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During the Christmas season, believers in Sri Lanka were the brunt of at least 14 separate attacks with numerous churches and homes being vandalized. In one such incident Saturday, Dec. 27, 20 people attacked a Christian family's home, destroying the door and windows and seriously damaging a three-wheeled taxi that belonged to the family. The family was warned to renounce Christianity or be forced out of the village. Hundreds of churches canceled their traditional Christmas Eve midnight service following the funeral of a revered Buddhist monk in mid-December. Only a few larger churches held services, protected by armed police guards. Many Christians left their homes to spend Christmas in safe houses or with friends because of the dangers. On three consecutive nights (Dec. 24-26), King's Revival Church in Maharagama was pelted with stones. Then on the afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 28, a mob converged on the church. Police were called, and some of the attackers were arrested and later released. The morning of Tuesday, Dec. 30, attackers set fire to the Aroma Children's Home in Buruthakele, Chilaw, a government-registered facility run by Christians. No one was injured, but the children's clothing, schoolbooks and other school equipment were destroyed. Details on other attacks are omitted for security reasons. (Voice of the Martyrs)

EVICTED CHURCH MEMBERS IN HYDERABAD, INDIA, FIND NEW BUILDING

Believers in Hyderabad, India, who lost their church building two months ago after a neighboring Hindu filed a complaint against them, have a new facility. Sam Vinton of Grace Ministries International says the group has been experiencing persecution for some time, but God moved in an exciting way by providing a new building in the same area. "It's amazing how a Hindu on one side of the street objected to their presence, but someone on the other side of the street welcomed them and gave them a building." Harassment of Christians has increased in recent years following a rise in Hindu nationalism in India, but this isn't stopping evangelism. "A pastor in one of the village churches near Hyderabad just got a group of men together, began talking to them and invited them to his home," Vinton said. "He led 10 of them to the Lord." (Mission Network News)

11 BELIEVERS ARRESTED FOR HOLDING CHRISTMAS SERVICES IN LAOS

Eleven Christians were arrested for holding religious services on Christmas Day, and authorities are looking for 10 others. The Lao Movement for Human Rights reported that six Christians were arrested on Saturday, Dec. 27, in Kang village in the southern province of Attapeu "simply for praying together." Another man was arrested the same day in Somsouk, and four others in the area were arrested the following day. The 11 were imprisoned and their Bibles confiscated. The Laos government maintains that there is freedom of religion and they deny all human rights violations, accusing the human rights group of trying to influence a debate by the U.S. government on normalizing trade relations with Laos. (Voice of the Martyrs)

BILLY GRAHAM UNDERGOES PARTIAL HIP REPLACEMENT

Evangelist Billy Graham underwent partial hip replacement surgery Wednesday, Jan. 7, at Mayo Clinic's St. Luke's Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla. The 85-year-old evangelist was in Jacksonville for a semiannual checkup. He fell in his hotel room the night before his appointment, fracturing his left hip. During the procedure, a surgical team, led by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Mary O'Connor, removed the ball of Graham's fractured femur and replaced it with a metal prosthesis. The femur is the upper leg bone that fits into the socket of the pelvic bone. Graham is expected to make a complete recovery from the hour-long surgery and plans to continue holding crusades. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association announced that the next crusade will be in Kansas City June 17-20. (Religious Media Agency/Billy Graham Evangelistic Association)

NEW TV SERIES FOR COWBOYS AIRS ACROSS U.S. ON CHRISTIAN NETWORK

International Bible Society (IBS) is sponsoring a new television series called "Cowboy Church." The Western-focused series is a cooperative effort involving the Fellowship of Christian Cowboys (FCC) and Advent Communications. "Through the medium of television, it expands our ability to reach cowboys, cowgirls, ranchers and farmers -- as well as all those who love and live the Western lifestyle across the country -- with the love of Jesus Christ," said FCC General Manager Jerry Wyatt. The weekly half-hour programs air Sunday mornings on the America One Network with more than 70 affiliate stations across the U.S. It also provides an opportunity for IBS to distribute its Way for Cowboys New Testament, says IBS Marketing Director Phil Wilcoxson. The pocket-sized book, featuring a Western-motif cover, is designed to fit easily in a back pocket, boot or saddlebag. It includes cowboy prayers and poetry along with Bible helps and testimonies from eight Christian cowboys. Founded 29 years ago, FCC encourages cowboys to put their faith in Christ, join a church and serve Him in their relationships. (International Bible Society)

'HUG THERAPY' GOES LONG WAY IN OUTREACH TO CENTRAL ASIA

Central Asia's orphanages face dismal circumstances due to a shortage of funds and staff. Interserve's Steve Grant is looking to assist the homes in one crucial area. "They can provide physical care for the kids, but they really don't have the staff to be able to give the individualized care and love that they need. I've nicknamed the teams that I take in 'hug teams' because that's really what we're doing. It's the supplemental care -- providing something that these [orphans] need." Grant says the missionaries can't evangelize openly because they're working in a government-run orphanage. "We have to share what God has put in our hearts by expressing that love. We cannot be directly, outwardly proselytizing." The latest "hug team" leaves for Central Asia this month, taking along supplies and funds for the orphanages. (Mission Network News)

* HCJB World Radio is bringing words of hope and encouragement to people across Central Asia via radio. Together with partners, Christian broadcasts go out in languages such as Dari, Hazaragi, Tajk, Turkmen, Uzbek and Urdu.

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