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

A 30-year old woman who became a symbol of suffering endured by Muslim converts to Christianity in Egypt was freed after nearly two months of torture and interrogation, a human rights groups announced Thursday, Dec. 4. The Barnabas Fund, which assists persecuted Christians in mainly Muslim nations, said police decided to free Marian Girgis Makar, the last to be released of 22 converts who were detained in Cairo between Oct. 21 and Oct. 24. Makar, who was "seriously abused" while in custody, was released on bail for 1,000 Egyptian pounds ($162). The converts were also released on bail, but charges against them still have not been formalized. In a statement Wednesday, Dec. 3, her earlier-released husband, Yusef Samuel Makari, 42, said he and his wife were interrogated and beaten while in custody in Cairo. "The conditions were very bad," he said. "Sometimes we were badly treated and insulted in front of each other. She was tortured more than me." One of the believers, Issam Abdul Fathr, who was suffering from diabetes, died while being transferred from the police station to the hospital. Makar's release came amid mounting international pressure and after Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) urged Egypt on Wednesday, Dec.3, to end the torture and interrogation of the young woman. "Up until then it seemed that police were determined to make an example of the Christian convert from Islam," reported Barnabas Fund. "They even employed a scholar from the Al-Azhar Islamic University in Cairo to help them bring charges [for violating Islamic law]." She and the other converts were originally arrested on charges of illegally changing names and religion on identity cards. (Assist News Service)

VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES REFUSE FLOOD RELIEF TO CHRISTIANS

When central areas of Vietnam suffered from a devastating series of storms and heavy rains in mid-November, most of the people affected received financial assistance and immediate relief from the Vietnamese government. However, 425 Christians in the Quang Ngai province and 654 Christians in the Ninh province were refused help because of their Christian faith, reported International Christian Concern (ICC). The storms destroyed more than 75,000 houses and ruined 260,000 acres of rice. "These Christians already live in dire poverty, and this tragedy has left many hungry and sick," ICC reported. "Without assistance, many are expected to die. The Vietnamese government routinely persecutes Christians in the rural areas of Vietnam, and this is another example of how Christians are denied the most basic elements needed to survive." Vietnam is ranked among the world's worst violators of human rights. An estimated 300 Christian pastors have been imprisoned simply for holding church meetings. (Assist News Service)

'DIGITAL EVANGELISM' BOOSTS MINISTRY'S IMPACT IN HOSTILE COUNTRIES

While terrorist attacks against believers in Pakistan are on the increase, it didn't stop American preacher Sammy Tippit from having a successful outreach via his "digital evangelism" system this week. Using this system, Tippit's partner ministry in Pakistan showed digital videos of evangelistic meetings recorded in Pakistan last spring. The videos featured simultaneous translation in the Urdu language. "There are a number of Christian churches in Pakistan that are trying to reach out and share the gospel with people," Tippit said. "In one village this week 400 people attended an evangelistic meeting, and 57 people came to know Christ as Lord and Savior." Working with a team of national church leaders is effective because they can evaluate the safety issues more clearly, Tippit adds. "When the team goes into a hostile area, they've got to know who the right people are. They've got to have the right contacts, or it can be something very dangerous." Tippit says digital recordings of his campaigns are now available in 70 languages. The "digital evangelism" system was introduced about a year ago. (Mission Network News/HCJB World Radio)

CHRISTIAN MONITOR REVAMPS WEBSITE ON CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION

Christian Monitor which keeps track of Christian persecution around the world, has revamped its website (www.christianmonitor.org) in an effort to make information more easily accessible to visitors worldwide. The ministry compiles information from groups such as Voice of Martyrs, International Christian Concern, Barnabas Fund, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Christians in Crisis, Jubilee Campaign, Christian Freedom International, Open Doors and Frontlone Fellowship. (Christian Monitor)

ORAL TRADITION BECOMES BIBLE TEACHING METHOD IN PERU

Oral tradition survives written text when it comes to teaching and history. Using that theory, The Seed Company's Asheninka project in Peru has moved into a process called "Chronological Bible Storying." Ministry spokesperson Parke Brown explains. "We've been translating 65 stories from the Bible into their language -- oral stories that can be shared around the community in sort of a traditional storytelling format that will present the gospel of Christ. Already the church is growing in part due to these efforts and the hope is that through partnerships this same method will open more door." The goal is to get the gospel to people quicker than trying to translate the entire New Testament -- a process that can take many years, Brown adds. (Mission Network News)

