Evangelical Views - the Best of UseNet Religious Postings! :: View topic - Pray for the World 9 November 2005 Update From HCJB World Ra

Russ T. Nale · Guest

Pray for the World: 4 March 2006 Update From HCJB World Radio
Today's Headlines:

INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT TIGHTENS REQUIREMENTS FOR CHURCH PERMITS

PASTOR IN CUBA WRONGLY ACCUSED OF AIDING ILLEGAL EMIGRANTS

PAKISTANI PASTOR ABDUCTED, TORTURED BY ISLAMIC KIDNAPPERS

2 PROTESTANT CHURCHES IN BELARUS FACE INCREASING LEGAL PRESSURE

SWAZILAND SEEKS 'YOUNG HEROES' TO HELP FAMILIES RAVAGED BY AIDS

Today's Top Stories:

INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT TIGHTENS REQUIREMENTS FOR CHURCH PERMITS

The Indonesian government has completed the revision of a controversial
decree on the establishment of places of worship. It requires that all
religious faiths must review requests for permits to build places of
worship and then provide recommendations to the local government. Back to
the Bible's Frans Silalahi says the requirement to plant a church is
unique. "You have to ask permission from 70 people who are unbelievers to
set up one church. That's what the law says." In order to build a church,
the government also requires a membership of 100 people. "We (may not)
have a chance to build a church any more, but it doesn't mean there aren't
any more Christians in Indonesia," Silalahi said. (Mission Network News)

PASTOR IN CUBA WRONGLY ACCUSED OF AIDING ILLEGAL EMIGRANTS

Cuban authorities jailed an evangelical pastor and former president of his
denomination Monday, Feb. 20, on charges of aiding illegal emigrants.
Relatives of the Rev. Carlos Lamelas said the allegations against him are
groundless. "They accuse him of getting people out of the country
illegally, which is a big lie," said a relative. "If he had that kind of
money, he wouldn't be living with hunger like he is now." Some sources
believe police targeted Lamelas because he has challenged the Castro
regime on religious rights issues. Police allowed his wife, Uramis, to
visit him for 10 minutes on Monday, Feb. 27, one week after his arrest.
She said he appeared exhausted and depressed and that he had been isolated
from other inmates during his confinement. A family friend said Uramis has
hired a lawyer, and has asked for prayer as she begins a legal battle to
free her husband. (Compass)

PAKISTANI PASTOR ABDUCTED, TORTURED BY ISLAMIC KIDNAPPERS

At about 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, Rev. Joseph Praim was walking to
his bank in Lahore, Pakistan, to pay a bill when a car stopped near him.
Islamic preachers jumped out and grabbed him. A handkerchief was placed
over his mouth, and he soon lost consciousness. Local sources said the
pastor of the Full Gospel Assemblies Church was robbed and woke up in a
dark room where he was tied up, beaten and threatened with death. His
abductors told him, "You belong to Christianity and your Christian
brothers made derogatory cartoons of Prophet Mohammad in Denmark; that's
why we are going to kill you." After five days without food or water, he
was finally left on the road, tied up. Praim is now in hiding as he
recuperates from his captivity. (Voice of the Martyrs)

2 PROTESTANT CHURCHES IN BELARUS FACE INCREASING LEGAL PRESSURE

Two Protestant churches in Minsk, Belarus are facing increasing pressure
because of restrictive registration laws, reported the Forum 18 News
Service. Pastor Georgi Vyazovsky of Christ's Covenant Reformed Baptist
Church has been charged with holding unsanctioned religious services.

On Sunday, Feb. 5, a local district official entered Vyazovsky's home as
the congregation of 30 met for Bible reading and prayer. When a police
officer arrived a few minutes later, the church members refused him
entrance. The official responded by accusing the pastor of violating
church registration laws. The court hearing against him is scheduled for
Friday, March 3.

On Sept. 20, 2005, the Belarusian Evangelical Church had its legal status
removed by a city court. Pastor Sabilo has since been ordered to pay all
court costs related to the case. With just 12 members and living on a
meager pension, Sabilo told the court that he was unable to pay the fine
of 127,500 rubles (US$59). He was told that bailiffs would make an
inventory of his property for confiscation. At last report, this has not
yet happened. (Voice of the Martyrs)

SWAZILAND SEEKS 'YOUNG HEROES' TO HELP FAMILIES RAVAGED BY AIDS

Swaziland's National Emergency Response Council on HIV/AIDS (NERCHA) has
announced the inauguration of Young Heroes, a program through which people
around the world can sponsor orphan families in Swaziland with monthly
donations of food and clothing. With more than 42 percent of adults (age
15-49) infected, Swaziland has the highest rate of HIV in the world.
UNICEF estimates that more than 70,000 children in the country's
population of 1 million have already lost at least one parent. "Our
greatest desire is to encourage young people with advantages to help their
peers who have little or nothing," said NERCHA Director Derek von Wissell.
A crucial goal of Young Heroes is to keep families together on their
homesteads and in their communities where they have the most security and
are surrounded by a familiar support system. (Religion Today)
=================

The opinion(s) expressed above are not necessarily rhose of this poster.
--
Russ T. Nale

http://grace.break.at

God is still speaking
http://www.stillspeaking.com

To send e-mail, remove "youhat" from address

Russ T. Nale · Guest

Pray for the World: 7 March 2006 Update From HCJB World Radio
Today's Headlines:

CHINA IGNORES NEW RELIGIOUS RIGHTS, KEEPS RESTRICTING WORSHIP

LAST OF VIETNAM'S 'MENNONITE SIX' RELEASED FROM PRISON

UPDATE: BIBLE SOCIETY DAMAGED BY BOMB ACTUALLY IN WEST BANK

BIBLELANDS, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY JOIN TO BUILD HOMES IN EGYPT

ROBERTSON LOSES SEAT ON NATIONAL RELIGIOUS BROADCASTERS BOARD

Today's Top Stories:

CHINA IGNORES NEW RELIGIOUS RIGHTS, KEEPS RESTRICTING WORSHIP

One year after China introduced new regulations on religious rights,
freedom to worship remains restricted, according to a quote from a human
rights group in a March 1 Reuters news story. The rules that took effect
in March 2005 enshrine religious belief as a basic right of all citizens,
but China still forbids worship outside designated religious
organizations, fearing the growth of groups that could challenge Communist
Party rule. "Local officials continue to repress religious activities that
they determine to be outside the scope of the state-controlled religious
system," the New York-based Human Rights Watch said in a statement.
Catholics who worship outside the state-backed Catholic Patriotic
Association, Muslim Uighurs, Tibetan Buddhists and Protestant house
churches are among those that risk punishment for practicing their
religions. (Religion Today)

LAST OF VIETNAM'S 'MENNONITE SIX' RELEASED FROM PRISON

Pham Ngoc Thach, a Vietnamese evangelist imprisoned for "resisting an
officer doing his duty," was released Friday, March 3, after completing a
two-year sentence in a prison in Dong Nai province. Thach and the Rev.
Nguyen Hong Quang were arrested in March 2004 after they discovered two
undercover police agents staking out Quang's house and reported their
presence to city officials. When Thach and a teacher surnamed Hien went to
take a picture of the police motorbike for evidence, the policemen
attacked them and a scuffle ensued. Christians later learned that, while
Thach was in police custody, officers beat him until he passed out. Thach
and five other Mennonites who eventually came to be known as the
"Mennonite Six" were charged with "resisting officers of the law while
doing their duty." Church officials say the men had simply insisted that
policemen who were investigating them should follow correct legal
procedures. (Compass)

UPDATE: BIBLE SOCIETY DAMAGED BY BOMB ACTUALLY IN WEST BANK

Christians in the Palestinian-controlled areas of Israel are asking
Christians around the world to continue praying for them despite erroneous
information being reported. Because of a language barrier and
miscommunications with people in the area, e3 Partners mistakenly reported
to Mission Network News that the Palestine Bible Society building in Gaza
was blown up on Tuesday, Feb. 28.

Tom Doyle of e3 Partners said the building damaged by a bomb was actually
another Bible Society in West Bank called Living Stones-not the one in
Gaza. "The one in Gaza was threatened to be bombed on Feb. 28 or
afterwards, and that threat is very much still alive."

Doyle said he expects violence will only escalate as radical Islamic
groups move into the region. "With the cartoons, and some of the things
that are coming out of Iran, with some of the threats, it just seems to be
a real difficult point right now in the Middle East and so believers are
just asking that we would pray for them."

