Christian civilians in the Philippines are increasingly being targeted for terror and violence as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the communist New People's Army (NPA) step up insurgencies in the country. The terrorist groups are using these tactics in an effort to force the government to yield to the groups' demands, such as the MILF's pressure for an independent Islamic state in the southern Philippines. Just a day after MILF leaders signed an agreement with the Philippine government March 30 to resume peace negotiations, militiamen from the group used rocket-propelled grenades to attack a residential area near Midsayap about 550 miles southeast of Manila. They wounded 12 civilians and seized six Christian residents as "human shields" against pursuing troops. The village chairman and his wife were among those taken. All were eventually released. Concerns also increased recently as the NPA suggested joining forces with the MILF to form a united front against the Philippine government. (Religious Liberty Prayer List)

8 POLICE OFFICERS RAID BAPTIST CHURCH IN TURKMENISTAN

Eight police officers raided the morning worship service Sunday, March 16, in the unregistered Baptist church in the city of Balkanabad, Turkmenistan. A statement from the church reports that the officers were led by Kadyr Meredov from the National Security Committee which is responsible for controlling religious groups. "They accused us of holding an unapproved meeting and violating the law on religious cults," church members complained. "They banned us from meeting until we had registered our church with the justice authorities, and warned us that otherwise, a police officer would be present at each of our services." (Forum 18 News Service)

* HCJB World Radio works in partnership with Back to the Bible to air Christian Turkmen programs. Twice-weekly broadcasts began airing from an undisclosed site outside of Turkmenistan in June 2001.

'ONE SMALL SPARK' COULD IGNITE ANTI-CHRISTIAN VIOLENCE IN IRAQ

Leaders of the country's minority Christian community fear that it would only take "one small spark" such as an anti-Christian sermon in a mosque or an argument between Muslim and Christian neighbors to trigger violent attacks on Christians, reported the Barnabas Fund. The U.K.-based group reported that many believers have left Baghdad to return to their ancestral homelands in the north of the country until the war is over, while others have fled to Syria. With tensions high, some Christians no longer wear crosses openly in public for fear they would make them a target. Among violent incidents in recent months was the brutal murder and decapitation of a nun by a Muslim mob. Some Christians in Baghdad have sought shelter in churches which have remained open despite the exodus. (Religion Today)

IBS DISTRIBUTES CAMOUFLAGED BIBLES VIA CHAPLAINS TO TROOPS IN IRAQ

The International Bible Society (IBS) is providing desert-camouflage Bibles and New Testaments to troops in Iraq through its military chaplain outreach. IBS sends Scriptures to chaplains who distribute them to soldiers who are preparing for deployment or based at home stations. Priority is given to Reserve and National Guard chaplains because they typically have limited funds to purchase Scriptures, said retired chaplain Chuck Adams who is the military representative at IBS. "More Reserve and National Guard troops are being called to active duty now than in the 1991 Gulf War," he said. "That's why the need is so great right now to supply Reserve and National Guard Chaplains with Bibles. We want to get Scriptures to the troops at their U.S. bases before they leave for Iraq so they have God's Word with them in their pockets. But we can also put the Scriptures on U.S. supply planes. They're delivered to the chaplains through the regular supply lines on the ground in Iraq. Either way, we'd like to know that every soldier who wants God's Word has it." (International Bible Society)

SHIPMENT OF SOAP TO BENEFIT NEARLY 15,000 IRAQI CHILDREN

A shipment of badly needed personal hygiene soap and laundry detergent for Iraqi children arrived in Baghdad the afternoon of Monday, March 31, as part of the U.S.-based All Our Children campaign, a multi-agency effort. The truckload of hygiene supplies originated in Amman, Jordan, crossed the border into Iraq and reached Baghdad Monday afternoon, reported the Church World Service (CWS). The shipment contained 5.5 metric tons of soap -- enough to support the hygiene needs of nearly 15,000 Iraqi children for six months -- as well as 5.8 metric tons of laundry detergent. CWS consultant Steve Weaver in Amman says the supplies will be used in UNICEF nutrition rehabilitation wards in 68 pediatric and district hospitals throughout southern and central Iraq as access allows. "To help break the cycle of malnutrition and diarrhea, it's important to ensure good hygiene practices," Weaver explained. The death rate of children under age 5 in Iraq was 2.5 times greater than other areas even before the Gulf War began. CWS also shipped medicines and other health-related supplies as well as thousands of blankets to Iraq and Jordan in the last year. (Church World Service)

NEW ANTI-CONVERSION LAW IN INDIAN STATE MAY HINDER FILM MINISTRY

Mission organizations are continuing to weigh the ramifications of the newest anti-conversion law in the western Indian state of Gujarat. It passed despite a huge outcry from Christians, said John Gilman of Dayspring International. "If you even offer to show someone a free film, like we do, and come and see our movie or any other kind of thing that would be considered an allurement and part of the anti-conversion movement, a person could go to jail for several years and be fined," he said. Workers present the gospel through a film on the life of Christ, a ministry that Gilman says is having a "huge impact" on the lives of low-caste Dalits. "That message is profound for a Dalit person who has been told all of his life that God hates you and you are despised. They are truly moved deep in their hearts and the door is open for them to find Christ." (Mission Network News)

* In partnership with FEBA Radio, HCJB World Radio airs weekly Christian programs to eastern India via shortwave in three languages: Bhojpuri, Chattisgarhi and Mundari. A five-hour block of English programs also beams across India from a shortwave site in Kununurra, Australia. The ministry is investigating potential opportunities to help launch local Christian stations in key cities across India.

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