Although Belarus' repressive new religion law has not yet been signed by President Aleksandr Lukashenko, an official says that religious meetings held by registered religious communities in private homes are banned under a law issued by the Minsk city executive committee last year. A campaign against services held by registered religious communities in private homes was launched last month in the capital, saying that "preaching the gospel and Christian hymn singing outside a church is a violation of Belarus' laws." Local believers are urging Christians everywhere to pray that the law will be repealed. (Keston News Service)

RELIEF SHIPMENTS RESUME FROM WEST DURING LULL IN DOCK DISPUTE

Cargo is flowing from the West Coast of the U.S. now that workers are in an 80-day cooling off period. The dispute delayed a World Concern relief shipment to Haiti which was recently hit by extensive floods and storm damage. While other containers holding food rotted on the docks, World Concern's Coleen Ragsdale says this wasn't the case for her organization's shipment. "It contained clothing, medical items and items that aren't going to perish," she said. "But we do have a top priority to get these needed supplies out to the families and hospitals as quickly as possible, so we are just praying that things will begin flowing . . . and smoothly." Once the supplies arrive in Haiti, local believers will distribute them and share the gospel with the needy recipients. (Mission Network News)

* The dock workers dispute has slowed the shipment of a 100,000-watt shortwave transmitter to HCJB World Radio-Australia's property near the continent's northern coast. However, it is now in California and will be on the next available ship to Australia. The transmitter, designed and built at the ministry's Engineering Center in Elkhart, Ind., is destined for Kununurra near the northern coast of the continent. A team from Elkhart is in Australia to install the antennas and the transmitter as soon as it arrives. The goal is to begin the shortwave broadcasts on Dec. 22, reaching across Asia, the South Pacific and parts of Africa with Christian programs. (HCJB World Radio)

1 MILLION GATHER IN SOUTHEASTERN INDIA DURING 4-DAY CRUSADE

A total of more than 1 million Indians gathered at Marina Beach in the southeastern Indian city of Chennai (formerly known as Madras) Oct. 10-13. Being called "world's biggest beach party for Jesus," the event took place even though it was held during the unpredctable monsoon season in the state of Tamil Nadu which recently passed an ordinance forbidding "forced conversions." The meetings were led by Rev. Lee Jae-Rock, senior pastor of the 75,000-member Manmin Joong-Ang Church in Seoul, South Korea. Many people reported that they were healed of various illnesses at the event. (Assist News Service)

* In partnership with FEBA Radio, HCJB World Radio airs weekly Christian programs to eastern India via shortwave in three languages: Bhojpuri, Chattisgarhi and Mundari. HCJB World Radio also broadcasts 11/2 hours of English programming daily to India via shortwave from South America. The ministry is investigating potential opportunities to help launch local Christian stations in key cities across India.

BUSINESS VENTURES OPEN WITNESSING OPPORTUNITIES IN 'CLOSED' COUNTRIES

Business is opening doors for evangelism in hard-to-reach areas, says Tom Sudyk of Evangelistic Commerce. "As many people know, missionaries aren't real welcome in these countries, but businessmen are much more protected than a what you would call a 'traditional tent-maker' ministry because you're bringing jobs to the community," Sudyk said. This often leads to covert opportunities to share the gospel, and he says it's working. "One factory in a country we have associated with us, more than 80 percent of the people have come to Christ because of the witness of the factory managers," he said. "Basically, you get to share Christ 40 to 50 hours per week." (Mission Network News)

RADIO BROADCASTER PAUL HARVEY HONORED WITH INSPIRATIONAL AWARD

The Presidential Prayer Team has honored veteran radio news broadcaster and commentator Paul Harvey with the American Inspirations Award for October 2002 because of his "strong and positive values and his willingness to speak out about his faith." Harvey's trademark voice is one of the most recognized in the world. His warm and folksy accent was shaped by the heartland values of Tulsa, Okla., where he was born and raised. The son of a Baptist preacher, he followed his passion for radio broadcasting while still in high school, and in 1933 he began working at KVOO-AM as an announcer. During his college years, Harvey continued at KVOO, eventually becoming the program director. In 1944 he moved to Chicago where he quickly became the most listened to newscaster in that city. By 1951 his "Paul Harvey News and Comment" became syndicated on stations across the country. Harvey then launched his popular "Rest of the Story" program that delves into little-known or forgotten details about well-known people and stories. Now in his 80s, Harvey is still the most listened to radio personality in the U.S. with more than 22 million regular listeners. (Presidential Prayer Team)

