George: TODAY ON
CHRISTIAN WORLD NEWS, A
RISING TIDE OF PERSECUTION
IS CHASING CHRISTIANS OUT OF
THEIR HOMELAND.
WE'LL SHOW YOU ONE EUROPEAN
CHURCH THAT IS TAKING THEM
IN.
Wendy: PLUS, CONFERENCE
2013, 60,000 YOUTH COME
TOGETHER FOR A TIME OF
EXTREME WORSHIP, AND MAKE A
BOLD PLEDGE TO CHANGE THE
WORLD.
George: AND FROM LIGHT
TO DARKNESS.
ONE MAN'S JOURNEY FROM
SERVING THE DEVIL TO
BUILDING GOD'S KINGDOM.
George: IN AT LEAST 60
COUNTRIES, FOLLOWERS OF
JESUS CHRIST SUFFER DAILY IN
INTERROGATION, ARREST, AND
EVEN DEATH.
HELLO, EVERYONE, I'M GEORGE
THOMAS.
Wendy: AND I'M WENDY
GRIFFITH.
OPEN DOORS U.S.A. HAS
RELEASED ITS ANNUAL WATCH
LIST OF THE WORLD'S 50
WORRIES OFFENDERS.
MOST SURPRISING, CHRISTIANS
IN AFRICA ARE WITNESSING A
SURGE IN PERSECUTION THERE.
MALI JUMPED FROM UNRANKED TO
NUMBER SEVEN.
TANZANIA, KENYA, UGANDA, AND
ARGENTINA JOINED THE LIST,
AND ETHIOPIA CLIMBED FROM 38
TO 15.
BUT NORTH KOREA IS THE WORST
COUNTRY IN THE WORLD TO BE A
CHRISTIAN.
IT TOPPED THE CHART FOR THE
11 YEAR IN A ROW, FOLLOWED
BY SAUDI ARABIA,
AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ.
THE ARAB SPRING, IN MANY
WAYS, HAS TURNED INTO AN
ISLAMIC WINTER FOR THE
CHRISTIANS OF THE MIDDLE
EASTERLY.
THAT INCLUDES THE WHOLE
STATE OF NORTH AFRICA.
PRETTY MUCH EVERY PLACE THAT
HAS AN ELECTION HAS ELECTED
ISLAMISTS, AND THEY HAVE
MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR
THE CHURCHES OF THE MIDDLE
EAST, WHO ARE PRETTY
SIGNIFICANT MINORITIES IN A
LOT OF THESE COUNTRIES.
SO THAT HAS BEEN A BAD
THING.
George: TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF CHRISTIANS ARE
FLEEING THE MIDDLE EAST
BECAUSE OF PERSECUTION, YET
THIS MODERN DAY EXITOUS IS
GETTING LITTLE ATTENTION IN
THE WEST.
NOW A JEWISH GROUP IS
TEAMING UP WITH CHRISTIANS
TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT
PERSECUTION OF MIDDLE EAST
CHRISTIANS.
CHRIS MITCHELL REPORTS.
Reporter: ALMOST
200 MILLION CHRISTIANS FACE
PERSECUTION EACH YEAR,
ESPECIALLY IN THE BIRTHPLACE
OF THEIR FAITH, THE MIDDLE
EAST.
IRAQ IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE.
SINCE 2003, THERE HAS
BEEN A SYSTEMATIC ATTACK
LAUNCHED AGAINST THE
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY, AND
OTHER MINORITIES, IN IRAQ.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE
MAINSTREAM MEDIA AND MANY
CHURCHES REALLY DON'T TALK
ABOUT THE PERSECUTION OF
THEIR BROTHERS AND SISTERS
IN CHRIST.
Reporter: A SYRIAN
CHRISTIAN, JULIANNA, HAD TO
BE SMUGGLED OUT OF HER HOME
COUNTRY DUE TO RELIGIOUS
PERSECUTION.
SHE SAYS SINCE THE END OF
SADDAM HUSSEIN REIGN, IT HAS
FORCED TWO-THIRDS OF IRAQ'S
CHRISTIANS TO FLEE.
