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A Coptic Christian secretly married to a woman convert from Islam was apprehended for the second time last week while trying to leave Egypt for Canada. Boulos Farid Rezek-Allah Awad, 31, was stopped at the Libyan border on Nov. 25 and detained by Egyptian border police for 12 hours. Once the authorities had confirmed Rezek-Allah's identity, he was refused exit permission and released. Upon returning to Cairo, security police summoned him for interrogation and told him that he was blacklisted and would never be allowed to leave Egypt. An officer monitoring the case since Rezek-Allah's first arrest nine months ago demanded to know the whereabouts of his wife, Enas Badawi Yousef Guirguis, 27. When told that Enas had managed to leave the country, the policeman vowed to find her. "I'll bring her back and cut her into pieces in front of you," he reportedly told Rezek-Allah. Sources in Egypt say Rezek-Allah's only hope of leaving Egypt and be reunited with his wife is through direct intervention by President Hosni Mubarak or Interior Minister Habib al-Adli. (Compass)

FRANKLIN GRAHAM INVITED TO HAND OUT CHRISTMAS SHOEBOXES IN SUDAN

More than 100,000 shoeboxes filled with toys and gospel literature are headed to children in war-torn Sudan. Transport planes filled with the boxes collected by Operation Christmas Child leave this weekend for Sudan. Rev. Franklin Graham will fly to that country to help hand out the shoeboxes to children. Graham, who has been highly critical of the religion of Islam since 9/11, says he was invited to Sudan -- a Muslim nation -- by the African nation's foreign minister to meet the president. After clarifying that it was indeed him they wanted to invite, Graham was told the Sudan government asked him to bring his Christmas program there because they wanted him to "part of the peace process." Operation Christmas Child plans to deliver 7 million shoeboxes individually packed by American donors to 95 countries worldwide. (Religion Today/Agape Press)

MATERIALISM BECOMING GREATEST THREAT TO CHINA'S CHURCHES

Amidst conflicting reports on the Chinese government's harassment of believers, the church appears to be standing firm. A closer look, however, has revealed divisiveness among believers. Yet, China Partner's Erik Burklin senses a growing unity of the house church movement and the registered church. "Both sides are not only willing to talk to each other but also to start fellowshipping with each other. There are many house church Christians who attend a registered church on the weekends, while people who attend a registered church on the weekends will go to a house church for further Bible study during the week." Burklin says there is a different subtle threat creeping into the church. "I think what happens within the church and what happens from the government is not so much detrimental to the Chinese church as the growth of materialism and the desire to become rich and wealthy."(Mission Network News)

VIETNAM'S MONTAGNARD CHRISTIANS FACE INCREASING REPRESSION

Recent reports were received from the central highlands of Vietnam telling of increased mobilization of soldiers repressing Montagnard Christians. This crackdown allegedly involves Army Division 198 whose members are reportedly sweeping several villages of Dak Lak province looking for Christians and fleeing refugees. In the village of Buon Kdun there is another division conducting sweeping operations that reportedly involve shootings, beatings, arrests, disappearances and electric shock torture of Montagnard Christians and beatings of women whose husbands are refugees living in the U.S. In May the U.S. International Commission for Religious Freedom stated, "The increased repression of religious freedom has been reportedly sanctioned at the highest levels of the Vietnamese government." The U.S. State Department, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and numerous non-governmental organizations have recently confirmed such human rights violations directed against hill tribe Montagnards, many of whom are Christians. The situation appears to be a sophisticated form of ethnic cleansing by the Vietnamese authorities who view Christianity and freedom of expression as a threat. (Montagnard Foundation)

BIBLE DISTRIBUTION MINISTRY BOOSTS CHURCH GROWTH IN CAMBODIA

Cambodia has a church growth rate of 25 percent annually. This year, working in conjunction with local churches, the Bible League (TBL) placed more than 65,000 Bibles in 364 newly established churches. Most of these new converts learned about the Word of God through small group studies as part TBL's "Project Philip." The mission is planting an average of seven churches per week in Cambodia. (Mission Network News)

* HCJB World Radio, in cooperation with Campus Crusade for Christ, worked with a local partner to plant Cambodia's first Christian radio station in 1998. New Life Radio in the capital city of Phnom Penh broadcasts the gospel in Cambodian and English.

