Strengthening Persecuted Christians to Survive a Tsunami of Violence

​Dear Friends
Bad times are good for spiritual work. Our biggest enemy is apathy. Opposition can often make us stronger. When things are dark the light shines brighter. Amidst tremendous upheavals and violence, God's people are standing firm and persevering in Africa.

A Time of Violence
Xenophobic mob murders against foreigners and brutal murders of farmers in South Africa. Islamic Al-Shabaab terrorists massacred over 140 students in Kenya, specifically targeting Christians for beheadings. There have been attacks on churches and murders of pastors in Tanzania and threats by the Minister of Home Affairs to deregister churches who resist incorporating Shari'a changes to the Tanzanian constitution. Vicious attacks on Christian communities and bombings of churches in Nigeria by Boko Haram Jihadists. There have been beheadings of Egyptian Coptic Christians and Ethiopian Christians by ISIS terrorists, shouting "Allah Akbar". These are only some of the recent high profile examples of a relentless war against Christians intensifying in Africa.

Beheading Christian Students in Kenya
On Thursday, 2 April, Al-Shabaab Islamic terrorists murdered 148 people at Garissa University College in Kenya. Students who could recite the Quran in Arabic and answer specific questions about the name of Muhammad's mother, and other indicators, of whether they were Muslim, or not, were spared. Those who were identified as Christians were singled out for beheading. There are now rising demands throughout Kenya for all Somalians to be expelled from the country.

Serving the Suffering
As a Mission serving persecuted Christians throughout Africa over the last 33 years, we seek to speak up for and provide practical help to Christians on the frontlines in Northern Nigeria, South Sudan, the Nuba Mountains, the Congo, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Burundi and Zambia, conducting Security and Survival Workshops, updating and expanding Security and Survival Manuals and other resources to educate and empower believers to be prepared and vigilant to resist and survive Islamic terrorism

Security and Survival
So far this year, I have given Security and Survival presentations at Mission stations, Bible colleges, to churches and communities, adapting the presentations and practicals for the particular congregations, missions, colleges or communities. We deal with what the Bible teaches, scenarios of potential threats, case studies of attacks on churches in the Nuba Mountains, Northern Nigeria, on churches and shopping centres in Kenya, etc. We take the people through practical strategies and tactics to prepare them for contingencies using multi-media and hands-on practicals. Switzerland is a good example of preparedness. If you want peace, prepare for war.

A Comprehensive Response is Needed
In addition to presentations at the Great Commission Course, we presented a four-week Security and Survival Course to members of the Reformation Society. We are developing a comprehensive strategy to help churches set up security ministries and provide practical hands-on training for farmers, families, congregations, missions, ministries, Bible colleges and vulnerable communities. 

Learning from Hard Experiences
As a Mission of Christians from a military background, dedicated to serving persecuted churches for over 33 years, we have experienced ambushes, aerial bombardments, rocket and artillery fire, thefts, terrorism, capture and imprisonment. Utilising lessons learnt through these decades in conflict areas, we are offering training for Christians to be able to withstand and resist violent attacks and to survive in adverse circumstances. "A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished." Proverbs 22:3

Christian Preparedness
At this time of crime, violence, instability and increasing threats against Christians worldwide, it is necessary to be prepared. "For man also does not know his time; like fish taken in a cruel net, like birds caught in a snare, so the sons of men are snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them." Ecclesiastes 9:12. If we do what we can, then we can trust God to do what we cannot. "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the Faith and is worse than an unbeliever." 1 Timothy 5:8

Fear God Alone
We do not fear Islam, or terrorism. We fear God alone. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Greater is He who is in us than him who is in the world. We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus who loves us. "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses." Nehemiah 4:14

Evangelising in War Zones
We have worked amongst RENAMO freedom fighters in Mozambique, UNITA freedom fighters in Angola, SPLA soldiers in South Sudan and SPLA-N in the Nuba Mountains. We trained the Chaplains Corp and Medical Corp of South Sudan, provided Security training for Christians in many of these threatened areas, including Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan and Northern Nigeria. There is a desperate need for training and equipping Christians throughout Africa to be able to resist and withstand Islamic terrorist attacks. To this end, we believe that we can continue to save many lives and strengthen Christian resistance to terrorism with your practical help and fervent prayers. 