* 7,000 ATTEND HCJB WORLD RADIO'S ANNUAL QUITO DAY CONCERTS

Nearly 7,000 people attended HCJB World Radio's annual Quito Day concerts at the National Theater in Quito, Ecuador, Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 29-30. The concerts, featuring a choir and orchestra and guest musicians, are given to honor the founding of Quito, one of the oldest capitals in the Western Hemisphere, founded on Dec. 6, 1534.

Director Michio Ozaki said he wanted to promote the concerts through more secular venues this year rather than in churches. With this in mind, the choir sang in a shopping plaza and two large malls in the days preceding the weekend concerts. "With Christmas around the corner, you can imagine how busy the malls are, especially on the weekends," Ozaki said. "The people really enjoyed our mini-concerts and asked for more after we were done. Of course we offered more -- via the purchase of tickets for the main concerts in the theater!"

Members of the California musical group, "Two or More," this year's invited guests, were interviewed 11 times by several radio stations and a local television station prior to the concerts. "The five of them would cram into a small studio with their three guitars and their African drum and sing their songs," Ozaki said. "The secular radio stations were blown away with the music of these young guys and urged their listeners to attend the concerts. They could hardly believe that tickets to the concert were only $2."

A special two-hour program promoting the event on HCJB World Radio's AM and FM stations and satellite network featured live music from the band and other musicians along with interviews with Ecuadorian composers and past Quito Day concert directors.

"Listeners were able to call in and ask questions or simply greet the people who were present in the studio," Ozaki said. "More than 140 calls were registered during the two-hour show. Our goal was to have a lot of new people at the concerts this year, especially unbelievers. I think all the interviews and the concerts at the mall were the key to this happening."

"Two or More" band members Walter, Eddie and Renatto Aguas (brothers whose parents are Ecuadorian) and Arnie Vilches (guitar) and Russ Reeshaw (bass) are fluent in Spanish and gave their testimonies during the 30 minutes between the two segments of each concert. The first half of the concerts focused on Christmas and had more of a spiritual tone while the second half featured national traditional music.

"They came back at the end and sang two boleros (traditional Latin love songs) and topped it off by leading the audience in a typical Ecuadorian song, 'Chulla Quiteńo.' We ventured into new territory with these guys. It definitely gave the concerts a new twist with their Latin pop sound."

HCJB World Radio missionary Kathy Saavedra, who now serves in the Chicago area with Apoyo, a joint pastoral training ministry with Leadership Resources International, returned to Quito to play in the concerts this year. She also brought Joel Bakke, a musician from her church, who sang in the choir and played a piano solo.

Ozaki said that while no follow-up program is in place to measure the spiritual results, the testimony of the band "allowed for the gospel to be presented in a very clear way. Although their Latin rock/pop style might have been a bit 'too much' for some, their personal relationship with Christ showed through very brightly. I am convinced seeds were planted." (HCJB World Radio)

© Copyright 2003 - HCJB World Radio - Colorado Springs, CO USA - btc@hcjb.org

The lives of native missionary pastor John Nayak and six other gospel workers are on the line as anti-Christian groups pursue them in eastern India's Orissa state, long known for the persecution of Christians. As God used Nayak to touch people's lives both physically and spiritually, it caught the attention of those opposed to Christianity. Last week a number of opponents threatened members of the local Believers Church and spoke rudely to Nayak's wife. Four days later they launched an attack on the pastor and his six companions, but they managed to escape and returned home. Later that day about 200 people from various anti-Christian groups initiated a procession to protest Christian conversions. The mob then proceeded to Nayak's house. Learning about the impending attack, the seven fled the area on foot, traveling without food to reach a Christian shelter in the jungle two days later. Back in their home community, the anti-Christian mob burned 5,000 New Testaments and ransacked a neighboring Believers Church, breaking the windows and harassing the Christians. (Gospel for Asia)

