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Náboženské násilí, které před čtyřmi týdny vypuklo ve střední Nigérii ve státě Plateau, vyústilo ve smrt 1,500 věřících, včetně 8 pastorů a zničení 173 kostelů. Křesťanská nigerijská asociace vydala jména zavražděných pastorů, kteří sloužili v baptistické, anglikánské, římsko-katolické, evangelikální reformované kongregaci, v Božím společenství, v Kristově církvi v Nigérii a v evangelikálním sboru západní Afriky. Podle zpráv národní nigerijské agentury náboženské násilí ve státech Plateau a Nasarawa připravilo o domov na 25,000 lidí. Mluvčí státu Bauchi Alhaji Musa Lima řekl, „Asi 50,000 lidí, kterým se před násilím podařilo uprchnout, je dočasně umístěno v různých částech našeho státu.,“ což představuje obrovský tlak na místní zdroje. 28. března vypukly muslimsko-křesťanské nepokoje ve státě Nasarawa a podle dostupných zpráv přišlo o život asi 15 křesťanů. (Religion Today/Compass)
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1,500 CHRISTIANS KILLED IN CENTRAL NIGERIA IN LATEST ROUND OF VIOLENCE
Religious violence that erupted in the central Nigerian state of Plateau a
few weeks ago has resulted in the deaths of 1,500 believers, including eight
pastors, and the destruction of 173 churches. The Christian Association of
Nigeria released the names of the martyred pastors who served Baptist,
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Assemblies of God and the Evangelical Reformed
congregations, as well as the Church of Christ in Nigeria and the
Evangelical Church of West Africa. Nigeria's National Emergency Management
Agency reported that religious violence in Plateau and Nasarawa states has
resulted in the displacement of 25,000 people. Bauchi state official Alhaji
Musa Lima said, "About 50,000 displaced persons who managed to escape the
hostility have temporarily relocated to some parts of this state," placing
enormous pressure on local resources. On March 28 Muslim-Christian violence
broke out in the state of Nasarawa, reportedly claiming the lives of 15
Christians there. (Religion Today/Compass)
* HCJB World Radio, together with partners In Touch Ministries, SIM and the
Evangelical Church of West Africa, began airing weekly half-hour programs to
Nigeria in the Igbo language in 2000. In 2003 weekly broadcasts were added
in two additional languages, Yoruba and Hausa.
RADIO PROGRAMS REAP RESULTS AS RADICAL ISLAM GROWS IN CENTRAL ASIA
In Central Asia a wave of reports from the region shows rising Islamist
activity. The groups are tailoring their recruiting efforts, targeting
individuals from the higher social strata of the dominant ethnic groups.
"With the rise of radical Islam, I think that is symptomatic of a rise in
the hunger of the hearts of people for something," said evangelist Sammy
Tippit. "They don't have any other place to turn to but radical Islam, and
they're out there recruiting. I think right now is the time for the average
person to be able to share the gospel of Jesus Christ." Tippit believes God
is moving in this area during the turmoil. "We started a broadcast in
Pakistan on March 1, and we've had more than 1,000 written and called-in
responses of people giving their lives to Christ from across the Middle East
and Central Asia. It has been absolutely amazing. We have been totally
surprised at the response." (Mission Network News)
SECULAR SKILLS AN ASSET IN EVER-BROADENING MISSION FIELD
The president of an international mission agency says there are now more
opportunities than ever before for Christians to enter the mission field on
either a short-term or long-term basis. Hans Finzel, president of
Colorado-based CB International, an organization involved in evangelism,
church planting and leadership development ministries in 65 areas worldwide,
says while there are extreme dangers for missionaries in many parts of the
world, there are also numerous opportunities. "Yes, we have more open
doors," Finzel says, "The Iron Curtain's gone, the Berlin Wall's gone, China
is opening up -- there are incredible opportunities." Many professionals are
finding that the skills they acquired in the secular workplace can be a big
benefit when it comes to taking part in mission work. Many Christians with a
background in business are now serving on the mission field, he says. "The
people we need the most today are what we call people who have marketplace
skills or secular skills -- whether they are teachers, business
administrators, computer experts, doctors or nurses. Those are the kind of
people that we are successfully placing around the world, especially in
restricted-access nations," Finzel says. (Religion Today/Agape Press)
SALVATION ARMY REVIVES 'WORSHIP IN A CIRCUS' IN GERMANY
The Salvation Army in eastern Germany is reviving an old tradition --
worship in a circus. This year Circus Sarrassani started the season with a
Salvation Army meeting under the big top in Chemnitz Friday, March 23. Some
1,000 spectators came to admire acrobats and clowns, join in songs of praise
to the tune of the circus band, and hear the gospel presented by Salvation
Army Captain Frank Heinrich. Chemnitz -- named Karl-Marx-Town during the
communist era -- is one of the most secularized cities in Germany. Only one
in five of the 256,000 inhabitants have any church affiliation. The
Salvation Army was banned by the communists and restarted its ministry after
the reunification of Germany. Today the "corps" in Chemnitz is one of the
youngest and liveliest in Germany. Salvation Army meetings in circus tents
date back to the early days of this social and evangelistic ministry. A
century ago the church's founder, William Booth, preached in a circus in
Berlin. Today the Salvation Army has 3 million members and adherents in more
than 100 countries. (Assist News Service)
'TELEPHONIC PRAYER MEETING' ADDRESSES MORAL SLIDE IN U.S.
A California pastor is encouraging Christians to go to their telephones once
a week for a nationwide "telephonic prayer meeting." This hour-long "prayer
conference call" takes place every Wednesday and is open to concerned
Christians across the U.S. The weekly event starts at noon (central time)
and is moderated by pastor Wiley Drake in California and chaplain Mark Benz
in Washington, D.C. Drake says the prayer meetings focus on reversing the
nation's moral slide. "We're dealing with subjects like same-sex marriage
which is destroying our families" and attacks on the Pledge of Allegiance.
"We'll be dealing with subjects like standing up for the Ten Commandments,"
he added, "because we know that is the basis of our country. We have sent a
letter to all the congressmen, and we are encouraging them to come on the
line and give us a greeting and a prayer." The California pastor insists
that it is time for American Christians to pray earnestly for true revival
in the nation. To take part, dial (603) 488-0702, access code 619110.
(Religion Today/Agape Press)
MOST CHURCH LEADERS IN BRITAIN RECOMMEND 'THE PASSION'
Seventy-nine percent of British church leaders would recommend Mel Gibson's
film, "The Passion of the Christ," indicates a survey by London's Premier
Christian Radio. The research, carried out among clergy who attended
regional preview screenings by the station in March, also revealed that 81
percent of them felt the film was a "sound reflection of the message of the
Christian gospels." Nearly 400 church leaders from various denominations
took part in the special survey after seeing the film. More than 5,500
clergy saw the film in 16 regional previews held in major cities ranging
from Glasgow to Southampton. Peter Kerridge, managing director of Premier
Christian Radio, says, "Through bringing Christian leaders from different
denominations together for these screenings, we seem to have brought about
an amazing sense of unity among them on the subject -- the vast majority of
them are recommending the film to their congregations, parishes and
communities." The controversial film entered the U.K. movie chart at No. 1
this week, achieving the highest opening ever for a subtitled film at more
than $3.6 million. "We helped to get the church ready for this film, and
these figures demonstrate that the church has been busy promoting this
important film -- with great success," Kerridge says. (Assist News Service)
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Zprávy HCJB 6.4.2004
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