In Islam there is a religious permission to lie, “Taqiyya,” which allows Muslims to lie to non-believers to advance the cause of Islam. There is also a religious justification of human trafficking in Islam, a system known as Kafala. Kafala, originally referring to the Islamic “adoption” of children, is an exploitive “sponsorship” system that results in the organized crime of human trafficking in Gulf Cooperation Council countries Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and some neighboring states. The two Islamic religious practices of taqiyya and Kafala combine to justify participation in a worldwide network of human trafficking for sex, labor, and harvesting of human organs.

Each year the US State Department releases a report on human trafficking. The 2017 and 2018 reports mention the Kafala system in association with Arab countries and recommend replacing them. Specifically, the 2018 report singles out Saudi Arabia, “Due to Saudi Arabia’s requirement under its de facto sponsorship—kafala—system that foreign workers obtain permission from their employers for an exit visa to be able to legally depart the country, some are forced to work well beyond their contract term because their employers do not grant such permission.” In other words, once a victim has arrived in Saudi Arabia, they cannot legally leave under the Kafala system, “rendering them vulnerable to forced labor and debt bondage.”

The report also singles out a couple of countries as examples in explaining human trafficking: “in Nigeria, traffickers use fraud to recruit women and girls for jobs in Europe and force them into commercial sex when they get there. Many traffickers force victims to take a juju oath to ensure compliance and threaten death resulting from the juju curse if they break their oath, disobey their traffickers, and try to leave their exploitative situations.” The report says, “traffickers… lure potential victims with false promises of money, misleading job offers, or other fraudulent opportunities. Traffickers typically, but not exclusively, target women as potential victims, often from impoverished backgrounds, with minimal education, or originating from vulnerable populations or destitute communities…” The State Department says these schemes are carried out by organized crime syndicates.

This is what we are fighting in Ghana. One such example is told by our ministry partner Pastor William Agbeti, who says these Muslims dress up on Sundays and loiter around churches trying to lure Christian girls into human trafficking. He reports: Their modus operandi is to tell sweet lies and give superfluous promises to unsuspecting, vulnerable young girls desirous of escaping hard financial and economic situations. The whole engagement process is steeped in secrecy. On arrival at their destinations, the girls are forcefully made to surrender their passports in full view of state officials.”

Exodus 21:16 says, “And he that steals a man, and sells him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.”

In sharing the gospel AND educating against this evil system, we may save many souls from both spiritual and physical destruction.

Part II

The US State Department’s yearly report on human trafficking identifies the problems and even has some stories to put a human face on this horror of horrors. But like so many things, the State Department really doesn’t call it like it is. There is a massive organized crime network trafficking in human beings, and if Islam is not at the core of it, it is a major player. In my opinion, this crime against humanity is not exposed and eradicated because so many powerful people, politicians and business leaders are totally immersed in human trafficking. And it boils down to little villages around the world like the one’s in Ghana, where the impact and the journey of horror for so many begins. Pastor William Agbeti describes it:

“The entire Islamic Kafala system is made possible by networks of well-organized agents, organizations, companies and criminal gangs with deep pockets and long arms with universal reach. The suppliers of girls for the Kafala system are ruthless and operate everywhere, even on university campuses especially in Nigeria. In exception of a few countries that had some activists campaigning against the system, the larger Arab-sphere has in-country political systems that actually turn blind eyes to the atrocities committed by the proponents of Kafala.  Not a single Government in those countries would seriously prosecute perpetrators of Kafala who enslave, kill, maim and exploit poor female migrants. This is because it is entrenched in their social fabric and has become a largely accepted Islamic practice and system.

“Hundreds of Ghanaian girls, and others from neighboring countries, as well as places like the Philippines are spirited away regularly to feed Kafala. These end up in homes and workplaces where they are totally dehumanized, prevented from going anywhere, and virtually become slaves owned by wealthy individuals. In many cases, the girls are imprisoned in homes behind lock and key and raped repeatedly by the children and visitors of their “owners”!  At the time of writing this Daily Jot, a leading social media news outlet has reported two missing girls from a Ghanaian neighborhood. The outlet has published photos of the girls (very beautiful, slim and young). We know some parents are weeping right now.

“We also know the Government of Ghana, like many other Governments in both the under-developed and developed worlds, are not taking up any arms against the practice. Already, as a country, tens and maybe hundreds of girls have gone missing and still go missing on a weekly basis from many homes. Meanwhile, some wealthy Arab maniacs (or possibly European or American rich-men) somewhere are eagerly waiting for the recently missing two girls from Ghana to surface in their homes.” These Islamist agents of human traffickers are scouting Christian churches in Ghana to find their prey, especially in rural areas. This is what we are up against.

