Church Officials: 15,000 Bibles Seized in Malaysia

The Associated Press reports that Malaysian officials have confiscated more than 15,000 Bibles in recent months because the Bibles refer to "God" as "Allah." Most of the Bibles were imported from neighboring Indonesia. Recent court rulings in Malaysia have forbidden Christians to use "Allah" to refer to the Christian God, as they say it could confuse and upset Muslims. The Muslim-majority country practices a moderate brand of Islam, but has increasingly discriminated against religious minorities. The Rev. Hermen Shastri, general secretary of the Council of Churches of Malaysia, said the Roman Catholic Churchis challenging the "Allah" ban in court. "For most of the Christians, this is not an issue of going against the authorities. They have been using (the word "Allah") for a long time," he said.

World Poverty Limits Access to Scripture, Group Says

Christian Newswire reports that world poverty is especially troubling because it limits people's access to and ability to read the Scriptures, according to Faith Comes By Hearing. The Population Reference Bureau's (PRB) reports that about half the world lives on $2 a day. "The world's poorest of the poor are cut off from the Bible," said Morgan Jackson, Faith Comes By Hearing's international director. "Half of the world's people are illiterate and too poor to afford a Bible. Five of six African believers will never own a Bible. And when people don't have Scripture in a format they can use and understand the results can be devastating to villages and whole countries." Morgan said some areas with limited access to Scripture will hear and memorize just one Bible story, building whole doctrines (or even denominations) on it," allowing heresy and false teaching to spread.

Bible Society Sends Scripture to Typhoon Victims

Christian Today reports that Bible Society is trying to reach destitute typhoon victims in the Philippines with 50,000 booklets and 50,000 copies of the Bible. The Society has already sent 5,000 booklets for aid agenciesto distribute, hoping to replace some of the Bibles lost in the storms. The group had already begun a campaign to distribute one million Bibles before the two typhoons hit earlier this month. "In all, 3.1 million people have been affected by this disaster. Bibles have been washed away from homes and many churches left underwater," said Nora Lucero, General Secretary of the Philippines Bible Society. "Now more than ever people need God's Wordto give them hope and sustain them in the coming months."

Islamists kill Somali church leader

On September 28, Islamic militants shot and killed an underground church leader, Mariam Muhina Hussein (46), in Marerey village, Lower Juba, Somalia after discovering six Bibles in her possession, according to an October 1 report from Compass Direct. The day before the shooting, Sheikh Arbow sent his wife to visit Hussein's home and pretend she was interested in learning about Christianity. During the visit, Hussein read passages of the Bible with Arbow's wife and told her that she could visit regularly to discuss God's Word. Arbow's wife then confirmed to her husband the presence of Bibles in the home. The next day, Arbow visited Hussein along with some other Muslims. He requested a Bible from her. Hussein gave one to him and he revealed that he was looking for "Christians who have defiled the Islamic religion." Arbow then ordered her to show him the other Bibles that she owned. When she handed them over, he shot her three times, killing her instantly.

Thank the Lord for working through the life of Mariam Muhina Hussein. Pray that those who mourn for her will draw near to Christ for comfort. Pray for encouragement and strength for Somali Christians facing trials for their Christian witness. You can demonstrate your support for the Hussein family at this time by posting on our Persecuted Church Prayer Wall.

For more information about the trials facing Christians in Somalia, click here.