|
KOREJSKÝ NÁBOŽENSKÝ VŮDCE, který byl odsouzen k smrti za objednané vraždy, zemřel v sobotu 19. června na infarkt. Minulý měsíc byl jeho případ znovu prošetřován a rozsudek byl změněn na dva roky odnětí svobody za napomáhání pachatelům vražd. Zdravotní potíže začal mít v pátek, byl převezen do blízké nemocnice a když byla určena diagnóza, upadl do bezvědomí. (Worldwide Religious News)
V ZIMBABWE se vojáci snaží znemožnit práci misijních pracovníků, kteří se starají o sirotky, jejichž rodiče zemřeli na AIDS. Při víkendové evangelizační akci zabavili vojáci všechny potraviny určené pro děti a dali je prasatům. Misijní pracovníci museli pro děti nakoupit nové potraviny. I přes všechny tyto problémy mnoho dětí přijalo během víkendu Ježíše jako svého Pána. (Mission Network News)
KŘESŤANŠTÍ LÉKAŘI, DENTISTÉ se zúčastnili konference v texaském Dallasu. Cílem Křesťanské asociace lékařů a dentistů je vyškolení takových doktorů, jaké by si každý přál. Pomáhají studentům rozumět, co to znamená být křesťanským doktorem se zaměřením na duchovní službu. Jejich ordinace je vlastně misijní pole, na kterém mají možnost denně ukazovat na Ježíše Krista. Lékaři totiž většinou potkávají lidi na křižovatce mezi životem nyní a životem věčným, a tak by měli poskytovat nejen lékařskou pomoc, ale ukázat lidem i Krista. (Religion Today/Agape Press)
NOVĚ OBRÁCENÍ KŘESŤANÉ V INDII čelí hrozbám ze strany hinduistickým přívrženců. Snaží se překazit křesťanské křty, vyhrožují lidem ve vesnicích smrtí, pokud budou v těchto aktivitách pokračovat. Přesto Bůh slyší modlitby, uzdravil množství lidí a vznikají modlitební skupiny, kde se lidé vzájemně podporují. (Missions Insider)
ASOCIACE PRODEJCŮ KŘESŤANSKÉ LITERATURY vyzývá ke změnám prodejní strategie.Některé populární křesťanské knihy se totiž prodávají i v supermarketech a jiných knihkupectvích. (Religion Today/Agape Press/CBA)
TUREČTÍ VESNIČANÉ SE OBRACEJÍ KE KRISTU po návratu jejich misionáře. 47 lidí už bylo pokřtěno a další stovka čeká na tuto událost. Tento misionář vystudoval jako jediný z vesnice univerzitu, dostal se do USA, kde uvěřil a vydal svůj život Kristu. Uvěřil i jeho otec. V roce 2003 se vrátil zpět do své vesnice a začal zde kázat evangelium. Na jeho evangelizační akce chodilo velké množství lidí a většina z nich se rozhodla pro Krista. (Assist News Service)
|
|
KOREAN CULT LEADER LINKED TO KILLINGS DIES IN PRISON
Cho Hee-seong, 72, a religious leader who was once sentenced to death for
ordering killings within his Yeong Saeng (Eternal Life) Church, died
Saturday, June 19, of a heart attack he suffered while imprisoned at the
Seoul Detention Center in South Korea. Cho received a death sentence in
February for ordering members of the church to kill six other members
between 1990 and 1992. Last month, however, a higher court overturned the
verdict, saying he hadn't ordered the killings, but determined that he had
helped the killers escape investigation. The court reduced his sentence to a
two-year prison term. At the time of his death, Cho was awaiting the result
of an appeal that he had filed with the Supreme Court asking it to vacate
the two-year sentence. Police said Cho showed signs of trouble on Friday and
was moved to a hospital near the detention center where he died. The
Ministry of Justice said that Cho had been living in a special cell for
older inmates. "When he was sent to the hospital, he was sweating a little,
but other than that he was aware of his surroundings," a Korean official
said. "But when he was diagnosed by the doctor, he suddenly lost
consciousness." (Worldwide Religious News)
THREATS FROM SOLDIERS IN ZIMBABWE FAIL TO STOP ORPHAN OUTREACH
Zimbabwe's policy of nationalizing farmland is making ministry and other
work difficult. Christian World Outreach works in the region, supporting
AIDS orphans by providing scholarships so they can go to school. However,
Christian World's Dean Yoder says soldiers from Zimbabwe are making it
difficult for national workers. "Our missionaries there had planned a
weekend retreat for 65 of these AIDS orphans," he explains. "A gentleman who
owned a large farm there offered his land to our missionaries to use over
the weekend. He also offered them all the vegetables growing there to help
feed the children. Our missionaries arrived at the farm to discover the
military had surrounded the farm and would not let the missionaries take the
children in." After negotiations, the soldiers allowed the children in, but
not without a catch. "They took all of the vegetables and fed them to the
pigs and other livestock," Yoder said. "So we had to buy them food. And
every time our missionary would come back to the farm, they would harass
him." Despite the difficulties, "many of the children accepted Jesus during
the weekend," Yoder adds. (Mission Network News)
CHRISTIAN DOCTORS, DENTISTS LEAVE CONFERENCE FOCUSED ON MINISTRY
Hundreds of Christian doctors wrapped up their annual conference in Dallas,
Texas, with new insights and encouragement. Dr. David Stevens, president of
the Christian Medical and Dental Associations (CMDA), told attendees at the
conference last week that God has been blessing the organization with many
opportunities to provide crucial information in the debates over social
issues confronting America. Stevens said the CMDA is also helping to shape
an important component of the nation's medical community. "Our goal is to
train up a generation of doctors that are the kind of doctors everybody
wants for their own," he says. "That's why we work on nine out of 10 medical