Despite the increase in threats and hostilities, Doyle says the believers
have remained strong. "Instead of going and hiding they are serving Christ
with a passion and reaching out to people. They are certainly brothers and
sisters that we can be very proud of in their courageous stand for
Christ." (Mission Network News)

BIBLELANDS, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY JOIN TO BUILD HOMES IN EGYPT

A ministry called BibleLands and Habitat for Humanity have joined forces
in a three-year scheme that will result in new homes for 558 of Egypt's
poorest families. U.K.-based BibleLands has embarked on the challenge of
raising at least US$260,000 to improve housing conditions in the Upper
Nile communities of El Kom, El Akhdar and El Sakakrya. Widespread poverty
in the region gives rise to unstable and unsanitary living areas. Mud
bricks and insecure brushwood roofs offer the perfect environment for
vermin and disease. BibleLands and Habitat for Humanity plan to help
families raise capital and work together with their neighbors, both
Christian and Muslim, to renovate and build secure homes in which they can
look forward to a healthier and safer future. Later in this year
BibleLands will send its first team of volunteers to Egypt to work
alongside villagers in constructing new buildings. "Here at BibleLands'
headquarters we are all very enthusiastic about the whole program and the
tangible benefits it will have for so many people," said Director Nigel
Edward-Few. (The Good News)

ROBERTSON LOSES SEAT ON NATIONAL RELIGIOUS BROADCASTERS BOARD

Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson, criticized by some evangelicals for
recent controversial comments, lost a bid for re-election to the National
Religious Broadcasters' board of directors, reported the Associated Press.
Robertson, founder of the Virginia Beach-based Christian Broadcasting
Network, was one of 38 candidates for 33 board seats during the NRB's
recent convention. The group represents mostly evangelical radio and TV
broadcasters. NRB President Frank Wright said there was no broad effort to
distance the group from Robertson. But there was "broad dismay with some
of Pat's comments and a feeling they were not helpful to Christian
broadcasters in general," he said in Wednesday's Washington Post. In the
past few months, Robertson suggested that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez
should be assassinated and that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's
stroke was divine punishment for pulling out of the Gaza Strip. A
Robertson spokeswoman said Thursday that he had been a board member for 30
years but attended only one board meeting "due to his extensive schedule."
(Religion Today) =================

The opinion(s) expressed above are not necessarily rhose of this poster.
--
Russ T. Nale

http://grace.break.at

God is still speaking
http://www.stillspeaking.com

To send e-mail, remove "youhat" from address

Russ T. Nale · Guest

Pray for the World: 8 March 2006 Update From HCJB World Radio
Today's Headlines:

BELARUS PASTOR IMPRISONED FOR LEADING HOME WORSHIP

HINDU NATIONALISTS SEEK TO CLOSE CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATIONS IN INDIA

TRIBE FROM INDIA SENDS MISSIONARIES TO EVANGELIZE WALES

VOICE OF THE MARTYRS SENDS GOD'S WORD INTO RESTRICTED NATIONS

SURVEY: MOST U.S. CHRISTIANS 'BAFFLED BY HOLINESS'

Today's Top Stories:

BELARUS PASTOR IMPRISONED FOR LEADING HOME WORSHIP

Pastor Georgi Vyazovsky of the Minsk-based Christ's Covenant Reformed
Baptist Church was imprisoned for 10 days for conducting religious worship
in his own home. This is the first time in nearly twenty years that
religious worship has incurred a prison sentence on the territory of
Belarus. "We expected that my father would be found guilty," the pastor's
son Stanislav Vyazovsky remarked on the day of the trial. "[The
punishment, however] was a real shock to all of us who were present." The
church tried and failed to get re-registration under Belarus' highly
restrictive 2002 religion law, which bans all but occasional religious
worship in private homes. District administration officials raided
Vyazovsky's church several times "with the aim of exposing religious
organizations without
registration." (Forum 18 News Service)

HINDU NATIONALISTS SEEK TO CLOSE CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATIONS IN INDIA

Christians continue to be the targets of violence in India's Rajasthan
State, hitting the ministry of Hopegivers International especially hard.
Hopegivers Bill Bray says Hindu nationals are upset with a book of
comparative religions that takes a negative view of Hinduism. Bray says
even though it wasn't published by Hopegivers, the Hindu government is
reacting as if it were. "In Cota, where our headquarters is located, they
have revoked all of the licenses of all of our institutions en masse. So,
the police are going around, putting up cease and desist orders on the
schools, on the hospital, on the orphanage." Despite the pressure,
Hopegivers healthcare workers and orphanage workers aren't giving in. "The
doctors and the nurses said, 'well, you can take us and the patients to
jail if you want, people will die. We can not close the hospital.' It's a
statewide organized effort." The national government is concerned by the
thousands of people coming to Christ in Rajasthan. "The National Human
Rights Commission, of the federal government, has appointed an
investigator, which is a good sign." In the meantime, Hopegivers has
established a legal defense fund for those that have been arrested.
(Mission Network News)

TRIBE FROM INDIA SENDS MISSIONARIES TO EVANGELIZE WALES

Tribes from India that were converted to Christianity by missionaries from
Wales decades ago are now sending their own missionaries to evangelize the
Welsh because they believe that the country is in a state of religious
decline. The diocese of Mizoram in northeastern India sent one missionary
to south Wales and is planning to send a second in April, helping the
Welsh Presbyterian Church with its shortage of ministers. Rev. Hmar
Sangkhuma, who now works in Wales as a "mission enabler" in Maesteg, said
that many people in Wales are suffering from a "spiritual void." People
from the Mizoram area were converted to Christianity by the Welsh between
1840 and 1960 until more than 80 percent of the population became
Christian. Wales is traditionally seen as one of the most religious areas
in Britain following the great revival of 1904. However, that has
declined, and the 2001 census showed that fewer than one in 10 people in
Wales regularly attended church or chapel. (WorldWide Religious
News/Telegraph)

VOICE OF THE MARTYRS SENDS GOD'S WORD INTO RESTRICTED NATIONS

Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) has launched what it calls the "Bibles Unbound"
program giving Christians in the U.S. a chance to help get copies of God's
Word to nations where access to the Scriptures has been limited or
virtually nonexistent. VOM spokesman Todd Nettleton notes, "We're working
directly with our brothers and sisters inside these restricted nations.
They are the ones collecting the addresses and the names for us to send
these Bibles to, and they are planning ways that they can follow up after
a Bible mailing has been done." Bibles Unbound participants are encouraged
to pray for the people they are mailing the Bibles to, with a reminder
that this may be the first time that anyone has prayed for them by name.
VOM is able to mail the Bibles directly into many restricted nations using
non-U.S. postage provided in cooperation with United Parcel Service and
the International Remail System. New Testaments are now being sent to
China and Egypt through the Bible Unbound program. (Evangelical News/Agape
Press)

SURVEY: MOST U.S. CHRISTIANS 'BAFFLED BY HOLINESS'

The concept of holiness is woven throughout the Bible and is one of the
foundational teachings of many Protestant churches, but a new nationwide
telephone survey conducted by the Barna Group indicates that most adults
remain confused, if not daunted, by the concept. Three out of every four
adults (73 percent) believe that it is possible for someone to become
holy, regardless of their past. Only half of the adult population,
however, says that they know someone they consider to be holy. Fewer than
half that number actually consider themselves to be holy (21 percent). The
views of born-again Christians are not much different from the national
averages. When pressed to describe what it means to be holy, adults gave a
wide range of answers. The most common reply was "I don't know," offered
by one out of every five adults (21 percent). Evangelicals and people with
a biblical worldview were among respondents most like to say that God
expects them to become holy. The survey results also indicated that young
adults (39 or younger) are less likely than middle-aged and older adults
to believe that God expects holiness of His people. (WorldWide Religious
News/Barna Research Group)
=================

The opinion(s) expressed above are not necessarily rhose of this poster.
--
Russ T. Nale

http://grace.break.at

God is still speaking
http://www.stillspeaking.com

To send e-mail, remove "youhat" from address

Russ T. Nale · Guest

Pray for the World: 9 March 2006 Update From HCJB World Radio
Today's Headlines:

CHRISTIAN GROUPS CONDEMN BOMBINGS IN HINDU PILGRIMAGE CITY IN INDIA

PAKISTANI CHRISTIAN WOMAN ACCUSED OF BLASPHEMY, BEATEN

MINISTRY HOLDS TRAINING TO HELP ALLEVIATE PASTOR SHORTAGE IN CHINA

OUTREACHES JOIN FORCES TO RESURRECT SPIRIT OF EASTER TO THE HOMELESS

SURVEY: NUMBER OF CHURCHES IN U.K. CONTINUES GRADUAL DECLINE

Today's Top Stories:

CHRISTIAN GROUPS CONDEMN BOMBINGS IN HINDU PILGRIMAGE CITY IN INDIA

Joseph D'souza, president of the All India Christian Council, and John
Dayal, president of the All India Catholic Union and the Delhi United
Christian Action, have issued a joint statement denouncing the twin bomb
blasts that rocked the Hindu pilgrimage city of Varanasi in northern
India's Uttar Pradesh state Tuesday, March 7.

