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

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

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

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

A 14-passenger airplane is being prepared to make a five-day flight to Kenya where it will be used to help spread the gospel to remote people groups and assist missionaries living in hard-to-reach areas. The single-engine Cessna Grand Caravan will join a fleet of a dozen aircraft jointly operated by the Southern Baptist International Mission Board (IMB) and AIM AIR, the aviation support branch of Africa Inland Mission, specializing in logistical and transport support for missionaries in central and eastern Africa. A dedication service for the plane was held in Richmond, Va., Dec. 8. The plane is in Maine being fitted with an oversized fuel tank prior to beginning its long Trans-Atlantic flight later this week.

IMB missionary pilot Chad Tilley, accompanied by pilot Mike Delorenzo and mechanic Barry King, will fly the plane across the Atlantic from Newfoundland through the Azores, Spain, Crete, Egypt and Sudan before reaching Kenya. The plane is a symbol of IMB's vision to take the gospel to all the world's people groups, no matter how isolated they are, said IMB President Jerry Rankin during the dedication ceremony. "This plane will expand our range of carrying the gospel to penetrate those areas where even a long, hard road trip could not gain access to the people. It will provide valuable support for missionaries who serve in remote places by bringing mail and supplies, volunteer teams and missionary colleagues to encourage them." The plane will support some 60 evangelical ministries in the region, flying to places that less rugged, less powerful aircraft cannot reach. The aircraft was purchased jointly by IMB and AIM AIR after five years of fund-raising. (Baptist Press)

* HCJB World Radio has worked with radio partners to install radio ministries in four cities of Kenya: Nairobi, Athi River, Mombasa and Tinderet. Staff members from the HCJB World Radio Engineering Center in Elkhart, Ind., also recently visited Kisumu to survey the situation for a potential radio partner.

ERITREAN OFFICIALS EXPEL CONGREGATION FROM GOVERNMENT FACILITY

Authorities recently expelled a large congregation in the Eritrean capital of Asmara from a government-owned complex. The Full Gospel Church's staff and members were ordered to permanently evacuate the large complex that had served as the congregation's headquarters and meeting place for the past 11 years. The rented facility accommodated up to 4,000 worshipers. "They were told that as an institution, their church was violating presidential directives, that it was involved in an illegal cell-group ministry," a local source told Compass Direct. "They were told that the church will not get any property." Since May 2002 the government has refused to recognize the congregation and a dozen other independent Protestant churches representing some 20,000 members. All have been ordered to close their church buildings and stop both public and private meetings for worship. Meanwhile, all but six of 62 young believers who were arrested and locked into metal containers last August for having Bibles in their possession at the Sawa summer military camp, have been released. The six youths still who remain in jail have reportedly been moved from containers to underground isolation cells, where there is no light, little air and limited food. They are allowed out just once a day to relieve themselves. (Religion Today/Charisma News Service)

AUTHORITIES COULD JEOPARDIZE CHILDREN'S MINISTRIES IN KAZAKHSTAN

Kazakhstan authorities are putting pressure on Christians who minister to children, says Mark Reimschisel of Bible Mission International. He said the head of their children's ministry was summoned and told he didn't have the right to conduct religious activities outside the church. Reimschisel says a decision wasn't reached, but he's concerned. "What we're worried about in this particular instance and what the legal council has told us is that this could set a very dangerous precedent that could ultimately wipe out existing children's ministries all across Kazakhstan and other republics in central Asia." Reimschisel urges believers to pray. "This has sweeping ramifications for what happens the rest of the year," he says. "The clubs that they have in schools and apartment complexes are primarily AWANA clubs and some other outreach clubs. But this will also affect what they do in the summer and in the fall when they do their camping programs." (Mission Network News)

