The Religious tolerance and co-existence is becoming a old myth in north Indian States.  Especially B2B want to attract all fellow believers attention to Chhattisgarh, where an Orissa tragedy can be repeated.  As per available data the Orissa violence is part of a conspiracy by the saffron parties aiming the majority Hindu vote bank. We request your valuable prayer for states like Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.

IHT reports more death in Orissa Hindu-Christian violence.  Police imposed a curfew in the Kandhamal district of Orissa state after overnight attacks by hardline Hindu organizations. see IHT report

Read this link Fr. Pius Fernandes Writes from Orissa :

http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=50291&n_tit=Fr.%20Pius%20Fernandes%20Writes%20from%20Orissa%20%3A%20Christians%20in%20Deep%20Trouble

Orissa: Christians Burnt alive

Two persons were burnt alive and a pastor injured as activists of Vishwa Hindu Parishad(VHP) and other saffron outfits attacked churches and Christian villages in Orissa an Indian state notoriously know as the 'graveyard of  missionaries'.  The saffron parties (Hindu parties, as for the Hindus saffron is their holy color) called the bandh to protest the killing of VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati, 80, who was shot dead along with four of his disciples at his ashram.  The Orrisa Christians do not had any  part in this incident -the police already arrest five Maoists in connection with this murder-but unfortunately in Orissa Christians are always in receiving part. 

The bandh turned violent as the protesters attacked and burnt down a number of churches at Padmapur , Khurda, Sudergarh, Sambalpur, Koraput, Boudh, Mayurbhanj, Jagatsinghpur and Kandhamal districts, also in state capitol Bhubaneswar.  40 houses were set ablaze in Phulbani town. The protestes burnt down an orphange, run by a Christian organization with the care taker women and the Pastor inside.  While the woman died, the pastor was rushed to hospital with serious burns.  Twenty children, who were at the orphanage, managed to escape.  Another person, Rasananda Pradhan, was burnt to death when his house was set to fire in Kandhamal district where the VHP leader was shot  down.  Please pray for the suffering Church in Orissia.

At last the board of directors of  Fresh Fire Ministries cleared all the clouds about the separation of Todd and his wife.  They announced that an unhealthy relation with a female staff member made all the problems and on Todd's official website they apologized openly. They wrote in  http://www.freshfire.ca/ ,   "We wish to acknowledge, however, that since our last statement from the Fresh Fire Board of Directors, we have discovered new information revealing that Todd Bentley has entered into an unhealthy relationship on an emotional level with a female member of his staff. In light of this new information and in consultation with his leaders and advisors, Todd Bentley has agreed to step down from his position on the Board of Directors and to refrain from all public ministry for a season to receive counsel in his personal life.

On behalf of the Fresh Fire leadership and the Board of Directors we wish to apologize to our friends and partners and to the larger body of Christ and to ask for your forgiveness. We are truly sorry for the pain many of you must feel and so regret that in the midst of great revival, the enemy has found a way into our camp. To those who have stood by us, we wish to thank you for what in many cases has been years of support. Thank you for your financial giving towards the vision of this ministry, and thank you especially for your prayers. For those of our partners, friends and supporters who may be struggling with the recent disclosures and finding continued support of this ministry in conflict with either conscience or conviction, we release and bless you with all our hearts and trust that God will redeem in your hearts the good that He has accomplished in your lives through this ministry. It is our sincerest hope and prayer that the Lord bless you and bring you into your fullest destiny in Him."  While Back2bible discerned Todd as a false prophet some of our reader were not happy, now we all know it is how important to  discern the spirits.      

The Christian activist, reported earlier by back2bible as  missing after he was confronted by security officials while en route to a church service attended by President Bush has escaped police detention, his brother said Monday.  Hua Huilin said his brother Hua Huiqi hoped to be able to tell President Bush the people praying with him were not real Christians. Hua Huiqi is an underground pastor who has been arrested several times because of his religious activities.  Bush has been criticized for attending a state-sanctioned church instead of the private so-called "house" churches even as he has put pressure on China for greater religious freedom. Hua Huilin said he was released around 2:00 p.m. and the bikes and phones were returned to him but not the Bibles. Later that night, he got a call from the police asking if his brother Hua Huiqi was back home. The police said Hua Huiqi had escaped while they were sleeping, Hua Huilin said.  Hua Huilin's statement suggests back2bible's earlier report was right in regard with the people gathered for  Sunday worship with the U.S. President.

