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…
Morocco Declaration: Muslim Nations Should Protect Christians from Persecution
In Marrakesh, hundreds of Muslim leaders release modern update to Muhammad’s Charter of Medina.
For years, Texas megachurch pastor Bob Roberts has been building relationships with Muslims. Last year, after Franklin Graham argued that the US government should ban Muslims from immigrating to America, the NorthWood Church leader joined Muslim leaders in denouncing the comments. In October, he and imam Muhammad Magid hosted the Spreading the Peace Convocation, which was attended by nearly 200 imams and evangelical pastors.
This week, Roberts traveled to Marrakesh, Morocco, alongside more than 250 Muslim religious leaders, heads of state, and scholars, for a groundbreaking summit. On Wednesday, the Muslim leaders released the Marrakesh Declaration: a 750-word document calling for religious freedom for non-Muslims in majority-Muslim countries
“I’m blown away,” Roberts told CT from Morocco. “This is a Muslim conference put together by the top sheiks, ministers of religion, the grand muftis of the top Muslim majority nations, and they came up with a declaration, literally using the language of religious freedom to declare that violence cannot be done in the name of Islam.”
Led by 80-year-old United Arab Emirates sheik Abdallah Bin Bayyah, who leads the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, and sponsored by the government of Morocco, the summit looked to Muhammad’s Charter of Medina when drafting the declaration. From the seventh century, the document gives instructions for governing a religious pluralistic state, and was issued shortly after Muhammad arrived in Medina.
In particular, the declaration references the charter’s “principles of constitutional contractual citizenship” and “freedom of movement, property ownership, mutual …
Morocco Declaration: Muslim Nations Should Protect Christians from Persecution
In Marrakesh, hundreds of Muslim leaders release modern update to Muhammad’s Charter of Medina.
For years, Texas megachurch pastor Bob Roberts has been building relationships with Muslims. Last year, after Franklin Graham argued that the US government should ban Muslims from immigrating to America, the NorthWood Church leader joined Muslim leaders in denouncing the comments. In October, he and imam Muhammad Magid hosted the Spreading the Peace Convocation, which was attended by nearly 200 imams and evangelical pastors.
This week, Roberts traveled to Marrakesh, Morocco, alongside more than 250 Muslim religious leaders, heads of state, and scholars, for a groundbreaking summit. On Wednesday, the Muslim leaders released the Marrakesh Declaration: a 750-word document calling for religious freedom for non-Muslims in majority-Muslim countries
“I’m blown away,” Roberts told CT from Morocco. “This is a Muslim conference put together by the top sheiks, ministers of religion, the grand muftis of the top Muslim majority nations, and they came up with a declaration, literally using the language of religious freedom to declare that violence cannot be done in the name of Islam.”
Led by 80-year-old United Arab Emirates sheik Abdallah Bin Bayyah, who leads the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, and sponsored by the government of Morocco, the summit looked to Muhammad’s Charter of Medina when drafting the declaration. From the seventh century, the document gives instructions for governing a religious pluralistic state, and was issued shortly after Muhammad arrived in Medina.
In particular, the declaration references the charter’s “principles of constitutional contractual citizenship” and “freedom of movement, property ownership, mutual …
Noteworthy Deaths of 2015: Elisabeth Elliot, Robert Schuller, Andrae Crouch, and More
Here are the Christian leaders lost last year that CT readers mourned most.
Here are the 20 obituaries and tributes that CT readers circulated most in 2015, presented in chronological order.
Gospel Music Legend Andrae Crouch
He combined Saturday night with Sunday morning.
Marcus Borg, Liberal Jesus Scholar and Friendly Provocateur
Borg was a prominent leader of the Jesus Seminar, an effort to separate what Jesus scholars saw as fact from myth in the Gospels.
Steve Hayner, Former President of InterVarsity and Columbia Seminary
He was known for his presidency at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and later at Columbia Theological Seminary.
Samuel Hugh Moffett, a Leading Expert in East Asia Christianity
Global Christian mission should pivot to Asia’s 4.4 billion people, Moffett said.
Leanne Payne, Prominent Leader in Pastoral Care and Healing Movement
Author of seven books, she supported orientation change for gays and lesbians.
Lyle Schaller, Preeminent Church Consultant
No one may have advised more churches in the 20th century.
Kara Tippetts, Christian Mom and Blogger
Tippetts mustered a vulnerability and beauty in the deep, kind love she lavished on friends and family through her last days, a capacity deepened rather than dampened by cancer’s unwelcome intrusion into her life.
Robert Schuller, Forerunner of the Seeker-Sensitive Movement
The legacy of the audacious and optimistic TV preacher has much to teach Christians about missional creativity and loving those far away from the church.
The legend among preachers was known for his passion and eloquence.
Billy Ray Hearn, a Pioneer of Contemporary Christian Music
Hearn launched the careers of Amy Grant, Keith Green, Steven Curtis Chapman, and BeBe and CeCe Winans.
John ‘Jack’ Templeton Jr., Foundation President Who …
Noteworthy Deaths of 2015: Elisabeth Elliot, Robert Schuller, Andrae Crouch, and More
Here are the Christian leaders lost last year that CT readers mourned most.
Here are the 20 obituaries and tributes that CT readers circulated most in 2015, presented in chronological order.
Gospel Music Legend Andrae Crouch
He combined Saturday night with Sunday morning.
Marcus Borg, Liberal Jesus Scholar and Friendly Provocateur
Borg was a prominent leader of the Jesus Seminar, an effort to separate what Jesus scholars saw as fact from myth in the Gospels.
Steve Hayner, Former President of InterVarsity and Columbia Seminary
He was known for his presidency at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and later at Columbia Theological Seminary.
Samuel Hugh Moffett, a Leading Expert in East Asia Christianity
Global Christian mission should pivot to Asia’s 4.4 billion people, Moffett said.
Leanne Payne, Prominent Leader in Pastoral Care and Healing Movement
Author of seven books, she supported orientation change for gays and lesbians.
Lyle Schaller, Preeminent Church Consultant
No one may have advised more churches in the 20th century.
Kara Tippetts, Christian Mom and Blogger
Tippetts mustered a vulnerability and beauty in the deep, kind love she lavished on friends and family through her last days, a capacity deepened rather than dampened by cancer’s unwelcome intrusion into her life.
Robert Schuller, Forerunner of the Seeker-Sensitive Movement
The legacy of the audacious and optimistic TV preacher has much to teach Christians about missional creativity and loving those far away from the church.
The legend among preachers was known for his passion and eloquence.
Billy Ray Hearn, a Pioneer of Contemporary Christian Music
Hearn launched the careers of Amy Grant, Keith Green, Steven Curtis Chapman, and BeBe and CeCe Winans.
John ‘Jack’ Templeton Jr., Foundation President Who …
Featured