KOREAN METHODIST CHURCH IN MOSCOW MAY LOSE BUILDING

A Korean Methodist church in Moscow, Russia, may lose its building after the city's justice department allowed outsiders to change the building's ownership without the church's knowledge. On Tuesday, Dec. 9, just three days after the prosecutor's office dropped its investigation into the disputed transfer, guards loyal to the new "owners" seized the building, although the pastor and some church officials remain holed up inside. "We are staying here round the clock to try to prevent the illegal seizure," said administrator Svetlana Kim. "But we know they won't pay any attention to us." Authorities declined to explain why they allowed the ownership change to happen without informing the congregation. Maksim Zubov of the federal Justice Ministry pointed out that "no one has the right to change the founding document of a religious organization without its knowledge." Church officials suspect that the problem could be related to corruption among city officials. Bishop Ruediger Minor, head of the United Methodist Church in Russia, said the " whole thing could only happen because of some (at least silent) support from administrative and other structures." Kwan Lim United Methodist Church was founded and registered in 1991 and gained re-registration with the Moscow justice department in December 1999. The congregation, which has some 180 members, built its own church in northern Moscow in 1995 with financial support from Methodists in South Korea. Services are held in Russian and Korean. (Forum 18 News Service)

SURVEY SHOW SURPRISINGLY HIGH LEVEL OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN MONGOLIA

In its survey analysis of the religious freedom situation in Mongolia, Forum 18 News Service found a surprisingly high degree of religious freedom in the country. Observers say this may be because Mongolia has only one paid official dealing solely with religious issues instead of an extensive state bureaucracy. However, Protestants said there are incidents of unregistered churches being threatened or fined as well as a widespread tendency by state authorities to demand random "fines" or "donations," but this appears to be the action of individual local council members. There is rising social concern about the activity of Christians in the country, particularly due to a belief that they advocate suicide. However, there appears to be less fear of new religious influences in Mongolia than in surrounding countries. Protestants report few obstructions to their social ministry in state institutions such as prisons, children's homes or hospitals once local officials are familiar with their work. Mongolia's 1993 law on religion limits the number of Buddhist monasteries and monks, bans the organized introduction of foreign religions, and gives the state preference for Buddhism. However, these measures reportedly are not enforced, and registration is not compulsory for religious organizations. (Forum 18 News Service)

42,000 CHILDREN IN UNDER-REACHED AREAS TO RECEIVE BIBLES, LITERATURE

The International Bible Society expects to distribute 42,000 Bibles and copies of Christian literature this fiscal year to children who might never hear about Jesus otherwise. The teams work in Kyrgyzstan, Romania, Serbia and Slovakia. IBS recently launched a project that encourages North American children to purchase copies and then pray for children in Eastern Europe who receive Bibles via the ministry. In Kyrgyzstan, a predominantly Muslim country, IBS will provide 3,000 My First Bibles with Kyrgyz, Russian and English text on each page. In Romania, IBS teams will distribute 13,500 Romanian translations of Jesus: The Story of His Life Gospels of Mark and 9,500 God's Big Story books to orphans. In Serbia the ministry will hand out 6,000 Serbian My First Bibles to orphans and refugee children. IBS will also give 5,000 Slovakian copies of Jesus: The Story of His Life to orphans, and another 5,000 to children of prison inmates. (Mission Network News)

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

Headlining today's news, the capture of former President Saddam Hussein on Saturday, Dec. 13, may be helpful to many evangelical missions and relief organizations working in Iraq. "I think it will free up many of the Iraqi people who have been frightened of reprisals," says "Doc," a medical missionary serving in Iraq with the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism. "There have been some who have not been cooperating for fear that Saddam will come back and use all these things against them." Doc says. The U.S. embargo on Iraq put the country behind the rest of the world in the medical community. "But by helping in education and supplies, what we do is we touch lives directly there," he says. "They get better medicine and better trained physicians who can take care of the population. What we look forward to is forming long-term relationships so we can talk about Jesus Christ with these people." Hussein's capture may also bring relief to humanitarian groups working in Iraq, although aid workers are on heightened alert following recent attacks on the Red Cross and U.N. "We see the potential of a backlash and an increase of terrorist activities against coalition forces," says World Vision's Dean Owen. "We're restricting our staff's movements for the next two or three days just to help ensure their safety and protection." Owen is hopeful that Hussein's capture will "pave the way for future ministry" and lead to increased religious freedom nationwide. (Mission Network News)