IT ESCALATES ATTACKS ON
CHURCHES, TO FORCING
CHRISTIANS TO CHOOSE BETWEEN
CONVERTING TO ISLAM OR
PAYING A PROTECTION TAX.
THE NEXT UP FOR THE
ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS WERE TO
GO IN AND ATTACK FAMILIES,
KILL CHILDREN AND KIDNAP
WOMEN, IMPREGNATING THEM,
AND TORTURING MEN, BEHEADING
THEN, AND THEN THEY STARTED
ATTACKING CLERGY MEMBERS.
IT IS AMAZING TO SEE WHAT
IS HAPPENING TO THE
CHRISTIANS BY ISLAMIC
FORCES, CHRISTIAN
WORSHIPPERS ARE IN A CHURCH
AND THEY WOULD GET
ATTACKED.
Reporter: RIMAHAM SAYS
THE MEDIA IGNORES CHRISTIAN
PERSECUTION BECAUSE IT
CONTRADICTS THE MEDIA'S
PERCEPTION OF ISLAM.
IF THIS IDEA GETS OUT,
THAT MUSLIMS ARE INTOLERANT
TO THE OTHER, IT KIND OF
PUTS THE STRUGGLE WITH
ISRAEL IN A DIFFERENT LIFE.
Reporter: HE BLAMES THE
LACK OF ATTENTION ON AN
ANTI-CHRISTIAN SENTIMENT IN
THE AMERICAN MEDIA AND
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
THIS IS SOMETHING THEY
DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT
BECAUSE THEN THEY WILL BE
PERCEIVED AS PRO-CHRISTIAN.
BUT IT IS A HUMAN RIGHTS
ISSUE.
THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS
A MAJOR HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE
IN THE WORLD.
THAT IS NOT GETTING THE
ATTENTION THAT IT DESERVES
IN THE WEST.
Reporter: ALAN
SCHNEIDER OF THE A
WELL-KNOWN JEWISH
ORGANIZATION RECENTLY
BROUGHT EXPERTS, LIKE EAST
INRAHIM, AND TY MORASI TO
TALK ABOUT THE CHRISTIANS IN
THE MIDDLE EAST.
TYE SAYS THEY WERE MORE
OPEN.
THEY SAID WE WANT TO
VOLUNTEER FOR YOUR
ORGANIZATION.
Reporter: THE GROUP'S
CONCLUSION: AMERICANS AND
EUROPEANS SHOULD TAKE TIME
TO FIND OUT WHAT IS
HAPPENING TO CHRISTIANS IN
THE MIDDLE EAST AND SEE WHAT
THEY CAN DO TO HELP.
CHRIS MITCHELL, CBN NEWS,
JERUSALEM.
Wendy: SO WHERE ARE ALL
OF THESE CHRISTIAN REFUGEES
GOING?
SOME ARE LANDING IN EUROPE,
AND THEY'RE BRINGING
REVIVAL.
DALE HERD RECORDS FROM
BERLIN.
Reporter: PARTS OF
GERMANY ARE AMONG THE MOST
GODLESS AREAS IN THE WORLD.
POLLING SHOWS THAT BEE LEAVE
BELIEF IN GOD IN THE EAST
GERMANY IS ONLY 13%.
BUT CHURCH ATTENDANCE IS
GROWING HERE, THANKS TO
FORMER MUSLIMS FROM IRAN.
CONVERTS TO CHRISTIANITY
HAVE DOUBLED THE SIZE OF THE
CONGREGATION.
DEACONESS ROSEMARIE GERTZ.
IT CAME LIKE AN
UNEXPECTED NEW RAIN.
SUDDENLY NEW PEOPLE STARTED
COMING EVERY WEEK AND ASKED
TO BE BAPTIZED.
IN THE BEGINNING, ONLY FIVE
OR SIX IRANIANS CAME.
THEY WERE EASY TO SPOT AND
WE GOT TO KNOW THEM.