Fourteen people are confirmed dead at a Hindu temple and a railway
station, and more than 100 were injured, officials told the BBC. Some
reports put the death toll at more than 20, but this could not be
confirmed. Islamic militants are suspected of carrying out the attacks,
but so far no group has claimed responsibility.

The joint statement said that the "innocent blood of children, women and
men has been shed in vain, as such attacks advance no political cause, nor
do they serve any group of people. What they do achieve is in inflicting
suffering on the common people and setting back national peace and
reconciliation processes.

"Such violence also serves the purpose of fundamentalist and religious
extremists who thrive on exacerbating real and imagined divides and
grievances which further their pernicious political and social agendas.
They want national attention and energies diverted from development, from
the fight against poverty and hunger and from the long struggle of the
Dalits for human dignity."

While the terrorism isn't directly aimed at believers, Gospel for Asia
President K.P. Yohannan believes that if the recent past is any
indication, with passions stirred up, the persecution will get worse.
"Already it's a daily event, not in one place, but literally in hundreds
of places all over the country," he said. "It is so widespread, our people
are no longer reporting small things like, 'They burned the Bibles' and
'They beat somebody up.' And only the major reports are coming in."

Police killed two of the suspected terrorists earlier today -- one in
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, and another in New Delhi, Junior Home Minister Sri
Prakash Jaiswal told reporters in New Delhi. It hasn't been established
whether the two had any connection with the Varanasi bombings that took
place a week before the Hindu Festival of Colors on March 15. (Assist News
Service/BBC News/Bloomberg/Mission Network News)

PAKISTANI CHRISTIAN WOMAN ACCUSED OF BLASPHEMY, BEATEN

A mentally-handicapped Christian woman has been accused of desecrating the
picture of Khana Kabbah, a Muslim holy place in Saudi Arabia to which
millions of Muslims from around the world make a pilgrimage every year.
The Pakistan Christian Post reports that a Muslim resident of the area
came across a desecrated picture of Khana Kabbah in Naseem Bibi's street
on Friday, March 3. Assuming that the picture was hurled from Bibi's house
he rushed to her house and started shouting that Bibi had defecated on the
picture. His shouts invited the attention of other Muslim residents who
started thrashing her. One of Bibi's accusers called the police who then
came and arrested her. (Assist News Service)

MINISTRY HOLDS TRAINING TO HELP ALLEVIATE PASTOR SHORTAGE IN CHINA

China Partner Ministries' Erik Burklin says there are only 18 official
seminaries in China and a critical shortage of trained pastors. "There's
about one ordained pastor to every ten thousand believers," he said. China
Partner is working with the registered churches and seminaries in China to
provide leadership training to future church leaders and pastors. They
want to serve the church in China by providing additional training and
theological study books to help accelerate this process, according to
Burklin. He says they're partnering with the Jiangxi Provincial Bible
School. "We have set up a scholarship fund for poor students. This allows
that particular school to invite and allow for students in the countryside
who normally don't have enough money to be able to get theological
training at this Bible school to come and be prepared for ministry." This
project provides student scholarships and stipends for alumni serving as
pastors, and helps meet specific material needs of the school. (Mission
Network News)

OUTREACHES JOIN FORCES TO RESURRECT SPIRIT OF EASTER TO THE HOMELESS

The Appreciate Network and the Reciprocity Foundation, a pair of
ministries that fight homelessness, are launching two new programs to
coincide with the Easter holidays. On Wednesday, March 15, the Appreciate
Network will begin a fund-raising program to provide job training and life
skills programs for homeless youth run by the Reciprocity Foundation in
collaboration with leading youth homeless shelters. Cofounder Taz Tagore
said, "Christian holidays, in particular Easter, are a time to remember
our tremendous gifts and to share them with those in need." The
Reciprocity Foundation will also be launching free Spirit in Action
workshops at local churches, community centers and nonprofit organizations
nationwide to discuss new models for sacred service, case studies from the
foundation's innovative programs for homeless youth and the emergence of
social enterprise to encourage ethical consumption in the U.S. (Religion
Today)

SURVEY: NUMBER OF CHURCHES IN U.K. CONTINUES GRADUAL DECLINE

Initial findings from the English Church Census, a large-scale survey
conducted by Christian Research, an independent organization, show that
more churches are closing than opening in the U.K. The Methodist Church
suffered a net loss of about 300 churches in the last seven years, and the
Church of England fell by more than 100 during this period. This follows
figures released by the Church of England at the beginning of the year
that showed little sign of its long-term decline being reversed. Despite
the losses, more than 1,000 churches opened their doors with the biggest
growth being among Pentecostal churches. Christian Research Executive
Director Peter Brierley explained that the "losses in the older
denominations are faster than the gains in the newer ones." The research
organization previously suggested that churches may be heading for
"extinction" in England by 2040 with just 2 percent of the population
attending Sunday services, and the average age of congregants rising to
64. (WorldWide Religious News/Ekllesia)
=================

The opinion(s) expressed above are not necessarily rhose of this poster.
--
Russ T. Nale

http://grace.break.at

God is still speaking
http://www.stillspeaking.com

To send e-mail, remove "youhat" from address

Russ T. Nale · Guest

Pray for the World: 10 March 2006 Update From HCJB World Radio
Today's Headlines:

GOVERNMENT IN INDIA URGED TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST ATTACKERS

SHODDY CONSTRUCTION SUSPECTED IN FATAL CHURCH COLLAPSE IN UGANDA

BOOK OF HOPE HELPS SPREAD MESSAGE OF PEACE IN MIDDLE EAST

STUDY: PROTESTANT MINISTERS BELIEVE IN TITHING, CONGREGANTS DON'T

ANNUAL INTERNET EVANGELISM DAY SCHEDULED FOR MAY 7

Today's Top Stories:

GOVERNMENT IN INDIA URGED TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST ATTACKERS

Christians in northwestern India's Rajasthan state have pledged to begin
public protests on Saturday, March 18, if the government refuses to take
action following a recent wave of violence against the Christian
community. Hindu extremists have attacked churches and individuals
throughout the state in recent months with virtual impunity.

An already tense situation exploded this week after Hindu extremists
objected to a book on comparative religion for sale on the campus of
Emmanuel Mission International (EMI) based in Kota, Rajasthan. Police
arrested three EMI staff members and issued "cease and desist" orders for
several of EMI's social institutions, including schools, a hospital and an
orphanage.

In the most recent attack on Sunday, Feb. 26, members of the Hindu
extremist group Bajrang Dal attacked three Christian pastors associated
with the Social and Evangelical Association for Love (SEAL) in Nere, a
village 37 miles from Mumbai.

"A mob of about 50 people mercilessly beat them up with crowbars," said
Abraham Mathai, general secretary of the All India Christian Council.
Pastors K.M. Philip, Biju Samuel and Reggie Thomas had to be admitted to
hospital after the attack.

Hindu radicals have also threatened the work of Hopegivers International
in Rajasthan. Staff members M.A. and Samuel Thomas went into hiding after
a Rajasthan newspaper reported that a bounty the equivalent of US$12,500
had been placed on their heads. Extremists also ordered the expulsion of
pastors and the takeover of 65 Christian schools and 13 orphanages.

