The International Women’s Prayer Conference Aug. 21-24, co-led by Drs. Joon Gon Kim and Vonette Bright, is expected to draw about 10,000 women "prayer warriors" from around the world. It will be held at the Osan-Ri Prayer Mountain near Seoul. Bright, widow of Campus Crusade for Christ founder Bill Bright, calls Kim, founder of Korea Campus Crusade for Christ, a modern "Mordecai" in reference to the biblical story of Esther where Mordecai called on Esther to pray and fast to save the Jews from destruction. Bright said of Kim, "He is calling women of prayer together ‘for such a time as this,’" echoing the phrase from the same biblical passage. Goals of the conference include three full days of prayer and fasting for world crises as well as enlarging a worldwide prayer movement among Christian women. (Assist News Service)

YOUNG PAKISTANI WOMAN RAPED AFTER CONVERTING TO CHRISTIANITY

Young Pakistani woman Sehar Muhammad Shafi was raped and repeatedly threatened after converting to Christianity. Shafi, 24, comes from a religious family that belongs to a nonviolent Muslim group focused on converting non-Muslims. When Shafi attempted to convert a Christian at work, she instead followed Jesus and married the Christian man. When family members discovered this last year, they attacked the couple’s home. The couple fled Shafi’s home city of Karachi with their two daughters, but later called home via a telephone booth, asking her family to cease harassment. After Shafi left, her family called the telephone booth owner and explained that their daughter had become a Christian. The booth owner followed her home and later broke into her house, raping her at gunpoint. The family has gone into hiding to avoid further attacks. (Compass Direct)

STUDY REVEALS GROWING ‘EPIDEMIC OF LONELINESS’ ACROSS U.S.

A National Science Foundation study being focused on by Concerned Women for America (CWA) reveals an "epidemic of loneliness" in the U.S. The study reveals the number of "socially isolated" Americans has doubled since 1985. More than a quarter of U.S. citizens report having no one to talk with about their personal troubles. Dr. Janice Shaw Crouse, senior fellow with CWA’s Beverly LaHaye Institute says, "Our nation is reaping unprecedented prosperity accompanied, ironically, by a lack of connectedness. We have enough wealth to ensure compassion and to pursue justice, but our lack of connectedness is withering both." She asked, "At what point does the tide of ‘unrelatedness’ -- fed by waves of unrestrained, excitement-addicted, narcissistic individualism -- rise so high that it floods the societal levee upheld by the remnant that is grounded in the bonds of love and connectedness?" (Christian Newswire)

MODERN ARAB BIBLE TRANSLATION BOOSTS READERS’ UNDERSTANDING

The ongoing crisis in the Middle East is creating a hunger for God among Arab-speaking countries of the region, even among Muslim fundamentalists. The World Bible Translation Center has responded by creating a modern, easy-to-read Arabic Bible translation. Mark, who asked not to be identified for security reasons, said the previous translation is 160 years old and the language is outdated and difficult to understand. The old translation’s language isn’t understood because "it’s not common at all. It’s not used in our daily life," he said. "All the people around us -- terrorists, fanatics, fundamentalists -- are people seeking God. So we love them, and we pray for them and God will reveal Himself for the sincere people." The new translation helps Arab Christians in their evangelistic efforts. (Mission Network News)

VIDEO GAME SERIES REINFORCES LESSONS TAUGHT IN SUNDAY SCHOOL

Cokesbury and Third Day Games have released a new edition of its "Faith Explorer" video game series that recreates Bible stories in a three-dimensional environment that involves active participation with players. Popular stories such as Jesus on the road to Emmaus, Noah and the Ark, Moses and pharaoh, and the birth of Jesus come out monthly. The annual fee allows smaller churches to purchase the software and lets Bible learning spread to the home during the week. Marj Pon, Cokesbury’s director of children’s resources, said, "I believe that this is a powerful new means to reinforce Bible stories with children. They already love video games, and they are wired for a media world. So why not encourage them to play games at home that reinforce what they’ve learned at Sunday school?" (Christian Newswire)

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