About 20,000 Christian pilgrims from around the world marched Sunday, April 9, from the Mount of Olives into the Old City of Jerusalem to retrace Jesus’ triumphant entry 2,000 years ago, reported the Israel Insider. The annual Palm Sunday procession began the Christian holy week, leading up to Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The procession drew large crowds for the second year in a row after several years when pilgrims stayed away because of Israeli-Palestinian violence. Armed Israeli police accompanied the peaceful procession. Some marchers strummed guitars and others banged drums and hoisted loudspeakers. Some chanted aloud while some quietly hummed hymns. Sister Catherine Hurley from Newton, N.J., said she was “overwhelmed” by the number of Christians “of all shapes and sizes” converging in the Holy Land. “They are here for one reason and one reason only -- they love Jesus.” Hurley, making the trek for the first time, said she was overjoyed just to be able to be in the place of the “greatest events in the life of Jesus. It reminds you how real it is. It happened here, in this place.” (Religion Today)

ANTI-CONVERSION BILL RESUMES JOURNEY THROUGH SRI LANKA PARLIAMENT

Despite pledges by the new Sri Lanka government to uphold religious freedom in the country, the Bill on Prohibition of Forcible Conversion, better known as the anti-conversion bill, continues its journey through parliament. On Wednesday, April 5, the speaker of Sri Lanka’s parliament, W.J.M. Lokubandara, appointed a 19-member legislative standing committee that will evaluate the draft law before it goes to the full house for a final vote. Concerned Catholics and other religious minorities have called on President Mahinda Rajapakse who was elected last November to respect the promises he made to the nation. The Bill on Prohibition of Forcible Conversion was tabled in July 2004 by a party made up of Buddhist monks, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU). It requires anyone who converts from one religion to another to inform local authorities within a given time and states that “no one shall convert or try to convert people from one religion to another by fraudulent means.” Breaking the law would result in a prison term of up to five years or a fine of up to US$1,500. (WorldWide Religious News/AsiaNews)

MOB BURNS DOWN CHURCH IN BANGLADESH ATTENDED BY EX-BUDDHISTS

An angry mob set fire to a church in a remote area of Bangladesh on Thursday, March 30, capping a year of extreme hostility towards villagers who had converted from Buddhism to Christianity. While Bangladesh is a majority Muslim country, Buddhism flourishes in small pockets such as the Pancchari sub-district where the attack took place. Immediately after the attack, a Bangladesh army contingent was deployed to Kinamonipara village in Pancchari to prevent further violence, according to local media reports. Christians attacked in Pancchari have been told not to contact higher authorities or seek hospital treatment or they would face greater persecution. (Compass Direct)

3 CHRISTIANS FACE IMMINENT EXECUTION IN INDONESIA

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has once again denied clemency to three Christians sentenced to death for their alleged roles in the Muslim-Christian conflict in central Sulawesi, Indonesia, reported Agence France Presse (AFP) last week. Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marianus Riwu were sentenced to death in 2003 for their alleged involvement in deadly clashes with Muslims in the religiously divided district of Poso. “The president has given his instruction to uphold the law, therefore the legal authorities will proceed with the necessary technical procedures,” Political and Security Minister Widodo Adisucipto reportedly told journalists. Indonesian police are reportedly preparing a firing squad to execute the three Christians sometime this month and are awaiting instructions from provincial prosecutors. The Voice of America reported that Christians and Muslims alike are concerned that the executions will only stir up more sectarian violence in the region. (Jubilee Campaign)

* HCJB World Radio has worked with local partners to establish more than 14 local Christian radio stations across Indonesia since 2004. Broadcasts from HCJB World Radio-Australia’s shortwave station in Kununurra also encourage listeners nationwide. In addition, HCJB World Radio has helped with relief efforts since the Dec. 26, 2004, earthquake/tsunami and subsequent quakes that devastated parts of Indonesia.

NEW ROUND OF DEADLY TORNADOES IN U.S. PROMPTS DISASTER RESPONSE

The destruction and heartache from a series of tornadoes that hit several Tennessee counties and claimed 12 lives Friday, April 7, sent Tennessee Baptist disaster relief teams into immediate action. David Acres, Tennessee Baptists’ disaster relief director, said teams are continuing to help victims of the storms.

Local Baptist associations as well as the state convention responded with feeding, cleanup and chainsaw teams as well as laundry and shower units. First Baptist Church in Gallatin, Tenn., is serving as the Tennessee Baptist disaster relief headquarters for the response as well as being designated as a Red Cross aid station.

Responding to an unusually early and severe tornado season, Convoy of Hope, affiliated with the Assemblies of God, has provided more than 120,000 pounds of relief supplies to tornado victims throughout the Midwest. The organization’s Disaster Response Team works with emergency management officials in affected areas.

In order to help meet the needs of these communities, Convoy of Hope is providing necessary supplies such as food, water, gloves and cleaning supplies to local churches, community organizations and the American Red Cross to help these organizations in their coordinated response. (Evangelical News/Baptist Press/Assemblies of God)

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