Zprávy HCJB 16.12.2007 - 22.12.2007

	Podle průzkumu patří Indie, Nigérie, Brazílie a Moroko k ‘nejreligióznějším‘ národům
	Nejnovější průzkum naznačuje, že Indie, Nigérie, Brazílie a Maroko patří mezi nejreligióznější národy světa – přes 96 procent obyvatel těchto zemí sami sebe označují za věřící. V Nigérii, kde počet křesťanů a muslimů je zhruba vyrovnaný, se za věřící považuje 92 procent obyvatel. Západní průmyslové země zde hluboce pokulhávají kromě význačné výjimky, kterou jsou USA. Osmdesát devět procent amerických občanů se považuje za věřící a většina z nich za hluboce věřící. V tomto ohledu jsou Evropané velmi odlišní. Německo, Rakousko a Švýcarsko v západní Evropě bodují s asi 70 procenty obyvatel považujících se za věřící, ale jen z nich 20 procent za hluboce věřící. Počty ve Spojeném Království a ve Francii jsou ještě nižší. Posledním evropským národem pokud jde o zbožnost jsou Rusové, kterých se jen 50 procent považuje za věřící a jen 7 procent za hluboce věřící. Itálie a Polsko – země převážně katolické – jsou nejzbožnějšími zeměmi Evropy. 87 procent jejich obyvatel uvádí svou zbožnost, 40 procent vysokou zbožnost. Tato studie provedená německou Bertelsmannovou nadací zahrnuje 21 000 dotázaných z 21 zemí světa. Zdroj: Assist News Service
	Boží dílo a váš svět
	Vašim světem může být spousta práce a někdy je těžké najít si chvilku a popřemýšlet o Božím díle, zvlášť koncem roku. My to víme a tak je naší radostí přinášet Boží misijní dílo do Vašeho světa prostřednictvím Zpráv z křesťanského světa. Každý den se tým HCJB Global snaží vytřídit ty články a zprávy, které jsou skutečně důležité z hlediska Velkého Poslání . Každou zprávou se snažíme osvětlit činnost Boha v tomto světě a způsob, jakým buduje Své Království, přestože věřící v tomto světě stále čelí těžkostem. Ať mluvíme k jednotlivcům, sborům, rozhlasovým stanicím, misijním organizacím, doufáme, že tato stručná cílená služba je pro vás požehnáním, protože informace hledáte. Také se Vám snažíme vysvětlovat, jak HCJB Global touží být hlasem a rukou Pána Ježíše. Prostřednictvím rozhlasového vysílání i lékařských misií mnozí lidé z celého světa přicházejí ke Kristu. Jak je to požehnané! Jak se blíží konec roku, vidíme vše dobré, co Bůh letos ve světě učinil. Mohli byste využít této příležitosti ke zvláštnímu daru pro HCJB Global? Vaše finanční pomoc nám pomůže v naší práci po celém světě a v našem úsilí přinášet Vám informace. Navštivte prosím ještě dnes tuto internetovou stránku k poskytnutí daru online: http://www.hcjb.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1254&Itemid=0&project_id=26 . Děkuji Vám za pomoc a spolupráci. V Jeho službách Jon Hirst Výkonný ředitel pro komunikace, HCJB Global
	Skoro 1000 lidí se vydalo za Kristem v průběhu cesty Luise Palaua do Číny
	Téměř 1000 lidí se během pěti dnů vydalo za Kristem ve třech velkých čínských městech – Pekingu, Hangžou a Šanghaji, kde evangelista Luis Palau nedávno osobně vedl kázání Božího Slova. Také Palauův syn Andrew, který je rovněž evangelistou, se během této cesty mnohokrát podělil o své osobní svědectví. Zlatým hřebem programu byla dvě shromáždění v největším čínském kostele – Čong Yi v Hangžou. U příležitosti zvláštní večerní sobotní bohoslužby se do tohoto kostela pro 5000 osob stěsnalo 8000 návštěvníků. Také v neděli večer bylo plno. Během těchto dvou dnů se asi 1000 lidí se rozhodlo následovat Krista. Podle vedení církve šlo o jedno z největších shromáždění v moderních čínských dějinách, kde byli přítomni zahraniční muži víry a kde asi polovinu osob na shromáždění tvořili „hledající“ – zvědaví lidé pozvaní členy církve. „Na svých cestách jsem se jen zřídkakdy setkal s pastorem (Gu Josefem), který by měl větší zanícení a horlivost pro službu,“ řekl Luis. „Každý kdo se pohybuje v prostředi chrámu Chong Yi vidí a cítí Kristovu lásku, zvláště mezi mladými.“ Zdroj: Christian Newswire
	Pro pronásledované je oslava Vánoc rizikem i příležitostí
	Každoročně je pro svoji víru zabito asi 200 000 křesťanů po celém světě a odhadem 200 milionů křesťanů je nějakým způsobem pronásledováno. John Candelin, výkonný ředitel Komise pro náboženskou svobodu při Světovém evangelikálním sdružení uvádí, že Vánoce mohou být pro křesťany obtížným obdobím. „V zemích s muslimskou většinou, jakou je například Indonézie, se kostely přitahující množství lidí mohou stát nebezpečným místem.“ Candeli také zmínil odlehlé vesnice v Indii, kde jsou křesťané v převážně hinduistických vesnicích pronásledováni pro tak nevinnou věc, jakou je zpěv vánočních koled. Avšak na druhou stranu je pro křesťany slavení Vánoc příležitostí k evangelizaci v muslimských, hinduistických a buddhistických částech světa. Candelin také řekl, že lidé jiného než křesťanského vyznání křesťany pozorují a „budou se jich ptát, proč Vánoce slaví, což samozřejmě křesťanům dává příležitost svědčit o narození Ježíše Krista.“ Zdroj: Mission Network News
	V Turecku kněz pozval mladíka na bohoslužbu a ten jej později pobodal
	65letý italský římskokatolický kněz Adriano Franchini působící v tureckém přístavním městě Imiru se zotavuje z následků pobodání, kterého se na něm před kostelem v Imiru dopustil nespokojený mladík. K neštěstí došlo v neděli 16. prosince po skončení mše. Kněze převezli do nemocnice a jeho život není v ohrožení. Policie zadržela podezřelého 19letého mladíka a údajně i dva spolupachatele. Jejich jména nebyla oznámena. Podle tureckých médií stály za útokem náboženské pohnutky. Událost ukazuje, jaké nebezpečí hrozí křesťanům v Turecku. Křesťané zde tvoří asi 1 procento obyvatel. Turecká tisková agentura Anatolia oznámila, že útočník nepochází z Izmiru, ale přicestoval sem ze svého bydliště v Balikeširu severně od Izmiru a sháněl informace o křesťanství. Franchini podle všeho mladého muže pozval, aby pozoroval mši, po které měli krátkou diskusi o obracení ke křesťanství. Mladík se najednou rozzuřil a bodl Franchiniho do břicha. Čepel nože však minula životně důležité orgány. Zdroj: BosNewsLife
