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Tisíce křesťanů po celé Evropě oslavovaly o minulém víkendu během bohoslužeb rozšíření Evropské unie (EU). V sobotu 1. května se 10 jihovýchodních a středoevropských národů připojilo k EU: Polsko, Česká republika, Slovensko, Maďarsko, Slovinsko, Litva, Estonsko, Lotyšsko, Malta a Jižní Kypr. Tím se zvýšila populace v EU z 370 milionů v původních 15 členských státech EU na 455 milionů. Zatímco politici očekávají výhodné ekonomické možnosti rozšířené unie, sbory uvítaly nové příležitosti ke zintenzivnění kontaktů mezi lidmi. Usnadňuje se tím mezinárodní partnerství mezi místními sbory. Zároveň však církevní představitelé vyjádřili určité obavy, které jsou spojeny s rozšířením EU. Občané na západě si uvědomují, že mohou přijít o zaměstnání, protože v nových členských zemích jsou mnohem nižší platy. Katolíci v Polsku se zase obávají přílivu teologického a etického liberalismu. Představitelé katolíků a protestantů v Německu souhlasí s tím, že všechny členské státy EU budou z rozšíření těžit v oblastech hospodářství, kultury a mezilidských vztahů. Nicméně Lutheránská světová federace varuje před nebezpečím, které může vzniknout kvůli novým překážkám mezi východem a západem, protože migrace může vést k ještě většímu růstu chudoby na východě. Hlavní protestantské sbory v Německu vyzvaly občany, aby neviděli jen rizika a nebezpečí, ale i možnost objevit bohatství evropského kulturního a náboženského dědictví. (IDEA) |
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EGYPTIAN POLICE DRIVE VEHICLE INTO CANAL, KILLING 3 COPTIC CHRISTIANS
Egyptian police forces in El Minia arrested a Coptic priest and four other
Coptic Christians in the early-morning hours of Sunday, May 2, loaded them
onto a police truck and drove the speeding vehicle into a water canal,
killing three. Police had arrested Father Ibrahim Mikhaeil of the St. Mena
Church in Taha el Omodeen and the four congregants, charging them with
unlawful construction of a church fence. Police bound their hands and loaded
them into the police van, then drove toward the Ibrahimiya Canal. At the
brink of the canal, the police officer who was driving bailed out of the
vehicle. Mikhaeil and two of the men were killed. The two others remain in
critical condition in a local hospital. Maltreatment of Coptic Christians by
local police is not uncommon; and police officers have repeatedly assaulted
Coptic communities. Recent reports show that Coptic churches in El Minia
face renewed difficulties in obtaining permits for reconstruction and
renovation of their churches. "Local police officials have repeatedly shown
themselves to be antagonistic toward Coptic communities," said Michael
Meunier, president of the U.S. Copts Association. "The killing of this
priest and his laymen marks yet another sign of official injustice
perpetrated against the Coptic community." (U.S. Copts Association)
CHRISTIANS HOPE ENLARGED EUROPEAN UNION WILL BOOST EVANGELISM
Thousands of Christians across Europe celebrated the enlargement of the
European Union (EU) during church services last weekend. On Saturday, May 1,
10 central and southeastern European nations joined the EU: Poland, Czech
Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Malta and
Southern Cyprus. This raised the total EU population to 455 million, up from
370 million in the former 15 EU-member states. While politicians mainly
praised the economic opportunities of the enlarged union, churches welcomed
new chances of intensifying human contacts. International partnerships of
local churches have become even easier. But church leaders also expressed
sympathy for the worries connected with the EU extension. Citizens in the
West are concerned that jobs will be lost to the new member states because
of lower wages. And Catholics in Poland are concerned about the influx of
theological and ethical liberalism. Catholic and Protestant leaders in
Germany agree that all EU member states will benefit from the enlargement in
economic, cultural and human terms. The Lutheran World Federation, however,
warned about the risk of new barriers between East and West as migration
could lead to even greater poverty in the East. Mainline Protestant Churches
in Germany urged citizens not only to see the risks and dangers but also to
discover the wealth of the European cultural and religious heritage. (IDEA)
56 BOYS FREED FROM SLAVERY IN SUDANESE CATTLE CAMPS
Christian Solidarity International worked with the Arab-Dinka Peace
Committee in Sudan to free 56 boys from slavery at the end of April. The
boys were working in the cattle camps of Arab nomads near Warawar in the
