*Tato a další zprávy jsou v originální anglické verzi zde.

Authorities in the East African country of Eritrea have conducted another spate of raids against evangelical Christians. On Tuesday, March 22, authorities from the National Security Office closed down the Semhare Graphics Printing Press, a private company in Asmara that publishes Christian literature. Demoze Afwerki, vice manager of the Housing and Commerce Bank of Eritrea and an active member of the Full Gospel Church, was arrested on Friday, March 18, and jailed at Wongel Mermera where other evangelicals -- including Full Gospel Church Pastor Kidane Weldou -- are believed to be incarcerated. Both Weldou and Afwerki sit on the executive committee of Gideons International in Eritrea. Police also raided a private home in Assab on Wednesday, March 9, and arrested 10 members of the Kale Hiwot (Word of Life) Church while they worshiped together. The 10 remain jailed at the Assab police station with no official charges filed against them. (Compass)

DETERIORATING POLITICAL SITUATION IN BELARUS CONCERNS BELIEVERS

Christians are asking believers around the world to pray about the situation in Belarus where unrest in the eastern European country could lead to a revolution. New reports indicate that Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko is ruling the country with an "iron fist," although he denies that he is facing a widespread revolt. Sergey Rakhuba of Russian Ministries says many people are unhappy about the country's political situation. "Churches especially are under serious threat because local enforcement agencies -- like police and former KGB -- threaten local churches not to go into (ministry) actively, and they force them to support the current regime," he said. "There is a very strong opposition in Belarus -- a lot stronger than it was in Georgia or Kyrgyzstan. And this opposition is very well prepared [to go to] the next step [and that could mean bloodshed]. Christians are not allowed to do any evangelism -- any open-air activities. They're not allowed to go outside their walls. And, interestingly this is the same way that it was in the [former] Soviet Union." He added that Christians need support and encouragement from believers worldwide. "They're not going to give up," Rakhuba said. "They will continue their ministry despite the political situation. There is still a tremendous openness to the gospel, and we would like to continue supporting the national church." (Mission Network News)

SWORD-WIELDING MAN KILLS WOMAN, INJURES 3 AT CHURCH IN GERMANY

A man wielding a sword killed a 43-year-old woman and injured at least three other people as they worshiped in a Tamil church in Germany the afternoon of Sunday, April 3. The perpetrator cut off the hand of one of the victims at the scene which police described as a "bloodbath." One 25-year-old man who is thought to be from the local Tamil community was arrested. Police said the crime was not politically motivated and was probably prompted by the attacker's "personal problems." About 65 people -- half of them children -- are believed to have been in the church at the time. Tamils are a predominantly Hindu minority in Sri Lanka and southern India. (IDEA/British Broadcasting Corporation)

BILLY GRAHAM LAUDS POPE FOR PROMOTING MORALITY, PEACE WORLDWIDE

Evangelist Billy Graham said that Pope John Paul II was "unquestionably the most influential voice for morality and peace in the world during the last 100 years." The pope died in Rome Saturday, April 2, at the age of 84 after leading the world's 1 billion Roman Catholics for the past 26 years. "His extraordinary gifts, his strong Catholic faith and his experience of human tyranny and suffering in his native Poland all shaped him," Graham said. "Yet he was respected by men and women from every conceivable background across the world. He was truly one of those rare individuals whose legacy will endure long after he has gone. . . . He was convinced that the complex problems of our world are ultimately moral and spiritual in nature, and only Christ can set us free from the shackles of sin and greed and violence. His courage and perseverance in the face of advancing age and illness were an inspiration to millions -- including me." Graham said he has been invited to attend the pope's funeral, but he can't attend for health reasons. "I have asked a member of my family and one of my long-time associates to represent me at that service," he said. (Assist News Service/Billy Graham Evangelistic Association)

WORLD RELIEF NAMES NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, PRESIDENT

World Relief announced Monday, March 28, that it had unanimously elected Sammy Mah as the organization's chief executive officer and president. "We were seeking a person of humility and fierce resolve, a Jesus servant-leader, and we believe we found those qualities in Mr. Mah," said Board Chairman Dr. Gordon MacDonald. Mah, a first-generation Asian American, is a proven and successful business leader, father, husband and active churchman. Mah received a master's degree in business administration from the University of Michigan and has been an executive with General Motors for 27 years. He and his wife, Lorelei, have been active in their Michigan church, particularly with the youth group, and they have been involved in mission trips to many parts of the world. (Assist News Service)

WEBSITE CREATES ONLINE 'RADIO STATION' FOR HOME-SCHOOLERS

Learning by Grace, a provider of online learning resources for home-schoolers, has created a Christian "radio station" for students. RadioGrace.org provides four distinct channels of Christian music -- praise and worship, gospel, rock, and contemporary. Students and parents can program the music channels by e-mailing their comments to the station. Although the service targets home-schoolers, RadioGrace.org is available at no cost to all Internet users worldwide. "We see RadioGrace as a tool for spreading multimedia Christian content around the globe, not just streaming audio," said Ralf Augstroze, vice president of solutions development. (AgapePress)

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