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The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) suspended the airing of religious programs on national television and as of Sunday, Jan. 9. The ban, for which NBC Director General Gerry Munyama took sole responsibility, will continue until the corporation meets with leading church representatives to discuss the religious programming guidelines that Munyama says must be revamped. He said the ban was implemented because the situation was getting out of hand due to the proliferation of non-traditional churches in Namibia and that "religion is getting out of the traditional way we know it." Rev. Steven Nell of Khomas Community Church, who until now has preached regularly on the Afrikaans radio service, stressed the importance of the role churches play in Namibia where almost 90 percent of the population claims to profess Christ. He said the electronic media -- especially radio -- is important to get the message to remote places in the country where pastors cannot go. "The Christian message of [lifting up] morals is important, and they cannot rob our people of that," he said. "A couple of individuals in top structure are concerned, but they shouldn't rob the nation." (WorldWide Religious News/The Namibian)

4 U.S. CHRISTIANS TO FACE CHARGES FOR PROTEST AT GAY RIGHTS RALLY

Four Christians face arraignment in Philadelphia Wednesday, Jan. 12, on felony charges for their "peaceful protest" of a homosexual rights event last fall. The defendants, all members of an evangelical Christian group called Repent America, "exercised their First Amendment rights by preaching the gospel, and they did it peacefully," said Brian Fahling, an attorney from the American Family Association who is representing them. Each has been charged with three felonies -- criminal conspiracy, inciting to riot and ethnic intimidation. The four were among 11 protesters initially arrested on Oct. 10, 2004, during an annual homosexual block party in Philadelphia known as OutFest which encourages homosexuals to publicly proclaim their orientation. An arrest report said the protesters were "carrying extremely large signs and using bullhorns to try to disrupt the event." The report went on to say the crowd of more than 500 "had to be restrained by police to ensure the safety of the protesters." In addition to the felony charges, the four are charged with several misdemeanors, including possession of an instrument of crime -- the bullhorn. The four Christians could face up to 47 years in prison and $90,000 in fines. (The Washington Times/National Religious Broadcasters)

EVANGELICALS PROTEST AIRING OF OFFENSIVE TV PROGRAMS ON BBC

Britain's Christian conservatives charged the BBC with delivering a "double whammy" to their faith the night of Saturday, Jan. 8, by simultaneously broadcasting insults to evangelical Christianity on both BBC2 and BBC1. In a press release, England's Christian Alliance Party reported that while "Jerry Springer the Opera" was being broadcast on BBC2, actor/comedian Billy Connolly was using four-letter expletives to attack "born-again Christians" on BBC1. Speaking on the weekend on BBC radio and television news, Christian People's Alliance (CPA) leader Alan Craig said the BBC needs to listen to the public outrage it has caused through its broadcasts. "All normal, sensitive Christians will find the show obscene and blasphemous. Jesus is portrayed as an overweight, half-dressed, mincing and facetious homosexual," Craig said. "Roly Keating knows what he is doing -- he has stated publicly that he intends 'to push back the boundaries of taste and decency.' The nume rous number of swear words only added to the offense." (Assist News Service)

GLOBAL PARTNERS TO LAUNCH 3-YEAR MISSIONS INITIATIVE IN AFRICA

Global Partners will launch an initiative called "Africa Quest" at the its annual missions conference in Plano, Texas, Friday-Sunday, Jan. 21-23, says organizer Todd Szalkowski. "Africa Quest is a three-year initiative designed to equip, evangelize and establish churches in six East African countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda." Global Partners include Evangecube, Global Missions Fellowship and Goleaders.net. Why Africa? "We've heard a lot about AIDS and war and the devastating impact those are having on African people," Szalkowski said. "But you may not have heard about the advancement of Islam in Africa. Oil-rich Arab nations are investing hundreds of billions of dollars toward Muslim evangelism. East Africa has become the frontlines." (Mission Network News)

SOCCER PROGRAM HELPS DRAW GHANA'S STREET KIDS TO THE GOSPEL

Every Child Ministries has combined soccer and Bible teaching to help bring the gospel to the street kids in the West African country of Ghana. "There's an amazing response amongst street children to the gospel," said Lorella Rouster of Every Child Ministries. "It does take time to build up trust and friendship, but when you're willing to relate to the children on a personal level, then that does come along, and we're seeing a really good response to the gospel with the street children." The biggest challenge is helping street kids realize that they have worth, Rouster says. "We would certainly appreciate prayer -- especially that the children would develop a sense of personal worth and understand that they are valuable in God's sight." (Mission Network News)

CHRISTIAN WORKER RECOUNTS HORRORS OF TSUNAMI IN ANDAMAN ISLANDS

David Adhikesavan, a Christian worker serving in the Andaman Islands off the coast of India, recounted the devastation of the tsunami that crashed onto the coastline Sunday, Dec. 26, sweeping away his wife, Esther, to her death. He wrote the following letter:

"[That day] my wife and I got up at 3:30 a.m. to pray and prepare for our Christmas service. . . . As we were getting ready for the service, the tsunami struck. People from nearby areas came rushing to our church building. All of us were holding onto windows, doorframes, whatever we could find. My wife and a few others were holding my shoulders and hands.

"Then suddenly the wave struck the church and submerged us. It broke down the church wall. As we were being carried away, I saw my wife. I could not reach her, so I cried out to her to hold on to any tree floating in the water. That was the last time I saw her. I was pushed under the water but somehow struggled to the surface. I found a tree floating on the water and held onto it. The force of the wave took me about half a mile away from the church. I was hit on the head, foot and hand, but somehow God gave me the strength to hold onto the tree.

"Then the wave that had carried me began to wash back to the sea. All the while I was praying aloud and quoting Scriptures. At the right time, I spotted a standing tree and jumped from the tree I was floating on to grab it. Had I not done so, I would have been completely lost. The water began to recede, so thinking everything was OK, and I climbed down from the tree.

"All of the sudden I spotted another wave coming towards me. I hurriedly climbed the tree again. I do not know from where I got the strength to do so. I held onto the tree until the water subsided. Some other survivors spotted me and helped me make the three-hour walk to a hospital since I had many injuries. I escaped with my life by the grace of God. My three sons who are in Port Blair (capital city of the Andaman Islands) also miraculously escaped, but I never saw my wife again." (Christian Aid Mission)

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