Uncertainty in Japan caused by North Korea’s aggressive displays of its new nuclear capability has created fertile ground for evangelism. The JESUS Film Project is making plans to send a team to Japan in December. Jacqueline Celum of the JESUS Film Project says the Japanese people are among the world’s least-reached people groups with just 0.07 percent putting faith in Christ. Despite the needs, Celum says DVDs of the “JESUS” film have helped spur interest in Christianity. “The Japanese people really like black gospel music,” says Celum. “I don’t know why, but in the DVDs we hand out, not only is there the ‘JESUS’ film on it, but it’s more interactive, and it includes black gospel choirs and singers.” JESUS Film Project is seeking additional team members to help hand out the DVDs. (Mission Network News)

* Weekly one-hour Japanese broadcasts air from HCJB World Radio-Australia’s shortwave station in Kununurra. Programs are also available on the Internet via on-demand archives and air via a digital satellite network in Japan. An HCJB World Radio representation site opened in Tokyo in August.

CRIPPLED HOUSE CHURCH PASTOR GETS 2 YEARS FOR PRINTING BIBLES

Prominent Chinese house church Pastor Wang Zaiqing from China’s Anhui province was sentenced on Monday, Oct. 9, to two years in prison on charges of “illegal business practices.” He was also fined the equivalent of US$12,500, and all books in his home and funds for printing were confiscated. Wang, who has been crippled since age 5, had been printing and distributing Bibles and other Christian literature from his home free of charge. This resulted in his arrest on April 28. Wang and his lawyer contended that for the printing to be considered an illegal business practice, the accused must make a profit. The court disagreed and sentenced the former pastor to two years in jail. Wang and his attorney said they won’t comply with the sentence and will appeal to a higher-level People’s Court. (China Aid Association)

CHURCH-LED PROGRAM HELPS BOOST LITERACY IN PHILIPPINES

Volunteer teachers from an evangelical church in Manila have been spearheading a church-led initiative to battle illiteracy in the Philippines. Teachers at the Community Bible Church have been running a Saturday literacy program for the indigent for about one semester. The students are mostly poor illiterate people from their church (although anyone is welcome), ranging in age from their early teens to their 60s. This semester the group is seeking more teacher volunteers to train and is working to attract more male participants. Vic Mandalupa, a volunteer at the church, recalled the example of a “61-year-old woman who didn’t touch the hymnbook in church because she didn’t want people to know she was illiterate. Now she reads and sings from the book with gusto.” According to the 2003 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey, one in every 10 Filipinos or 8.5 million people between the ages of 10 and 64 are illiterate. (Assist News Service)

THEOLOGIAN MAKES CASE AGAINST ‘NEW COVENANT TITHING’

Theologian Dr. Russell Earl Kelly believes the tithing principle taught in the Old Testament was never commanded as an “eternal moral principle of the new covenant to the church.” He believes churches ignore the context of Malachi 3:10 when they teach mandatory tithing. Kelly says a growing number of Christians are also opposed to the doctrine. In his book, Should the Church Teach Tithing: A Theologian’s Conclusions About a Taboo Doctrine, Kelly contends that if the doctrine put forth in Malachi applied today, “then millions of poor tithing Christians would have escaped poverty and would have become the wealthiest group of people in the world instead of remaining poor.” Because that has not happened, Kelly says it shows that the vast majority of poor people are never blessed financially even though they tithe. A report by Christian Financial Concepts in 2000 stated that 80 percent of monies contributed to evangelical churches comes from 20 percent of their members, the remaining 20 percent comes from 30 percent of the members, and roughly half of church members give nothing. (Agape Press/Religion Today)

