A number of key Christian leaders recently called on the government ban to “strictly supervise” a massive Hindu “reawakening” event to be held in the tribal district of Dangs in western India’s Gujarat state Feb. 11-13. More than 500,000 Hindus are expected to attend. Rights groups fear the event may unleash a wave of violence against tribal Christians and animists. Hindu extremist groups have organized the event and expect it to generate enough momentum to trigger thousands of Christians to turn “back to the Hindu fold.” They have also published materials calling for the destruction of the Christian faith in the same way that the Hindu god Ram destroyed the demon Ravana in the Hindu scriptures. (Compass)

* Radio programs in 12 languages (English, Urdu, Hindi, Nepali, Chattisgarhi, Bangla, Bhojpuri, Tamil, Telegu, Marwari, Marathi and Santhali) air to India from HCJB World Radio-Australia’s shortwave station in Kununurra. The programs are produced at the ministry’s studios in New Delhi, India.

WORLD VISION JOINS CHRISTIAN AID WORKERS IN KENYA TO BATTLE FAMINE

World Vision teams are working to address a raging food shortage in Kenya where more than 2.5 million people face starvation. Teams are working in five of the hardest hit areas with food distribution and recovery projects. The teams, realizing the potential of the crisis, are half-way through a six-month emergency operation phase. Kenyan believers and churches are partnering with World Vision to meet both physical and spiritual needs in this time. Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki has officially declared the region a “national disaster.” Government estimates show the region has already experienced a crop failure of roughly 60 percent. With food reserves already low, the toll of the crisis could be staggering. (Mission Network News)

* HCJB World Radio has worked with local partners to install eight radio outlets in seven cities of Kenya.

IBS TO REACH MORE U.S. CITIES WITH CUSTOMIZED SCRIPTURE PORTIONS

The International Bible Society (IBS) is preparing for a busy City Reachers 2006 campaign that will put a city-customized Scripture portion into the hands of thousands of newspaper subscribers. The publications include pictures of the city’s landmarks on the cover, articles about the city inside, and testimonies from two local citizens who tell of how God’s Word has affected their Christian walk. The Barna Research Group conducted a study in Colorado Springs, Colo., shortly after last year’s campaign ended. It showed that nearly 4,000 people professed to recommit their lives to Christ while many others decided to go back to church or get back into the Word. “We are excited about the possibility of getting God’s Word into many more homes . . . through City Reachers,” said Bob Jackson of IBS. “There are some other cities that we’re talking with right now: Santa Rosa, Calif.; Sumter, S.C.; Las Cruces, N.M.; and El Paso, Texas.” (Mission Network News)

PASSION 06 IN NASHVILLE DRAWS 18,000 STUDENTS FROM 20 COUNTRIES

Passion 06, an international college movement, took place Jan. 2-5 in Nashville, Tenn., with 18,000 college students in attendance representing all 50 states and 20 different countries. The event was led by well-known speakers such as John Piper and Beth Moore along with top worship leaders. The purpose of the event was to gather college students from campuses and churches across the nation, uniting them across ministry and denominational lines to seek the face of God together in worship and prayer. The Passion movement, founded in 1995, seeks to foster unity and connectivity among local churches and campus ministries, encouraging college students to draw strength and encouragement from each other. (Assist News Service)

COMMENTS PROMPT ISRAEL TO SUSPEND TIES WITH PAT ROBERTSON

Israel has suspended contact with evangelist Pat Robertson for suggesting Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s stroke was God’s punishment for withdrawing from the Gaza Strip. But Israel’s tourism minister says the order does not apply to “all the evangelical community, God forbid.” Israeli leaders see evangelicals as tireless lobbyists in Washington and elsewhere. The controversy has cast doubt on plans for a Christian Heritage Center in Israel’s Galilee region, a tourist attraction that would showcase the growing flow of money and influence from U.S. church groups. Robertson is leading evangelicals who have pledged to raise $50 million for the project. Under a tentative agreement, Robertson’s group was to put up the funding while Israel would provide land and infrastructure. Robertson’s comments on Sharon have been condemned by many Christian leaders. Ted Haggard, president of the 30 million-member National Association of Evangelicals, said the controversy is a “blow to evangelical-Israeli relations -- and the situation is unfortunate,” reported CNN. Robertson later apologized for his remarks. (AgapePress/Associated Press/Assist News Service)

© Copyright 2006 - HCJB World Radio - Colorado Springs, CO USA