Zprávy HCJB 1.12.2008 - 6.12.2008

	Méně darů - neziskové organizace v USA jsou v úzkých
	Dotazováním náhodně vybraného vzorku 1200 dospělých respondentů po celých USA Barnova výzkumná skupina zjistila, že jedna z pěti domácností během posledních měsíců snížila své příspěvky církevním nebo náboženským organizacím. Méně tak dává 31 procent dospělých, 20 procent snížilo své příspěvky alespoň o pětinu, 17 procent o polovinu a 11 procent o ještě více. Skoro čtvrtina oslovených (22 procent) nyní nedává vůbec nic. Ekonomická krize postihla nejvíce domácnosti s ročním příjmem pod 20 tisíc dolarů, včetně jejich možností dávat dary. „Většina neziskových organizací a církví počítá s tím, že během poslední čtvrtiny roku vybere alespoň třetinu svého celoročního příjmu,“ řekl pracovník Barnovy skupiny. „Ale podle zjištěných dat si dovolujeme předpovědět, že jen církve letos dostanou ve čtvrtém čtvrtletí o 3 a ž 5 miliard méně, než předpokládaly.“ Průměrný sbor tak může očekávat pokles příjmů o 4 až 6 procent. Zdroj: Ministry Today News Bulletin
	Během tříměsíční evangelizační kampaně na Ukrajině založeno 48 sborů
	Od srpna do října bylo na Ukrajině založeno celkem 48 sborů v souvislosti s evangelizační kampaní, na které se podílelo i 13 baptistických sborů z celých USA. Členové týmu pracovali ve 35 společných skupinách složených z pracovníků Baptistického svazu Ukrajiny, Mezinárodní misijní rady Jižních Baptistů (Southern Baptist Convention International Mission Board - IMB) a Sdružení evangelisty Dona Bettse, který podobné evangelizace na Ukrajině pořádá již 20 let. Evangelizace byla součástí dvouletých snah probíhajících pod názvem Projekt 125, uskutečňovaných ve 125 okresních městech Ukrajiny. Nové sbory byly založeny již ve 48 z nich, 77 zbývajících měst je cílem pro rok 2009. Projekt 125 je vyvrcholením dvouletého sestavování týmů, plánování, cvičení a modliteb. Prezident Baptistického svazu Ukrajiny Slavik Nestěruk a ředitel pro evangelizaci Slavik Gruntkovskij vedou tento projekt s pomocí Bettse a misionářů IMB Shanon Ford a Mick Stockwell. Pomáhali cvičit budoucí zakladatele sborů a vytvářet pro tento účel společnou organizační strukturu Baptistického svazu Ukrajiny, IMB a Sdružení evangelisty Dona Bettse. „Léto 2008 bylo pro ukrajinské baptisty mimořádnou inspirací,“ řekl Ford. „Když vedoucí pracovníci ukrajinských baptistů viděli, že zakládání nových sborů vázne, začali hledat příčinu a zkoumat, kam zaměřit strategické plánování. Po mnoha modlitbách a diskusích byl tak zahájen Projekt 125, jehož cílem je přemístit činnost ukrajinských baptistů na perspektivní cíle.“ Celotýdenní evangelizace se zaměřily na evangelizaci dětí (od 5 do 14 let), mládež a dospělé. Shromáždění se pak konala od pátku do neděle. Odhaduje se, že 4000 lidí se zde modlilo za přijetí Krista. Kazatelé pro nových 48 sborů pochází z ukrajinských seminářů. „Je to poprvé, co ukrajinští pastoři mohli učinit takový krok k celostátně pojatému zakládání nových sborů,“ řekl Ford. Zdroj: : Don Betts Evangelistic Association
	Všechny zprávy v angličtině
	NONPROFITS/CHURCHES IN U.S. FEEL PINCH AS DONATIONS DROP OFF Source: Ministry Today News Bulletin According to a random sampling of more than 1,200 adult respondents across the U.S. in the latest Barna Research survey, one of every five households has decreased their giving to churches or religious organizations in recent months. Nonprofits have been hit the hardest with almost one-third of adults (31 percent) donating less to such groups. Of the individuals cutting back on their giving, almost one in five reduced it by as much as 20 percent. Seventeen percent slashed their giving in half while 11 percent decreased what they gave away by more than half. Nearly a quarter (22 percent) have stopped giving. Those hit hardest by the economic downturn—and subsequently giving less to churches—are households making less than $20,000. “Most nonprofits and churches count on the fourth quarter of the year to produce at least one-third of their annual income,” said researcher George Barna. “[But] the giving patterns we’re witnes sing suggest that churches, alone, will receive some $3 billion to $5 billion less than expected during this fourth quarter.” Average churches can expect to see their revenues dip by 4 to 6 percent. 