	Židé pro |Ježíše před Vánoci otiskují inzeráty ve velkých denících
	Skupina Židé pro Ježíše vydává v řadě deníků ve velkých městech po celé Americe společně s USA USA Today celostránkové inzeráty. Je to část jejich dlouhodobé kampaně v sekulárních médiích v období Vánoc. Inzeráty obsahují zprávu o spasení pro všechny skupiny čtenářů, ale zvlášť se zaměřují na židovskou komunitu. Zuzana Perlmanová, zástupce výkonného ředitele Židé pro Ježíše věří, že lidé jsou v období Vánoc vnímavější ke Zprávě o spaseni, pro jejich náboženský tón a protože symbolizují svátek. Lidé se ptají a Bůh jim chce odpovědět, řekla Perlmanová. Inzerátová kampaň napřed narazila na určitý odpor, když The Tribune Company vlastnící řadu velkých deníků zprvu odmítala povolit otištění inzerátů. Podle Perlmanové byl tento přístup vlastníků přezkoumán a následně upraven. Zdroj: OneNewsNow.com
	Poznámka vydavatele
	Zpravodajství bude během Vánoc až do 2. ledna 2008 tradičně přerušeno. Přejeme Vám šťastné Vánoce a požehnaný Nový Rok!
	Všechny zprávy v angličtině
	POLL: INDIA, NIGERIA, BRAZIL, MOROCCO AMONG ‘MOST RELIGIOUS’ Source: Assist News Service A new poll indicates India, Nigeria, Brazil and Morocco are among the most religious nations in the world with more than 96 percent of the population regarding themselves as religious. In Nigeria, where Christians and Muslims are roughly equally represented, 92 percent describe themselves as highly religious. Western industrial nations lag far behind in spirituality, with the U.S. a noted exception. Eighty-nine percent of U.S. residents describe themselves as religious -- the majority as highly religious. In this respect Europeans differ greatly. Germany, Austria and Switzerland score a Western European average of 70 percent regarding themselves as religious and only about 20 percent as highly religious. Numbers in the U.K. and France are even lower. The least religious nation in Europe is Russia with 50 percent claiming to be religious and 7 percent highly religious. Italy and Poland -- predominantly Catholic countries -- are the most religious nations in Europe with about 87 percent claiming to be religious and more than 40 percent highly religious. The study, conducted by the German Bertelsmann Foundation, involved 21,000 adults in 21 nations. FRIENDS PUZZLE OVER EGYPTIAN CONVERT’S MYSTERIOUS RELEASE Source: Compass Direct News An Egyptian convert to Christianity released by police under murky circumstances has revealed details of her weeklong detention last July that differ greatly from original reports of torture. Speaking by telephone from Egypt through a translator at her side, a woman claiming to be Shaymaa Muhammad al-Sayed said police in Alexandria angrily interrogated her about why she became a Christian but treated her “not good, but not badly.” But contradictions between the convert’s version of her detention and the testimony of eyewitnesses have raised questions about whether al-Sayed is under ongoing police pressure. Of most concern now, Christian sources said, is Al-Sayed’s comment that police withheld her national identification card when they released her on July 23. Egyptian citizens must produce a national identification to carry out bank transactions, acquire a job, obtain a pension check and travel within or outside Egypt. “She has nothing to prove that she is alive,” a friend said. “She is not a Muslim, and she has nothing to prove that she is a Christian. She does not exist. I think that if she would think about it well, she would be scared to go outside [her] door!” CHRISTIAN ACTIVIST FACES DECLINING HEALTH IN CHINESE PRISON Sources: China Aid Association, Assist News Service Christian democracy and human rights activist Peng Ming continues to suffer from deteriorating health while serving a life sentence in Han Yang Prison No. 19 in China’s Hu Bei province. After becoming a Christian while in the U.S., Peng advocated freedom, democracy and human rights for China for several years until May of 2004. At that time he traveled to Thailand to visit his elderly parents. At some point during his travels, Peng was lured to Myanmar (Burma) where he was kidnapped at gunpoint by eight Chinese special agents and transported to China. Peng was sentenced to life in prison by Chinese officials in October 2005, accused of engaging in terrorism activities. Since his imprisonment, Peng has developed a severe case of kidney stones. In addition, while incarcerated in April 2005 he suffered a massive heart attack and received no medical treatment from prison staff. These and other health issues are compounded by prison officials who continue to deprive Ping of sleep, food and proper medical attention. The China Aid Association is urging Christians worldwide to pray for Peng’s health. NATIVITY DISPLAYED IN TIMES SQUARE DURING CHRISTMAS SEASON Source: Christian Newswire A nativity scene was displayed in New York City’s Times Square last weekend as part of a nationwide campaign encouraging citizens to set up nativity displays at public buildings, city halls, state capitols and in public places. On Saturday, Dec. 15, a nativity scene was set up in the heart of Times