The 2006 Global Day of Prayer was celebrated on Pentecost Sunday, June 4, with millions of Christians from 198 nations joining together in prayers of repentance. In only the second year of full global participation, the momentum continued to build with reports of prayer activities coming in from around the world. Initial reports indicate that more than 30,000 Christians gathered in a Hong Kong stadium, and an estimated 40 million people took part in more than 4,000 venues across Africa. Christian Arabic television ministry SAT-7 broadcast the event from a church near Cairo, Egypt, where 2,000 people had gathered. (Mission Network News)

CHINESE OFFICIAL PRAISES INMATE FOR BEATING JAILED CHURCH LEADER

The China Aid Association reported that the leader of South China Church, Gong Shengliang, was recently beaten again in the prison where he is being held. Gong said the attack came from a prisoner named Lei who had been assigned to watch him day and night by a prison officer. Rather than being punished for the attack, Lei received praise from the prison officer while Gong was punished by losing two "merit points" that he had gained last year. Gong was also abused in 2003 at another prison where the beating resulted in hearing loss and severe trauma that was left untreated for many days. Gong led a controversial radical church that the Chinese government labeled an "evil cult." (China Aid Association)

NATIONAL HISPANIC PRAYER BREAKFAST, CONFERENCE SET FOR U.S. CAPITAL

The faith-based organization Esperanza USA will host the 2006 National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference Tuesday-Thursday, June 6-8, in Washington, D.C. Beginning in 2002, the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast remains an opportunity for Hispanic clergy to gather for prayer for the nation and with a focus on the Hispanic community. The event also seeks to bring Hispanic faith leaders together with their elected officials to discuss issues important to Hispanics. The event will bring together more than 750 Hispanic clergy and community leaders nationwide. Speakers and performers will include Esperanza President Rev. Luis Cortes Jr., Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Latin Grammy Award winner Marcos Witt, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and a possible appearance by President George W. Bush. (Esperanza USA)

PAKISTANI CHRISTIAN CHARGED WITH BLASPHEMY UNDER ‘ARBITRARY LAW’

A Christian worker in a Pakistani hospital who allegedly sent "blasphemous" messages to Muslims has been taken back into custody until a further court appearance next month. Qamar David said he was upset about the attacks on churches in Pakistan and confessed to sending insulting messages about Islam and the Prophet Mohammed. Local police claimed he was "causing panic." Pakistani human rights activist Asma Jehangir was quoted as saying, "It’s an arbitrary law which has been badly misused by extremists and should be abolished." (Assist News Service)

* HCJB World Radio sent two medical teams from Ecuador to Pakistan following the Oct. 8, 2005, earthquake that left tens of thousands dead and thousands more injured and homeless. Staff members helped SIM International with relief efforts.

STUDY: BIBLE KNOWLEDGE ‘CRITICAL’ FOR FUTURE COLLEGE STUDENTS

A new national report put out by the Bible Literacy Project called "Bible Literacy Report II: What University Professors Say Incoming Students Need to Know" showed that "regardless of a person’s faith, an educated person needs to know about the Bible." The study, released Thursday, June 1, at a symposium at Baylor University, surveyed 39 English professors at 34 top U.S. universities, including such institutions as Yale, Princeton, Harvard and Stanford. Researcher and author of the study Dr. Marie Wachlin stated, "Overwhelmingly, professors in this survey indicated that a lack of basic Bible literacy hampers students’ ability to understand both classics and contemporary work." The study recommended that high schools include Bible knowledge in their curriculum for college preparatory students. (Bible Literacy Project)

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