CONSERVATIVE CHURCHES IN U.S. GROW WHILE LIBERAL ONES SHRINK

Research shows that conservative Protestant churches are generally growing while those categorized as "moderate" and "liberal" are losing members, reported The New York Times. "I was surprised to see that most of the shrinking churches are moderate or liberal," said professor Ken Sanchagrin, director of the Glenmary Research Center at Mars Hill College in North Carolina. "The more liberal the church, the faster it is shrinking." The study of more than 150 Christian and non-Christian religious groups is performed every 10 years by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. The fastest growing religious group in the U.S. during the last decade was the Mormon sect which now has a membership of 4.2 million. The Southern Baptists remain the largest Protestant denomination with 19.9 million members, but grew only 5 percent in the last decade. (Friday Fax)

Terrorists linked to al-Qaida are being blamed for a deadly bomb attack on the Indonesian resort of Bali on the weekend that killed more than 188 people. Some think that terrorist activity may increase in the days ahead, says Open Doors U.S. President Terry Madison. "Just imagine what it's like for the believers in Indonesia, trying to take care of those who have been set upon by the jihad warriors. I think this is part of this same al-Qaida and other guerrilla force activity. This is part of the whole ferment of both political and religious hatred." Madison says workers with Open Doors are much more cautious now. "The believers in Pakistan, Indonesia and other places of the world are increasingly on edge, realizing that there are forces at work that would seek to not only hamper and hinder their worship of the Lord, but actually seek to do bodily harm to them." (Mission Network News) CHINESE POLICE RE-ARREST 4 CHRISTIANS HOURS AFTER RELEASE FROM PRISON

Four Christian women who were set free by the Jingmen Intermediate Court last week have been re-arrested by officers of China's Public Security Bureau and sent away for three years of "re-education through labor." The four women had been released only hours earlier after a retrial ordered by the Hubei Province Supreme Court. They had planned to file a lawsuit against guards and officials who tortured them repeatedly during their incarceration. Feng Ping Xiang, 32, Xicun Meng, 27, YingPing Li, 28, and Xian Zhi Liu, 31, were arrested only hours after the court freed them. They had been facing prison sentences from two years to 12 years before the retrial. "The police in Jingmen clearly acted to prevent these women from suing them," said Voice of the Martyrs spokesman Todd Nettleton. "How could they possibly have committed a new crime in the few hours they were free?" The four women were repeatedly sexually molested and tortured . . . until they signed documents saying that South China Church founder Gong Shengliang had raped them. Gong was convicted on rape charges last week and sentenced to life in prison. Nettleton hopes that U.S. President George W. Bush will discuss the issue of falsely imprisoned Christians in China when he meets with Chinese President Jiang Zemin in Texas later this month. (Voice of the Martyrs)

CHRISTIAN BUSINESSMAN KIDNAPPED IN PAKISTAN

Ainsworth Lal, a 71-year-businessman and former Christian schoolteacher in Pakistan, has been kidnapped by some men whom he knew through previous business deals in the country. Kidnapped about two weeks ago, his captors are demanding a ransom of about US$7,000. Lal's son-in-law, Australian Christian newscaster Philip Smith, said this has been confirmed as a "genuine kidnapping" and that he has been threatened with harm if the money demanded in not found. "My father-in-law is being kept in a home in Peshawar in northwestern Pakistan," said Smith who works as a newscaster at United Christian Broadcasters Australia. "He is being fed and allowed to bathe, and is in good health physically despite experiencing considerable emotional trauma which is evident from the tone of his voice." Smith is urging believers to pray for his father-in-law's soon release. (Assist News Service/UCB Australia)

