Zprávy HCJB 4.3.2003

 ČERNÉ SBORY JSOU NEJRYCHLEJI ROSTOUCÍMI DENOMINACEMI V USA
    Římskokatoličtí, mormoni, letničtí a historicky černé denominace jsou podle Výroční knihy amerických a kanadských církví pro rok 2003 nejrychleji rostoucími sbory v USA. Roční zpráva o počtu sborových členů, sestavená Národní radou církví, uvádí více než 159 miliónů stoupenců ve 216 různých denominacích po celých Spojených státech v roce 2001, kdy jsou k dispozici poslední údaje. Nejrychleji rostoucím sborem je Africký metodistický episkopální siónský sbor s nárůstem 11,67%. Za nimi jsou katolíci s 2,49%, mormoni s 1,95% a Boží shromáždění s 1,92%. Seznam deseti největších amerických sborů dostal nového člena, Národní baptistický konvent USA, historicky černá denominace, která nebyla ve výroční knize uvedena od roku 1998 kvůli nedůvěryhodným údajům. Tato denominace má kolem 5 miliónů členů, což ji řadí na sedmé místo. Tři z deseti největších denominací – a šest z patnácti – jsou historicky černé sbory. (Religion Today)
 
 VAROVÁNÍ SKUPINY NA OBRANU NÁBOŽENSKÉ SVOBODY OHLEDNĚ AFGHÁNISTÁNU.
   (Religion Today) - Nezávislá americká federální agentura pro mezinárodní dohled nad svobodou náboženství prohlásila, že je „vážně znepokojena“ zprávami o porušování lidských práv v Afghánistánu. Mezi mnoha obavami vyslovuje komise znepokojení nad údajnými pokusy omezovat rovnost práv žen a náboženských menšin v nové afghánské ústavě i nad pokračujícími případy týraní žen a dětí, často s požehnáním místních úřadů. Komise zmiňuje donucovací vyhlášky místních oficiálních organizací včetně tzv. „náboženské policie“ žádající po Afgháncích držet se přesně stanovených způsobů víry. Komise doporučila americkému prezidentovi George W. Bushovi zavést s využitím diplomatického sboru USA v Afghánistánu důsledné sledování úrovně zachovávání lidských práv, „prohloubit, koordinovat, pozorovat a nechat si hlásit způsob zavádění mezinárodních norem pro lidská práva včetně náboženských svobod.“ Od pádu Talibanu v roce 2001 a následném vzestupu Američany podporovaného afghánského prezidenta Hamida Karzaie tvrdí jak skupiny na obranu lidských práv, tak jednotliví aktivisté v Afghánistánu, že Karzaiho vláda „nevynakládá dost politického a vojenského úsilí k potlačení moci místních vojenských diktátorů a náboženských konzervativců.“

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

 
 VŠECHNY DNEŠNÍ ZPRÁVY V ANGLIČTINĚ
   U.S. EVANGELIST'S LIFE THREATENED AT CAMPAIGN IN SOUTHWESTERN INDIA

Oppression against Christians isn't easing in India, says Adrian Jones of MissionEvangelism who recently returned from preaching in the country's southwestern state of Kerala where his life was threatened. "A gang of men had sworn to kidnap me and kill me. So when I got to the crusade site, it was surrounded by police and soldiers with machine guns. It was sort of a hair-raising time for the team." Jones says religious freedom is being eroded in India as additional states prepare to pass anti-conversion laws, including Kerala. "As I understand it, if you go there on a tourist visa they won't allow you to come in and preach at all," he says. "You can go in on a preaching visa if they will give that to you, but they're saying they won't give that to you either. So the door is closing." Jones preached in two cities, Pelayaochakada (Feb. 1-4) and Neyattinkara (Feb. 6-9), with a total attendance of 112,000. More than 7,500 people made professions of faith. Local evangelical churches are working together to follow up the new believers. (Mission Network News/MissionEvangelism)

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM PANEL ISSUES WARNING ON AFGHANISTAN