Click Here for a letter that Hua Huiqi, who is in hiding, sent to an activist group

Todd Bentley, the controversial evangelist who has led the Florida Outpouring revival, Lakeland since April 2, has filed for separation from his wife and might not return to the revival, according to his local spokesperson, Lynne Breidenbach. She said Bentley made the announcement to his staff this afternoon. Bentley and his wife, Shonnah, have two daughters and a son and are Canadian citizens. Under Canadian law, separation is a first step in divorce proceedings and takes nine months.  Bentley and his wife have been in marriage counseling for several months, Breidenbach said. She called the situation “very sad”  and it is not clear whether Bentley will make further appearances at the revival. About two weeks ago, Bentley announced he would leave the revival on Aug. 23 in order to resume his traveling evangelistic work. The Fresh Fire Ministries Web site indicates that a September appearance by Bentley in England has been postponed.  This incident underlines what Back2bible Malayalam online magazine told about Todd in it’s July issue. 

source : religionnewsblog

As Olympics  is going on in China Back2bible want to bring it's readers attention to the suffering church in China.  Reports from China showing that still the religious freedom in China is a mirage.  According to the news from CWN,  Hua Huilin and his brother, Hua Huiqi, a housing activist and member of Beijing's underground Christian church, were stopped by two black cars while bicycling to Kuan Jie Protestant Church around dawn.  Hua Huilin said they were taken away in separate cars by security agents, whom his brother recognized from previous encounters. Hua said they took away his brother's Bible and cell phone. He was released in the afternoon, but Hua Huiqi was taken to an undisclosed location.  The interesting thing is they were one the way to a church Sunday service attended by President Bush in the Chinese capital.  The past history of communist countries revealed that this is a modus operandi followed by communists, when free world leaders visit them they will arrange fake Sunday worship service to pretend everything is going fine under communism.  The people thronged for the worship services consist of party/Government agents only.  They will make it sure that non of the real believers will be present near the venue to disclose the facts.  Earlier in July end a Statement by the Press Secretary on President Bush's Meeting with Chinese freedom leaders revealed that President Bush is highly concerned about the religious freedom in China.  He told the activists that engagement with Chinese leaders gives him an opportunity to make the United States' position clear - human rights and religious freedom should not be denied to anyone.  It is time to pray for our brethrens in the Great land of China, if God broke down the iron curtain, believe,  now it is the time for the bamboo Curtain.

American President George Bush attended Church Service in the capitol of China

"Once there is life, how can you kill it?" Bombay High Court ruled out Mehta's  petition for abortion (4th August 2008)

Bombay High Court in an important and mile stone verdict ruled out Niketa and Haresh Mehta's application for allowing to abort their 26-week-old unborn child.  The child was diagnosed with congenital complete heart block. The Bhayander residents moved the high court seeking an amendment in the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971, to permit an abortion beyond the 20th week of pregnancy when there is a risk not only to the mother but also to the child.  According to the act, abortion beyond 20th week is only allowed when there is a risk to the mother.

The bench of justices RMS Khandeparkar and Amjad Sayed ruled out the petition.  "Once there is life, how can you kill it?" Justice Khandeparkar asked.  On an humane note, Justice Khandeparkar remarked: "Sorry, we can not help You."  This decision of Bombay High court once more upholds the dignity of Indian Judiciary.  The couple-the first to come forward with such a petition- is yet to decide on their further course of action.  The Mehta’s can move to the Supreme Court but more time will be lost and ultimately an abortion may not possible at all.

While all these issues are fuming in media, Back2Bible got some interesting prayer request in it's ‘Prayer request’ inbox.  Susan (Name Changed) from South India put this prayer request that she is pregnant for five months and her baby is diagnosed having congenital heart problem.  But Susan approached the right place from where she will get help contrary to the worldly people.  Back2Bible appreciate her faith not to ‘kill’ but  to relay on Jesus to heal her child.  