AND THEN OVER TIME, THEY
BROUGHT THEIR FRIENDS AND
NEIGHBORS.
Reporter: GERMANY HAS
EXPERIENCED A SURGE IN ISLAM
THIS YEAR.
MUSLIMS CONDUCTED A
NATIONWIDE CAMPAIGN TO GIVE
AWAY QURANS, IN A COUNTRY
THAT HAS LARGELY TURNED ITS
BACK ON BIBLICAL
CHRISTIANITY.
BUT IRANIAN IMMIGRANTS HAVE
EXPERIENCED THE OPPRESSION
IN THEIR NATIVE LAND, AND
THEY'RE HUNGRY FOR
CHRISTIANITY AND THE
FREEDOM.
MICHAEL ASKED WE HIDE HIS
FACE.
I MET A FEW TIMES IN AN
UNDERGROUND CHURCH, IN A
FLAT.
THERE WE SPOKE ABOUT JESUS,
AND WE TRIED TO DO A BIBLE
STUDY, SOMETIMES WITHOUT AN
ACTUAL BIBLE.
Reporter: ALL OF THE
PERSIANS WE SPOKE TO
ACCEPTED CHRIST IN IRAN, AND
THEN HAD TO EITHER FLEE OR
RISK PRISON OR DEATH.
I WAS ON THE WAY TO A
HOUSE CHURCH MEETING, WHEN I
SAW POLICE OUTSIDE THE
FLAT.
SO I DIDN'T GO IN.
AND LATER I CALLED MY
MOTHER.
SHE SAID THE POLICE WERE
HERE LOOKING FOR YOU.
SO MY FAMILY HELPED ME FLEE
THE COUNTRY.
WHEN I WAS IN IRAN, I
WANTED TO BECOME A
CHRISTIAN, BUT IT'S REALLY
DIFFICULT TO LEARN ABOUT
CHRISTIANITY IN IRAN.
IT IS FORBIDDEN FOR A MUSLIM
TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN.
IT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT.
I HAD TO LEAVE MY PARENTS.
SO I LOST MY HOME AND MY
FAMILY.
Reporter: ROSEMARIE
SAYS THE PERSIANS WERE
SURPRISED TO FIND SO MANY
GERMANS DISINTERESTED IN
CHRISTIANITY.
MOST OF THEM BECAME
CHRISTIANS IN IRAN AND KNOW
MORE ABOUT CHRISTIANITY THAN
YOU WOULD EXPECT.
THEY'RE AHEAD OF US IN A
SENSE BECAUSE THEY HAVE
ALREADY BEEN PERSECUTED FOR
CHRIST.
AND THEY FIGURED OUT PRETTY
QUICKLY THAT A LOT OF
GERMANS ARE CHRISTIANS IN
NAME ONLY.
AND THEY'RE DISAPPOINTED
THAT GERMANS TAKE RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM FOR GRANTED.
Reporter: SOME GERMANS
ARE SUSPICIOUS OF THE
CONVERSIONS BECAUSE BEING
BAPTIZED CAN HELP A REFUGEE
STAY IN GERMANY, RATHER THAN
THAN BE DEPORTED.
SO ROSEMARY TAKES THE
CHRISTIAN CONVERTS THROUGH A
RIGOROUS CLASS OF BIBLE
CLASSES.
I EXPECTED SOME OF THEM
WANTED TO BE BE BASTTIZED SO
THEY COULD GET THE
RESIDENCY, BUT THAT TURNS
OUT TO BE ONLY A FEW.
IN FACT, SOME THAT HAVE BEEN
BAPTIZED HAVE COME BACK TO
OUR CLASS AND TO BE BAPTIZED
FOR THE FOURTH TIME.
Reporter: IT HAS BECOME
A NATIONWIDE PHENOMENON, AND
IT IS NUMBERING IN THE
THOUSANDS.
AT THE HOUSE OF GOD'S HELP,
IT HAS REINVIGORATED THE
CONGREGATION.
DALE HERD, CBN NEWS,
BERLIN.