Square. “The Nativity Project offers an opportunity for people of faith to enter the public square with the glorious news of Christmas that the Christ child has provided peace on earth and good will toward men,” explained Rev. Patrick Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition and organizer of the Nativity Project. The campaign reminds public officials that the U.S. constitution “promises freedom of religion, not freedom from religion,” he added. “Sadly, we are seeing an erosion and crushing of religious freedoms across America from groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). This is especially true during the Christmas season.” Mahoney said most Americans welcome nativity displays. “While the nativity scene was set up, thousands of people walked by, yet not one person complained, and scores joined in singing Christmas carols around the display.” NEW YORK BUSINESSMAN GOES TO COURT FOR RIGHT TO EVANGELIZE Sources: OneNewsNow.com, Evangelical News A businessman cited for displaying a gospel message on his personal property is suing the town of Gouverneur, N.Y., accusing it of violating the U.S. constitution’s protection of free speech and private property rights. Daniel Burritt placed the evangelistic message on a trailer on his commercial property adjacent to U.S. Route 11 and was issued a criminal citation for violating a local ordinance that allegedly requires a permit to display such a message. Matt Bowman of the Alliance Defense Fund, assisting attorney on the case, says the citation proves a double standard because no action has been taken against other businesses in the area for displaying commercial messages on private property. He considers the permit ordinance illegal because it discriminates between types of speech. “This town has turned the First Amendment on its head, treating religious speech as having second-class status,” he argues. Burritt appeared in court Thursday, Dec.13, to plead not guilty to the charge. His next court date is in May 2008. Bowman says Burritt wants the charges dropped voluntarily but is willing to go to trial to defend his right to share the gospel. © Copyright 2007 - HCJB Global - Colorado Springs, CO USA
	Všechny zprávy v angličtině
	NEARLY 1,000 COME TO CHRIST AT LUIS PALAU EVENT IN CHINA Source: Christian Newswire In an intense tour of three major Chinese cities in five days, evangelist Luis Palau recently took God’s Word directly to the Chinese people in Beijing, Hangzhou and Shanghai. Palau’s son Andrew, also an evangelist, shared his personal testimony several times during the trip. Highlighting the visit were two presentations at the largest church in China -- Chong Yi Church in the city of Hangzhou. In a special Saturday-night service, more 8,000 people jammed the sanctuary designed for 5,000. A Sunday service was also filled to capacity with nearly 1,000 decisions to follow Christ recorded during the two days. According to church leadership, the events represented one of the largest gatherings in modern Chinese history to hear an international religious leader with more than half the Saturday audience being “seekers” -- curious people invited by church members. “In all my travels I’ve seldom encountered a senior pastor (Rev. Gu Joseph) with more passion and zeal for his ministry,” said Luis. “You can see and feel the love for Christ everywhere at Chong Yi Church, especially among the young people.” * HCJB Global-Australia’s shortwave station in Kununurra broadcasts 25.5 hours of Mandarin programming each week. 7 MUSLIMS DETAINED IN EGYPT AFTER GOING ON FIERY RAMPAGE Sources: Assist News Service, AFP, Reuters Seven Muslims were detained in southern Egypt on Sunday, Dec. 16, after setting fire to a church as well as stores owned by Christians. The seven told police the violence was in retaliation for the previous week’s alleged rape of a Muslim girl by three Christian boys. The seven individuals set fire to 13 stores owned by Egyptian Christians in the southern city of Isna late Saturday. They also threw Molotov cocktails at a local church. The three Christians were detained on Saturday and taken to a police station where an angry crowd of about 150 Muslims hurled stones and bottles. One source indicated, “The seven were also demonstrating outside the police station. Then they left the protest and started setting fire to property owned by Christians.” Reuters reported that Egypt suffered its worst Christian-Muslim clashes in decades in 1999 in southern Egypt when 20 Christians were killed, 22 others wounded and scores of stores destroyed. Egypt’s Coptic Christians, the largest Christian community in the Middle East, account for an estimated 6 to 10 percent of the country’s 76 million inhabitants, and complain of systematic discrimination and harassment. BELARUS CHRISTIAN YOUTH LEADER TARGETED FOR BEATING Source: World Evangelical Alliance Police in the eastern European nation of Belarus broke up a pro-democracy protest on Wednesday, Dec. 12, targeting Christian Zmitser Fedaruk for a special beating. Police allegedly isolated Fedaruk, beat him to the ground and stomped on him. His head slammed onto the concrete, rendering him unconscious and causing a concussion. Fedaruk is the new leader of the Malady Front, a Belarussian youth movement with Christian roots that advocates freedom, democracy and Christian values in Belarus. The two previous leaders of the group have both been incarcerated for reasons allegedly linked to their position. Fedaruk had recently returned from Washington, D.C., on Dec. 9 for