BARNA SURVEY: JUST 4% OF AMERICANS HAVE 'BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW'

Relatively few Americans have a biblical worldview -- even among devoutly religious people. That's the conclusion by the latest study of the Barna Research Group, suggesting that a large share of the nation's moral and spiritual challenges is directly attributable to the absence of a biblical worldview. Released Monday, Dec. 1, the survey of 2,033 adults discovered that only 4 percent of Americans have such a perspective on life, and only 9 percent of those who called themselves Christians have a biblical worldview. The research defined a biblical worldview was as having a firm belief in six specific religious views: Jesus' sinlessness, God's sovereignty, salvation through faith in Christ alone, the reality of Satan, the Christian's responsibility to witness, and the inerrancy of Scripture. "Although most people own a Bible and know some of its content, our research found that most Americans have little idea how to integrate core biblical principles to form a unified and meaningful response to the challenges and opportunities of life," said President George Barna. "We're often more concerned with survival amidst chaos than with experiencing truth and significance." When compared with the views of Americans with a non-biblical perspective, those who have a biblical worldview were 31 times less likely to accept cohabitation (2 percent vs. 62 percent, respectively); 18 times less likely to endorse drunkenness (2 percent vs. 36 percent); 15 times less likely to condone gay sex (2 percent vs. 31 percent); 12 times less likely to accept profanity (3 percent vs. 37 percent); and 11 times less likely to describe adultery as morally acceptable (4 percent versus 44 percent). (Charisma News Service)

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

Franklin Graham, president of international relief organization Samaritan's Purse, met with Sudanese President Umar Al-Bashir at his palace in Khartoum Monday, Dec. 8. The two discussed the ongoing peace talks between the government of Khartoum and the Southern People's Liberation Movement (SPLM). This was Graham's third trip to Sudan this year, but the first time at the invitation of Al-Bashir. He also met with the vice president and a minister of foreign affairs as well as the Sudan Council of Churches and the Sudan Inter-Religious Council. Graham then visited with an SPLM delegation that was in Khartoum for a round of historic government talks and meetings. On Monday evening he was honored at a banquet hosted by Sudan's Secretary General of International Friendship. Observers are optimistic that the historic peace talks could lead to an accord, ending one of the world's longest and bloodiest civil wars that has left more than 2 million people dead in 20 years.

Lee DeYoung of the international radio ministry Words of Hope said violence in the non-Muslim southern part of Sudan has decreased in recent weeks. "As these peace negotiations have gotten very serious, a lot of people are cautiously hopeful that they will ultimately lead to a real treaty," he said. DeYoung said the Khartoum government may soon be increasing free airtime devoted to evangelical groups. Words of Hope is helping to train broadcasters to take advantage of opportunities for Christian radio as doors open up. (DeMossNewsPond.com/Mission Network News)

INDONESIAN COURT REJECTS PASTOR'S APPEAL ON WEAPONS CHARGES

The Indonesian Supreme Court has rejected the appeal against convicted pastor Rev. Rinaldy Damanik, leader of the Protestant Christian community in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. A letter from the country's Supreme Court signed on Wednesday, Dec. 3, stated that on Oct. 29 it had ruled to deny his appeal. Damanik's only recourse is to obtain a reinvestigation of his case -- something that would require introducing evidence not previously considered at his trial. Damanik has not yet decided if he will seek a reinvestigation. Local believers say Damanik was framed on trumped-up charges of illegal weapons possession that date back to August 2002. They accuse officials of pursuing him because of his outspoken criticism of the authorities' mishandling of Muslim-Christian violence in Central Sulawesi. While in detention in late 2002, someone tainted Damanik's food with rat poison, further pointing to a possible vendetta against him. Despite numerous irregularities in the case against him, the court in Central Sulawesi convicted Damanik and sentenced him to three years in prison. The rejection of Damanik's appeal comes at a time when the Christian community in Central Sulawesi faces renewed violence by Islamic militants. More than 10,000 people have been killed in fighting between Christians and Muslims in the region since 1999. (Jubilee Campaign)