Mathai warned that the violence won't stop unless police take action.
"Only by booking and arresting these attackers under the law . . . for
causing communal hatred can we discourage them from pursuing their hate
campaign against Christians," he said. "If they continue to be released on
bail, almost immediately they will carry on with these acts of terror."
(Compass/Mission Network News)

SHODDY CONSTRUCTION SUSPECTED IN FATAL CHURCH COLLAPSE IN UGANDA

Ugandan authorities on Thursday said they suspected illegal construction
was to blame for the collapse of a church roof in a heavy thunderstorm
that killed 28 worshipers, the third and worst such disaster since 2002.
More than 200 believers were attending a busy prayer service at the City
of the Lord church in a suburb of Kampala when torrential rain struck at
about 7 p.m. (local time) Wednesday, March 8. Nearly 100 people were
injured and rushed to hospitals. The death toll was expected to rise.
Rescuers said the number inside the unfinished building had been swollen
by people seeking shelter from the downpour. (WorldWide Religious
News/Reuters)

BOOK OF HOPE HELPS SPREAD MESSAGE OF PEACE IN MIDDLE EAST

Christians are playing an active part in telling the Arab world about the
peace that can only come from Jesus Christ, and Book of Hope International
is playing a key role in that effort, distributing the Book of Hope, a
harmony of the gospels. "We were able to distribute 39,000 books in about
six countries [last year]," said a Book of Hope worker. "All the books
being sent to these Arab countries were cleared by the customs." While
distribution is important, it's only a part of the work. "[Teams] present
a 45- minute program to the children with a Christian message," he said.
"It's attractive. It has drama, music, puppets, clowning and storytelling.
At the end of programs each child receives a copy of the Book of Hope."
(Mission Network News)

STUDY: PROTESTANT MINISTERS BELIEVE IN TITHING, CONGREGANTS DON'T

Research results being released for the first time in the March/April
edition of Facts & Trends magazine show most Protestant ministers believe
Christians are supposed to tithe to their local church but most people in
the pews of the local church do not agree with them. Ellison Research
conducted one study among Protestant church ministers nationwide and a
companion study among those who attend Protestant churches at least once a
month. In the study, 56 percent of all clergy said Christians are under a
biblical mandate to give 10 percent of their income to the local church,
However, only 36 percent of church attendees feel there is a biblical
command to tithe to their local church. "What's really sad," said Ellison
Research President Ron Sellers, "is that other studies have consistently
shown that fewer than one out of 10 actually do that." (Evangelical
News/Ellison Research)

ANNUAL INTERNET EVANGELISM DAY SCHEDULED FOR MAY 7

The Internet Evangelism Coalition will hold its annual Internet Evangelism
Day Sunday, May 7, in an effort to encourage witnessing online with more
than 1 billion Web users worldwide. Downloadable promotional materials and
resources are available at ied.gospelcom.net, including five-minute video
testimonies from people who found Christ online, discussion questions,
drama scripts, PowerPoint presentations and helpful links. Coordinator
Tony Whittaker says he hopes churches will use the materials to help
create effective websites that reach out to their communities. "It's an
exciting challenge," he said. "The potential of the Web is enormous."
(AgapePress/Internet Evangelism Day)
=================

The opinion(s) expressed above are not necessarily rhose of this poster.
--
Russ T. Nale

http://grace.break.at

God is still speaking
http://www.stillspeaking.com

To send e-mail, remove "youhat" from address

Russ T. Nale · Guest

Pray for the World: 11 March 2006 Update From HCJB World Radio
Today's Headlines:

UPDATE: MISSIONARIES RETURN TO NORTHERN NIGERIA AFTER EVACUATION

GROUP OF 15 HINDU EXTREMISTS ASSAULT PASTOR IN INDIA

ANTI-CONVERSION PUSH IN INDIA CALLED 'EVIDENCE OF GOSPEL'S SUCCESS'

LAWYER PETITIONS FOR IRANIAN CHRISTIAN'S EARLY RELEASE

'STORY OF JESUS FOR CHILDREN' FILM TO BROADCAST ACROSS BULGARIA

DEATH PENALTY FEARED FOR CHINESE RELIGIOUS LEADER

Today's Top Stories:

UPDATE: MISSIONARIES RETURN TO NORTHERN NIGERIA AFTER EVACUATION

A week after riots forced the evacuation of Christian Reformed
missionaries from northern Nigeria, the team is home and back to work. At
the peak of the riots, Christian Reformed World Relief Committee
missionaries Larry and Rose van Zee of Pella, Iowa, Dave and Jan Dykgraaf,
of Grand Rapids, Mich., along with staff member Jeremiah Yongo and 12
Nigerian Christian families fled their homes amid the threats. After
meeting with Muslim officials, the believers returned to their ministry
sites in Niger state on Tuesday, March 7. Local authorities promised to
take action against the rioters and invited the believers to come back.
Officials also promised to arrest those involved in burning a Christian
Reformed Church last week and to compensate the members for the loss of
church property. (Mission Network News)

GROUP OF 15 HINDU EXTREMISTS ASSAULT PASTOR IN INDIA

Christian Solidarity Worldwide recently met with a pastor in Hyderabad in
southeastern India's Andhra Pradesh state who was brutally assaulted by
Hindu extremists on Tuesday, Feb. 28, resulting in his hospitalization.
The attack on Pastor Lavete Jacob occurred when a group of about 15 Hindu
extremists entered the family home in which a birthday celebration was
taking place, locked the doors and began to beat him with sticks. He
sustained a head injury and broken ribs during the assault which lasted 20
minutes. Jacob's wife and daughters and the girl celebrating her birthday
were beaten while trying to defend him. The attackers tore down Christian
posters, stole Bibles and told their victims they should leave the
vicinity. A complaint was lodged with the police who arrested five men.
All were subsequently released on bail. (Christian Solidarity Worldwide)

ANTI-CONVERSION PUSH IN INDIA CALLED 'EVIDENCE OF GOSPEL'S SUCCESS'

In a campaign against the conversion of Hindus to Christianity, militant
Hindu leaders mounted a major gathering in February in northwestern
India's Gujarat state, the scene of many violent attacks on Christians and
Muslims in recent years. A worker there called that campaign "evidence of
success" for the spread of the gospel in India. The three-day "Shabari
Kumbh Mela" attracted more than 400,000 Hindus to the event in an area
that is home to 60,000 tribal Christians. Billed as a "worship gathering,"
the event raised major concerns among Indian Christians who saw it as an
attempt to intimidate tribal believers into "reconverting" to Hinduism.
The official event ended peacefully, but "now is when the real persecution
begins," said a Christian observer. "If we would do our job and take the
gospel to these places and give people a viable option, we would see the
masses of people turn," he said. "This is harvest time in India. We need
to be bold." (Evangelical News/Baptist Press)

LAWYER PETITIONS FOR IRANIAN CHRISTIAN'S EARLY RELEASE

The lawyer representing Iranian Christian prisoner Hamid Pourmand has
petitioned for his early release from Tehran's Evin Prison this month
during Iran's annual prisoners' amnesty. Hundreds of Iranian prisoners are
released each year between Feb. 11 and March 21, the anniversaries of the
1989 Iranian revolution and the Iranian New Year respectively. "We don't
know how the authorities will respond to this appeal," an Iranian
Christian in contact with Pourmand's lawyer said. Prison officials have
reportedly stopped pressuring Pourmand to recant his Christian faith and
return to Islam in the past four months. "But on the other hand," the
Iranian said, "they have said nothing to Pourmand indicating that he might
be considered for early release." Pourmand was arrested on Sept. 8, 2004,
during a security police raid on an Assemblies of God church conference
and was found guilty of deceiving the Iranian military by concealing his
conversion from Islam to Christianity. Iranian law prohibits any
non-Muslim from exercising authority over a Muslim. (Compass)

'STORY OF JESUS FOR CHILDREN' FILM TO BROADCAST ACROSS BULGARIA

Campus Crusade for Christ and the Jesus Film Project are gearing up for an
evangelistic event in Bulgaria that will allow thousands to see and hear
the gospel nationwide. "Starting on March 24 we'll be showing projections
of 'The Story of Jesus for Children' in the 10 largest cities in
Bulgaria," said Campus Crusade Country Director Scott Gill. "Prior to that
there will be an advertising campaign that will include hundreds of
television commercials on the national channels, as well as using radio,
posters, billboards and a special postcard [that will be sent] in every
home in Bulgaria." On Easter Sunday, April 16, the film will be aired on
the country's most-watched television station. The film retells the gospel
account of Jesus through the eyes of children. "It's never been done on
this scale before," Gill said. "We've done citywide campaigns, but this is
the first time anybody's ever tried to do a whole nation at once."
(Mission Network News)

