Yesterday the China Aid Association (CAA) announced the arrests of multiple house church pastors in Shandong and Jiangsu provinces of eastern China. Additionally, a South Korean pastor was forced to leave China. In the first instance, CAA obtained eyewitness reports of the arrest of house church pastor Liu Yuhua at 11 p.m. on April 26,2006 in Shandong province. Officials claim Yuhua was involved in illegal business practices. The pastor had been printing and distributing bibles and Christian literature free of charge to keep up with the rapid increase in believers. His office was searched and his bank balance of $1100 seized. In another raid, 11 house church pastors and leaders were arrested on May 10 in Jiangsu province. A CAA source reported officers using electric shock batons to beat church members who refused to leave because police did not have an arrest warrant. After 10 hours of interrogation all 11 leaders were released, including South Korean Pastor Cui Rongbo. Rongbo was later forced to leave China on May 13. (China Aid Association/Assist News Service)

TALIBAN ATTACKS PROMPT INCREASED HOSPITAL SECURITY IN AFGHANISTAN

A recent increase of Taliban insurgents coming out of mountain hideouts has caused CURE International’s hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan to increase security. CURE’s Mark Bush says, "There continues to be insurgents that threaten different parts of the city. There are kidnappings occasionally." The Christian hospital has hired extra security guards and put up barriers that only allow foot traffic into the hospital area. In addition to providing medical care amidst the destruction in Kabul, CURE also seeks out Afghan doctors who are willing to train other Afghan doctors. Under their agreement with the Afghan government, Bush says the hospital struggles with its Christian principles, asking themselves, "How can we most effectively be witnesses and at the same time not jeopardize our invitation [from the Afghan government]." (Mission Network News)

* HCJB World Radio is bringing words of hope and encouragement to people across Afghanistan via radio. Together with partners, Christian broadcasts go out via AM in three of the country’s major languages, Turkmen, Uzbek and Southern Uzbek.

ZIMBABWE CHURCH GROWTH ATTRIBUTED TO POOR ECONOMY

A population explosion in Zimbabwe churches is being attributed to the poor economy and an inflation rate above 1,000 percent. In the once-thriving country, political leaders as prominent as Vice-President Joseph Msika have recently become ordained ministers or trained as priests. Even political rallies and military parades are broadcasting praise songs. "The number of new church members that we are getting is amazing. The majority of our members are women and the youth; their reasons for joining are varied, but they all have expectations, like being healed of illnesses, finding jobs, and other personal expectations like finding a potential life partner," said Paul Mnyaka, an elder at New Ministries, a Pentecostal church in Harare. Others, like president of the fast growing Apostolic Faith Mission - Rev. Aspher Madziyire, deny the link between church growth and the economy by citing ministry growth in other countries where he works. "They go to church because they realize that there is a vacuum in their lives, which they need to fill with God," Madziyire says.(World Wide Religious News/IRIN)

SOUTH AFRICAN CHRISTIAN RADIO STATION FORCED TO SHUT DOWN

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has ordered award winning Good News Community Radio in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa to shut down. Appeals to this shut-down have been denied with ICASA stating that all frequency applications have been competitive and the applicant that won the frequency is thought to better "serve the needs of the community." Good News producer, technician and presenter, Steven Mabugana, explained the ruling, "The reasons given to us were that our station did not broadcast in the language of the largest population in our coverage area (Zulu) and that our board management did not reflect these demographics." However, the station sees its listening audience as much broader than ICASA has stated. "Our relevant community has nothing to do with race – it is about a group of people with a similar interest – Christianity…we are serving a huge Christian community with a combination of Indian, Zulu and English listeners," explained Mabugana. Over 108,000 residents in the community have signed petitions in support of Good News Community Radio. (Christian Wire Service)

* HCJB World Radio has worked with local partners to plant local radio ministries in six South African cities: Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Pinetown, Roodepoort and Badplaas. HCJB World Radio also helps with projects such as the Living Hope Community Center (a ministry of partner Fish Hoek Baptist Church) near Cape Town.

UPDATE: HOPE RWANDA OUTREACH SEEING HUGE SUCCESS

After only three weeks of outreach, Hope Rwanda: 100 Days of Hope has already seen huge success. During the 12th anniversary of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, this international outreach is coordinating the distribution of over 2 million Book of Hope scripture books to each child in Rwanda. "They have already distributed a quarter of a million books," said Hope Rwanda Project Coordinator, John Fergusson. The Hope Rwanda outreach is the brainchild of Australians Mark and Darlene Zschech associated with Hillsong church. (Crosswalk)

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