Boko Haram Leader Resurfaces in Video, Says There Is No Room for Christians

Abubakar Shekau, leader of Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram, has resurfaced in a new video, claiming responsibility for attacks on the army and declaring that there is no room for Christians to live with Muslims in the country as equals.

 The terrorist group has been responsible for the deaths of over 20,000 people, including Muslims and Christians, since 2009 and has said in the past that it will seek to kill all Christians and blow up every church.

"My message is to Islamic clerics in Nigeria who despite their position are giving wrong interpretation to the Holy Koran; you are playing with hell fire. You have to be careful because Koran has divided mankind into three; some are believers, some are hypocrites and some are nonbelievers. There is no way we Muslims in mosques and Christians in churches and you think we can work together," Shekau says in his latest message, as reported by the Premium Times on Wednesday.

"This has never happened before even during the lifetime of all apostles of the prophet."

6 Reasons You Can't Ignore the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit authored the Scriptures.

Anything that we know about God and how to live with God comes from the Bible. We are thankful that the Holy Spirit authored the Scriptures through the pens of men!

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" – 2 Timothy 3:16

"...knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." – 2 Peter 1:20 – 21

2. The Holy Spirit exalts Jesus.

Any kind of work of the Spirit that puts more focus on "giftings," "expressions," and "fillings" than it does Jesus, you can be sure that work is not from the Holy Spirit. The primary work of the Holy Spirit is to exalt Jesus. The Spirit has come that we might be deeply impressed with the person of Jesus Christ and go away excited about His work.

"But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me." – John 15:26

Pastor Explains Why He Feeds Church Members With Live Snakes ...The TB Joshua Connection

(Photo: Facebook/End Times Disciples Ministries)Self-styled South African prophet Penuel Mnguni, 24 (l) feeds a snake to one of his congregants.

Controversial Pastor Penuel Mnguni of the End Times Disciples Ministries in South Africa reportedly admitted to Nigerian megachurch preacher T.B. Joshua that he misread the Bible in having his congregants eat live snakes back in 2015.

Mnguni claimed at the time that through the power of God true believers can eat anything. Photos emerged online showing the pastor feeding live snakes, rats, underwear and other things to congregants.

South Africa's Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities rose up against his practices, however, and he was arrested, before being released in 2016.

"A normal person cannot eat snakes — you must be spiritual. To show that God was with me, no one has died," he said at the time.

The Citizen reported on Sunday that Mnguni has asked T.B. Joshua of the Synagogue Church of All Nations for deliverance, however, and explained how he came to misread the Bible.

China Records 100,000 Converts to Christ Annually Despite Ongoing Crackdown

The growth of the Christian faith in China continues its remarkable rise, with one pastor reporting as many as 100,000 new followers of Christ per year, despite the worsening human rights abuses and crackdown by communist authorities.  

The Rev. Erik Burklin of China Partner, which trains Chinese Christian leaders, said that God is in the business of "changing lives" and "building His Church."

"Like Jesus said to Peter, 'On this rock I will build my church.' When He said that, He said, 'I will build my church.' Not, 'You Christians build my church,' but, 'I will,'" Burklin told Mission Network News.

He talked of surprising developments, such as a person with the central government donating close to $7.3 million for a new chapel at Union Theological Seminary in the city of Nanjing.

"I was just scratching my head, thinking to myself, 'How in the world is it possible that in China, where Communism still runs the country, a person in the Central Government would donate so that a local school — in this case, the national seminary in China — can finish constructing their chapel?' It's unbelievable," Burklin stated.

Xtian Soccer Player Shuns US Team Over Gay Pride Jerseys

Two weeks after U.S. Soccer announced that both their men's and women's national teams will be wearing rainbow-colored jerseys in support of gay pride this month, Christian soccer player Jaelene Hinkle has withdrawn herself from the U.S. roster for two international friendlies billed for June., citing "personal reasons."

