Armed militants have threatened to blow up the building housing the Gaza office of the Palestine Bible Society unless it shuts its doors. The Bible Society received a letter from militants containing the threats on Sunday, Feb. 12. If these demands are not met, the letter warned, all residents should leave the building by Tuesday, Feb. 28, as it would be blown up on March 1. As a result of the letter, the landlord demanded that the office close, at least temporarily. The building also houses several Muslim families. “We take this very seriously,” said a Bible Society spokesman. “Their seriousness is already proved by the explosive device militants placed at the door of the Bible Society the night of Friday, Feb. 3. Around 11 p.m. the bomb exploded, destroying the steel and glass doors.” (Voice of the Martyrs/Open Doors)

HINDU EXTREMISTS ATTACK PENTECOSTAL CHURCH, PASTORS IN INDIA

In recent weeks the ministry of the Gospel Church of God in Indore, India, has been targeted by Hindu militants. On Monday, Jan. 30, Jojin, the church’s assistant pastor, was distributing tracts in slum areas of the city when he was accosted by members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) who beat him and chased him out of the area. On Sunday, Feb. 5, the attacks continued when approximately 40 people entered the church compound as the pastors were preparing for the morning prayer service. The mob smashed in the door of the church and the mob began beating Jojin and Pastor Jijo, a trainee. Some Bibles were also destroyed. Other Scripture portions and worship books were gathered up and removed from the church. The two pastors were paraded through the streets as the crowd humiliated and thrashed them on the way. When police intervened, the injured pastors were first detained but later taken to the hospital. Three of the attackers have been arrested. The attackers have accused the pastors of misleading the public and preparing them to be converted to Christianity. (Voice of the Martyrs)

* 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.

EGYPTIAN SHEIKH TO FACE ‘BLASPHEMY’ CHARGES AFTER 10 MONTHS IN JAIL

Imprisoned for 10 months without formal charges, the fate of an Egyptian sheikh suspected of “blasphemy” (defaming Islam) will be decided at a court hearing on Sunday, Feb. 19. Bahaa el-Din Ahmed Hussein Mohammed El-Akkad was arrested last April but has yet to be officially charged. El-Akkad’s lawyer, Athanasius William, said the court could renew El-Akkad’s detention for six months, open a blasphemy case or release him. William said the line of questioning indicated that the government suspected his client of blasphemy. “In all of his interrogations, they are accusing him of saying things against the prophet Mohammed, the Koran and the prophet’s friends,” he said. The sheikh has faced increased abuse in prison since two other suspects arrested with him reportedly spread rumors that he had become a Christian and was baptizing Muslims into Christianity. (Compass)

MISSIONS CONFERENCE IN EGYPT ENCOURAGES LOCAL PASTORS

Throughout the Middle East, pastors are often caught in the crossfire between their culture and their faith. Global Advance Ministry’s David Shibley says his ministry saw an incredible hunger from Egyptian church leaders during the ministry’s Frontline Shepherd’s Conference in January. “With the seething undercurrent of unrest in the Islamic world right now, anyone who is not perceived to be Muslim is sometimes considered unpatriotic to the nation,” he said. Ministry is also challenging in areas where witnessing often results in harassment. Each year Global Advance hosts and sponsors more than 40 such conferences around the world. These events are catalysts for church planting and indigenous missions’ efforts aiming to provide national pastors and church leaders with a vision in their hearts for the advance of the gospel. “These pastors, in particular, have the job of living with their Muslim neighbors, loving them, being salt and light and getting the gospel to them,” Shibley explains. (Mission Network News/Global Advance)

IBS RELEASES CONTEMPORARY SHONA BIBLE TRANSLATION IN ZIMBABWE

The International Bible Society (IBS) released a contemporary Shona Bible translation recently in Zimbabwe, making God’s Word more accessible to 10 million speakers there. More than 3,000 church and government leaders welcomed the translation of God’s Word in their contemporary language at a dedication ceremony where IBS President Peter Bradley presented the Bible to Zambian Vice President Arnai Joyce Mujuru. Leaders from Christian denominations and churches, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, and the Christian business community also attended the ceremony. IBS Vice President P.L.N. Murthy added, “Inasmuch as the nation of Zimbabwe is going through very challenging times, God’s Word becomes more meaningful each day. The launch of the Shona Bible plays a crucial role in bringing a message of hope to the nation.” Shona is Zimbabwe’s dominant language. (Mission Network News)

* HCJB World Radio signed a partnership agreement with the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe in 2001.

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