RESEARCH SHOWS U.S. POPULATION GROWTH EXCEEDS CHURCH GROWTH

Recent research based on a database of more than 300,000 churches across the U.S. indicates that the overall population is growing faster than the church. Director Dave Olsen of the American Church Research Project, which has been working for years to record actual attendance data from churches nationwide, said overall church attendance is virtually unchanged from 15 years ago despite the fact that the country’s population has grown by 52 million. Olsen’s research shows the northeastern U.S. as the only part of the country where the church growth rate exceeds the population increase. His research also shows the evangelical church to be changing. “The evangelical church is becoming suburban, affluent and educated,” Olson said. “The Christian community needs a restoration of its understanding of the message and mission of Jesus. It needs to be less self-righteous, individualistic and materialistic. It needs to be more biblical, Christocentric and holistic.” (Religion Today)

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A new Bible translation produced in Holland is causing a stir after it cut out difficult parts to make it more attractive and market friendly. The new Bible version, released by the Western Bible Foundation in the Netherlands, cuts out difficult passages surrounding economic justice, possessions and money, leaving holes in passages from Isaiah, Proverbs, the Sermon on the Mount and others where original versions urge radical actions about money, justice and affluence. A media release from the group’s chairman, Mr. De Rijke, says the foundation is reacting to the growing wishes of many churches to be market-oriented and more attractive. “Jesus was very inspiring for our inner health, but we don’t need to take his naďve remarks about money seriously. He didn’t study economics, obviously,” he said. Hundreds of the new Bible translations have been sold in its first few weeks on the shelves. (Assist News Service)

CHRISTIAN NIGERIAN TEACHER TRIED FOR PUNISHING MUSLIM STUDENT

A Christian high school teacher at a Nigerian Government College is on trial for “blasphemy” after disciplining a Muslim student. English and history teacher Joshua Lai is standing trial in Lafia, capital of northern Nigeria’s Nasarawa state, where he is accused of blasphemy against the Islamic prophet Mohammed and for “public incitement, rioting and mischief.” Following the June 12 incident, Muslim students attacked Christian students and teachers, burning four houses, including Lai’s home. Alerted by Christian students of Muslim plans to behead him, Lai and his son fled their home to nearby Abuja. He was placed in prison custody for eight days by order of the governor before being released on bail. (Religion Today/Compass Direct)

* HCJB World Radio, together with partners In Touch Ministries, SIM and the Evangelical Church of West Africa, began airing weekly half-hour programs to Nigeria in the Igbo language in 2000. In 2003 weekly broadcasts were added in two additional languages, Yoruba and Hausa. HCJB World Radio also has helped with radio ministries in six cities with more in the planning stages.

NAVIGATORS MERGES WITH SMALL MISSION ORGANIZATION IN AFRICA

The boards of directors of both The Navigators and the Christian developmental organization, Mission: Moving Mountains (M:MM), have voted unanimously to merge their ministries. The merger comes after years of mutual cooperation between the two groups. M:MM has a keen awareness of how whole-life transformation works in some of the poorest places in Africa with an emphasis on under-reached people groups. However, being a relatively small organization, its capacity to reach Africa is limited. Now more than 70 years old, The Navigators’ ministry of evangelism and discipleship has spread into more than 100 countries. “This merger will allow both organizations to have a greater impact on God’s kingdom much faster than we could ever do independently,” said Bob Brydges, chairman of the M:MM board of directors. This is especially true in Africa where The Navigators has limited development experience with the poor. “This will save years of hard learning,” said Navigators’ Africa Director Mutua Mahiaini. Rod Beidler, Navigators’ director of the U.S. International Ministries Group, agreed. “It would take us 25 years to learn to do what M:MM already knows how to do,” he said. “Together we can advance the gospel much more quickly throughout Africa than either of us could ever hope to do alone.” (The Navigators)

DISILLUSIONMENT, EVANGELISM SLOWS SPREAD OF ISLAM IN EUROPE

In countries like England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, a phenomenon dubbed the “Islamization of Europe” is taking place. For example, 40 years ago in England there were only a few thousand Muslims. Today there are more than 2 million, and mosques have increased in number from a few dozen to more than 2,000. Despite the growth, Roy Nagelkirk who works with the Muslim population in France with Greater Europe Mission, says some moderate Muslims are becoming disappointed with Islam. Jack Shiflet of the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism agrees. “When they see tragedy going on, or bombs going off because of protests for [political] cartoons and what have you, God is working,” he said. “The Muslim people [are realizing] that Islam is not what they thought it was.” Shift let added that changes are happening, although slowly. “The fastest growing (religious) group in France, by conversion . . . is Muslims who are becoming evangelicals,” he said. (Mission Network News)

* French programs produced by HCJB World Radio programmers air on a few FM Christian radio stations in France and in some French-speaking African countries.