You Can Help Us Save Lives
Any practical help that you can offer will be greatly appreciated. We need more people with the background and experience that can help conduct Christian Preparedness Seminars and workshops in the field. We need walkie-talkies with solar rechargers to provide communication systems for Christian workers in vulnerable areas, strong mosquito netting that can cover windows of churches and help prevent against grenade attacks, night vision equipment, binoculars, etc. 

When Churches are Targeted
In the last 5 years, 1,000 churches have been attacked in Northern Nigeria alone. Even in Kenya and Tanzania, which have majority Christian populations, churches are being targeted by Muslim Jihadists with grenade attacks. Churches are seen as soft and easy targets. It is not only churches which are being attacked, farmers in our country face ongoing terror attacks. Throughout Africa we are seeing even remote Mission stations and Bible colleges needing to erect high fences, install security gates and burglar bars, even on chapels, as a result of increasing crime and violence in their areas. We need to educate and train Christians to prepare for just such scenarios and provide them with practical steps and workable strategies that they can use to lower their vulnerability and prepare their people to react effectively to neutralise threats. 

Perverted US Agenda Destabilises Nigeria
In Nigeria we have been disturbed to hear that former US Congressman, Steve Stockman, a Member of the US Congressional Delegation sent to Nigeria, in the months after the kidnapping of hundreds of school girls by Boko Haram, confirmed, with Lifesite News, that a senior US General informed them that they had intelligence that could have aided the Nigerian military to crush the terrorist group, but were blocked from providing this information to the Nigerian authorities by the Obama Administration. The reason given for this refusal of critical intelligence that could have made all the difference in the war against terrorism, was Nigeria's pro-family stance resisting the same sex "marriage" demands of the Obama Administration. 

Catastrophic Elections
As a result of the deteriorating security situation in Northern Nigeria and what voters saw as the failure of Goodluck Jonathan's presidency, the incumbent lost the recent presidential elections and previous military dictator Muhammadu Buhari was elected in a highly contested election. This was the fifth election to be held since the end of military rule in 1999. The elections were first scheduled for 14 February 2015. However, it had to be postponed by six weeks to 28 March, due to the instability caused by Boko Haram insurgency. The voter turnout was very low at 43% and the election marks the first time an incumbent president has lost re-election in Nigeria. It is also the first time that a pervious military dictator has won an election after having been ousted! 

A Victory for Islamic Terrorism
Our friends in Nigeria inform us that most people who voted for Muhammadu Buhari did so because Jonathan's administration has failed to curb Boko Haram insurgency, and Buhari has promised to end it decisively. There is suspicion that the Muslim terrorists and the Muslim presidential candidate have been working towards a similar goal of removing Christians from power in Africa's most populous nation. 

Gay Agenda Serves Cause of Islamic Jihad in Nigeria
Nigerians have expressed their frustration that American interference and blind promotion of perversion sabotaged attempts to free the kidnapped girls from Boko Haram, undermined Nigerian military attempts to defeat the Jihadists, and now have brought about a catastrophic return to rule by a Muslim, who used to be the military dictator of the country.

Wild Fires Around Cape Town
Devastating fires have been set throughout the Cape Peninsula destroying over 6,000 hectares of nature reserve and private farms. Over 2,000 fire fighters and volunteers dropped 2 million litres of water on 11 separate fires. Fire fighters have reported that they have uncovered forensic evidence that several of these fires were deliberately set by malicious individuals. "How long will the land lie parched and the grass in every field be withered? Because those who live in it are wicked, the animals and birds have perished." Jeremiah 12:4

Battle Over Historic Monuments
Extraordinary media campaigns and mob bullying tactics led to the removal of a statue of Cecil John Rhodes from the University of Cape Town campus and a spate of vandalism against historic monuments including that of Rev. Andrew Murray at the site of the 1860 Revival in Wellington. 