George: COMING UP, AN
ARMY OF 60,000 STRONG, AND
FILLED WITH PASSION FOR
CHRIST.
HOW THIS GENERATION OF YOUNG
CHRISTIANS IS PLEDGING TO
CHANGE THE LIVES OF MILLIONS
OF PEOPLE.
Wendy: WELCOME BACK.
A CASE OF GANG RAPE, AND
MURDER IN NEW DEHLI, INDIA,
HAS GAINED INTERNATIONAL
ATTENTION.
THIS MONTH A PACK OF MEN
SAVAGELY BEAT AND SEXUALLY
ASSAULTED A 23-YEAR-OLD
WOMAN ON A PUBLIC BUS.
SHE LATER DIED.
HER ATTACKERS ARE IN POLICE
CUSTODY, FACING CHARGES OF
MURDER AND RAPE.
WITH INDIANS CALLING FOR
REFORM IN A SOCIETY THAT
OFTEN TOLERATES VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN.
RECENTLY I SPOKE WITH K.P.
P P. YOHAN YOHANON.
WE SPOKE ABOUT THE PLIGHT OF
WOMEN IN INDIA, AND HOW THE
MESSAGE OF JESUS CHRIST IS
GIVING THEM HOPE.
DR. YOHANON, YOU SAY THIS
CASE HIGHLIGHTS THE LONG
TIME ABUSE OF WOMEN IN
INDIA.
DESCRIBE SOME OF THE ABUSES
THEY ENDURE.
RAPE AND ABUSE FOR WOMEN
AND TO YOUNG GIRLS, FOREVER
BEING KIND OF A NORMAL THING
THAT IS GOING ON, AND TO
NEVER GET PUNISHED -- EVERY
YEAR SOME 26,000 DALLETS,
WOMEN, AND YOUNG GIRLS ARE
RAPED AND ABUSED.
AND YET LESS THAN 1% OF
THESE PEOPLE ARE
PROSECUTED.
Wendy: LET ME ASK YOU
THIS, DOCTOR, WHY ARE WOMEN
VALUED LESS THAN MEN IN THE
INDIAN SOCIETY?
UNLIKE THE UNITED STATES
OR COUNTRIES, WHERE THE
JUDEO CHRISTIAN FAITH IS
WHERE WOMEN ARE GIVEN VALUE
AND SIGNIFICANCE.
IN MANY OF THESE NATIONS, IT
IS NOT LIKE THAT.
Wendy: HOW IS IT IN THE
CHURCH IN INDIA?
AS PEOPLE ACCEPT CHRIST, DO
YOU FIND THEIR ATTITUDES AND
TREATMENT OF WOMEN ARE
CHANGING?
ABSOLUTELY.
I CAN TELL YOU COMMUNITY
AFTER COMMUNITY, NEPAL OUR
INDIA OR BANGLADESH, AND
MANY PLACES WE FIND IN SMALL
COMMUNITIES, WHEN PEOPLE
COME TO THE LORD, AND ALL OF
A SUDDEN THEY'RE READING
GOD'S WORD AND THEY'RE
HEARING GOD'S WORD, THEY
UNDERSTAND THE WAY GOD LOOKS
UPON WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND
THEIR VALUE.
AND WE SEE -- I KNOW AT
LEAST ONE VILLAGE PERSONALLY
WHERE FIVE YEARS AMONG THESE
PEOPLE -- WE FIND WOMEN LOOK
LIKE WOMEN, AND MEN TREAT
THEIR WIVES WITH SOME
DIGNITY AND RESPECT AND
LOVE.
AND THE FAMILY PRAYS
TOGETHER.
IT IS AN AMAZING
TRANSFORMATION THAT COMES
BECAUSE OF THE GOSPEL AND
THE HOPE AND THE LOVE
EXPERIENCED BECAUSE OF
JESUS.
Wendy: WHAT IS IT LIKE
FOR AN INDIAN WOMAN, WHO HAS
BEEN A HINDU ALL HER LIFE,
AND SHE HEARS THE GOSPEL
MESSAGE OF JESUS CHRIST FOR
THE FIRST TIME, AND PERHAPS
HEARING FOR THE FIRST TIME
SHE DOES HAVE VALUE AND THAT
SHE IS LOVED.
