KAZAKHSTAN POLICE ORDER UZBEK PASTOR TO LEAVE COUNTRY

SUDANESE BELIEVERS HOPEFUL AS PEACE ACCORD TAKES HOLD

ERITREANS CALL FOR A ‘DAY OF CHRISTIAN PRISONERS’ ON AUG. 5

G8 LEADERS PROMISE AFRICA MONEY, BUT GOD’S WORD NEEDED MORE

HARVEST CRUSADE IN CALIFORNIA DRAWS 150,000 ATTENDEES, WEB VISITORS

Today’s Top Stories:

KAZAKHSTAN POLICE ORDER UZBEK PASTOR TO LEAVE COUNTRY

Police in the Central Asian country of Kazakhstan have ordered Rashid Turebaev, the Uzbek pastor of Living Water Methodist Church, to leave the city of Karaganda and return to Uzbekistan “immediately or there would be serious trouble.” Earlier, officials told Turbaev that he didn’t need to re-register his place of residence, but in an unexpected reversal, he has been fined for failing to do so. Secret police also had pressured him to pass on information about foreign citizens — especially Americans — who belong to his congregation. The church mainly caters to English-speaking foreigners working in Karaganda. In addition, the police accused Turbaev of conducting unregistered missionary work. Turebaev expressed concerns that he “will be forced to go back to Uzbekistan where I may be arrested again.” The move against Turebaev coincides with the signature of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev to a new law introducing changes and amendments to a range of laws — including the religion law — on grounds of national security. Human rights groups say the new law “substantially restricts religious freedom” in the country. (Forum 18 News Service)

* HCJB World Radio is bringing words of hope and encouragement to people across Central Asia via radio. Together with partners, Christian broadcasts go out in languages such as Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Turkmen, Uzbek, Southern Uzbek and Urdu.

SUDANESE BELIEVERS HOPEFUL AS PEACE ACCORD TAKES HOLD

In Sudan where three decades of civil war claimed more than 2 million lives and resulted in 4 million refugees, a peace accord has many Christians optimistic about the future. Former rebel leader Dr. John Garang was recently sworn in as the country’s vice president. Garang, a professing Christian, “will now rule over southern Sudan as a type of ‘one country, two systems’ arrangement — sort of like Hong Kong and China,” said Persecution Project’s Matt Chancey. “The south will not be under sharia (Islamic law).” He says the Sudanese are having to rebuild their civilization from the ground up after nearly two generations of fighting. It’s a pivotal time for outreach. “Christians in America have a great opportunity now in southern Sudan,” Chancey said. “If we can get in there now and really help our brothers and sisters rebuild their communities, we can establish an important Christian beachhead in the Muslim world.” (Mission Network News)

ERITREANS CALL FOR A ‘DAY OF CHRISTIAN PRISONERS’ ON AUG. 5

Eritrean Christians are calling for a worldwide “Day of Christian Prisoners” Friday, Aug. 5, to fast and pray for believers who are imprisoned for their faith in the East African country of Eritrea. The event has been organized by http://www.Erishalom.com, a website run by a coalition of Eritrean Christians, some of whom work underground in Eritrea while others live abroad. In a letter to the international Christian community, organizers expressed their need for help from believers worldwide. “Throughout the Bible, whenever Christians are in any kind of difficult situation, the whole church would pray as one without ceasing,” the letter stated. A fact-finding team from Christian Solidarity Worldwide recently visited Eritrean refugees in a neighboring African country and heard graphic testimonies of the severe punishments meted out to any Christians in the armed forces who are caught praying or are found in possession of Bibles or other Christian material. Several women spoke of experiencing problems with their wombs following extended beatings and other maltreatment. Some refugees told of being placed for months in solitary confinement in six-by-six-foot cells. Others were told that their punishment would end if they recanted their faith. Nearly 500 Christians are imprisoned in Eritrea. (Christian Solidarity Worldwide)

G8 LEADERS PROMISE AFRICA MONEY, BUT GOD’S WORD NEEDED MORE

Leaders of the U.S., Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia ended the Group of Eight (G8) Summit Friday, July 8, with a promise to dedicate $50 billion in debt relief by 2010 to help poor countries in Africa and elsewhere. While forgiving debt and increasing development funds are critical to Africa’s economic survival, God’s Word is the greater need to truly overcome its problems, says Mike Dworak, the Bible League’s media specialist and radio campaign coordinator. An ongoing radio campaign, “End the Bible Famine,” is one of several methods being used by the ministry to raise awareness of the great spiritual needs in Africa. The Bible League is working in 13 African nations with a combined population of 391 million. Among them are an estimated 55 million Christians who have no Scriptures in their language. “The vast majority of Africans can’t afford Bibles, yet there is such need amidst the hopelessness and pain for the comfort of God’s Word,” said Dworak. “The highest rates of AIDS/HIV are in Africa. There are civil wars, and extreme poverty — all this is going on, yet there are multitudes of people coming to Christ who need Bibles. And there’s a tremendous cry for help to end the Bible famine now.” (Bible League)

HARVEST CRUSADE IN CALIFORNIA DRAWS 150,000 ATTENDEES, WEB VISITORS

Harvest Crusades with Greg Laurie has hosted evangelistic crusade events in Southern California for the past 16 years. The 2005 Southern California Harvest Crusade was no exception as 100,000 people poured into Angel Stadium of Anaheim July 15-17, joined by more than 50,000 via the Internet. Laurie, who presented a clear gospel message nightly, was accompanied by artists and X-Games athletes who presented the same message through music, sports and technology. In addition to those attending the crusade in person, more than 50,000 watched and listened via live Internet broadcasts and, for the first time, via podcasting technology. More than 8,500 people made professions of faith during the event, including “several people” via the Web. (Assist News Service)