Baptists Committed to World Evangelism » Persecution

Not a Single Christian Church Left in Afghanistan, Says State Department

austin gardner — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:58:00 +0000

Can you believe that there is a country in the world that has not one small, struggling church the worships the Lord Jesus Christ. That is what this article reports based on US State department findings.

I am alarmed. I am asking God to raise up men and women and send them to Afghanistan. Will you pray with me? Will you read portions of this article and then pray? Will you do what you can do to get missionaries to this needy part of the world?

The source article can be found by clicking here.

(CNSNews.com) — There is not a single, public Christian church left in Afghanistan, according to the U.S. State Department.

This reflects the state of religious freedom in that country ten years after the United States first invaded it and overthrew its Islamist Taliban regime.

In the intervening decade, U.S. taxpayers have spent $440 billion to support Afghanistan’s new government and more than 1,700 U.S. military personnel have died serving in that country.

The last public Christian church in Afghanistan was razed in March 2010, according to the State Department’s latest International Religious Freedom Report. The report, which was released last month and covers the period of July 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010, also states that “there were no Christian schools in the country.”

“There is no longer a public Christian church; the courts have not upheld the church’s claim to its 99-year lease, and the landowner destroyed the building in March [2010],” reads the State Department report on religious freedom. “[Private] chapels and churches for the international community of various faiths are located on several military bases, PRTs [Provincial Reconstruction Teams], and at the Italian embassy. Some citizens who converted to Christianity as refugees have returned.”

Most Christians in the country refuse to “state their beliefs or gather openly to worship,” said the State Department.

“There were no explicit restrictions for religious minority groups to establish places of worship and training of clergy to serve their communities,” says the report, “however, very few public places of worship exist for minorities due to a strapped government budget.”

While the new constitution states that Islam is the “religion of the state” and that “no law can be contrary to the beliefs and provisions of the sacred religion of Islam,” it also proclaims that “followers of other religions are free to exercise their faith and perform their religious rites within the limits of the provisions of the law.”

However, “the right to change one’s religion was not respected either in law or in practice,” according to the State Department.

“Muslims who converted away from Islam risked losing their marriages, rejection from their families and villages, and loss of jobs,” according to the report. “Legal aid for imprisoned converts away from Islam remains difficult due to the personal objection of Afghan lawyers to defend apostates.”

The report does note that “in recent years neither the national nor local authorities have imposed criminal penalties on coverts from Islam.” The report says that “conversion from Islam is considered apostasy and is punishable by death under some interpretations of Islamic rule in the country.”

Also, in recent years, the death punishment for blasphemy “has not been carried out,” according to the State Department.

According to the State Department report, the United States continues to promote religious freedom in Afghanistan–even though the country no longer has even one Christian church.

“The U.S. government regularly discusses religious freedom with government officials as part of its overall policy to promote human rights,” according to the report.

According to the State Department report, more than 99 percent of the population, estimated between 24 and 33 million people, is either Sunni (80 percent) or Shia (19 percent) Muslim. Non-Muslim religious groups, including the estimated 500 to 8,000 strong Christian community in the country, make up less than 1 percent of the population. Other non-Muslim groups in the country are Sikhs, Bahais, and Hindus.

This country is in great need of the gospel. It will mean someone risking everything to start underground churches in the country. What are you willing to do to help reach this area with the gospel?

Check out bcwe.org

The source article can be found by clicking here.

(CNSNews.com) — There is not a single, public Christian church left in Afghanistan, according to the U.S. State Department.

This reflects the state of religious freedom in that country ten years after the United States first invaded it and overthrew its Islamist Taliban regime.

In the intervening decade, U.S. taxpayers have spent $440 billion to support Afghanistan’s new government and more than 1,700 U.S. military personnel have died serving in that country.

The last public Christian church in Afghanistan was razed in March 2010, according to the State Department’s latest International Religious Freedom Report. The report, which was released last month and covers the period of July 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010, also states that “there were no Christian schools in the country.”