Agit-Prop
In response we have devoted several radio programmes to dealing with the communist agitation - propaganda (agit-prop) evidently behind this concerted campaign against the rule of Law and Education. If mobs can remove one historic monument, then no monument is safe. This is a battle over history. It is a war against civilisation and Christianity. Numerous articles that I have written on these subjects have been printed in local newspapers and magazines. I have also had interviews on secular radio stations on this. My PowerPoint on A Christian Response to Xenophobia, has already had over 9,299 downloads from our Slideshare page. In response to the attacks on the Andrew Murray monument and our articles on social media my PowerPoint presentation on Andrew Murray and the 1860 Revival increased to over 6,430 views. Audio messages that we placed on our SermonAudio.com page on A Christian Response to Xenophobia, Racism and Hatred and The Battle Over Historic Monuments have also received hundreds of downloads. "Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted… now all these things happened to them as examples and they were written for our admonition…" 1 Corinthians 10:6-11 

Muslim Evangelism Prayer Forum
Missionaries and ministries focused on Muslim Evangelism gathered in Durbanville for a Prayer Forum to discuss and pray over a comprehensive Christian Response to the violent upheavals in the Middle East and escalating Islamic terrorism. Missions throughout the Middle East have suffered enormous disruptions as literally millions of indigenous Christians have fled from the Middle East since the explosion of the Arab Spring in 2011. The destruction of hundreds of churches throughout Syria, Iraq and Egypt have been particularly devastating. The loss of millions of indigenous Christians who spoke the local languages, from the Middle East mission fields, represents one of the most catastrophic reversals in church history. 

Understand Islam – Evangelise Muslims
The organiser of the Prayer Forum expressed appreciation for our Slavery, Terrorism and Islam – The Historic Roots and Contemporary Threat book, and emphasized its importance for anyone interested in Muslim Evangelism to study. I emphasized the importance of praying the Psalms, personal one-on-one Evangelism with Muslims, particularly emphasizing the parables of Christ, using social media, and the internet, to reach Muslims. In restricted access areas, stealth technology such as the Bible and Christian films and Discipleship materials on SD cards can be used on mobile electronic devices. It is essential that we support, encourage and serve Christians who are in the Middle East, enabling them to survive and thrive in the face of such relentless opposition. 

Way of the Master Evangelism Training
Michael, Renee, Taryn and Abrie are involved in conducting an eight-week Way of the Master Basic Evangelism Training programme for a local church in Cape Town. We have also been involved in open-air street preaching, one-on-one personal Evangelism and mass literature distribution, including in shopping malls and on University campuses. 

Bibles for Zimbabwe
Please pray for our ongoing ministry in Zimbabwe. Our Literature4Africa ministry is preparing a shipment of 30 tonnes of Bibles, books and Sunday School materials for Zimbabwe. We are also expecting another three container shipments of Bibles and books in the next two months. 

Mission Farm Project
For several years Frontline Fellowship has been praying over acquiring a farm. We have now investigated a remarkable farm which appears to meet most of our needs. With the increasing demands for our camps and courses, this farm would be an ideal site for Wilderness Bush Camps, Leadership Training Courses, Youth Camps, School and Church Camps, Missionary Training programmes, Biblical Worldview Seminars and Summits, Great Commission Courses and Security and Survival Training programmes. This farm is in a remote and mountainous region with a large number of baboons and some leopards. 15 of our Missionaries and staff have explored the well-watered area and are in agreement that this is the most suitable place that we have yet found to establish Livingstone Farm. Our Board has thoroughly discussed and adopted the project.

Mobilise to Evangelise Africa
In order to expand the Missions capabilities and impact, we are convinced that acquiring and developing this Mission farm will enable us to develop the most effective, hands-on, practical training facilities for the Missionaries needed to reclaim Africa for Christ. The needs are urgent, the opportunities unprecedented, yet the labourers are all too few. The only way that we will be able to respond to the overwhelming demands and requests to serve suffering Christians throughout Africa, is to recruit and train an army of Mission workers. Livingstone Farm will be the Missionary Training Centre that we pray will prepare and mobilise the kind of Missionaries that Andrew Murray mobilised through the Africa Institute, following the 1860 Revival. We are now trusting the Lord for the finances needed in order to go forward with this strategic project. 

Please Pray for Lenora
Five years after my wife, Lenora, was first diagnosed with cancer, we are having to refight that battle again. Lenora donated her kidney to our son Christopher for his transplant in December 2009. Six months later, she was diagnosed with cancer and after surgery and chemotherapy was declared cancer free. Now, four and a half years later, the cancer has returned, in the same area, requiring all six lymph nodes to be surgically removed. Her Oncologist has prescribed 15 weeks of chemotherapy to be followed with 5 weeks of radiation. As you can imagine, this has been a severe blow to all of us in the family. However, Lenora is bravely going ahead, still involved in running the local Cancer Survivor Dragon Boat Racing Team and organising no end of initiatives and events, despite battling the inevitable nausea and headaches.

