Christians Forced to Convert to Islam in Pakistan's Schools.

The Archbishop of Karachi and the head of the Council of Pakistani Bishops revealed that Christians in the country are under constant pressure to convert to Islam, most notably in schools.

In the wake of the deadliest church bombing in the country, Bishop Joseph Coats sent a note to an Italian association named Aid to Churches in Need, stating that Pakistan "is one of the most difficult countries to live in for Christians."

"The daily lives of religious minorities in Pakistan are characterized by poverty, injustice and discrimination. Non-Muslims are identified as second-class citizens in school textbooks. Teachers repeatedly ask students to write essays titled: write a letter to your friend encouraging him to convert to Islam," according to the Italian AKI agency.

A member of the Pakistani Christian community holds a placard as he shouts slogans during a protest rally to condemn Sunday's suicide attack in Peshawar on a church, with others in Lahore September 23, 2013. A pair of suicide bombers blew themselves up outside the 130-year-old Anglican church in Pakistan after Sunday mass, killing at least 85 people in the deadliest attack on Christians in the predominantly Muslim country.

 81 Christians who were attending worship service were killed and 150 others were wounded after two Taliban suicide bombers stormed the building in northwest Pakistan.

Blood, body parts and pages from the Bible could be seen at the church and after the attack, Pakistan's Dawn newspaper called it "the deadliest ever (attack) targeting Christians in Pakistan."

About 400 worshippers were exchanging greetings after the service at the 130-year-old All Saints Church in the city of Peshawar when the two bombers, each carrying about 6kg (13 pounds) of explosives, launched the attack.

"I saw myself in the air and then on the ground inside a huge fire of ball," Sabir John, a church member who lost one of his arms in the blast, told The Guardian."I've never seen such piles of human bodies," Arshad Javed, chief executive of Peshawar's Lady Reading Hospital, told Wall Street Journal.

All Saints Church comes under the Church of Pakistan denomination, a united church that is part of the Anglican Communion and a member church of the World Methodist Council.

There are about 70,000 Christians in Peshawar. The community accounts for about two percent of the 180 million people in Pakistan.

Maaskofu wamwaga machozi Dar, Wakusanyika toka kona zote za nchi.

Kundi kubwa la Maaskofu waliokutana jijini Dar es Salaam, kujadili madhala yanayoikabili Tanzania, wamejikuta wakimwaga machozi hadharani baada ya kuguswa na wosia wa Rais wa kwanza na  mwasisi wa Tanzania, hayati Julius Kambarage Nyerere.

Nyuso za maaskofu hao kutoka ndani na nje ya Tanzania, zilianza kubadilika baada ya watoto wa shule ya msingi Muhimbili ya jijini Dar es Salaam, kuimba wimbo wa kuililia ardhi ya Tanzania, uliokuwa na hisia kali.

Hata viongozi wa kitaifa waliohudhuria mkutano huo usio wa kawaida walishindwa kustahimili ambapo Rais Mstaafu wa awamu ya tatu, Dk. Benjamini William Mkapa, alionekana kuinamisha kichwa chini na kufikicha macho yake kama ishara ya kilio cha mtu mzima.

Katika mkutano huo wa aina yake uliofanyika katikati ya Jiji la Dar es Salaam, mgeni rasmi alikuwa Waziri Mkuu wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania Mh. Kayanza Peter Pinda (mtoto wa mkulima).
Kabla ya Waziri Pinda kuzungumza chochote na kufungua Mkutano huo rasmi, kikundi mahili cha kwaya ya watoto kutoka Shule ya Msingi Muhimbili, kiliimba wimbo uliowafanya viongozi waliokuwepo kuinamisha vichwa vyao huku wengine wakitokwa na machozi.

Miongoni mwa viongozi wa Serikali waliohudhuria mkutano huo ni Rais Mstaafu wa awamu ya tatu Mh. Dk. Benjamin Wiliam Mkapa, ambaye aliinamisha kichwa chake kwa huzuni kutokana na kuguswa na ujumbe wa wimbo wa watoto hao.

