Mladíci bili a mlátili Kennedyho do obličeje, přes záda a hrudník a pak si na to vzali podstavec od tyče na mikrofon, kterým ho dále bili a způsobili mu hluboké tržné rány a vážné krvácení. “Řekli mi – vyprávíš každému, že Ježíš prolil svou krev a teď se ti stane to samé,” dodal Kennedy. Mladíci také zbili člena sboru jménem Rajendran, který se náhodou vrátil do kostela. Ten asi po 10 minutách přivolal pomoc.

V sousedním státu Andra Pradeš zbili hinduističtí extrémisté pastora ve čtvrtek 28. prosince a k dalším dvěma útokům na pastory zde došlo 6. a 7. ledna, když je předtím varovali, že musí ukončit křesťanské aktivity v jejich vesnicích.

Seven youths in the Indian city of Bangalore in southern India’s Karnataka state first asked Pastor Robert Kennedy to “pray for a sick friend,” but instead beat the pastor. Kennedy required 16 stitches to his back and head after the assault which occurred in the Jesus Preeti Church after worship services on Sunday, Jan. 7.

The youths beat and slapped Kennedy’s face, back and chest before using the heavy base of a microphone stand to strike him across the back, causing a deep gash and heavy bleeding. “They said to me, ‘You were telling everyone that Christ shed his blood – now you do the same,’” Kennedy added. The youths also beat a church member identified only as Rajendran, who by chance returned to the church. Rajendran eventually called for help about 10 minutes after the attack.

In neighboring Andhra Pradesh state, Hindu extremists beat a pastor on Thursday, Dec. 28, followed by attacks on two more pastors on Jan. 6-7 after warning them to cease Christian activities in their villages. The attacks have followed the common pattern of first warning the pastors followed soon afterward with mob attacks by Hindus. (Compass Direct)

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

CARTER, CLINTON WORK TO COUNTER ‘NEGATIVE IMAGE OF BAPTISTS’

Former U.S. presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton have proposed the establishment of a broadly inclusive alternative Baptist movement to counteract what they call a negative image of Baptists and to address poverty. The plan was revealed at a press conference held at the Carter Center in Atlanta, Ga., Tuesday, Jan. 9, with the two presidents flanked by moderate Baptist groups including the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship which is made up of an unverified number of churches that object to the conservative leadership of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). The offshoot group comprises about 80 leaders of 40 moderate Baptist organizations claiming to represent 20 million Baptists in North America. Carter and Clinton announced a “Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant” tentatively set for Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2008, which they hope will attract 20,000 Baptists. The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that the two former presidents “said they want to counter concerns that Baptists have been ‘negative’ and ‘exclusionary’ and promised an inclusive organization willing to debate openly on all issues.” Many of the remarks at the press conference seemed to be directed at the current SBC whose leadership was not invited to attend. (Baptist Press/Religion Today)

REPORT REVEALS PROGRAM TO DESTROY CHRISTIANITY IN MYANMAR

A new report about persecution of Christians in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) is slated to be released at an All Party Parliamentary Group on Burma to be held in London’s House of Commons on Tuesday, Jan. 23. The shocking report, called “Carrying the Cross: The Military Regime’s Campaign of Restriction, Discrimination and Persecution against Christians in Burma,” cites Burmese documents with the headline “Program to Destroy the Christian Religion in Burma.” The government document begins with the quote, “There shall be no home where the Christian religion is practiced.” The comprehensive report looks at the military regime’s policies toward Christians as well as various ethnicities and religious followers such as Muslims and Buddhist monks who do not conform to the regime’s version of nationalistic beliefs. The report’s author, Christian Solidarity Worldwide’s advocacy officer for South Asia Benedict Rogers, says, “Burma’s people, of all religions and ethnicities, have suffered in silence for too long.” (Assist News Service)

EGYPTIAN FILM CREW CAUGHT IN TRIBAL WARFARE AT HISTORIC SITE

A film crew for Arabic SAT-7 Television recently got caught amid tribal warfare while working on a documentary about Christianity in Egypt called “Christian Roots.” The crew had received official permission to be at the site, but while they were videotaping, a group of six men with machine guns drove up, fired their weapons into the air and ordered the crew to stop. “Two Arab tribes in this area had a conflict about this land,” explained SAT-7’s Hany Fayez. “They thought that we were from another tribe, and they didn’t permit us to film, so we had to stop filming and take our equipment and go away quickly.” Although the production will be forced to use previously filmed footage, Fayez believes the program holds an important message from Christian history. “When the Christians were united they could face any kind of problem. They maintained their faith and protected their faith during rough times. Now we are seeing some conflicts between denominations, between leaders, which will really affect the Christian existence in the Middle East.” The documentary is expected to air sometime this year. (Mission Network News)

VONETTE BRIGHT HONORED BY WOMEN IN CHRISTIAN MEDIA

Vonette Bright, co-founder of Campus Crusade for Christ and Founder of Women Today Radio, received the third annual Women in Christian Media (WCM) “Excellence in Communication” award at a dinner in Dallas, Texas Thursday, Jan. 11. Bright, whose program “Women Today Radio” emphasizes practical spiritual insight in her daily one-minute feature encouraging women to live fully for Christ and impact their corner of the world, was also the keynote speaker at the event. WCM hopes the presentations of these awards will be an incentive for the continued pursuit of excellence for those working in television, radio, film, Internet and publishing industries and to focus public attention on outstanding Christian cultural, educational, technological, entertainment, news and informational achievements in Christian media. WCM President Suellen Roberts birthed the organization out of a desire to connect media women in purpose and vision. She believes that providing a platform for women in Christian media will yield powerful results. “Mobilizing women in Christian media is essential to advancing the gospel in these times,” said Roberts. (Assist News Service)

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