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KŘESŤANÉ V IRÁKU VYZÝVAJÍ K MODLITBÁM za mírový přechod k suverenitě Iráku, který proběhne ve středu 30.června. Extrémisté se snaží tento mírový přechod narušit bombovými útoky, výhružkami atentáty a popravami.Jen při posledním útoku bylo zabito více než 60 lidí, stovky zraněny. Výzvy k modlitbám se týkají lidí, kteří převezmou prozatímní vládu do doby, než proběhnou volby. Zástupci církví žádají i o modlitby ze všechny křesťany, kteří jsou v Iráku, za jejich vytrvalost ve víře a svědectví, které vydávají o Kristu svými životy. (Baptist Press/Assist News Service/Anglican Church of Australia/Mission Network News)
500 PASTORŮ V BENINU má za cíl založit do konce roku 2020 dvacet dva tisíce sborů. Mnoho lidí v této části světa je oddáno voodoo. V městě je dokonce muzeum, postavené z kamene, cementu a lidské krve, aby usmířilo bohy. Přesto zde lidé zažívají zázraky, které žádné voodoo nedokáže. Skrze modlitby Ježíš uzdravuje a přivádí k sobě tyto bývalé vyznavače voodoo. Jsou zde zakládány sbory a lidé se obracejí na víru. Křesťané v této části světa přijímají všechna rizika a obětují vše pro Boží království. (Friday Fax/Dawm Ministries)
NOVOU WEBBOVOU STRÁNKU zřídil kanadský Hlas mučedníků v pondělí 21.června, aby byl slyšet hlas pronásledované církve v celém světě. Adresa – www.persecution.tv. Na této stránce je možné číst zprávy a osobní svědectví křesťanů, kteří znají cenu služby Kristu. (Voice of the Martyrs)
KŘESŤANSKÉ SKUPINY V USA prosí o podporu a výzvy senátorům, kteří budou rozhodovat o manželském dodatku v zákoně, který by měl zakázat manželství homosexuálů. K tomu, aby zákon prošel, je potřeba třípětinové většiny v Kongresu. (Religion Today/Charisma News Service)
HCJB WORLD RADIO ZAČÍNÁ VYSÍLAT V POLSKU. Po třech letech čekání na povolení od polské vlády, začalo vysílání 14. května. Mohou ho poslouchat nejen v polském Těšíně a okolí, ale i Poláci žijící na území České republiky. Programy přes den jsou zaměřeny na posluchače, kteří nejsou z evangelikálního prostředí, protože 89% Poláků jsou katolíci. Večerní programy jsou zaměřené více na evangelikální posluchače. (HCJB World Radio)
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CHRISTIANS URGED TO PRAY FOR PEACEFUL TRANSITION IN IRAQ JUNE 30
Believers in Iraq are urging Christians everywhere to pray for a peaceful
transition as Iraqi sovereignty will be restored with the installation of an
interim government Wednesday, June 30. However, extremists intent on
controlling the country -- and its vast oil reserves -- have been
intensifying their efforts to derail a peaceful transition with bomb
attacks, assassination threats and executions. In the latest incident
Thursday, June 24, more than 60 people were killed and hundreds wounded as
car bombs were detonated near a police academy, a hospital and local police
stations in the northern city of Mosul. The attacks took place just as
believers were preparing to bury two young Assyrian Christians who were shot
and killed earlier that day.
"As we get closer to the turnover in government, these kinds of hostilities
may happen more and more," said a Baptist worker living in the country.
"Terrorist attacks now are targeting Iraqis even more than Westerners --
filling Iraqi hearts with fear as June 30 approaches," the worker said.
"Pray for men of peace to serve in the interim government until elections
are held in January. Pray that these men would be elected to places of
leadership and governance in Iraq. Give thanks for the many witnesses. Pray
that all Christians living and working in Iraq, including Western workers
and even believing soldiers, would be bold witnesses of Christ's love and
forgiveness. And each time you hear a news item about Iraq, use it as a
reminder to pray for the people of Iraq during this important time in their
history."
Archbishop Peter Carnley, head of the Anglican Church in Australia, has
called for Anglican churches nationwide to be open on June 30 for a day of
special prayer for peace. He asked all clergy and church members to maintain
prayer vigils throughout the day. Carnley also urged leaders of Australia's
other Christian churches to offer prayers that day. "I ask that faithful and
concerned people everywhere across Australia reflect prayerfully on the
great need for peace and reconciliation at this momentous time," he said.
Meanwhile, Christian ministries are flourishing in the country despite the
unrest, says Vernon Brewer of World Help. The outreach works with a network
of 72 churches, including a large church in Baghdad. Recently the pastor of
that church posted a sign that read, "Jesus is the light of the world." The
Muslims didn't like it, but the pastor didn't back down, Brewer explains.
"He asked them if they respected the Bible as Muslims, and they said, 'Yes.'
Then he asked them if they believed Jesus was a prophet, and they said,
'Yes.' So he turned in the New Testament to John 8:12 where Jesus says, 'I
am the light of the world.' Amazingly, these militant Muslims apologized.
They said, 'We're sorry. We respect you. We want to be your friends.' It was
a God moment." World Help is focusing on New Testament distribution in Iraq.