15-YEAR-OLD CHRISTIAN BOY IN PAKISTAN ESCAPES MUSLIM ABDUCTORS

A Christian Pakistani boy who was kidnapped and forced to convert to Islam has escaped abduction from militant Muslims. Last month Zeeshan Gill, 15, was abducted while on his way home after school, Jubilee Campaign reported. He was taken to a Muslim religious school where was harassed, beaten and threatened with death if he ran away or converted back to Christianity. His captors reportedly forced him to fast daily and began training him in the use of weapons in order to send him to Kashmir for "jihad." His mother tracked him down and went to court for her son's release. On Nov. 24 Gill, his mother and a younger brother were able to flee to the home of his aunt. The family contacted the Center for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) which is handling his case. Elsewhere, a Pakistani believer was arrested Nov. 28 for violating blasphemy laws after a complaint was received from Nasser Ahmed. The Pakistan Christian Post reported that Ahmed accused Anwar Masih of defiling the name of the prophet Mohammed. Ahmed then incited a Muslim mob in Shadhra to attack Masih's house and a family member. (Charisma News Service)

PASTOR FINED FOR LEADING UNREGISTERED CHURCH IN BELARUS

Church members in the town of Kobrin in southwestern Belarus have pledged to continue meeting for worship even though the pastor, Nikolai Rodkovich, was fined Thursday, Dec. 11, for leading the unregistered Pentecostal church. "We don't want to register our church," said his wife, Tamara. "But we have no intention of halting our services. We're ready for anything." Under the country's harsh new religion law that came into force in November 2002, unregistered religious activity was declared illegal. Vasili Marchenko, the official in charge of religious affairs in Brest region, declined to discuss why religious communities could not function without registration. Tamara said the local policeman came to the church's Sunday service on Nov. 23 and instructed her husband to appear at the local administration. "He had to go twice," she reported. "The first time they talked to him, trying to persuade him to register the church, but he refused. The second time they fined him." He has 10 days to pay the $23 fine, or the money will be deducted from his pay. The Kobrin church, established in 1952, has some 300 members. It is one of about 50 Pentecostal congregations in Belarus that refuse to register as a matter of principle. (Forum 18 News Service)

BOLIVIA'S NEW PRESIDENT RECEIVES EVANGELICAL AMBASSADOR

Three weeks after assuming office, Bolivian President Carlos Mesa met with evangelical leaders in La Paz -- the first official meeting in more than a decade between Bolivian Protestants and their head of state. "We expressed evangelical support for the democratic process in Bolivia," said Johan Candelin, goodwill ambassador of the World Evangelical Alliance, who met with Mesa on Nov. 7. "The situation is so fragile and difficult that any support for the democratic process is badly needed." Congress elevated Mesa, 53, to the presidency on Oct. 17 after his predecessor, Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada, was forced to resign and leave the country following weeks of unruly protests which left more than 60 people dead. The meeting provided an opportunity for evangelicals to raise an issue close to their hearts: religious liberty. "The basic understanding during the talks with President Mesa was that religious freedom is an important issue and that evangelicals should have the same religious freedom as all other citizens," Candelin said. Bruno Ossio, president of the Evangelical Alliance of Bolivia, added, "It has permitted us to harmonize and adapt our national strategy for the defense of religious liberty within our biblical principles." (Compass)

* HCJB World Radio has worked with local radio partners to plant local AM and FM stations in the Bolivian cities of Santa Cruz, Tarija and Tupiza. Four stations with eight transmitters in four cities (La Paz, Caranavi, Santa Cruz and Sucre) are also affiliated with the ALAS, the ministry's Latin American satellite radio network that makes Spanish programs available to local stations 24 hours a day.

CHRISTIANS FACE NEW DISCRIMINATION IN PAPUA, INDONESIA

On Nov. 13 Indonesia's House of Representatives endorsed the move to divide the territory now known as Papua into three separate provinces despite strong opposition. Sources in Indonesia say the move has the potential of crowding Papua's indigenous people -- most of them Christians -- into the smallest and poorest of the three provinces. A prayer alert issued by the World Evangelical Alliance said the ratio of Christians to Muslims in Papua has declined rapidly in the past few years with a concentration of Muslims in western Papua. With tensions soaring in the province, the Indonesian government has proposed a ban on foreign tourism in the area. This could cause serious difficulties for Christian churches that have partners overseas. The Papua Council planned to meet Dec. 15 to discuss the fate of the province. (Compass)

