|
V neděli 23. května došlo během bohoslužby k napadení Společenství Boží církve v oblasti Gampaha na Srí Lance. Skupina asi 20 lidí, kteří byli ozbrojeni holemi a tyčemi, začala nejdříve slovně napadat společenství. Někteří účastníci bohoslužby byli napadeni, včetně ženy, která byla mylně považována za pastorovu manželku. Pastorovi, kterému se podařilo před útočníky ukrýt, se dovolal ze své skrýše na policii. Židle, kazatelna a hudební nástroje byly rozbity. Když přijela policie, všichni útočníci, kromě jednoho, utekli. Toto je už druhý případ útoku na církevní sbor během posledních dvou nedělí. V uplynulém týdnu byl pastor Společenství Boží církve informován, že jeho sbor bude napaden. Přesto se rozhodl, že se bohoslužba bude konat jako obvykle. (International Christian Concern) |
|
SECRET POLICE ARREST 2 CHURCH OFFICIALS IN ERITREA
Christian Solidarity Worldwide received reports that two senior church
officials in Eritrea were arrested on Sunday, May 23. Brother Haile, General
Chairman of the Eritrean Full Gospel Church, and Dr. Kuflu, former Chairman
and National Committee member are both well known in Eritrea and
internationally. They were taken from their homes by secret police and are
being held in an unknown location. As the highest ranking Christians to be
detained in Eritrea to date, their arrest is a development of serious
concern. Meanwhile, protestors campaigned outside the Eritrean Embassy in
London May 21, praying for religious freedom in response to the continuing
persecution of Christians in Eritrea. May 22 marked the second anniversary
of the Eritrean government banning all but three denominations in the
country. Eritrean security forces have raided dozens of homes since the
activities of all but the Orthodox, Lutheran Evangelical and Roman Catholic
churches were banned in May 2002. Authorities have arrested hundreds of
Christians, including young children, simply for having a Bible or attending
a Christian meeting. There are reported to be at least 375 Christians in
prison, many having served nearly two years. (Christian Solidarity
Worldwide)
SUDANESE ANGLICANS EVICTED FROM KHARTOUM HEADQUARTERS
Khartoum police forcibly evicted the Episcopal Church in Sudan (ECS) from
its provincial headquarters in Khartoum on May 20, declaring that the
property had been sold to a new owner. The building had served as a meeting
place for Christians of all denominations since 1993, as well as housing
church visitors from abroad. According to an Islamic court order, the
property was sold two months ago to an Arab businessman by Gabriel Roric,
who represented himself as the ECS Archbishop. Roric, a former cabinet
minister in the Islamist government of Sudan, was dismissed from the
bishopric of Rumbek in May 2003 for failure to obey church rules. Bishop of
Khartoum Ezekiel Kondo declared in a written statement, “We suspect that the
government might be behind Roric to do this, to put the ECS in a difficult
position.” Part of the worldwide Anglican communion, the ECS is the largest
Christian church in Sudan with 5 million members. (Compass Direct)
SRI LANKA CHURCH ATTACKED, CONGREGATIONAL MEMBERS ASSAULTED
On Sunday, May 23, the Assembly of God Church in the District of Gampaha,
Sri Lanka, was attacked during a service. A group of about 20 people armed
with clubs and sticks arrived and began to verbally abuse the congregation.
Some worshippers were assaulted, including a lady who was mistaken for the
pastor’s wife. The pastor, who managed to hide from the mob, succeeded in
calling the police from his hiding place. Chairs, the pulpit and musical
instruments were broken. When the police arrived, all the attackers, except
one, managed to escape. This was the second church to be attacked in the
last two Sundays. In the intervening week, the Pastor of the Assembly of God
Church received information that his church would be attacked, but decided
to hold the worship service as usual. (International Christian Concern)
VIETNAM’S ATROCITIES AGAINST MONTAGNARDS CONFIRMED
In spite of efforts by Vietnamese authorities to minimize and cover up their
brutal repression of demonstration attempts by the Montagnard ethnic
minority this past Easter, consistent information is emerging that confirms
atrocities. During Easter weekend, April 10 and 11, Montagnards in Vietnam’s
Central Highlands sought to call attention to harsh injustices they suffer
at the hands of communist authorities and ethnic Vietnamese settlers.
However, Vietnamese security forces attacked the demonstrators, causing many
deaths, injuries, arrests, and the flight of many more to unknown locations.
One church leader reported, “They [state officials] have promised to deliver
to us great hardship and pain. They specifically promise us fear and
revenge. Day by day the animosity between the races grows. It is virtually
impossible to see how this can now be resolved.” (Compass Direct)
GOSPEL RECORDINGS IN INDIA’S IRULA LANGUAGE IMPACT TRIBE
Audio Scripture Ministries continues to report encouraging growth for their
India outreach. In parts of India, there is an unusual freedom distributing
God’s Word in audio. Church leaders are excited about having recently
recorded the gospel of Mark in the Irula language. What makes this even more
exciting is that this is the only translated portion available in the Irula
language. In addition to the gospel of Mark, some songs and Bible stories
were recorded. These were dedicated and distributed on April 18th, when 20
listening kits were also given out to those in a small Irula tribal village.
(Mission Network News)
* “The Voice of the Great Southland,” the shortwave station operated by HCJB
World Radio-Australia since January 2003, airs more than 44 hours of weekly
English programming across India. Daily Urdu programs joined the lineup in
July 2003, and since then programs have been added in Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil,
Nepali, Chattisgarhi, Hmar and Manipuri. Most of the programming is produced
at a studio and follow-up center established in New Delhi in 2003.
JEWISH LEADERS FROM 40+ COUNTRIES DISCUSS HOPE AMID ANTI-SEMITISM
About a thousand Jewish leaders from more than 40 countries gathered in
Budapest to discuss the challenges and opportunities of being Jewish in the
enlarged European Union amid concern about anti-Semitism on the continent.
Delegates at the 3rd General Assembly of European Jewry, which concluded May
23, reported that despite the rising tide of sectarian hate crimes, the new
Europe is experiencing a revival of Jewish life and culture not seen in more
than a century. Delegates hope Eastern European Jews will contribute to what
they describe as Europe’s largest reawakening of Jewish life and culture in
over a century, said Jonathan Joseph, who is president elect of the European
Council of Jewish Communities. (Assist News Service/Crosswalk) |
Zprávy HCJB 25.5.2004
Zpět