Mezitím se misijní organizace Operation Mobilization zaměřuje na možnost pomoci Iráčanům postiženým budoucími boji. Její mluvčí George Smith řekl, že její pracovníci se připravují podle dvou možných scénářů. “Naše organizace stejně jako mnoho jiných vytváříme plány pro jednotlivé eventuality vývoje,“ řekl Smith. „Pokud dojde k válce, křesťanské společenství musí být schopno pomáhat. Pokud k válce nedojde, ale krize bude vyřešena například výměnou vládních činitelů, stejně budeme muset pomáhat, jak nejrychleji to půjde.“ I když napětí je zřetelné, Smith mluví o rostoucí otevřenosti k evangeliu na Středním Východě: „Pozorujeme rostoucí počet lidí, kteří chtějí více vědět o Ježíši. Jsou jistě rozdíly mezi jednotlivými zeměmi. Souběžně je také možno v malé části populace pozorovat přibývající nepřátelství a tendenci k pronásledování.“

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

Rev. Rinaldi Damanik, general secretary of the synod of the Protestant Church of Central Sulawesi in Indonesia, went on trial in a Palu court last week, accused of carrying weapons while traveling between Christian villages being attacked in August 2002. An advocate of peace, Damanik is one of the Christian representatives who signed the Malino agreement, a treaty designed to end the violence that has flared between Muslim and Christian communities since 1998. Muslim militants have forced most of the Christians out of the city of Poso and destroyed villages near the lakeside town of Tentena. The armed forces in some cases have joined Muslim extremists to "cleanse" the area of Christians. Meanwhile, Ja'far Umar Thalib, the leader of the Muslim extremist group Laskar Jihad, was acquitted by the East Jakarta District Court of provoking violence and spreading hatred. The Laskar Jihad, which was disbanded after the Bali bombing in September 2002, reportedly had ties to al-Qaida and trained some 10,000 followers in the martial arts and bomb making. (Religion Today/Compass)

AS SOLDIERS PREPARE FOR WAR, U.S. CHAPLAINS GET READY TO MINISTER

While thousands of soldiers prepare for possible war with Iraq, U.S. chaplains are getting ready for potential ministry opportunities. "As chaplains our primary role is to encourage all soldiers as U.S. citizens to be able to freely exercise their own religion," says Col. David Kennedy, a senior chaplain in the U.S. Army Reserve. "For those who are seeking, and for those who are interested in learning more, certainly we're always available and interested in talking to soldiers and their families." Kennedy, a professor at Cornerstone University's Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary, describes his ministry as one of counselor, minister and adviser -- even extending beyond the soldier. "A very important aspect of our operations is keeping in touch with families, being a point of contact for families, especially family members that have soldiers overseas." Meanwhile, Operation Mobilization is gearing up to help Iraqis who would be affected by the fighting. Spokesman George Smith says workers are preparing for two potential scenarios. "Our organization and many others are putting together contingency plans," he says. "If there's actual fighting, the Christian community needs to be in a position to be able to assist. If there's a solution outside of war -- let's say a leadership change -- then we still would need to respond as quickly as possible." Despite the tensions, Smith says there is a growing openness to the gospel in the Middle East. "We have seen an increase of people seeking to know more about Jesus. Of course that varies from country to country," he says. "At the same time, there is a sense within a smaller portion of the population of increased hostilities and potential persecution." (Mission Network News)

600 PASTORS, EVANGELISTS CELEBRATE BIBLE MINISTRY IN KENYA

More than 600 Kenyan Christians trained by the Bible League recently celebrated "Partners' Day" at the ministry's office in Nairobi. While only 200 people were expected, hundreds more arrived to rejoice in the power of God's Word to change lives. "The grass was trampled as if a huge herd of buffalo had grazed there," said the ministry's national director. Those invited included pastors and evangelists from Nairobi who are active in the Bible League's Scripture placement and church planting training programs as well as regional representatives from 30 ministry centers. "This was clear proof to us how believers treasure the Bible as the central authority of church ministry, and of the outstanding effectiveness of using Project Philip for evangelism and discipleship," he said. In 2002 more than 47,000 Kenyans completed Project Philip Bible studies, and 43 church planters scheduled Bible studies with 10,851 evangelistic contacts. (The Bible League)

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY LAUNCHES PROGRAM FOR PASTORS

The International Bible Society has launched a program for pastors called the "Ezra Network." Introduced at the Promise Keepers pastors' conference in Phoenix, Ariz., this week, the goal is to help keep Scripture fresh in pastors' daily lives while encouraging them to teach the same principles to their congregations. A deepening relationship with Christ could result in more people sharing their faith. (Mission Network News)

STROKE ONLY PROMPTS GIFTED MUSICIAN TO CHANGE MINISTRIES

When gifted singer, choir leader and instrumentalist Dave George of Citrus Springs, Fla., suffered a stroke five years, disabling his left side, it may have ended his musical ministry, but it opened up a new outreach. "While in rehabilitation I learned that I could be an encourager," he said. "I would scoot down the hallways in my wheelchair and find all kinds of people who needed encouragement and who were in much worse condition than I was." When he was well enough to return home, George bought a computer and started sending messages of encouragement to three friends. "They started sending me the names of their friends, and today a ministry called E-Cheer has grown to a worldwide outreach with more than 1,500 daily readers in 20 countries," he says. E-Cheer goes out weekdays and is available on the Internet at E-Cheer.com .

* 300 ATTEND HCJB WORLD RADIO'S 16TH ANNUAL MEDICAL CONFERENCE

More than 300 medical workers from across Ecuador gathered at HCJB World Radio's Larson Center in Quito, Ecuador, Feb. 10-14, for the ministry's 16th annual Jornadas Médicas (medical conference). Leading the event were about 30 professionals from key medical facilities in countries such as Honduras, Guatemala and Puerto Rico as well as the renowned Mayo Clinic in the U.S. They presented a variety of seminars on this year's theme, women's health, with topics such as, "Preventing Pre-Term Delivery," "Breast Cancer," "Cardiac Illness in the Woman" and "Women and Smoking." Speakers presented recent research studies and the latest information in their fields. In addition to those attending the conference in Quito, others took part via the Internet for the first time with "virtual classrooms" set up in 21 cities across Ecuador. Missionary nurse Linda McFarland, who helped organize the event, added that simultaneous translation was offered this year. (HCJB World Radio)

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