a visit sponsored by the U.S. Helsinki Commission. The day after the attack, Fedaruk spoke by telephone from his hospital bed saying, “I think my beating was linked to my trip to America. There were many indications of that. I was deliberately pushed behind the [special police] cordon and there, separated from the demonstrators, knocked down and beaten. And then they threw me back, saying something like, ‘Take your man back, he made a nice trip to America.’” Maladay Front’s application for registration has been denied six times despite meeting all criteria. EASTERN EUROPEAN CHRISTIANS MOBILIZED BY GLOBAL AIDS SUMMIT Source: Mission Network News Christians who attended the third annual Global Summit on AIDS and the Church last month are taking more of a leadership role in fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Russian Ministries hosted a delegation of top denominational leaders from Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova and Russia where HIV infection rates are approaching those of African nations. Ukraine leads the industrialized world in HIV infections. Sergey Rakhuba, vice president of Russian Ministries, said that “10 years ago nobody paid any attention to it; five years ago nobody was talking about it. All of a sudden everybody started talking about the statistics -- HIV/AIDS growth was about 17 percent. This is huge.” Rakhuba added that churches in the former Soviet Union didn’t know how to respond and came to the conference to learn how to get involved. National church leaders now understand something about HIV/AIDS. “This is an opportunity for us to go out in the world and minister, to show the compassion of Christ, to show them love,” he said. “But at the same time we need to use it for an evangelism opportunity in terms of prevention.” The Purpose-Driven Ministries event at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., attracted some 1,500 Christians from around the world. * HCJB Global Hands is working to battle the AIDS crisis in both Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa. The ministry’s Hospital Vozandes-Quito in Ecuador operates an AIDS clinic, and the education department has produced a series of TV spots that urge prevention of AIDS through Christian values such as fidelity and abstinence. HCJB Global Hands has also sent out short-term ministry teams to South Africa to help at Hope Community Center, an HIV/AIDS ministry of King of Kings Baptist Church in Cape Town. Three HCJB Global Hands medical workers are now stationed at the Partners in Hope AIDS clinic in Lilongwe, Malawi. * ECUADORIAN CITY HONORS HCJB GLOBAL MUSICIAN FOR SERVICE HCJB Global missionary retiree Lois (Hatt) Vásconez received public recognition by authorities in Ecuador’s capital city, Quito, for decades of work highlighting the rich musical heritage of her host country. “I feel -- and felt -- very honored . . . very honored,” she said of receiving the prestigious award, a Mention of Honor by the Metropolitan Council of Quito on Nov. 28. Arriving in Ecuador as a single missionary in 1954, she married Oswaldo Vásconez, an employee at HCJB Global, several years later. Although her primary focus has been on music, she also helped in “Russian recordings, in German and eventually in Japanese, and of course in English and Spanish,” she said. Describing her as giving “service to the culture of our country and the city of Quito as a carrier of joy and hope,” the council recognized Lois, 82, for spending more than 50 years in Ecuador. She was presented with a pergamino (illuminated parchment) and a medallion for her service. In addition, crowds gave Lois a standing ovation at last month’s Quito Day Concerts, held to honor the founding of the city, as she received a plaque from members of the Coro Vozandes (Voice of the Andes Choir). “Lois is never happier than when she is making someone else look good,” said missionary Chuck Howard who has spent most of his life in Ecuador. “As an accompanist, she is able to cover up for a performer's mistakes,” added Howard, who has sung under her direction on many occasions. “[She makes performers] sound better than they actually are. In this she is a wonderful example of dedicated grace and humility.” Quito’s city council issued a statement that said, “Besides serving more than 40 years as pianist for the Coro Vozandes, she has worked to help the needy, among other humanitarian deeds as a missionary with HCJB Global in Ecuador.” The mission, founded in 1931, operates broadcast and healthcare facilities with education and training a vital part of its strategy. Lois presents a challenge to this interviewer, deflecting attention away from herself and onto musical abilities of her colleagues. Readily, she acknowledges that the Quito Day Concerts were started by late missionary Gene Jordan. She was his reluctant replacement as choir and orchestra director. “I did enjoy directing, I can’t deny it. But I’ve never considered myself a director because of my very strong shortcomings,” she said, acknowledging that she learned by experience. And while she didn’t train in music education, she has taught hundreds of piano students throughout the years. Recently she handed the concert director’s baton to missionary Michio Ozaki. “When I began directing the Coro Vozandes with absolutely no experience in directing orchestras or large choirs, Lois was my pianist, allowing a rookie to take her spot as director,” Ozaki said. “She never felt the need to poner las manos en la masa (put her hands into the dough), but allowed me to