HOW DOES SHE RESPOND TO
THAT?
I WOULD SAY IT IS LIKE
MEETING HERE IN NEW YORK OR
LAS VEGAS SOMEWHERE, A MAN
LIVING UNDER A BRIDGE, ON
THE STREET, IN A CARDBOARD
BOX, AND HE HERE'S THE NEWS,
SOMEBODY SAYS, HEY, JOEL,
YOUR FATHER LEFT $10 MILLION
TO YOUR NAME.
IT IS IN A BANK.
IT IS YOURS.
AND CAN YOU IMAGINE THE
HAPPINESS, THE JOY, THE
EXCITEMENT?
THEY SAY, REALLY?
AND EVERYTHING CHANGES.
WHEN THESE PEOPLE HEAR JESUS
LOVES THEM, HE DIED ON THE
CROSS, HE WAS BURIED AND
ROSE AGAIN, AND HE IS ALIVE
WITH THEM, FORGIVING THEM,
AND LOVING THEM.
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN
SOMETHING HAPPENS ON THE
INSIDE.
THERE IS THIS HOPE.
I DON'T HAVE TO LIVE LIKE
THIS.
AND THAT LOVE OF CHRIST
TRANSFORMS THESE PEOPLE, AND
I HAVE SEEN IT A HUNDRED
TIMES.
JUST LIKE YOU FIND IN THE
GOSPEL OF JOHN, WHEN JESUS
ENCOUNTERED THESE WOMEN AND
THEIR LIVES CHANGED.
AND TODAY THAT IS HAPPENING
NOT ONLY IN INDIA, BUT ALL
OF THESE NATIONS.
THE MUSLIM COMMUNITIES, THE
HINDU COMMUNITIES, AND THE
TRIPLES AND THE DALITS, AND
THE GOOD NEWS IS ALWAYS GOOD
NEWS BECAUSE IT BRINGS HOPE,
AND THAT'S WHAT THESE PEOPLE
NEED.
Wendy: THE DOCTOR ALSO
PRAISED INDIA'S GOVERNMENT
FOR ITS RESPONSE TO THE
PROTEST.
HE SAID, QUOTE,"I AM
GRATEFUL FOR HOW THE PRIME
MINISTER AND SANDY GANDHI,
ALONG WITH GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES, ARE RESPONDING TO
THE OUTCRY.
POSITIVE STEPS ARE BEING
TAKEN."
YOU CAN LEARN MORE AT THE
MINISTRY'S WEBSITE, AND YOU
CAN FIND THE LINK ON OUR
WEBSITE, CBNNEWS.COM.
George: YOUNG PEOPLE
ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ARE
TAKING UP THE FIGHT TO END
HUMAN TRAFFICKING AROUND THE
WORLD.
ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES IN ALL
50 STATES, AND MORE THAN 50
COUNTRIES, THEY'RE SHINING
THE LIGHT ON MODERN DAY
SLAVERY.
AS MY COLLEAGUE EPHRAIM
GRAHAM REPORTS, THEY
ACCEPTED THEIR MISSION AT A
NEW YEAR'S CONFERENCE CALLED
PASSION 2013.
Reporter: 60,000
STUDENTS PACKED ATLANTA'S
GEORGIADOME FOR A PARTY.
A TIME OF WORSHIP.
JESUS IN INFINITELY
WORTHY OF ETERNAL
ADMIRATION.
Reporter: AND TO HEAR
GOD'S WORD.
THIS IS PASSION 2013, AN
ANNUAL CONFERENCE FOR YOUNG
CHRISTIANS THAT GROWS LARGER
EACH YEAR.
THESE STUDENTS ARE COMING
TOGETHER.
LIFTING UP THE NAME OF JESUS
TOGETHER, AND WITH THAT,
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT.
Reporter: THIS IS AN
ARMY OF BELIEVERS FROM ALL
50 STATES, AND 54
COUNTRIES.