Niketa & Haresh Mehta

BJP sent legal notice against Nagma    ( 3rd August 2008, 21.00 IST)

Popular actress Nagma, who attends New Life Fellowship's Juhu Church, Mumbai, had endeared herself to the Christian community by her recent announcement that she had accepted Jesus Christ as her personal saviour, has earned the ire of the Bharatiya Janata Party.  The legal cell of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has sent a lawyer’s notice to the actress for allegedly hurting the ‘religious sentiments’ of other communities. In a press conference held at Tirunelveli on July 24, the general secretary of the BJP’s legal wing Sridhar Murthi told media persons that Nagma had ‘hurt the sentiments of other religions’ in her message at Nalumavadi in Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu.

Nagma had attended a fasting prayer meeting organized by Jesus Redeems in Nalumavadi recently. While sharing her testimony at the meeting, she had reaffirmed her commitment to follow Jesus Christ.

However, Sridhar Murthi said the party would decide on the next course of action based on her response to the lawyer’s notice. The actress, who ruled the roost in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi films from 1993 to 1997, first shared her testimony at a prayer meeting for film artistes organized in Chennai by Jesus Redeems' ministries founder Bro. Mohan C Lazarus. In that meeting, she said she is ready to preach the Gospel in every city and town that the Lord takes her to.

Nagmas testimony in youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWUXemdVkgs&feature=related

Source :  Christian messenger. in

     Nagma Preaching

The Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party government in Gujarat state has disclosed that there were only three complaints of alleged “forcible” conversions in the state in the last 10 years, and only two of those concerned Christian conversions.  One was in 1997 and other was filed in  2007.  The state Home Department made the embarrassing disclosure after Samson Christian, a leader of the All India Christian Council (AICC), sought the information under the Right to Information Act of 2005. The Act makes it mandatory for government authorities to furnish information concerning public matters sought by any citizen.  The BJP government’s reluctant admission coincided with the notification of the rules under the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act of 2003 on July 10. The rules were framed on April 1, and their notification was the last formality in the implementation of the law.  May be after the law is fully implemented, the BJP Government will try to increase the complaints of ‘forced’ conversation to justify the law.

As District Collector banned all worship services until the Court order to come there will not be worship services on 13th July Sunday in Heavenly Feast, Kottayam.  The area is now under Police act 30 which prohibits people to gather in groups and conduct meetings.  Dist. Collector in his press release announced that the property in which the worship centre is situated is in Br, Thanku's ownership.   The construction  made there is illegal as the land is agricultural land and he got only permission to build a pump house there.  Ten days police act will end on Monday.  There is new reports like  people started  to scatter from the group and some had started new fellowships.

Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) youth wing of  Communist Marxist party attacked Gospel Meeting organized by  Devasia Mullkkara in Ponkunnam, Kerala.  They burned palm lets kept out side for distribution.

Nature dared to prove that the Superscription related to Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai was wrong.  The Dargah, which is the tomb of a Muslim saint drew a lot people as it is situated some 500 meters away from the shore and it was believed that the pathway to the Dargah will not go under water at any seasons or even at high tide.  However, on Sunday the pathway to Haji Ali went under water during the high tide.  This is happening second time in past two days.  We do not think the poor masses whose eyes are tied up, will be able to realize facts.  A few years ago people were hysteric to drink and store the most polluted sea water near Mahim Dargah as they believed because of the saint's power in that Dargha the salty see water become sweet.  People ignored to hear the scientific opinions. One week before some Catholics in city came out with a fake miracle, which Back2bible has reported earlier.      .     

A strong mob of thousands of  SNDP members, an Hindu group, attacked the Sunday Worship service of Heavenly Feast in Kottayam.  They pelted stone to the worship centre and manhandled its believers who were on their way to Sunday service.  Police were present at the site as there was tension among the groups from morning itself.  Seven believers got injured in the clashes and around 22 SNDP workers got injured in police lathicharge.  The situation was brought under control only after police used four rounds tear gas shells and three rounds hand grenades beside resorting to a lathicharge.  As tension was getting worse Heavenly Feast canceled yesterdays worship service.  SNDP got furious against Heavenly Feast, which is lead by Thanku brother (Dr. Mathew Kuruvils),  as it converted some 2500 SNDP families and more are getting attracted by Christian faith.  Back2bible invites all believers’ prayer for Kerala State, which is once considered as one of the safer place for Christians.   Let us keep away minor doctrinal issues aside for a while and be united in prayer to fight back against our 'real' foe who is behind all these happenings. 