HERMANO PABLO RECORDS FIRST RADIO PROGRAMS ON LOCATION IN PERU

When Paul Finkenbinder (known in the Spanish-speaking world as Hermano Pablo) began producing "Un Mensaje a la Conciencia" (A Message to the Conscience) in 1964, he never imagined the worldwide impact his program would have. Now 82, Hermano Paul continues to preach and teach throughout Latin America. For the past 39 years his four-minute Spanish evangelistic program "A Message to the Conscience" has proclaimed the gospel via radio, television and newspapers. The program now airs more than 3,400 times daily in 30 countries, including every nation in Latin America as well as Spain and Spanish-speaking stations in countries such as Sweden, Norway, France and Australia. Many of his programs are illustrated with stories from Spanish history, literature, proverbs or folklore. This specific focus has proved to be strategic in opening doors for the program to be broadcast as a public service. Recording on location came about as an effort to make the program even more attractive to secular and commercial stations. In November Hermano Pablo Ministries recorded programs on location for the first time using the Plaza de Armas of Lima, Peru, as a setting. Based on historical events in that place, producer Charles Rey recorded programs on the Peruvian National Anthem and Declaration of Independence with the Presidential Palace in the background, and on Peruvian independence hero José Olaya with the backdrop of the corridor where he faced a firing squad. "A Message to the Conscience" is being used to reach Spanish speakers who may never visit a church. (Assist News Service)

* HCJB World Radio has aired Hermano Pablo's radio program, "Un Mensaje a la Conciencia," via shortwave nearly since it began in 1964. The program is also carried on HCJB World Radio's ALAS Spanish satellite network, making it available to more than 100 radio outlets across Latin America.

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

The bullet-riddled body of the second priest murdered in less than three weeks in Colombia's volatile Arauca department was found Nov. 21 on a street near the community where he ministered. José Rubin Rodríguez, 51, was kidnapped at a roadblock Nov. 14, news sources reported. Arauca Bishop Carlos Germán Mesa says that military intelligence and local citizens believe the 10th front of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) killed him. On Nov. 4 Saulo Carreńo, parish priest of Christ the King Church in Saravena, was shot and killed after leaving a hospital where he ministered to sick parishioners. Asked whether he believed the two killings indicate that priests are now military objectives, Mesa said, "This is what I've been wondering, but what would the reason be? We haven't given anybody a reason to wage war against us. We serve the community and preach the gospel." (Compass)

MOSCOW CITY OFFICIAL INSISTS CHURCH BUILDING SALE WAS LEGAL

The senior official of Moscow's justice department has failed to explain why it amended the founding document of the Kwan Lim Methodist Church in Moscow last year without the knowledge of the church, resulting in the building being "sold" to new owners. These owners have used guards to seize the building with the pastor and church officials holed up inside. Aleksandr Buksman, head of the local city registration department for religious organizations, said the demands of Russia's religion law were "fully observed by the religious organization." This claim is "strongly disputed" by church officials who say no valid church meeting took place and that those who registered the amended founding document had done so after a meeting not authorized by the church, not involving church members and not held on church premises. Buksman said the internal affairs department for Moscow's Northern Administrative Region launched a criminal case on Oct. 30 last year into accusations of "large-scale swindling" regarding the church building. Svetlana Kim, church administrator, said the church is doing all it can to resolve the issue peacefully through negotiation. Maksim Zubov, an official from the federal Justice Ministry, said his department would investigate the issue with the Moscow city justice department, and noted that "no one has the right to change the founding document of a religious organization without its knowledge." (Forum 18 News Service)

RUSSIA MAY BE REVERTING TO DICTATORIAL WAYS

Evangelical Christian groups are concerned the Russian government may be heading back to their dictatorial ways. Victory in the recent election by those loyal to President Vladimir Putin means Russia's major voices of democracy will be absent from the next parliament. Surgey Rakhuba of Russian Ministries says this raises serious concerns. "Putin controls the parliament, and at the same time he has an unlimited executive power in Russia today. It gives him a chance to change the constitution and take further action in this regard." Rakhuba says this could ultimately lead to the end of foreign missionary work in Russia. "Our main goal is to train nationals to do this ministry if anything happens," he says. "Then if the door for foreign ministry would close in Russia, we are able to say that we've trained enough national leaders to carry this ministry further." (Mission Network News)