Psalm 127:3 says that “Children are a heritage of the Lord.” You see what God’s enemies have in store for the Lord’s heritage. Please consider them in your heart, prayers and support.

Posted in Rural Africa Outreach, The Daily Jot

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When a Coup Fails (Feb. 6):

Millions of your tax dollars have been spent since before the inauguration of Donald Trump on removing him from office. The Democratic members of Congress, the previous White House, and many, many operatives in government agencies have been working together on a coup of an elected president—this is the real crime among many others that will likely go unpunished, unprosecuted and perhaps forgotten. In other countries around the world, a failed coup attempt usually results in the aggressors and their families being executed. In other countries, coup attempts are decided by blood, guns and bullets. In America, the weapon is a vote. And Republicans finally stood up to put down the coup.

I don’t want to pick on one group of people, but the blame for this is squarely on the Democratic Party and their media minions and deep-state accomplices. This didn’t need to be done. Almost four years and millions of dollars have been wasted on this coup to remake America into a socialist state. It is disgraceful. There are challenges to be solved, but members of Congress have failed in their elected duty to address those challenges. All the while, trying to remove a president from office, ignoring the facts, ignoring their jobs, while exercising their hate and having you and me pay for it. Nancy Pelosi ripping up President Trump’s State of the Union address is more than symbolic.

Meanwhile, the President has been working. His policies have provided jobs, reduced the number of people on welfare, increased the hiring of minorities, supported Israel, opposed abortion, and even reduced the trade deficit with China. He has protected the country from terrorist attacks by killing major leaders of the Islamic State and Iran’s terrorist operation. He has reversed many of the policies that prevented America from prospering. And despite being called a bigot, a racist, a misogynist, a homophobe, an Islamophobe, and a xenophobe, he has improved the quality of life through a good economy for so many people–All while the Democratic Party leadership has tried to disrupt and obstruct his every move.

This coup attempt has failed. But it is not over. There will be another one. The news media has covered the impeachment acquittal as a partisan rebuttal and continues to recount the Democratic Party narrative on the facts, as if they were ignored. This will only end if the coup-makers are voted out of office.

This is an amazing time in America’s history. We are in a fight over the soul of the nation. Unless we hold the coup-makers accountable, we cannot stand. As Christ said in Mark 3:24-25, “And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” We are a nation divided. We need to stand firm against the evil that seeks to destroy AND show the love of Christ to heal and unify.

Contempt of Congress (Feb. 10):

In John 13:34, Christ said, “A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” Certainly, Christ was talking to his followers, those who know and love God because, if you love God, you will also love others. This doesn’t mean that you have to always agree with them. But it lays out a guideline of respect, and respect is a product of love. What we have seen in America from the leadership of the Democratic Party is nothing but contempt for its political foes and any good news that benefits fellow humankind. They are the first to criticize Christian values, the first to claim they follow God, and the first to level utter contempt for anything good.

While it may seem that I am picking only on Democrats, it is the Democratic Party leadership that is demonstrating this contempt for America, Americans, Christians and Christian values, and the good news that is impacting Americans. What is wrong with people having jobs, people coming off of welfare, minorities who so long have been oppressed being employed at the highest rates in history, that the American standard of living is being restored after the middle class was nearly wiped out? What is wrong with applauding and celebrating these accomplishments? There is something terribly wrong with the Democratic Party that it cannot and will not accept or celebrate what is good for Americans.

Evangelist Franklin Graham noticed this as well when he tweeted, “What we saw from President Donald J. Trump’s opposition last night during the State of the Union address felt like a very personal resentment and hatred for the successes of America that had just been spoken of. How could leaders in Congress be so indignant about good news for the people of this country? Why would they not celebrate people seeing increases in their wages, our military being strengthened, a young girl receiving a scholarship, victories in the fight against ISIS, a military hero reunited with his family, a 100-year-old three-war veteran being honored, and other great news? It reveals contempt for the heart of America. What’s wrong with these people? As one senator said, “You can tear up the speech, but you can’t tear up the accomplishments.””

Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

I’m not saying that Republicans have a monopoly on what is good and true. They certainly do not and are also part of the problem. The focus on politics in this nation has resulted in deadly division. And this division shows more than ever the void of Christ in our country—the lack of light; the recognition of good; the stand against evil, or even understanding what is evil. We need to return to the ancient paths of righteousness–Love for one another; Respecting opinions even though we disagree; Making the case for what is right and good; and calling good, good and evil, evil. All this contempt is destructive.

