International (MNN) — Four days ago, a mob of 4,000 Muslims attacked
a church and Christian homes on the outskirts of Cairo.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide
reports that the mob was triggered by the relationship between a Christian man
and a Muslim woman, which is forbidden under Sharia law.
Murder followed, as did
reprisal killings. Tensions grew as the
village Muslims blamed the Christians, spilling over into the attacks on March
5.
Reports indicated that the mob initially
prevented fire fighters from containing the damage to the church. There are
other reports indicating that the army would rebuild the church before Easter
holidays.
Despite the reconciliation
efforts, the recent attacks on Christians in the
Middle East demonstrate that believers are facing an uncertain future.
Open Doors says the persecution has created a
remnant church, specifically in Iraq. There, the body of Christ has been roughly reduced
to approximately 350,000.
To
address this issue, a conference on persecution is being held in the Chicago
area on March 12. The Persecuted Church: Christian Believers in Peril in the
Middle East will provide background about the struggle for freedom of
religion under hostile conditions. The conference will focus on the challenges
facing religious and ethnic minorities in the Middle East.
Representatives
from Christian communities in Egypt, Lebanon, and Iraq will testify about the
maltreatment of Christians and the daily threats faced by believers.
Representatives from Christian organizations working in the Middle East will
also speak.
One of the speakers is Dr. Carl Moeller, president/CEO of Open
Doors USA. Open Doors is an organization that for over a half century
has covertly come alongside Christians in 60 of the most restrictive and
dangerous countries, campaigning for their freedom to believe from the gulags
in North Korea to the halls of Congress.
"It
is a privilege to be a part of this conference," says Moeller. "I am thankful
to be able to speak on the Middle East with others who care so much about
persecuted Christians there. This is an important and timely conference,
especially when we read the daily headlines coming out of the Middle East. I
urge those in the area to attend and learn the tenuous situation of persecuted
Christian in these Muslim-dominated countries."
The
conference will be held on Saturday, March 12 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at
the Doubletree Guest Suites & Conference Center, 2111 Butterfield Road in
Downers Grove, IL. The fee is $20 which includes lunch. For more information, or to
sign up for the conference, call 888-736-3672, e-mail [email protected] or go to www.camera.org/events.