CHURCH-PLANTING CONVENTION IN INDIA DRAWS 35,000 PEOPLE

More than 35,000 people attended the district convention of a church-planting ministry in northwestern India's Rajasthan state, state reports received by Christian Aid Mission. It was the 23rd convention in that church, planted by a Rajasthan-based ministry that began in 1963. The outreach has more than 800 missionaries and gospel workers and has planted some 1,200 churches. "The meetings began with praise, adoration and thanksgiving. Senior leaders held their hands together along with the gathered saints declaring the unity of the hearts and minds for God to move in these meetings," the leader said. "The move of the Holy Spirit was clearly seen in the morning sessions, and an expectant crowd and a heavenly presence were characteristic of the evening meetings." The men gained a "new enthusiasm and vigor to take the gospel to the towns and villages of northern India." The convention saw the graduation ceremonies of 34 students from the group's Bible college, and 103 new believers answered the call to be baptized. (Missions Insider)

2 NEW BIBLE TRANSLATIONS COMPLETED IN KEY LANGUAGES OF INDIA

The World Bible Translation Center has released its Urdu and Gujarati Bibles. Both languages are considered primary, and the translations are expected to open doors of ministry to both Hindus and Muslims. WBTC spokesman Dale Randolph explains that, in the context of existing anti-conversion laws, the translation work falls within legal parameters. "Providing Bibles to people is no problem at all as long as they want Bibles. The thing that the law seems to be designed for is the idea of people that are giving money to change religions -- or things of that nature -- which is not what real Christian people are doing." Randolph urges believers to pray for new outreach in both India and Pakistan. "Pray for God's people to have wisdom, to have strength of faith and to keep pressing on. . . . There's a real dedication amidst the persecution they've had, and yet, they're growing." (Mission Network News)

* HCJB World Radio-Australia's new shortwave site Kununurra airs 6.5 hours of daily English programming across South Asia, including India. Two half-hour programs in Urdu, airing Monday through Saturday, went on the air in July, and plans are being made to launch Hindi programs. A radio training center for South Asia has been established in New Delhi. In partnership with FEBA Radio, HCJB World Radio also airs weekly Christian programs to eastern India via shortwave in three languages: Bhojpuri, Chattisgarhi and Mundari.

VIETNAMESE MISSIONARY JAILED FOR 'ABUSING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM'

Ma Van Bay, a missionary to Vietnam's Hmong tribe, was arrested recently and is being held in a jail in southern Vietnam, reported Christian Aid Mission. Police arrested him after searching his house where they found money collected from the offering of the church that meets in his house. They accused Bay of using religion to take money from the people and said he was "abusing religious freedom." He was then handed a three- to 12-year prison term. The exact date of his arrest was not specified. Bay came to the Lord in 1990 by listening to radio programs aired by Far East Broadcasting Co. He took gospel training in Hanoi and returned to his home community where his ministry spurred the growth of the local church. This caught the attention of local authorities who began persecuting Bay and the other believers. He was instrumental in translating biblical materials into the Hmong language. There are now approximately 400 pastors imprisoned for their faith in Vietnam. (Missions Insider)

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST STUDENT DIES IN DORMITORY FIRE IN MOSCOW

An early morning fire at Peoples Friendship University in Moscow Monday, Nov. 24, claimed the life of a Peruvian Seventh-day Adventist student. Giancarlo Paitamala Sáenz, 20, died of head injuries sustained when he jumped from the fourth floor of the burning dormitory. At least 36 students were killed and 200 injured in the blaze. Another Adventist church member, 18-year-old Ivan Ostrovsky from Brazil, is recuperating in a Moscow hospital after surviving a jump from the fifth floor of the burning dormitory. He suffered a broken arm, broken ribs and spinal injuries. News reports indicate that an electrical problem may have caused the fire which broke out at 2:17 a.m. local time. The dormitory, which was used to house foreign students awaiting medical clearances, lacked an alarm system or an evacuation plan, said Vladimir Rodin, a deputy chief of Russia's fire service. (Adventist News Network)