Mission to Europe Ten Years Ago Launched The Reformation Society
It was 10 years ago, after an 11 nation Mission to Europe that the Lord led me to launch The Reformation Society. 2005 was a watershed year in so many ways. I published Slavery, Terrorism and Islam – The Historic Roots and Contemporary Threatwhich brought about death threat Fatwas from Muslim extremists. Lenora came down with hepatitis, which knocked her out of action for 5 months, of which 5 weeks was spent in hospital, 11 days on a drip. All four children suddenly had to follow me around on every Mission outreach, meeting, late night radio programmes and street Evangelism. Their home schooling became quite innovative as I had to try to juggle home responsibilities with the ongoing demands of the Mission. Unprecedented attacks were launched against myself and our Mission during that tumultuous year. Out of all of the turmoil of 2005, the ministries of The Reformation Society, Livingstone Fellowship and JOY! Magazine, were launched early in 2006. What man meant for evil, God used for good (Genesis 50:20). You can read my Report of that remarkable 2005 Mission to Europe on our www.frontline.org.za website. 

Historic Milestones
This year, 2015, marks a number of remarkable historic milestones, which we are using for Discipleship, teaching obedience to all things that the Lord has commanded. This year marks the 800th anniversary of the proclamation of Magna Carta, the first statute, the first written restriction on the powers of government. "To no one will we sell, to no one deny, or delay, right or justice." No taxes may be levied without the consent of representatives of those being taxed. No one may be imprisoned without a fair trial by Jury of their peers. Property must not be taken from any owner without just compensation. Religious freedom is foundational and must remain inviolable, with all "its rights undiminished and its liberties unimpaired." 

God's Law or Chaos
Those who reject God and His Law have no objective basis for Justice. If one rejects Creation and the Law of the Creator, then social and moral chaos is inevitable. What does secular humanism offer us? "You came from nothing! You are going nowhere! Life is meaningless!" From goo to the zoo to you. From mud to monkeys to man. No ultimate standards of right and wrong. Situation ethics and relativism have led to the lawlessness tearing families and communities apart worldwide. We need to return to God's Law of Perfect Liberty (James 1:25). 

Remember the Persecuted
Presentations on the 75th anniversary of the Katyn Forest Massacre have been prepared as well as on, the 100th anniversary of the Turkish Genocide of Armenian Christians, the 100th anniversary of the Sinking of the Lusitania, the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, and the 70th anniversary of the Dropping of the Atom Bombs. Each of these historic milestones, in different ways, offer us opportunities to Evangelise our neighbours and teach key Discipleship and Biblical worldview principles. You will find a range of such articles on our www.ReformationSA.org website, also numerous of the lectures have already been place on SermonAudio.com page. Several of the PowerPoints are already on our Slideshare page. 

Mission to America
Please pray for me as I conduct seminars and services in Arizona, California, Georgia, Tennessee and Pennsylvania. 

Upcoming Missions
Our Missionaries have a range of cross-border outreaches planned to Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and the Congo and even further afield. Please trust the Lord with us for the resources to be able to respond to these many desperately urgent requests and invitations which we regularly receive and seldom have sufficient personnel or resources to adequately respond to. 

Thank You
We are most grateful for your prayers, encouragement, and support, without which none of our ministries would be possible. Thank you for the financial sacrifices you have made to enable this Mission to advance in Africa. Please continue to pray for our many ongoing Book Projects, outreaches and cross-border Missions.

May God continue to be your joy and strength.

Yours for the fulfilment of the Great Commission

Dr. Peter Hammond

Frontline Fellowship 
P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725 
Cape Town South Africa 
Tel: 021-689-4480 
Fax: 021-685-5884 
Email: mission@frontline.org.za 

Your support is needed and much appreciated. Our banking details are:
(For South African supporters) 
Acc. Name: Frontline Fellowship 
First National Bank - Rondebosch 
Branch code: 201509 
Acc. No: 5017 0589 260 
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(For overseas supporters) 
Acc. Name: Frontline Fellowship 
First National Bank - Rondebosch 
Branch code: ZA201509 
Acc. No: 5017 0589 260 
Swift No: FIRNZAJJ 
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