The Chairman’s Report for April

In this issue of the newsletter
New: Will Capitol Hill hearings on Nigeria have a positive effect?
New: Will President Trump reinstate CPC status on Nigeria leaders?
New: Less than 1,000 Christians remain in Gaza – Most living in churches.
New: As Christians leave the Middle East, Islamic states become more radical.

Nigeria status: No movement on Capitol Hill

Over twelve years ago, in July 2012 I attended a hearing on Capitol Hill led by Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ). Congressman Smith has been a leading advocate of placing nations that persecute Christians on the State Department CPC list. (Countries of Particular Concern). At the time Congressman Smith was attempting to convince President Barack Obama to place Nigeria on the CPC list because of severe persecution of Christians.

The President is required to annually review the status of religious freedom in every country worldwide. Any country where the government has engaged in or tolerated “particularly severe violations of religious freedom” will be designated as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).

President Obama seemingly could find no persecution of Christians in nations such as Nigeria where Christians were killed for their faith.

During the hearing in July 2012 testimony was given showing that the Fulani herdsmen were indeed terrorists who killed Christians and boasted about it. Testimony told of kidnapping, rape and murder with impunity from elected officials.

The slaughter continued with no condemnation from America until 2020 when President Trump placed Nigeria on the CPC list. Joe Biden took office in 2021 and immediately took Nigeria off the CPC list.

During the short time Nigeria was on the CPC list the attacks on Christians were greatly reduced as the Nigerian government was forced to take some action. Then, Joe Biden took Nigeria off the CPC list so that the Muslim controlled government once again had a free hand at allowing the persecution of Christians by Fulani herdsmen and other terrorist groups.

Congressman Smith has for decades worked to bring attention to stopping the persecution of Christians in various nations. His spotlight on Nigeria comes at a time when it has become a slaughterhouse for Christians.

President Trump has been forced to focus on European issues including the mess in the Ukraine ever since his inauguration in January. Prayerfully, the hearings Congressman Smith chaired will also receive the Trump Administration’s attention.

Bethlehem

Critical situation: I don’t exactly know how to describe how bad the situation is for Christians in the “West Bank.” I believe I have mentioned the desperate state of Christians in the “West Bank” in several newsletters.

I have failed to mention the circumstances of Christians living in Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas, a group designated as “terrorist” by Western governments. Because of Israeli citizens held as hostages in Gaza, the area is under near constant attack by Israel.

Prior to October 2023 when Hamas entered Israel proper and kidnapped Israeli citizens, there were about 1,070 Christians in Gaza. Many of the Christian families took shelter in St. Porphyrius Church and Holy Family Church. Now there is little food, and sanitary conditions are poor because of the number of people.

Estimates are difficult under the circumstances, but as many as 200 Christians may have been able to escape to Egypt. Others somehow managed to escape by boat. I have received various estimates as to the number of Christians remaining. I have been given estimates of between 600 and 900. Because so many are hiding the true number, it is hard to know.

Catholic Relief Services (CRF) has stated that they and “partners provided food, shelter, hygiene supplies and cash assistance, reaching more than 1 million people in Gaza.” The part of the sentence in quotations marks is from the CRF Internet site. Keep in mind there are fewer than 1,000 Christians remaining in Gaza, and most of those are Catholic.

The Religious Freedom Coalition does not have the staffing or vehicles required to assist Christians in Gaza. We are, however, assisting some families who have managed to migrate from Gaza to Bethlehem and Beit Sahour in the “West Bank.”

Bethlehem is officially in the “West Bank” and is ruled by the Palestinian Authority. There are some token Christians in the Palestinian Authority, but they have no real power. I know and have been to the homes of Palestinian Authority officials who are Christians. There is little they can do to assist the Gaza Christians.

Christians in the Middle East are an ever-shrinking minority because they do not receive material or moral support from the West. About 75% of the Christians have left Iraq. Most Syrian Christians have fled to Lebanon.

As Christians flee the Middle East, and the Muslim majority grows, the Islamic radicalism also grows. In the 1970’s Iran, Iraq and Syria were secular nations. There is now some version of Sharia law in all three nations. Syria is now run by an Islamist who at one time had a $10 million reward on him.

Yes, Christians in the Middle East need our prayers. Prayer is also needed for miraculous events to occur to win millions to Jesus in Muslim majority nations such as Iran.

Orphanage Academic Building Progression