Watoto hao waliimba wimbo wa kuuliza viongozi wa Serikali sababu za kuuza ardhi ya watanzania kwa wageni, pia katika wimbo wao walihoji kama Rais  Nyerere  angeuza ardhi, wao wangeishi wapi, walihoji pia au lengo lao ni kutaka kulirudisha taifa utumwani.

Kiukweli sitanii, wimbo huo  wenye hisia uliwatoa machozi si Maaskofu tu bali hata viongozi wa Serikali ikiwa ni pamoja na viongozi wa mashirika mbalimbali waliohudhuria mkutano huo kutokana na ujumbe mzito uliowasilishwa  mbele yao kupitia uimbaji wa kwaya hiyo ya watoto wadogo wa shule hiyo ya msingi.

Kisha Waziri Mkuu wa Tanzania Mh.Pinda akasimama kuzungumza na mamia ya Maaskofu na washiriki wa mkutano huo  na hatimaye kufungua rasmi shughuli hiyo kuanza.Katika hotuba yake Waziri huyo ambaye tayari alikwisha pokea ujumbe mzito kupitia uimbaji wa watoto hao, akaanza kwa kuwashukuru watumishi hao wa Mungu kukutanika ili kujadili masuala ya ardhi ya nchi yetu.

Mhe.Pinda akakiri taifa la Tanzania kukabiliwa na changamoto mbalimbali za ardhi ambazo kwa namna moja au nyingine zimegharimu maisha ya watanzania wasio na hatia kwa kutetea haki yao, na kuongeza kuwa  ni changamoto kubwa kwa nchi.

Pamoja na hilo, akasema, Serikali ya Tanzania inaithamini ardhi   ya watanzania na kusema ndiyo chanzo cha uchumi  wa taifa na   muhimili wa wananchi walio wengi.Waziri Pinda akafunguka kuwa, Serikali itawashughulikia viongozi walio na tabia ya kujimilikisha ardhi na kuiuza kwa wageni kutoka mataifa ya nje huku wazawa wakibaki kama wakimbizi katika nchi yao wenyewe, akasema hilo halitakubalika.

Akizungumzia suala la uwekezaji nchini, alisema wananchi wanaruhusiwa kuwekeza katika ardhi yao, na kwamba hata wageni kutoka mataifa ya nje lakini kwa vibali maalum ili wazawa wanufaike na uwekezaji wao na siyo kuitumia nchi kwa manufaa ya mataifa yao pekee.

Pinda hakusita kuzungumzia mgogoro wa wakulima na wafugaji, wananchi na migodi akasema suala hilo bado linaipasua kichwa Serikali na kusema linatafutiwa ufumbuzi na kwamba litakomeshwa kabisa, ili watanzania wasizidi kupoteza maisha kwa ajili ya ardhi yao.

Kisha mtumishi huyo wa Serikali ya JK, akawataka viongozi na watumishi wa Umma wasiitumie ardhi kama sehemu yao ya kujipatia kipato kwa manufaa yao wenyewe, bali wawe mstari wa mbele kupinga unyang’anywaji wa ardhi kwa wananchi.Baada ya nasaha hizo, Waziri Pinda, maarufu kama mtoto wa mkulima, alifungua rasmi mkutano huo wa siku tatu na kusema ufanyike kwa amani na salama.

Chanzo cha habari kilizungumza na Waziri wa Ardhi, Nyumba na Makazi, Profesa Anna Tibaijuka, likitaka kujua juu ya uuzwaji wa ardhi ya wananchi kiholela kwa wageni kutoka mataifa ya nje.