48 CHURCHES PLANTED IN UKRAINE DURING 3-MONTH EVANGELISTIC CAMPAIGN Source: Don Betts Evangelistic Association A total of 48 churches were planted in Ukraine from August to October as a result of an evangelistic campaign involving visiting teams from 13 Baptist churches across the U.S. Team members worked in conjunction with 35 teams from the Ukrainian Baptist Union, the Southern Baptist Convention International Mission Board (IMB) and evangelist Don Betts who has conducted similar crusades across Ukraine in the past 20 years. The outreach was part of a two-year effort called Project 125, referring to the 125 district center cities in Ukraine. Since new church starts were established in 48 of these cities, the remaining 77 cities will be targeted in 2009. Project 125 culminates two years of recruiting teams, planning, training and prayer. Slavic Nesterurk, president of the Ukrainian Baptist Union, and Slavic Gruntkovsky, evangelism director, led the project with assistance from Betts and IMB missionaries Shannon Ford and Mick Stockwell. They helped train the church planters and set up an accountability structure for the Ukrainian Baptist Union, IMB and the Don Betts Evangelistic Association. “The summer of 2008 was especially inspiring for Ukrainian Baptists,” said Ford. “After seeing a plateau of new church starts, Ukrainian Baptist leaders began examining the causes for decline and addressing where strategic church planting should take place. While many things contributed to the decline in church planting, the central cause was a shift from having a church-planting focus. After much prayer and discussion Project 125 was launched in order to refocus the actions of Ukrainian Baptists.” The weeklong crusades concentrated on sharing the gospel with children (ages 5 to 14), youth and adults. Evangelistic meetings were held Friday, Saturday and Sunday with an estimated 4,000 people praying to receive Christ. Pastors for the 48 new church plants were supplied from seminaries within Ukraine. “This was the first time that Ukrainian pastors have demonstrated such a step of faith to establish new churches nationwide,” Ford said. AWARD, WEBSITE SEEK TO SPUR MORE INVOLVEMENT IN FIGHT AGAINST HIV/AIDS Sources: Christian Newswire, rlgmedia, Assist News Service In recognition of his efforts to fight HIV/AIDS and other diseases, U.S. President George W. Bush was honored on the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day, Monday, Dec. 1, by Rick Warren on behalf of the Global PEACE Coalition. Warren, who pastors the Saddleback Creek Church in California, presented Bush with the International Medal of PEACE at the Saddleback Civil Forum on Global Health. The award came after Bush’s announcement that his President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief had fulfilled its commitment to support treatment for 2 million people ahead of schedule. Bush said the program’s success was accomplished, in part, by aligning authority and responsibility through partnership with local leadership on the ground. The number of people in Sub-Saharan Africa receiving antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to fight the symptoms of HIV/AIDS was increased to 2 million from 50,000 in less than five years, he said. It was the first award given by the PEACE Coalition—a network of churches, businesses and individuals seeking to solve humanitarian issues. Warren concluded the forum with an open challenge to continue the fight against HIV/AIDS. “What are you going to do?” About 33.2 million people worldwide are living with the disease. About two-thirds of these are in Sub-Saharan Africa. Meanwhile, iEmbraceAIDS.com has launched a website created by the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee to help a new generation be a “light at the end of the tunnel that is the AIDS crisis, and shine the light of Christ around the world.” The site includes a variety of options for young people to do their part to learn about the disease, raise awareness with their friends and be part of the solution. The site began on World AIDS Day. Tearfund is working give more HIV/AIDS patients access to ARVs. While not a cure, the drugs can dramatically restore the health and strength of someone living with the disease, extending their life because it delays the rate at which the virus replicates. Tearfund’s Alive appeal aims to mobilize churches across the U.K. to get involved in the campaign. Peter Fabian, chief executive of the British charity, AIDS Care Education and Training Ltd. (ACET), added that if churches are to play an effective role in the fight against HIV/AIDS, they need to first tackle their own taboos. “I think one of the most important issues is the whole area of prejudice and stigma,” he said. “One of the reasons that the battle against the HIV epidemic is so difficult is because people find it so hard to talk about it and find it so difficult to come forward for testing and counseling.” However, Fabian said it’s “very often the church that plays a major part in the solution to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in some African countries and in some communities. It’s really the Christians that are responding in the most positive way.” * HCJB Global Hands’ Hospital Vozandes-Quito in Ecuador has operated an AIDS clinic since the early 1990s. The mission has also sent a staff member and short-term teams to Cape Town, South Africa, to help with an AIDS clinic at a community center operated by King of Kings Baptist Church. In 2004 the mission became involved with Partners of Hope which operates an HIV/AIDS clinic in Lilongwe, Malawi. The clinic currently treats more than 2,000 patients with HIV. In addition to treating this disease, Partners in Hope does primary healthcare for