By Worthy News North America Service
WASHINGTON, USA (Worthy News)-- A religious liberty group warned Saturday, February 6, that "Anti-Christian hostility is getting increasingly deadly" in the United States after two street preachers were shot and killed by a teenager who apparently opposed their message."The increasing demonization of Christians in our culture makes some feel its open season on Christians," said Gary Cass of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission.
Tite Sufra, 24 (pictured above), and Stephen Ocean (pictures below), 23, were shot and killed late Saturday, January 30, in Boynton Beach in the U.S. State of Florida, where they evangelized, after meeting 18-year-old Jeriah Woody, local police said.
"They witnessed to Woody for fifteen minutes when he got a phone call and told the preachers he 'had to go', added the Commission, which closely monitored the case.
CHRISTIANS EXECUTED
"As they walked away, Woody suddenly started walking back toward them. Sufra walked up to greet him and was killed with a shot gun blast at point blank range. When Ocean ran, he was shot in the back. After he fell, Woodyshot him in the head execution style."
Woody was detained Wednesday, February 3, and is charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Bail was reportedly denied to him.
Cass complained about a lack of interest in national media. "As of today, there are no national news organizations reporting this vicious murder of two innocent Christian men. Why?" Cass said, "I'll ask this: If two Muslims, or
two feminists or two homosexuals were murdered, wouldn't the media be all over it? These were two fine young black Christian men shot by another black man for their Christian faith, yet the media does not seem to care."
"OMINOUS SIGN"
He described the case as "an ominous sign" of times "that Christians are being shot on the streets and in our churches."
Last year Jim Pullion was killed while holding pro-life signs in front of his granddaughter's Owasso Michigan high school. Reverend Fred Winters was murdered while preaching in his pulpit in Maryville, Illinois.
"Increasingly we see Christian ministers threatened and churches terrorized and vandalized for their stand on marriage. Now when Christians gather for worship they must have armed security."
He said, "Anti-Christian defamation and bigotry has helped to create this violent climate and it must stop." (With reporting by Worthy News' Stefan J. Bos).