THEY ARE LEADING THESE YOUNG
PEOPLE IN WHAT MANY WOULD
CALL AN IMPOSSIBLE MISSION.
IT IS CALLED "END IT NOW."
IT'S A FIGHT TO END MODERN
DAY SLAVERY.
ONE THING WE CAN AGREE ON
IS THERE ARE 27 MILLION
SLAVES, AND THERE SHOULD BE
NO MORE SLAVES.
SO WE'RE GOING TO LIFT THAT
UP AND PUT IT FRONT AND
CENTER.
Reporter: ARMED WITH
SMARTPHONES, CREDIT CARDS,
AND iPADS, YOUNG PEOPLE
ATTENDED.
AND PASSION IS PARTNERED
WITH MORE THAN A DOZEN
ORGANIZATIONS ON THE GROUND
AND AROUND THE WORLD.
WE BELIEVE JESUS WAS THE
ORIGINAL ABOLISHIST, AND
THESE ARE THE FIRST ONCE.
THESE STUDENTS, THEY DON'T
LOVE MODERN DAY SLAVERY,
SOCIAL CAUSES.
THEY LOVE JESUS.
AND THEY WANT TO FOLLOW
JESUS, AND THEY WANT TO DO
WHAT JESUS IS CALLING THEM
TO DO.
Reporter: THE FACES ON
THIS BOARD ARE SYMBOLIC OF
27 MILLION PEOPLE ENSLAVED
AROUND THE WORLD.
PASSION'S GOAL IS TO WIPE
THE SLATE CLEAN AND BRING
FREEDOM TO EVERY SINGLE
PERSON.
I BELIEVE IT BECAUSE GOD
CAN DO THINGS.
I THINK THIS IS A GENERATION
THAT IS GOING TO RISE UP AND
SPEAK THE LORD.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 27
27 MILLION MEN, WOMEN,
CHILDREN, OPPRESSED,
TRAPPED, RAPED FOR PROFIT,
WORKING IN THE WORST OF THE
WORST CONDITIONS AND NOT
GETTING PAID, THREATS OF
VIOLENCE AGAINST THEIR
LIVES.
THAT IS HAPPENING.
THAT'S REAL.
IT IS A $32 BILLION
INDUSTRY.
ALL 27 MILLION SLAVES WERE
CREATED BY GOD, NOT TO BE
OPPRESSED, BUT TO LIVE IN
FREEDOM.
AND THAT'S WHAT THESE
STUDENTS CARE ABOUT.
Reporter: IT IS ALSO
WHAT THESE 60,000 STUDENTS
PRAYED ABOUT BEFORE LEAVING
PASSION 2013.
THEY LIT CANDLES, VOWED TO
SHINE A LIGHT ON THE DARK
WORLD OF SLAVERY AS THEY
RETURNED HOME.
THEY ALSO PRAYED FOR
PATIENCE, TO SEE THIS
MISSION TO COMPLETION.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES
ABOUT OUR GENERATION IS
WE'RE A "HOW CAN THIS BE
SOLVED" NOW GENERATION.
AND THE LORD WORKS ON HIS
TIME.
AND HE IS PERFECT AND
EVERYTHING HE HAS IS PERFECT
IN HIS PLAN.
Reporter: EPHRAIM
GRAHAM, CBN NEWS, ATLANTA,
GEORGIA.
Wendy: UP NEXT, ONCE HE
DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO SATAN,
AND NOW THIS MAN IS SERVING
GOD IN ONE OF THE MOST
DANGEROUS PLACES ON EARTH.
Wendy: SINCE THE LATE
'90s, ISLAMIC RADICALS
HAVE HAD A BLOODY
INSURGENTSY IN RUSSIA.
George: RECENTLY I MET
ONE MAN ON A MISSION TO
BRING PEACE TO THIS REGION.
DENADI TURKIN IS NOT PROUD
OF HIS PAST, AND HE GETS
UNCOMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT
IT.