Do you Think if St. Paul is alive today will he allow the celebrations going on in his name?  The traditional Churches are celebrating  St. Paul's 2000th year of birth. Benedict XVI has declared June 2008 through June 2009 the year of Saint Paul in celebration of the 2,000th anniversary of the saint's birth. In short the R C Church want to  'market' the remains of  St. Paul which is Conserved in the cathedral  having his name. May be the other saints had lost their 'TRP'. The Church already forgot to look to its savior and corner stone Jesus Christ. They always want to enact some drama which will help them to deviate their followers attention from Biblical truths.  If Paul was here today he will raise his voice to it's top and ask the same question he asked to  the people of  Galatians ( Gal. 3:1) "You foolish Galatians! (Here Change the name with the denomination's  name).  Who has bewitched you?". 

PCNAK, (Pentecostal Conference of North American Keralites) will be held from July 3-6 in Atlanta, GA at the Cobb Galleria Center (Two Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339).  International Speakers like Nick Vujicic (Nick is a motivational speaker who is born without limbs), Dr. Morris Cerullo, John Gray (Actor/Musician), and Rev. Tommy Bates will minister in this conference.

For More details http://www.pcnak.org/

Thousands of People form different faith queued up outside the St Michael's Church in Mahim on Saturday to catch a glimpse of the framed picture of Jesus Christ with a red stain on his heart, being considered by devotees a miracle. But Fr Donat D'Souza of St Michael parish said the darkening of the stain was noticed soon after the last service in the Church on Friday at around 8.45 pm. "It could be caused by moisture," he said.  But most of the Catholics associated with the Church believe it as a miracle rather than a monsoon game.  The Evangelical/ Bible based believers in City are having another version, for them it is a monsoon effect or a fake miracle to attract people as the church is celebrating 60th anniversary of Our Lady of Perputal Succour. According to them  for argument if it is accepted as a miracle, it is not from the same Jesus Christ in Bible as he will never do any thing which encourage idol worship.  They warn the believers  not to be trapped by satan's tricks.  Back2bible is having the same question which came through Yahoo Answers "Was the sacrifice of putting Jesus on cross not sufficient to nullify our sins that now his photograph has to bleed....?

Mahim Church's Stained Jesus picture

The controversy over class VII social science textbook which is glorifying Atheism and trying to impose communist ideology is brewing in Kerala.  The religious groups and opposition parties came out with strong protest but still the ruling Communist is not ready to withdraw the textbooks.  The main allegations are the revolutionary thoughts in the textbook will not digest to 12 year student in class VII, which will only encourage rebellious attitude and their is portion kept for glorifying Atheism.  Another issue is with twisting Historic facts according to party line  is throughout seen in the textbook (This is common with communists allover the world). Altogether it looks like the study material is prepared by some comrades who have experience in preparing  notes for party study classes.  Earlier Back2bible reported about the communist hunting against religious institutions in Kerala.  Keeping all the facts together it unmask the real face of Indian communism which is still having the 'Communist Red India' dream. Unfortunately they know only to twist history, not to learn from it.           

Pastor  M. V. Philipose Western Dist. Council of  Maharashtra Superintendent

Pastor M. V. Philipose is reelected as the Superintendent of   South India Assemblies of God Western Dist. Council of  Maharashtra.  Pastor Mathew Varghese is also reelected as the District Secretary. 

This is not a joke, but some trusts owning Church property in Mumbai are  busy with selling prime properties.  The fact is most of the Churches  were not functioning well as the folk already left.  Some of these churches are having heritage value.  Now the situation is more than one trust is claiming ownership on each of the property.  As Real Estate prices are booming these properties are worth crores of Rupees. The Bishops and leaders are busy with dealing court cases regarding these properties.   