DEATH PENALTY FEARED FOR CHINESE RELIGIOUS LEADER

There is mounting international concern about the fate of Chinese
religious leader Xu Shuangfu who is awaiting a verdict amid growing fears
that a death sentence will be passed. Also known as Xu Wenku, he heads
Three Grades of Servants, a controversial religious group with about
500,000 members in China. He and more than 15 other group members were
tried from Feb. 28 to March 3 by the Shuangyashan Intermediate Court in
northeastern China's Heilongjiang province. Government sources reportedly
said that Xu and at least three co-defendants will be sentenced to death
if found guilty of murdering leaders of the Eastern Lightning cult and
defrauding group members of money. Evidence emerged at the trial that
severe torture and sexual abuse had been used against the defendants to
extract confessions. A number of local leaders from Xu's group already
have been sentenced to death, although the decisions have not been
approved by the People's Supreme Court. Uncertainty remains as to whether
the death sentences have been carried out. (Christian Solidarity
Worldwide)
=================

The opinion(s) expressed above are not necessarily rhose of this poster.
--
Russ T. Nale

http://grace.break.at

God is still speaking
http://www.stillspeaking.com

To send e-mail, remove "youhat" from address

Russ T. Nale · Guest

Pray for the World: 14 March 2006 Update From HCJB World Radio
Today's Headlines:

WORLD VISION WARNS OF 'CATASTROPHIC FAMINE' IN EAST AFRICA

NORTHERN NIGERIAN STATE SEEKING FOREIGN SUPPORT TO TRAIN JIHADISTS

U.S. CONGRESS QUESTIONS LIMITS ON RELIGIOUS GROUPS TRAVELING TO CUBA

MEDICAL AMBASSADORS WORK FOR LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS, WITNESS

APPLICATIONS UP MORE THAN 8% AT CHRISTIAN COLLEGES ACROSS U.S.

Today's Top Stories:

WORLD VISION WARNS OF 'CATASTROPHIC FAMINE' IN EAST AFRICA

World Vision's relief staff in East Africa fears that at least five
countries in the region may be heading for a catastrophic famine not seen
since the mid-1980s. The most affected countries include Ethiopia,
Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania and Burundi. Six additional nearby countries are
also suffering from a long-term food crisis that has been complicated by
drought. Reports from the region suggest that 37 million people are
already suffering from critical hunger and another 162 million are
malnourished. World Vision U.S. Africa Director David Scheiman said that
although the world has yet to see the horrific scenes witnessed in
Ethiopia in 1984, millions are on the verge of starvation. "A lot of
people are malnourished and weak. They have already lost or sold their
animals. They don't have a coping mechanism," he said. Lack of media
interest in the tragedy has made it difficult to raise funds for relief
efforts. "The press is not engaged because as yet there are no images of
extreme starvation," Scheiman explained. "But if we don't deal with it
now, it could happen." (World Vision)

NORTHERN NIGERIAN STATE SEEKING FOREIGN SUPPORT TO TRAIN JIHADISTS

The Nigerian government recently said intelligence agents had found that
the northern state of Kano was seeking foreign support to train 100
jihadists among vigilante enforcers of sharia (Islamic law) called Hisbah.
The state sought to train the militants in "intelligence" and the
"practice of jihad" with the help of foreign Islamic governments, said
Nigerian Information and National Orientation Minister Frank Nweke Jr.
Christians in Nigeria's northern states where sharia has been implemented
often complain of assault, harassment, intimidation and flagrant violation
of the religious rights of Christians by the Hisbah. One Christian leader
called this a "terror machine" in the hands of fanatical Islamic
governments aimed at
strangulating Christianity in northern Nigeria. (Compass)

U.S. CONGRESS QUESTIONS LIMITS ON RELIGIOUS GROUPS TRAVELING TO CUBA

More than 100 members of the U.S. Congress have signed a letter to
Treasury Secretary John Snow questioning changes in his department's rules
that have halted the ability of some religious organizations to travel to
Cuba. "We understand the complicated political reality that exists between
the United States and Cuban governments," states the March 3 letter.
"However, we believe it is inappropriate and unacceptable for politics and
government to serve as a hurdle and now as a barrier to faith-based
connections between individuals." The concerns addressed in the three-page
letter are also scheduled to be the subject of a Capitol Hill meeting
Wednesday, March 15, involving politicians, administration officials and
religious leaders. The growing reaction to regulation changes comes after
the policy was modified in September 2004. Since then, some mainstream
religious organizations have found that their requests to the Office of
Foreign Assets Control for license renewal were denied. (WorldWide
Religious News/Washington Post)

MEDICAL AMBASSADORS WORK FOR LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS, WITNESS

In times of natural disasters, human catastrophe and other emergencies,
people tend to throw money, aid and assistance at the problem, but Medical
Ambassadors International's Bob Paul says that causes problems of its own.
"When help is given in such a way that it encourages people to become
passive and have their hand out and expect others to simply do things for
them, it breeds an attitude of dependency," he said. Instead, Medical
Ambassadors uses a program called Community Health Evangelism (CHE). "We
send in a very small team of two or three people who build a long-term
relationship and begin to work with the people in that village to come up
with solutions to problems on their own," Paul says. CHE workers often
share their faith during the process. "What you also get are not people
who may make a short-term decision for Christ because they think they have
to do that to get something, but instead you get a discipleship process
that really allows people to develop a meaningful and lasting relationship
with the Lord," he said. (Mission Network News)

APPLICATIONS UP MORE THAN 8% AT CHRISTIAN COLLEGES ACROSS U.S.

Evangelical Christian colleges are attracting record numbers of
applications this year in a trend that bodes well for schools that were
struggling to survive just a generation ago, reported The Chicago Tribune.
Applications have jumped between 8 percent and 10 percent at the 238
colleges that belong to the North American Association of Christian
Admissions Professionals. Twenty-five percent of those schools are barely
breaking even financially, so the news is good even though the enhanced
competition for spots means disappointment for some high school seniors
who thought their credentials were good enough to get in. "On Jan. 15 we
had thousands and thousands of applications from students who in prior
years would have been admissible, but we had to wait-list them," said
James Steen, assistant vice president of admission and enrollment services
at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Standards also appear to be rising as
average SAT scores among Baylor applicants is 1,225, up from 1,198 last
year. Enrollment at the 102 evangelical schools belonging to the Council
of Christian Colleges and Universities increased 70 percent since 1990,
moving to 230,000 from 135,000. This marks a turnaround from the 1960s and
1970s when religious colleges struggled to attract enough students.
(Religion Today)=================

The opinion(s) expressed above are not necessarily rhose of this poster.
--
Russ T. Nale

http://grace.break.at

God is still speaking
http://www.stillspeaking.com

To send e-mail, remove "youhat" from address

Russ T. Nale · Guest

Pray for the World: 15 March 2006 Update From HCJB World Radio
Today's Headlines:

POLICE KEEP MILITANTS FROM SEIZING CHRISTIAN HOSPITAL, ORPHANAGES

CITY GOVERNMENT IN VIETNAM LEGALLY REGISTERS 3 CHURCH GROUPS

BILLY GRAHAM, IN LIKELY FINALE, EASES NEW ORLEANS' SUFFERING

Today's Top Stories:

POLICE KEEP MILITANTS FROM SEIZING CHRISTIAN HOSPITAL, ORPHANAGES

Christians continue to face intense pressure from Hindu radicals in
northwestern India's Rajasthan State. On Monday, March 13, Hindu militants
threatened to take over a hospital and orphanages run by Hopegivers
International, but that didn't happen. "Police did help keep the militants
back," explained Hopegivers' Michael Glenn. "They did come and surround
the facilities, and apparently they are now very upset with the police and
the chief minister of the state over there. Now they're putting [the
authorities] in an awkward position, saying that they're betraying the
Hindus." Glenn says the crisis continues as Hopegivers founder M.A. Thomas
and President Samuel Thomas remain in hiding after they narrowly avoided
being lynched by a mob of 150 radical anti-Christians on Monday, March 6.
While the situation remains tense, Glenn says Hopegivers is rejoicing in
the establishment of 20,000 churches and graduating more than 10,000
students from its Bible schools in India. (Mission Network News)

CITY GOVERNMENT IN VIETNAM LEGALLY REGISTERS 3 CHURCH GROUPS

Local government officials in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, have granted
longstanding requests of three church organizations to legally function in
the community. The city's Bureau of Religious Affairs last week granted a
request for registration to a faction of the Vietnam Mennonite Church led
by Rev. Nguyen Quang Trung as well as Grace Baptist church led by Rev. Le
Quoc Chanh and a grouping of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. House
church leaders in Vietnam noted that all three organizations represent
only a part of their church traditions in Vietnam. Sources said the
government chose the smaller, more compliant Mennonite faction led by
Trung rather than the larger one led by activist Pastor Nguyen Hong Quang
who was released from prison only last August. One Vietnamese Mennonite
missionary said this development was a "significant setback" for the
Mennonite churches led by Quang. Authorities raided his home and church
headquarters in the city's District 2 dozens of times, once partially
dismantling the facility while he was imprisoned during 2004 and 2005.
(Compass)

BILLY GRAHAM, IN LIKELY FINALE, EASES NEW ORLEANS' SUFFERING

In what he called his last sermon, Billy Graham voiced a message of thanks
and encouragement during the March 11-12 "Celebration of Hope" at the New
Orleans Arena. "This is probably the last evangelistic sermon I'll ever
preach," the 87-year-old evangelist told an overflow crowd of 17,800
people on Sunday.

