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Donedávna bylo pro křesťanské pracovníky v Izraeli celkem snadné obdržet vízum. Nicméně podle zpráv Middle East Concern (MEC) došlo v tomto směru ke změně. Místo prodloužení víz o dva nebo tři roky jako dříve jsou procedury vedoucí k prodloužení zpožďovány nebo jsou víza prodloužena jen o několik měsíců. Když dojde ke zpoždění, stojí křesťanští pracovníci před problémem – jestliže zůstanou, jsou zde nelegálně; jestliže se rozhodnou odjet, čelí hrozbě zatčení na letišti nebo možnosti, že v budoucnu nedostanou povolení ke vstupu do země. Zpráva MEC z 27. dubna říká, že tyto problémy ovlivnily různé misijní skupiny v zemi. Spojená křesťanská rada Izraele (UCCI), místní kapitula Světové evangelické aliance, vydala zprávu, že pouze pastorové, jejichž sbory mají alespoň 500 členů, obdrží prodloužení víz. Tím je ohrožena práce množství misií. Římsko-katolická a pravoslavná církev čelí podobným problémům. (Voice of the Martyrs) |
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MUSLIM MOB KILLS, BEHEADS INDONESIAN SEMINARY DIRECTOR, STUDENT
The afternoon of Sunday, April 25, Septer Sanabuky, director of a Christian
seminary on the small island of Ambon, Indonesia, and a seminary student,
Berti Manopo, were riding a motorcycle to a ministry outreach when a mob
blocked their way and attacked them. The two men were tortured, beheaded and
their bodies burned. Their remains were later recovered for burial. Partners
International works closely with the Evangelical Theological Seminary of
Indonesia (ETSI) which operates the Ambon seminary and 23 others throughout
the archipelago. The deaths of Sanabuky and Manopo come in the wake of
violence in Ambon last weekend which left more than 30 people dead. Fires
were also set to hundreds of houses and a Christian university. The violence
is the worst since warring factions signed a peace deal in February 2002,
ending three years of clashes between Christians and Muslims that killed up
to 10,000 people. It also comes as Indonesia prepares for its first direct
presidential election in July. (Partners International)
* HCJB World Radio worked with local Indonesian partners to establish a
local Christian station in Sumba Island. Plans are also being made to
establish stations on Roti Island and at Kupang in West Timor. Equipment was
sent from the HCJB World Radio Engineering Center in Elkhart, Ind.
PASSAGE OF CONTROVERSIAL LAW IN CANADA DISTURBS EVANGELICALS
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) is deeply disturbed about the
possible impact of Bill C-250 on religious freedom in Canada. Bill C-250 is
a private members bill that includes "sexual orientation" in groups
protected against the spread of hate propaganda in the Criminal Code. The
Senate passed the bill despite an outpouring of concern from thousands of
Canadians. Dr. Janet Epp Buckingham, director of Law and Public Policy of
the EFC, said, "This legislation comes at a time when issues of sexual
morality and marriage are at the forefront of public debate. Without a clear
definition of what is criminal hatred, it is ambiguous what public
statements will be considered criminal." Bill C-250 adds "sexual
orientation" to the list of "identifiable group" in Canada's Criminal Code,
making it illegal to speak out against homosexuality. This could potentially
label parts of the Bible as "hate literature." EFC spokesman Brian Wilkie
says the bill "creates a great deal of concern for believers who want to be
able to speak about issues, particularly of sexual morality. And there's a
great deal of uncertainty created by it. What we're concerned about is it
will be used much more aggressively." Wilkie expects this legislation to
have an impact on ministries such as the International Bible Society and
Gideons. "Christians are going to be more careful and trying not to run
afoul with this law. What we hope is that Christians will continue to do
what God is calling them to do and that they will continue to distribute
Scripture and be willing to take that chance and take the risk."
(Evangelical Fellowship of Canada/Mission Network News)
25 MILLION AFRICANS SET TO PRAY FOR TRANSFORMATION OF CONTINENT
Christians from across Africa will tear down ethnic and denominational walls
and join together in prayer in more than 1,100 stadiums Sunday, May 2, for
the fourth annual "Transformation Africa." The initiative, which began in
2001, was the vision of South African Christian businessman David
Spangenverg. "The vision began when Christians gathered together in Cape
Town for a day of prayer and repentance," he said. "The next year the
challenge was extended to the provinces throughout South Africa. The third
one in 2003 took place throughout southern Africa. Then the fourth leg this
year is the whole of the continent." Christians from 58 nations are expected
to take part this year, including those in the "10/40 Window" where they
will meet privately in cell groups or homes instead of stadiums for security
reasons. "Our prayer is that church leaders will come into unity,"
Spangenverg adds. "The biggest frustration is that with all the towns and
cities in Africa, there's a huge gap between denominational Christian
churches. The second prayer need is for people around the world to pray that
God would touch Africa on May 2 and heal and change our continent." (Assist
News Service)
CHRISTIAN WORKERS FACE DIFFICULTIES GETTING VISAS FOR ISRAEL
Until recently, receiving a visa to serve as a Christian worker in Israel
was relatively easy. However, Middle East Concern (MEC) reports that this
has changed recently. Rather than renewing visas for one or two years, as
before, many visa renewals are being delayed or extended for only a few
months. When visas requests are delayed, the Christian worker faces a
dilemma -- to stay means being an illegal alien; to leave means facing the
possibility of arrest at the airport or being refused future admission to
the country. An April 27 press release from MEC says the problems have
affected various ministries in the country. The United Christian Council in
Israel (UCCI), a local chapter of the World Evangelical Alliance, reports
that the only ones being allowed visa renewals are pastors with at least 500
members in their church. The work of many ministries has been seriously
affected. Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches have faced similar problems.
(Voice of the Martyrs)
SUDANESE POLICE IMPOSE ISLAMIC LAW ON CHRISTIAN WOMAN IN KHARTOUM
Sudan's Islamic regime in Khartoum lashed and fined a young Christian
Sudanese woman on Wednesday, April 14, for not wearing a headscarf in public
in the capital city. Cecilia John Holland, 27, was traveling by minibus to
her home in the Khartoum suburb of Haj Yousif on the night of April 13 when
she was arrested by a group of 10 public-order policemen. The police told
Holland that no one in Khartoum, "even a non-Muslim," was exempt from
Islamic bans against wearing improper dress. Earlier this month, the
Khartoum government refused to compromise on its insistence that Islamic law
govern all Sudanese citizens residing in Khartoum. More than 2 million
non-Muslims from southern Sudan live in and around the capital, displaced by
the last 20 years of civil war between the non-Muslim south and Muslim
north. (Compass)
TABERNACLE EXHIBIT PAVES WAY FOR MINISTRY IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
A life-sized replica of the Old Testament Tabernacle is on the move. Teen
Missions International's Bob Bland says the exhibit will be set up in
Buckeye Lake, Ohio (east of Columbus), at the beginning of May. He says the
exhibit is a great teaching and evangelistic tool. "The tabernacle is kind
of a wordless book picture of Jesus Christ. Every piece of furniture, and
every part of the tabernacle speaks of Jesus Christ." Bland says they're
partnering with another ministry, AIDS Orphans & Street children. Through
funds raised by the tabernacle exhibit, Teen Missions will raise funds for
orphans in Sub-Saharan Africa. "Many of them have never even heard of
Christ, and so we're trying to win those children to Christ so that they can
have eternal life. Even though they don't have parents in this life, the God
really is their Heavenly Father, and that's a blessing." (Mission Network
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Zprávy HCJB 29.4.2004
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