Waziri Tibaijuka alikana kuuzwa kwa ardhi ambapo alisema hii nchi ni ya watanzania hivyo ardhi iliyopo ni kwa ajili yao na siyo ya wageni, lakini akakiri kuwepo kwa wawekezaji na kusema Serikali itaendelea kuilinda na kuithamini kwani ni kama zawadi kutoka kwa Mungu.

Naye Askofu Stiven Munga kutoka Dayosisi ya Kaskazini-Mashariki Tanga, akizungumza katika mkutano huo alisema kuwa, kitu pekee cha kuyabadili maisha ya mtanzania na kuondokana na umaskini, hususan kwa mtu wa kipato cha chini, ni ardhi.

Hivyo akawataka watanzania na Serikali kwa ujumla kuitunza ardhi ya Tanzania kwa manufaa ya taifa na  kwa ajili ya vizazi vijavyo, huku akitaka wawekezaji kuwekeza kwa wingi ili nchi iondokane na baa la umaskini.“Ardhi ndiyo kila kitu, kwa maisha ya mtanzania, maana inaweza kuyabadilisha maisha ya watanzania hata wenye kipato cha chini, lakini ni vyema tukawapa nafasi wawekezaji pia, ili nchi ijinusuru na umaskini,” alisema Askofu Munga.

Mtumishi huyo wa Mungu alimaliza kutoa nasaha zake kwa kusema “Mungu ibariki Afrika, Mungu ibariki Tanzania” kama ishara ya kumuachia Bwana ashughulike na nchi hii na Afrika kwa ujumla.

Rapper Ja Rule Talks Prison Bringing Him Closer to God

Ja Rule, the 37-year-old rapper who was born Jeffrey Atkins, is speaking up about how a two year prison sentence strengthened his relationship with God.

Atkins was released from an upstate New York prison earlier this year after being charged with tax evasion in 2011. Still, the rapper is reflective and recently spoke about how the experience shaped him.

"It's been real crazy. Real reflective. You go through something like that…it changes you a little bit," Rule told New York City's Hot 97 radio show host Angie Martinez recently. "You get a chance to really to be at one with yourself. A lot of late nights, by myself."

A lot of those nights were spent reading the bible, according to the rapper.

"When I went to jail, I read the whole Bible," Atkins told Martinez.

He also spoke about needing to let go of some repressed feelings.

"I feel like unforgiven, bitterness and resentment, it blocks the flows of God's blessings in life," he said on the Hot 97 radio show. "So, you know, I'm really in a good head space. I really want to just do what I'm doing and not focus on nothing negative at all."

As a testament to his strengthened faith, the rapper said he made a few changes.

"Right now I'm on my God flow, you know what I mean?" he told Martinez. "I got Job 1:21 tattooed on my chest."

The scripture states, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised (NIV)."

Now, Atkins is gearing up to star in the movie "I'm In Love With A Church Girl," which is scheduled to debut in theaters Oct. 18. The movie is based off of the life of Pastor Galley Molina, who led a life of drug trafficking before he decided to become a preacher.

Before Atkins went to prison, Molina told the source that the rapper had been reading his bible.

"Ja Rule has been ministered to. He's a dear friend," Molina previously told CP. "We've been praying for him a lot. He's been open; he's been so [receptive] to the word."

Msimamizi wa mali za Dk.Kulola atajwa kusimamia mali zote.

Hatima ya Kansia la Evangelistic Assemblies of God (EAGT), baada ya aliyekuwa mwasisi wake, Askofu Mkuu, Dk. Moses Kulola, kumaliza kazi yake duniani, inasugua vichwa, huku Makamu wake akiwa na kipindi cha mwaka mmoja  na miezi kadhaa kabla ya mrithi halali jina lake. Aliacha ukuu na mamlaka mbinguni, alipoteza vyote, hata mwili na heshima yake, akatufia msalabani, alipomaliza kazi akatuachia wosia wa kuenenda ulimwenguni kote kuihubiri habari njema za Ufalme wa Mungu. Huo ndio wa maana kuliko vyote. Inatupasa sasa kukubali kuacha vyote ili tunapoihubiri injili iwe halisi kwetu na tusiwe kwazo kwa watu wasiookoka. Watu wanatusoma kama barua wanategemea maisha yetu yatoe taswira nzuri kwa watu wengine, ili wamwamini Bwana Wetu Yesu Kristo.”

