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A short-term mission team from Teen Missions International has been expelled from Rwanda. Spokesman Steve Peterson says mistaken identity caused the expulsion of the 20 team members who came from Kenya, Uganda and Sudan. "When the team came in, some people looked and saw the luggage, the cooking equipment, and started to spread rumors that perhaps the team might be part of a military group," he said. "Eventually there was pressure put to bear on the team to leave the country. They were surrounded by armed soldiers and told to leave. All of their belongings were searched thoroughly at the border, and they were sent out." Peterson added that while hearts are open to the gospel, fear of another genocide in Rwanda lingers. "It's a barrier that anyone wishing to take the gospel into the country has to overcome. It's just the distrust and the fear that is still gripping people's hearts. Pray that even as the Lord has opened people's hearts to the gospel that there will be enough stability in the country that outreach will be able to continue." (Mission Network News)

VIETNAM ANNOUNCES NEW MEASURES TO CONTROL RELIGION

The Central Committee of Vietnam's Communist Party went into its seventh plenum on Jan. 13, promising to address the sensitive issues of religion, land and ethnic minority unrest. It emerged nine days later only to announce that it had passed four new resolutions, including one to "better control religion." Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan said this was the first time the Central Committee has passed a resolution specifically on religion. Such matters are usually left to lower, less powerful governmental bodies. The issues arose because of minority unrest in Vietnam's central highlands two years ago regarding confiscated land and lack of religious freedom. Officials responded by cracking down on the Montagnards -- a collective name for Vietnam's many minority tribal groups inhabiting the region. Last fall authorities disbanded more than 400 churches in Dak Lak province alone, falsely accusing minority Christians of being part of a political plot to overthrow the regime. The resolution on religion appears to be aimed at Vietnam's six "approved religions." It calls for the establishment of cells of communist members within the approved religious organizations. Observers said this is bound to cause problems for the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (South) which received legal recognition two years ago. Protestant Christian leaders, many of whom belong to groups still considered illegal by the government, expressed even more alarm. They reason that if "legal" religious organizations will be subject to an "increase of state management and guidance of religious affairs," then pressure will certainly increase on "illegal" Protestants, especially Montagnard and Hmong Christians. (Compass)

HINDU PARTY'S VICTORY IN INDIAN STATE MAY IMPERIL BELIEVERS

Fundamentalist Hindus won a recent landslide victory in a state election in India with anti-Christian and anti-Muslim rhetoric. Defying every poll forecast, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, won 126 seats in the 182-seat state assembly, giving it a two-thirds majority. This followed the worst genocidal attacks against the state's religious minorities since the partition of India 50 years ago. The victory is a harsh blow to Christians and other religious minorities. Fundamentalists vow to turn India into a Hindu nation within two years, threatening a "death sentence against all who oppose Hindutva (nationalist Hinduism)." Gujarat politicians promise to pass an "anti-conversion bill" similar to a law enacted last October in Tamil Nadu. Possible election fraud may have contributed to the BJP victory as names of more than 200,000 voters were purged from the registration rolls. The government is blaming the problem on computer error. (Religion Today)

* 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.

CHRISTIAN RADIO STATION TO REOPEN IN SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES

A Christian radio station in the southern Philippines that was temporarily shut down for six months will go back on the air March 16 with the dual purpose of strengthening churches and evangelizing people in this strategic, culturally diverse area. DXAS, a ministry of Far East Broadcasting Co. (FEBC), began test broadcasts in December 2002. The region is known as a breeding ground for Islamic terror groups such as the Abu Sayyaf which is responsible for the death of American missionary Martin Burnham of New Tribes Mission last year. Station Manager George Que said he has designed a radio program format not only for the Christian community but for people of all walks of life. One of the radio programs expected to attract a general audience is called, "Doctor Is In" -- a talk show where listeners can ask questions to medical specialists on the air. Another program will address the problem of high unemployment in the area, giving tips on improving farming techniques. Que added that broadcasting is an effective way of sharing something "significant and relevant to all people from all walks of life, especially in this very strategic area." (Assist News Service)

CHURCHES IN PHILIPPINES TO BENEFIT FROM ARRIVAL OF 300 U.S. TROOPS

The arrival of more than 300 American soldiers in Zamboanga City in southern Basilan province next month for joint Philippine-U.S. military exercises is expected to benefit churches and Christian ministries in the region. Pastor Ramon Tan, president of the Zamboanga Ministers Fellowship, said that ministries will again flourish in different remote areas because of the sense of security that the U.S. troops will bring to the region. The U.S. and Philippine governments have forged a partnership in fighting local and global terrorism. A number of church-based outreaches had been stopped in remote communities when armed Islamic fundamentalist groups threatened Christians conducting medical and evangelistic outreaches in Muslim-populated areas of Basilan. One of the worst attacks was in 1992 when missionaries from Operation Mobilization's Doulos ship hosted a cultural presentation in Zamboanga City. Two suspected terrorists lobbed a grenade at the audience during the event, killing and wounding a number of bystanders and missionaries. "The arrival of U.S. troops is indeed a blessing to churches since we can start organizing ministries and outreaches in the city," Tan said. (Assist News Service)

TRANSLATION CENTER DISTRIBUTES 6 MILLION SCRIPTURES IN 2002 The World Bible Translation Center saw a sharp increase in Bible distribution in 2002. The ministry distributed 5.9 million of its easy-to-read Bibles, New Testaments and Scripture portions, 1.1 million more than in 2001. Scripture downloads from the center's website also doubled from the previous year. Now in its 30th year, the ministry has translated the New Testament into 25 languages and the complete Bible into 11. More translations are expected to be completed this year. (Mission Network News)

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