NEWS ALERT: Secret Christian Church in Mecca

Friday, April 24, 2009 | Tag Cloud | Learn about out FREE SYNDICATION

Eric Leijenaar, Worthy News Senior Special Correspondent

MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA (Worthy News) — Christians have set up an underground church in Mecca, viewed by Muslims as the “holiest city in Islam”, while tens of thousands of other Saudi Christians are worshiping via the Internet, a mission group confirmed Friday, April 24.

“It is unclear how many people are participating in the church in Mecca, because people are afraid to talk about it openly,” said Jaap Bönker, director of Netherlands-based Arabische Wereld Zending, or ‘Arabic World Mission,’ which has close contacts with believers in Muslim nations.

News of the secret church comes despite strict rules forbidding non-Muslims to enter Mecca where huge ‘Muslim Only’ traffic signs warn outsiders about these regulations, reported Worthy News´ Dutch news partner Manna-Vandaag.nl

In addition, Bönker said, some 70,000 people are worshipping in what has been dubbed  Saudi Arabia’s ‘Skype Church’, a reference to an Internet program that allows people to communicate with each other via relative secure connections.

CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT

He said the developments are part of a growing Christian movement in “the heart of Islam” despite reports of persecution of Christian converts.

Bönker stressed his group is receiving reports “that God is active” across the Muslim world, including in Iran and Saudi Arabia. He also said there are “hundreds of Christians” in autocratically ruled Libya where there were only “some 20” known believers in 2003.

The official explained that satellite radio and television programs, the Internet, as well as “disbelief in [their] own religion, and especially visions and dreams” play a major role in the spread of Christianity.

He said Arabic World Mission is investigating ways to help new believers in Saudi Arabia to better understand their faith. “However it has become evident that God Himself” educates people “through His Spirit,” added Bönker.

We're being CENSORED ... HELP get the WORD OUT! SHARE!!!
Fair Use Notice:This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

Worthy Christian News