CHRISTMAS JUST A 'MYTH' FOR CHILDREN IN RUSSIAN PRISON CAMPS

Twenty prison camps holding 30,000 prisoners dot the landscape of Bashkortostan, Russia. The infamous Salavatova prison camp, 120 miles from Ufa, is home to 300 young boys, some as young as 10 years old. A gray concrete wall with double barbwire trimming encircles the compound. The boys are shaven, their clothes resemble rags, and they wear running shoes that barely hold together. Most of the boys have experienced traumatic conditions at home and have been forced onto the streets, eventually winding up in prison. The camp sometimes runs out of food due to insufficient government subsidies. Hannu Haukka, chief executive officer of International Russian Radio-TV, recently visited the prison camp. "For these children, and thousands of others already in Russian prison camps and interim places of detention, Christmas is a myth," he said. "They have never seen a Christmas meal or a Christmas present. They have never heard a Christmas carol or the Christmas story. It was evident that these children would never know the Lord Jesus who came to make life meaningful for them." Haukka says the TV ministry plans to provide a Christmas gift for 300 boys in the Salavatova prison. Each boy will receive a special Christmas celebration with a meal, a month's worth of food, and a set of winter clothes for each boy. (Assist News Service)

* HCJB World Radio reaches across Russia with a variety of radio ministries. The mission has been sending gospel broadcasts across the country via shortwave since 1941, first from Quito, Ecuador, and now from the U.K. In the early 1990s the ministry began "planting" local radio ministries in Russia and now works with partners in more than a dozen cities. In 2000 HCJB World Radio helped launch the first Christian Russian radio satellite network (operated by Christian Radio for Russia), reaching across Euro-Asia. Downlinks have been installed with more than 26 partners in Russia alone.

LACK OF VOLUNTEERS, FUNDS HINDERS OUTREACH IN IRAQ

While violence continues against American soldiers in Iraq, opportunities to minister continue to open up. The only thing lacking is funds and volunteers, says Mike Creswell of Southern Baptist International Mission Board. "We've been asking and praying for years for God to open the doors into Iraq so we can do something. And now that it's happened, we just have a handful of workers. We're scraping for money to be able to really take advantage of the opportunity there." Creswell says the ministry could use at least 150 volunteers in Iraq. "There are so many opportunities around the world where people are responding. We really need to send more people." (Mission Network News)

ELDERLY COUPLE'S LETTER-WRITING MINISTRY TOUCHES U.S. INMATES

An elderly Pentecostal couple from Virginia is touching the lives of inmates nationwide by handwriting hundreds of letters, encouraging prisoners turn to God during their incarceration. Through the Love of Jesus Prison Ministry, Janet and Bud Thompson monthly send notes to prisoners in 38 states, The Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star reported. The Thompsons, who live in a retirement community in Fredericksburg, said the spiritual response makes their efforts worthwhile. "Souls have been saved in this ministry. Hurts have been alleviated," says 68-year-old Bud. "Suicides have been prevented." Janet, 72, had been writing to strangers for years. But when a friend in 1982 asked if she would consider adding prisoners to her list of pen pals, she quickly agreed. Soon Janet was spending much of her time corresponding with convicted drug dealers, rapists and murderers. When she married Bud in 1988, he felt compelled to join her. "Too many prisoners are depressed, and I know what depression is," Bud said. Prisoners become so attached to the Thompsons that they often continue writing to them even after they're released. Some call the couple -- who have no children of their own -- "Mom and Dad." "A lot of people are scared of inmates," said Janet, who also holds Sunday services and Bible studies at their apartment complex. "But we believe that God is going to watch over us." (Charisma News Service)