The latest issue is with Worli Methodist Church, some members formed a trust and made a deal with builder saying they own the land and sold it  for 200 Crore and took Rs 47 lakh advance.  The scam came to light when agitated parishioners who discovered the fraud filed complaints with the office of the charity commissioner before work on the project could start.  After the first deal three more trusts each claiming to be owners of the property, approached the firm.  The construction firm has filed complaints at Worli Police Station claiming they were duped by the trusts into believing that they were owners of the land.  Some other property deals that have been questioned in Mumbai include the Afghan Church in Coloba which is a tourist attraction and another church in Agripada. Anyway media got a chance to celebrate. They emphasize now  the churches  are empty which were once overcrowded.  According to media people lost interest in old Parishes. 

(Read full story in Back2bible online magazine June issue which will be available on 21st June, "Why the Mumbai Christians left their Churches? Is Christianity is in a downfall?")

      A Rand Corporation study released on 10th June reported that a pledge to remain a virgin until married is helping some teens and young adults in delaying the start of sexual activity.  In a Society where the morel degradation is at the peak and a generation running away from divine values this is a news which is encouraging.  The study queried 1,461 adolescent virgins aged 12 to 17 in 2001, and then again one and three years later.  About one-quarter of the group had made a virginity pledge during the initial survey. There has been conflicting evidence on the effectiveness of virginity pledges, which initiated in the United States in 1993 by the Southern Baptist Convention. The pledges are now encouraged by hundreds of churches, schools and colleges around the world.   Estimates indicate that among adolescents in the United States, 23 percent of females and 16 percent of males have made a virginity pledge. 

       Here we cannot forget the impact made by 'Promise keepers'  based in Denver, Colorado.  Promise Keepers has directly reached more than five and a half million men since its founding in 1990. In 1997, an estimated one million men gathered on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. and made the pledge to keep their purity.  This gathering marked arguably the largest of Christian men in modern U.S. history. Promise Keepers’ mission is to ignite and unite men to become passionate followers of Jesus Christ through the effective communication of seven promises to God, their fellow men, family, church and the world.  Promise Keepers’ vision is simply put in three words: “Men Transformed Worldwide.”     

click here for seven promises of Promise Keepers

Communist Government and Kerala Police who are hunting the  'Godmen' of  Kerala now turned to Christian institutions and on 24th of May raided Heavenly Feast premises and it's Founder Thanku Brothers residence.   They allegedly claim that they found foreign currencies worth more than one lack Indian Rupees and keeping that much Foreign money is not legal in India.  The Police had taken some more important documents of his property and all.  But yet now no cases are charged against him.  Br. Thanku (Dr. Mathew Kuruvila) told to the media that The allegation are framed against him  as some political or religious influences are working behind all these issues.  According to Br. Thanku  they wanted the media attention away from the so called 'Godmen'.  Anyway these issues are not directly affecting the worship going on in Kottayam, as per the reports from Kottayam the 25th Sunday worship service drew much crowd than the earlier against the speculations about the folk will scatter.      

The new Maoists who have swept to power in Nepal want to regulate the open border and travel between India.  It  is becoming an issue for  prayer concern as earlier the missionaries from India were using the friendly open border policy to visit Nepal.  Now Communist party of Nepal (Maoist) who have hard line thinking will make the situations worse than the Hindu rulers.   

On Friday (18/04/2008) Mumbai police rescued a 17 year old minor girl from Chhattisgarh after she was  sold for Rs. 16,000 to a brothel in Mumbai. The victim had come to Mumbai looking for a job as a maidservant.  Senior Inspector N R Mali said that the victim, a tribal Christian, was the only daughter of her parents who worked as farm labourers in Sonapur village in Raipur district of Chhattisgarh.  Coming from a poor background, she was lured to Mumbai with promises of a job as a maidservant. "She and three other girls came to Mumbai a year ago. She initially got a job in a house at Bandra. However, eight months ago she met Tiwari and Tirki at a local Church who were arrested under the Prevention of immoral Trafficking Act" This incident arise the question where is good Samaritans who are working for uplifting the poor Christians in Indian villages  

Pr. T. J. Samuel is elected as the Superintendent  of  Assemblies Of God Malayalam Dist.   He is Assemblies Of God All India Secretary and who have been in Malayalam District Superintendent's  post  for several times. Pastor K. J. Mathew,  Senior Minister and renowned Bible teacher, became Asst. Superintend and Pastor Babu George, Ranni is elected as General Secretary. The tenure for the Council is for two year.

Pr.  T. J. Samuel

Pr. K. J. Mathew

  Pr. Babu George