Graham recalled how he watched in shock as Hurricane Katrina destroyed New
Orleans' levee system, flooding much of the city. But days later, he said,
"We saw the great men and women who helped carry people [to safety] in
helicopters . . . and we knew the God of love was watching over us. God
loves you."

The 87-year-old preacher used a modern analogy to offer the promise of
forgiveness found in Christ when a sinner trusts Jesus as Savior, "He
deletes all your files; they're totally erased." And speaking to an
audience no doubt familiar with the potential suddenness of death and
destruction, he invited those listening to "decide for Christ here and now
-- because you never know when your time is coming."

Of the 30,500 people attending the two-day event, 1,432 responded to the
invitation to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The festival
was organized in partnership with 215 area churches, the Billy Graham
Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse.

It was a historic reunion of sorts at the New Orleans Arena. In addition
to being introduced by his son, Franklin Graham, he was joined in the
evangelistic festival by two longtime partners in ministry: singer George
Beverly Shea, 97, and crusade director Cliff Barrows, 82. That legendary
trio has ministered together at Billy Graham crusades for more than 60
years. (AgapePress/Associated Press/Assist News Service/Evangelical
News/Baptist Press)
=================

The opinion(s) expressed above are not necessarily rhose of this poster.
--
Russ T. Nale

http://grace.break.at

God is still speaking
http://www.stillspeaking.com

To send e-mail, remove "youhat" from address

Russ T. Nale · Guest

Pray for the World: 16 March 2006 Update From HCJB World Radio
Today's Headlines:

PASTOR FREED FROM BELARUS PRISON, BUT MORE ARRESTS ANTICIPATED

WEEKLONG LUIS PALAU OUTREACH IN COSTA RICA DRAWS 400,000+ PEOPLE

CHRISTIAN RELIEF TEAM RESUMES WORK WITH QUAKE SURVIVORS IN PAKISTAN

AID AGENCY STAYS FOR THE LONG HAUL 15 MONTHS AFTER TSUNAMI

PROTESTANT CHURCHES EXPERIENCE RAPID GROWTH ACROSS MEXICO

Today's Top Stories:

PASTOR FREED FROM BELARUS PRISON, BUT MORE ARRESTS ANTICIPATED
Pastor Georgi Vyazovsky of Christ's Covenant Reformed Baptist Church in
Belarus was freed from a Minsk prison shortly after midday Monday, March
13, on completion of his 10-day sentence for conducting religious worship
in his own home. Shortly after his release, Vyazovsky said he felt
"splendid" and even joked that he had lost weight due to the "good diet."
Held in cells with five and then 13 other inmates, he said that both they
and the wardens were "amazed" that he was there for religious activity,
telling him "they'd never had such a case before -- one of the staff
remarked that the judge must have gone crazy." Vyazovsky may have been the
first person imprisoned for religious worship in Belarus in 20 years.
However, at least one further prosecution appears imminent.
Authorities recently threatened to arrest Sergei Tsvor, the Pentecostal
bishop of the Minsk region, for holding weekly services in his house
church. A 2002 religion law in Belarus bans all but occasional and
small-scale religious meetings in private homes, and religious activity
outside designated houses of worship unless it has advance approval from
the state authorities. (Religion Today/Forum 18 News Service)

WEEKLONG LUIS PALAU OUTREACH IN COSTA RICA DRAWS 400,000+ PEOPLE
The Luis Palau ministry teamed with about 800 churches, more than 18,000
volunteers and major Latin American entertainers to bring a weeklong
outreach to San Jose, Costa Rica. Official crowd estimates put the total
attendance at all the events at 401,000. Activities concluded with
historic crowds attending a weekend festival at the city's famed Parque de
la Paz March 11-12. On the weekend, a children's festival attracted more
than 35,000 kids and family members, and Palau preached at the evening
programs which drew 160,000 people on Friday and 205,000 on Saturday. More
than 17,400 people made a "documented decision to follow Christ." The
outreach also included face-to-face meetings with the country's top
leadership, including President Abel Pacheco Rodriguez and
President-elect Oscar Arias who will be sworn in May 8. Palau also shared
the gospel message at gatherings of women's groups, clergy and political
and business leaders. (Assist News Service/Prensa Latina)

CHRISTIAN RELIEF TEAM RESUMES WORK WITH QUAKE SURVIVORS IN PAKISTAN
Anti-Muslim cartoons forced much of the Christian work in Pakistan to stop
in recent weeks, but workers are back in action, helping survivors of last
October's earthquake that killed about 80,000 people and left another 2.5
million homeless. Food for the Hungry (FHI) is just one of the Christian
organizations working in the earthquake zone. FHI's Matt Ellingston says
his organization is working with the National Baptist Church in 80 small
refugee camps. This has been a great boost to the oppressed church. "It
has allowed the Christian community to be active and in the forefront, on
the cutting edge of helping their neighbors," he said. "It really gives
them a respect that they haven't experienced that often." Winter
assistance has been FHI's focus; now it's gearing up for the recovery
phase. Ellingston says all of this work is being done for one reason. "We
have the opportunity every day to work very, very
closely with people who follow a different path for their life. We're
able to show them the love of Christ each step of the way." (Mission
Network News)

AID AGENCY STAYS FOR THE LONG HAUL 15 MONTHS AFTER TSUNAMI
Fifteen months after a devastating tsunami inundated the coastlines of the
Indian Ocean on Dec. 26, 2004, killing more than 200,000 people, World
Hope International continues to encourage survivors after most other
relief agencies have left. "We've focused primarily on rebuilding houses,"
said Keith Norris, World Hope's rural development director. "So far we've
built 127 houses. We find that that's a great help to the people as they
try to stabilize their lives." Home building has opened doors to serve in
other areas such as developing small businesses, starting Christian
schools and renovating existing schools. Many families forced out of
temporary shelters are turning to Christians for help, Norris adds.
"They're looking to Christian organizations because we're still there," he
said. "Some of the other agencies -- many of them coming with big promises
-- are no longer there." Most of the tsunami relief work is taking place
in Indonesia and Sri Lanka. (Mission Network News/World Hope
International)

PROTESTANT CHURCHES EXPERIENCE RAPID GROWTH ACROSS MEXICO
Attendance at Protestant churches in Mexico continues to multiply, led by
evangelical churches such as the Universal Kingdom of God Church which
runs the Sanctuary of Faith, a congregation of 1,600 in Mexico City.

Protestants accounted for 8 percent of Mexico's believers in the 2000
census, up from 2.3 percent in 1970, and their numbers are growing at a
rate of 3.7 percent each year, twice as fast as the Catholic population,
according to the National Institute of Statistics, Geography and
Information Processing. The churches are winning converts through a mix of
social programs, charismatic preachers and stirring music.

"It's a true conversion experience," said Feliciano Hernandez Valle, a
pastor at the 3,000-member Interdenominational Christian Church in
Mexico's San Simon Ticoman neighborhood. "The Catholic churches,
unfortunately, offer people nothing. They've become too politicized."

Many of the new evangelical churches have their roots in Central or
South America. The Universal Kingdom of God church started in Brazil. As
congregations grow, many of the larger churches are setting their sights
on Mexicans living in the U.S.