make my mistakes and be the director. However, she was always there to help me along in her quiet humble way. I am very thankful she was there. I am so happy she received this very well-deserved honor.” Coro Vozandes and the smaller traveling ensemble, Conjunto HC, have appeared in schools, military academies, plazas, shopping malls and concert halls. On occasion, the choir has even been invited to sing to Ecuador’s chief executive at the presidential palace. “I am very convinced that there are people who would never darken the door of a church to hear someone sing or play, but they would go to a neutral building to hear a choir,” said Lois of the concerts’ appeal to the general public. “And there they hear the Word of God. Many hearts have been touched. I’m glad to have had a part [in this evangelistic outreach]. Little by little, more Ecuadorians have joined the choir, and that’s thrilling because it’s not a foreign project.” Throughout the years Lois has often led music groups during live radio programs -- a format that presents its own set of anecdotes of people’s peculiarities, on-air gaffes or ways of relieving (or generating) tensions! Lois can recount such stories as well as other radio talents. One of the live shows that Lois was involved in for many years was the English-language, Sunday-evening program, “The Back Home Hour” (later renamed “HCJB Today”). It mirrored an earlier performance of the Spanish-language “Pláticas Dominicales” (Sunday conversations) with a short break between performances. Of late missionary Bob Savage, she said, “He would usually go home between programs and have his onion sandwich, and I mean it was an onion sandwich. He took so much ribbing when he came back!” She mentions the inspiration of seeing Merrill Dunlop in concert and the privilege of playing for the “Treble Harmonies” program with Don Hustad who both encouraged and challenged her musical skills. A 1946 graduate of Moody Bible Institute’s music course in Chicago, Lois later joined the staff of Grand Rapids School of Bible and Music (now Cornerstone University), heading the music department and serving as dean of women. Besides composing two choruses and a hymn, she founded and directed a 20-voice mixed group, the Choralaires. She also led a ladies’ quartet, and said, “that’s the kind of music that I really, really enjoy arranging!” Lois and her husband have three grown children, Elena, Sandra and Oswaldo, who has served as medical director at Hospital Vozandes-Quito. Continuing in music, she still teaches piano to local students. Asked about future endeavors, she hearkens back to a motto that God gave her decades ago, “Making Music for His Glory,” based on Psalm 28:7. ”I would like to have as many years as God gives me, honoring Him, especially by music,” she said. © Copyright 2007 - HCJB Global - Colorado Springs, CO USA
	Všechny zprávy v angličtině
	PERSECUTED CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS WITH RISKS, OPPORTUNITIES Source: Mission Network News This year nearly 200,000 Christians worldwide were killed for their faith with an estimated 200 million Christians who faced some kind of persecution. Johan Candelin, executive director of the Religious Liberty Commission with the World Evangelical Alliance, says Christmas can be a difficult time for Christians. “There could be countries like Indonesia -- where there’s a major Muslim population -- if you have Christian churches drawing a lot of people it could be a very dangerous place.” Candelin also mentioned remote villages in India where Christians in predominantly Hindu villages could face violence for something as simple as singing Christmas carols. On the other hand, as Christians celebrate Christmas, it can open evangelistic opportunities in Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist areas of the world. Candelin said that as people from other religions watch Christians “they will ask why they celebrate Christmas, and that of course gives the Christians a possibility to share about the birth of Jesus Christ.” MULTIPLE CHINESE HOUSE CHURCHES RAIDED IN CHRISTMAS SEASON Sources: China Aid Association, Christian Newswire, BosNewsLife Chinese police detained and tortured Pastor Liang Qi Zhen, vice president of the Chinese House Church Alliance, on Sunday, Dec. 16, as part of an apparent Christmas-season crackdown on devoted Christians. After disbursing Liang’s congregation, police officials took him by force and transported him to an undisclosed location where he was tortured for several hours. Liang’s ears and right hand were injured during the assault. China Aid Association (CAA) indicated that police officials continue to threaten the church members to prevent them from gathering. In Jiangsu province a house church in Chang Zhou City was attacked by police officials in December during a Christmas celebration. The church, led by Pastor Bu Ge Qiao, was holding a Christmas service when police raided the gathering and detained four female members. Police assaulted one of the members until she became unconscious and needed to be admitted to the hospital. Her condition remains unknown. Elsewhere in Henan province, police in Lu Yi district broke up a local house church prayer meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 4, detaining and interrogating five church members for five days. “To arbitrarily arrest peaceful Christians for celebrating Christmas, shows how much religious freedom Chinese people have,” said CAA President Bob Fu. * HCJB Global-Australia’s shortwave station in Kununurra