Josh Benner

Tag: American

  • American missionary killed: the cost of the gospel, the necessity for wisdom

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    An American missionary, John Allen Chau lost his life on a remote island off the coast of India last week.
    His goal was to share the gospel with the Sentinelese tribe. Their island is a protected area, which is isolated from the outside world. The tribe has also been violent towards visitors in the past.

    Chau attempted going to the island and the Sentinelese shot arrows at him, forcing Chau to flee. But he returned again, tragically losing his life.

    I’m conflicted about this story. It is certainly very unfortunate that this man lost his life. I appreciate that he had a desire to go somewhere and share the love of Jesus with people who didn’t know it. (more…)

  • American pastor to remain in Turkish prison

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    Hopes dashed today. American missionary and pastor Andrew Brunson has been imprisoned in Turkey since 2016 for allegations of espionage and terrorism.
    Brunson is an innocent man who has served as a pastor and missionary in Turkey for 23 years. He is a hostage in a political game where the Turkish government is trying to swap Brunson for a Turkish cleric who is residing in the United States.
    Brunson was taken into custody in 2016 for allegedly being part of a coup against the Turkish president however the “evidence” against him comes from anonymous sources. The 50 year old pastor faces 35 years in prison.
    This week, he was on trial, and there was hope that he could be released. Several American officials have visited Brunson.
    Today, Brunson was sent back to jail with his next trial date not coming until October.
    Brunson has said: “I desperately miss my wife and children. Yet, I believe this to be true, it is an honor to suffer for Jesus Christ, as many have before me. My deepest thanks to all those around the world who are standing with and praying for me.”
    Brunson is unjustly being persecuted but it is encouraging to hear of his steadfast hope in the gospel in spite of his circumstances.
    The Apostle Paul was wrongly imprisoned more than once during his ministry.
    Writing the Letter to the Philippians from prison, Paul said:

    I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

    -Philippians 1:12-14

    Paul was in a difficult situation but took advantage of where he was for the sake of advancing the gospel.

    As counterintuitive as it is, it’s often in the face of persecution that the gospel spreads. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “ “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10).

    Prayers for you Pastor Andrew. The Lord be with you.

    Josh Benner is the associate pastor at Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church in Fergus Falls, Minnesota and has a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He enjoys writing about faith and culture. He lives with his wife Kari in Minnesota.

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  • American pastor is a hostage of the Turkish government

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    Credit: Facebook
    In 2016, there was a coup attempt against the Turkish government and their president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.  Factions of their military launched uprisings in several cities.
    The coup failed.
    The Turkish government believes that one of the intellectual leaders of the coup was Fethullah Gulen, a writer and former cleric who currently resides in Pennsylvania.
    Andrew Brunson is an American pastor who has been serving in Turkey for over 20 years.
    In the aftermath of the coup, Brunson was taken into custody for allegedly being involved in the failed coup.
    The evidence against him comes from anonymous sources. But the 50 year old pastor faces 35 years in prison for his alleged involvement.
    Turkey has expressed intreat in swapping Brunson for Gulen, whom the United States will not extradite.

    These are trumped up charges. Brunson is a hostage being imprisoned by the Turkish government for them to try to negotiate for someone they want.
    President Trump addressed the situation via Twitter this week. The Turkish government has not accommodated requests from the United States.
    Andrew Brunson is a man who has dedicated his life to spreading the gospel in another part of the world. We need to pray for Pastor Brunson, for his family, and for our diplomats and politicians who are working to get this man freed.

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    Josh Benner is the associate pastor at Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church in Fergus Falls, Minnesota and has a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He enjoys writing about faith and culture. He lives with his wife Kari in Minnesota.

     

  • Legal and illegal aliens: what the Bible has to say

    Growing up in a foreign land, being expected to abide by another culture’s customs, and eventually being forced to leave the place which had become home. These are all issues which Dr. James K. Hoffmeier faced while growing up in Egypt as the son of American missionaries. Political pressure would end up causing the revocation of his family’s visas and he again became an alien in Canada. (more…)