The Interdenominational Christian Church of Mexico, for example, has
congregations in nine U.S. cities. The Universal Kingdom of God Church has
34 Spanish-speaking churches in California, 11 in Florida and one in
Nevada. (WorldWide Religious News/Arizona Republic) =================

The opinion(s) expressed above are not necessarily rhose of this poster.
--
Russ T. Nale

http://grace.break.at

God is still speaking
http://www.stillspeaking.com

To send e-mail, remove "youhat" from address

Russ T. Nale · Guest

Pray for the World: 17 March 2006 Update From HCJB World Radio
Today's Headlines:

TENSIONS MOUNT AS POLICE ARREST PRESIDENT OF MINISTRY IN INDIA

KIDNAPPED CHRISTIAN LEADER STILL MISSING IN INDIA

LAOTIAN GOVERNMENT TO CONFISCATE HOMES OF 15 CHRISTIAN FAMILIES

BOOK OF HOPE LAUNCHES AFRICAN VERSION OF 'GODMAN' VIDEO IN UGANDA

Today's Top Stories:

TENSIONS MOUNT AS POLICE ARREST PRESIDENT OF MINISTRY IN INDIA

Police officers in northwestern India's Rajasthan state arrested Rev.
Samuel Thomas, president of Emmanuel Mission International (EMI) and son
of Archbishop M.A. Thomas, EMI's founder earlier today. Both men had gone
underground after Hindu extremists accused them of distributing a
controversial book in which the militants alleged that their religion and
deities had been denigrated.

EMI's orphanages, schools and a hospital have been targeted for closure by
a wide array of Hindu extremists in the past few months, including some
who have offered a reward of $26,000 for the heads of both Thomas and his
father.

Tensions increased earlier this week when Rajasthan state's welfare
minister, Madan Dilawar, said he should be "stoned to death" if his
government effort to take over EMI's properties failed. The statement came
less than a month after the state revoked the licenses of an EMI Bible
institute, orphanage, school, hospital and church. Dilawar also told the
Hindi daily, Rajasthan Patrika, that he should be stoned if he is unable
to "take action" against Thomas and his father. (Compass)

KIDNAPPED CHRISTIAN LEADER STILL MISSING IN INDIA

Rev. Tongkhojang Lunkim is still missing two months after a rebel army in
northeastern India's Manipur state kidnapped the administrative secretary
of the Kuki Christian Church on Tuesday, Jan. 17, and relatives fear for
his safety. Lunkim's kidnappers, the Kuki Liberation Army, have reportedly
demanded a ransom of 10 million rupees (US$225,000). Rev. Stephen Bryant,
senior international editor and publisher of the Upper Room devotional,
said Lunkim's kidnapping was clearly linked to his Christian work. "He has
lived with threats and danger ever since Christ called him," Bryant told
the United Methodist News service. (Compass)

LAOTIAN GOVERNMENT TO CONFISCATE HOMES OF 15 CHRISTIAN FAMILIES

Fifteen Khmu Christian families living in the village of Ban Nam Haeng in
Udomxai province, Laos, received notice earlier this month that their
homes were being confiscated and given to other families, reported a local
informant. Last year the Laotian government unsuccessfully attempted to
evict the Christian families. This time handwritten notices were posted on
each door, stating that all of their farmland was being confiscated and
given to other villagers. Christians are praying that these notices will
not be followed by violence in enforcing the evictions. (Voice of the
Martyrs)

BOOK OF HOPE LAUNCHES AFRICAN VERSION OF 'GODMAN' VIDEO IN UGANDA

Book of Hope just launched the African version of its "Godman" video in
Kampala, Uganda. The event was preceded by several community book
distributions. Book of Hope's Carolyn Webber says the response so far has
been incredible. "The kids were so excited to see the movie, and they
really engaged in it. One of the things that we wanted to do in creating a
customized version of the story of Jesus for Africa was to create it in
such a way that children would engage in it and would relate to it. It was
awesome to see the kids cheer when something good would happen in the
movie, or when Jesus healed somebody or 'boo' when Satan would come on the
screen." Webber says the movie has opened up numerous opportunities for
evangelism and discipleship. When the children were given an opportunity
to make a commitment at the end of each showing, "25 to 30 percent gave
their lives to Christ." (Mission Network News)
=================

The opinion(s) expressed above are not necessarily rhose of this poster.
--
Russ T. Nale

http://grace.break.at

God is still speaking
http://www.stillspeaking.com

To send e-mail, remove "youhat" from address

Russ T. Nale · Guest

Pray for the World: 22 March 2006 Update From HCJB World Radio
Today's Headlines:

AFGHAN CHRISTIAN COULD FACE DEATH SENTENCE FOR REJECTING ISLAM

AUTHORITIES IN UZBEKISTAN INCREASE PRESSURE ON CHURCHES

DAWN SETS GOAL OF 20 MILLION NEW CHURCHES WORLDWIDE BY 2020

EVANGELIZING MUSLIMS COULD MEAN REACHING OUT TO YOUR NEIGHBOR

SURVEY: FAITH TAKES SECOND PLACE FOR MAJORITY OF U.S. RESIDENTS

Today's Top Stories:

AFGHAN CHRISTIAN COULD FACE DEATH SENTENCE FOR REJECTING ISLAM

An Afghan man is being prosecuted in a Kabul court and could be sentenced
to death on a charge of converting from Islam to Christianity, reported
the Associated Press (AP). The trial is believed to be the first of its
kind in Afghanistan and could determine what shape Islam will take four
years after the ouster of the Taliban.

Abdul Rahman, 41, was arrested last month after his family accused him of
becoming a Christian, Judge Ansarullah Mawlavezada told AP. Rahman was
charged with rejecting Islam and his trial started Thursday, March 16.
Rahman confessed that he converted from Islam to Christianity 16 years ago
while working as a medical aid worker for an international Christian group
helping Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

"We are not against any particular religion in the world, but in
Afghanistan this sort of thing is against the law," Mawlavezada said. "It
is an attack on Islam." Mawlavezada said he would rule on the case within
two months. In the months before U.S.-led troops ousted the Taliban in
2001, it claimed Western aid groups were trying to convert Afghan Muslims.
They arrested eight foreign aid workers for allegedly preaching
Christianity, but later released them unharmed.

The human rights group International Christian Concern (ICC) is calling on
Afghan President Hamid Karzai to pardon Rahman. "The Afghan authorities
should drop this case immediately," stated an ICC press release.
"Afghanistan has already had enough of religious extremism under the
Taliban. The world is watching to see if Afghanistan has entered the 21st
century. We urge Afghanistan not to return to the days of the Taliban."
(Religion Today/Evangelical News/International Christian Concern)

AUTHORITIES IN UZBEKISTAN INCREASE PRESSURE ON CHURCHES

Conditions for Christians have deteriorated over the last year in
Uzbekistan as the government enacted measures restricting religious
freedom. Missionary activity and unregistered religious communities are
considered illegal. A spike in raids on churches over the last six weeks
suggests this is likely to continue. "I think we realize that the Holy
Spirit will work beyond the parameters of a government that makes it
difficult for the church," says Greg Musselman of Voice of the Martyrs
Canada. "So the church of Jesus Christ will still continue to go on. We
have people that are in Uzbekistan that are witnessing and giving out
literature and many times in a very low-key way." Musselman adds that
prayer is essential to ministry. "The intimidation is there, but yet, even
in the middle of that, for the strong believers, they actually tend to be
motivated, sometimes, so does the opposition. So, they're still handing
out literature, meeting people in their homes and sharing the gospel."
(Mission Network News)

DAWN SETS GOAL OF 20 MILLION NEW CHURCHES WORLDWIDE BY 2020

Directors and associates involved in the global DAWN movement gathered in
South Africa last month, and set a daring goal to see 20 million new
churches planted around the world by the year 2020. DAWN (Discipling a
Whole Nation) is a global partnership that seeks to fulfill Jesus' mission
through "saturation church planting." As part of this process, DAWN also
set a goal to mobilize 100 million intercessors by the year 2020. Of the
20 million new churches, 9 million will be planted in Asia (including
Australia and the Pacific), 4 million in Africa, 3 million in North
America, 3 million in Latin America and 1 million in Europe. "No doubt
this is a great challenge," says Amaury Braga, DAWN's international prayer
coordinator. "But we believe that with God's strength, prayers from His
body and the boldness of church planters, it can be done." (Joel News
International)