its patients and is involved in HIV counseling and testing as well as an HIV prevention programs in local schools. GOSPEL FOR ASIA LEADER QUESTIONS BLAMING MUSLIMS FOR MUMBAI ATTACKS Sources: Assist News Service, Baptist World Alliance, Christian Newswire Gospel for Asia President K.P. Yohannan lamented that the terrorist attacks on India’s financial capital of Mumbai that have left more than 170 people dead and almost 300 wounded, saying he has serious questions about who was behind the bloodshed. In coordinated gun and grenade attacks that began late Wednesday, Nov. 26, gunmen opened fire in at least seven locations, including Mumbai’s main train station hotels, restaurants, hospitals and a Jewish synagogue. “This was definitely a well-planned and executed incident to bring instability to the nation in light of the national elections coming up,” Yohannan said. “But I have real reservations about placing blame on the Muslims.” He pointed out that there have been at least eight major terrorist attacks within India this year. All were initially attributed to Islamic terrorists, but further investigation revealed those attacks had been perpetrated by radical Hindu extremist groups. A website editor, Don Feder, took the opposite approach, claiming The New York Times has refused to link the attacks to Islamic extremists or Muslims. After analyzing five days of coverage in the newspaper about the Mumbai massacre, Feder wrote on his Boycott The New York Times website that the paper had pursued “politically correct coverage” and “adamantly refuses to recognize a connection between Islam and worldwide terrorism.” Meanwhile, Baptist World Alliance General Secretary Neville Callam sent a letter of comfort to Baptists in India. “On behalf of the worldwide Baptist family, I write to express our solidarity with you in this sad time of loss,” he wrote. “We join you in prayer for those who mourn the loss of life in their families and communities.” MISSION AGENCY WELCOMES APPOINTMENT OF PAKISTANI MINISTER FOR MINORITIES Source: Christian Solidarity Worldwide Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) welcomes the recent appointment of Shahbaz Bhatti as Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs, and the decision to make him a member of the cabinet. Bhatti, a prominent Christian human rights activist and founder and President of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance, has been one of the most active campaigners for the repeal of the country’s blasphemy laws and equal rights for all religious minorities. He was elected as a Member of the National Assembly earlier this year, and appointed to the Cabinet as Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs last month. It is the first time the Minister for Minorities Affairs has been a cabinet-level post. “We have known and worked with Shahbaz for many years, and we know him to be an outstanding individual, a person of immense courage and commitment,” said CSW Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas. “We hope that the whole government of Pakistan will sup port Shahbaz in his new position, and that significant progress will be made towards the protection of equal rights for all the people of Pakistan.” * HCJB Global Hands sent two medical teams from Ecuador to Pakistan following a powerful earthquake on Oct. 8, 2005, that left tens of thousands dead and thousands more injured and homeless. Staff members helped SIM International with relief efforts. PASTOR: DEPORTING ZIMBABWEANS ‘LIKE SENDING JEWS TO AUSCHWITZ’ Source: Ecumenical News International Forcing Zimbabweans to return home to live under the regime of Robert Mugabe can be likened to sending Jews back to Germany when it was under Nazi rule, according to the general secretary of the Council of Zimbabwean Christians U.K. “Denying Zimbabweans the right to live in the U.K. and sending them back home to live under Mugabe is equivalent to shipping Jews to the gas chambers of Auschwitz [in German-occupied Poland],” Pastor Qobo Mayisa told Ecumenical News International in London. 2 POPULAR FILMS ANNOUNCED AS FINALISTS IN CHRISTIAN FILM FESTIVAL Source: Assist News Service Two widely distributed full-length feature films, “Fireproof” and “Expelled,” are among eight finalists for the fifth annual San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival competition to be held Jan. 8-10 in San Antonio, Texas. The two finalists were chosen from a pool of 50 full-length film entries to compete for the feature film award—a new award category that was introduced for the 2009 festival. BAPTIST WOMEN IN DEM. REP. OF CONGO SET ASIDE DAY TO PRAY FOR PEACE Source: Baptist World Alliance Baptist women in the Democratic Republic of Congo (D.R.C.) have invited Christians everywhere to join them in prayer for their country on Saturday, Dec. 6. The special prayer emphasis is in response to the recent upsurge in fighting in the D.R.C. between government forces, Mai-Mai pro-government militias and a rebel group, the National Congress for