“There is no longer a public Christian church; the courts have not upheld the church’s claim to its 99-year lease, and the landowner destroyed the building in March [2010],” reads the State Department report on religious freedom. “[Private] chapels and churches for the international community of various faiths are located on several military bases, PRTs [Provincial Reconstruction Teams], and at the Italian embassy. Some citizens who converted to Christianity as refugees have returned.”

Most Christians in the country refuse to “state their beliefs or gather openly to worship,” said the State Department.

“There were no explicit restrictions for religious minority groups to establish places of worship and training of clergy to serve their communities,” says the report, “however, very few public places of worship exist for minorities due to a strapped government budget.”

While the new constitution states that Islam is the “religion of the state” and that “no law can be contrary to the beliefs and provisions of the sacred religion of Islam,” it also proclaims that “followers of other religions are free to exercise their faith and perform their religious rites within the limits of the provisions of the law.”

However, “the right to change one’s religion was not respected either in law or in practice,” according to the State Department.

“Muslims who converted away from Islam risked losing their marriages, rejection from their families and villages, and loss of jobs,” according to the report. “Legal aid for imprisoned converts away from Islam remains difficult due to the personal objection of Afghan lawyers to defend apostates.”

The report does note that “in recent years neither the national nor local authorities have imposed criminal penalties on coverts from Islam.” The report says that “conversion from Islam is considered apostasy and is punishable by death under some interpretations of Islamic rule in the country.”

Also, in recent years, the death punishment for blasphemy “has not been carried out,” according to the State Department.

According to the State Department report, the United States continues to promote religious freedom in Afghanistan–even though the country no longer has even one Christian church.

“The U.S. government regularly discusses religious freedom with government officials as part of its overall policy to promote human rights,” according to the report.

According to the State Department report, more than 99 percent of the population, estimated between 24 and 33 million people, is either Sunni (80 percent) or Shia (19 percent) Muslim. Non-Muslim religious groups, including the estimated 500 to 8,000 strong Christian community in the country, make up less than 1 percent of the population. Other non-Muslim groups in the country are Sikhs, Bahais, and Hindus.

This country is in great need of the gospel. It will mean someone risking everything to start underground churches in the country. What are you willing to do to help reach this area with the gospel?

Check out bcwe.org

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Not a Single Christian Church Left in Afghanistan, Says State Department

Dead Scientists and Facebook

Scott Newton — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:02:15 +0000

If you are like me, you have two questions about Johannes Kepler:

1. Why is he holding chopsticks in that portrait?

And more importantly…

2. What would 17th century German scientists think about modern issues?

One of the great tools that we have in communicating with people in missions is Facebook, and other social networking. It gives an easy way for people to know how to pray specifically for people and situations. It is great for missionaries to be able to share how how God is blessing, and let supporters see the fruit abounding to their account.

It has been great for us over the past year of deputation for those reasons, and also because it helps us stay in the loop and pray for other pastors, Christians, and churches that we have met.

However…. (cue ominous music)

There is a dark side to social media and the ministry: increased visibility also = increased opportunity to criticize from afar. FB often degenerates into a mudslinging contest. Think you are more separated than your fellow Christians? Blast them on FB! Annoyed by other people’s methodology? Throw some labels at them on FB!

I hate the fact that I have to be cautious about updating followers about where we are and who we are with, because someone is going to dislike that church/pastor. I’m a missionary, and I don’t have a “camp”, or a “circle”. I have a MINISTRY, and it’s not just to Spain: I really try to look at deputation as an opportunity to preach the Word, encourage, strengthen, and just generally feed God’s sheep.

Unfortunately, as anyone who knows me can testify to, I like to argue. I like to debate. I’m opinionated, I’m loud, and I don’t control my tongue as well as I should. I have foot-in-mouth disease like nobody’s business. So when I say that FB has a dark side, I’m not slinging mud at the mudslingers: I have a dark side. I have a carnal nature that has to be fought and suppressed if I want God to use me to be a benefit to His church and His cause.

I recently read some quotes from Johannes Kepler, and they were very convicting to me, and if they sound familiar, it’s because they are pretty biblical!

