|
Za určitý mezník může být považována žaloba jednoho australského evangelikálního křesťana na australskou televizní stanici za to, že se ve svém vysílání rouhá. V tomto případě může být uplatněn nový zákon, který využívají náboženské skupiny, pokud se cítí uraženy. Andre van den Linden říká, že je čas, aby si křesťanství zjednalo stejný respekt v médiích jako jiná náboženství. K podpoře svého tvrzení využívá dva roky starý anti-diskriminační zákon ve státě Victoria. Třiašedesátiletý van den Linden, učitel v důchodu, řekl pro Cybercast News, že si stěžuje televizním stanicím už pět let, že používají jméno Páně ve svých programech ke klení. Neměl však nikdy úspěch. Říká, že obvykle se dočká odpovědi, že takový jazyk odráží společenský standard. Ale jak říká van den Linden, „Asi se pohybují v jiné společnosti, než já.“ Před několika lety dal státní parlament možnost občanům, aby byli odškodněni v případě, že byla porušena jejich náboženská či rasová práva. (Religion Today/AgapePress) |
|
BELIEVERS RUSH AID TO NORTH KOREA AFTER DEVASTATING TRAIN CRASH
International help is on its way to North Korea following a devastating a
train crash/explosion on Thursday, April 22. While some relief efforts are
stymied by North Korea's refusal to allow relief supplies to cross land
borders, International Aid's Myles Fish says, "We have a shipment en route
to North Korea right now that contains all of the equipment necessary to
outfit a local hospital, and we are in communication with a partner agency
on site that is trying to coordinate some disaster relief assistance for the
victims of the train crash." North Korea is notably hostile to believers, so
ministry comes slowly. Fish is hopeful that aid efforts will lead to
witnessing opportunities. "They will not know, necessarily, that the
hospital itself is being supported by a Christian organization, but in that
kind of an environment, it's our hope that we'll be able to establish the
relationships and eventually have the opportunity, because of those
relationships, to share our faith in Christ." By April 26 the death toll
from the explosion in Ryongchon stood at about 160 with more than 1,300
people listed as injured. Nearly half of the dead were children in a school
torn apart by the blast. The disaster left thousands of residents homeless.
Aid workers said that North Korea was short of even basic equipment such as
sutures and intravenous drips, and that donated goods were being used up as
quickly as they could be supplied. (Mission Network News/MSNBC News)
BOLIVIAN VILLAGERS OBSERVE TRUCE AFTER MOB DESTROYS CHURCH
Quechua-speaking villagers in Bolivia are living under an uneasy truce two
months after an irate mob destroyed the sole evangelical church in their
remote Andean community. On March 9 town officials in Chucarasi signed an
accord with members of the local Church of God that obliges the evangelicals
to "respect" traditional animist customs in return for the right to continue
holding worship services in the community. However, the congregation is not
allowed to rebuild its demolished chapel. A special commission composed of
police, military and judiciary officials, along with representatives of the
ecumenical association, Churches United, hammered out the agreement during
day-long negotiations with the Chucarasi townspeople. Conflict erupted in
the community in late February following the celebration of Carnaval, a
festival the village customarily observes with Christo-pagan rituals. Since
converting to evangelical Christianity several years ago, members of the
Church of God in Chucarasi have declined to take part in Carnaval
celebrations. When a severe hailstorm struck the village two days after the
festival, animist villagers became convinced that evil spirits were
punishing the community for allowing the Christians to abandon tradition.
Village leaders later insisted that the evangelical believers either
renounce their faith or leave the community. Three of the evangelicals
declared their intention to return to animist practice, but the majority of
the 36-member congregation remains firm in their faith. (Compass)
BLIND CHRISTIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST IN CUBA GETS 4-YEAR SENTENCE
Juan Carlos González Leiva, a blind Christian human rights lawyer in Cuba,
was handed a four-year sentence Tuesday, April 26, for his part in a
peaceful demonstration two years ago. He was tried in his hometown of Ciego
de Avila, and no international observers were allowed at the trial, only
relatives of the defendants. He was convicted of "disrespect against the
head of state" along with other charges of "public disorder, disobedience
and resisting authority." Authorities have not yet specified whether the two
years he has already spent in prison will count towards the four-year
sentence. González was arrested in March 2002 with nine others who had
gathered at a local hospital to draw attention to the plight of a journalist
who had been admitted there after being attacked by Cuban police. The group
entered the hospital to pray and shout slogans such as, "Up with human
rights" and "Christ the King lives." Then they sat down in a side hallway in
silent protest. An hour later the group was surrounded by the rapid response
unit of the local security forces who beat them before taking them into
custody. González suffered a blow to the head that required four stitches.
