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Rev. Nemencio Bonton, senior pastor of Qatar International Christian Ministry, was deported to his native Philippines on Thursday, May 22. No reason has been given for his deportation that was enforced despite an alternative sponsor being found who met with senior Qatari officials. Bonton, who is married with four children, had no previous trouble with the authorities. On April 29 he received a letter giving him one month's notice to leave the country. Qatar International Christian Ministry conducts services and other church activities for Christians amongst the estimated 450,000 expatriate workers in the country. This is the second confirmed deportation of a Christian minister from Qatar for religious reasons this year, following the deportation of pastor Stanislas Chellapa to his home country of Indian in January. (Middle East Concern)

PAKISTANI AUTHORITIES ORDER CLOSURE OF PRIVATE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

On Saturday, May 24, a school founded and operated in Islamabad by the Pakistani non-governmental organization, Peace Worldwide, received an order from the deputy commissioner to close within three days. This is the only private Christian school in Islamabad, Pakistan's capital. The official closure order was given after the owner of the building, Muhammad Hafiz, said the Christian school could no longer meet in his facilities. Peace Worldwide Chairman Hector Aleem said the school has received a number of threats from Muslim militants since its founding. On Jan. 8, 2001, Aleem narrowly escaped an assassination attempt while he was working in his office at the school. No charges were ever brought against the attackers. Aleem maintains that the closure order came as a result of Islamic militants putting pressure on governmental officials. The school has enrollment of about 100. (Voice of the Martyrs)

OFFICIALS SHUT DOWN 6 OF 9 MOSQUES IN SOUTHERN KYRGYZSTAN

Regional Muslim leader Dilmurat haji Orozov has accused Asan Erinbayev, head of the Karadarya district in southern Kyrgyzstan, of "blatant arbitrary" action in closing six out of nine local mosques. "He behaves like a medieval khan," said Orozov, adding that the Muslim community would campaig for the return of the mosques. Erinbayev said the mosques were shut down in the Central Asian country because they had been built on state-owned land. "Now that the mosques have been closed, I can monitor the activities of the imams on my territory," he said. (Forum 18 News Service)

EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATIONS LAUNCH PRAYER INITIATIVE TO UPHOLD IRAQIS

The National Association of Evangelicals and other evangelical ministries have launched Operation Iraqi Care, an initiative to encourage prayer for the Iraqi people as their country recovers from war and Saddam Hussein's regime. "Today we are mobilizing Christians worldwide to pray for the Iraqi people," said NAE President Rev. Ted Haggard at the National Press Club last week. "We know that God desires a better future for the Iraqi people." Haggard, senior pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., said the coming months will be a key time for Iraqis to decide about principles of individual freedom and liberty. "These next few months of decision making will set the stage for all future Iraqis," he said. "And that's why we want to serve them." Haggard, who leads another online prayer effort called the World Prayer Team, is asking evangelical Christians and "people of prayer everywhere" to sign up and pray for Iraqi people in specific cities. The World Prayer Team, Presidential Prayer Team and Christian Emergency Network are additional sponsors of the effort. For more information visit www.operationiraqicare.org . (Religion Today)

CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION USES EDUCATION TO FIGHT AIDS IN AFRICA

Recent reports from South Africa indicate that 20 years into the AIDS epidemic, many people still don't have access to HIV prevention. Phil Renicks of the Association of Christian Schools International says this is where believers need to step in. "What we're saying to the churches and to the schools is, 'You need to lift up your eyes and look at the children kids that are sitting on your doorstep.' The fact is, there's an education crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa. The traditional education system is not working." Renicks says the association is developing a biblically based response for the churches to use in their communities. "We have established a group of partner organizations in South Africa that is working with us. We are documenting best practices and educational strategies -- ones that are working in other places in Sub-Saharan Africa, and we're trying to get those written up and developing a curriculum." (Mission Network News)

* HCJB World Radio has sent short-term teams to Cape Town, South Africa, to help with an AIDS clinic at a community center operated by Fish Hoek Baptist Church. HCJB World Radio's Vozandes Hospital in Quito also operates an AIDS clinic. The ministry's healthcare, broadcasting and teaching staff in Ecuador are working together to produce educational videos and radio programs to warn people about AIDS.

SURVEY: TITHING TO CHURCHES BY U.S. CHRISTIANS DROPS SHARPLY IN 2002

The portion of American households that tithe to their church dropped to 3 percent in 2002, down from 8 percent in 2001, reported the Barna Research Group. Groups with the highest proportion of tithers were people ages 55 or older, college graduates, Republicans, Southerners, conservatives, middle-income individuals, evangelicals and those who attend mainline Protestant churches. Those least likely to tithe included Hispanics, liberals, Catholics, parents who homeschool their children, Midwesterners, those not registered to vote or registered as independents, and households earning less than $20,000 and without a head of household who graduated from college. George Barna attributed the 62 percent drop in the proportion of tithers to a range of reasons. "For some, the soft economy has either diminished their household income or led to concerns about their financial security," he said in a statement. "For others the nation's political condition, in terms of terrorism and the war in Iraq, has raised their level of caution. The scandals involving Catholic priests last year reduced some people's confidence in church leaders and, consequently, reduced their giving as well." The data is based on a nationwide telephone survey of 1,010 adults early this year. (Religion Today)

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