CHRISTIAN VISION LAUNCHES RADIO STATION IN EAST TIMOR

Radio VOZ FM 89.5 has officially opened in one of the world's newest countries, East Timor, with broadcasts in Portuguese, Tetum, Indonesian and English. The island nation gained its independence from Indonesia in May 2002. Like other Christian Vision projects, Radio VOZ FM is a partnership involving people from East Timor, U.K., Brazil and Australia. The ministry has been working in East Timor through its educational, health and rebuilding projects since November 2000. The ministry, which began in the country's capital city of Dili, has 52 Brazilian workers serving in 45 locations throughout nine of East Timor's 14 districts. The educational program for young children to adults includes parenting, health, literacy and hygiene seminars and is recognized by the Ministry of Education as a model school curriculum. More than 1,500 children and adults have been taught, and the Ministry of Education has asked government teachers to teach this program in the districts. East Timor President Xanana Gusmao recently asked the organization to extend its educational program to include inmates. Health-related projects include medical work in local hospitals, mobile medical clinics and assistance to more than 1,000 underprivileged children and their families. (Voice International)

© Copyright 2003 - HCJB World Radio - Colorado Springs, CO USA - btc@hcjb.org

Christians in the Poso district of eastern Indonesia's Central Sulawesi Island have been the brunt of renewed attacks by militant Muslims. A news release from International Christian Concern stated that a Christian resident of Tiwaa village (near the city of Poso), was shot and critically wounded in gunfire at about 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1. As a result of this latest attack, the Indonesian government sent an additional 1,000 police officers to Poso in an effort to restore order. Tiwaa is next to another village that was attacked on Saturday, Nov. 29, leaving two residents dead, including the local chief. Two other attacks occurred on Sunday, Nov. 30. Twenty well-armed gunmen entered Kilo Trans, a village 110 miles from Poso inhabited by mostly Christians and some Balinese Hindus, and started shooting into the houses. No Christians were injured as they were at evening prayers, but two Hindu men died from gunshots, and others were wounded. About 15 minutes later two gunmen entered a church service in Tabamawo (70 miles east of Poso) and opened fire. They killed two young men and wounded the pastor's wife and two others, one critically. A series of attacks in the Poso region in October left another 10 dead. Jihad warriors have been accused of attempting to stir up hatred between Christians and Muslims in Poso. Indonesian Social Welfare Minister Yusuf Kalla said that "outsiders" are stirring up trouble in the area, but he declined to speculate as to who these parties are. (Assist News Service/Missions Insider)

ATTACKS RESUME ON SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCHES IN KOSOVO

During the last week of November, two Serbian Orthodox churches in Kosovo were vandalized -- the first attacks on churches since August. The Kosovo Police Service investigated all the reported cases, but no perpetrators have been identified or charged. Miroslav Popadic, a priest responsible for the chapel at Gornja Brnjica, reported that the cemetery chapel was broken into. A similar attack occurred several days earlier at St. Dimitrije Church in Susica. Unknown persons damaged the churchyard fence and wrote graffiti on the church wall. This was the second such attack on the church this year. Numerous Orthodox graveyards also have been desecrated and tombstones destroyed or knocked down. Belgrade daily Politika reported that in the past four years more than 50 Serbian Orthodox graveyards have been destroyed with damage reaching millions of dollars. The Orthodox cemetery in Djakovica (Gjakova) also was leveled along with a French military cemetery where World War I soldiers are buried. This French war cemetery is now used as a city dump. (Forum 18 News Service)

CANADIAN JUDGES MAY ENFORCE ISLAMIC LAW FOR COUNTRY'S MUSLIMS

Judges in Canada may soon be enforcing sharia (Islamic law) for the country's Muslim population. A 30-member council was established less than two months ago to decide disputes, but the move could pave the way to criminal punishments. Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) is watching the events, bearing in mind a similar situation in Nigeria. "In a country like Canada, where you've always had the rule of law and the courts make a final decision now, you're bringing in a new court and is their decision final or not final?" questioned VOM spokesman Todd Nettleton. "It really undermines the judicial system and the court system that has been established." Nettleton says it's still too early to predict the effect this would have on evangelistic outreach. Their concern, though, is more for [believers] who may be affected by the change. "We need to pray for our brothers and sisters who are there, regardless of what happens with the legal system. There is a need for witnesses for Christ, and we can pray that Canadians will stand up and be counted for Him." (Mission Network News)

