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Pakistan's North West Frontier Province has adopted sharia (Islamic law) as the official law of the province. Christians and other minorities now face an uncertain future. On June 2, the Frontier's Provincial Assembly in Peshawar voted unanimously to make sharia the governing code in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP). "From today, sharia will be implemented in the province and there will be no place for those who refuse to follow it," said Akram Durrani, Chief Provincial Minister. Under the new legislation where there is a conflict between current law and sharia, it is sharia that will prevail, although details are vague as to exactly how this would be applied in practice. The Hisba Bill, a second measure passed on June 4, reportedly provides for the establishment of a provincial sharia 'judge,' as well as a Department for Vice and Virtue, i.e. a religious police force responsible for enforcing the sharia similar to those in Iran and Saudi Arabia. Although the bill stipulates that sharia will not be applied to non-Muslims, and local Christians report that no cases affecting them have yet arisen, they also believe it is only a matter of time before problems occur. (Barnabas Fund)

INDONESIAN PASTOR RECEIVES THREE-YEAR SENTENCE

Judges have handed down a three-year sentence to Rev. Rinaldy Damanik, an Indonesian pastor accused of illegal weapons possession. Damanik was found guilty despite clear evidence that the police tortured witnesses for the prosecution in order to obtain their testimony. Damanik, a key peacemaker assisting both Christian and Muslim refugees in the troubled Poso area, was traveling in a relief convoy on August 17, 2002, when police stopped him for questioning. The following day, they announced they had found illegal weapons in the vehicle. Legal expert J. E. Sahetapy, a key witness for the defense, said police broke legal procedure by searching the vehicle without a warrant. Sahetapy maintained that the court must disregard such evidence. The pastor and his defense team now have a week to decide whether they will accept the sentence or appeal, a lengthy and expensive process. Citizens of Tentena, the city where Damanik lived, planned to hold a mass demonstration if the pastor was sentenced. However, he has discouraged those plans. (Compass Direct)

CHRISTIANS PROTEST PROPOSED EDUCATION POLICY IN INDONESIA

Around 15,000 Protestants and Catholics marched through the streets of Jakarta in protest of a new education bill endorsed by the Indonesian government on June 11. Under article 13 of the proposed law, a Christian school with 10 or more Muslim students must provide Islamic worship facilities and two hours of Islamic instruction per week for these students. The same rule will apply to Muslim and Hindu schools with 10 or more students from other religions. "The Christian and Catholic schools have had a long discussion on what to do if the bill becomes law," said a key member of the Christian community, who asked not to be named. "One thing for sure, they will not follow things they cannot tolerate." Nearly 3,000 Muslims joined the June 5 demonstration against the bill. However, thousands of members of the Islamic Solidarity Forum held a rally in Yogyakarta on May 27 to show their support for it. All political parties, except the Democratic Party of Struggle headed by President Megawati Sukarnoputri, stand behind the new bill. (Compass Direct)

SARS OUTBREAK SUSPENDS BIBLE DISTRIBUTION IN CHINA

The SARS outbreak in China is causing problems for Bible distribution. The Bible League's Andrew Harbert says government imposed travel restrictions have canceled Bible smuggling trips to China. "We normally take groups and Bibles into China. And, as you know China has suspended all international tourist groups, at least into the mid-part of July. Harbert says 300,000 Bibles have gone undelivered. Roadblocks have also been set up within China. He says that is having an effect on domestic distribution in China. "Most of your Chinese Christian leaders are already wanted by police. If they show up at a roadblock, or are asked by the police for their ID, they're caught. They're basically grounded for the time being." Harbert says many people are seeking answers to spiritual questions, making it fertile ground for evangelism. (Mission Network News)

MISSIONARY TARGETS "NEW MISSION FIELD" IN EUROPE

Ugandan Arnold Muwone is part of a new breed of missionaries in Europe, from countries once on the receiving end. His ministry targets the British people first and foremost as a "gesture of thank-you for coming to Africa and bringing us the gospel," he told Time magazine. "Before they came, we were worshipping trees and demons," the Pentecostal minister told the news weekly. Their report is examining how Christianity is becoming a minority faith in Europe "as church attendance falls, the clergy ages, and scandals and harsh doctrine drive people away." The gospel is spreading among immigrants in Europe. A 1,500-member church in a Parisian suburb, founded by an Indian, Selvaraj Rajiah, has a congregation where the majority of people originated from outside France. They "find support in the church," Rajiah said. "We pray with them. We give them comfort. We give them counsel." The Time report also noted the success of Alpha, the introductory course to Christianity launched at a London Anglican church in 1992, which has since spread to more than 130 countries. "Our society has changed," said Alpha founder Nicky Gumbel. "We don't need to change the message but we need to change the way we put it across." (Charisma News Service)

*HCJB World Radio's U.K. staff in Bradford produces programs that air locally in the country such as "The Full Breakfast," a popular Sunday-morning program.

BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION TO CUT POSITIONS IN MOVE

The 450 or so employees of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) will find themselves about 100 co-workers short as they make the move from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Charlotte. The ministry's downsizing is the result of outsourcing and a simple re-evaluation of job descriptions performed prior to the move, according to Texas Reardon, manager of the Charlotte transition office, where already some 150 Graham employees are at work in temporary offices. BGEA announced its plans to move to Graham's boyhood hometown nearly two years ago and broke ground on the Billy Graham Center for World Evangelism in October 2002. A 50,000 square foot Billy Graham Library for Graham's memorabilia and personal papers will accompany the main building, (232,000 square feet). The facility will sit on a 63-acre site near Billy Graham Parkway. The current Charlotte crew is split about evenly between new local hires and Minneapolis transplants, with another couple hundred are expected to head south over the next two months. (EP)

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