Zprávy HCJB 23.4.2004

 V IRÁKU POKRAČUJE I PŘES RIZIKA DISTRIBUCE PÍSMA V ARABŠTINĚ
    Pokusy narušit Američany vedenou koalici v Iráku vedly k útokům zaměřeným na cizince, včetně humanitárních pracovníků a misionářů. Roger Massey z World Bible Translation Center říká, že to je důvod, proč při své službě úzce spolupracují s místními sbory. Přestože je to riskantní, Massey potvrzuje plány na pomoc při distribuci Písma v této oblasti. „Nemůžu prozradit jména těch, se kterými spolupracujeme, a to z bezpečnostních důvodů. Ale začínáme rozesílat tisíce současných arabských překladů Nového zákona ve spolupráci se dvěma místními misijními organizacemi, které se evangelizací v Iráku zabývají.“ Massey vyzývá k modlitbám za bezpečí a otevřená srdce. „Když misijní organizace rozvíjejí dobré a zdravé pracovní vztahy s místními vůdci, samotní Iráčané jim vycházejí vstříc a pomáhají pracovníkům, kteří tam jsou. Čím hlouběji proniknou do jejich práce, tím více chápou, odkud pro ně může přijít bezpečí.“ (Mission Network News)
 
 VŠECHNY ZPRÁVY V ANGLIČTINĚ
   UGANDAN POLICE ARREST 5 MORE SUSPECTS IN MISSIONARY MURDER CASE Ugandan police have just arrested five more people in connection with the March 18 murders of American missionaries Warren and Donna Pett who served with Africa Inland Mission. That brings to 12 the number of people held in connection with the deaths. For a year the Petts had served at the Esther Evangelical School of Technology in Aringa, teaching agricultural and home-making skills. Police think the incident stems from a group of local residents who resented a church outreach project on their land. The college compound where the Petts worked was near Yumba in northwestern Uganda, an area that is 90-percent Muslim. Friends and family members set up a memorial fund in the Petts' name to support continued projects. They range from agriculture to surgery, but all contribute in some way to the planting of maturing churches and the effective preparation of church leaders. (Mission Network News) * HCJB World Radio, together with the Evangelical Churches of Kampala and FEBA Radio, broadcasts the gospel locally in Uganda on two FM transmitters. HCJB World Radio also worked with Jesus Focus Ministries to put a 500-watt FM station on the air in Masaka. Programs air in English and Luganda. TRIAL SET FOR BLIND CHRISTIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST IN CUBA Juan Carlos González Leiva, a blind Christian human rights activist in Cuba, will be put on trial in Cuba Tuesday, April 27, after spending more than two years in prison. González will go to trial alongside nine other dissidents and human rights activists in the country. The Cuban government has requested that he be sentenced to six years in prison. The announcement came on the same day as the European parliament passed a resolution condemning Cuba's treatment of dissidents and just a week after the U.N. Commission on Human Rights passed a similar resolution criticizing Cuba's record on human rights. González, who was arrested March 4, 2002, along with a number of human rights activists, has reported continued ill health and mistreatment at the hands of the prison authorities. His wife, Maritza, said earlier this year that she was forced to make frequent journeys to the prison, a day's journey from their home in Ciego de Avila, in order to provide him with enough food to survive. González was formally charged with "public disorder, disobedience, resisting authority and acts of disrespect" in mid-2002. He is a lawyer and has been active in the Cuban democracy movement and the Varela Project, calling for a referendum on civil liberties such as freedom of speech and assembly. (Christian Solidarity Worldwide) CHRISTIAN SONG PROMPTS CHINESE OFFICIALS TO CANCEL CONCERT The day before the chorus of the China National Orchestra was to perform at the Zhongshan Music Hall in central Beijing, authorities ordered the cancellation of the concert. The concert, conducted by Su Wenxing, had been planned for Saturday, April 17, and was to include the "Easter Chorus," based on Bible stories and written by a Chinese-born Canadian, Huang Anlun. While authorities refused to give any reason for the cancellation, an Associated Press report attributed their actions to the continued growth of Christianity in the country. Su Wenxing became a Christian in 