I LEFT HOME WHEN I WAS 13
YEARS OLD, AND GOT ENTANGLED
WITH THE WRONG CROWD.
I DID A LOT OF THINGS I'M
ASHAMED OF.
George: HE IS FROM A
SMALL RUSSIAN CITY, AND HIS
LIFE READS LIKE A HOLLYWOOD
MAFIA THRILLER: DRUGS, ARMED
ROBBERY, PROSTITUTION, MONEY
LAUNDERING, GUN SMUGGLING,
YOU NAMED IT AND HE DID IT
ALL, AND THEN SOME.
IT IS AS IF I BECAME THE
DEVIL'S SLAVE.
I REMEMBER MAKING A PACT
WITH SATAN, TO SERVE HIM.
George: AND HIS DEEDS
EVENTUALLY CAUGHT UP WITH
HIM.
I WAS ARRESTED AND
SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN
PRISON.
George: THAT'S THE
PAST, AND TO WITNESS THE
POWER OF A LIFE TRANSFORMED
BY GOD, LOOK NO FARTHER THA
DENADI TERKIN.
THE YEAR WAS 1987, AND THE
FORMER SOVIET UNION FACED
POLITICAL CHANGES.
AND HE SAT IN PRISON.
I HAD A BA BAD
REPUTATION IN PRISON.
PRISONERS WERE EVEN AFRAID
OF ME.
George: ONE DAY
CHRISTIANS CAME TO SHARE THE
LOVE OF JESUS.
HE SAYS IT WAS THE FIRST
TIME HE HEARD THE MESSAGE.
BUT IT TOOK FOUR YEARS FOR
IT TO SINK IN.
IN 1991, I DROPPED TO MY
KNEES IN THE PRISON CELL AND
TOLD GOD I WAS A SINNER.
FROM THAT MOMENT I WENT FROM
SERVING SATAN TO A SERVANT
OF JESUS.
George: THE PRISON
MIRACULOUSLY SHORTENED HIS
SENTENCE BY FIVE YEARS, AND
HE WAS RELEASED IN 1996.
THE DAY AFTER HE WALKED OUT
OF PRISON, HE WALKED INTO A
BIBLE TRAINING SEMINAR,
ORGANIZED BY RUSSIAN
MINISTRIES, WHICH FOCUSES ON
BRINGING THE GOSPEL TO THE
FORMER SOVIET UNION.
RUSSIAN MINISTRIES WAS
VERY FUNDAMENTAL IN MY
LIFE.
THEIR CLASSES TAUGHT ME HOW
TO SHARE MY NEW FAITH WITH
OTHERS.
AND THEY PUT IN MY HEART TO
HELP CHANGE THE NEXT
GENERATIONS OF LEADERS IN MY
COUNTRY.
George: HE WAS BAPTIZED
SHORTLY THEREAFTER.
NOW FOR OVER 10 YEARS, HE
HAS BEEN LEADING A CHURCH IN
THE NORTH CRACKCOS REGION.
I AM CONVINCED IT IS THE
LOVE OF JESUS THAT TURNED MY
LIFE AROUND.
George: IN THAT TIME,
TWO WARS, AND SCORES OF
TERRORISTS' ATTACKS HAVE
KILLED THOUSANDS AND
DISPLACED MANY MORE.
TURKIN'S GOAL?
REACH THIS WAR-TORN REGION
WITH MESSAGES OF
RECONCILIATION AND
FORGIVENESS.
ONE WAY IS TO REACH YOUNG
PEOPLE.
HE COORDINATES DOZENS OF
YOUTH CAMPS EACH YEAR, IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH RUSSIAN
MINISTRIES AND LOCAL
CONGREGATIONS.
HE IS A MEMBER OF HER CHURCH
AND HELPS WITH THE CAMPS.
THESE KIDS HAVE TO KNOW
THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE
LIFESTYLE TO VIOLENCE.
WE SPEND TIME HANDING OUT
GIFTS AND PLAYING GAMES.
IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY
TO SHARE THE GOSPEL.