MINISTRY AIMS TO TRAIN 120,000 BIBLE INSTRUCTORS WORLDWIDE

When Walk Thru the Bible launched its international branch in 1998, setting a goal to train one Bible instructor for every 50,000 people worldwide, skeptics called the challenge "lofty." With a world population of about 6 billion, that works out to about 120,000 teachers. Phil Tuttle, Walk Thru the Bible's vice president for international ministries, says that while the goal may appear to be overly ambitious -- especially in countries resistant to the gospel -- it is attainable. "In the last five years we've trained 35,000 teachers in 82 countries," he says. "We have materials available in more than 40 languages. In 2003 we can document that more than 3 million people have been through at least one of our courses." This came despite a 40-percent drop in giving to the ministry and increased pressure on Christians around the globe. "Obviously there's a lot of religious persecution in some places around the world such as India and parts of the Middle East. The people who are teaching our materials are taking a great risk." (Mission Network News/Walk Thru the Bible)

THEFT AT FLORIDA CHURCH'S FUND-RAISER BECOMES 'BLESSING IN DISGUISE'

A theft that occurred at a Florida church's fund-raiser became a blessing in disguise for the nondenominational congregation. After accepting a free meal the week before Thanksgiving at Community Deliverance Church in Palm Beach, two unidentified teenagers snatched a cash box containing $200, taking advantage of pastor William James Bouie's generosity, The Palm Beach Post reported. However, thanks to publicity from local media, Community Deliverance has received more than $2,500 in donations with many of the gifts coming from anonymous donors who wanted to replace the stolen money collected at the church's weekly benefit cookout. "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can," wrote a couple from West Palm Beach, who attached a short poem to a check for $300. Bouie said the 130-member congregation has been "blessed because of the incident." Some of the donated money was used to deliver Thanksgiving dinner baskets to about a dozen families in the community. The church is raising funds for a planned $230,000 building expansion. (Charisma News Service)

* HCJB WORLD RADIO-UK WINS ANOTHER TOP AWARD FOR EASTER PROGRAM

Colin Lowther, a program producer at HCJB World Radio-UK, has won a second prestigious award for his Easter program, "Tears in Heaven," that first aired on West Yorkshire station Pulse Classic Gold on Good Friday. He won the Sandford St. Martin Trust Radio Awards premier prize worth Ł2,000 (US$3,524), presented by the Church of England on Tuesday, Nov. 25.

The winning program focused on the story of Paul Bailey, a Bradford man who lost his 7-year-old son, Robert, when a driver accidentally struck him on a crosswalk. Bailey said he was ready to kill the woman, but asked Jesus to help him ultimately forgive her instead. The special feature told his story through voices and music.

"We all needed to sit quietly for a moment at the end of it to gather ourselves," said Chairman Paul Brown at the awards ceremony at Lambeth Palace in London. "It goes straight to the heart of the listener and the heart of Christian faith. At the end of our two-day listen, my colleagues gave me their notes. Only this program made one of them write 'Yippee!' and another, 'Fab!'"

Eric Clapton's song written after the death of his son, Conor, provided the theme for the winning program. The awards were presented by Lord Gordon of Strathblane, chairman of Scottish Radio Holdings and trustee of the John Smith Memorial Trust, along with the trust's chairman, Rev. Nigel McCulloch. The Sandford St. Martin Trust was set up in 1978 to encourage excellence in religious broadcasting.

Lowther, who presents "The Full Breakfast" show Sunday mornings on Pulse Classic Gold, said while it was an honor to receive the award, but he was "especially pleased" for Bailey. "Even though he's been through some terrible tragedies in his life, God has always pulled him through, and I know it means a lot to him for his story to be recognized in this way."

The runner-up also dealt with the theme of bereaved parents. In "Cornwall Celebrates: The Compassionate Friend," several parents living in the county discussed their experiences as producer/presenter Naomi Rowe of BBC Radio Cornwall explained how their faith had helped them cope.

