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Today’s News Headlines

PASTOR AND MISSIONS TEAM BEATEN BY MOB IN GOA, INDIA UZBEK BAPTIST JAILED AFTER HOSTING HOME MEETING ENGLISH TEACHERS FIND OPPORTUNITIES IN VIETNAM MISSIONARY KILLED IN RETALIATION FOR EVANGELISM EFFORTS NEW FM RADIO STATION ON THE AIR IN BALI, INDONESIA POPULIST ECUADOR COUP LEADER ELECTED PRESIDENT

Today’s News Stories

PASTOR AND MISSIONS TEAM BEATEN BY MOB IN GOA, INDIA An Indian pastor and members of a team from Operation Mobilization (OM) India were savagely beaten by a mob on the evening of November 18 in a small town in the state of Goa, India, after showing a film about the life of Christ. A spokesperson for OM India said that a team of three young men was invited to show the Dayasagar film (life of Christ filmed in the Indian context) to a local family . “The local pastor from the community accompanied this small team to the family’s home to show the film,” he said. “The team successfully showed the film to the family (then) packed their film equipment into its appropriate boxes and secured it in their team vehicle. Afterward, the family provided a meal to the team and the pastor. While the team was eating, a mob of approximately 30 people came to the house and dragged the local pastor out of the family’s home and physically beat him. The three OM India team members rushed to the pastor’s rescue, but they were also beaten badly.” The matter is now under investigation by local police, as well as by senior OM India leaders. (Assist)

UZBEK BAPTIST JAILED AFTER HOSTING HOME MEETING As a reported crack-down against evangelical groups continues in several former Soviet republics, a Baptist in Uzbekistan received ten days imprisonment, for hosting a Christian meeting in his home. He was apparently led away November 19 directly from the courtroom to a local prison. Baptist Nikolai Nikulin was sentenced on charges that he “illegally” held a gathering of people in his flat in the central Uzbek town of Navoi without registration, said Keston News Service. (Assist)

ENGLISH TEACHERS FIND OPPORTUNITIES IN VIETNAM Vietnam has not been a country open to traditional evangelistic work. However, one agency has gone the non-traditional route with an English tutorial program. Educational Services International’s Stephanie Tebow says their outreach has grown because of the natural respect the people have for teachers. “I think that our success in the classroom and our respect for the culture has given us great success, because we are invited into newer environments. What takes place is that people begin to develop a certain personal respect for you as well, not just simply as an educator, but as a volunteer coming and giving of your time and of your energy and even of your funds.” Tebow says the path to the gospel is then open. “Suddenly, they recognize that you’re not simply coming to evangelize, but that you come first, out of a sense of love for them, because you have first been loved. And then, suddenly, they hear with new ears, the gospel.” (Mission Network News)

MISSIONARY KILLED IN RETALIATION FOR EVANGELISM EFFORTS A Baptist nurse who worked at a missionary clinic was gunned down Nov. 21 in this southern Lebanese city, apparently in response to the clinic’s evangelical activities, according to the Jerusalem Post. Bonnie Penner Witherall, 31, was shot three times in the head at close range, the police said, and collapsed right inside the door of the two-story building that housed both the Unity Center clinic and an evangelical church. “The killing was the result of a hostile Muslim reaction in Sidon to the preaching and indoctrination lessons the center was giving to Muslim youths,” an unidentified Palestinian official told the Post. The New York Times reported that clinic members had been threatened in recent months after a group of religious leaders learned they were handing out literature and talking to groups of young Muslims about Jesus. Witherall and her British-born husband, Gary, were partner missionaries with the Christian and Missionary Alliance, based in Colorado Springs, Colo. In the Nov. 22 edition of The Times of London, Witherall issued a statement forgiving his wife’s killers. “God led us to Lebanon and we knew that we might die,” he told the London paper. “I forgive anyone who did that. It doesn’t take the pain. It’s a costly forgiveness … it cost my wife.” Witherall, 36, left England to become a missionary and met his wife while they were students at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. (Baptist Press)

NEW FM RADIO STATION ON THE AIR IN BALI, INDONESIA Far East Broadcasting Company Indonesia, also known as YASKI, introduced its new FM station on the island of Bali on November 13. Six staff members produce programs for Heartline Bali. The station’s reception reaches the areas of Nusa Dua, Denpasar, Bangli, Klungkung and Kuta, the site of the bombing in Bali on October 12. “We want to be a station that can be a trusted friend to Bali society,” said the director of YASKI. “Our vision is to provide alternative programming where listeners will find useful and helpful information that will impact their lives in a positive way.” The first month will feature instrumental music, with a short message in the evenings. As the months progress, more radio features and community outreach programs will be developed. YASKI currently broadcasts Christian programs in 13 languages, a total of 365 hours per week to the country of Indonesia via shortwave and local broadcasting. (Assist)

POPULIST ECUADOR COUP LEADER ELECTED PRESIDENT Lucio Gutierrez has won at the ballot box the power that eluded him after leading an army putsch, but Ecuador’s president-elect must now deliver on his promises to tackle a what he calls a corrupt establishment and improve the lives of millions of poor people who voted for him. Gutierrez, 45, was an unknown army colonel when he led his troops in support of an uprising by native Indians that swept President Jamil Mahuad from power in 2000. After six months’ detention, he emerged as a political figure whose vehement denunciations political corruption won the support of many of the 60 percent of Ecuadorians who live in poverty and brought him victory in Sunday’s election. He plans to provide cheap housing and free health care in a nation that defaulted on foreign debt in 1999 and whose delicate finances are dependent on the speedy conclusion of a new loan deal with the International Monetary Fund. Gutierrez told a news conference on Sunday night he would form a team with the outgoing administration of President Gustavo Noboa to start negotiations with the IMF shortly. (Reuters)

* HCJB World Radio offers a variety of short-term programs in Ecuador and a growing list of countries such as South Africa, C ´te d’Ivoire and the U.S. Working visitors normally help for two weeks to three months, and short-term workers serve for up to two years. A summer missionary program is also available to college students, and short-term ministry teams help in Ecuador and other countries. HCJB World Radio has been sending short-term teams to South Africa on a regular basis to help at Hope Community Center, an HIV/AIDS ministry of Fish Hoek Baptist Church in Cape Town.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * 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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