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Today’s News Headlines:

BAPTIST WORKERS MINISTER TO REFUGEES FLEEING IRAQ ‘OPERATION ETERNITY’ EQUIPS SOLDIERS WITH GOSPEL BRAZILIAN PASTORS, MISSIONARIES RECEIVE MINISTRY TRAINING POLLSTER FIND SWIRL OF CHANGE IN U.S. RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF EVANGELICALS APPOINTS NEW PRESIDENT * HCJB WORLD RADIO’S OLDEST ‘MK’ DIES OF CANCER AT AGE 79

Today’s News Stories:

BAPTIST WORKERS MINISTER TO REFUGEES FLEEING IRAQ Baptist workers in Jordan have begun ministering to refugees who are fleeing hostilities in Iraq. Working in cooperation with the Baptist Society of Jordan, Southern Baptist workers on March 19 distributed 30,000 diapers, formula for 1,000 babies and blankets in camps set up along the Iraq/Jordan border, an International Mission Board (IMB) leader in the region reported. The workers also plan to address hunger, nutritional and medical needs as the situation continues to unfold, the worker said. Responding to the needs of Iraq’s people reflects God’s love for them, an IMB spokesman said. “God loves the people of Iraq — like he loves all peoples — with all his heart, and we share that love,” Wendy Norvelle said. “Our hearts are with the people of Iraq, the Arab majority as well as minorities like the Kurds. We call on all [Christians] to join in fervent prayer for the peoples of Iraq, that this time of turmoil and uncertainty might cause them to seek God.” (Baptist Press)

‘OPERATION ETERNITY’ EQUIPS SOLDIERS WITH GOSPEL International Bible Society is partnering with Athletes for Christ to provide soldiers with the gospel message. The packs include a thank you note, a desert camouflage NIV Bible, a shield of strength dog tag and gospel tracts. The concept of “Operation Eternity” is a way to empower troops in the Middle East with the message of the gospel. It is also an opportunity to help soldiers through the trauma of war. (Mission Network News)

BRAZILIAN PASTORS, MISSIONARIES RECEIVE MINISTRY TRAINING Thousands of ministers and missionaries are receiving advanced training through OC International to share the gospel in Brazil. “We are very involved in training Brazilians who are missionaries who go out to other countries and to Indian tribes in Brazil, we write many articles that pastors use in their sermons or just help them to pastor better. We are involved in much research that helps people to decide where to plant churches and what methodologies are different options for them as they develop their healthy churches.” Richard Duncan works with OC International in facilitating training those with a heart for the lost. “We have 257 Indian tribes in Brazil, 103 of those have no evangelical presence at the moment. And foreigners are no longer allowed to go in and be a missionary to the Indian tribes in Brazil, so we really have to join hands with the Brazilians that are becoming missionaries and going to these tribes.” (Mission Network News)

POLLSTER FIND SWIRL OF CHANGE IN U.S. RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY On the surface it appears that there is no real change happening in America’s religious activity. Beneath the surface, however, there appears to be a swirl of change occurring. Pollster George Barna describe the following: The macro-level measures of faith practice and belief remain generally unchanged.  »Black adults are undergoing a serious redefinition of their faith, with many traditional Christian beliefs and practices losing ground.  »Baby Busters are slowly embracing organized religious activity and their beliefs are inching toward Christian orthodoxy.  »The two older generations — the Builders and Seniors — are dropping out of organized religious activity.  »The South, long the stronghold of evangelical Christian faith in the U.S., is enduring a decline in core religious activity and beliefs.  »Catholics in America are becoming more liberal theologically. The net effect is that many of these changes cancel each other out, making the faith world appear static, but it is active and turbulent beneath the surface. To read more about the particular transformations happening, visit http://www.barna.org.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF EVANGELICALS APPOINTS NEW PRESIDENT Ted Haggard, senior pastor of a mega-church in Colorado Springs, Colo., has been appointed as president of the National Association of Evangelicals. Haggard, 46, is the leader of New Life Church, the largest church in Colorado. The association’s executive committee appointed him shortly after the organization’s annual meeting March 6-7 in Eden Prairie, Minn. Haggard succeeds another mega-church pastor, Leith Anderson, pastor of Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie, who served as interim president. In addition to his pastoral role, Haggard is the president of the World Prayer Center, which focuses on worldwide evangelistic prayer, and the World Prayer Team, a prayer network that functions via the Internet. “His commitment to bringing evangelicals together for mission, prayer and as a united voice is a deeply held value that is acknowledged and known throughout the evangelical world,” said Bill Hamel, chairman of the board of the evangelical organization, in a statement announcing the appointment. In one of his first acts as the organization’s new leader, Haggard called on American evangelical Christians to pray about the conflict with Iraq. “I ask Americans to pray for God to protect innocent lives, give wisdom to our leaders and advance the cause of freedom.” (Religion Today)

* HCJB WORLD RADIO’S OLDEST ‘MK’ DIES OF CANCER AT AGE 79 Bob Clark of Penney Farms, Fla., the oldest “missionary kid” from HCJB World Radio, died on Wednesday, March 19, following a battle with cancer. He was 79. Bob was the son of D.S. and Erma Clark who were among HCJB World Radio’s cofounders in 1931. Bob grew up in Ecuador and married his childhood sweetheart, Marian Jones, daughter of HCJB World Radio cofounder Clarence Jones.

After graduation from high school, Bob and Marian were engaged and planned to be interpreters at the United Nations as they were both gifted linguists. But partway through college, each sensed God’s call to the mission field. They were married on June 23, 1946. After completing studies in radio and TV production, they returned to HCJB World Radio in 1947 as Bob became an announcer and preacher in both Spanish and English.

In the 1950s Bob also served as a foreman in developing HCJB World Radio’s international transmitter site in Pifo. He was in charge of the Ecuadorian workers and was known as a great motivator and encourager.

In the 1960s Bob became one of the first directors of Televozandes, HCJB World Radio’s pioneer TV station in Quito. The station was founded in 1961 and sold to a commercial entity 11 years later. He pastored a church in Quito that grew out of the TV ministry.

Bob also helped build the C.W. Jones Television Center in Quito. After the TV station was sold, the Clarks were assigned for a few years to help the new owner establish the station-the first full-color TV station in South America.

The Clarks later returned to HCJB World Radio and retired from the mission in 1995 after a total of 35 years of missionary service. However, they continued to minister in their local church, and Bob produced radio programs in both English and Spanish.

For years he produced a daily radio program called “Descubrimientos” (Discoveries), an inspirational Bible study program that aires on stations in Ecuador, Panama and Argentina. “Descubrimientos” will continue to air until the end of March 2003. The Clarks also continued to serve as volunteer representatives in the U.S., calling on donors to thank them for their gifts and ask for prayer requests.

In addition to his wife of 56 years, Bob is survived by three children, Bob Jr., Marjorie and Rick, as well as 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Bob’s children will officiate at the memorial service set for 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 25, at Lakeside Community Church in Middleburg. Fla. Memorial gifts may be sent to the Gospel Fellowship Association (1809 Wade Hampton Blvd., Ste. 110, Greenville, SC 29609) for the support for Bob’s oldest granddaugher, Vicki King, and her husband, Stephen, who raising support to be missionaries in Germany.

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