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

Two unidentified gunmen shot at six Indonesian youths the evening of Friday, Dec. 5, as they sang Christmas carols on the street. Two were wounded, renewing fears of terrorist acts against Christians. The attack occurred at 8:15 p.m. in the eastern Indonesian city of Poso as six Christian youths sat playing a guitar and singing Christmas carols in front of the Indonesian Christian Church. In Indonesia, Christmas is celebrated the whole month of December, and these youths wanted to express their faith and unity in Christ. Two men on a motorcycle armed with a military-style pistol shot at the youths six times from a distance of about six feet and sped off. The bullets hit one youth, Hidayat Guru, 20, in the wrist and another, Fifien Rumapar, 16, in the calf as the youths dove for cover. They were treated at the hospital and released into the care of their families. After weeks of increasing violence and the circulation of pamphlets calling for the extermination of Christians "whenever and wherever you find them," the government has increased security, promising to crack down on anyone with weapons, while sending in extra troops to guard 46 locations where attacks were thought probable. This brought a feeling of increased security to the Christian community, and the youths felt they were safe singing Christmas carols in front of the church. In response to the attack, authorities will send an additional 500 troops to Poso. (Missions Insider)

TURKMENISTAN'S HARSH NEW RELIGION LAW THREATENS CHURCHES

Police in Turkmenistan raided a Baptist service on Sunday, Nov. 30, warning church members that they would face severe punishments if they continue to worship without state registration. This is believed to be the first time Turkmenistan's harsh new religion law has been used since it came into force on Nov. 10. It outlaws all unregistered religious activity while a criminal code amendment prescribes penalties for breaking the law of up to a year of "corrective labor." Following the raid, police took all those present at the service, including children, to the police station. They were accused of breaking the new religion law and warned that they would be fined 10 times the minimum wage. Authorities threatened to take away the four children of one of the Baptist women and place them in a children's home. Officials allow only Sunni Muslim and Russian Orthodox communities to register. Marie-Jose van Rie, human rights officer at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe office in Ashgabad, said it's too early to say if the situation for religious minorities had worsened since the adoption of the new law. "The fact is, police raids on unregistered communities were happening before the new law was adopted," she said. "But I think that in future, under the new law, the situation of religious minorities will become even worse." (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 2001 and moved to daily programming earlier this year.

JORDAN'S COURTS STALL JUSTICE FOR CHRISTIAN WIDOW

A Christian mother fighting for legal custody of her two children admitted this week that she has little hope that Jordan's judicial system will rule in her favor. "Everyone is giving me promises," said Siham Qandah. "But no one is really doing anything. I'm only counting on God and all the prayers of His people." The past 10 weeks have been particularly discouraging to Qandah who has watched numerous scheduled court hearings postponed in both Amman and Irbid. When her children's Muslim guardian failed to appear at the last hearing set for Nov. 23, the judge ordered another continuance. "I hardly expect him to show up this next time either," Qandah said. Concerned members of the U.S. Congress have reportedly addressed inquiries to King Abdullah II about the case, and Prince Mired bin Raed has discussed it with the monarch. The prince stressed last week, however, that it remains "quite difficult" for anyone in the royal family to intercede with the court. "We do not want to be accused of tampering with the judiciary," he said. (Compass)

MINISTRY EXPANDS WORK IN IRAQ DESPITE CONTINUING VIOLENCE

While some humanitarian organizations are leaving Iraq due to continued violence and unrest, Open Doors with Brother Andrew continues to make progress with its efforts to help needy Iraqi Christians. The ministry addresses both spiritual and physical needs as Iraqi Christians prepare to celebrate Christmas minus the tyrannical rule of Saddam Hussein, but uncertain about the future. Open Doors is distributing 50,000 Christian coloring books as a special Christmas gift to the children in Iraq. Early next year Bible stories for children will be printed and distributed and Sunday school teachers will be trained. Many youth workers have received felt boards to help show children the truths of God's Word. Also, various Christian books and materials directed at teenagers are being printed and will be handed out early next year. Devotional materials for adults are also being selected and will be distributed in 2004. A Christian praise team from Egypt will hold concerts in Iraqi churches during the Christmas holidays and next spring. In addition, Open Doors is supporting Christian bookstores with thousands of books, cassettes and videos and a resource center in Baghdad that will open early next year. Open Doors USA President Carl Moeller says the sentiment among Iraqis is more positive than immediately after the war. "People are trying to resume normal life, although frequent bomb attacks and other violence limit the scope of these positive developments," he says. "Christians are happy with their new freedoms. People can freely attend churches, and in some cases the number of visitors has tripled." (Open Doors USA)