UPDATE: BELARUS MAY REVERSE STANCE ON HUNGER-STRIKING CHURCH

Reports indicate authorities in Belarus may be preparing to reverse their stance on the beleaguered New Life Church in the capital city of Minsk. On Thursday, Oct. 5, church members began a high-profile hunger strike in protest of the government’s apparent opposition to the church and their new building, a former cowshed. As of Friday, Oct. 20, 156 participants in 16 locations throughout Belarus were continuing with the strike. A core of approximately 30 hunger-strikers are protesting within the church’s threatened building. Banners within the church state the congregation’s demands to the Minsk City Executive Committee and a Belarusian-language slogan: “Stop discrimination against evangelical Christians in Belarus!” A senior state official has stated that President Alexander Lukashenko is aware of the church’s situation and strongly recommended that the church try another appeal to the Higher Economic Court. The church’s lawyer has done this, but stressed that the public protest will continue until a legal settlement is reached, citing previously broken promises. New Life is holding nightly services in the disputed building with support coming from believers worldwide. (Forum 18 News Service)

This month Trans World Radio (TWR) celebrates 25 years of radio outreach in Uruguay. TWR launched its Uruguay ministry from the capital of Montevideo in 1981 on an AM station known as Radio Rural. Today TWR-Uruguay broadcasts three hours of Bible-based programming each weekday and eight hours on weekends via a powerful 50,000-watt AM transmitter heard by listeners in Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay and southern Brazil. TWR continues to reach out to the struggling nation faced with poverty, secularism and an aging society A popular nationwide contest for young people called Youth on the Air aims to discover the radio producers and presenters of tomorrow who can reach their generation with the gospel of Christ. Several of TWR’s more popular shows have their own websites, allowing better interaction with listeners and include audio, printed materials, free downloads, newsletters, discussion forums and more. (Trans World Radio/ Mission Network News)

CHURCHES IN PHILIPPINES RETAIN HOPE DESPITE TYPHOON, VOLCANOES

Pastors and churches in eastern Philippines’ Bicol province were among those impacted by the typhoon that wracked the island nation in late September. The typhoon was one of the strongest storms to hit the nation in a decade. Bicol is one of the most depressed areas of the nation and, before the storm, the region had not yet recovered from powerful volcanic eruptions that caused widespread ash falls. A two-member Philippine Nazarene Compassionate Ministries team visited the area in October to determine the extent of the damage. Several area churches were damaged, one collapsing in the storm, while others escaped unscathed. Many of the church members’ homes and farm crops were destroyed before they could be harvested. Regardless, many believers remained joyful. As Pastor Carvin Cayetano worked to patch his roof he said, “Our homes may not be standing up, but praise God we are still standing up. We will continue to stand up for Jesus!” (Evangelical News)

CHINESE PROSECUTORS POSTPONE CHARGES AGAINST 6 CHRISTIANS

Local prosecutors in the city of Hangzhou in China’s Xiaoshan district have decided at this time not to prosecute the six church leaders arrested on July 29 when officials demolished a newly completed church. The case has been returned to the local Public Security Bureau (PSB) to gather more evidence. Reports that the Christian leaders implored the military police to postpone entering the construction site while at the same time urging the congregation to leave quickly in order to avoid a large-scale conflict have left PSB charges of “incitement to resist law enforcement” untenable. The six leaders, some as old as 76 years, remain in prison. The PSB may be investigating a 2004 incident where many of the same leaders held an open-air gospel meeting for migrant workers without permission from China’s Religious Affairs Bureau. (China Aid Association/ WorldWide Religious News)