Tena akaongeza: “Nilifurahishwa na jambo moja kuu katika maelezo ya Askofu Dk. Mtokambali, kwenye taarifa yake kwa waandishi wa habari, aliposema kuwa, milango iko wazi kwa majadiliano ya upendo ili kumaliza mgogoro wa mali, nadhani huo ni ufunguo wa kufikia maridhiano, tukumbatiane tuonesha upendo wa kweli wa Kristo.”

Marehemu Askofu Mkuu, Dk. Moses Kulola

Akifafanua zaidi alisema: “Sisi ni mwili mmoja katika Kristo Yesu, tunalima katika shamba moja  na tunavuna katika shamba hilo hilo, mambo ya  mgawanyiko kama wa kanisa la Korintho, ambapo watu walijiita wa Paul, wa kefa na wa Apolo, hayawezi kuushinda upendo wa Kristo. Ukristo halisi ni kupoteza vyote na kupata mbingu.”

“Jamani mbona tunakuwa kama kaka wa mwana mpotevu? aliyelalamika wakati ndugu yake (mwana mpotevu), anapochinjiwa ng’ombe. Lakini tukumbuke moyo wa babaye ambaye hakujali mali za dunia hii, bali alifurahi kuungana tena na kuwa familia moja.  Natamani siku moja EAGT na TAG, wakawa tena familia moja wakiaminiana wakipendana na kula pamoja. Namlilia Mungu aivunje vunje miyo ya watu waukumbuke upendo wa Kristo.”

Kisha anaendelea: “Kwa kuwa TAG, wamefungua milango ya kumaliza haya mambo kwa upendo, ni wakati wa EAGT, kuchukua nafasi ya mwana mpotevu na kurejea nyumbani, kukaa chini kuzungumza haya mambo kwa upendo wa Kristo, kuwa tayari kwa yote kwa kuwa mahakama kamwe haiwezi kuleta upendo kwa wanandugu wa kiroho waliotofautiana. Nina hakika mwamuzi wetu ni Bibilia na kamwe hukumu za mahakimu na majaji haziwezi kuturejeshea upendo, najua baba zangu watasoma maoni yangu haya, nawasihi wayachukulie umakini kwani jamii inashindwa kuyaona yale tunayohubiri katika matendo.”

“Hapa simaanishi EAGT, ife na kurudi kuwa kanisa moja la TAG, laahasha! Namaanisha kuwa ndugu wa kiroho, wanaoaminiana na kutenda kazi ya Mungu kwa umoja,upendo na mshikamano, ambao Askofu Mkuu wa TAG, Dk. Mtokambali ameurejea sana katika hotuba yake mbele ya wanahabari.”

Kanisa la EAGT, ambalo kwa sasa linaongozwa na Kaimu Askofu Mkuu, linatarajia kufanya uchaguzi wake mkuu mwaka 2015, ili kumpata mrithi halisi wa Askofu Kulola, aliyetwaliwa hivi karibuni.Miongoni mwa mambo yenye mijadala mikuu  ndani na hata nje ya kanisa hilo, ni swali la nani wa kuvaa viatu vya Askofu Kulola, na nani hasa aliyeandaliwa kuwa mrithi wa kiti hicho.

Lakini kutokana na uchunguzi wa chanzo cha habari hii, inasemekana kuwa, miongonmi mwa wale wanaotupiwa jicho ni Leonard Mwenzarubi, wa Kanda ya Kaskazini, kwa kile kinachoonekana kuwa ni mtu asiye katika makundi makubwa,  kama vile kanda ya Ziwa na Mbeya.