CHURCHES WORLDWIDE TO OBSERVE DAY OF PRAYER FOR PERSECUTED CHURCH

Thousands of churches across the U.S. and worldwide will focus on suffering Christians during the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church Sunday, Nov. 10. This is one of the largest prayer events in the world and has been observed since 1996, Open Doors U.S. President Terry Madison. Ten Christian agencies have collaborated to sponsor the event. "In my many talks with persecuted Christians around the world, I always ask them what can we in the West can do to support them in their walk with the Lord," Madison says. "No. 1 on the list is prayer. They want us to pray with them and for them. But not just one day a year!" An estimated 200 million Christians face persecution around the world. (Religion Today)

POLITICAL UNREST IN HAITI OPENS DOORS TO SHARE THE GOSPEL

Political unrest is leading to open doors for sharing the gospel in Haiti, says Dick McLeish of Men for Missions. The ministry's original plans last month to enter an area of the country called Sector 4 had to be scrapped due to an uprising. That led them to enter Saint Michelle. "What we found was that God had already gone ahead and prepared the people for exactly what we were there for," says McLeish. Christian workers quickly set up a meeting to distribute radios tuned to pick up Christian programming aired in the community. "We thought we were initially going to meet with 40 pastors in the area," McLeish says. "When we got there in the church on Saturday night there were 145 people there. Including pastors, church leaders and lay people that were there to hear about 'Operation Saturation' and were excited to learn how to share their own faith." (Mission Network News)

* HCJB World Radio worked with local partners in Haiti to help establish local Christian radio ministries in Port-au-Prince and Tortue Island.

GERMAN MISSION LEADER: EUROPE IS 'SPIRITUALLY DISTRESSED AREA'

Detlef Bloecher, director of German Missionary Fellowship in Sinsheim, says Europeans have cut themselves off from their Christian roots and are indulging in materialism and individualism. "God's commandments are trampled down, and ancient paganism is rearing its ugly head," said Bloecher. "Bible-believing Christians are few and far between," he says, accounting for just 3.2 percent of Germany's population. In other countries the percentage is even lower: 0.3 in Belgium, 0.5 in Austria, 0.6 in France and 0.8 in Spain. Only strict Islamic countries and some Asian nations have a lower percentage of Christians. "Europeans seem almost immune to the gospel," says Bloecher. "Germany needs African evangelists, Korean Bible teachers, Brazilian student missionaries and American church planters to come here." (IDEA)

*Nejnovější zprávy v originální anglické verzi jsou vždy ZDE (klikněte).

Food for the Hungry has evacuated some of its foreign workers from the Democratic Republic of Congo due to continuing unrest, says mission spokesperson Beth Allen "We've asked our expatriate staff [in the northeastern part of the country] to move into Rwanda for safety for the time being. Hopefully this will only last for the next couple of days. It's a scary time for people as rebel groups that remained in the area after the Rwandans pulled out are all vying for power." Food for the Hungry continues to work unhindered in the central part of the country where it's relatively stable. Allen asks believers to pray that the unrest would keep from spreading. "The key right now is getting the church to reach out to people so this could become a sending country. God is refining this country by fire, and as a result the Democratic Republic of Congo is going to bless the world." (Mission Network News)

* HCJB World Radio works with local partners in the Democratic Republic of Congo to broadcast the gospel on FM stations in Boma, Bukavu and Kinshasa. Programs go out in English, French, Kikongo Fioti, Lingala, Luba and Swahili. Weekly programs in the Songe and Kikongo San Salvador languages also air from local FM stations in the country. In addition, HCJB World Radio airs Kikongo Fioti programs to the country via shortwave from Ecuador.

12 STUDENTS KILLED IN RIOT AFTER NIGERIAN CHRISTIAN WINS ELECTION

More than 12 Christian students were killed and another 50 injured in a riot at the Federal College of Education in Nigeria, reported the Barnabas Fund. The rioting broke out after a Christian candidate won the annual students' union elections. Disgruntled Muslim students whipped up resentment among local Muslims who stormed the campus. Christian students were attacked and forced to flee. Official sources reported that 12 Christians were killed with many more injured, requiring treatment at the local hospital. Some Christian women students were also raped. Such religiously motivated clashes provide a worrying reminder of the possibility of widespread religious violence during national elections scheduled for next year. (Religion Today)

