture
Build Your Faith | Laughing Matters | Archives | Contact Us
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Try Today's Christian Woman Free!
|
 |
|
No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only.
If you decide you want to keep Today's Christian Woman coming, honor your invoice for just $17.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless.
Give Today's Christian Woman as a gift
Order a gift subscription!
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| |
|