MISSIONARIES TO INTRODUCE GOSPEL TO UNREACHED TRIBE IN VENEZUELA

While many South American Christians are looking into cross-cultural missions, there's at least one tribe that's never heard the gospel before. But that's about to change, says Greg Sanford of New Tribes Mission. Sanford just returned from Venezuela where two couples are breaking new ground with a tribe called the Yanoma. "Through a number of circumstances we're able to be invited into one of the villages of the Yanoma people. We have two young missionary couples living in tents right now trying to build an airstrip to be able to start to live among the Yanoma people and start learning the Yanoma language." Sanford finds it amazing there is still a group of people that have never heard the gospel message. "We're pretty excited about that as we think of the year 2003. We're celebrating Christmas, remembering again the birth of the Savior, and yet the Yanoma people still haven't even heard for the first time." (Mission Network News)

* HCJB World Radio worked with local partners to establish a Christian station in La Morita, Venezuela, in 2000. Partner stations in two additional Venezuelan cities are also affiliated with the ALAS, the ministry's Latin American satellite radio network with more than 100 radio outlets in 18 countries.

JUBILEE CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES BOOK ON SUFFERING CHURCH

Human rights advocate and member of the U.K. House of Lords, David Alton, with co-writer Michele Lombardo, has written a new book called Passion and Pain: The Suffering Church Today. The book, published by the Christian human rights group, Jubilee Campaign, contains information and prayers for different countries where Christians are persecuted. It is full of harrowing but inspiring testimonies of Christians who have kept their faith despite suffering at the hands of brutal regimes and fanatical groups. In his introduction, Alton writes, "The persecution of Christians today is staggering and often far graver in its breadth and severity than any suffered in history. More Christians -- Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox -- were martyred in the 20th century than in the previous 19 centuries combined. Of the world's 6 billion inhabitants, more than half live in countries where being a Christian could cost you your life." (Assist News Service)

LATE-NIGHT TV INSPIRES CHURCH'S INNOVATIVE WEDNESDAY SERVICE

Inspired by God and late-night TV host David Letterman, "Wednesday Night Live with Pastor Rodney" is an innovative midweek service "hosted" by Rodney McKinley, associate pastor at Abundant Life Ministries in Largo, Fla. "If we're honest, most Wednesday-night church services need a shot in the arm," said McKinley, 37. "I call this a sermon with a twist." Instead of three points and a prayer, he opens the service at 7 p.m. with a monologue and some lighthearted banter with his co-host followed by a top-10 list with some religious connection (for example, top 10 reasons why God made Eve). Then they welcome the guests -- costumed characters straight from the Bible. "The Bible may never look the same again," observed The Tampa Tribune. The program features a backdrop scene of Tampa's downtown skyline, a desk for McKinley, a couch guests, and a live band that provides musical interludes, giving the sense of a live TV show. A cameraman records all the action. The service -- starting as a four-week experiment in June -- is a big hit, tripling attendance to about 150. About 35 people have received Jesus through the weekly event. "It's not just church folks who are coming," McKinley said. "They're bringing their neighbors, friends and co-workers. No matter how much fun we have, Jesus is still the center of the show. We never end it without giving someone the opportunity to receive Christ." (Charisma News Service)

© Copyright 2003 - HCJB World Radio - Colorado Springs, CO USA - btc@hcjb.org

Missionaries serving with Gospel for Asia (GFA) continue to face persecution across India, even risking their lives for the sake of the gospel. A church celebration in northeastern India's Assam state turned deadly Monday, Dec. 1, as militants from the Kukki tribe barged in and fired bullets. Five Christians were killed, including a missionary named Samuel. Although the incident follows on the heels of another tragedy caused by ethnic conflict, God is at work among the Kukki and Karbi tribes. GFA has planted 85 churches and 30 fellowships among the Karbi people and recently started a gospel outreach among the Kukkis with five churches established so far.