Tina Lambert, Christian Solidarity Worldwide's advocacy director, said:
"Once again the Cuban authorities have mistreated and sentenced a man simply
for standing up for human rights. . . . [The court's] decision is further
proof of the authorities' disregard for justice and resistance to
international pressure." (Christian Solidarity Worldwide)
AUSTRALIAN CHRISTIAN TAKES TV NETWORK TO COURT FOR USING PROFANITY
In what could be a landmark case, an evangelical Christian is taking a major
Australian TV network to court for using profanity on the air. The focus of
the case is a new law being used by religious groups that feel vilified.
Andre van der Linden says it's time Christianity were afforded the same
respect in the media as other religions. To back that statement, he is
taking advantage of the State of Victoria's two-year-old anti-discrimination
law. The 63-year-old van der Linden, a retired teacher, told Cybercast News
that he has been complaining to television stations for five years about the
use of the Lord's name as a swear word in programs, but to no avail. He says
the usual response is that such language reflects community standards. But
as van der Linden puts it, "They must move in a different community from
mine." A few years ago the state parliament put a structure in place that
allows citizens to seek redress if they feel they are being vilified on
religious or racial grounds. (Religion Today/Agape Press)
ANTICIPATION BUILDS FOR NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER IN U.S.
Plans are falling into place for this year's National Day of Prayer in the
U.S. Thursday, May 6. This year's theme is, "Let Freedom Ring." Bible
Pathway Ministries' "Bible Reading Marathon" -- reading through God's Word
in a public setting -- is tied to the celebration. Bible Pathway's Barbara
Bivens says the theme is appropriate as well as the venue -- on the Capitol
steps in Washington, D.C." Bivens says she's excited about growing interest
in the Bible Reading Marathons as spiritual hunger appears to be increasing
nationwide. "Over the years, we've held these events anywhere from the Mount
of Olives, to Red Square to Las Vegas. We've had requests from several new
states asking for material to set up a Bible Reading Marathon. So we have a
wide scope of areas that have seen the importance of this public reading of
God's Word." (Mission Network News)
* RETIRED CANADIAN HCJB WORLD RADIO MISSIONARY DIES AT AGE 75
Retired HCJB World Radio missionary Dorothy (Holland) Wolfram of Richmond,
British Columbia, went to be with the Lord following a five-month battle
with cancer Saturday, April 24, two days after her 75th birthday.
Born in Toronto, Ontario, on April 22, 1929, Dorothy is survived by her
husband, Gordon, and three children: Carolyn, an HCJB World Radio missionary
teacher in Ecuador; Don, who works and resides in Palm Harbor, Fla., with
his wife, Mary, and three children; and Anne who married Bob Amos on April
10, just two weeks before her mother's death.
The Wolframs served with the ministry in Ecuador for nearly 30 years before
officially retiring to Canada in 1989. Since then Dorothy remained active in
the local church, ladies' groups, Bible studies, Union Gospel Mission and
representing HCJB World Radio at mission events.
Dorothy graduated from Miller Memorial Bible Institute in Pambrun,
Saskatchewan, in 1950. After working in the business world for several
years, she joined the staff at HCJB World Radio-Canada in Ontario in 1956.
She served with Dr. Paul Roberts, one of the founders of the mission's
healthcare ministries. He challenged her to become a missionary in Ecuador.
In preparation, Dorothy began language study at the Spanish Language
Institute in San Jose, Costa Rica, in April 1958. That's where she met
Gordon Wolfram, also a Canadian, who was then with the Moravian Mission,
preparing for service in Honduras.
They became engaged in language school, but then were apart for 13 months as
Gordon served in Honduras for a year while Dorothy began missionary work in
Ecuador, serving as a secretary to Joe Springer, Abe Van Der Puy and Bob
Savage. She was also a counselor at the first English youth camp at Los
Cerros, Ecuador, in 1959.
Gordon arrived in Ecuador in January 1960 to join Dorothy, and they were
married in Quito on Feb. 3, 1960. While Gordon, a civil engineer, served
primarily in Quito, the Wolframs were transferred to Shell in 1967 where he
administered the Vozandes Hospital and ran the guesthouse together with
Dorothy for almost five years.
After Shell came 11/2 years in Pifo, home of HCJB World Radio's
international transmitter site. Then they returned to Quito with Gordon
taking many trips to places needing civil engineering work. In Pifo, Dorothy
was involved in the national school. In Quito she helped out at the
bookstore and worked in English correspondence.
Dorothy also ministered to Ecuadorian ladies via Bible studies, helping the
late Char Swanson start the Camino de la Luz (Way of Light) program. Nearly
2,000 Ecuadorians have completed the basic course with hundreds giving their
lives to Christ.
A memorial service is set for 2 p.m. Saturday, May 1, at Richmond Faith
Church in Richmond, B.C. Ian Leaver, director of the HCJB World Radio-Canada
office in Mississauga, Ont., will also take part in the service. A memorial
service is also planned for English Fellowship Church in Quito starting at 4
p.m. Friday, April 30. (HCJB World Radio)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * |
Zprávy HCJB 27.4.2004
Zpět