A release from U.S. Soccer said Hinkle, 24, who is a defender for the North Carolina Courage, was called into the national camp to play international friendlies against Sweden and Norway this month. She was not replaced on the roster after her withdrawal.

It is unclear if U.S. Soccer's celebration of gay pride this month is related to Hinkle's withdrawal but she wears her faith proudly on social media.

She proudly boasts Colossians 3:23 on Twitter which says: "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men."

Pope Vows To Sack Nigerian Priests

Pope Francis has laid down an ultimatum to defiant Nigerian priests: lose your job if you don't obey me and your bishop.

Francis met June 8 at the Vatican with a delegation from the Ahiara diocese, where priests have been refusing to accept the 2012 appointment by the then pontiff, Benedict XVI, of the local bishop.

Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, reporting the pope's unusually harsh order, said Sunday that Francis was acting "for the good of the people of God" by threatening to suspend the priests from the ministry if they didn't pledge in a letter, by July 9, "total obedience" to Francis and accept Bishop Peter Okpaleke's appointment.

Franklin Graham: US, UK Need to Wake Up to Threat of Islam 'Before It's Too Late'

Prominent evangelist Franklin Graham has warned that given the increasing terror attacks on civilians in the United Kingdom, both the British and United States governments need to "wake up" to the reality of Islamic terrorism before "it's too late."

After terrorists killed seven and injured 48 others in two attacks claimed by the Islamic State in London Saturday night, Graham, the son of legendary evangelist Billy Graham and president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, took to his Facebook page to issue his thoughts, as he has often done following terror attacks.

"Since 9/11, I have been warning America about the dangers of the teachings of Islam," Graham wrote on his Facebook page Sunday. "Followers of Islam are taught very troubling passages that encourage them to murder and maim those they refer to infidels, or nonbelievers. With the internet and social media, radicalization is only increasing — and the dangers are continuing to increase."

8 Filipino Christians Killed for Refusing to Recite Islamic Creed

Eight Christians who were killed when an Islamic State-linked group stormed a Filipino city late last month were shot to death because of their refusal to recite the Islamic declaration of faith, government officials have reportedly said.

According to the Christian persecution monitoring website Morning Star News, eight Christians who were among the 19 killed when the IS-aligned Maute Group stormed the city of Marawi on May 23 were the first Christians killed during the insurgent uprising in the capital of Lanao del Sur Province on the Mindanao island. The city, which was once home to over 200,000 residents, has seen thousands of residents flee in recent weeks.

The same extremist group claims it is responsible for the kidnapping of as many as 240 Catholics, including Father Teresito "Chito" Suganob, the priest who appeared in a recently released video in which he listed off the names of other "prisoners of war" who were captured by the militants.

I Handed All My Cheque Books To My Wife —Panam Percy Paul

Renowned Gospel musician, Panam Percy Paul and his wife of 36 years, Teena, share some of their marital experiences.

Can you recall how you met your spouse?

Panam: Our relationship is unique in the sense that we had always known each other but I never thought that she would end up as my wife. I used to see her as a little sister. At a time during the Nigerian civil war, she and her elder brother, who was my classmate, even lived with us. With the passage of time, we all went our separate ways to school and to pursue other endeavours so we didn’t see each other for a while. But on one fateful day in 1979, I went to visit my parents and she was just leaving the house at that time too. Immediately I set eyes on her, it was just like I had never seen her before. Till now, I find it difficult to explain how my emotions towards her just changed so dramatically because we had lived together for a while and I never had any romantic feeling towards her.

Teena: I have known my husband for practically all of my life because our parents were friends and we grew up together.

What was the reaction of your parents considering your close family history?

Panam: My mother was initially skeptical about the relationship but we were able to convince her that we loved each other dearly and were ready to become husband and wife. At the time we got married, we were about to graduate from the university and we were mature enough to know what we wanted. Her brother also supported us and till date, we don’t see each other as brothers-in-law but just brothers. It was like marriage made in heaven because we got unconditional support from our families.

