Attendance is booming at Rev. Andrew White’s church in Baghdad as Iraqi Christians seek solace in religion to cope with a life of car bombings, kidnappings and deprivation. White, a 41-year-old British Anglican priest, travels to Baghdad monthly to minister to Protestants from the West and Iraqi Assyrian Christians who must be bused into the protected Green Zone to hear White preach after al-Qaeda put a price on his head. During the past three years the number of Iraqis attending his services has grown to about 900. “People turn to religion when they are desperate,” he said. White began visiting Iraq regularly in 1998 and has witnessed profound changes since then. Under Saddam Hussein he found a more secular society where tensions between religious groups seemed nonexistent. Later he learned the divisions were there -- Iraqis were just afraid to speak frankly. (Religion Today)

BELIEVERS SHARE GOSPEL IN NEPAL AMID GROWING POLITICAL UNREST

Nepal is boiling with political upheaval. Thousands have flooded the streets protesting the reign of King Gyanendra and demanding a democratic government. While authorities struggle to control the situation, security forces opened fire on the crowds, killing several people. Nepal has been paralyzed by the two weeks of violent protests and a general strike against the monarchy which seized power more than a year ago. Local reports indicated that Christians are getting involved -- not to protest but to provide first-aid treatment to victims. Despite the risks, they’re focused on sharing the gospel any way they can. Even with the strikes and upheaval in recent weeks, believers report that they were able to share encouraging Easter celebrations and worship the risen Christ last weekend. (Mission Network News)

5 CHRISTIANS INJURED AS BOMB DESTROYS CHURCH IN ETHIOPIA

As more than 100 believers gathered for worship the evening of Saturday, April 15, at the Emmanuel Church in Jijiga in eastern Ethiopia, Muslims opposed to the Christian presence there threw a bomb at the building. The building was destroyed and five people were injured, one critically. Local sources in Ethiopia said the area is almost entirely Muslim, and pressure against Christians has been strong. Police openly intimidate believers and imprison anyone found to be sharing their Christian faith with others. Two years ago a Full Gospel church in Jijiga was also bombed. (Voice of the Martyrs)

* Staff members at HCJB World Radio-Australia’s studios record Oromo language programs that air to 28 million speakers in Ethiopia and Kenya via FEBA Radio’s shortwave facilities.

BELARUSIAN AUTHORITIES CONTINUE TO PRESSURE LOCAL CHURCHES

Gennady Akhrimovich, council chairman of the New Generation Church in Baranovichi in the eastern European country of Belarus, is facing a fine for organizing a Bible study group within the registered church. When police raided the Bible study earlier this year, they called the event an “unauthorized religious gathering.” A court hearing on Thursday, April 6, was postponed for two weeks to allow the prosecution to adequately prepare its case. The church is also facing difficulties acquiring a place of worship. Last year the church purchased a warehouse that the members intended to convert into a church building. However, the town authorities have refused to allow the designated purpose of the building to be changed. New Life Church in Minsk is facing a similar problem and has been ordered to sell its building. Administrator Vasily Yurevich has been summoned to a preliminary hearing Monday, April 24, regarding the forced sale of the building to the Minsk City Property Department. (Voice of the Martyrs)

FISHERMAN USES NONTRADITIONAL ‘BAIT’ TO REACH MEN FOR CHRIST

Former tournament fishing champion and best-selling author Jim Grassi recently cast the men’s ministry bait to New Zealand churches. “Men are the most unreached part of our church,” he said. “The weakest link in our church is men. Why? Because we have not been relevant to them.” Grassi pointed out George Barna research that shows when the man of the household comes to faith in Christ, there is a 90 percent chance the rest of the family will follow. He challenged New Zealand churches to find new, nontraditional ways to reach out to non-Christians in their culture, even suggesting that worship services be held in a boat in the middle of a nearby bay that would be available to recreating boaters. Grassi, founder of a 25-year-old ministry in the U.S. called Let’s Go Fishing (later renamed Outdoor Connection), has visited New Zealand almost every year since coming to do a television show on fishing 12 years ago. “We want to introduce people to Christ who wouldn’t otherwise come to a local church and then put them into a church,” he said. After growing up in inner-city San Francisco, Grassi reprioritized his life after a James Dobson conference, putting God first. (Assist News Service)

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