ROCK STAR’S ADOPTION DRAWS WORLD ATTENTION TO MALAWI

Rock star Madonna’s adoption of orphan David Banda is drawing international attention to the Sub-Saharan African nation of Malawi and its orphans. However, Hopegivers International Executive Director Michael Glenn says Banda is “only one in a million.” While Madonna recently declared intentions to donate $1 million to support an orphan care center in Malawi and plans to help build a $3-million orphanage for the children there. Hopegivers and its partner, CitiHope International, already have an established, long-term program in place. By the end of this year Hopegivers will have provided more than 10,000 meals daily and delivered another $2.2 million in life-saving medicine to more than 10,000 beneficiaries in 40 public, private and church-sponsored institutions since 2004. Nonetheless, the situation for orphans in Malawi remains dire. “In Malawi we see and experience first-hand the desperate needs of AIDS orphans. Estimates of up to 50 percent of the orphans are believed to be infected. And they are part of vulnerable families who are coping with severe famine, extreme poverty and life-threatening diseases,” Glenn said. (Assist News Service)

* In partnership with African Bible College, HCJB World Radio helped plant a Christian radio station in Lilongwe, Malawi, in 1995. The station airs programs in Chichewa and English. Staff members from the HCJB World Radio Engineering Center in Elkhart, Ind., also installed FM transmitters at stations in two Malawian cities, Blantyre and Mzuzu, in 2000. Recently HCJB World Radio has joined with the Partners in Hope Medical Clinic, assigning a missionary couple to the outreach.

ARCHBISHOP: CHINESE CHURCHGOING RIVALS EUROPEAN PERCENTAGES Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams believes that in some regions of China the percentage of the population attending church on Sundays is as large or larger than in most countries in Western Europe. Following his two-week trip to China, Williams made his remarks from the residence of the British ambassador in Beijing on Tuesday, Oct. 24. Williams said the purpose of the visit was to “gain a better understanding of the Christian Community in China (Catholic as well as Protestant), and to explore how we might build a lasting and deeper relationships among the Church of England, the Three-Self Patriotic Movement and the Chinese Christian Council.” When asked about his overall perception on the church in China, Williams replied, “Whether it’s getting better or worse on the ground, I can only say that I heard far more consistently than I had expected . . . positive things about the role of religion and positive willingness to support religiously inspired projects. How that plays out in a remote village I can’t say, but I think what I’m trying to say is that it’s not only at national level that we’ve heard some of these more encouraging signs.” (Ecumenical News International)

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After accusing a Christian health center of “forcible conversions,“ the government of India's Chattisgarh state, controlled by the Hindu extremist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), ordered the takeover of the facility and fired 17 of its employees. The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) in Lundra, India, was ordered to be taken over on Tuesday, Oct. 10. Emilina Xess, a child development project officer with ICDS, said the government action stems from jealousy of the esteem and popularity of Christians at the ICDS in Lundra. A previous investigation into forced conversion charges last year were found the accusations to be baseless. The ICDS has been a model for other such centers serving the poor in the district of Surguja. In 1999-2000 it received the state’s Birsa Munda award for best performance. Rev. Theodore Lakra, judicial vicar of the Amibakpur diocese, claims, "This is done out of malice against the Christian community." (Compass Direct)

* Radio programs in 17 languages air to India from HCJB World Radio-Australia's shortwave station in Kununurra. The programs are produced at the ministry's studios in New Delhi, India.

