Mandarin Moment: Should US Churches Switch from Spanish-Language Services?
China has overtaken Mexico as the No. 1 sender of legal immigrants to America.
Fred Biby thought his congregation was missing an opportunity.
Dozens of Chinese immigrants were sending their children to Bridges Community Church’s preschool. But th…
Mandarin Moment: Should US Churches Switch from Spanish-Language Services?
China has overtaken Mexico as the No. 1 sender of legal immigrants to America.
Fred Biby thought his congregation was missing an opportunity.
Dozens of Chinese immigrants were sending their children to Bridges Community Church’s preschool. But th…
Africa Has a New Islamic State. Or Does It?
The Gambia’s president has declared it so. Not everyone is convinced.
Today, the river nation of The Gambia is celebrating its 51st year of independence. The question is whether it is doing so as Africa’s second official Islamic state.
“In line with the country’s religious identity and values, I proclaim The Gambia as an Islamic state,” President Yahya Jammeh declared in December. “Accepting Allah’s religion as your religion and as your way of life is not negotiable.”
Pakistan, Iran, and fellow African nation Mauritania also identify themselves as Islamic states.
Jammeh hastened to reassure the Christian minority that this did not jeopardize their freedom to practice their faith.
“Let me make it very clear: that does not mean Christians cannot worship in their way of life,” he said. “Christians should be given their own respect; the way they celebrate Christmas or whatever will continue. In our relationship with all the rest of the religions, nobody has the right to interfere with their way of life.”
There will be no dress requirements as a result of this status, the president said.
“I have not appointed anybody as an Islamic policeman,” Jammeh said. “The way women dress is not your business; you are Muslim she is a Muslim; you should not tell her how she should dress, it is not your business, in the next world you cannot defend her.”
But just weeks later, Jammeh issued an executive order banning all female civil employees from having their hair uncovered at work.
Female staff “are no longer allowed to expose their hair during official working hours” and should “use head tie and neatly wrap their hair,” the memo said.
The directive lasted just over a week, and drew ire from …
Africa Has a New Islamic State. Or Does It?
The Gambia’s president has declared it so. Not everyone is convinced.
Today, the river nation of The Gambia is celebrating its 51st year of independence. The question is whether it is doing so as Africa’s second official Islamic state.
“In line with the country’s religious identity and values, I proclaim The Gambia as an Islamic state,” President Yahya Jammeh declared in December. “Accepting Allah’s religion as your religion and as your way of life is not negotiable.”
Pakistan, Iran, and fellow African nation Mauritania also identify themselves as Islamic states.
Jammeh hastened to reassure the Christian minority that this did not jeopardize their freedom to practice their faith.
“Let me make it very clear: that does not mean Christians cannot worship in their way of life,” he said. “Christians should be given their own respect; the way they celebrate Christmas or whatever will continue. In our relationship with all the rest of the religions, nobody has the right to interfere with their way of life.”
There will be no dress requirements as a result of this status, the president said.
“I have not appointed anybody as an Islamic policeman,” Jammeh said. “The way women dress is not your business; you are Muslim she is a Muslim; you should not tell her how she should dress, it is not your business, in the next world you cannot defend her.”
But just weeks later, Jammeh issued an executive order banning all female civil employees from having their hair uncovered at work.
Female staff “are no longer allowed to expose their hair during official working hours” and should “use head tie and neatly wrap their hair,” the memo said.
The directive lasted just over a week, and drew ire from …
Pastor of China’s Largest Church Jailed for Protesting Removal of 1,500 Crosses
Christian unity growing as government-approved churches no longer immune from persecution.
Until last month, Gu Yuese was the senior pastor at China’s largest government-approved Protestant church. In addition to his responsibilities at the Com…
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