Month: May 2018

Saudi Arabia Says No to Foreign Workers

/ Steinar Opheim / 1 Comment

New policies from the Saudi-Arabian leaders may reduce the opportunities for foreign workers to find jobs in what is still regarded as one of the most closed nations for the gospel.

 Most likely it is the unemployment rate of 13 percent that is now causing the Saudi government to make changes. The Economist write that  Ahmad Kattan, Saudi´s deputy labor minister, hopes to reduce the unemployment to 10 percent in the coming four years. To do so he has barred foreigners from 12 sectors in the economy. Baking and optometry are two of them.

Death penalty

For many years Saudi-Arabia was on top of Open Doors´ World Watch List displaying the worst persecutors of Christians. Over the years the situation has improved a bit, and the Arabian kingdom is now ranked as number 12. The situation for followers of Jesus is still difficult. Continue reading →

The Problem Is I´m a Christian

/ Steinar Opheim

Behind these red supporter scarfs is a strong story of faith.

Liverpool-fans will turn the National Sports Complex in Kiev red when they get ready for the Champions League soccer final later on this month. Their German manager, Jürgen Klopp, has brought the pride back to what was one of Europe´s major soccer clubs 30 years ago. His Christian faith is one of his driving forces, and a solid foundation also in times when the results are not as good as expected.

Faith and soccer

Klopp sees no need to hide that he is a Christian, and he openly shares about his faith in public interviews. It even forms the backbone of his soccer philosophy. Continue reading →