MISSING EGYPTIAN BELIEVER DISCOVERED LANGUISHING IN CAIRO PRISON

A letter smuggled out of Cairo's Mazraa Tora Prison last month confirmed that an Egyptian convert to Christianity who disappeared five months ago has been imprisoned on criminal charges. The letter indicated that Hisham Samir Abdel Latif Ibrahim, 26, had been arrested last spring by Egyptian security police. He is accused of falsifying his identification papers and "reviling Islam." In his letter, Ibrahim said he was questioned for 52 days after his arrest. Born in Alexandria into a Muslim family, he is believed to have obtained Christian identification papers on the basis of a newly issued birth certificate with a non-Muslim name. Egyptian Muslims are forbidden by law to change their religious identity, although open incentives are offered to encourage Christian citizens to convert to Islam. Ibrahim came to Christ in 1996 through listening to a Christian radio program. Before his disappearance on May 7, Ibrahim had been living with a Christian couple and was active in an evangelical Coptic church in Cairo. Since March the couple and their three daughters have faced repeated harassment by security police as well as local Muslim extremists. (Compass)

IRANIAN CLERIC CALLS FOR DEATH OF CHRISTIAN LEADERS CRITICIZING ISLAM

An Iranian Muslim cleric is calling for the deaths of three American preachers, Franklin Graham, Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell, for statements they made against Islam. In a sermon at a mosque in Tabriz Oct. 11, Ayatollah Mohsen Mujtahed Shabestari called for the deaths of the leaders who have recently criticized Islam, reported the Institute for the Study of Islam and Christianity, the educational arm of the Barnabas Fund. "In our opinion, to kill these three is necessary," said Shabestari as quoted in the Iranian Farsi daily newspaper Abrar. He is the personal representative of Iranian President Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Shabestari issued the call in response to an interview given by Falwell on CBS last week in which he described the Islamic prophet Mohammed as a "violent man, a man of war" and a "terrorist." Falwell has since apologized. Last November Graham described Islam as a "very evil and wicked religion" while Robertson depicted it as a religion that seeks to "dominate and then, if need be, destroy." (Assist News Service)

OUTREACH IN 14 BOLIVIAN CITIES RESULTS IN 104,000 DECISIONS FOR CHRIST

Latin America's Christians are on the move, stepping out of the four walls of the church and taking their message to the streets, making an impact on entire cities. Power to Change is a campaign that linked churches in 14 Bolivian cities. Besides the traditional evangelistic methods, the campaign introduced "Houses of Prayer," a grassroots effort by Christians designed to change their neighborhoods. The most effective strategy involved meeting with people at kiosks that were set up at strategic locations throughout the cities. Pastor David Hernández said even though just 29 people from his congregation got involved in the Power to Change project, they met and talked with more than 6,000 people. Of these, 4,000 prayed to receive Christ. The month-long evangelism effort throughout Bolivia resulted in 104,000 salvation decisions. Local evangelical churches are following up and discipling the new believers. (Religion Today)

* HCJB World Radio has worked with local radio partners to plant local AM and FM stations in the Bolivian cities of Santa Cruz, Tarija and Tupiza. Four stations with eight transmitters in three cities (La Paz, Santa Cruz and Sucre) are also affiliated with the ALAS satellite radio network, a joint effort of HCJB World Radio and Trans World Radio. The network makes Christian Spanish programs available to stations across Latin America and Western Europe.

HAWAII HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS REACH OUT TO OAHU'S POOR

Chasing rats out of cupboards, painting buildings and handing out peanut butter and jelly sandwiches may not be thought of as life-changing ministry, but Hawaii high school students found out differently when they helped an Oahu church start a Christian Women's Job Corps. Homelessness and poverty are surprisingly common along the island's sunny leeward coast. The 20 members of the tiny First Baptist Church in Nanakuli near Honolulu are having a big impact each Friday as they feed as many people as they can until the food runs out. Sometimes more than 200 people receive food in just a few hours. With many of the recipients being single women on welfare or homeless people on the beach, the church does more than just provide food. Participants also teach women basic job skills, involve them in Bible studies and help mentor the women. Students have also replaced termite-eaten doors with steel doors, replaced screens, installed and painted anti-theft bars, installed shelves, cleared out debris, destroyed pests and cleaned buildings. (Baptist Press/Religion Today)

*Nejnovější zprávy v originální anglické verzi jsou vždy ZDE (klikněte).