“My conscience commands me to love an enemy and not harm him, to avoid adding new causes for separation; it tells me that I ought to be an example of moderation and mildness for my enemy; perhaps though my actions, I might encourage him to do the same, and then at last may God send us the desired peace.”
Kepler, Glaubensbekenntnis, GW xii, 28:3-5

“My argument about religion is that the preachers are becoming too haughty in their pulpits. They do not live by the old simplicity. They arouse dispute; they bring up issues that hinder devotion, accuse one another wrongly, stir up the nobles and lords against each other, and cause many to fall away when a persecution begins.”

“I could quite the entire dispute by signing the Formula of Concord without reservations. Yet I cannot be hypocritical in questions of conscience. I would sign, if they accepted the reservations I have already presented. I want no part in the fury of the theologians. I shall not judge brothers; for even if they stand or they fall, they are still my brothers and brothers of the Lord. Since I am not a teacher of the church, I should pardon others, speak well of others and interpret favorably, rather than just indict, vilify and distort.”
Kepler, to Mastlin, December 12/22, 1616, GW xvii, nr. 750:260-66

So I’m not just preaching to the choir, I’m preaching to ME: let’s show some grace and moderation in how we treat God’s people, whether they are right or not!

The Summit is almost here! Have you registered? Check out www.BCWE.org!

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Dead Scientists and Facebook

Still praying for the life of the Iranian pastor

austin gardner — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:58:14 +0000

For more information please click here

I want to challenge you to be praying for the life of the Iranian pastor as we have all been doing. Things have still not been decided. Here is an article with some points to consider:

The former Bishop of Rochester has written to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to ask that he grant clemency to a pastor sentenced to death for apostasy.

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has been held in Lakan Prison, Rasht, since being found guilty of apostasy in September last year and sentenced to death, despite there being no such crime under Iran’s penal code.

“It appears that the court who sentenced Pastor Nadarkhani has chosen to impose a sentence which is beyond what is codified in the Iran Penal Code and contravenes both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICPPR), and article 23 of the Iranian constitution,” he said.

“Although the court has justified these actions we ask you to appeal to the Iranian Government to have compassion on Pastor Nadarkhani and grant him clemency.

“Iran has a long tradition of justice and of compassion and we appeal to the Iranian authorities to uphold this tradition in Pastor Nadarkhani’s case.”

Pastor Nadarkhani was told that the death sentence would be annulled if he recanted his faith and returned to Islam. In appeal hearings, however, the pastor has refused to give up his Christian faith.

There are concerns that the execution will go ahead after the Fars News Agency reported this week that the pastor is now standing trial for rape, extortion and security-related crimes rather than apostasy.

The news agency quoted the Deputy Governor-General of Gilan province, Golam-Ali Rezvani, as saying that Pastor Nadarkhani was a “Zionist” and “traitor” who had “committed security crimes”.

The pastor’s death sentence has been condemned by Foreign Secretary William Hague and human rights groups, including Christian Solidarity Worldwide and Human Rights Watch.

Mr Hague said the sentence demonstrated the Iranian regime’s “continued unwillingness to abide by its constitutional and international obligations to respect religious freedom”.

“I pay tribute to the courage shown by Pastor Nadarkhani who has no case to answer and call on the Iranian authorities to overturn his sentence,” he said.

Since the world condemns the religious persecution Iran wants to change the charge to rape. That is often how a cruel regime can cover up what they are doing. They change the charges so that they can still execute a man for loving Jesus.

Please continue to pray!

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Still praying for the life of the Iranian pastor

Walking away at crunch time – part 1

Jason Holt — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 21:08:44 +0000

Can you imagine spending long, exhausting days plowing and preparing a vast field? Can you imagine then carefully planting your crops and waiting for weeks to see that crop begin to sprout and grow ever so steadily? See yourself pulling weeds, keeping away the birds and small animals that would love to feast on the tender new shoots. As the heated summer days give way to the cool fall, you know harvest time is nearing. Imagine the time comes to start harvesting the fruit of all the labor, toil, and patience. As you begin to fill the first baskets and rejoice in the bountiful, plentiful crop, you suddenly turn your back on the ready harvest and walk away to look for another unkept, unworked field. The remaining harvest sits untouched on the vine while you and others deliberate about the next ‘more exotic’ challenge in some adjacent field.

