Despite problems in western Sudan’s Darfur region, the Persecution Project Foundation continues to work with more Christian and Muslim refugees in Northern Aweil county. The organization is working to meet the food and water needs of about 30,000 families fleeing genocide. Last month the organization dug a well in an area where the U.N. failed to find water. “The village leaders, especially the Muslim leaders of their villages, actually saw this as a miracle of God,” said Ed Lyons of Persecution Project. “We said, ‘Yes, you’re absolutely right,’ and handed them some Arabic Bibles and said, ‘This is the God who provided this water for you.’” The foundation is working with local Africans who are doing most of the relief efforts. “They also get a chance to preach the gospel message, and it’s having overwhelming results in this area.” Lyons added. While no churches have been planted in the area yet, this is one of the ministry’s goals. (Mission Network News)

* HCJB World Radio’s community development staff helps bring clean drinking water and sanitation to rural Ecuadorian communities. In 2005 they helped install wells in 16 communities, water systems in three villages, and a water supply for a Christian camp. The projects are benefiting a total of nearly 5,000 people.

MINISTRY FOCUSES ON TRAINING RUSSIAN PASTORS AS RESTRICTIONS TIGHTEN

As the Russian government puts pressure on foreign organizations, Slavic Gospel Association (SGA) continues to help the national church. One of the organization’s programs is called the Antioch Initiative. SGA’s Kyler Welch says staff members recruit churches in the U.S. to help train pastors and lay leaders in evangelism, leadership training and church planting. However, the benefits are mutual. “The American church is really strong in discipleship, but the Russian church is much stronger in evangelism, and so we’re mutually encouraging each other,” he said. The biggest concern is whether Americans will be allowed to travel to Russia as the government tightens its restrictions. “That’s definitely a legitimate concern,” Welch explained. “That’s why our focus right now is on training. If we’re never allowed to go back, we’d like to train the pastors there so that they are stronger than when we came, and they can continue the training on their own without us.” Welch is in Russia looking at three new potential Antioch sites. (Mission Network News)

* HCJB World Radio reaches across Russia with a variety of radio ministries. The mission began sending gospel broadcasts across the country via shortwave in 1941, first from Quito, Ecuador, and in recent years from the U.K. In the early 1990s the ministry began “planting” local radio ministries in Russia and now works with partners nationwide. In 2000 HCJB World Radio helped launch New Life Radio, the first Christian Russian satellite radio network. More than 63 downlinks have been placed in more than 42 cities across Russia and neighboring countries.

MOB TORCHES HOMES OF 5 CHRISTIAN FAMILIES IN VIETNAMESE TOWN

Less than a year after believers in Vietnam’s central Quang Ngai province saw some of their dwellings destroyed, a mob burned down five homes of other Hre minority Christians in the legally recognized Evangelical Church of Vietnam (South). Church leaders believe local authorities either allowed or instigated the burning of the five homes owned by Hre Christians in Son Tinh Commune in the Son Tay district of Quang Ngai province the morning of Tuesday, March 7. In addition, two believers who had rebuilt area homes destroyed in July 2005 had their outbuildings for storing paddy rice burned on Saturday, March 4. One of the Christians, Dinh Van Heo, lost 55 sacks of rice. He had recently faced severe pressure to recant his faith. (Compass Direct)

REBELS RELEASE NEPALI EVANGELIST 15 DAYS AFTER ABDUCTING HIM

Three Maoist insurgents kidnapped a Nepali evangelist named Kumar at the beginning of March when he refused to give them a 5,000-rupee (US$70) “donation” for their cause. He was traveling from his village to the capital city of Katmandu for a worship conference when he was abducted.

The rebels forced Kumar to attend their indoctrination meetings. In a secret location surrounded by more then 60 armed men, Kumar listened as they shouted slogans and promoted their cause of fighting for “democracy” in Nepal. They told Kumar that he should stop following the “foreign religion of Christianity” and join them. They also insisted that he give them any money that he received for doing Christian work.

For 15 days the rebels also made Kumar work as their porter, carrying rifles and pressure cooker bombs during their “military missions.” Kumar then managed to borrow some money to give to the Maoists, and they released him on Wednesday, March 15, allowing him return to his wife and five young children.

Last year Kumar shared the gospel with more than 1,000 people, and 209 of these made commitments to the Lord. He continues to meet in his home with a handful of believers who live in the area. (Assist News Service)

INDIA’S SUPREME COURT DENIES ELECTIVE OFFICES TO TRIBAL CONVERTS

India’s Supreme Court ruled Tuesday, March 28, ruled that conversion of tribal people to Christianity could disqualify them from running for some elective offices if the posts involve religious functions. This ruling emerged from the court’s verdict upholding a law that excludes Christians from running for the office of headman in Elaka Jowai, Meghalaya state. John Dayal, president of the All India Catholic Union, said the court has deeply injured minority rights. “The issue is both one of separation of church and state and of the right of minority religion believers to seek whichever secular political or administrative office they wish to,” he said. (Compass Direct)

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