What qualities did you see in him that convinced you to spend the rest of your life with him?

Theologian Clears Up Misconceptions About the Trinity, Avoids Analogies

Though many Christians tend to create analogies to try to explain the doctrine of the Trinity (think ice, liquid, vapor), one expert avoids comparisons altogether, calling them "distracting."

"If you try to think of this triune structure of God and ask what can I compare that to? … I really hope people don't mainly go for interesting analogies or distracting comparisons …," said Fred Sanders, professor of theology at Torrey Honors Institute at Biola University.

Sanders, author of The Triune God, acknowledged that there is a "mysteriousness" to the Trinity that people have a hard time comprehending. And some pastors have even come up with "newer language" to explain the Trinity, saying the Father, Son and Spirit had different "roles" or "functions."

Clearing up common misconceptions about the Trinity — or what he called a "fancy Latin-derived word for threeness — Sanders stressed that Christians do not believe in three gods.

TD Jakes Celebrates Wife As They Mark 35 years Conjugal Bliss

Jakes, the televangelist who leads The Potters House church in Dallas, Texas, took to social media to express how much his wife Serita Jakes means to him when the pair celebrated their wedding anniversary Tuesday.

"35 years of marriage today to this beautiful lady. A lot has happened in 35 years," he wrote. "Whether up or down, her love has been consistent and constant! I'm a blessed man!"

In reflecting about his life, Jakes revealed that the pair have had to endure some major challenges and changes throughout the years.

Pastor Bakare Sees Looming Civil War

Nigeria is inching closer to another devastating civil war, according to the General Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, Lagos, Pastor Tunde Bakare.

He therefore warned the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government of dire consequences if this was allowed to happen.

Pastor Bakare was  quoted  as warning that Nigeria was on the verge of another civil war following the yet-to-be addressed incessant killings of other Nigerians by Fulani herdsmen.

The fiery clergy was quoted during a church session to have declared that Nigeria “is moving towards another collapse” with the division among different groups and violence in the country.

Pastor Bakare warned that the activities of the herdsmen could endanger the nation’s unity Bakare’s titled “All Things are Ready,” warned that Nigerians might be forced to retaliate against the rampaging herdsmen.

The Level of Corruption In The Body Of Christ Makes My Heart Bleed- Bro Joshua Iginla …Many Celebrated Pastors Are Not Of God,+ Why Its Been Difficult To Make Politicians Repent

Brother Joshua Iginla  is the Senior Pastor of Champions Royal Assembly with the international headquarter located at Abuja, Nigeria.

In this first part of The Rhema News, encounter with the generous preacher, he registered his concern about the alarming corruption in the body of Christ, why it’s been difficult to make disciples of politicians by the Church and the reason " popular fathers in the lord may not get  Christ's nod on the last day" Enjoy;

 

Your church has really evolved in the last seven years of operation. As a result of this tremendous growth, there have been speculations that there may be other forces beyond God , responsible for  the growing  popularity and rise of your ministry, whats your reaction to this..

 

Normally I say there is nothing you do in this world that does not attract criticism. If you’re quiet people would complain that you quiet, you are talking people would say you are a talkative, if you sit people would say you are idle, if you are hardworking people would talk. Normally when you see the growth of the church, its nothing else but God. When a minister of God is genuinely called by God, God is going to back up the work and secondly is focus. Can you imagine a church that started from a living room that we had no chairs and we had nothing not even a musical instrument? Of course we had days of struggle but because of focus, hard work and God’s blessing on the work and of course when people come to the church and then they pray and what they ask God for, God answers them; they have  no other option but to invite others. I can tell you categorically that my evangelism group in my church is not as strong as any other person would think. It is God that has been  bringing the people and one of the things that excites us is the word of God that people hear from the altar that touches their heart and making them come back.