This is what our missions movement has done in large part in Latin America. In the early 20th century, missionaries boldly planted the first gospel preaching churches in Latin America. They faced persecution and often imprisonment. Over the following decades more and more attention was given to this area of the world. In the 70s and 80s many missionaries began to see hundreds and even thousands come to Christ. In the 90s the momentum continued. But things have radically changed in the last decade. Now, most have lost interest in Latin America. When it came to crunch time in the harvest, at the peak of evangelism and church planting, most missionaries walked away.

As a young missionary serving in Chile, we have seen people saved essentially every week for six years and multiple men called to full time ministry. There is no doubt that if more workers would concentrate their church planting efforts in Latin America we could see thousands, if not hundreds of thousands come to Christ in our lifetime. We are in the early stages of a total religious revolution in Latin America. Now is the time to up our efforts not to retreat and abandon.

In the next post, we’ll see why this shift has happened and what have been some of the consequences to this shift.

Read more about Latin American missions at bcwe.org and thelatinbridge.com

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Walking away at crunch time – part 1

State Media Reports Iranian Pastor Facing Execution for Rape, Not Religion

austin gardner — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:48:14 +0000

The pressure must have affected Iran at least a little. They are now claiming that the Iranian pastor is facing execution for Rape not Religion. You can read the Fox News story right here.

Here are the highlights from this story:

Iranian evangelical pastor Yousef Nadarkhani has been sentenced to death for apostasy. (Christian Solidarity World)

Iran state media put out a stunning report Saturday claiming that imprisoned Christian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani is facing the death sentence for rape and extortion, not for apostasy and refusing to renounce his religion, as his lawyer, human rights groups and Western news media have reported.

“His crime is not, as some claim, converting others to Christianity,” the deputy governor of the Gilan province, Gholomali Rezvani, told Fars, the semi-official state news agency.

“He is guilty of security-related crimes.”

The Fars comments were part of a larger Iranian media push to counter reports that Nadarkhani was facing execution for refusing to recant his Christian faith.

“We’re trying to determine if this is the state-controlled media throwing it out there,” said Jordan Sekulow, Executive Director of the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ).

The interesting thing is that this is what we are hearing now. They must change what they say to avoid the pressure from the world for them to give him religious freedom.

“There’s been no mention of any other charges than apostasy in trial documents.”

In a ruling from the Iranian Supreme Court, translated into English by the ACLJ, Nadarkhani was sentenced to execution by hanging for, “turning his back on Islam” and “converting Muslims to Christianity.”

The ruling also alleges that he also participated in Christian worship by holding home church services and baptizing himself and others, effectively breaking Islamic Law.

FoxNews.com obtained a copy of the ruling and there is not a single mention of rape or extortion allegations.

Fox News reported earlier this week that Nadarkhani, 32, who ran a group of house churches in Iran, was facing execution after being convicted last November of apostasy.

Nadarkhani appealed his conviction all the way to the Iranian Supreme Court, and his appeals trial began last Sunday in Gilan province.

It was then that the married father of two young children refused to renounce his religion, according to his lawyer and rights groups monitoring the trial.

Dadkhah said neither Iranian law nor clerics have ever stipulated the death penalty as punishment for converting from Islam to Christianity.

Early Saturday in Iran, ACLJ received report from sources in Iran that Pastor Youcef is alive.

On Thursday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton released a statement saying: “The United States is deeply concerned by reports of the Iranian government’s continued repression of its people. Despite statements from Iran’s Supreme Leader and President claiming support for the rights and freedoms of Iranian citizens and people in the region, the government continues its crackdown on all forms of dissent, belief, and assembly. We are particularly concerned by reports that Christian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani is facing execution on charges of apostasy for refusing to recant his faith.”

Also on Thursday, the White House condemned the conviction and possible death sentence, saying the execution would further demonstrate Iranian authorities “utter disregard” for religious freedom.

Governments conveniently change the charges or publicize that the charges are something else. That is exactly what they will do in all of the countries that repress religious freedom. Will you continue to pray for this brother.