and dental school campuses in the country where we really focus on helping
students learn what it means to be a Christian doctor." The group also works
to keep doctors and dentists focused on ministry, "helping them understand
that their office practice is their mission field, and they have
opportunities to minister in Christ's name every day." Stevens points out
that healthcare professionals often meet people "at the crossroads of life
between now and eternity," and have an obligation to provide not only great
healthcare but also to point people to Christ. (Religion Today/Agape Press)
NEW CHRISTIANS BRAVE THREATS FROM INDIA'S DUMA CULT
Christian converts in the Indian state of Orissa are bravely facing threats
from "Duma," the name given to a Hindu god worshiped in the region. Local
Hindus offer wine, chickens or money to images of their god for a
restoration of health or other benefits. Followers of Duma, often armed with
clubs, disrupt Christian baptisms by threatening that all in the village
will die if such ceremonies continue. Nevertheless, native missionaries have
been making significant progress. Through their prayers, God has healed
many, and those who have been touched by Christ have been discipled and
formed prayer groups to provide support for each other. These indigenous
missionaries have distributed Christian literature and Bibles as well as
enrolling locals in pastoral training. Spurning Duma has not brought doom,
but new life in Christ. (Missions Insider)
* "The Voice of the Great Southland," the shortwave station operated by HCJB
World Radio-Australia since January 2003, airs more than 59 hours of weekly
Christian programming across South Asia. Programs go out in nine languages:
English, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, Nepali, Tamil, Chattisgarhi, Hmar and
Meeitei. Most of the programming in the Indian languages is produced at HCJB
World Radio's studio in New Delhi. Additional releases from Australia,
primarily in English, reach the South Pacific, Southeast Asia and East Asia.
CBA HEAD SAYS CHRISTIAN BOOKSELLERS IN U.S. NEED NEW STRATEGY
Although Christian books have become an increasingly popular,
multi-million-dollar industry, many Christian bookstores are struggling due
to competition from secular retailers. Bill Anderson, president and chief
executive officer of the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA), says in
order to survive, bookstore owners must change their strategy. At one time
bestsellers such as The Prayer of Jabez and the Left Behind series were
exclusive to Christian stores, but now they can be found at deep discounters
such as Wal-Mart and chains like Barnes and Noble. Christian booksellers
once used such books as traffic builders to draw people to their stores.
However, many customers now go automatically to a superstore rather than a
specialty store for such items, and traffic to Christian bookstores has
waned. Anderson says Christian booksellers need to employ a strategy that
integrates ministry and business. Some are taking that advice by maintaining
their broad selection and great service while adding coffee bars and music
listening centers. Without a clean, well-run, pleasing store that offers
more diverse products and services than ever, Christian book retailers will
keep losing business to secular stores, Anderson says. This year's annual
CBA convention is set for Atlanta June 28-July 1. (Religion Today/Agape
Press/CBA)
TURKISH VILLAGERS TURN TO CHRIST AFTER NATIVE MISSIONARY RETURNS
Without fanfare, a native missionary of Turkey is bringing the gospel to his
own people in western Turkey. Some 47 have already been baptized in the last
year, and more than 100 others are waiting for the same after receiving
proper instruction and discipleship. And its all being done through the
wholehearted cooperation of village authorities.
The story began nearly 30 years ago when a poor boy named Peter could not
afford to go to school. His father told him he could not afford the uniform.
Walking home that same day, they found a school uniform discarded beside the
road that was the boy's exact size. They took it as an answer from God --
today they credit Jesus. Peter was the first boy from his village to
graduate from university. Then he spent some time in the Turkish military
and later moved to the U.S. through some contacts with an American military
officer. He gave his life to Christ at a Turkish believers' conference in
Florida. Transformed by the gospel, Peter led his father to Christ.
In September 2003 Peter returned to his village to preach the gospel on the
invitation of his father. Busloads of villagers welcomed him at the airport,
startling local security guards. About 700 came to that introductory gospel
meeting while government officials sat in the audience. Nearly all in
attendance expressed a desire to have a personal relationship with Christ.
Peter then began to disciple dozens of the new believers. He also helped the
local community, providing school children with uniforms and book money and
replacing the collapsed roof of the local school. Now a community
development center is being built, and residents are working together to
spruce up their community. Recent rulings by Turkish courts have affirmed
the right to freedom of religious expression for Turkish citizens. However,
there is always danger of trouble from other authorities and Muslim
extremists. (Assist News Service)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * |
Zprávy HCJB 22.6.2004
Zpět