Kenya’s Garissa University Reopens

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Kenya’s Garissa University College officially reopens, nine months after the killing of nearly 150 people, mainly students, in an attack by militant Islamist group al-Shabab.

CHR Comment: The attacks just before Easter last year specifically targeted Christians and is a good example of how African Christians continually face persecution in warring Africa. Garissa University is a public institution, not a Christian school.

Source: Kenya’s Garissa university reopens after deadly al-Shabab attack – BBC News

The Next Mass Missionary Movement

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Chinese Christians plan to send 20,000 missionaries by 2030.

CHR Comment: In 2010 the Chinese government prevented Christians there from gathering to a mission conference in South Africa. Since then, Chinese Christians have worked to improve their opportunities to foster mission work. The article includes some helpful figures on countries that currently send the most missionaries.

Source: Made in China: The Next Mass Missionary Movement

Epiphany Celebrations around the World

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CHR Comment: Christians today celebrate the Epiphany of Jesus Christ, added to the calendar by the Early Church. The name of the feast comes from a Greek word meaning “Make manifest.” The celebration includes different events from Jesus’ life such as the following:

Visitation of the Magi, the first Gentiles to worship the child Jesus. Matthew 2 records their visit, which did not take place on the night Jesus was born but up to two years afterward while Joseph and Mary were living in a house at Bethlehem rather than a stable. Christians in the western tradition often commemorate this event, emphasizing Christ’s mission to save all nations. The Christmas tradition of giving gifts also comes from this biblical event since the Magi brought gifts to Jesus.

Baptism of Jesus. All four Gospels in the New Testament record when the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus as He stood in the Jordan River, consecrating Baptism as a Christian practice and demonstrating its importance for the Christian life. Christians in the eastern tradition often commemorate Epiphany by emphasizing Baptism.

Miracles, such as turning water into wine. A third Epiphany theme is based on John 2 and other passages where Jesus performs miracles or “signs” as John the evangelist called them. Jesus’ miracles showed that He was more than an ordinary human being. He was God manifested in the flesh, the Messiah and Savior. All three Epiphany themes are wonderfully commemorated in an English hymn by Christopher Wordsworth (1807-85), “Songs of Thankfulness and Praise.” Each stanza ends with, “God in man made manifest.”

Included below are links to news stories that describe different local Epiphany practices. In Bulgaria, Eastern Orthodox Christians dance in an icy river. Italian parents put gifts of candy in the shoes of children. In Poland, Spain, and former Spanish colonies, there are Epiphany parades. Christians generally commemorate the feast with a special service on January 6 or the nearest Sunday. The Epiphany season reaches a high point on Transfiguration Sunday and ends on Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten fast.

Our family plans to watch The Nativity Story tonight, which includes biblical and legendary portrayals of the Magi visiting the Holy Family (New Line, 2006). We will also have special prayers together, rejoicing that God became man for us and for our salvation.

Blessed Epiphany!

Source: Bulgarians Dip Into Icy River to Celebrate Epiphany Day – NBC News

Epiphany in Italy and Elsewhere

Church Surrounded by Wildflower Beauty

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Situated in “the bulb capital of the world,” this under-the-radar South African guesthouse has a reputation spread by the most trusted method of all: word of mouth. We were lucky to be squeezed in at Papkuilsfontein.

CHR Comment: Sharing this beautiful setting for a Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa where winter rains bring out the glory of God’s good creation. Enjoy this fine photo essay.

Source: Flower Season: An Under-the-Radar Guesthouse in South Africa: Gardenista

Christian Musician, Craig Strickland, Died from Hypothermia

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Backroad Anthem shared an emotional tribute to their lead singer on Facebook.

CHR Comment: A sad story about a young church musician who was having success in the country/rock band, Backroad Anthem. The article describes how the band started after members met at church. The congregations affected are Cross Church, a family of Baptist congregations in Arkansas (see second link below). The Fayetteville congregation is apparently where the band members met. The Springdale congregation appears to be the home church for the Stricklands. Lord, have mercy.

Source: Wife: Craig Strickland died from hypothermia

About Cross Church

New Giant Jesus Statue

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Move over, “Christ the Redeemer.” A new giant statue of Jesus is about to be unveiled in a Nigerian village. Dubbed “Jesus de Greatest,” . . .

CHR Comment: Nigerian businessman, Obinna Onuoha, commissioned the 28 foot statute to be placed outside of St. Aloysius Catholic Church, which is located in the southern, Christian portion of Nigeria. It will not be near the location of the numerous Boko Haram attacks that occur mostly in the north and east portions of the country. It will be the largest statue of Jesus in Africa.

Source: The world is about to get a new giant Jesus statue

Education Secretary Delivers Final Address from Church Basement

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Arne Duncan did not go quietly. In his final speech as U. S. Education Secretary, Duncan on Wednesday delivered a blunt, wide-ranging, sometimes unsparing address.

CHR Comment: Duncan spoke from the basement of Saint Sabina Catholic Church, on the south side of Chicago. The church is home to a private school, Saint Sabina Academy, for grades K through 8. His comments focused on improving safety and conditions for students.

Source: In farewell, Duncan chides ‘collective failure’ to protect kids

Christians Rank Ahead of Muslims for Religious Rights Protection in US

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Protecting the religious liberty of Christians ranked highest among people in the U.S., while Muslims and atheists were at the bottom of a new survey.

CHR Comment: The survey shows that more Americans were concerned about the rights of Christians than for other religious groups. However, the results are influenced by the number of persons in each group so that a larger group naturally scores higher and a smaller group scores lower.

Source: Muslims Rank Lowest For Religious Rights Protection In US, Survey Finds

Eritrean Gospel Singer Helen Berhane Tortured for Her Beliefs

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ROME (RNS) Berhane spoke recently at a Rome conference on Christian persecution in the hopes others might learn of the grievous human rights violations in her native land.

CHR Comment: Eritrea only recognizes four religious denominations. The article implies that that the Eritrean government was responsible for the torture (“custody” and “arrest”) though the article does not make this absolutely clear. Berhane is a Pentecostal.

Source: Eritrean gospel singer Helen Berhane was tortured for her beliefs. Now she’s speaking up. – Religion News Service