Zprávy HCJB 20.1.2003

 ČÍNSKÁ VLÁDA SE POKOUŠÍ DONUTIT PASTORA K REZIGNACI.
   (Voice of the Martyrs) - Pastor Bian, jediný farář v Datongu v čínské provincii Shanxi, byl 26.prosince uvězněn poté, co se odmítl vzdát vedení sboru ve smyslu vládního nálezu. Bian dostal 24.prosince úřední oznámení z Úřadu pro církevní záležitosti, že všichni křesťané z jeho farnosti žádají změnu faráře. Ale člen sboru, který si nepřál být jmenován řekl, že o odstranění faráře usilují jen 3 ze 4.000 farníků. Farář byl z vazby propuštěn poté, co farníci pohrozili, že se osobně obrátí na vládu provincie. Současně žádají křesťany kdekoliv po světě o modlitby, protože Úřad pro církevní záležitosti ve svém vyšetřování pokračuje, aby odůvodnil odstranění pastora Biana z vedení sboru.

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

 
 400 BUDOV VČETNĚ KOSTELA SHOŘELO VE MĚSTĚ CANBERRA
   Když se v sobotu 18. ledna rozšířil v australském městě Canberra oheň, zničil více než 400 budov a čtyři lidé v něm přišli o život, nevyhnul se ani budově New Creative Ministries Centre. I když byl kostel, patřící Apoštolské církvi v Austrálii, srovnán se zemí, nezastavilo to staršího pastora Johna McNamaru před pořádáním nedělní bohoslužby v nedalekém parku. O více než 2,300 evakuovaných se stará ve čtyřech centrech Červený kříž, Armáda spásy a ADRA. Zajišťují potraviny, šatstvo a dočasné ubytování. Obyvatelé severní části Canberry se připravují na další možné rozšíření ohně, neboť plameny se dále šíří suchou trávou. Množství hasičů bylo rozmístěno v okolí Canberry, aby byli připraveni na boj s blížícími se plameny. Někteří obyvatelé kropili své střechy vodou. Má se za to, že požáry vypukly asi před deseti dny, kdy uhodil blesk do zalesněné oblasti. Na počátku nemohli hasiči nijak zasáhnout, protože plameny byly v nepřístupných horských oblastech. Když se přiblížily k městu, týmy profesionálních hasičů, posilněné dvěma stovkami dobrovolníků, se pokoušely dostat oheň pod kontrolu. Pak ale nárazový vítr o síle 60 mil/hod. rozdmýchal plameny tak, že se zcela vymkly kontrole. (Religious Media Agency/AP)
 
 VŠECHNY DNEŠNÍ ZPRÁVY V ANGLIČTINĚ.
   CHURCH AMONG 400 BUILDINGS DESTROYED IN CANBERRA WILDFIRE

When a wildfire hit Canberra, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 18, destroying more than 400 buildings and leaving four persons dead, it didn't spare the New Creative Ministries Centre. Even though the church, associated with the Apostolic Church of Australia, was razed, it didn't stop senior pastor John McNamara from conducting a Sunday-morning service in a nearby park. More than 2,300 evacuees are being cared for in four evacuation centers where the Red Cross, Salvation Army and ADRAcare is helping with food, clothing and temporary accommodations. Residents of Canberra's northern suburbs are now bracing for a possible fresh onslaught of fires as the flames continue to spread across dry grass. Dozens of firefighters were posted along the outskirts of Canberra, ready to fight the advancing flames. Some residents were seen hosing down their roofs. The fires are thought to have started 10 days ago when lightning struck forest areas. At first there was nothing fire fighters could do as the fires were in inaccessible mountainous areas. When they came closer to the city, teams of rural fire fighters, reinforced with 200 extra personnel, tried to control the fires. Then wind gusts up to 60 mph sent the flames reeling out of control. (Religious Media Agency/AP)

CHINESE GOVERNMENT TRIES TO FORCE PASTOR TO RESIGN

Pastor Bian, the only pastor in Datong in China's Shanxi province, was arrested on Dec. 26 after he refused to give up leadership of the church on orders from the government. Bian received notification on Dec. 24 from the Religious Affairs Bureau that all Christians in his church had requested a change in leadership. But a church member who asked to remain anonymous said that only three or four of the 4,000 members wanted him removed. Bian was released after church members threatened to go to the Datong government. They are urging Christians everywhere to pray as the Religious Affairs Bureau continues to investigate, looking for grounds to remove Bian from leadership. (Voice of the Martyrs)

