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Christianity Today, March, 2009 |

You've Got Jail

Missionaries' imprisonment shows the security risks of support e-mails.

Susan Wunderink | posted 2/17/2009 09:02AM

Longtime missionaries David and Fiona Fulton were sentenced by a Gambian court to a year of hard labor last December after pleading guilty — in hopes of a lenient sentence — to sedition charges ...

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Ruby Brown

Posted: February 27, 2009 9:13 PM

How can we as Christians guard what we say and still give a Christian witness to the many Muslim's and other anti-Christian groups in America? May GOD strengthen and encourage those who are facing jail or other persecution for worshiping GOD according to their convictions. As we move more and more toward a Global perspective, it seems that the devil is angry, and he is wrecking havoc with churches and individuals because he knows that his time is short. Let's keep our faith and hope that JESUS will come to us soon with blessing and victory. Ruby Brown

DavidC

Posted: February 26, 2009 3:10 PM

Agreed, Tim. As a Missions-minded Christian, it saddens me greatly to think that these missionaries are losing the next year of their life because of some words and an opportunistic email recipient. The missionary may have erred in their words that they chose. The recipient should have not been on the mailing list in the first place, since they are obviously not supporters of the Mission. The article writer, though, also used poor judgment in trying to make a funny title to an article that is not funny at all. I would expect something like this from mainstream sites that bash Christianity, but not this one...

Samuel Richter

Posted: February 26, 2009 12:45 PM


My only question is, where were they trained?

Jim in Australia

Posted: February 26, 2009 12:03 PM

Let's reverse this situation. A foreign Muslim living in America makes (tongue in cheek?) comments about arming Muslims against Christians. Terrorist, or just foolish? Will we lock him up under the Patriot Act, seek to deport him, or just laugh it off as a sick joke gone wrong? After we ask ourselves that question, then maybe we can better understand the situation in Gambia, and why their authorities acted the way that they did in response to this email.

Frank

Posted: February 25, 2009 4:08 PM


We pray they will released like Peter in Acts or be witnesses like Paul in prison.

Anonymous

Posted: February 25, 2009 12:07 PM


Love

Ifeanyi

Posted: February 25, 2009 9:55 AM


Some comments are better shared with a personal counsellor than a prayer network.

RONAN

Posted: February 24, 2009 8:55 PM

How easy it is for us sitting in cush living rooms reading about the trials of these poor saints in gambia, whose only crime was forgetting that part of their lot in life is to put their health and safety in harm's way each waking day. Thank you David and Fiona Fulton, for bearing the lashes for us. You are the front line soldiers; we who are not bold enough to be on the front line thank you, will pray for you, and will honor you one day, if not on this earth then in Heaven. Its a place I'm reasonably sure the person who ratted them out with the Gambian government is not likely to be. Maybe we should pray for that rat. He is in greater need than the Fultons, who will reap the reward of saints for this martyrdom. Let us all pray for their health, and their survival, physical and mental.

Joey	Posted: February 24, 2009 3:50 AM


A 'wry' and 'unfortunate' comment? How about 'unbiblical', 'anti-gospel', 'unchristian', 'mean-spirited', 'unloving', and worse? An interesting article but the real problem was that this statement should never have come from someone representing Christ to a Muslim nation. The Fultons plead guilty because they are guilty.

usernametodd

Posted: February 23, 2009 9:08 AM


Truly a unconstructive thing for a Christian to say spiritually or politically in my opinion. Plainly seditious, but worst yet, gospel smothering.

Mike	Posted: February 20, 2009 5:43 AM

Paul did great ministry in Jail; however, Churchill was right. A lie gets half way around the world before the truth gets its' pants on. I don't think that missionary was trying to start a civil war. It is stupid to put them in jail for an email when read in context makes sense. Our world is hyper sensitive. They really don't give people a chance. Gambi is wrong to treat this couple this way. They have done more for their country than people in the country. May God have mercy on Gambia.

Betty

Posted: February 19, 2009 3:39 PM


We have been told exactly this: to be careful about passing on missionary letters.

Atilla

Posted: February 19, 2009 9:28 AM

How much do we suffer in our pleasant air conditioned office, typing away rebuking notes of our brethren? Are we as a Christians do not run into being called fundamentalists? Indeed as stated, the missionary's tongue got the better of them under their stress and pressure. They need no rebuking, as they have accepted their folly, and are living with the consequences. Why don't we look at what we can do about helping them? As for the title, I can tolerate it - it captures elements of the topic, e-mail, jail. I like the blurbs of technical solutions, however limited. It is a good article Ms. Wunderink. (wonder ink? how fitting! :D)

inkling

Posted: February 19, 2009 9:07 AM


A strange spin in the heading of this article that says, “Missionaries' imprisonment shows the security risks of support e-mails” when the ED of the International Christian Technologies Association explains that, "this is a people issue more than a technology issue."

tim	Posted: February 18, 2009 2:14 PM


Although the title is "cute" it does seem to be overly trite. After my "inside chuckle" I was saddened by the news of this couple, regardless of the folly of their comment and their "friend" who forwarded it to authorities. I would prefer a bit more sensitivity in the title selection.

Bart Wang

Posted: February 18, 2009 10:36 AM


It is immoral to encourage others to accept injustice you do not endure. William, if 'God has allowed them to be in prison at this time' like you suggest, maybe you'll be Christ-like to offer yourself in their place?

William

Posted: February 18, 2009 8:46 AM

This shows up the dangers of trusting those you send your prayer letter to, one has to be very careful that they will not misuse the information that was sent to them, which seems to be what happened to the Fultons in the Gambia. The Christian worker also needs to be very careful as to what they do and do not put into an e mail and realise the consequences if it should be intercepted or they send it to someone who betrays their trust. Above all else however the Lord is on the throne and He will bring honour to His name from this. God has allowed them to be in prison at this time just as He allowed Paul to be in prison in Phillipi , how much the church has gained down through the centuries of time because of Paul's stay in the prison in Phillipi.

Anonymous

Posted: February 17, 2009 10:33 PM

Quoting from the article above: "I have suggested that we arm the Muslims with sticks and the Christians with machine guns and let them fight it out." This statement although maybe said in jest is crass, stupid, inflamatory and unhelpful. Someone working in a country other than their own should only say or write things that will be appreciated and valued by their host country. I think in politically correct UK they would be ill-advised to make such a statement as well!

Graham UK

Posted: February 17, 2009 10:07 PM

We must be careful when judging people as fundementalists or as anything in our own imperfection. What did Jesus say on this at 'the stoning'? Did Jesus not have sympathy for the rich young man? Does Jesus not ask us to love and pray for our enemies? What were Jesus' words of forgiveness after so much abuse on the cross? We ALL fall short of perfection and God bless and guard our tongues when we cannot empathize with a fellow sinner; after all we can only ever be sinners trying to get it right. Yours in Christ.

Scoti Springfield Domeij

Posted: February 17, 2009 8:55 PM


Great title!

Anonymous

Posted: February 17, 2009 8:17 PM


We need to join in prayer that this brother and sister of Christ are protected and released!!

Linda

Posted: February 17, 2009 7:36 PM


God will take care of them, and those who self-righteously grant them no grace or sympathy. What is YOUR level of sacrifice for the Gospel?

Traci

Posted: February 17, 2009 5:31 PM


Wow, what a betrayal. But what man intends for evil God can use for good. Maybe they will save souls by sharing Christ during their punishment.

Johnny

Posted: February 17, 2009 4:59 PM


"Wise as serpents and as harless as doves" springs to mind

Gary	Posted: February 17, 2009 4:47 PM


May God have mercy on them.

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