STUDY: BEING RELIGIOUS GIVES SENIORS BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE

A new study published by University of New Hampshire sociology professor Michele Dillon shows that older people who are religious have a significantly enhanced quality of life in old age as compared to non-religious Americans. Older religious people are also more generous and less afraid of death than their less religious peers. Dillon's research was presented at an international symposium on values and aging in Galway, Ireland, on Oct. 20. Dillon and collaborator Paul Wink, professor of psychology at Wellesley College, found that religious seniors are more involved in social activities, community activities and creative endeavors such as painting and craftwork. All of these result in enhanced overall quality of life regardless of health concerns. In fact, the study showed religious seniors in poor health avoided depression more often due to their involvement. Additionally, those who were highly religious were the least afraid of dying; those who were moderately religious were the most afraid. Secular seniors had a similarly low fear of death. (WorldWide Religious News)

4 MISSIONARIES ON TRIAL FOR INCITING VIOLENCE IN KENYA

Four Christian missionaries in Kenya have been charged with incitement to violence for distributing pamphlets considered anti-Muslim. U.S. nationals Andrew Saucier and Paul Garcia and Kenyans Michael Mullei and Patrick Mutinda were arrested on Oct. 18 in Ngong after distributing pamphlets outside a primary school the previous day. The literature read, “Prophet Mohammed is not a true prophet” and “Allah had no son,“ prompting angry Muslims to protest outside the Calvary Baptist Church where the four missionaries serve. As the trial for the four began on Monday, Oct. 23, police were forced to fire live rounds and teargas above the heads of the crowd to disperse the protesters, forcing the court to adjourn the hearing. Magistrate Hellen Wasilwa warned the lawyers for the Islamic community, saying, “The court wants peace as it hears the case. They are not conducting themselves in orderly manner and they have jammed the court.” If convicted, the four could face fines and up to three years in prison. They are currently free on bail. (Evangelical News/ Voice of the Martyrs)

* HCJB World Radio has worked with local partners to install eight radio outlets in seven cities of Kenya.

CHRISTIAN RESOURCE CENTER IN ISRAEL IMPACTS EAST ASIA

The mission of the En-Gedi Resource Center in Israel is to provide Christian resources to study the words of Jesus within the Jewish cultural and historical context. The organization started with small goals, but God seems to have had a different plan. Executive Director Bruce Okkema says, “One day we got a call from a pastor in Hong Kong, and he said he had been reading our articles online and wondered if he could translate them into Chinese and put them on his website. That has blossomed into a teaching ministry throughout Hong Kong, China, Cambodia and Vietnam.” This relationship led to more open doors with East Gates Ministries which translated one of En-Gedi’s books into Chinese to aid Chinese Christians with their Bible studies. Director Lois Tverberg said an international ministry wasn’t part of the original plan. “We aimed to be a resource for Christians, and we didn't realize the Lord had a purpose in sending us all over the world,” she said. (Mission Network News)

'CULTURAL' CENTERS IN IRAQ THRIVE AMID THREATS OF VIOLENCE

Despite the turmoil and destruction in Iraq, young people in the war-torn nation persist in their desire to work toward their future and the future of their nation. To help with this desire, Open Doors runs “cultural” centers in two cities of Iraq. They are known as cultural centers because they cannot operate as churches. Each center has a bookshop, a library, an Internet cafe and a place for computer and English courses. Both centers organize Christian activities, either outside or inside the buildings. The centers are in dangerous cities as car bombs have exploded close to both facilities. But Open Doors’ co-workers continue with their ministry, and young people, often students, are coming to the centers. Lectures on religious topics draw the largest crowds with 35 to 50 people often attending and discussing the topic. Open Doors USA President Carl Moeller says, “It is dangerous work. But that is why Open Doors is there -- to support and strengthen suffering Christians who remain.” (Assist News Service/Open Doors)

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Thirty-five Christians, including an American-Korean pastor, were arrested in the Chinese city of Uramqi in the Xijiang autonomous region during a Bible training seminar. On Thursday, Oct. 26, local police raided a local house church training session in the Qilin Mountain Villa suburb of Uramqi, arresting 35 attendees including the American-Korean pastor who was leading the session and his interpreter. During the raid, the police confiscated bibles and “other Christian material”. The detainees are being kept in an unknown location. One 66-year-old woman being detained, Xia Lingshi, reportedly “suffers from coronary heart disease and high blood pressure, thus should not be detained in any harsh environment.” (China Aid Association/Asia News)

* HCJB World Radio-Australia’s shortwave station in Kununurra broadcasts 16.5 hours of Mandarin and 14 hours of Cantonese programming each week.