Pelosi: Deceived and Being Deceived (Feb. 11):

President Donald Trump has posted a video of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) tearing up Trump’s State of the Union address. And Democrats are saying that the video is a lie and are demanding that Twitter, Google and Facebook censure it. The video, titled “Powerful American Stories Ripped to Shreds by Nancy Pelosi,” recalls positive points during the speech and inserts Pelosi tearing up the speech after each point is made. Now anyone involved in politics for even the shortest time could have guessed that Republicans would take every opportunity in campaign commercials to use Pelosi’s disrespectful and anti-American temper tantrum to illustrate the Democratic Party’s view of America. But the Democrats say it’s a lie.

Pelosi’s Chief of Staff Drew Hammill tweeted, “The latest fake video of Speaker Pelosi is deliberately designed to mislead and lie to the American people, and every day that these platforms refuse to take it down is another reminder that they care more about their shareholders’ interests than the public’s interests…The American people know that the President has no qualms about lying to them – but it is a shame to see Twitter and Facebook, sources of news for millions, do the same.” Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) chimed in: “This video is doctored. It has been up, and pinned to the President’s page, for nearly a day. Trump posted it to deceive Americans about @SpeakerPelosi’s actions and record… @Twitter should take this down.”

Breitbart reports, “Facebook, Google and Twitter have all been emphasizing their efforts to cut down on disinformation on their sites leading up to the election, hoping to avoid some of the backlash generated by rampant misinformation on social media during the 2016 election. But the video of Pelosi does not violate existing policies, both Twitter and Facebook said. Facebook has rules that prohibit so-called “deepfake” videos, which the company says are both misleading and use artificial intelligence technology to make it seem like someone authentically “said words that they did not actually say.” Both Facebook and Twitter executives have made statements saying that Trump said what he said and Pelosi did what she did.

The video has been seen by over 18 million people. The more the Democrats complain, the more people look at it. And it is not a lie; it is a campaign video emphasizing what Pelosi did—disrespect America. But the Democrats are trying to say Pelosi didn’t do what everyone in the world saw that she did. If they believe so strongly that Trump’s speech, relating positive news for America, was so wrong, why are they trying to cover Pelosi’s tantrum? Because Americans are offended by her actions, that’s why. Yet this is an example of how they try to lie about what they do. As in 2 Timothy 3:13, “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” This is no small thing. Pelosi did it. Americans are repulsed by it. So the Democrat’s answer is not to apologize, but to lie about it and try to censure it?

Of loving enemies, and the President’s words (Feb. 12):

We have heard many criticize the President for his allegedly insensitive remarks about his political enemies at the national prayer breakfast. It is important to keep things in context. What is the context of Christ’s exhortation of praying for your enemies? Christ consistently spoke about loving our neighbors as we would love ourselves; Praying for our enemies—yes, a sincere prayer that they would know the Lord! But we are also supposed to stand against evil, just as his example in taking authority over the Pharisees and Sadducees. Love our enemies, because the greatest love is that they would know the Lord and have life everlasting.

Let’s look at the context in which the President was speaking. Trump pointed out his exact experience with these people. They present an image to the public of being so righteous, yet they speak hate and label others with hateful names. They say they pray for him, but it is obvious their prayers are for his demise. Pointing out hypocrisy and truth does not always equate to hating enemies. Trump conveyed his experience as he saw it. What did Christ do in revealing the very judgmental and hypocritical Pharisees? He called them white-washed sepulchers. He told them that they were of their father the devil and that they lied like their father. We may not necessarily agree with how Trump communicates his message (I myself have many issues with this), but he definitely was telling the truth.

Let’s now look at the overall context. The people Trump was speaking of are not lovers of God as they claim. We see it in their actions and deeds, as well as their words. They stand for ungodliness, they support the enemies of Israel (also the traditional enemies of God), and they seek to enrich themselves through the tearing down of or exercising tyranny over others in word, deed, and policy.

So, what are we to say? Is Trump justified? Most likely, yes. Is his way of saying it eloquently presented or presidential? Not always. But in the end, it is truth. This is why believers can support this flawed man over the eminent evil we see in those who oppose Trump, oppose us, and most importantly, oppose the God we serve.

We have countless examples in the New Testament letters about overcoming evil with good, holding accountability, and having done all, stand. AND we have countless examples that believers should treat others as we would want to be treated. It’s both pointing out truth in love AND holding accountability where possible. We are to love our enemies because, as Christ said in the very same teaching (Matthew 5:48), “Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

This is our goal to be like our Father in heaven. He loved us unto salvation. It’s easy to hate your enemies, much harder to love them. Loving our enemies means to see them as humans who need God’s love. It doesn’t mean we appreciate what they do or condone it. And there are times their deeds need to be exposed.

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