HCJB World Radio-UK has captured numerous awards for radio programs in recent years. In 2002 Lowther received a merit award from Sandford St. Martin Trust. Since 1997 he has won the Easter on Independent Local Radio (ILR) Award five times, including first prize for "Tears in Heaven," presented on Sept. 24, 2003. He also captured the Christmas on ILR Award in 2000. "The Full Breakfast" program took the Andrew Cross Award for best music-based religious output. Sandra Coleman garnered a New Century Radio Award in 2001 for her creative "Thoughts in Shorts" program. (HCJB World Radio/Sandford St. Martin Trust)

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

The first weekend of December saw Christians in Sri Lanka being targeted with at least 12 new incidents of violence. A small group meeting for prayer in Ampegama was assaulted, and a pastor leading the prayer meeting, as well as some of the members, were beaten by assailants. On Dec. 7 four churches in the Kegalle district were attacked by religiously motivated militants. Belongings were stolen, one church was burned and church members were beaten. In one church a mob smashed the building's windows and doors, burned the belongings and threatened the lives of some church workers who lived there. On Dec. 9 Buddhist groups held a rally in Embilipitiya. The speakers reportedly said that Christian churches were functioning illegally and should be attacked and smashed. That evening police prevented an attack on a local Assembly of God Church, but the World Vision office and Catholic church were not spared. Soldiers from a nearby army camp attempted to prevent the Church building from being burned, but were told by the mob to not intervene, claiming they had orders from "higher authorities." In nearby Udawalawe, the Assembly of God church was besieged by about 30 people who smashed windows and doors and burned furnishings. The pastor managed to escape unharmed, but the home of another pastor was damaged by stones. (Voice of the Martyrs)

2 EGYPTIAN CHRISTIANS REARRESTED IN CAMPAIGN AGAINST CONVERTS

Two Christians from Alexandria, Egypt, who were originally detained in October have been rearrested. Their first arrest was part of a widespread sweep targeting converts from Islam and those who helped them obtain new identities. Aziz Zakher Sarkis and Sharif Kameel Nazer were taken back into custody on Tuesday, Dec. 16, after being seized without a warrant. They are accused of helping Muslim converts to Christianity obtain new identities. Officer Sayed Zaki, known for his aggressive attitude towards converts, led the arrests. Charges have not been officially lodged against the two Christians or the 22 others who were arrested in late October for "falsifying official documents." All were released on bail. Following this latest development, converts throughout Alexandria are living in a state of heightened fear. A Christian who converts to Islam in Egypt can receive new identification papers with a new Muslim name within 24 hours, but the opposite is nearly impossible. They will always be regarded as Muslim in the eyes of the law. This means that female converts to Christianity are prohibited from marrying Christian men; children will be treated as Muslims and educated as such at school; and converts who die are buried as Muslims. (Barnabas Fund)

JAARS TAKES PART IN CELEBRATIONS MARKING 100 YEARS OF FLIGHT

While the U.S. celebrates 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers' first airplane flight JAARS, an organization that speeds Bible translation by providing aviation services for Wycliffe Bible Translators and others, participated at a celebration in North Carolina Dec. 12-17. "Being based in North Carolina for many years, we're part of the state's aviation history," says JAARS spokesman Glenn Ferguson. "The North Carolina Department of Transportation asked us to be on display and involved in the celebration. We took one of our Helio Couriers that we use in places around the world to support missions." The display also gave JAARS staff members the opportunity to share the gospel with the public and explain the needs of missionary aviation. (Mission Network News)

HABITAT FOUNDER CALLS 150,000 HOMES 'SIGNIFICANT BEGINNING'

Habitat for Humanity International founder Millard Fuller, recently named "executive of the year" by the Nonprofit Times, said the ministry has provided homes for more than 150,000 families in nearly 3,000 communities worldwide. The nonprofit organization, founded in 1976, constructs affordable homes for low-income families. Fuller says Habitat has been so successful in fulfilling its mission because it follows the scriptural mandate to care for our neighbors. "It's God's idea," he says. "The Bible tells us plainly that we should love one another, and we should express love in tangible ways. I think its working because we are doing business with some fundamental biblical ideas." Fuller says that while reaching the 150,000-home milestone is a "significant beginning," much more work remains. "More than 100 million people in the world are absolutely homeless," he says. "So our work is really just beginning." Rather than give houses away, Habitat provides poor people with low-interest mortgages and requires recipients to invest hundreds of hours in helping to construct their own homes. (Religion Today/Agape Press)

EVANGELISTIC OPPORTUNITIES MULTIPLY IN INDIA DESPITE PERSECUTION

Tom Dudenhoffer of Audio Scripture Ministries says the spiritual hunger in India often counters the threat of persecution. In four states of India, parties favoring Hinduism came into power with the Dec. 1 electoral victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party. This could mean hard times for the Christian community since the Hindu culture finds the growing interest in Christianity a threat to their own political stability. In spite of this threat, opportunities for ministry have "almost overwhelmed our missionaries and staff," Dudenhoffer said. "There seems to be an unusual openness to the gospel even while there's an increase in persecution." In one area more than 700 people recently signed up "Scripture listening kits."