In a rare show of solidarity, Christian, Islamic and Dalit (people outside of the caste system) leaders met in Madurai, India, Oct. 10 to plan action against a new law passed in southern India's Tamil Nadu state. The law, issued on Oct. 5, prohibits "conversion from one religion to another by the use of force or allurements or by fraudulent means and for the matters incidental thereto." Violators face prison sentences of up to five years and fines of about US$2,000. Christian and Muslim leaders have denounced any suggestion that they are involved in forced or coerced conversions. However, there are concerns throughout the religious communities that the law will be used by the predominantly Hindu authorities to prevent any conversions. The leader of one militant Hindu group, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, said recently, "No one converts voluntarily. It is motivated by greed." There are concerns about similar laws spreading throughout India, with support being expressed by various leaders, including the president of India's ruling BJP party. Demonstrations and rallies are planned for Saturday, Oct. 19, to protest the new law. The United Christian Council, various political parties and other organizations also called for a day of fasting on Thursday, Oct. 24. Institutions run by minority groups in India will be closed that day. (Voice of the Martyrs)

* In partnership with FEBA Radio, HCJB World Radio airs weekly Christian programs to eastern India via shortwave in three languages: Bhojpuri, Chattisgarhi and Mundari. HCJB World Radio also broadcasts 1.5 hours of English programming daily to India via shortwave from South America. The ministry is investigating potential opportunities to help launch local Christian stations in key cities across India.

REBEL ATTACKS IN UGANDA FORCE CHURCH MEMBERS TO SCATTER

A recent dramatic increase in attacks by Kony rebels in Uganda has caused about 175 members of Seventh-day Adventist churches to scatter, and their situation is currently unknown, reports Beat Odermatt, president of the church in southern Sudan. An increase in attacks on the highway between the Ugandan cities of Kampala and Arua has also resulted in the death of one church member, a merchant from Sudan who was killed when the bus he was riding in came under attack. Kony rebels have also attacked refugee camps in Acholpii and burned more than 150 grass huts, causing about 25,000 refugees to flee further south, leaving their possessions behind. The risks involved in transporting food and other necessities have caused many groups, including the U.N., to suspend deliveries to towns and refugee camps. In mid-September a U.N. driver was killed and several others were seriously injured. (Adventist News Network)

* HCJB World Radio, together with the Evangelical Churches of Kampala and FEBA Radio, broadcasts the gospel locally in Uganda on two FM transmitters. HCJB World Radio also worked with Jesus Focus Ministries to put a 500-watt FM station on the air in Masaka. Programs air in English and Luganda.

17 INNOCENT PRISONERS TO BE SET FREE IN PERU

Seventeen innocent men and women in Peru, some of whom had been imprisoned for more than 10 years, will be freed from prison this weekend. The inmates had all been recommended for release as early as May but were unable to walk free because Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo did not sign their pardons until this week. One of the prisoners, 34-year-old Apaza Vargas, described the agony of waiting each day to hear whether or not his pardon had been signed. "I have in my memory beautiful stories which I have lived through these more than seven hard and difficult years," he said. "The glory of our Redeemer fills me with the blessing of being helped by brothers and sisters whom I never imagined would worry about this humble servant. I will never forget this beautiful experience, and it will always be a blessing that Christ gave me in the midst of this familiar pain [as I awaited the] signature of the president of Peru." (Christian Solidarity Worldwide)

GOSPEL TO BE PREACHED TO WORLDWIDE SIMULTANEOUSLY VIA INTERNET

The gospel message will be preached simultaneously to all of the world's 237 sovereign nations via the Internet on Friday, Oct. 18. The event will coincide with the 81st birthday of veteran missions leader Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ and chairman of the Global Pastors Network which is hosting the historic "WorldCast Celebration" in Orlando, Fla., Oct. 18-19. Bright is one of 16 prominent mission leaders and pastors who will make presentations during the two-day event. His half-hour message, "Grace for Every Race," will be heard simultaneously around the world starting at 10:15 a.m. EDT Friday. To listen, visit www.GlobalPastorsNetwork.org . (Global Pastors Network)

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY, SALVATION ARMY JOIN IN MINISTRY