Hata hivyo bado kauli ya mwisho aliyoisema kiongozi huyo akiwa hospitalini imehifadhiwa kama silaha ya kuamua nani atakayeliongoza kanisa na kuimarisha mfumo wake wa kiuongozi.

Uchunguzi uliofanywa na chanzo cha habari hii umebaini kuwa baadhi waumini wa EAGT, bado wanatafakari kauli za mwisho za kiongozi wao ambazo zinatarajiwa kuamua nani akalie kiti chake.

Wapo wanaopendelea nafasi ya Askofu Mkuu kushikwa na mchungaji kijana atakayeweza kuzunguka nchi nzima kuliunganisha kanisa na kuondoa migawanyiko ya kikanda ambayo inadaiwa kuwepo hata wakati Dk. Kulola akiwa hai.

Mchungaji Lusekelo maarufu kama Mzee wa Upako ainanga CCM

Mchungaji wa Kanisa la Maombezi (GRC) la Ubungo Kibangu, Anthony Lusekelo, amesema Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), kinashinikiza kusainiwa kwa Muswada wa Marekebisho ya Sheria ya Mabadiliko ya Katiba wa mwaka 2013, ili ipatikane katiba itakayokibeba chama hicho.

Wakati Lusekelo akieleza hayo, Askofu Mkuu wa Kanisa la Full Gosper Bibble Fellowship (FGBF), Zacharia Kakobe, amesema kuwa diwani, mbunge, waziri na rais haina maana kuwa una mamlaka yote dhidi ya Watanzania.

Mchungaji wa Kanisa la Maombezi (GRC) la Ubungo Kibangu, Anthony Lusekelo 

 Kauli za viongozi hao wa dini, zimekuja katika kipindi ambacho vyama vya siasa, wanaharakati na wananchi wamekuwa wakimshinikiza Rais Jakaya Kikwete, kutosaini muswada huo na badala yake, urejeshwe bungeni, ili ukafanyiwe marekebisho kwa maelezo kuwa una kasoro nyingi.

Akizungumza na chanzao cha habari hii Lusekelo maarufu kama ‘Mzee wa Upako’ alisema CCM inatambua kuwa mapendekezo yaliyomo katika Rasimu ya Katiba kama yakipita, chama hicho kitakuwa katika wakati mgumu, hivyo ni lazima kihakikishe kuwa hatua hiyo inakwama.

“Hiki chama kinaweza hata kung’oka madarakani kama mapendekezo ya sasa yatapita. Namshauri Rais Kikwete asikilize malalamiko ya Watanzania kuhusu muswada huu, asisaini na aurudishe bungeni ili ufanyiwe marekebisho,” alisema na kuongeza kuwa;

Kitendo cha wabunge wa chama kimoja kuwa wengi katika Bunge la Katiba, Zanzibar kutokushirikishwa katika utoaji wa maoni na Tume ya Mabadiliko ya Katiba kumaliza majukumu yake baada ya kukabidhi rasimu katika Bunge la Katiba, ni kasoro kubwa zilizoibuliwa na wanasiasa lakini zikapuuzwa.

Mbali na kuiponda sheria ya mabadiliko ya katiba, Lusekelo alisema lingekuwa jambo la busara kama Bunge la Katiba lingekuwa na wajumbe ambao sio wabunge wa Bunge la Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania.

Kwa upande wake, Askofu Kakobe wakati akizungumza katika ibada ya misa ya pili kanisani kwake
Mwenge Dar es Salaam, alisema viongozi wa nchi wamechaguliwa kwa neema ya Mungu, wasitumie nafasi zao kuamua kila jambo hata kama halina maslahi kwa nchi na wananchi wanaowaongoza.

“Viongozi wanatakiwa kuacha kujigamba na kujiona wao ni kila kitu, nafasi walizonazo ni dhamana tu na siku moja Mungu anaweza kuwanyang’anya na kuwapa wengine,” alisema kiongozi huyo wa kidini.