broadcasts 25.5 hours of Mandarin programming to China each week. SURVEY REVEALS BRITONS’ LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT CHRISTMAS Source: WorldWide Religious News, Telegraph The extent of Britons’ ignorance about the Christmas story was illustrated in a new survey that found more than a quarter of adults do not know where Jesus was born. Twenty-seven percent of British adults were unable to identify Bethlehem as Jesus’ birthplace while the figure rose to 36 percent of people for younger adults (ages 18 to 24). One in 10 of those questioned thought the answer was Nazareth and a similar number said Jerusalem. The poll also found that 27 percent were unaware that an angel told Mary that she would give birth to a son, with some saying she was informed by the shepherds. Most respondents believed that Joseph, Mary and Jesus fled to Nazareth rather than Egypt when they escaped from King Herod, and a few even thought their destination was Rome. Only 12 percent respondents could answer all four questions about the Christmas story correctly. The poll found that people’s knowledge of Christmas dips significantly the younger they are, refueling the debate about the secularization of Christmas. The survey was conducted in November among 1,015 adults. 3 OF 4 U.S. RESIDENTS BELIEVE IN CHRISTMAS, VIRGIN BIRTH Source: The Barna Group Three out of four Americans said that they believe Jesus Christ was born to a virgin, Mary, as described in the Gospels. Of the six Bible stories examined in the survey, this story was the most widely accepted. A new nationwide survey by the Barna Group explored a half dozen stories drawn from the Bible. Researchers asked 1,005 adults if they trusted those stories to be factually accurate or to be narratives that were not factually accurate but were designed to teach principles. A majority of adults indicated that they accepted five of the six stories -- the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, turning water to wine, the feeding of the 5,000, the flood, Adam and Eve and the serpent and the strength of Sampson -- as being literally true. Half accepted the story of Sampson as an accurate depiction of an historical event. Christians who called themselves born again were an average of 40 percentage points more likely than other adult Christians to accept each of the six narratives as fully accurate. TREND MOVING AWAY FROM PLACING BIBLES IN HOTEL ROOMS Sources: OneNewsNow.com, Religion Today, Baptist Press The Bible has been a mainstay in most hotel and motel rooms since the early 1900s when the Gideons began placing them an evangelistic tool. Today, however, trends appear to be moving away from the placing of Bibles. The American Hotel and Lodging Association says use of religious materials in rooms at luxury hotels has dropped by 18 percent since 2001. Instead, many upscale hotels that cater to a younger leisure travel demographic are adding amenities such as condoms, intimacy kits and sexually oriented games. Even so, Myer Hotels of Branson, Mo., still holds strong. Marketing spokesman Chris Myer said their hotels contain Bibles on display on top of the dresser, open and bookmarked. “We get great comments on that,” Myer said, adding that he thinks items such as “intimacy kits” are still not mainline hospitality fare, but the exception. Still, Myer has also noticed Bible-removal trend, chalking it up to the politically correct atmosphere of cultural warfare. © Copyright 2007 - HCJB Global - Colorado Springs, CO USA
	Všechny zprávy v angličtině
	MINISTRY FIGHTS AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING PROBLEM IN INDIA Source: Mission Network News The magnitude of the human trafficking situation in India was recently revealed when the U.S. State Department stated that about 500,000 women are trafficked each year, 150,000 of whom are trafficked in South Asia. Many of these are prostitutes. India Partners is actively fighting against this modern-day slavery that often involves threats, coercion and abuse in addition to servitude slavery. “We are praying and working with other organizations to help rescue these girls from the brothels and from the prostitution trade and to free them into safe homes and into vocational training so they can get a new start in their lives,” said Brent Hample of India Partners. The mission works with partner ministries that are in direct contact with the girls in India. “A lot of it is education, vocational training, rescue and, of course, ministry -- sharing with them the love of Jesus Christ and showing that there is hope, that they can have encouragement and that God loves them,” Hample said. In the past few years, India Partners has helped rescue between 50 and 100 girls, then taught them life skills such as reading, writing and sewing. * Radio programs in 17 languages air to Asia and Southeast Asia from HCJB Global-Australia’s shortwave station in Kununurra. Most of the programs are produced at the ministry’s studios in New Delhi, India. UPDATE: BANGLADESH CYCLONE RELIEF CONTINUES, RICE CROP GONE Source: Baptist Press As the death toll from Cyclone Sidr, which struck the coast of Bangladesh on Saturday, Nov. 15, has topped 3,500, with another 1,000 people still missing, Southern Baptist and other relief workers remain in action. The government of Bangladesh and major relief organizations have done an excellent job of delivering food to storm survivors, but the Southern Baptist assessment team discovered that many families had no way to prepare the food because their pots, pans and