INTERNATIONAL RADIO OUTREACH LAUNCHES FARSI BROADCASTS TO IRAN

A Christian radio ministry has started weekly Farsi broadcasts to a country that's hard to reach with the gospel. A ministry called Leading the Way with Dr. Michael Youssef is bringing encouragement to the country's Farsi-speaking people. "The program is specifically for Iran," says ministry spokesman Yesdi Bhada. "We want to provide this opportunity to the people to be able to get the Word, and then let the Holy Spirit do His job, to get them to listen and to bring in the harvest." Bhada is praying that many Iranians respond to God's saving grace and for additional funding to expand the outreach. "Right now it's being transmitted only one time a week. We're planning on expanding this program. In March or so we will go to two times a week." Leading the Way now broadcasts in five languages. (Mission Network News)

* HCJB World Radio, in cooperation with FEBA Radio, broadcasts weekly Christian programs to Iran via shortwave in the Luri language. There are less than 100 known believers among the 4 million Luri speakers.

POLL: RELIGION CRUCIAL TO CASTING VOTES IN U.S. ELECTION IN 2004

Nearly two-thirds of American voters say their religious beliefs will be an important factor when it comes time to cast their votes for president next year, according to a new Gallup Poll. Sixty-four percent of registered voters say their "personal religious beliefs and faith" will help shape their vote for president, while 36 percent say it will not. Pollsters detected a "gender gap" between women and men -- 44 percent of women said faith would be extremely or very important, compared to only 33 percent of men. Rev. Albert Winseman, religion and values editor for Gallup's Tuesday Briefing report, said the gap presents opportunities and challenges for both parties. "The challenge for the Democratic candidate -- whoever that may be -- will be to make a real connection between personal faith and public life, something that most of the Democratic candidates have not yet done," he said. President George W. Bush, who has been open about his evangelical Christian faith, may have an advantage in areas that are traditional Republican territory -- rural areas and suburbs. Only 30 percent of urban voters said religion will dictate their votes, compared to 41 percent of suburban voters and 46 percent of rural voters. (Religion Today/Religion News Service)

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

On Friday, Nov. 28, Christian laborer Anwar Masih was arrested and charged with blasphemy after a heated discussion with an acquaintance, Naseer Ahmad, who had converted to Islam three months earlier. According to news reports, Ahmad was visiting his Christian mother in the town of Shadhra on the outskirts of Lahore when he got into a discussion on Islam with his mother's neighbor, Masih. During the discussion, Ahmad allegedly told police that Masih became angry and blasphemed the prophet Mohammed. When Ahmad told other neighbors about the discussion, they gathered a mob together and attacked Masih's home, pelting it with stones. When police arrived, they arrested Masih, ignoring the attack on his home. According to one report, there had been prior clashes between Ahmad's and Masih's families, and it is believed that these charges were pressed as an act of revenge. If convicted of blasphemy, Masih could face the death penalty. (Voice of the Martyrs)

SEMINARY STUDENTS IN INDONESIA CONTINUE EVANGELISM DESPITE THREATS

Indonesia's security forces are preparing for the worst as the Christmas holiday approaches. Indonesian authorities warn that terrorism is an imminent threat and that terror groups may be planning more attacks on believers. IN Network's Harvey Stuart reports that there is increasing pressure on the ministry's Jakarta seminary students. "They have tried not to let the problems stop their ministry. Of course, even the seminary itself has been invaded a few times, and there have been a lot of threats against the seminary. But, they've basically been trying to work in spite of the fear that they may have persecution." Stuart says the student body is using the holiday season as a time for an evangelistic blitz. That's a prayer need too because the Islamic extremists are most violent during this period. "The seminary is sending out 190 students on Dec. 20 for six months of training," he says. "In addition, all 1,200 students are involved in special evangelistic activities to present the gospel around Christmastime." (Mission Network News)

