Zprávy HCJB 1.4.2008

	Počet uzavřených protestantských kostelů v Alžíru dosáhl devatenácti
	Policie doručila písemné příkazy třem alžírským sborům, aby tento týden zastavily činnost, čímž se počet obdobně postižených alžírských sborů od listopadu vyšplhal na 19. Podle prezidenta Protestantské církve Alžíru Mustafy Krima kromě těchto tří sborů registrovaných v Protestantské církvi Alžírska dostaly ústní pokyn zavřít své dveře i dva jiné nezávislé sbory. Zastavování činnosti sborů přichází uprostřed vlny nepřátelských novinových článků varujících před kampaní protestantů na „pokřesťanštění“ Alžírska. Ministr církevních záležitostí Bu’Abdullah Ghoulamullah vyzval křesťanské skupiny v Alžírsku, aby se znovu zaregistrovaly podle alžírského sdružovacího zákona, ale alžírští křesťané tvrdí, že vláda jim v realizaci tohoto požadavku brání. Sloupkař Mustafa Hammouche napsal v úterý 25. března v deníku Liberte, že potlačování evangelismu se „změnilo v pronásledování křesťanů.“ V pátek 21. března policie zadržela dva alžírské křesťany v autobusové lince z Tizi Ouzou do Bajaia, protože vezli 11 Biblí. Zdroj: Compass Direct News
	Všechny zprávy v angličtině
	STUDY: EVANGELICALS DIVORCE LESS THAN OVERALL POPULATION Sources: Barna Group, Baptist Press Evangelicals are less likely than the overall population to divorce, although one out of every four evangelicals who are or have been married nevertheless have gone through at least one divorce, according to a new study by The Barna Group. The telephone survey conducted from January 2007 through January 2008 found that, among all U.S. adults who have been married, 33 percent have been divorced at least once. By comparison, 26 percent of evangelicals who have been married have been divorced. The poll did not ask evangelicals whether the divorce occurred before or after their salvation experience. Christian researcher George Barna said Americans have grown accustomed to divorce. “There no longer seems to be much of a stigma attached to divorce,” he stated in a news release. “It is now seen as an unavoidable rite of passage. Interviews with young adults suggest that they want their initial marriage to last, but are not particularly optimistic about that possibility. There is also evidence that many young people are moving toward embracing the idea of serial marriage in which a person gets married two or three times, seeking a different partner for each phase of their adult life.” PROTESTANT CHURCH CLOSURE TOTAL IN ALGERIA CLIMBS TO 19 Source: Compass Direct News Police issued written orders for three Algerian churches to cease activity last week, bringing to 19 the number of congregations told to shut down since November, an Algerian Protestant leader said. In addition to the three churches, registered under the Protestant Church of Algeria (EPA), two independent congregations were verbally ordered to close their doors, said EPA President Mustapha Krim. The church closures come amid a flurry of antagonistic media articles warning of campaigns by Protestants to “Christianize” Algeria. Religious Affairs Minister Bu’Abdallah Ghoulamullah called on Christian groups in Algeria to reregister according to Algeria’s associations law, but Algerian Christians have claimed that the government has blocked them from carrying out the required re-registration. Columnist Mustapha Hammouche wrote in Liberte on Tuesday, March 25, that repression of evangelism “has turned into the harassment of Christians.” On Friday, March 21, police detained two Algerian Christians traveling by public bus from Tizi Ouzou to Bejaia for carrying 11 Bibles. ORGANIZATIONS JOIN CALL FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CHINA Sources: China Aid Association, Religion Today, Assist News Service In a historic move, key organizations that work with the persecuted church around the world launched a global campaign calling for prayer for China. In what is called “The Zurich Statement,” the Religious Liberty Partnership with member organizations that include China Aid Association (CAA), Open Doors International, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Voice of the Martyrs and the Religious Liberty Commission of World Evangelical Alliance, have called the worldwide Christian community to pray for China, especially with Beijing hosting the Summer Olympics this August. The Zurich Statement acknowledges some important progress made in China in the past few decades and raises the hope that this will translate into the removal of remaining obstacles to the full expression of faith and an end to serious violations of religious freedom. “This historic statement reaffirms the solidarity of the international Christian community with the Chinese faithful, especially the persecuted house churches,” said Bob Fu who represented CAA at the Zurich meeting. “We pray the true religious freedom in China will finally be realized soon.” * HCJB Global-Australia’s shortwave station in Kununurra broadcasts 25.5 hours of Mandarin programming each week. 8 LAOTIAN PASTORS ARRESTED ON THE WAY TO MEETINGS IN THAILAND Source: Mission Network News Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) reported that eight Khmu pastors from Udom Sai province in Laos were arrested two weeks ago. They were taken into custody when entering Thailand to attend meetings. VOM sources say two groups of pastors were traveling to leadership conferences. The first group made it to Meekong without any problems. The second group of eight was followed by the Laos police. They were searched, and two of them had Bibles. Everything the pastors had with them was confiscated, including a cell phone. According to VOM-Canada, the pastors have reportedly been taken back to Laos, although since the arrests, there has been no contact with them. The country ranks eighth on the Open Doors World Watch List of the top 50 countries that are the world’s worst persecutors of Christians. The government has put extensive restrictions on all religious groups. Recently, though, the government has worked to improve their human rights record. There have been fewer arrests, and many of the churches that were previously closed have now been reopened. The church, however, is not yet free from persecution. PROFESSOR SHOWS HEALTH BENEFITS OF RELIGION AND FAITH Source: Assist News Service Regular worship is healthy. Churchgoers have a seven-year longer life expectancy than those who abstain from worship, according to Dr. Dale Matthews who practices general internal medicine in Washington, D.C., and is a professor at Georgetown University School of Medicine. He was one of the speakers at a Christian Health Convention with 1,100 participants in Kassel, Germany, March 27-29. Matthews quoted from a study showing that regular churchgoers have an average life expectancy of 82 years compared to 75 years for non-churchgoers. Apparently the benefits aren’t just for Christians. Studies in Israel found that people living in a religious Jewish kibbutz lived longer than those in a secular community. Matthews advised medical practitioners to include the religious attitudes of patients in their therapy. Numerous scientific studies had shown that faith has a positive impact on physical and mental health. There were many reasons for this phenomenon. Believers had a sense of purpose in their lives. They also had more social contacts and were less prone to consume tobacco, alcohol and drugs. Matthews said doctors should encourage patients to practice religion. © Copyright 2008 - HCJB Global - Colorado Springs, CO USA

Zpět	Další zprávy: www.prayer.cz