By Christy Barritt

Pakistan Christian Sentenced to Death

Asia Bibi was open about her Christian faith as she worked on a Pakistani farm owned by a Muslim. Many of the Muslim women who worked with Bibi pressured her to renounce Christianity and accept Islam.

According to Voice of the Martyrs, when Bibi refused to renounce Christ, her coworkers began to beat her. Area Muslims then formed a plan to blacken her face and parade her through the village. Other Christians in the area informed the local police, who took her into custody in 2009 before she could be further injured. There she was charged with blasphemy.

On November 8, 2010, Bibi was sentenced to death by a judge. She’s still waiting to hear about an appeal she filed on their decision.

Two government workers who supported Bibi have since been assassinated.

Former Medium Now Ministers Through New Medium

Ben Alexander, a former medium who became a Christian nearly 50 years ago, has dedicated his life to exposing the occult and pointing people to the truth of God’s Word.

At 92 years of age, Alexander recently developed a resource tool that targets today’s youth through the online video streaming of YouTube. With the expertise and guidance of his friend Stuart Cook, Alexander has produced more than 93 videos on a wide range of topics including Wicca, Ouija boards, talking to the dead, demonic spirits, mediums, séances, and more.

Alexander is pleased with the feedback so far.

 “As with anyone who boldly proclaims the truth of God, I have received mixed feedback because some are simply not ready to accept the truth about the dangers and sin of the occult,” said Alexander in a letter he sent to churches. “Others have thanked me profusely for guiding them to the truth and releasing them from the bondage of sin.”

For more information on Alexander and his ministry, visit his website. 

Jesus Statue Illegal on Federal Land in Montana? 

In the mountains owned by the U.S. Forest Service over a Montana ski resort stands a statue of Jesus.

A special-use permit originally allowed the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization, to place the memorial there in the 1950s. The sculpture stands to honor local veterans of World War II.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation said that the icon cannot be on public land and is pushing for separation of church and state.

The Forest Service initially decided that the statue should be removed from public land and sent the Knights an order to have the statue removed within a year. It then changed its mind, but is now caught between those on both sides of the argument.

The statue may be eligible for a listing on the National Register of Historic Places, though receiving that title can be a lengthy process. Until then, the statue remains.

Hispanic Catholics Flocking to Evangelical Churches 

More second- and third-generation Hispanics are leaving their Catholic roots and turning to evangelical churches. Specifically, Hispanics are shifting toward Pentecostal churches, although nearly every denomination has seen an increase in recent years.

That’s according to several recent studies and articles, including those by the Barna Group, the Pew Research Center, and National Public Radio.

“You cannot help but notice the changing relationship between Hispanics and the Catholic church,” said George Barna of the Barna Group. “While many Hispanic immigrants come to the United States with ties to Catholicism, the research shows that many of them eventually connect with a Protestant church.”

These studies are showing various reasons for the shift, including less pressure from family and an inclination to a freer expression of worship.

Christy Barritt is an award-winning author, freelance writer, and speaker living in Chesapeake, Virginia. She and her husband Scott have two sons.  www.christybarritt.com