An evangelical pastor was shot dead by Sri Lankan security forces on Saturday, Jan. 13, in the northern city of Jaffna, triggering fears of ongoing ethnic and religious clashes in the beleaguered region. Rev. Nallathamby Gnanaseelen, 38-year-old pastor of the Tamil Mission Church in Jaffna, was reportedly not engaged in any political activity when the shooting occurred. A report from Christian Solidarity Worldwide states, “Rev. Gnanaseelen was killed on Chapel Street after he had taken his wife and daughter to the hospital. According to reports, he was shot in the stomach and then in the head. His Bible, bag, identity card and motorcycle were taken away, and he was left in the road. Sri Lankan security forces initially claimed he had been carrying explosives, and then said he was shot because he failed to stop when challenged.” Recent months have brought increased violence in the ongoing conflict between Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tiger rebel front. Meanwhile, religious minorities such as Christians are also being persecuted, and the Sri Lankan Parliament is considering an anti-conversion law similar to those in India. (Assist News Service/BosNewsLife)

KOREAN BELIEVERS PROCLAIM ‘YEAR OF PRAYER FOR NORTH KOREA’

On the 100th anniversary of the Pyongyang Great Revival in Korea, the South Korean church proclaimed 2007 a “Year of Prayer for North Korea.” The announcement was made by Rev. Choi Hee Boum, executive secretary of the Christian Council of Korea, at Seoul Olympic Gymnastic Stadium before a crowd of 15,000. The signed proclamation states, “As we mark this centenary day of the outbreak of the 1907 Pyongyang Great Revival, we desire to see love, freedom and peace restored in Korea. We thus proclaim 2007 as a ‘Year of Prayer for North Korea’ and call the global church and Christians worldwide to join the South Korean church in actively praying for North Korea this year.” Tying the proclamation to the historic revival in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, Christian Solidarity Worldwide’s International Advocate, Elizabeth Batha said, “The contrast between the spiritual climate in North Korea today and 100 years ago could not be starker. That Pyongyang has moved from being a city known throughout the Christian world as the ‘Jerusalem of the East’ to now being the capital of probably the most brutal suppressor of Christianity is chilling.” (Christian Newswire/Christian Solidarity Worldwide)

20,000+ EXPECTED AT ‘WALK FOR LIFE’ EVENT IN CALIFORNIA

More than 20,000 participants are expected at the third annual “Walk for Life West Coast” on Saturday, Jan. 20, in San Francisco. The event has become the fastest growing, most diverse pro-woman and pro-life event in the nation. “The Walk for Life West Coast is a growing movement that is attracting national attention, especially among young people,” said Dolores Meehan, co-founder of the event. “Clearly the pro-life movement is quite alive in California.” Walk for Life co-founder Eva Muntean added, “The primary goal is to reach out to women and men of all political persuasions with the message that abortion hurts all women.” The walk will begin at San Francisco’s Justin Herman Plaza at 11 a.m., proceed along the San Francisco waterfront and conclude at the Marina Green. (Christian Newswire)

CONVOY OF HOPE WORKS LOCALLY FOLLOWING MIDWEST ICE STORM

A severe ice storm that crippled much of the Midwest has allowed the Springfield, Mo.-based international disaster relief organization Convoy of Hope (COH) to bring aid within the U.S. While many states were declared federal disaster areas due to the severe storm, COH’s disaster response team mobilized to distribute more than 84,000 pounds of food, water and personal hygiene kits throughout the Ozarks. COH has also been asked to serve as the local site for donation management, handling receiving, staging and distribution of relief supplies for the Springfield and Green County Emergency Operations Center. COH has also worked with the National Guard to distribute supplies throughout the area. A COH spokesman said, “Our ongoing partner in disaster response, the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention will be providing a feeding station, preparing hot meals to be distributed through the Red Cross.” So far the operations have given out more than $150,000 in aid. (Assist News Service/Assemblies of God News)

PIONEER FEMALE CHRISTIAN PUBLISHER CECILIA ADKINS DIES AT 83

Cecilia Adkins, the first woman in the U.S. to head a religious publishing company, died Saturday, Dec. 30, at her home after a long illness. She was 83. In addition to being the first female head of the Nashville, Tenn.-based Sunday School Publishing Board of the National Baptist Convention, during her 53-year career Adkins was also the first African-American woman to be appointed to the Metro School Board as well as the first woman to serve as chairman of the board of her alma mater, Fisk University. Adkin’s niece, Cynthia Matthews, said, “I think that was one of her missions, to inspire women to move ahead and be all that they could be.” (Christian Retailing/National Baptist Convention/WKRN TV)

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