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IRANIAN POLICE ARREST CHRISTIAN PASTOR AND FAMILY
Iranian police arrested a Protestant Christian pastor in the northern part
of the country this week, jailing him, along with his wife and two teenage
children. Pastor Khosroo Yusefi and his wife Nasrin were arrested on May 23
in Chalous, a town along the Caspian Sea coast. Together with their
18-year-old son and a daughter age 15, they remain imprisoned on unknown
charges. “The police have found out that people have come to Christ in that
city, that’s all,” an Iranian Christian reported. “We don’t know whether
somebody was spying on them, or what.” Reportedly, dozens of believers from
two of Yusefi’s church groups were jailed in the first week of May and later
released. However, Sunday’s arrest marks the first time that the entire
family of a Christian leader has been taken into custody. The majority of
Christians meeting in secret house-church groups in Iran are former Muslims.
(Compass Direct)
* HCJB World Radio, in cooperation with FEBA Radio, broadcasts weekly
Christian programs to Iran via shortwave in the Luri language. There are
less than 100 known believers among the 4 million Luri speakers.
PAKISTANI CHRISTIAN ATTACKED BY POLICEMAN FOR COMMENTS ON ISLAM
International Christian Concern (ICC) has received reports that Samuel X, a
Christian man, has been admitted to General Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan as
a result of being attacked by a policeman regarding his comments about
Islam. It is possible the incident occurred during an interrogation, as
Samuel was previously being held at the police station. Samuel is said to be
on life support, but not showing signs of life, according to a hospital
source. ICC representatives have attempted to gain access to Samuel but are
being blocked by the police. (International Christian Concern)
HAITI'S RURAL POOR HIT HARD BY MILITARY COUP, FLOODING
The double scourge of military coup and deadly flooding threatens Haiti's
attempts at recovery. In the north, the successful effort to force out
President Jean Bertrand Aristide left a trail of devastation in its wake.
While some aid came in, it was diverted to meet needs in the south when
deadly flooding hit there. The result has been skyrocketing prices and
scarce food supplies. Eva DeHart, of For Haiti With Love, says survival and
restoration will be a real challenge. "So many things have been destroyed
that jobs they used to have simply aren't there anymore because the
buildings that they operated out of aren't there. This recovery is going to
take a long time, and there are going to be a lot of people who die before
it gets squared away." She added that safety is a real concern for those who
are lending assistance. "The people who are willing to help don't feel safe.
We need something in place in the way of security and peace so that people
feel like they can go down and help and not be in danger." (Mission Network
News)
TEEN MINISTRY IN UKRAINE HELPS BRING ANSWERS TO TOUGH QUESTIONS
Like teens in any other part of the world, Ukrainian youth are searching for
answers. Roman Matviyiv, with New Hope International, says his team can talk
to teens about important issues through educational programs in their
schools. “We teach them about abstinence. We talk about problems from a
Biblical perspective. After that, we invite kids to youth clubs. Christian
youth clubs are neutral territory. Kids feel free to come because we have
fun, we have music, and we do some messages also.” Matviyiv says most teens
have tried being self-reliant but times are changing. “They don’t have
assurance about the future. They’re not sure about life and there are a lot
of questions, a lot of doubts. We have to use that opportunity to share
about Christ.” (Mission Network News)
* HCJB World Radio has worked with local churches to establish radio
ministries in Kiev and four other cities in Ukraine. Stations in two
Ukrainian cities are also affiliated with New Life Radio, a Russian
satellite radio network started with HCJB World Radio’s help in 2000. In
addition, Ukrainian programs also air daily via shortwave from two
international broadcasting sites.
BILLY GRAHAM’S LOS ANGELES AREA CRUSADE RESCHEDULED
The Executive Leadership Team of the Greater Los Angeles Billy Graham
Crusade announced their decision to reschedule the Crusade at the Rose Bowl
in Pasadena from July 29-August 1 as originally planned, to new dates of
November 18-21, 2004. The change provides the evangelist with additional
time to heal and undergo physical therapy to recover from a procedure last
week to stabilize a fractured pelvis following a fall in his home on May 14.
It will also provide the nearly 750 participating churches representing 77
denominations additional time for planning, preparation and participation
for his seventh evangelistic crusade in Southern California. The new dates
fall on the 55th anniversary of Graham’s historic 1949 Los Angeles Crusade
when his public ministry was launched into national and international
prominence. (Billy Graham Evangelistic Association)
*HOCKEY PROGRAM IN ECUADOR RECEIVES BOOST FROM NHL PLAYERS
Through its Goals and Dreams Program, the National Hockey League Players’
Association (NHLPA) is making dreams come true for children who normally
would have no chance to play ice hockey. In response to a request submitted
by Canadian missionary Bill Cheung, of HCJB World Radio, the Palacio del
Hielo (Ice Palace) ice hockey program in Quito, Ecuador, received 30 sets of
new player equipment and 5 sets of goalie equipment from the NHLPA in March.
Part of the requirement for the equipment was that the benefiting program
needed to include underprivileged children. Casa Gabriel of Youth World
International works in conjunction with the Palacio del Hielo to provide ice
hockey training to street kids, using the sport to enhance its discipleship
program. (HCJB World Radio) |
Zprávy HCJB 27.5.2004
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