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In Haiti, escalating unrest and rumors of a possible coup d'etat are disrupting the country as anti-government rebels had taken control of at least nine towns in eastern Haiti by Monday. More than 34 people have died in the fighting. This week's riots are the strongest challenge yet to embattled President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Another concern is the potential for a humanitarian crisis, says Eva DeHart of a ministry called For Haiti With Love. "Food can't move from the port city north, and there's no electricity. It takes electricity to pump water, so they're going to get into a situation where they have bad water. It could get really serious for the poor population very fast." Despite the difficulties, the ministry recently completed a major food shipment and replenished the health clinic's supplies. While the violence hasn't yet spread to the capital city of Cap Haitien, mission teams stand ready to minister. The unrest has also disrupted the work of the Bible League teams in Haiti. Staff members reported numerous incidents where armed bandits entered the office to demand money. So far no staff members have been injured.

Meanwhile, Men for Missions International (MFMI), the laymen's voice of OMS International, is continuing with "Operation Saturation," a plan to reach all of Haiti's nearly 8 million residents for Christ through thousands of small, fix-tuned, solar-powered radios. "We're going to be sending another container to Haiti. It has two new generators in it," Hardig said. "We've got to beef up our transmitter site near Cap Haitien for that. We continue to deal with the issues of security . . . we just need to get the equipment and we need to get the people there to install it." Staff members are ready to implement the next satellite downlink in the network, and another container containing two generators is on its way to Haiti. (Mission Network News/Assist News Service/Reuters)

* HCJB World Radio worked with local partners in Haiti to help establish local Christian radio ministries in Port-au-Prince and Tortue Island. Staff members from the HCJB World Radio Engineering Center in Elkhart, Ind., are also working with OMS International to establish a satellite radio network in that will deliver programs to FM stations nationwide.

KENYAN TRIBE RECEIVES CONTEMPORARY-LANGUAGE NEW TESTAMENT

The International Bible Society (IBS) released its contemporary-language Luo New Testament for 3.8 million Luo speakers in Kenya and other parts of East Africa on Jan. 30. More than 1,000 church and government leaders welcomed the translation of God's Word in their contemporary language at a dedication ceremony at Kisumu's Kenyatta Sports Ground. "We praise God for this clear, accurate translation of the Holy Word for the Luo speaking people," said George Kinoti, chairman of the IBS-East Africa Board. "About 70 percent of the Luo people cannot understand the existing Luo Bible which was written by early Christian missionaries in formal, somewhat archaic language. Luo speakers now have a New Testament in the language they speak every day." The release of the New Testament culminated more than 10 years of labor by an IBS-East Africa translation team. IBS plans to release the full Luo Bible in 2005. The first printing of 40,000 copies is expected to have an impact on 400,000 people because10 people frequently share one Bible in Africa. (International Bible Society)

* 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.

NATIONAL LEADERS NAME 2004 'YEAR OF PRAYER FOR PASTORS'

"The Year of Prayer for Pastors" is a united prayer theme among churches for the year 2004. The National Prayer Committee, Pray! Magazine and the National Denominational Prayer Leaders are joining in a strategic effort to raise the level of awareness and prayer covering for pastors across the nation. Steve Loopstra, one of the leaders of the initiative and executive director of Prayer Transformation Ministries, says, "The pressures and stresses on pastors are overwhelming. Frankly, we have no clue of what would happen if we, as the church, really would dedicate ourselves to continually covering our pastors and their families in prayer." The National Prayer Committee and prayer leaders are encouraging churches to be "intentional and strategic" about prayer for pastors. Dana Olson of the Baptist General Conference adds, "Pastors can flourish in their ministries if their people are committed to love them and pray for them continuously." Although the Year of Prayer for Pastors is an initiative for 2004, the vision is that the foundation built in churches will continue for years to come. For more information visit ww.prayingpastor.com. (Assist News Service)

CHRISTIAN TV PROGRAMS HELP IRANIANS COPE AFTER EARTHQUAKE

In Iran where the official death toll has reached 43,000 after December's devastating earthquake in Bam, SAT-7's Iranian Christian Broadcasting (ICB) is beaming programming into the Farsi language. ICB's Lazarus Yaghnazar says they've been able to help. "We were able to connect with the church in Iran where finally 20 members of the church went to Bam an started a kitchen. Feeding at its peek was 3,000 people. So, an immediate response was made to the situation." Yaghnazar says that interaction has touched many. "They would say, 'How come you're showing such love? Are you a Christian?' The response would be with hugs and cheers and, 'Would you please pray for me in the name of Jesus?' There have been many encouraging opportunities like that." (Mission Network News)

SEMINARS ENCOURAGE PERSECUTED CHURCH LEADERS IN INDIA

Open Doors with Brother Andrew is helping Christian pastors, leaders and other believers by conducting "Standing Strong Through the Storm" seminars in India. The four-day workshops are designed to prepare church leaders for persecution and encourage them to maintain a strong Christian witness in a hostile environment. The events encourage Christians, using the Scriptures to show how believers can expect persecution. A total of 27 seminars have been held in India in the last three years with 10 more scheduled this year. At one of last year's seminars in western India's Gujarat state where persecution of Christians is especially harsh, participants shared their need for mutual encouragement. One attendee who has been a victim of false accusations and severe harassment, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share and be prayed for by the group. "It's good that I could come here for fellowship and encouragement," he said. "I was feeling alone and hopeless, but you have given me hope and assurance." Dr. Carl Moeller, president of Open Doors USA, said the Bible has "much to say about suffering. Biblical principles combined with real-life stories of contemporary believers bring a great deal of encouragement to Christians facing persecution for the first time." In addition to the seminars, Open Doors is mobilizing prayer networks in India and providing additional support for persecuted believers. (Open Doors)

STUDY SHOWS LINK BETWEEN A COUNTRY'S RELIGIOUS, ECONOMIC HEALTH

A study from Harvard University has found a direct link between a country's religious and economic health. The study looked at 59 countries and found that where religions flourished, values such as honesty, work ethic and thrift worked their way into the fabric of society and helped the economy. The study's author, Dr. Rachel McCleary of the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, says it only works where there is freedom of religion. "You tend to find that in countries where there's a state religion through regulation, religious attendance is really low," she said. "Whereas in countries where you have subsidies of religion, then you tend to find that there's a higher level of religious participation." (Religion Today/Agape Press)

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