the Defense of the People. “The war is true and sad. People die day and night,” wrote Anne Ponzi, vice president of the Baptist Women’s Union of Africa, who lives in the country. “Those in refugee camps are in very bad conditions. Those left in towns, villages and hiding in forests are raped and maltreated. Young people are forced into the army. All these lead to diseases and epidemics. We, the Congolese Baptist Women, are planning a day of special intercession for war victims on Dec. 6.” At least 100 civilians have been killed and an estimated 250,000 people displaced by the latest round of fighting. BOOK DOCUMENTS IMPACT OF DONATIONS MADE TO PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL Source: Mission Network News Many will be donating to their favorite organizations this holiday season. But where does that money go? In her book, Harvest of Hope, freelance writer Kay Strom wrote about how she followed donor money sent to Partners International from donors who selected specific projects in the organization’s “Harvest of Hope” catalog. “So many people complain about how their donor money is used, or not knowing how it’s used,” said Strom. As she trailed donations in India, Strom was impressed by the impact. “For example, people donated cows for $300, and this dairy farm is doing so well that [the operators] are able to sell milk and support their own church planters through their dairy,” she explained. Strom added that the quality of the product reflects Christ’s love. She also mentioned successes with funds to train Dalit pastors and to send children to school. CHRISTIANS FACE OPPRESSION ON MUSLIM ISLANDS IN INDIAN OCEAN Source: Compass Direct News Christians on the predominantly Muslim islands of Pemba and the Comoros are beaten, detained and banished for their faith, according to church leaders who travel regularly to the Indian Ocean isles off the east coast of Africa. These violations of religious freedom, the church leaders said, threaten the survival of Christianity on Pemba and the Comoros, with fewer than 300 Christians in a combined population of 1.1 million people. Leaving Islam for Christianity accounts for most of the harm done to Christians, and this year saw an increase in such abuse as already-strained relations between the two communities deteriorated after the conversion in August of Sheikh Hijah Mohammed, leader of a key mosque in Pemba. In addition, a Christian from the Tanzanian island of Zanzibar who recently visited the Comoros said those suspected to have converted from Islam to Christianity face travel restrictions and confiscation of travel documents. Speaking on condition of anonymity, he noted that security officers who had been monitoring the ministries of a 25-year-old Christian confiscated his passport at the airport in July. VIOLENCE TARGETS CHRISTIANS IN NIGERIA AFTER DISPUTED ELECTION Sources: Open Doors, Compass Direct News Violence erupted in Jos, the capital of Nigeria’s Plateau state, Friday, Nov. 28, following a disputed government election according to local residents. Reliable sources say Muslims began attacking Christians on claims of vote tampering, leaving hundreds dead. Officials reportedly refused to post local council election results on Thursday, Nov. 27, prompting speculation that a party backed largely by Christians had won. Muslim gangs in the Ali Kazaure area of the city then began attacking Christians, according to residents. The attacks resulted in the destruction of some Christian churches. Muslim militants burned the sanctuary of the Church of Christ in Nigeria in the Sarkin Mangu area of Jos, and its pastor has been confirmed killed. The home of an Open Doors representative was looted and burned down. At the University of Jos, eight Christian students were said to have died. Names of other destroyed churches had yet to be confirmed. Several mosques also were reportedly razed. Plateau Gov. Jonah David Jang said in a radio and television broadcast Friday, Nov. 28, that the crisis was pre-planned by disgruntled elements who had schemed to manipulate religious sentiments to create instability in the state. The following day officials announced that the ruling People’s Democratic Party, backed mainly by Christians, had won 16 of 17 council seats, defeating the All Nigerian Peoples Party, said to be primarily supported by Muslims. With streets calm by Sunday, Plateau State Information Minister Nuhu Gagara gave a preliminary death toll of 200 people, though relief organizations said the figure was at least twice that. Conflicting reports say security forces were responsible for killing more than 300 Muslims whose bodies were later brought to one mosque. * HCJB Global Voice, together with SIM and the Evangelical Church of West Africa, airs weekly half-hour programs on a local FM station in Nigeria in the Igbo language. HCJB Global Voice has also helped with a partner station in Umuahia. © Copyright 2008 - HCJB Global - Colorado Springs, CO USA

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