cooking utensils had been carried away by the storm. This was the assessment of Francis Horton, Central and South Asia area director for Baptist Global Response, a Southern Baptist international development and relief organization. In early December, Southern Baptist relief workers distributed cooking utensils to 1,750 families. A real concern is that the storm destroyed the rice crop as well. “Crop destruction is a big problem because the salty water wiped out most of the rice crops, taking away a large portion of this year’s income as well as seed for next year’s crop,” Horton said. Baptist Global Response also is exploring the need to help rebuild some of the houses destroyed by the storm. “Habitat for Humanity has designed a house they think will be much stronger in the next cyclone and have received a donation to cover the costs of all materials,” Horton added. “They need partners to provide the organization of labor to get the houses built. We want to see if we can help organize labor, perhaps through a food-for-work project.” PRIEST STABBED AFTER INVITING YOUNG MAN TO MASS IN TURKEY Source: BosNewsLife Italian Roman Catholic priest in Turkey Adriano Franchini, 65, is recovering from injuries after being stabbed in the stomach by a disgruntled teenager outside his church in the port city of Izmir after finishing mass on Sunday, Dec.16. He was taken to a hospital, but his wounds were described as not life-threatening. Police said they detained a 19-year-old man suspected of attacking the priest. Two accomplices were reportedly also captured, but officials refused to release more details or names of the suspects. Turkish news reports suggested that religious motives were behind the attack, highlighting the dangers for Turkey’s Christians who comprise less than 1 percent of the nation’s population. Turkey’s Anatolia news agency said the assailant attacked the priest after traveling to Izmir from his hometown of Balikesir (north of Izmir), seeking information on Christianity. Franchini apparently invited the young man to observe mass after which the two had a brief discussion about converting to Christianity. The man suddenly became furious and stabbed Franchini in the stomach, but the blade failed to damage any vital organs. PASTOR, HOMEOWNERS FINED FOR OPERATING BELARUS HOUSE CHURCH Source: Forum 18 News Belarus Pastor Dmitry Osyko was fined the equivalent of about US$64 on Friday, Dec.14, for leading a worship service in November in a private home in the western town of Baranovichi. The two homeowners, Stepan Paripa and Nikolai Pestak, were also each fined US$140. Their Baptist congregation refuses to seek state registration as a matter of principle, and officials arrived at the service to declare it illegal. “If they want to pray to God they must have a registered place of worship,” local ideology official Ruslan Krutko said. “They can’t use a private home as a place of worship. You couldn’t use a private home as a public toilet, could you?” Church members insist that Belarus’ constitution and Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantee their right to meet for worship freely with others. Osyko is the latest of many religious leaders to have been fined for leading unregistered worship. Problems for the Baranovichi Baptist church began when Krutko saw a church notice advertising a special worship service with visiting musical ensemble on Nov. 19. RELIGIOUS CAUSES LOSING OUT ON GIFTS OF $10 MILLION OR MORE Source: Religion News Service According to a new study released by the Institute for Jewish & Community Research (IJCR), higher education, health and cultural arts organizations receive the majority of the largest gifts that individuals, foundations and corporations contribute to American philanthropy. Higher education received nearly half of the dollars from gifts of $10 million or more. Gary Tobin and Aryeh Weinberg, the study’s authors, analyzed more than 8,000 gifts of $1 million or more made from 2001 to 2003. “Mega-gifts are very concentrated in a few types of organizations,” said Tobin, president of IJCR. “Religious organizations, human services for the needy and umbrella campaigns such as the United Way are the big losers in attracting the largest gifts. Colleges and universities are the biggest winners.” Of the 110 largest gifts, none went to religious organizations. The IJCR’s report, called “Mega-Gifts in American Philanthropy: Giving Patterns 2001-2003,” examined more than 8,000 gifts to 4,000 organizations, the largest sample ever collected of gifts of $1 million or more. IJCR’s mega-gift research is ongoing, and reports will be issued every two years. © Copyright 2007 - HCJB Global - Colorado Springs, CO USA
	Všechny zprávy v angličtině