Do not easily believe the charges that it is rape. That is an amazing change of events. Remember they simply want to shut down the gospel.

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State Media Reports Iranian Pastor Facing Execution for Rape, Not Religion

Meet John James

austin gardner — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 13:20:47 +0000

Many of our people have been persecuted for their faith. This story is of a man that loved God, preached the Word, and did not get involved in politics but was put to death by false accusations. Read it, learn, and enjoy!

James, Rev. John, was pastor of the Baptist church meeting in Bulstake Alley, Whitechapel, London. In the latter end of 1661, Mr. James was rudely interrupted twice by officers of the law while preaching to his own people, and commanded to come down.

Then he was dragged out of the pulpit. A perjured wretch named Tipler, a journeyman pipe-maker, charged him with uttering treasonable words against the king; and so disreputable a person was Tipler that the justice refused to commit Mr. James on his testimony, unless it was corroborated; but this was done, and the good pastor was sent to the Tower.

On the 14th of November he was brought before Chief-Justice Forster, and three other judges, at Westminster Hall, where he was charged with “endeavoring to levy war against the king; with seeking a change in the government; with saying that the king was a bloody tyrant, a blood-sucker, and a bloodthirsty man, and that his nobles were the same; and that the king and his nobles had shed the blood of the saints at Charing Cross, and in Scotland.”

To this indictment he pled “not guilty, neither in matter nor form.” And there was not a tittle of evidence to substantiate one of the charges in any just court on earth. Mr. James was remanded to Newgate for four days, when the trial was to proceed: In the mean time he received a letter from a friend of distinction, who informed him that for many years there had not been such efforts to pack a jury, and that his only hope of safety lay in challenging them, or “most of the chief men of them.”

When Mr. James was brought before the court, the chief justice exclaimed, “Oh, oh, are you come?” “and this was a specimen of the way in which his trial was conducted.” He was condemned according to the plot of those who planned his murder; and the next day, after the court had sentenced him, his wife presented a petition to King Charles II. proving his innocence, and appealing for mercy; but the only reply of his majesty was, “Oh! Mr. James, he is a sweet gentleman,” “and the door was shut against her.”

The next morning she made another appeal to him; and his cruel response was, “He is a rogue, and shall be hanged.”

When he was asked if he had anything to say why sentence of death should not be pronounced upon him, his answer was: “As for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as it seemeth good and meet unto you. But know ye for certain that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of mine eye.” And when Mr. James heard his sentence, he immediately added, “Blessed be God, whom man hath condemned God hath justified.”

At Tyburn, where he was hung, drawn, and quartered, his remarks were gentle and loving, and his soul brave and full of hope. “His quarters were taken back to Newgate prison on the sledge which brought him to the gallows, and they were afterwards placed on the city gates, and his head was set upon a pole opposite his meeting-house.”

John James was an inoffensive and benevolent man, free from any blemish in his character, and guiltless of every charge in the indictment.. He was savagely murdered by Charles II., his courtiers, and his tools, the judges, to terrify the Dissenters, and especially the Baptists, into loyalty.

Undoubtedly the vengeance of God, invoked by the innocent blood of John James, had something to do with driving the Stuarts from the throne of England. Mr. James was a Seventh-Day Baptist.

Roger William Heritage Archives Editors. (2003; 2003). Baptist Biographies. Roger Williams Heritage Archives.

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Meet John James

Pray for Persecuted Brethren around the world

austin gardner — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:19:07 +0000

Iran would like to keep quiet what they are doing. They do not want a public outcry. We must get the word out. This should be on the top of the charts as far as news today.

The Fox News article says:

“The key is to keep up the pressure and to publicize the story because it obviously outrages most people,” Auerbach said. “It’s part of the pattern of persecution based on religion in Iran.”

House Speaker John Boehner said Nadarkhani’s case is “distressing for people of every country and creed,” according to a statement released on Wednesday.

“While Iran’s government claims to promote tolerance, it continues to imprison many of its people because of their faith,” the statement read. “This goes beyond the law to an issue of fundamental respect for human dignity. I urge Iran’s leaders to abandon this dark path, spare [Nadarkhani's] life, and grant him a full and unconditional release.”

