Al-Shabaab Beheads four Christian Men in Kenya

Al-Shabaab Beheads four Christian Men in Kenya, Calls Victims Out by Name in House-to-House Raid

MOMBASA, Kenya - Suspected militants from the Somali group al Shabaab beheaded four men in two different attacks in Lamu County on Kenya's north coast on Wednesday, authorities said, a month after 12 people were killed in similar incidents in the region.

Lamu County Commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo said the attacks took place in Silini-Mashambani early on Wednesday where three were killed, while in a separate incident in Bobo village one person was killed.

Kitiyo said about 30 heavily-armed assailants went from house-to-house calling out victims by name before pulling some out and slitting their throats.

"They were dressed in military gear and had AK-47 rifles. They beheaded four men before fleeing into the forest. All the victims are men. Police have already arrived at the scene and taken the bodies to the mortuary," Kitiyo told Reuters by telephone.

He said the attackers surrounded all the victims' houses making it difficult for them to escape.

Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaab's spokesman for military operations, said the group was behind the attack, and put the number of those killed at five, saying it had targeted non-Muslims.

In August, al Shabaab attackers killed four men in a similar manner while earlier in July, nine men were slaughtered the same way in nearby villages.

After the latest attacks, protesters burned tires on the roads on Wednesday morning in complaint over insecurity. Riot police to fire teargas and rubber bullets to disperse them.

A government-imposed dusk-to-dawn curfew is in force in the area following past attacks.

The al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab aims to topple Somalia's United Nations-backed government and impose its own strict interpretation of Islam. They have intensified attacks in Kenya since it sent troops into Somalia in 2011.

They have also claimed responsibility for a series of cross-border attacks in recent months, including a spate of roadside bombings targeting security forces.




Cred: Christian Post

Florida braces for Hurricane Irma as Congressman asks for prayers

"We are very concerned and we ask for everyone's prayers.” - Rep. Carlos Curbelo

Miami, FL - As South Florida braces for a direct hit from Hurricane Irma, Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Florida, whose district includes a part of Miami and the Key West, says they are bracing for the worst and asking for prayer.

"We are very concerned and we ask for everyone's prayers," Curbelo told CBN News.


"We just marked in South Florida the 25th anniversary of Hurricane Andrew. I was 12 years old. It was a storm that devastated South Dade, the southern part of our community, and this storm looks awfully similar to it," continued Curbelo.

Curbelo is urging his constituents in mandatory evacuation zones to get out now.

He says this could be one of the deadliest storms the area has ever seen.

"Please keep the people of South Florida, the Florida Keys, other countries like Cuba, the Bahamas in your prayers," the Florida lawmaker urged, "because this is one of the deadliest storms, perhaps the deadliest, that I have ever seen develop in the Atlantic."




cred: CBN.com

When hope is fading

Day 36 (11 Sept 2017, Monday)

(Matthew 24:36 - 25:13)
Hope is fading.  Not because we are helpless.  On the contrary, because we are not helpless, when situations are beyond us, that is when we hope the most.  But when we are comfortable, when all is under control, there is little need for hope.  Take for example, a child in Disneyland is definitely not hoping to go home.  But a child fleeing as a refugee is hoping to go home.

The early church faced much persecution.  In their distress, they looked forward to the blessed hope - Jesus’ second coming, the new heaven and new earth, when there will be no more tears, when they will be in the fullness of God’s presence.  We, in comparison, have life pretty good here and now.  Consequently, we are not eagerly anticipating the hereafter.

Reading Matthew 24:36 - 25:13, you will find that what was supposed to be a blessed hope turned out to be quite the opposite because the servant and the five virgins were not expectant or well-prepared.

Their hope had faded over time.  The servant’s terrible lifestyle and the five virgins’ lack of action showed that they were no longer hoping.  Do your lifestyle and actions testify that the blessed hope is alive and well in you?  Or are you so comfortable with the present, like the child in Disneyland that Jesus’ second coming and eternity have faded into the background?

Pray for Unity in the Body of Christ

Pray that Christian leaders will have godly wisdom, courage and strength as they work together to resolve issues with the government & authorities during these critical times.
Pray for the favour of God to be upon them.

Pray that pastors, church leaders & churches to work together as ONE for the faith of the Gospel so that His blessings will flow in our land.

Declare that the body of Christ will see beyond their offences, and choose to live a life of forgiveness and to grow in maturity, so that the people who are outside the circle of our faith community will see His glory in the church.




 Necf Malaysia

Download 2017 NECF Malaysia  40Days Fast & Prayer (Prayer Booklet)

Developing the steadfastness of hope

Day 35 (10 Sept 2017, Sunday)

When trials and tribulations hit the Thessalonian believers, Paul commended their steadfastness of hope in our Lord Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 1:3).  It is through Him we draw our strength and inspiration from God.  The writer of Hebrews reminds us to look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

Here are eight ways of developing steadfastness:
Be positive about trials as they produce steadfastness (James 1:2-3)
Do not be anxious or fearful because God is with us (Romans 8:38-39)
Have faith in God to give us wisdom and strength (James 1:5, 2 Corinthians 12:9)
Affirm that the battle is God’s, not ours (2 Chronicles 20:12)
Worship God as if victory has been secured (2 Chronicles 20:21)
With thanksgiving, prayerfully commit our anxieties to God (Philippians 4:6)
Believe that God’s power can do far more than what we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20)
Recalling God’s past faithfulness and mercies (Psalm 77:11)

Jesus was able to endure the suffering because of the joyful prospect of seeing man reconciled to God.  Out of the anguish of His soul, He shall be satisfied for many are made righteous (Isaiah 53:11).  Therefore, we need to share the heartbeat of God and pray for the salvation of our nation.  Share Christ as we pray for souls to come into His Kingdom.

Pray for Breakthroughs in Evangelism  

Pray that every believer will possess a passion for the lost, especially for people who are close to us such as our family members, friends and colleagues.
Pray for the urgency and power of the gospel message to reverberate in our hearts that we may live it out daily.

Pray for an enlargement of our vision that will go beyond the confines of our comfort zones.
Pray that the vision for the lost will so consume us that it breaks our fear of rejection when it comes to evangelistic effort.

Pray for more workers to be raised up to reach the unreached in our land.
Pray for wisdom to find means to share the love of God to the unreached people groups.





 Necf Malaysia

Download 2017 NECF Malaysia  40Days Fast & Prayer (Prayer Booklet)

Muslim man became a Pastor in Europe

Testimony of a Muslim that became a servant of God

Your Testimony - God’s Story in You

You have a story and if your story is God’s story in you, then that story is a testimony and can be a powerful witness for Jesus Christ. Sharing your story requires thought but no special training. “You are an expert on what happened to you!” And you can share your testimony anywhere with anyone and give them the “reason for the hope that is in you.”

You can share about Jesus Christ through your story - what God has done for you, what He is doing, and how you have experienced his grace and goodness in your life.


Here’s a question for you: Are you Ready to share your faith story with others and how God’s story has transformed your story?  please use the contact us form or send an email via businessofchrist@gmail.com