borderlands between northern and southern Sudan. The boys had been abducted
during government-sponsored jihad slave raids against blacks and non-Muslim
communities in northern Bahr El Ghazal. Interviews with the freed boys
revealed a pattern of physical and psychological abuse. They reported cases
of beatings, stabbings, rape, racial insults, death threats and forcible
conversion to Islam. Two years ago a U.S. government-sponsored group charged
Sudan's Islamist regime of using slavery as a weapon of war against southern
Sudan. At the beginning of his mission, U.S. Special Envoy for Peace in
Sudan, former Sen. John Danforth, identified the eradication of slavery as a
pre-condition for a just and lasting peace. However, the issue of slavery
has not yet been placed on the agenda of the peace talks between the
Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Army. (Christian
Solidarity International)
CHINA FACES DEARTH OF PASTORS AS CHURCHES KEEP MULTIPLYING
It used to be that Chinese Christians sang their hymns silently, hiding in a
room with closed windows. But these days says that scenario has exploded
beyond the walls into the open, says China Partner Ministries' Erik Burklin.
The organization has seen church growth extend to the construction of
seminaries and more new churches. "In Hubei province . . . there are 500,000
baptized Christians, but only have 60 ordained pastors who shepherd these
Christians," he says. "That's a ratio of one pastor for every 8,300
Christians! This is the challenge that the Chinese church faces today."
Burklin says "lifestyle evangelism" is the most effective method of bringing
more people to Christ. "Christians have a different way of living after they
accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. This is noticed by those who
have regular contact with these new Christians, and as a result, they are
curious about it and learning more about the God whom they have never heard
about." (Mission Network News)
CHURCHES, MINISTRIES EXPAND IN NIGERIA DESPITE INCREASING VIOLENCE
With fierce fighting on the rise in central Nigeria, thousands of refugees
are on the move. The clash is part ethnic feud, part political unrest and
part sectarian conflict. SIM's Malcolm McGregor says the ministry's teams
are keeping a close watch on the conditions. "It does mean that, as problems
arise, our missionaries are in situations where they may get caught up in
riots, or targeted in different ways because of [the work they do]. Like any
good organization in these situations, we obviously look at all these
contingencies and try to plan carefully for them." Despite the unrest,
McGregor says ministry has a great future in Nigeria. "I believe this is one
of the most unique countries in the world today because it exists on this
fault-line between Christianity and Islam. There's a strong church in that
nation that really wants to see God's purposes accomplished." (Mission
Network News)
* 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.
EXPERT ON MISSIONARY KIDS DIES WHILE VISITING AUSTRIA
David Pollock of New York, renowned for his groundbreaking research on
missionary kids, died suddenly Tuesday, April 11, while visiting Vienna,
Austria. He was 64. Pollock was recognized around the world as an authority
on what he called "third culture kids (TCKs)" -- children from a home
culture, growing up in a foreign culture, and blending to form a "third
culture." His work has been varied but focused in its purpose, meeting the
needs of people through teaching and training that brings reconciliation,
compassion, hope, encouragement and practical tools. Since 1980 he had
served as executive director of Interaction International, traveling
worldwide and speaking to many groups of TCKs, educators, parents,
organizational leaders, caregivers and others. He was also on the faculty of
Houghton College in New York, serving as an adjunct professor of sociology
in intercultural studies since 1986. Pollock was a passionate advocate for
TCKs and "internationally mobile personnel." He stressed the importance of
providing a "flow of care" that includes preparation for transition to
overseas assignments, support while living and working cross-culturally, and
preparation for re-entering the home culture. He used events such as
transition seminars, pre-field orientations and adult TCK seminars to help
both children and adults cope with cultural changes. Pollock is survived by
his wife, Betty Lou, two sons and a daughter, and five grandchildren.
(Interaction International) |
Zprávy HCJB 4.5.2004
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