In a "mutual desire to cooperate in ministry," International Bible Society (IBS) President Peter Bradley and Salvation Army National Chief Secretary Col. Thomas Lewis signed a memorandum of understanding in Colorado Springs, Colo., Friday, Oct. 4. "By complementing each other's strengths," the memorandum states, "we can expand the impact of our respective organizations." IBS will produce a new version of its disaster booklet, "When Your Whole World Changes," to be used by the Salvation Army when reaching out to disaster survivors. IBS has also formed a team of volunteer staff members who will minister alongside the Salvation Army during times of disaster. "The potential of releasing God's power through His Word coupled with God's love and mercy through the wonderful outreach of the Salvation Army is beyond measurement," Bradley stated in a letter to Lewis. (International Bible Society)

BRAZIL COULD BE KEY TO EVANGELIZING MUSLIMS IN ARAB WORLD

Brazil could be one of the key countries that will evangelize the Arab world, says David Shibley of Global Advance who recently returned from the Frontline Shepherds' Conference in Manaus. More than 1,000 pastors and church leaders attended the event. "What was particularly thrilling to me was to see literally hundreds upon hundreds of pastors who committed to plant at least one new church within the next 12 months," he says. "Hundreds of young Brazilian pastors and church leaders also committed themselves to cross-cultural missionary service." Because of cultural similarities, Shibley says Brazilians could be the key to reaching the Arab world for Christ. "They laughingly joke about even their skin type being similar to that of many of the Arab-speaking peoples. I believe there are some natural parallels that the Brazilian church has that makes them prime candidates to be missionaries to the Islamic world." (Mission Network News)

*Nejnovější zprávy v originální anglické verzi jsou vždy ZDE (klikněte).

The Laskar Jihad, an extremist Islamic group responsible for much of the violence in Central Sulawesi and the Moluccas in Indonesia, has announced that it is disbanding. In a surprise announcement, a lawyer representing Laskar Jihad said the organization was closing its headquarters and offices and would be withdrawing its warriors from the region. Up to 1,000 Laskar Jihad fighters have already left Ambon on a ferry bound for Jakarta. Christians in the region are welcoming the decision, especially if it results in an end to the attacks that have continued despite peace agreements signed at the beginning of 2002. The Laskar Jihad's lawyer, Wirawan Adnan, insisted that the decision was an internal one taken prior to the car bomb attack in Bali Oct. 12 that killed at least 183 people and injured more than 300. Sheikh Rubi ibn Hadi, a Muslim cleric in Saudi Arabia, recently called for an end to the "holy war" in eastern Indonesia's Moluccan Islands. Anti-Christian violence in the region since 2000 has left more than 15,000 Christians dead.

Evidence is emerging that the attack on Bali is linked to the al-Qaida terrorist group. Secret U.S. documents reportedly indicate that al-Faruq, arrested by Indonesian police in June and handed to U.S. authorities, was a senior al-Qaida representative in Southeast Asia with responsibility for planning and coordinating attacks against American targets in the area. He also has been linked to attempts to assassinate Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri. Although al-Faruq's origins and movements are shrouded in mystery, there is evidence that he was involved in training and leading Islamic extremist groups during anti-Christian violence in the Moluccas. Meanwhile, a mob destroyed a church in the predominantly Muslim city of Makassar in South Sulawesi after it was reported that the church had been built without the necessary permits. The building of churches requires a permit from the city authorities who consult with the local population. Churches cannot be built in predominantly Muslim areas. Some participants in the destruction claimed that the church would be demolished unless it vacated the premises. Although the local police chief criticized people for taking the law into their own hands, no action was taken by authorities to prevent the destruction. Official investigations into the existence of a building permit are ongoing. (Barnabas Fund/Religion Today)

MYANMAR MINISTRIES PERSIST DESPITE POCKETS OF PERSECUTION Indigenous Christian ministries in Myanmar (formerly called Burma) continue to proclaim the gospel despite pockets of severe persecution. Officials have authority to close church meeting places and select Christian workers and new believers to serve in forced labor without pay. Myanmar's government promotes Buddhism as a national religion, offering interest-free loans and supplemental rice to Buddhists while excluding Christians. Officials also offer large sums of money to Christians to become Buddhists, and public schools indoctrinate pupils in Buddhism. Christian children, along with all others, are expected to bow before Buddha. Churches also experience harassment from the police who have the authority to close down meeting places that don't have proper registration or own their own land and buildings. Christians meeting in houses or apartments are especially vulnerable. Despite the hardships, indigenous churches and mission agencies in Myanmar first planted by American missionary Adoniram Judson more than 150 years ago continue their forerunner's diligence. There is a climate of openness to the gospel among most people, including many younger Buddhists. (Christian Aid Mission)