Source:mwananchi
 

Papa Francis ataka Kanisa Katoliki kuwaelewa watu wote.

 

Kiongozi wa Kanisa la Roman Duniani Papa Francis anasemani lazima kwa kanisa Katoliki kuacha  kuangalia masuala kama ndoa za jinsia moja, utoaji mimba na matumizi ya madawa ya kuzuia mimba na badala yake liwe kanisa la kuwapokea na kuwaelewa watu wote.

Katika mahojiano yaliochapishwa siku chache zilizopita na jarida la Civilta Cattolica Papa alionya kwamba mpaka Kanisa lipate uwiano mpya katika desturi zake  za kuwatenganisha  watu na kuonyesha huruma , muundo wake wa masuala ya kiutashi unaweza kuanguka kama fungu la karata.

Amesema kanisa katoliki lijione kama hospitali kwenye  uwanja wa vita baada ya vita na kufanya kazi ya kuponyesha vidonda vikubwa vya kijamii  badala ya kuhangaika na kanuni ndogo ndogo.

Source:voaswahili

Pray for Kenya #Westgate

Top Bible Translations Remain NIV, KJV and NKJV

 The New International Version, the King James Version and the New King James Version continue to enjoy popularity among Bible readers, according to the Association for Christian Retail (CBA) and the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA).

While the CBA and the ECPA agree on the top-selling three Bible translations for the month of September, the organizations vary on which versions of Christian Scripture rank among the remaining 7 bestsellers.

According to the CBA, whose rankings are based on sales at member Christian retail stores in the U.S. through Aug. 3, 2013, the top Bible translations are: (1) New International Version; (2) King James Version; (3) New King James Version; (4) English Standard Version; (5) New Living Translation; (6) Holman Christian Standard Bible; (7) New American Standard; (8) Common English Bible; (9) New International Readers Version; (10) Reina Valera 1960.

The ECPA's list, compiled using adult book sales data from Christian retail stores across the U.S., includes: (1) New International Version; (2) King James Version; (3) New King James Version; (4) New Living Translation; (5) English Standard Version; (6) Reina Valera; (7) New American Standard Bible; (8) New International Reader's Version; (9) The Message; (10) Christian Standard Bible.

Sales charts from the ECPA going back all the way to January show that the NIV, NLV, KJV and NKJV have consistently wrestled for the top spot among buyers.

Daniel Wallace, a New Testament scholar who has served as a consultant and editor on at least five Bible translations, told The the source earlier this year that Bible readers can benefit greatly from reading various translations.

"I think that English speakers should have more than one translation. If we have in our background a history of Christian thought in the Western world, especially in the English-speaking world, it's part of our tradition and it's important to own a lot more than one translation," said Wallace.

He suggested the King James Bible for English-speaking readers, citing its "elegance and its cadence and the beauty of its language."

"But it's not the most accurate anymore," Wallace added of the KJV. "So it's elegant, it's easy to memorize out of even though the language is archaic, but it's not always real clear and it's not always real accurate."

The Dallas Theological Seminary professor of New Testament Studies also suggested the NIV as a "reading Bible," expressing the opinion that the translation is good for reading discourses or narratives "a paragraph at a time, a chapter at a time…"

Other suggested translations were the NET Bible, ESV, NLT, the Revised English Bible and the Message.

Despite the number of translations available and the Bible being the world's most printed and widely distributed book, surveys have consistently showed that many Christians rarely read the Bibles they own.

While LifeWay Research reported in September 2012 that 80 percent of churchgoers do not read the Bible daily, the American Bible Society and Barna Research found in their "State of the Bible 2013" study that 57 percent of Americans read Scripture less than five times throughout the year.

Semina ya Neno la Mungu, Ushindi katika Malango yako ya Baraka.