North Korea Worst for Christian Persecution
The international Christian organization Open Doors released its annual World Watch List in January, naming the 50 countries where it says Christians face the worst persecution. For the first time in 20 years, the situation for Christians did not improve in any country.
For the 10th year running, North Korea topped the list. Open Doors reported that Christianity has been driven so far underground in North Korea that parents wait until their children are old enough to understand the dangers of practicing their faith before teaching them about it. The organization also estimated that between 50,000 and 70,000 Christians are currently interned in labour camps.
The top five countries on the list also include Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Iran. The country where things have deteriorated most since the 2011 report is Nigeria. At least 300 Christians were killed last year and sectarian violence has intensified. On Christmas Day, more than 35 people were killed in bomb attacks on churches across the country.
Open Doors provides training for pastors and distributes Bibles in countries where Christianity is suppressed. It estimates that 100 million Christians worldwide face persecution. ¦ —ENI
Christianity Shifts to Africa
With 2.18 billion adherents, Christianity has become a truly global religion over the past century as rapid growth in developing nations offset declines in Christianity’s traditional strongholds, according to the “Global Christianity” report released by the Washington – based Pew Research Center in December.
Findings illustrate major shifts since 1910, when two – thirds of the world’s Christians lived in Europe. Now only one in four Christians live in Europe. Most of the rest are distributed across the Americas (37 per cent), sub – Saharan Africa (24 per cent) and the Asia – Pacific region (13 per cent).
The report confirms Christianity’s standing as the world’s largest religion, with 32 per cent of the global population. Islam is second with about 23 per cent, according to a 2009 Pew report.
A close look at the details reveals a few ironies.
Although Christianity traces its beginnings to the Middle East and North Africa, only four per cent of residents in these regions claim the Christian faith today.
But the faith has exploded exponentially in sub – Saharan Africa, from just nine per cent of the population in 1910 to 63 per cent today. Nigeria, home to more than 80 million Christians, has more Protestants than Germany, where the Protestant Reformation began.
The report also sheds light on the difficult question of how many Chinese are Christians. China’s policies on religion are thought to discourage Christians from self – identifying as such in official surveys. Researchers estimate the Christian community in China includes five per cent of the population, or 67 million people. ¦ —ENI
Two Killed in Dadaab
Two leaders of the community peace and security teams (CPSTs) working at the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya were fatally shot in January. The Presbyterian Church’s relief and development agency, Presbyterian World Service and Development, is working with partners in the camp to support Somali refugees fleeing famine.
PWS&D has been supporting the establishment of CPSTs, where refugees from within the camp volunteer to serve as a mix of firefighter, police officer, medic and counsellor. Working to establish peace and cooperation, they receive training in how to resolve issues and ease tensions. They have been particularly effective at dealing with issues of domestic violence, brawls, encroachment and robberies.
In close camp quarters, disputes and conflicts are inevitable, however estimates indicate the ratio of police officers to people is about 1:15,000 in Dadaab. ¦ —PWS&D
Canadians Meet with Government about Egypt
a group of four representing the Canadian Council of Churches, including Rev. Ibrahim Wahby of Chapel Place Presbyterian, Markham, Ont., met with Paul Hong, senior policy advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in December to discuss religious freedom in Egypt.
Hong noted that the government is limited in what it can do in Egypt, and suggested church agencies can help by sharing information and seeking future meetings with policy – makers, learning about advocacy and accountability, supporting pro – democracy activists, and encouraging international church partners to work with their governments to support religious freedom. ¦ —AM with files from the CCC
