Leah Sharibu Inspires Nigeria’s Christians, Faces Execution by Boko Haram

October 18, 2018 — ChristianityToday.com reports: “Christians in Nigeria are desperately praying for 15-year-old Leah Sharibu as the one-month deadline to save the only Dapchi schoolgirl left in Boko Haram captivity draws to an end this week.

The terrorist group’s ISIS-affiliated faction threatened last month to kill the teenager, who was held back for refusing to renounce her Christian beliefs. The other hostages, 104 of her schoolmates, were released following negotiations with the Nigerian government in March.

Her resolute faith in the face of death has inspired evangelists, pastors, and everyday Christians across Africa’s most populous nation…”  (In May 2018, Leah’s parents Nathan and Rebecca Sharibu told USA Today: “My daughter is alive, but they wouldn’t release her because she is a Christian. They told her they would release her if she converted, but she said she will never become a Muslim. I am very sad, but I am also overjoyed because my daughter did not denounce Christ,”  This brave young girl is echoing the words of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, when they told King Nebuchadnezzar: “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” [Emphasis mine].  Revelation 2:10 states: “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”  See the next two reports.)

Pakistan delays decision on whether Christian woman will face death penalty for blasphemy against Islam

October 9, 2018 — FoxNews.com reports: “The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday delayed its ruling concerning the final appeal of a Christian woman who’s been facing the death penalty since 2010 for blasphemy against Islam.

The three-judge panel listened to Asia Bibi’s lawyer challenging accusations that she insulted Islam’s prophet, a crime punishable by death.

Mian Saqib Nisar, the country’s top judge, didn’t say when the ruling will be announced nor why they reserved their judgment. He ordered people present in the court to remain tight-lipped on the case.

Bibi was first accused of insulting Islam’s prophet back in 2009 when she tried to get water for herself and her fellow farmworkers. But two Muslim women refused to take a drink from a container used by a Christian…”  (Praise God – BBC News reported on October 31, 2018 that the death sentence was overturned and Asia Bibi could walk free from jail immediately if she was not wanted in connection with any other case.)

Asia Bibi’s daughter says she is ‘confident in God’ as family await verdict on death sentence appeal

October 12, 2018 — ChristianToday.com reports: “The daughter of a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy in Pakistan is putting her faith in God as the family await the final verdict on her appeal.

Asia Bibi was sentenced to death for blasphemy in 2010 after being accused of insulting Islam by Muslim co-workers on a farm where she worked.  She has been in prison ever since.

The Pakistan Supreme Court reached a decision on her appeal this week but is yet to publicly announce it. If the death sentence is upheld, Bibi will become the first person in Pakistan to be executed for blasphemy…”

Muslim Mob Stones Three Christians to Death in Kenya

September 28, 2018 — Breitbart.com reports: “An Islamist mob stoned three Christians to death in western Kenya this week in apparent retaliation for the recent killing of three suspected al Shabaab militants.

An eyewitness said that the killing happened at a construction site where one of the Christian victims, Fredrick Mukanda Bahati, was building a house along with two assistants. The men were mixing mortar in Elwak, Mandera, a town close to the Kenya-Somalia border, when they saw the mob arriving.

‘From a distance, I saw the men hurling construction stones towards Fredrick and his coworkers,’ the unnamed witness said.

‘The three managed to flee into a nearby hotel for safety, although they had been badly injured. The Muslims relentlessly followed them up and stoned them to death,’ he said…”  (“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.  Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.  Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven” – Matthew 10:28-33.)