CHRISTIANS DETAINED IN VIETNAM FOR DISTRIBUTING LITERATURE

Vietnamese police report they detained more than seven Christians in Hanoi on Dec. 4 for handing out Christian flyers on the eve of the South East Asian Games. In Ho Chi Minh City, 19 Christians were arrested for carrying or distributing Christian leaflets, prompting supporters to stage a sit-in and hunger strike. According to ABC Radio Australia, police deny that the Christians have been arrested, but they are being held for questioning to determine the origin of the materials. A police spokesman said that the Christians were breaking the law because they were distributing material without the authority of the organizing committee for the South East Asian Games. While Christianity is officially legal in Vietnam, there is extreme repression of all religions, particularly those who are not officially state-sanctioned. Radio Free Asia reported that Nguyen Hong Quang, a minister, along with 30 assistant ministers, has staged a hunger strike and sit-in at the first district's police station. All but four of the detainees are known to be held at local police facilities, an unnamed source reported. "We love this country, and we respect the law, but we are being persecuted for our beliefs," Quang said. (Religious Media Agency/Radio Free Asia)

PALESTINIANS WELCOME CHRISTIAN EVANGELISTIC OUTREACH

An indigenous Christian ministry is finding its evangelistic outreach among Palestinians welcomed by the community. A ministry assisted by Christian Aid held three evangelistic events in three days recently, attracting more than 2,000 people. About 400 of them indicated on comment cards that they had prayed to accept Christ and the ministry plans to follow up each of them in their homes. "The Lord has put in us the responsibility of leading a ministry of evangelism and discipleship in the Holy Land. We are amazed to see Him moving everywhere in every main city," the leader told Christian Aid Mission this week. The leader said 16 people were being trained to be able to evangelize and disciple the lost in old Jerusalem, and that he and his wife were planning on speaking at two evangelistic meetings there -- one for men and one for women -- next week. The ministry has been working for four years in the Gaza Strip and has helped lead a group of youth to know the Lord and work for Him there. "They are working faithfully to accomplish what He has called them to do, especially in the area of relief work. They go out not only to meet the material needs of the people, but to reach out to them with the love of Christ," the leader said. (Missions Insider)

PROTESTERS URGE ERITREAN OFFICIALS TO ADDRESS PERSECUTION ISSUE

Staff members from Christian Solidarity Worldwide and some 30 supporters protested outside the Eritrean embassy Wednesday, Dec. 10, to heighten awareness of the increasing persecution against Christians in that country. As part of the protest, Member of Parliament (MP) David Drew handed a letter of protest, signed by a nonpartisan group of MPs and peers to the Eritrean ambassador and was invited for a 45-minute meeting. The protest coincided with International Human Rights Day. A giant padlocked Bible formed the centerpiece of the protest with supporters holding placards. The protesters pressed for a review of the Eritrean government's decision in May 2002 to order the closure of all churches not belonging to the Orthodox, Roman Catholic or Lutheran denominations. This effectively rendered all other denominations illegal. More than 300 Christians are in detention in Eritrea because of their faith, and several have been subjected to torture as the authorities pressure them to renounce their beliefs. In many cases the mere possession of a Bible is seen as sufficient evidence of guilt, rendering a person vulnerable to abuse, ill treatment and detention. (Christian Solidarity Worldwide)

* 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.