ISLAM MAKES GAINS IN RWANDA SINCE 1994 GENOCIDE

A surge in Islam in predominantly Christian Rwanda (65 percent Roman Catholic and 9 percent Protestant) is being attributed to disillusionment with Christianity following the 1994 genocide that claimed 800,000 lives. Fourteen percent now follow Islam, up from 7 percent before 1994. New mosques are being built across the country in an effort to build unity among Tutsis and Hutus. (World Pulse)

AFRICAN CHURCH LEADERS MEET TO STUDY CHURCH-PLANTING STRATEGIES

More than 100 leaders from six African countries -- South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Nigeria -- gathered in Cape Town Oct. 8-10 for a strategy session on expanding churches in the region. The event was the fourth annual National Consultation on Saturation Church Planting hosted by the Church Planting Alliance of South Africa. "While not large in number [with 110 delegates attending], the group represented the different denominational and missions structures in the country, especially those committed to seeing more cooperation and focus on strategic integration of the evangelism task in and from South Africa," said spokesman Johan Combrinck. "The consultation also served as a forum for various transformation streams to converge into a broader flow of potential blessing for the nation." Delegates agreed that South Africa needs a "more coordinated and strategically integrated national evangelism initiative, focused on the discipling of nations," Combrinck said. Rev. John Thomas, pastor of Fishoek Baptist Church and an HCJB World Radio partner in Cape Town, added that the AIDS epidemic is opening up doors to share the gospel in the region. "AIDS has given the church in South Africa its greatest chance for impacting the nation and the world." (Assist News Service)

SOLDIERS TAKING BASIC TRAINING IN U.K. SHOW GROWING INTEREST IN BIBLE

Staff at an Army Infantry Training Center in North Yorkshire, England, are reporting a rush of cadets wanting to hear about God and coming to faith in Christ. Soldiers arriving for basic training are given a New Testament from Scripture Gift Mission produced together with the Naval Military and Air Force Bible Society. Chaplains say they are taking the special camouflage editions with them on exercises. More than 100 cadets are reported to have trusted Christ in recent weeks. (Scripture Gift Mission)

* HCJB WORLD RADIO TO GIVE NATIONWIDE COVERAGE OF ECUADOR ELECTIONS

The Spanish and Quichua news teams at HCJB World Radio in Ecuador will provide nationwide coverage of the country's national and provincial elections on Sunday, Oct. 20. Election reports which will air on the ministry's local stations in Quito and Guayaquil and on nine FM stations via the Vozandes Satellite Network as well as worldwide on shortwave. Coverage goes from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time. "Thank you for praying for our team as we provide coverage of elections," says National Radio Director Allen Graham. "As we uncover the results of our earthly leaders for this country, may we point our listeners to our eternal leader, the King of kings."

In addition to voting for a new president, Ecuadorians will choose 100 lawmakers, 67 provincial officials, 667 town councilors, two mayors and five representatives to the regional Andean parliament. Ten candidates are vying for the presidency, including two former presidents, Rodrigo Borja and Osvaldo Hurtado. If none of the candidates receives more than 50 percent of the vote, a run-off election involving the top two vote-getters will be held on Nov. 24. The next president will be charged with rescuing a nation mired in economic woes, struggling with foreign debt and rising government salaries it can't afford to pay. Ecuador, which two years ago adopted the U.S. dollar as its currency, is an oil-rich nation, but roughly 70 percent of the population lives in poverty. The new president will also have to address rising unemployment. Ecuador's Indians, who comprise between a quarter and half of the nation's 12 million people, hope their recent efforts to better organize will pay off with increased influence via the ballot box. The Indian community, disproportionately poor, is a significant voting bloc that traditional political parties have not yet been able to attract. (HCJB World Radio/Miami Herald/EFE)