A ministry of HCJB World Radio

Today’s News Headlines:

PROTESTANTS IN BELARUS WARNED TO STOP ‘ILLEGAL’ CHURCH SERVICES RELIEF SHIPMENTS RESUME FROM WEST DURING LULL IN DOCK DISPUTE 1 MILLION GATHER IN SOUTHEASTERN INDIA DURING 4-DAY CRUSADE BUSINESS VENTURES OPEN WITNESSING OPPORTUNITIES IN ‘CLOSED’ COUNTRIES RADIO BROADCASTER PAUL HARVEY HONORED WITH INSPIRATIONAL AWARD CONSERVATIVE CHURCHES IN U.S. GROW WHILE LIBERAL ONES SHRINK

Today’s News Stories:

PROTESTANTS IN BELARUS WARNED TO STOP ‘ILLEGAL’ CHURCH SERVICES Although Belarus’ repressive new religion law has not yet been signed by President Aleksandr Lukashenko, an official says that religious meetings held by registered religious communities in private homes are banned under a law issued by the Minsk city executive committee last year. A campaign against services held by registered religious communities in private homes was launched last month in the capital, saying that “preaching the gospel and Christian hymn singing outside a church is a violation of Belarus’ laws.” Local believers are urging Christians everywhere to pray that the law will be repealed. (Keston News Service)

RELIEF SHIPMENTS RESUME FROM WEST DURING LULL IN DOCK DISPUTE Cargo is flowing from the West Coast of the U.S. now that workers are in an 80-day cooling off period. The dispute delayed a World Concern relief shipment to Haiti which was recently hit by extensive floods and storm damage. While other containers holding food rotted on the docks, World Concern’s Coleen Ragsdale says this wasn’t the case for her organization’s shipment. “It contained clothing, medical items and items that aren’t going to perish,” she said. “But we do have a top priority to get these needed supplies out to the families and hospitals as quickly as possible, so we are just praying that things will begin flowing . . . and smoothly.” Once the supplies arrive in Haiti, local believers will distribute them and share the gospel with the needy recipients. (Mission Network News)

* The dock workers dispute has slowed the shipment of a 100,000-watt shortwave transmitter to HCJB World Radio-Australia’s property near the continent’s northern coast. However, it is now in California and will be on the next available ship to Australia. The transmitter, designed and built at the ministry’s Engineering Center in Elkhart, Ind., is destined for Kununurra near the northern coast of the continent. A team from Elkhart is in Australia to install the antennas and the transmitter as soon as it arrives. The goal is to begin the shortwave broadcasts on Dec. 22, reaching across Asia, the South Pacific and parts of Africa with Christian programs. (HCJB World Radio)

1 MILLION GATHER IN SOUTHEASTERN INDIA DURING 4-DAY CRUSADE A total of more than 1 million Indians gathered at Marina Beach in the southeastern Indian city of Chennai (formerly known as Madras) Oct. 10-13. Being called “world’s biggest beach party for Jesus,” the event took place even though it was held during the unpredctable monsoon season in the state of Tamil Nadu which recently passed an ordinance forbidding “forced conversions.” The meetings were led by Rev. Lee Jae-Rock, senior pastor of the 75,000-member Manmin Joong-Ang Church in Seoul, South Korea. Many people reported that they were healed of various illnesses at the event. (Assist News Service)

* In partnership with FEBA Radio, HCJB World Radio airs weekly Christian programs to eastern India via shortwave in three languages: Bhojpuri, Chattisgarhi and Mundari. HCJB World Radio also broadcasts 11/2 hours of English programming daily to India via shortwave from South America. The ministry is investigating potential opportunities to help launch local Christian stations in key cities across India.

BUSINESS VENTURES OPEN WITNESSING OPPORTUNITIES IN ‘CLOSED’ COUNTRIES Business is opening doors for evangelism in hard-to-reach areas, says Tom Sudyk of Evangelistic Commerce. “As many people know, missionaries aren’t real welcome in these countries, but businessmen are much more protected than a what you would call a ‘traditional tent-maker’ ministry because you’re bringing jobs to the community,” Sudyk said. This often leads to covert opportunities to share the gospel, and he says it’s working. “One factory in a country we have associated with us, more than 80 percent of the people have come to Christ because of the witness of the factory managers,” he said. “Basically, you get to share Christ 40 to 50 hours per week.” (Mission Network News)

RADIO BROADCASTER PAUL HARVEY HONORED WITH INSPIRATIONAL AWARD The Presidential Prayer Team has honored veteran radio news broadcaster and commentator Paul Harvey with the American Inspirations Award for October 2002 because of his “strong and positive values and his willingness to speak out about his faith.” Harvey’s trademark voice is one of the most recognized in the world. His warm and folksy accent was shaped by the heartland values of Tulsa, Okla., where he was born and raised. The son of a Baptist preacher, he followed his passion for radio broadcasting while still in high school, and in 1933 he began working at KVOO-AM as an announcer. During his college years, Harvey continued at KVOO, eventually becoming the program director. In 1944 he moved to Chicago where he quickly became the most listened to newscaster in that city. By 1951 his “Paul Harvey News and Comment” became syndicated on stations across the country. Harvey then launched his popular “Rest of the Story” program that delves into little-known or forgotten details about well-known people and stories. Now in his 80s, Harvey is still the most listened to radio personality in the U.S. with more than 22 million regular listeners. (Presidential Prayer Team)

CONSERVATIVE CHURCHES IN U.S. GROW WHILE LIBERAL ONES SHRINK Research shows that conservative Protestant churches are generally growing while those categorized as “moderate” and “liberal” are losing members, reported The New York Times. “I was surprised to see that most of the shrinking churches are moderate or liberal,” said professor Ken Sanchagrin, director of the Glenmary Research Center at Mars Hill College in North Carolina. “The more liberal the church, the faster it is shrinking.” The study of more than 150 Christian and non-Christian religious groups is performed every 10 years by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. The fastest growing religious group in the U.S. during the last decade was the Mormon sect which now has a membership of 4.2 million. The Southern Baptists remain the largest Protestant denomination with 19.9 million members, but grew only 5 percent in the last decade. (Friday Fax)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * James A. Ferrier HCJB World Radio U.S. Ministries Communications Director E-mail: Phone: 1-719-590-9800 Fax: 1-719-590-9801 Web: http://www.hcjb.org http://www.beyondthecall.org * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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