On Thursday, Nov. 20, Hindu militants demonstrated in front of the residence of a district governor for eastern India's Orissa state, burning an effigy of Jesus along with Bibles and Christian literature. The mob then broke into a Catholic church in the village of Rajamunda where they smashed the windows and sexually assaulted a nun. Later they went to a local magistrate, protesting the growing number of conversions in the area. They were told by the magistrate, however, that the Christians were doing nothing illegal.

Also in Orissa, a native GFA missionary pastor named Chandra was arrested by local police on charges of baptizing five new believers. Fourteen other missionaries there also face persecution and imprisonment under the Orissa government's anti-conversion legislation that requires official permission for anyone wanting to change their religion.

In another case, a believer named Mahendra and his family faced a "social boycott" after converting to Christianity. Despite the pressure, Mahendra went on to study at a GFA Bible school and became a missionary after graduating. Within a few months he had planted two churches in villages that had never heard the gospel. GFA has more than 13,500 native missionaries, most serving in the under-reached areas of Asia. (Gospel for Asia/Voice of the Martyrs)

* HCJB World Radio-Australia's new shortwave site Kununurra airs 6.5 hours of daily English programming across South Asia, including India. Two half-hour programs in Urdu, airing Monday through Saturday, went on the air in July, and plans are being made to launch Hindi programs. A radio training center for South Asia has been established in New Delhi. In partnership with FEBA Radio, HCJB World Radio also airs weekly Christian programs to eastern India via shortwave in three languages: Bhojpuri, Chattisgarhi and Mundari.

CHINESE OFFICIALS SHUT DOWN 125 UNDERGROUND CHURCHES IN 5 MONTHS

Officials with the Chinese government have shut down 125 churches as part of a continuing crackdown on religious activity outside the control of the communist regime. The crackdown began in July and has cut off about 3,000 Christians in China from places of worship. Todd Nettleton of Voice of the Martyrs says China may claim that it is tolerant of religious expression, but the facts prove otherwise. "The Chinese government wants to be open towards Christians who are willing to come under control of the government. They expect Protestant Christians to worship as part of the state-approved Protestant Church organization there," Nettleton says. The spokesman notes that since the official Christian churches in China are restricted in doctrine and practice, the majority of Chinese Christians participate in underground churches. However, he says the Chinese government considers all Christian churches outside the official government-controlled Three Self Patriotic Movement to be subversive. The house church movement in China, which comprises approximately 90 percent of the nation's Christians, faces unimaginable persecution but remains committed to preaching the gospel. China's government puts more Christians in prison or under detention than any other country and confiscates loads of church property and Bibles -- even official, government-printed Bibles. (Agape Press/Religion Today)

HOUSE CHURCH IN CHINA RAIDED, MEMBERS FINED, DETAINED

Ten Public Security Bureau officers raided the Sunday service of a house church in Longjing City in China's Jilin province where 30 Christians were meeting Sunday, Nov. 23. All of the Bibles, hymnbooks and benches were confiscated, and the house was declared an "illegal religious site." The officials ordered the Christians never to hold similar meetings again and were warned that they would be formally arrested if they did. Five of the church members were fined 50 yuan (US$6). Four visiting Christian businessmen attending the meeting were detained for five days, and the wife of the house, Chen Yufeng, was sentenced to 15 days in the local administrative detention center. Her husband, Liu Guojun, escaped during the raid and is being sought by authorities. On Nov. 26 another member of the church who lives in a neighboring community was arrested, and his whereabouts is unknown. (Voice of the Martyrs)

'KAMIKAZE EVANGELISTS' SEE MANY TURN TO CHRIST IN CHINA

In China Christians are giving their all for Christ, says Johnny Li of Open Doors. He's amazed by the number young evangelists that are committed to sharing the gospel regardless of the cost. "They go to the borderline areas to preach the gospel to minority remote areas and they pay a high, high price." He calls them "kamikaze evangelists" because of their unswerving dedication to the cause. Li says many of these evangelists are less than 20 years old and work despite limited funding. Through their ministry, many are coming to Christ. (Mission Network News)