1996 and is the conductor of the Hebei Orchestra. Last year he led Handel's "Messiah" in two cities, concerts that were initially canceled by authorities but later allowed to proceed. (Voice of the Martyrs) WORLD VISION WORKS TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD AID TO 37,000 AFGHAN CHILDREN World Vision is distributing 5,000 tons of food to 37,000 Afghan schoolchildren in the remote western provinces of Ghor and Badghis after shipments of aid arrived from the U.S. earlier this month. The Global U.S. Department of Agriculture Food for Education Program funded the food aid. Established in May 2001 by former senators George McGovern and Robert Dole, the program encourages parents to send their sons and daughters to school -- particularly in countries such as Afghanistan where girls often are denied educational opportunities. Last year only 23,000 of the region's 60,000 school-age children were enrolled in school, including 3,400 girls. World Vision is also training 675 teachers and building five new schools in western Afghanistan with funding from the program. World Vision also distributed emergency aid to 415 families affected by the tornado that ripped through northern Bangladesh on Wednesday, April 14. The tornado brought a horrific start to the Bengali New Year, causing devastation in 15 villages from the districts of Mymensingh and Netrokona. Houses, schools, markets, livestock and crops have been destroyed or damaged. (World Vision/Mission Network News) * HCJB World Radio is bringing words of hope and encouragement to people across Afghanistan via radio. Together with partners, Christian broadcasts go out via AM in three of the country's major languages, Turkmen, Uzbek and Southern Uzbek. ARABIC SCRIPTURE DISTRIBUTION IN IRAQ MOVES AHEAD DESPITE RISKS Attempts to fracture the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq have led to insurgents targeting foreigners, including aid workers and missionaries. World Bible Translation Center's Roger Massey says that's why the ministry is working closely with the indigenous church. Although risky, Massey confirms plans to assist in Scripture distribution in the region. "I'm not able to divulge names of ministries that we're working with for security reasons. But we're starting off by sending thousands of our contemporary Arabic New Testaments in with a couple of different ministries that are involved in two different kinds of evangelism in Iraq." Massey urges prayer for safety and open hearts. "When ministries are establishing very good and healthy working relationships with community leaders, the Iraqis themselves vouch for and cover the workers that are there. The more dug in they get, they find that that's where their security is coming from." (Mission Network News) TATTOOED PASTOR'S IN-YOUR-FACE EVANGELISM IMPACTS NEW YORK New York City preacher Rick Del Rio has redefined what it means to be Pentecostal with his tattoos and earring. The pastor of Abounding Grace Ministries (AGM) doesn't apologize for any of them because he and his congregation are busy trying to minister to punks, anarchists, Satanists, vampires, bikers, gays, drug addicts, alcoholics, the homeless, seniors and families from low-income public housing. "We deal with people nobody wants, so we kind of look like them," Del Rio, 51, said. His multiracial church is a flagship for creative inner-city evangelism programs that work. Every year the ministry and its in-your-face evangelism touches thousands of lives. "Our church is a clinic where the sick and broken can come," says Del Rio. Marilyn Martínez, who attends the church now, adds: "This is like a little house of miracles. I'm not doing drugs anymore. It's wonderful to serve Jesus." Programs include a Christian coffeehouse, youth outreaches, evangelistic events, block parties, after-school learning programs, creative arts and a 90-acre camp in the Catskill Mountains. Because of Del Rio's connections in the streets, the police call him regularly to help defuse potentially explosive situations. He once coaxed 12 gang members to his apartment to prevent a retaliatory gang war. "I prayed with them and let them vent," he says. "I didn't say, 'Don't curse,' and I got to build relationships." (Religion Today/Charisma News Service) * * * * * * * * * * * * *
 

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