“Will President Obama, and the free world, allow the United Nations to continue in its cowardly silence on this matter?”

Please help spread the word. We have friends that serve the Lord Jesus in countries that still persecute believers and those that would preach the word.

The believers there are strong. They love Jesus. They will not recant. They will not deny Jesus even if it means losing their life or their freedom.

I long to see those people all over the world get a chance to see and hear the gospel. They can accept if they want. There should be freedom of conscience and no government force either way!

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Pray for Persecuted Brethren around the world

IRAN: Next 24 hours critical to stop the execution of Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani

austin gardner — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:06:50 +0000

You can get involved by sending an email right now! Click here to help.

These are the facts from the web page asking you to get involved:

The facts:

- Pastor Nadarkhani is repeatedly being asked by the court in Rasht to renounce his faith in order to avoid execution and that the last chance he will be given to do so is tomorrow (Wednesday 28th September), after which he could be executed at any time.

- Pastor Nadarkhani has been charged, and faces execution, solely on the basis of his adopting Christian faith. As such, the Islamic Republic of Iran is violating its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Article 18 includes a provision for the right to “have or to adopt” a religion, which has been interpreted authoritatively by the UN Human Rights Committee as including the right to change one’s religion.

- Iran’s constitution sanctions Christianity as a legitimate minority faith and asserts that Christians are allowed to freely carry out their religious rites. Article 23 asserts that no one may be “reprimanded simply because of having a certain belief”.

Fox News is reporting that they are hopeful that the pastor will be acquitted. You can read their article here!

Here are some excerpts for those of you that do not have time to go read the article:

The lawyer of an Iranian pastor sentenced to death for refusing to renounce his Christian faith is hopeful an appeals court will acquit his client.

Attorney Mohammad Ali Dadkhah says he believes in a “95 percent chance” of acquittal for 32-year-old Yusuf Naderkhani.

Dadkhah told The Associated Press on Thursday that he has appeared before the appeals court over the past four days and expects a ruling by the end of next week.
He says neither Iranian law nor clerics have ever stipulated the death penalty as punishment for converting from Islam to Christianity.

The pastor would rather die than renounce Jesus Christ as his Saviour! He is a modern day hero of the faith.

When asked to repent, Nadarkhani stated: “Repent means to return. What should I return to? To the blasphemy that I had before my faith in Christ?”

“To the religion of your ancestors, Islam,” the judge replied, according to the American Center for Law & Justice.

“I cannot,” Nadarkhani said.

Many of our brothers and sisters in Christ take a stand for Him around the world.

Nadarkhani is the latest Christian cleric to be imprisoned in Iran for his religious beliefs. According to Elam Ministries, a United Kingdom-based organization that serves Christian churches in Iran, there was a significant increase in the number of Christians arrested solely for practicing their faith between June 2010 and January 2011. A total of 202 arrests occurred during that six-month period, including 33 people who remained in prison as of January, Elam reported.

An Assyrian evangelical pastor, Rev. Wilson Issavi, was imprisoned for 54 days for allegedly converting Muslims prior to his release in March 2010, Elam officials told FoxNews.com.

Nadarkhani, a pastor in the 400-member Church of Iran, has been held in that country’s Gilan Province since October 2009, after he protested to local education authorities that his son was forced to read from the Koran at school. His wife, Fatemeh Pasandideh, was also arrested in June 2010 in an apparent attempt to pressure him to renounce his faith. She was released in October 2010, according to Amnesty International.

Nadarkhani was sentenced to death for apostasy last September based on religious writings by Iranian clerics, including Ayatollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, despite the fact that there is no offense of “apostasy” in the nation’s penal code, Amnesty International reports.

Please pray and consider sending an email right now! We must do what little we can pray. Pray and spread the word.

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IRAN: Next 24 hours critical to stop the execution of Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani

Meet Obadiah Holmes

austin gardner — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 12:01:46 +0000

Time to learn some Baptist history and to see what our forefathers suffered to get the gospel out. This might encourage us as we minister today in countries where it is also illegal to preach!