MUSLIM HUMAN RIGHTS LEADER JAILED AFTER QUESTIONING ELECTION

The Nasimi District Court in Baku, Azerbaijan, has ordered a leading Muslim religious freedom activist to spend the next three months in jail as he awaits a possible trial for allegedly helping organize public demonstrations on Oct. 16. Imam Ilgar Ibragimoglu of the Juma mosque in Baku was originally summoned by the authorities as a possible witness in the case. But on Wednesday, Dec. 3, the court threw him into jail. Seymur Rashidov, a spokesman for a religious rights group, Devamm, said Ibragimoglu was merely questioning possible improprieties in Azerbaijan's presidential election held on Oct. 15. "There is no proof that Ibragimoglu took part in any public disorder and clashes with the police," Rashidov said. "All he did was monitor the post-election situation." Ibragimoglu is being held along with more than 100 opposition activists detained after street protests against the way the presidential poll was conducted. Christians suspect that authorities are angry with Rashidov because of his political and religious views. He helped end the ban on female Muslim teachers and students wearing headscarves, helped several Protestant churches to gain registration, and helped a local Baptist church extract a shipment of books that had been held up in customs. (Forum 18 News Service)

* HCJB World Radio, in partnership with Hosanna and local partners in Baku, Azerbaijan, has recorded the dramatized Azeri New Testament as part of the Faith Comes by Hearing project. The recordings, completed in 1998, have been made into a series of radio programs.

RAMADAN OPENS WITNESSING OPPORTUNITIES IN KAZAKHSTAN

In the Central Asian country of Kazakhstan, the message of the gospel is being met with some resistance. Bible Mission International's Mark Remschisel says Christians were able to share Christ with Muslims who were searching for God during Ramadan, Islam's holiest month which ended on Nov. 24 this year. "It caused a little bit of anxiety on the part of some of the Muslim leaders," he said. " Some of our teams were detained. Also, two women were invited to go into the school district. Those young ladies are now being faced with a fine and they're trying to process some other legal proceedings again them." Remschisel says Muslim leaders seem to be jealous of what Christians are doing there. "The local believers are having a powerful impact in these communities, and that's not true of Islam. The people watch believers come in and do reconstruction and see cows and pigs and chickens being given. It sparks a question in their mind, and those questions are opening doors to sharing Christ." (Mission Network News)

© Copyright 2003 - HCJB World Radio - Colorado Springs, CO USA - btc@hcjb.org

Police in Cairo, Egypt, have released on bail four more of the 22 Christians originally arrested in Alexandria in late October. However, they have called on the services of an Islamic scholar in their case against the last remaining detainee. Of the converts and their supporters who were arrested between Oct. 21 and 24, only Mariam Girgis Makar remains in custody, and police appear determined to make an example of her. A scholar from Al-Azhar Islamic University in Cairo has been called in by the police to aid them in their case against Makar. The authorities are apparently seeking advice about bringing charges concerning crimes against Islam for which they could prosecute her. Although the other converts and their supporters have been released, charges are still outstanding against them. The police have recalled Makar's husband, Yusuf Samuel Makari Suliman, also a convert, for a writing sample to compare it with that on an official document. All the converts and those who had helped them were originally indicted under charges related to falsifying their names on documents. A Christian who converts to Islam in Egypt can receive new identification papers with a new Muslim name within 24 hours. However there is no reciprocal arrangement for a Muslim who converts to Christianity.

JAILED CATHOLIC BISHOP LOCATED IN CHINA AFTER 6 YEARS

In 1997 Su Zhimin, the bishop of an underground Catholic church in Baoding, Hebei, China, was arrested and was not heard from until he was taken to hospital for treatment in mid-November. Zenit reported Nov. 20 that Zhimin was taken to the Baoding Central Hospital for an eye operation and for heart ailments. His name was never officially registered at the hospital, and he was closely guarded by about 20 security personnel. Zhimin has been arrested at least five times and spent a total of 27 years in prison. The Cardinal Kung Foundation reported that every bishop of the underground Roman Catholic Church is in jail, under house arrest, under strict surveillance or in hiding. Earlier this month, the Hong Kong-based Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy reported that more than 400 Buddhist temples and churches were closed in Zhejiang province -- some destroyed by authorities and others converted into entertainment centers. (Voice of the Martyrs)