FIRE DESTROYS MINISTRY'S WAREHOUSE IN MALAWI AFTER SUCCESSFUL CAMP

An electrical fire in Malawi has seriously affected the work of Teen Missions International, said spokesman Steve Peterson. The fire hit Jan. 3, destroying the warehouse where all of the boot camp supplies were stored. Peterson said this is a big loss. "One of the difficulties is that a lot of the equipment that the teams use is not readily available in Malawi or in many of the other African countries. So it's not just the financial aspect." Damage is estimated at $10,000. Peterson believes the fire was a spiritual attack following the completion of a successful camp. "Missions training had just been held for Malawian teenagers," he says. "Six teams with 111 kids were there. They saw more than 1,400 people accept Christ, and 75 of those kids made decisions to enter full-time service." (Mission Network News)

* In partnership with African Bible College, HCJB World Radio helped plant a Christian radio station in Lilongwe, Malawi, in 1995. The station airs programs in Chichewa and English. HCJB World Radio also helped the ministry begin a hospital and provided training, including seminars dealing with the HIV/AIDS crisis. Last year staff members from the HCJB World Radio Engineering Center in Elkhart, Ind., also installed FM transmitters at stations in two Malawian cities, Blantyre and Mzuzu.

MISSIONARY'S HEARING DAMAGED WHILE IN HANDS OF CÔTE D'IVOIRE REBELS

Nearly two weeks after arriving in the U.S. from Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), West Africa, where he was trapped by rebels for 29 days, Dr. William "Doc" Foster says his left ear still isn't back to normal. When a band of rebels broke into his house in the village of Toulepleu, near the Liberian border, on Dec. 1, they tried to intimidate him by shooting an AK-47 assault rifle several times close to his ear, damaging his hearing. Even though the experience scared him, "I knew that if I died I was going to heaven -- it was no big deal," said 58-year-old Foster. A physician, Foster has served Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod (LCMS) World Mission for more than six years as a medical missionary in Ivory Coast. He became trapped last month when several rebel factions -- totaling more than 100 men -- took up residence in the village. In November the ministry withdrew five missionary families from the country because of the escalating conflict, but Foster became trapped before he could leave. Foster said he was under house arrest for little more than a day, then moved to a Red Cross compound where he treated patients -- both rebels and civilians -- with shrapnel and gunshot wounds and a variety of injuries and illnesses." Because of increasing pressure from U.S. government officials, the rebels released Foster and two other foreigners on Dec. 28. A member of Zion Lutheran Church in Wellington, Colo., he returned home on Jan. 3. Foster says he would gladly serve overseas again. "I have a call," he said, and wants to "return something to God." (LCMS World Mission)

* HCJB World Radio's regional office for Sub-Saharan Africa is in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Fréquence Vie (Frequency Life), a partner FM station in Abidjan operated by SIM and local churches, continues to air programs of hope and encouragement. The station broadcasts 17 hours daily in French and some local languages.

MISSIONARIES TAKE RISKS TO REACH HINDU COMMUNITIES IN SURINAME

While most ministry in Suriname, a country bordering Brazil, is welcomed, Gurudatt and Nadira Shiwdatt say their work carries risk. The Shiwdatts are missionaries to the Hindus in Suriname, a little-reached people group in that area. "As we enter into the communities of the Hindustani, there is persecution," Gurudatt says. "Once they see that you have made inroads into their community, and that people are being reached for the gospel of Jesus Christ, when they see that we are laying a good foundation, then they will persecute us." As the Shiwdatts get ready for their work's next growth phase, they are seeking more people to help with the task. "Pray that God will send more workers. There is a great need for more missionaries. There is only a handful of missionaries that work among the Hindu communities, and only about 2 or 3 percent have been evangelized." (Mission Network News)

BILINGUAL VIDEO AIMS TO BOOST EVANGELISTIC EFFORTS IN WALES

One of the first Wales-specific resources ever produced, a bilingual video called "Land of My Children" has been sent to 850 leaders throughout Wales to encourage initiatives in evangelism. Church attendance in the country has fallen steadily to about 200,000 from 400,000 in 1980. The video was produced by the Evangelical Alliance in Wales, drawing from international models and featuring eight creative approaches now being used in various parts of the country. (Christianity & Renewal)

© Copyright 2003 - HCJB World Radio - Colorado Springs, CO USA - btc@hcjb.org

 

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