EVANGELIZING MUSLIMS COULD MEAN REACHING OUT TO YOUR NEIGHBORS

Sharing Christ with Muslims doesn't necessarily mean going to a foreign
country, says John Marion, the project director of Truth for Muslims, an
evangelical group that believes Texas is as ripe a place to spread its
message as the Middle East. "During the past 1,400 years there has been no
greater challenge to the gospel than Islam," he explains. "We're meeting
the challenge of Islam through evangelism, teaching, and public speaking."
Marion says that those working with him are committed to praying for
Muslims and evangelizing them with the message of Christ. "The clear
commands of Christ compel us to bring the gospel to Muslims, whatever the
cost," he said. Since 9/11, Marion has turned his attention to helping
Christians meet the challenge of Islam in America. (Religion Today)

SURVEY: FAITH TAKES SECOND PLACE FOR MAJORITY OF U.S. RESIDENTS

Most American adults consider themselves to be not merely "religious" but
"deeply spiritual." That's the claim of 62 percent of all adults
interviewed in the annual religious tracking survey conducted by the Barna
Group. However, when the religious and spiritual commitments of Americans
were studied more closely, those outcomes question the meaning of being
"deeply spiritual." In particular, the research discovered that when
adults were asked to identify the single, most important priority in their
life, commitment to faith placed second, but was listed by only one out of
every six people. By far the top priority, listed by 51 percent of adults,
was their family. Faith was the runner-up, listed by 16 percent of all
adults. The survey pointed out that while most Americans think of
themselves as being highly spiritual, that view is not supported by
behaviors evident in their life. George Barna, who directed the tracking
study of religious beliefs and practices, noted, "It is popular to claim
to be part of a 'faith community' or to have a spiritual commitment. It
seems as if God is in, but living for God is not. Many Americans are
living a dual life -- one filled with good feelings about God and faith,
corroborated by some simple religious practices, and another in which they
believe they are in control of their own destiny and operate apart from
Him." (Evangelical News/Barna Group)
=================

The opinion(s) expressed above are not necessarily rhose of this poster.
--
Russ T. Nale

http://grace.break.at

God is still speaking
http://www.stillspeaking.com

To send e-mail, remove "youhat" from address

Russ T. Nale · Guest

(~) Leaving the City of Regret

I had not really planned on taking a trip this time of year, and yet I
found myself packing rather hurriedly. This trip was going to be
unpleasant and I knew in advance that no real good would come of it. I'm
talking about my annual "Guilt Trip."

I got tickets to fly there on Wish I Had airlines. It was an extremely
short flight. I got my baggage, which I could not check. I chose to carry
it myself all the way. It was weighted down with a thousand memories of
what might have been. No one greeted me as I entered the terminal to the
Regret City International Airport. I say international because people from
all over the world come to this dismal town.

As I checked into the Last Resort Hotel, I noticed that they would be
hosting the year's most important event, the Annual Pity Party. I wasn't
going to miss that great social occasion. Many of the towns leading
citizens would be there.

First, there would be the Done family, you know, Should Have, Would Have
and Could Have. Then came the I Had family. You probably know ol' Wish and
his clan. Of course, the Opportunities would be present, Missed and Lost.
The biggest family would be the Yesterday's. There are far too many of
them to count, but each one would have a very sad story to share.

Then Shattered Dreams would surely make and appearance. And It's Their
Fault would regale us with stories (excuses) about how things had failed
in his life, and each story would be loudly applauded by Don't Blame Me
and I Couldn't Help It.

Well, to make a long story short, I went to this depressing party knowing
that there would be no real benefit in doing so. And, as usual, I became
very depressed. But as I thought about all of the stories of failures
brought back from the past, it occurred to me that all of this trip and
subsequent "pity party" could be canceled by ME! I started to truly
realize that I did not have to be there. I didn't have to be depressed.
One thing kept going through my mind, I CAN'T CHANGE YESTERDAY, BUT I DO
HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE TODAY A WONDERFUL DAY. I can be happy, joyous,
fulfilled, encouraged, as well as encouraging. Knowing this, I left the
City of Regret immediately and left no forwarding address. Am I sorry for
mistakes I've made in the past? YES! But there is no
physical way to undo them.

So, if you're planning a trip back to the City of Regret, please cancel
all your reservations now. Instead, take a trip to a place called,
Starting Again. I liked it so much that I have now taken up permanent
residence there. My neighbors, the I Forgive Myself and the New Starts are
so very helpful. By the way, you don't have to carry around heavy baggage,
because the load is lifted from your shoulders upon arrival. God bless you
in finding this great town. If you can find it -- it's in your own heart
-- please look me up. I live on I Can Do It street.
--
Russ T. Nale

http://grace.break.at

God is still speaking
http://www.stillspeaking.com

To send e-mail, remove "youhat" from address

Russ T. Nale · Guest

Pray for the World: 28 March 2006 Update From HCJB World Radio
Today's Headlines:

BELARUS JAILS ACTIVIST FOR ORGANIZING 'ILLEGAL RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY'

NORTH KOREA FREEDOM WEEK TO BUILD AWARENESS OF PERSECUTION

SURVEY: ONE-THIRD OF U.S. ADULTS AVOID ATTENDING CHURCH

Today's Top Stories:

BELARUS JAILS ACTIVIST FOR ORGANIZING 'ILLEGAL RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY'

Sergey Shavtsov, a lawyer and prominent human rights activist, was
arrested, tried and sentenced to 10 days' imprisonment Friday, March 24,
for organizing an "illegal religious activity" in Minsk, Belarus. He was
detained by state security forces after taking responsibility for holding
an interdenominational conference featuring a U.S. humanitarian aid
worker. The conference discussed the biblical view of history.

Three policemen and a secret service agent interrupted the final day of
the conference and locked the delegates inside for one hour. They arrested
two pastors whom they believed were the organizers and released the
others. The pastors were interrogated at a local police station but
released when Shavtsov claimed sole responsibility for the conference. He
was then whisked to the administrative court where he was given a
20-minute summary trial and sentenced.

Belarusian church representatives are concerned that because the state
prosecutor has not yet indicated that the case is closed, Shavtsov and the
other delegates may be liable to further prosecution, potentially facing
prison terms ranging from six months to two years. Shavtsov represents
most of the Protestant church unions in Belarus. He authored the 2002
"White Book" which documented violations of international law on religious
freedom in Belarus.

The incident comes less than two weeks after Baptist Pastor Georgi
Vyazovsky completed a 10-day prison sentence in an unrelated case for also
leading unregistered religious activity. (Christian Solidarity
Worldwide/Forum 18 News Service)

NORTH KOREA FREEDOM WEEK TO BUILD AWARENESS OF PERSECUTION

During North Korea Freedom Week April 22-30, Open Doors USA is partnering
with North Korea Freedom Coalition members to focus on atrocities in North
Korea, increase awareness of the conditions in that communist country and
raise up prayers on behalf of those being abused and disenfranchised. For
the fourth year in a row, Open Doors World Watch List ranked North Korea
as the worst violator of religious rights in the world. Christianity is
seen as one of the greatest threats to the regime's power. Last fall the
U.S. Department of State redesignated North Korea as a "Country of
Particular Concern" for severe violations of religious freedom. (Open
Doors USA)

SURVEY: ONE-THIRD OF U.S. ADULTS AVOID ATTENDING CHURCH

A new report based on the annual tracking survey by the Barna Group shows
that one-third of the adult population in the U.S. (34 percent) has not
attended any type of church service or activity (other than a special
event such as a funeral or wedding) during the past six months. Citing
past research that discovered most unchurched adults were formerly
churched, the new study indicates that 62 percent of unchurched people
consider themselves to be Christian, 4 percent say they are Jewish, 4
percent are associated with an Eastern religion, and 24 percent say they
are atheist. Almost a third of unchurched people associate with
Catholicism, and one out of every five say they are Baptist. In the eyes
of these individuals, absence from church life does not indicate a lack of
commitment to the Christian faith. Three-quarters of unchurched adults who
consider themselves to be Christian contend that they are either
"absolutely" or "moderately committed" to the Christian faith but have
disassociated with a conventional church. (Evangelical News/Barna Group)
=================

The opinion(s) expressed above are not necessarily rhose of this poster.
--
Russ T. Nale

http://grace.break.at

God is still speaking
http://www.stillspeaking.com

To send e-mail, remove "youhat" from address


www.evangelicalview.com Leading Religious, News and information	Part of the Identityscape.com network... getxfactor.com jmoodmusic.com smartbusinesschoices.com mintdepot.com lowfaresalways.com evangelicalview.com shoppingpodder.com soproudlywehail.com webnews.ws currenthumor.com