SAUDI PRINCE GAINS RELEASE OF 2 EGYPTIAN HOUSE CHURCH CHRISTIANS

Two Egyptian Christians who were arrested in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last month were released on Thursday, Nov. 13, and allowed to remain in the capital. Sabry Awad Gayed and Eskander Guirguis Eskandar were accused of evangelizing non-Christians and of opening a place of non-Muslim worship. The intervention of Saudi Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud brought about their release after the authorities produced no evidence to substantiate the allegations against them. The prince serves as Saudi Arabia's second deputy prime minister and minister of defense. He became involved when he received a letter from a church member stating that they had been arrested for "no good reason." He personally reviewed their case, and his order that they be released was implemented nine days later. The prince was quoted recently by the Saudi Press Authority as saying, "We say to Christians, 'Do whatever you want, you and your family, in your home, worship what you want, but there has not been, or will not be, a church.'" Gayed works as a pediatrician and has been in Saudi Arabia for four years while Eskandar is a carpenter. Together they lead worship services in a home for fellow Arab Christians from Egypt and elsewhere. When arrested they were carrying their personal Bibles. (Middle East Concern)

* HCJB World Radio reaches across North Africa, the Middle East and Europe with Christian Arabic programming aired via shortwave, satellite and local stations. The Radio Al Mahabba (Radio Love) Arabic satellite network airs programs direct-to-home 24 hours a day. This region has the world's highest concentration of personal satellite dishes.

NCC DELIVERS FOOD AID TO NORTH KOREA, URGES PEACE TALKS

A delegation led by the National Council of Churches (NCC) returned from the Korean peninsula urging the Bush administration to re-engage North Korea in peace talks. The seven-member delegation delivered 420 metric tons of refined wheat flour to the isolated communist nation and met with Christians on both sides of the demilitarized zone along the heavily fortified border. The delegation, led by NCC General Secretary Bob Edgar and the Rev. John McCullough, executive director of the Church World Service humanitarian agency, will brief officials at the State Department on Wednesday. "It is our conviction that diplomacy and negotiations remain the best approach for finding durable solutions," the delegation said, urging a new phase in the on-again, off-again talks with Pyongyang over its alleged nuclear program. The delegation met with the Korean Christian Federation in North Korea and the National Council of Churches in Korea in Seoul, South Korea. Leaders urged prayer for the "isolated Christian family in North Korea." The Christian leaders also urged support for the United Nations' $200-million appeal for humanitarian assistance in 2004 for North Korea, including increased aid from the U.S. The flour, paid for by the Church World Service's member churches, will be used to make 132,000 loaves of bread. (Religion News Service)

BETHEL VILLAGE REACHES OUT TO UGANDA'S AIDS ORPHANS, STREET KIDS

As HIV/AIDS continues to escalate in Ghana, the number of orphans living on streets is also on the increase. As a result, Rashid Luswa has started a ministry that partners with others to reach out to these children. He says the ministry started as a ranch that eventually evolved into a ministry called Bethel Village with a variety of outreaches. The ranch continues to provide a source of food and income. The ministry is also working with Worldwide Christian Schools to construct and operate a school where the focus will be on biblical teachings. (Mission Network News)

CHURCH TRIPLES IN SIZE BY SPEAKING DIFFERENT LANGUAGES

An Assemblies of God congregation in California has tripled in size during the last eight years, partly by learning to speak different languages. Rich Guerra, pastor of Visalia First Assembly in Visalia which attracts 3,000 people for Sunday-morning services, said the growth is the result of a willingness to reach out to the community, Assemblies of God News reported. The 75-year-old church, which built its first permanent building in 1931, has services in Spanish, Lahu and Korean. It also has a weekly radio program that reaches a 150-mile radius. "We've been willing to get out of our comfort zone," Guerra said. The church's mission statement is "to connect people to God and His church, help them grow in their faith, equip them to serve and share their faith and experience genuine worship." Last year about 850 people signed salvation cards. The congregation's community-minded outreaches include using its 40 acres for citywide high school band and choral concerts as well as musical competitions that typically draw 2,000 people. The church is also used as a meeting site for local businesses. Additionally, youth hang out and play video games after school or on weekends at the church. Each Christmas the church also sponsors an "adopt-a-family" program, providing toys, clothes and groceries for needy families and more than 6,000 children. (Charisma News Service)

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