George: MANY PARENTS
SAY THE CAMPS ARE GOD-SENT.
I LOVE IT WHEN THEY TALK
ABOUT PEACE AND GETTING
ALONG WITH OTHER ETHNIC AND
RELIGIOUS GROUPS.
THEY'RE HELPING TO BUILD
BRIDGES, AND THIS IS
IMPORTANT.
George: IN ONE CITY,
THE LOCAL COMMUNIST PARTY
TOOK OUT FULL-PAGE NEWSPAPER
ADS PROMOTING THE YOUTH
CAMPS.
YOU MAY BE SURPRISED, BUT
THERE ARE MANY CHRISTIANS IN
THE CAMPS.
George: WHEN HE IS NOT
COORDINATING CAMPS, TURKIN
TRAINS OTHER LEADERS.
IT IS ALL ABOUT MISSIONS
AND.
George: WORKING HERE IS
NOT WITHOUT AD ITS
HARDSHIPS.
WHERE RUSSIAN FORCES HAVE
BATTLED BACK AND FORTH TO
CONTROL THE PROVINCE.
THERE IS RELATIVE PEACE NOW,
BUT I ISLAM'S INFLUENCE IS
GROWING.
WITH THE HELP OF SEVERAL
GOVERNMENTS, INCLUDE SAUDI
ARABIA, THEY HAVE ERECTED
WHAT COULD BE THE LARGEST
MOSQUE AND EUROPE.
AND FOR CHRISTIANS, LIFE FOR
THEM CANNOT ONLY BE
CHALLENGING, BUT POTENTIALLY
DANGEROUS.
CBN NEWS AGREED TO CONCEAL
HIS IDENTITY FOR
PROTECTION.
I HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY
WARNED BY MUSLIM RADICALS
AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO
STOP PREACHING, BUT I WILL
NOT.
I'M A SIMPLE MAN, WHO'S LIFE
WAS ONE DAY TOUCHED BY
CHRIST.
I HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO
TELL OTHERS ABOUT HIM, NO
MATTER THE COST.
George: IT'S THE PRICE
THAT THESE MEN AND THE OTHER
BELIEVERS ARE WILLING TO PAY
TO BRING EVERLASTING LIFE.
THIS IS MY MISSION, TO
BRING LOVE AND HOPE TO THIS
REGION.
George: THEY CALL
SOUTHERN RUSSIA ONE OF THE
MOST DANGEROUS PLACES IN ALL
OF THIS COUNTRY.
AND A MAN WHO SPENT YEARS
SERVING THE DEVIL IS
SPENDING HIS LIFE SERVING
JESUS CHRIST NOW AND
BRINGING HOPE TO THE NORTH
CAUCUSES.
Wendy: THANKS, GEORGE.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
George: AND FINALLY
THIS WEEK, IRANIAN PASTOR
YUSEF NARDARKHANI IS OUT OF
JAIL.
Wendy: AGAIN.
AUTHORITIES ARRESTED HIM ON
CHRISTMAS DAY BECAUSE THEY
SAID HE HAD NOT SERVED HIS
FULL SENTENCE.
YUSEF NARDARKHANI HAD SPENT
ALMOST THREE YEARS BEHIND
BARS UNDER A DEATH SENTENCE
FOR REFUSING TO RENOUNCE HIS
CHRISTIAN FAITH.
HE WAS ACQUITTED IN
SEPTEMBER, BUT NOW HE IS NOW
BACK HOME WITH HIS FAMILY.
BUT UNBELIEVABLY, THEY SAID
HE HADN'T SERVED ALL OF HIS
TIME AND PUT HIM BACK IN
JAIL FOR THREE DAYS.
George: THANK GOD HE IS
OUT.
BECAUSE PEOPLE AROUND THE
WORLD HAVE FOCUSED ON HIS
LIFE AND HAVE BEEN PRAYING
FOR HIM.
PRAYER WORKS, FOLKS.
WERP
Wendy: IT SURE DOES.
FROM ALL OF US HERE,
GOOD-BYE AND GOD BLESS YOU.