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent federal agency, said it was "seriously concerned" about reports of continued human rights abuses in Afghanistan. Among numerous concerns, the commission said it was worried about reported efforts to deny equal rights to women and religious minorities in Afghanistan's new constitution, and continued abuse of women and children, sometimes with support from local authorities. It also cited coercive measures by official agencies, including the so-called "religious police," that require Afghans to follow specific religious practices. The commission has recommended that U.S. President George W. Bush appoint a high-level human rights monitor based at the U.S. diplomatic mission in Afghanistan "to promote, coordinate, monitor and report on the implementation of international standards of human rights, including religious freedom." Since the late 2001 downfall of the Taliban and the subsequent emergence of the U.S.-backed Hamid Karzai as Afghanistan's president, both international human rights groups and human rights activists within Afghanistan have said Karzai's government "does not have sufficient political or military strength to match the power of warlords or religious conservatives." (Religion Today)

TENSIONS IN NORTH KOREA HAMPER CHRISTIAN RELIEF EFFORTS

As tensions continue to rise between North Korea and the U.S., Baptist World Aid's Paul Montecute says Christian relief efforts such as distributing food and medical equipment have been hampered. "It's a totally atheistic country, and really, there is no opportunity for verbally sharing the gospel," he says. "But we believe that in what we're offering to people. We are offering them the love of Christ, either in food stuff, or in medicine. They want to know, 'Why the concern? Why the interest?' And that's a clear opportunity to say that, as Christians, we love them." (Mission Network News)

HISTORICALLY BLACK CHURCH FASTEST GROWING U.S. DENOMINATION

Roman Catholics, Mormons, Pentecostals and a historically black denomination are the fastest-growing churches in the U.S., reports the 2003 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches. The annual report of church membership figures, compiled by the National Council of Churches, found more than 159 million adherents in some 216 different denominations across the U.S. in 2001, the latest year for which figures are available. The fastest-growing church is the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church with 11.67 percent growth. Catholics followed with 2.49 percent, Mormons at 1.95 percent and Assemblies of God at 1.92 percent. The list of 10 largest U.S. churches gained a new member, the National Baptist Convention USA, historically black denomination that had not been included in the yearbook since 1998 because of unreliable figures. The denomination has about 5 million members, putting it at the No. 7 spot. Three of the 10 largest denominations -- and six of the top 15 -- are historically black churches. (Religion Today)

DAY OF PRAYER SET ASIDE TO UPHOLD MYANMAR'S PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has joined with Release International, the Committee for the Internally Displaced Karen People, Karen Aid, Friends of Burma, Karen Action Group, Tear Fund and others to host a Global Day of Prayer for Myanmar (Burma) on Sunday, March 9. CSW is also calling on Christians and churches worldwide to devote the first week of March to pray for the country. Myanmar is ruled by one of the world's most brutal regimes. Since taking power in a coup in 1962, the military junta has gone to terrifying lengths to subdue and annihilate any democratic opposition and the country's numerous ethnic groups. The military reportedly has used civilians as human minesweepers, bullet shields and forced laborers. Children are abducted and sent to the frontlines. Villagers have been shot on sight, their villages burned down and their paddies and livestock destroyed. The continuing pressure has resulted in nearly 1 million refugees fleeing to the jungles deep inside Myanmar. "They are constantly hunted, shelled and driven like animals by the Burmese troops," stated a recent human rights report. (Christian Solidarity Worldwide)

1,600 YOUNG WOMEN IN INDIA URGED TO SHARE 'AROMA OF CHRIST'

More than 1,600 young women recently attended an annual camp meeting on Christian life and commitment sponsored by a ministry in southern India called Aroma. The objective was for participants to give off the "sweet aroma of Christ" wherever they went based on Song of Solomon 4:13-14. They were encouraged to share the fragrance of Christ with their families, friends and neighbors. More than 200 of the young women offered their lives for missionary service at the event. (Missions Insider)

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