Other ministries report a similar response. Vernon Brewer of World Help witnessed an event in Allahabad where 40,000 believers gathered in India's holiest city to worship Christ. He says what Christians are doing in India is incredible. "They're going two-by-two into the unreached villages of Uttar Pradesh, a state of 175 million people, and they're going to 100,000 unreached villages," Brewer said. "Their vision and goal is to see 1 million house churches planted in the next five years. What we're seeing now is the result of Christians going in these Hindu strongholds and marching and praying and believing God for the impossible."

Dan Hitzhusen of Global Missions Fellowship says short-term teams from North America are opening up incredible ministry opportunities. "A chief who was having a wedding for his son stopped the ceremony, and because there was an American there, allowed him to preach the gospel. Many people professed faith in Christ! In that particular situation the chief set up a piece of land for the new church to get started." Hitzhusen says the Christians in India are fervent and willing to face persecution. But since many of the believers come from the lower castes "they're not given any kind of entree into whole villages," he says. However, villagers will often welcome American Christians. "Whole villages open up, and people come to know Christ," Brewer says. (Mission Network News)

* HCJB WORLD RADIO BROADCASTS HISTORIC CHRISTMAS PROGRAM TO INDIA

A powerful signal from the "Voice of the Great Southland," HCJB World Radio-Australia's shortwave station in Kununurra, blanketed the subcontinent of India today with a special program in Hindi called, "Aao Christmas Manayein" (Let's Celebrate Christmas). The program was also simulcast on FM radio stations in three major cities of India -- New Delhi, Mumbai and Lucknow with a total population of 35 million -- a first for the ministry.

"It's the first true Christmas program to be aired on local radio stations in India," said C. Thant Khobung, director of Bibles for the World in India. This was the first of a two-part magazine-format program that includes Christmas carols, street interviews, a Christmas drama and a Bible lesson. The second half will air on Christmas Day, broadcasting at the same time and on the same frequencies and stations.

Reports are coming in from listeners who said they enjoyed the program while in their cars, auto-rickshaws, homes and hotel rooms. Listeners who submit a correct answer to a question pertaining to a character in the drama will receive a Christmas card with a Hindi version of the Christmas story printed on rice paper.

The Christmas program was produced at the studios of Global Media Training Associates, HCJB World Radio's national partner in New Delhi. Children from a hostel/orphanage in the city provided voices for the drama segment. Much to their glee, it was the first time any of them had heard their voices on the air. They all tuned in to their local FM station to hear the program. (HCJB World Radio)

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

An unidentified person attacked an Orthodox church in Urosevac, Kosovo, with a hand grenade Friday, Dec. 12, despite being guarded by Greek troops from the NATO-led KFOR. A grenade was thrown into the churchyard of the Church of St. Uros in the town of Urosevac in southern Kosovo at about 8 p.m. No one was injured, but a vehicle parked nearby was damaged. An initial police investigation failed to turn up any suspects. Since 1999 there have been many such attacks on Orthodox sites without any arrests being made. Church members expressed gratitude to the Greek troops for their protection, preventing it from being destroyed like other Serbian Orthodox churches in the Urosevac and Nerodimlje region. The grenade exploded approximately 30 feet from the front steps of the church that was built in 1933. In June 1999, just after U.S. troops under the NATO KFOR command arrived in the area, the church was twice subjected to arson attempts. Since then it has been under constant KFOR protection. (Forum 18 News Service)

MISSIONARIES IN SAUDI ARABIA URGED TO LEAVE AS THREATS INCREASE

The U.S. State Department intensified its warnings about terrorism in Saudi Arabia today, telling Americans to leave the country. It was the third such travel warning issued for Saudi Arabia this month and the second in nine days. The unspecific threat appears to target not only the U.S., but all Western entities, including Christians and mission workers. Despite the threats, Jerry Dykstra of Open Doors USA says missionaries are undeterred. "As far as Open Doors is concerned, we have ways of working in different countries. Obviously, I can't tell you some of the ways that we work in Saudi Arabia. But needless to say, we have avenues of getting Christian materials there, and we just need to pray that those will continue to flow into the country." Dykstra credits expatriate staff members for their ability to maintain ministry levels, but he urges prayer support. "Pray for those Christians who are working there and witnessing there, and remember the handful of Saudi Christians. Pray for new converts who will endure persecution for the sake of the gospel. It's a really tough place to be." (Mission Network News)

* 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.