THEOLOGIAN/EDITOR CARL F.H. HENRY DIES AT AGE 90

Evangelical leader and theologian Carl F.H. Henry, the first editor of Christianity Today magazine, has died at his home in Wisconsin at age 90. Henry attended Wheaton College with Billy Graham, who would later urge him to head a new magazine dealing with faith issues and defending biblical orthodoxy. Henry opposed attempts to "water down" Christianity as well as the tendency of some fundamentalists to withdraw from modern society. He was also among the early leaders of the National Association of Evangelicals and the author of several books, including "God, Revelation, and Authority" and "The Uneasy Conscience of Modern Fundamentalism." World magazine editor Marvin Olasky, who published some of Carl Henry's last columns, describes Henry as "a major figure" of the latter half of the 20th century who was instrumental in shaping the evangelical movement. "He did not really care for escapism," Olasky says of Henry. "He wanted Christians to be involved and working to transform culture, and not giving up." (Religion Today/Associated Press)

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

Prominent Vietnamese house church leader Nguyen Hong Quang narrowly escaped injury from a motorcycle accident staged by police on Tuesday, Dec. 9, in a clumsy assassination attempt. Following a 24-hour imprisonment on Monday, Dec. 8, he subsequently launched a prayer and fasting vigil for 48 pastors who had been arrested Friday, Dec. 5, for distributing Christian literature at the Southeast Asia Games in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Quang is urging the government to release all of the church leaders. "The government has two choices," he said. "Either they shoot me so I can meet the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven, or they resolve the issue of freeing the churches so they can worship the Lord." Quang threatened to organize street demonstrations unless the government releases the detainees. In other recent incidents, Le Thi Thanh Tuyen was arrested, bound and beaten in the Ben Nghe police station in Ho Chi Minh City where she was held for 24 hours before being released on Dec. 6. The next day four evangelists were arrested and beaten on Dong Khoi Street in the heart of the tourist area. Evangelist Dang Quoc Tuan, one of the four, was stripped of his clothes and beaten on the street by about 10 policeman before being taken to the Ben Nghe police station. (Assist News Service)

THOUSANDS OF INDONESIAN CHRISTIANS MAY FACE HUNGER, GENOCIDE

A leading human rights group appealed Wednesday, Dec. 10, for food supplies and medical aid for thousands of persecuted Christians in Indonesia amid fears they will experience hunger and genocide this Christmas season. The Barnabas Fund reported that "missiles, bombs and bullets often light up the sky, of Poso City and nearby areas on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi," which has seen a recurrence of anti-Christian violence. While thousands are believed to have fled the region, many villagers are still trapped in their homes following a spate of Islamic attacks on Christian towns and individual Christians in the Poso area. Analysts have linked the violence to growing anti-American sentiments since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. An intercepted Muslim document reportedly urged supporters to "mobilize the masses to destroy the Christians. . . stun them with sudden and simultaneous attacks. . . kill their important leaders." In the most recent violence, two Christians were gunned down as Islamic militants raided the church service they were attending. The attackers apparently also hit the pastor's wife who was speaking at the time. She and two others are being treated at Ampana Hospital, church sources say. In addition, 20 "well-armed men descended upon the predominantly Christian village of Kilo Trans, west of Poso." They reportedly killed the village chief and a close member of his family. Similar attacks and bomb explosions have rocked other villages where dozens of Christians have been killed in recent weeks. (Assist News Service)

AZERBAIJAN BAPTISTS PROTEST ARREST OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY LEADER

Baptists in Azerbaijan have protested the arrest of Ilgar Ibrahimoglu, secretary general of the Azerbaijan chapter of the International Religious Liberty Association. In a statement to the government, llya Zenchenko, president of the Union of Evangelical Christians Baptists of Azerbaijan, criticized the arrest of Ibrahimoglu. He has supported the Baptists in their struggle for freedom at the Azeri Baptist Church, the release of Bibles there and the freedom of their pastor to lead the church he started. Zenchenko described Ibrahimoglu as "God's servant whose voice sounded in the protection of the weak, looking for help and restoration of justice." While Baptists in Azerbaijan normally avoid politics, Zenchenko said, "It is extremely important now to speak up, not only for Ibrahimoglu, but for all of society. God will judge not only those who are lawless but those who keep silent in the face of it." (Baptist World Alliance)