‘LOST JEWISH TRIBE’ IN INDIA RETURNS TO ISRAEL AFTER 27 CENTURIES

More than 200 members of a “lost” Jewish tribe are immigrating to Israel next month from northeastern India. “This is a project of national and historical and even theological significance,” said Michael Freund, chairman and founder of Shavei Israel, an organization that helps communities around the world return to their Jewish roots and to Israel. The group, believed to be the Bnei Menashe (children of Manasseh), are considered descendants of one of the 10 “lost tribes” of Israel. “Their ancestors were exiled from the land 27 centuries ago,” says Freund, “and despite wandering for so long and so far, they managed to preserve their sense of Jewish identity and now, just as the prophets foretold, we are witnessing their return. It is a miracle.” Nearly 1,000 Bnei Menashe have already immigrated to Israel, but at least 7,000 are still waiting for the opportunity to return to Israel. (Religion Today)

SUDAN’S DARFUR REGION VOTED ‘MOST DANGEROUS FOR CHILDREN’

Despite a peace agreement signed between the government and one of the rebel groups in May, the crisis in the western Sudan’s Darfur region has grown more violent and complex. A recent Reuters poll showed aid workers and journalists overwhelmingly believe Darfur to be the “world’s most dangerous place for children.” Unfortunately, if the situation worsens, aid agencies like World Vision, which has been distributing food rations to around 300,000 people in more than 20 refugee camps, may be forced to withdraw. “Medical and human needs in Darfur are already beyond desperate, especially among women and children,” said Henry Duba, World Vision’s emergency health specialist in Darfur. “Any further worsening of security would mean a decline in the capacity of aid organizations to respond and a consequent deterioration in the humanitarian situation.” Some 3.6 million in Darfur are affected by the conflict, yet vast areas are almost completely inaccessible to aid agencies due to violence and insecurity. In North Darfur 350,000 people have been stranded for months without food aid. More than 200,000 people have died in the three-year conflict. (World Vision)

MINNEAPOLIS A CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS

A coalition of concerned Christians in the media and churches of the upper Midwest are establishing Minneapolis as a center of activity regarding the plight of persecuted Christians worldwide. Coinciding with the “Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church” Sunday, Nov. 12, the city is hosting an event called “A Clarion Call Initiative” in support of those suffering for their faith in more than 200 countries around the world. Minnesota ranks third behind California and Florida for per-capita number of foreign nationals living in the state. In addition, Minneapolis/St. Paul ranks as a top-10 gateway city for U.S. immigration, home to 574,000 immigrants speaking 200 different languages and the largest concentrations of Hmong, Somali and Oromo people and the second-largest populations of Tibetan and Liberian nationals. The metro area also has among the fastest growing populations of Asians, Hispanics and people from Sub-Saharan Africa. (Assist News Service)

ONGOING POLITICAL UNREST SLOWS MISSIONARY EFFORTS IN NEPAL

Missionary efforts in Nepal have been slowed by the post-monarchy struggles between Nepal’s government and Maoist rebels. Peace talks were abruptly adjourned last week after neither side could come to an agreement on how to move the process forward. The main differences center around the role of the monarchy, an interim constitution that would allow rebels to join the government and what to do with rebel weapons. Recent rebel attacks have hit the capital city of Katmandu, creating fears the government will not maintain control. Rody Rodeheaver with IN Network said, “Our church planters find it very difficult these days to go out because they are being spotlighted by the guerillas. Many of them have not had the freedom that they’ve had in the past to go out. So we’re really praying that God will bring a resolution to this whole problem.” (Mission Network News)

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