CHRISTIAN JORDANIAN WIDOW AVOIDS LATEST ARREST ATTEMPT

Jordanian police used an outdated arrest warrant Tuesday, Dec. 16, in another foiled attempt to detain Siham Qandah, a Christian widow fighting to retain custody of her two daughter, Rawan, 15, and son, Fadi, 14, in Jordan. But when police came to arrest Qandah Tuesday evening, she wasn't home. Although the local court had decreed last June that Qandah must relinquish her children to a Muslim guardian or be jailed, the arrest warrant has been blocked since September. The day after the attempted arrest, Qandah encountered her estranged brother, Abdullah al-Muhtadi, the same man who had tried to take her children away after her late husband reportedly converted to Islam before he died. "I will prove that you are not a good mother," Al-Muhtadi told her. "You are trying to make them Christians, but they are Muslims." (Compass)

CAMPAIGN AIMS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF PERSECUTION IN NORTH KOREA

A Christmas campaign in the U.S. has been launched to raise awareness of Christian persecution and human rights violations in North Korea. The Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD) calls the project the Liberty Initiative for North Korea. Project Director Faith McDonnell says up until recent years, little has been known about the horrendous persecution Christians face in the communist country. The campaign was started to address that situation, McDonnell says, "to inform people about what has been happening in North Korea, to get them to pray for North Korea, to advocate for changes in U.S. policies on North Korea." As part of the initiative, the IRD is distributing Christmas buttons that say "Merry Christmas" in Korean. The buttons are meant to serve as a reminder of those believers who cannot openly celebrate Jesus' birth. Beginning in early 2004, the initiative will enter the next phase, equipping church members for grassroots advocacy on North Korea. The campaign will also provide information about public policy initiatives to support freedom for all Koreans, promote human rights and democracy in North Korea, and support persecuted Christians and other North Korean refugees. (Religion Today/Agape Press)

DOZENS TURN TO CHRIST AT CLOSE OF MEETINGS IN THAILAND

A Thai evangelistic ministry saw 51 people respond to the gospel after three days of meetings in a Bangkok hotel Dec. 5-7. The ministry, supported by Christian Aid Mission, held daily 80-minute Bible-teaching sessions on various subjects such as creation, sin, repentance, faith, salvation and assurance. During the first evening, the owner of the hotel told how he became a believer after God healed him from a sickness that had prevented him from sleeping well for 30 years. Then everyone in his family turned to Christ. More than 450 people of Thai and Myanmar background attended the crusade, including 250 non-Christians -- 170 who had traveled in 21 small trucks and six taxis from an area about 36 miles south of Bangkok. On the closing night, 51 people came forward to put their faith in Christ. After further instruction, 27 of them were baptized before leaving the hotel. (Mission Network News)

SOUTHERN BAPTISTS SET TARGET HIGH FOR MISSIONARY SUPPORT OFFERING

Churches in the nation's largest evangelical denomination are being encouraged to increase their giving to an annual offering for missionaries. Southern Baptist churches are being asked to increase their contribution to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering by 33 percent. That offering, along with the denomination's cooperative program, is used to send missionaries overseas and support more than 5,000 missionaries already in the field. For each of the past several years, more than 1,000 new missionaries have been appointed. However, giving has not kept pace with that growth, says Dr. Jerry Rankin, president of the International Mission Board. Last year the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) had to defer more than 100 missionaries because the funds were not available. Rankin says the opportunities for people to be reached for Christ are greater now than ever before. The SBC official is convinced that Christians in the U.S. have been blessed so they can bless others. "The primary blessing is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ so that those in despair can find hope, and those in the bondage of sin can hear of a Savior who loves them and died for them." The goal for this year's Lottie Moon offering is $133 million -- 15 percent more than last year's total. The "challenge" goal is $150 million. (Religion Today/Agape Press)

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