In response to China’s fast-growing church and the accompanying theological problems, church leaders across China are launching Bible training centers for laymen nationwide. “This is their attempt to help train and equip lay ministers,” said Erik Burklin of China Partner Ministries. “These individuals come -- usually from the countryside, sometimes for one month, sometimes up to six months at a time -- to get specific training.” The end result is Bible certification in a shorter time period than a degree, making training more accessible to those without a lot of formal education. Burklin notes that the mission is partnering with churches to develop new curriculums for these courses and provide enough trainers and teachers to conduct these courses. Burklin is sharing this vision with seminary students in the U.S. in attempts to provide the teachers so badly needed in China. (Mission Network News)

ATTACK DURING SHOWING OF FILM IN INDIA FAILS TO DETER MISSIONARIES

Native missionaries associated with Gospel for Asia in India were recently beaten while showing a film in a village in Andhra Pradesh state. In answer to a “burden to reach this particular village,” the team was engaging in a low-key evangelistic effort intended to prevent conflict with radical anti-Christian groups. The film they were showing was not directly evangelistic, instead focusing on relevant social issues such as child marriages and AIDS. During the film, men arrived and began beating the missionaries and destroying their equipment, including a borrowed projector. Property damage totaled more than $4,000. Despite the attack, team members remain intent on continuing their ministry in the area. (Gospel for Asia)

UPDATE: EXTREMISTS FILE COUNTER-COMPLAINT AGAINST RAPE VICTIMS

Hindu extremists have filed a counter-complaint of “forced conversion” against the two female rape victims in central India’s Madhya Pradesh state. The women filed the original rape charges on Wednesday, May 31, after being gang-raped three days earlier for their Christian beliefs. According to the Christian Legal Association of India, a delay in reporting a rape is common in India because people tend to blame the victim. This is exacerbated because these are illiterate tribal women who did not understand their legal rights. The counter-complaint was reportedly filed on Thursday, June 1, but State Minorities Commission member Indira Iyengar believes the complaint was backdated. “The administration is taking advantage of the fact that the victims are illiterate,” she said. “How can they talk about their religious freedom or defend themselves?” A delegation of Christian leaders will accompany the women on Thursday, June 22, as they appear before the district magistrate to present their version of the events occurring on Sunday, May 28. (Compass Direct)

UZBEK PASTOR GOES INTO HIDING AFTER BEING ACCUSED OF TREASON

Dmitry Shestakov, leader of the registered Full Gospel Pentecostal congregation in the eastern Andijan region of the Central Asian country of Uzbekistan, has gone into hiding to avoid being arrested on charges of treason. The charges, apparently filed against him by the Andijan regional prosecutor, carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. Some confusion exists surrounding the official charges because nothing in writing was given to Shestakov. “So it’s unclear exactly which article I’m to be prosecuted under,” he said. At one point the charge was treason, but officials reportedly changed this to charges of “inciting ethnic, racial or religious hatred” which carries a lesser sentence. Supporters of the pastor insist he is innocent of everything except “preaching Christianity” according to one unnamed Protestant. “It seems they are preparing to make Shestakov’s trial a warning to others.” (Forum 18 News Service)

* HCJB World Radio airs daily 30-minute Uzbek programs from an AM station outside the country. More than 15 million people speak this language.

NEW MINISTRY FORMS TO PROVIDE SHOES TO NEEDY PEOPLE WORLDWIDE

Many poor people in the slums of Maracaibo, Venezuela, are sporting new shoes today thanks to the newly formed nonprofit organization called Soles4Souls. The organization started as a loose group of people, churches and companies that rallied footwear donations after the 2004 tsunami. It has since organized as a nonprofit organization, donating more than a million pairs of shoes around the globe. Last year 750,000 shoes went to Hurricane Katrina victims. The most recent outreach involved a cooperative effort with local Venezuelan pastors who visited the slums, offering the basics in human dignity by way of sandals donated by Teva and New Balance. “It’s a simple gesture, but it can mean a lot to people who have to rummage through the trash every day,” said Soles4Souls President Paul Wilson. “Considering that Americans have more than 1.5 billion pairs of shoes sitting in their closets, it’s the least that we can do to provide a small amount of pride and comfort to people without either.” (Christian Newswire)

© Copyright 2006 - HCJB World Radio - Colorado Springs, CO USA * HCJB World Radio worked with local partners to establish a Christian station in La Morita, Venezuela, in 2000. Partner stations in two additional Venezuelan cities are also affiliated with ALAS, the ministry’s Latin American satellite radio network with 89 outlets in 17 countries.