RELIEF MINISTRY HELPING CHRISTIANS IN LIBERIA RETURN TO NORMALCY

While continued fighting and famine have marred peacekeeping efforts in Liberia, Christian Reformed World Relief Committee spokesman Jacob Kramer says the ministry is helping war survivors return to normalcy. "For us it's the challenge to work toward the demobilization of these people . . . getting them into a resettlement program . . . getting them out of the refugee camps and back to the villages . . . and seeing that agriculture is restarted." Kramer explains that the hope of the gospel can be read through people's actions. "Churches are everywhere in Liberia," he says. "They're well aware of God's saving grace. But they have a problem connecting it to a deed and a value system. Through our presence there, and in our meetings with them, we were able to bring that connection between the gospel and everyday living." (Mission Network News)

'JESUS' VIDEO MIXUP IN GERMANY TURNS EMBARRASSMENT INTO BLESSING

After Christians had distributed about 30 "Jesus" videos in the German village of Lampoldshausen (near Stuttgart), the local parish began receiving disturbing telephone calls. Half a dozen recipients found that the video was in fact pornographic. Rev. Frithjof Schwesig said that volunteers swiftly collected all the distributed videos and checked the 270 others still in stock. To their dismay they found that one in three contained a sex film. The parish had ordered the "Jesus" videos from Campus Crusade for Christ in Germany. According to the ministry, a video copy company in Munich had inadvertently mixed up the orders. The outreach program to 300 households in Lampoldshausen was re-launched after volunteers double-checked all the videos. Then what had started as an embarrassment turned into a blessing as the mishap raised public awareness for the evangelistic outreach program. "Another positive side effect was that "some of those who ordered porn got a 'Jesus' video," Schwesig said. Campus Crusade for Christ delivers "Jesus" videos to about 20 to 30 outreach programs in Germany each year. This was the first time such a mix-up occurred. (IDEA)

* HCJB WORLD RADIO BEGINS FIRST BROADCASTS TO UNREACHED GROUP

For the first time, the 1 million speakers of a major language spoken in the North Caucasus region of Russia can hear Christian radio broadcasts in their own language. HCJB World Radio began airing weekly programs in the language Monday, Dec. 1, from a shortwave facility outside of the area. The name of the language and other details are omitted for security reasons.

"This is a historic moment for the mission and the answer to many people's prayers over several years," said a spokesman from the Euro-Asia region.

HCJB World Radio President Dave Johnson said he was "delighted" to see the introduction of the broadcasts after overcoming many hurdles in the last 10 years.

Those who speak the language live primarily in the North Caucasus (between the Black and Caspian seas) and are among of the world's least-reached people groups with only a handful of known believers. Their predominant religion is Islam.

"With so few believers and unrest in the area, it was a real challenge to find a native speaker who was willing to produce programs," Johnson said. "The people who speak this language can only find the answers they're looking for in Christ."

The programs are produced with the understanding that the listeners have little or no interest in Christianity and would never listen to an evangelist or enter a church.

"Through radio we can reach more people over a longer period of time, building up their confidence," said a mission spokesman at HCJB World Radio's international headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo. "We're not going to see immediate results. But Christian radio is probably the only practical way to reach them with the gospel."

With this language on the air, Kituba is the only dialect on the HCJB World Radio's original list of "World by Radio" languages that still needs Christian broadcasts.

Through the World by Radio challenge (formerly called World by 2000), HCJB World Radio has worked with Far East Broadcasting Co., Trans World Radio, SIM, FEBA Radio and others to add Christian broadcasts in more than 110 "megalanguages" -- those with at least 1 million speakers. Today less than 70 of the world's 372 megalanguages still are without Christian broadcasts.

Meanwhile, work is progressing well on Kituba, a language spoken by 4.2 million people in the Democratic Republic of Congo. "We have a producer, programming material and a sponsor, but we're still looking for a local station in the area from which to air the programs," said a ministry spokesman. "I'm confident that a site will be found within the next year." (HCJB World Radio)

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