"The Iraqi people love to read," Brewer says. "They've asked us for more and
more New Testaments." (Baptist Press/Assist News Service/Anglican Church of
Australia/Mission Network News)
500 BENIN PASTORS AIM TO PLANT 22,000 CHURCHES BY YEAR 2020
"Many people in Cotonou, Benin, are devoted to voodoo," wrote Dawn
missionary Berna Salcedo from the West African country. "Idols stand on many
street corners -- significantly, often where many bloody accidents happen --
and the city has a museum build of rocks, cement and human blood to pacify
the gods." Recently 500 pastors and Christian leaders held a strategy
meeting in the city where they agreed on the aim of planting 22,000 new
churches by the year 2020. "Through newly planted churches, a growing number
of people are experiencing that Jesus can do what the voodoo cult cannot,"
reports Danie Vermeulen. One Sunday more than 60 people decided to leave the
voodoo cult and follow Jesus, joining a newly planted church. One of the men
told of how voodoo magic had lamed him, confining him to his bed. The church
planters found him and prayed for him; today he is free. The chief of one
village asked a church planter to move the church to meet outside the
village, because the voodoo priests had officially complained that their
voodoo magic no longer worked since the church was in the village. "Benin's
churches are mobile -- two other churches in the region are 'tree churches,'
meeting in the shade of large trees," says Vermeulen. "I'm excited and
encouraged to see enthusiastic young Christian leaders accepting the
missionary challenge, ready to risk everything for the kingdom of God."
(Friday Fax/Dawn Ministries)
* HCJB World Radio worked with the Council of Protestant and Evangelical
Churches of Benin to help put a Christian station on the air in Cotonou in
1998. The station broadcasts the gospel in French, English and seven tribal
languages. Partner ministry SIM also records programs in eight languages at
studios in Parakou. Programs air on local stations across Benin.
WEBSITE LAUNCHED TO RAISE AWARENESS OF PERSECUTION WORLDWIDE
The Voice of the Martyrs Canada launched an online resource Monday, June 21,
to help make the voice of the persecuted church heard around the world. The
new website, www.persecution.tv, features audio and video resources. The
purpose of the site is to "raise awareness of persecution facing believers
in a way that is hard to ignore." The website contains a variety of news
reports and personal testimonies of Christians who know the cost of serving
Christ. (Voice of the Martyrs)
CHRISTIAN GROUPS URGE SUPPORT FOR U.S. MARRIAGE AMENDMENT
Several Christian groups are urging supporters to deluge their senators with
petitions, calls, letters and faxes to ensure an early vote for the proposed
constitutional amendment banning gay marriage -- a measure the U.S. Senate
will take up next. Last week Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist scheduled a
debate for the Federal Marriage Amendment the week of July 12. If 60
senators vote "yes" at the close of the debate, the bill will come for a
full vote to the Senate on or about July 15. The Center for Reclaiming
America, established by Presbyterian pastor D. James Kennedy, has contacted
Senate offices to determine the senators' positions on the marriage
amendment. "Contact your senators and encourage them to become a co-sponsor
of the Federal Marriage Amendment," the CRA website encouraged constituents.
In addition, a pro-family group said thousands of churches are expected to
participate in "Marriage Protection Sunday" on July 11 followed by "Call
Your Senator Day" on July 12. The American Family Association is urging
pastors to "lift up the God-ordained institution of marriage in their
sermons" on July 11 and to "present the serious threat which homosexual
marriage presents." President George W. Bush has urged Congress to move on
the amendment, although sponsors admit the difficulty of getting the
two-thirds majority needed to approve it. (Religion Today/Charisma News
Service)
* HCJB WORLD RADIO'S POLISH PARTNER LAUNCHES STATION IN KEY CITY
After three years of waiting for permission from the Polish government, HCJB
World Radio's local partner, Radio CCM, went on the air in the strategic
city of Cieszyn May 14. "The station is in full operation," said CCM Radio
Director Henryk Krol. "Not only can the station be heard in the city, but
throughout the area and across the border in the Czech Republic where many
Poles live. Hallelujah!"
This brings to five the number of stations in the Radio CCM network in
southern Poland, joining Oswiecim (Auschwitz), Ustron, Bielsko-Biala and
Gliwice. Although Cieszyn only has a population of about 40,000, the five
stations combined are within hearing range of some 3 million people.
Listenership surveys indicate that about 10 percent of residents tune in to
Radio CCM at least weekly.
Krzysztof Budzisz, chairman of the Radio CCM board who visited HCJB World
Radio's international headquarters in Colorado Springs earlier this month,
said the antenna for the Cieszyn station is mounted on the tower of a local
Lutheran church-the tallest church in the city. "The priest gave us
permission to erect the antenna at no charge!"
Radio CCM has applied put a sixth station in Chorzów, a city of 120,000.
Plans are also being made to link all stations in the network via satellite
whenever finances and government approvals are in place.
Budzisz said much of the programming aired on the network, especially during
the day, is "pre-evangelistic," aimed at a non-evangelical audience as 89
percent of Poles are Catholic. "We have a lot of short programs interspersed
with words of encouragement and Bible verses that many drivers listen to,"
he explained. The evening programming is designed more for an evangelical
audience with an emphasis on Christian music, preaching and Bible-teaching
programs.
Krol said the network's mission is to "introduce people to the knowledge of
the gospel and pray that they will respond to the Holy Spirit. People who
are spiritually indifferent are our main target. We are a friendly voice,
giving local information, playing good music and airing programs that give a
personal approach to faith. Nearly 99 percent of our listeners are
Catholic."
HCJB World Radio played a key role in encouraging CCM, formed in 1975 during
the communist era, to add broadcasting to its outreach of recording and
distributing Christian music. The media ministry began applying for radio
licenses in 1995, and the first station went on the air in Auschwitz in
1999. (HCJB World Radio) |