Holmes, Rev. Obadiah, was born at Preston, Lancashire, England, about 1606, and came to this country, as is supposed, about 1639. His religious connections were with the Congregationalists.

At first, in Salem, Mass., from which he removed to Rehoboth, where for eleven years more he continued in the church of his early choice. He there became a Baptist, and united with the Baptist church in Newport, R.I. In the month of July, 1651, in company with Dr. John Clarke and Mr. Crandall, he made a visit to William Witter, a Baptist, who resided at Lynn, Mass., about twelve miles from Boston.

The day after their arrival being the Sabbath, they arranged to have a religious service at the house of their host. In the midst of the discourse which Dr. Clarke was preaching two constables presented to him the following warrant: “By virtue hereof, you are required to go to the house of William Witter, and to search from house to house for certain erroneous persons, being strangers, and them to apprehend, and in safe custody to keep, and to-morrow morning at eight o’clock to bring before me Robert Bridges.” The three “erroneous persons, being strangers,” were at once arrested and carried, first to “the ale-house or ordinary,” and then forced to attend the meeting of the day. At the close of the meeting they were carried back to the “ordinary.” The next morning they were taken before Mr. Bridges, who made out their mittimus, and sent them to prison at Boston.

Having remained a fortnight there, they were brought before the Court of Assistants for trial, which sentenced Dr. Clarke to pay a fine of twenty pounds, Mr. Holmes thirty pounds, and Mr. Crandall five pounds, and in default of payment they were to be publicly whipped. Unknown to Mr. Clarke some one paid his fine, and Mr. Crandall was released on promise that he would appear at the next court.

Mr. Holmes was kept in prison until September, when, his fine not having been paid, he was brought out and publicly whipped.

Mr. Holmes says, “As the strokes fell upon me I had such a spiritual manifestation of God’s presence as the like thereof I never had nor felt, nor can with fleshly tongue express; and the outward pain was so removed from me that indeed I am not able to declare it to you; it was so easy to me that I could well bear it, yea, and in a manner felt it not, although it was grievous, as the spectators said, the man striking with all his strength (yea, spitting in his hand three times, as many affirmed) with a three-corded whip, giving me therewith thirty strokes.”—(Backus, i. 94. Newton.)

Such was the charity of New England Congregationalists of that day. Gov. Joseph Jenks has left on record the following: “Mr. Holmes was whipped thirty stripes, and in such an unmerciful manner that in many days, if not some weeks, he could take no rest, but as he lay upon his knees and elbows, not being able to suffer any part of his body to touch the bed whereon he lay.”

Mr. Holmes soon after removed to Newport. In 1652 he was ordained to preach the gospel, and took Dr. Clarke’s place as pastor of the Baptist church in Newport. He died in 1682. He left eight children, one of whom, Obadiah, was a judge in New Jersey.

Roger William Heritage Archives Editors. (2003; 2003). Baptist Biographies. Roger Williams Heritage Archives.

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Meet Obadiah Holmes

Be Not Weary in Well Doing

Travis Snode — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 09:43:49 +0000

2 Thessalonians 3:13 “But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.”

In the midst of all the persecution, trials, and work of life, we can get weary. God, through Paul, is encouraging the Thessalonians and us, to not get weary.

The word weary here means “to lose enthusiasm, to be discouraged, to lose motivation.” It is interesting that the weariness here is not so much an outward tiredness as it is a inner fatigue. When we get tired in our hearts and minds, we will get tired in our bodies. To keep from getting weary in well doing, we must have the Lord, His Word, and His Spirit continually stirring us up to serve Him.

The battle is in the mind, and to keep from getting weary, we must consider Jesus. Hebrews 12:3 says, “For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”

When we consider Jesus, we will be encouraged and we will keep from being wearied and fainting in our minds. This keep us going. This motivates us to keep doing well, to keep serving the Lord, and to keep going for Him.

Are you weary on the inside? Take some time to consider Jesus. Let Him feed your and strengthen your soul. Let Him stir up a fire in you! He will help you keep going on!

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Be Not Weary in Well Doing