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With winds reaching 120 mph, Typhoon Imbudo pounded four provinces of the Philippines' Luzon Island late last week. Warnings were put out for four provinces, two of which were declared "calamity areas." Flooding and winds destroyed hundreds of buildings. The leader of a church-planting ministry in the heart of the storm-stricken said that while writing an e-mail report, the storm still raging, a pastor called him to say that the typhoon had just destroyed his church and parsonage. This ministry has 35 churches mostly in rural locations throughout the stricken area. Workers train pastors and evangelists before sending them out to remote areas of Luzon. The leader urged believers to pray for the work to continue in the aftermath of the storm. (Missions Insider)

RESURGENCE OF TERRORISM IN PERU JEOPARDIZES RURAL CHURCHES

Terrorists pose a serious threat in Peru, says a local mission leader who is asking Christians everywhere band together in prayer to protect believers from violence. The mission leader, whose ministry sends missionaries among the Yanesha and Ashaninka tribes of central Peru, says there has been increased terrorist activity in the region since March. Armed terrorist youths visit isolated villages to give political talks, ask for donations of food, and then steal medicines from the health post and forcefully recruit young people and children. They also threatened to kill a pastor and once beat him up because his church members refused to attend "indoctrination classes" in a nearby village. The Peruvian government did little until June 10 when a heavily armed group of terrorists temporarily took over a camp of the Techint gas line company in the jungles of Ayacucho, stole a large amount of dynamite and took 71 people hostage. They released the hostages several hours later when the company agreed to pay a ransom. Reacting quickly, Peruvian armed forces flew commandos into the area to intercept the terrorists as they fled. More than 2,000 troops were sent in, but the band that stole the dynamite avoided capture, the dynamite was not recovered, and nothing significant happened to the other terrorist groups. Shining Path guerrillas, reportedly aided by FARC terrorists from Colombia, also appear to be making a resurgence in the country, hindering evangelism and church growth among the Ashaninka people. (Missions Insider)

RADICAL ISLAMIC GROUP THREATENS BRITAIN AFTER POLICE RAID

Leaders of the radical Islamic group al-Muhajiroun are reacting angrily to a raid by British anti-terrorist police officers on the sect's headquarters and homes of some of its leadership. A statement issued by the group on Wednesday, July 30, read in part, "For the moment Muslims in the U.K. have a covenant of security which prevents them from attacking the lives and wealth of anyone here. However, Muslims are also obliged to defend their life, honor and wealth when it is attacked and violated." Al-Muhajiroun has been linked to the recent British suicide bombers in Israel and has issued calls to overthrow the British government. Scotland Yard said search warrants to enter the properties were served under the Terrorism Act, the BBC reported. No arrests were made. A release issued by al-Muhajiroun insisted that group members were being unfairly targeted. (Assist News Service)

ATTACKS AGAINST CHRISTIANS BECOMING 'PART OF LIFE' IN PAKISTAN

Muslim threats against Christians are a growing concern in Pakistan where the political situation remains unsettled, says Open Doors International President Johan Compajen. "Pakistan is a divided country. The general who is in charge now -- and thinks that he is the leader -- is only in charge of part of the country. It's a sleeping volcano. It could explode. Churches have been destroyed -- burned, people arrested. It's still going on. It's just a part of life for our brothers and sisters." Despite the violence, this isn't a time to retreat, Compajen says. "People are hungry for the Word of God, especially the new generation . . . those that have gone overseas to study. When they return home they say, 'Hey, something has to change.' So we better be alert." (Mission Network News)

BIBLE LEAGUE TO OPEN OFFICE IN SRI LANKA AS PEACE RETURNS

The Bible League is opening an office in war-torn Sri Lanka. Until now, civil war has hampered efforts to open a ministry in predominately Buddhist Sri Lanka. However, since the country appears to be on the brink of peace, the ministry decided to move forward with plans to open an office there in an effort to better share the gospel and bring "real peace" to the country. Ministry officials are seeking funding from key partners to equip the office with Scriptures and training. (Mission Network News)

INTERNET CAFÉ AT CHRISTIAN CENTER IN AUSTRALIA A HIT WITH CAMPERS

Wesley Mission's Vision Valley has struck an Australian first by providing an Internet café for the thousands of campers who visit the center each year. International and domestic visitors to the camp in northwestern Sydney can now go online to contact family and friends in a matter of seconds. "Many of our guests did not have access to e-mail while they were away," said Matt Davidson, manager of Wesley Mission's Vision Valley Campsite and Conference Center. "Just as we provide public phones, we believed we should also provide public Internet access for our guests to keep in easy contact with their family and friends." Open between 8:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily, the demand for the four computers in the Internet café has been overwhelming as students, international guests and families log on to access their e-mails and websites. With access being charged at $2 for 20 minutes, logging on to the Internet has proven to be a more popular and economic option for Vision Valley's guests to stay in contact with loved ones. Due to the overwhelming success of the Internet café, Wesley Mission will be expanding this service to two of its other campsites, Stringybark Lodge and Mangrove Mountain. (Wesley Mission)

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