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Four American missionary workers serving with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board (IMB) were killed in the northern city of Mosul, Iraq, in a drive-by shooting Monday, March 15, the ministry confirmed today. The attack occurred as they were working on a water-purification project. Three Americans died at the scene and a fourth person, 28-year-old David McDonnall of Rowlett, Texas, died early this morning en route to a military support hospital in Baghdad after "four U.S. military surgeons had worked for six hours to save his life," IMB reported. His 26-year-old wife, Carrie, remains in critical condition.

Those killed yesterday were Larry Elliott, 60, and his wife, Jean, 58, of Cary, N.C., and Karen Watson, 38, of Bakersfield, Calif. The Elliotts had been transferred to the Middle East last month after serving in Honduras since 1978. Watson had served with IMB since March 2003. All four victims reportedly died of bullet and shell fragment wounds from automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades after being attacked by unidentified assailants.

This was the third fatal attack on IMB missionaries worldwide in the last 14 months. Bill Hyde was killed by a terrorist bomb at the airport in Davao City, Philippines a year ago. Two months earlier three Baptist workers were murdered by a terrorist at the mission's hospital in Jibla, Yemen. "In times like this there are no words that will take away the pain of a loved one's violent death," said IMB President Jerry Rankin in a statement. "We are grateful that God Himself comes alongside us in our deepest sorrow and comforts us in a way no one else can."

Two German civilians were killed in an attack today on the outskirts of Mussayab, 45 miles south of Baghdad, said Dr. Jamal Kadhim, head of the emergency department at Mussayab General Hospital. Their Iraqi driver and a police officer were also killed, and two policemen were wounded. U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, speaking before the attack on the Germans, said such attacks were meant to divide the coalition, reported the Associated Press. "Clearly there has been a shift in the insurgency and the way the extremists are conducting operations," Sanchez said during a military ceremony in the northern city of Tikrit. "It is very clear they are going after these targets that might create some splits within the coalition." (Assist News Service/Associated Press)

146 PLACES OF WORSHIP CLOSED IN SRI LANKA IN LAST 4 MONTHS

As the religious situation in Sri Lanka continues to deteriorate, momentum seems to be building toward serious confrontations among the Buddhist religious establishment, the Sri Lankan government, non-government organizations (NGOs) and the church. "In the last four months 146 places of worship have been closed down, and as such the world should really take a closer look at the growing trend of nationalistic Buddhism in Sri Lanka," said Johan Candelin, World Evangelical Alliance's goodwill ambassador who recently visited the country. "Another very disturbing factor is that no one has been condemned for any of the attacks. That sends a signal that you can do this without any consequences". Buddhist monks, through their recently formed Jathika Hela Urumaya party, are contesting last year's elections and protesting against the "NGO Mafia," including Christian groups such as World Vision. Churches and Christian workers face harassment and violent attacks almost daily. "The World Evangelical Alliance will monitor Sri Lanka in its annual report to the UN," Candelin said. "The situation is very bad. There are direct attacks by mobs with firebombs, etc., but there is also an anti-Christian campaign going on in the media, and this incites local threats." Candelin expressed hope that open, constructive talks among evangelicals and Buddhists could begin. "Both are afraid of the other group now," he said. (Assist News Service)

RUSSIAN MINISTRIES LAUNCHES OUTREACH TO FROZEN SIBERIAN ARCTIC

The Yamal region of the Russian arctic is so remote that its translated name literally means, "the end of the earth." Native peoples in the area cling to pagan and animistic practices. Sergey Rakhuba, vice president of Russian Ministries, together with a team of local evangelical Christians, traveled to this remote area of Siberia in January as part of the ministry's "Risen Indeed" outreach. The expedition proclaimed the gospel to people who had never before heard of Christ. Rakhuba's team ministered to the city of Salekhard which sits on the edge of the Arctic Circle. They were based at a newly planted church near the 65-year-old ruins of the local Gulag office where tens of thousands of Christians suffered during Stalin's reign. Today the church has 60 members and about 15 other regular attendees. Despite financial struggles and the bitter cold, newly planted churches in the area continue to grow and reach out to northern ethnic groups such as the nomadic Khanty and Nentsi tribes. From Salekhard, the team bundled up for a slow ride to the villages of Beloyarsk and Schuchie where they delivered presents and children's Bibles. To reach some villages they had to use a sleigh pulled by reindeer or ride tanks to take them across miles of frozen tundra. As villagers heard the gospel for the first time, many openly gave their lives to Christ. "Now they know that Jesus, the Son of God, paid their debts," Rakhuba said. "To be the first to tell these people about the only true God was a deep and wonderful privilege." (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.

TEXAS PASTOR URGES EACH CHURCH MEMBER TO PRAY FOR 100 U.S. TROOPS

A Texas pastor is challenging his small congregation to intercede for U.S. troops in Iraq. Shortly after the start of the New Year, David Dodge, who leads the 50-member Christian Community Church in Kerrville, launched a "100 Soldier Challenge," encouraging members to pray daily for 100 days that God would protect the lives of at least 100 American soldiers in the war-torn nation. "We're asking God to spare a minimum of 100 soldiers which could impact at least 100 families, 100 marriages and 100 children," Dodge said. "We're asking God to bless them and for their lives to be dedicated to the Lord." Dodge, 60, noted that the idea for the challenge comes from a daily habit of "anti-death prayers" that he has prayed since his 17-year-old son drowned in 1981. His petitions have included asking God to save 100 young people from hell and to prevent 100 suicides and 100 automobile accidents. "There's no way for me to know that God answered these prayers, but I'm not going to let up," explained Dodge, who made news last year when he erected the sign, "First Condemning Church of Kerrville," to spotlight the tendency of Christians to be judgmental. (Charisma News Service)

E-MAIL COMMUNICATIONS CAN JEOPARDIZE MISSIONARIES, NATIONALS

The Internet has changed the way missionaries and supporters are communicating today. In most cases e-mail has helped facilitate relationships and even fostered short-term mission trips as churches feel more connected. However, e-mail can cause some problems, says OC International's David Daum. "In restricted-access countries where they really don't want any type of missionary work to be going on, it's a very sensitive issue to have e-mail flowing back and forth with Christian information in it. It can get missionaries kicked out of the country. It can get nationals put in jail, or even worse sometimes." Daum has some advice for those who are e-mailing missionaries overseas. "You can never guarantee a 100-percent security in these things," he says. "Refrain from going into a lot of detail and using a lot of Christian or divisive words. In some cases you'll have to ask your missionary what words you should be using." (Mission Network News)

BBC SURVEY SHOWS FAITH DECLINING IN UNITED KINGDOM

A BBC survey of faith across the globe found that only 46 percent of U.K. respondents said they "always believed in God" compared to 73 percent worldwide. Thirty-seven percent of British respondents "blame people from other religions for much of the trouble in the world." This is more than any other country. After South Korea, the U.K. had the fewest regular worshipers (21 percent), and only 19 percent said they would be willing to die for their faith compared to 52 percent worldwide. (Operation Mobilization/Christian Herald)

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