	EDITOR’S NOTE: The Daily News Update is shutting down for the holiday break and will resume on Jan. 2. Have a Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year! INDIA’S FORMER PRESIDENT HONORS 127-YEAR-OLD MEDICAL MINISTRY Source: Assist News Service A dispensary that a German Jesuit missionary started under a tree 127 years ago symbolizes the Church’s service in healthcare, said A.P.J. Abdul Kalam who served as India’s president from 2002 to 2007. “I can visualize Father Augustus Muller sitting under a banyan tree, distributing medicines to the poor,” said Kalam on Dec. 9 as he launched an oncology department at Father Muller Medical College. “Today the hospital has thousands of beds and is popularly known as the common man’s hospital.” The port city of Mangalore where the college is located, 880 miles south of New Delhi, has been a Christian stronghold in southern India’s Karnataka state. The college, serving about 2,500 students and having more than 1,000 patient beds, now has two separate medical schools for homeopathic and allopathic courses as well as a school and a nursing college in the same complex. Kalam called Father Muller “a great visionary,” and said “people in and around Mangalore are getting good treatment” thanks to his efforts. The dispensary began by focusing mostly on leprosy patients but widened its scope in 1902 when bubonic plague swept Mangalore and no other local health facility would treat the infected people. UZBEK CHRISTIANS ACCUSED OF CONSPIRING WITH OSAMA BIN LADEN Source: Christian Aid Mission Radical Muslims in Central Asia are so desperate to thwart the spread of Christianity that they made false accusations against believers on television, accusing them of supporting Osama bin Laden and his ideology. Christians are still banned from any kind of public speaking regarding their faith or beliefs. When Muslim radicals got on TV and aired a photo of Osama bin Laden alongside Christian missionaries and other worshipers, they claimed this is who Christians really were and this is what they really stood for. Despite the ongoing pressure on Christians, an indigenous missionary that Christian Aid Mission began assisting in 2002 started an underground fellowship. Today he is active in the underground church as a preacher and evangelist. He estimates that more than 30,000 Muslims have come to Christ through his ministry. This outreach has also resulted in more than 200 Christian churches -- 138 in Uzbekistan alone and 62 in surrounding countries. Historically, nations in Central Asia have practiced a relatively mild form of Islam, but more radical elements from the south are now infiltrating. * HCJB Global Voice airs 2.5 hours of Uzbek programs per week from an AM station outside the country. More than 15 million people speak this language. 13 EGYPTIAN BELIEVERS ARRESTED FOR RAISING FUNDS FOR CHURCH Sources: WorldWide Religious News, AFP Egyptian authorities arrested 13 Christians for collecting donations to rebuild a church without a valid permit. “They were arrested on Monday, Dec. 17, and now face the charge of collecting donations without a permit,” lawyer Hani Hanna Soliman said. The group, who work in a church in the southern city of Assiut, had been collecting money to rebuild a church in the town of Saqulta further south. They raised suspicion in Saqulta when they asked a local resident where the nearest church was. The resident called police fearing a possible terrorist attack on a church. Security services rushed to the scene, arrested the eight men and five women and deployed troops around the local churches. After hours of investigation, the 13 were cleared of any terror-related charges but were kept in detention for collecting donations without a valid permit, Soliman said. Authorities are on high alert for any irregular activity around churches for fear of sectarian clashes following last week’s arrest of seven Muslims who set fire to a church and shops owned by Christians in retaliation for the alleged rape of a Muslim girl. Egyptian Christians often report systematic discrimination and harassment. Restrictions on building churches have been one of the main grievances. SAT-7 MARKS 1ST ANNIVERSARY OF CHRISTIAN FARSI TV BROADCASTS Source: Mission Network News Christians in Iran and Afghanistan are celebrating more than Christmas this year. This week SAT-7 PARS, a Farsi-language Christian satellite television channel, is celebrating its first anniversary of 24-hour-a-day programming. For the last 365 days, SAT-7 PARS has broadcast locally-produced programs around-the-clock in Iran and Afghanistan. Local church leaders have told the SAT-7 PARS team of the significant impact the channel is having on church growth and the ability to disciple and train new believers. “We’ve had a tremendous response to the broadcasts, and the comments from our viewers keep us motivated to do more. We’ve had callers from all over Iran, Afghanistan and Europe as well,” said the ministry’s executive director. “They say they trust us and appreciate the variety and quality of programs we broadcast.” Viewers have said that SAT-7 PARS is their only source of Christian teaching, training and encouragement in Iran and Afghanistan. Others have called or written PARS counselors to learn how they can become followers of Christ. JEWS FOR JESUS RUNS CHRISTMAS AD CAMPAIGN IN MAJOR NEWSPAPERS Source: OneNewsNow.com The group Jews for Jesus has placed full-page ads in several of the largest city newspapers in the nation, along with USA Today. The effort is part of a longstanding campaign targeting the secular media around the Christmas season. The ads feature a salvation message that reaches out to all readers, but more specifically to the Jewish demographic. Susan Perlman, associate executive director of Jews for Jesus, believes people tend to be more receptive to the salvation message during the Christmas season because of the religious tone and symbols of the holiday. People are asking questions, and God wants to answer them, she said. The ad campaign first ran into some resistance when The Tribune Company, which owns several daily newspapers in major markets, initially refused to allow any of its papers to run the ad. But Perlman said that policy was appealed and subsequently modified. © Copyright 2007 - HCJB Global - Colorado Springs, CO USA

Zpět	Další zprávy: www.prayer.cz