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Today’s News Headlines:

5 CHRISTIANS REMAIN IN MYANMAR PRISON AFTER BEING ARRESTED BELARUS AUTHORITIES REJECT CALLS TO REMOVE ‘ANTI-SECT’ TEXTBOOK BULGARIA EXPECTING EXPLOSIVE CHURCH GROWTH NORTH KOREA PRAYER EVENT DRAWS HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE 77 MAKE DECISIONS FOR CHRIST AT 2 EVANGELISTIC EVENTS IN INDIA WORLD’S FIRST ‘INFLATABLE CHURCH’ TO GO ON DISPLAY IN LOS ANGELES

Today’s News Stories:

5 CHRISTIANS REMAIN IN MYANMAR PRISON AFTER BEING ARRESTED Five Christians, including pastor Run Hesh Ling, were arrested in Kalemyo, Myanmar (Burma), on Saturday, June 14, and remain in prison. Although the charges are unclear, they reportedly could face life sentences or even capital punishment if convicted. Authorities said the five will remain in prison until an initial hearing on Monday, July 7. (Voice of the Martyrs)

BELARUS AUTHORITIES REJECT CALLS TO REMOVE ‘ANTI-SECT’ TEXTBOOK The Ministry of Education in Belarus has rejected calls from Christians and Hare Krishnas for the withdrawal from state schools of a textbook, partially concerning religion, which they say incites religious discord. The book, Man in the World of Culture, warns that Baptist, Pentecostal, Seventh-day Adventist and Jehovah’s Witness activity is a “breeding-ground for fanaticism.” It also puts the Hare Krishna and Zen Buddhist movements on a par with the Japanese cult, Aum Shinrikyo, which was responsible for the fatal gas attack on the Tokyo subway in March 1995 and suggests that Krishna devotees need psychiatric help. Andrei Aleshko, legal assistant to Minsk’s Orthodox diocese, said he is concerned about a quotation in the book criticizing Orthodox worship. “If once we have seen the text we agree that it hurts the feelings of believers,” he said. “The church will call on the education ministry to withdraw the book.” The textbook was approved by the education ministry last year for use by 11th-grade pupils in Russian-language secondary schools, and 147,200 copies have been distributed. Most schools in Belarus teach in Russian. The three-page section of the book under dispute introduces pupils to “non-traditional religious organizations and sects.” The book says that sects typically claim “exclusionist ideological principles” and tend towards isolationism, while those espousing non-traditional doctrines also employ “new techniques which transform the psyche of the people they recruit.” (Forum 18 News Service)

BULGARIA EXPECTING EXPLOSIVE CHURCH GROWTH Church growth could soon explode in Bulgaria after years of training underground during communism, says Dr. Nick Nedelchez, president of the Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute. Describing training as a priority, he says interest remains high. “God is moving us to put more influence on the satellite-training program. We are developing our three satellite centers right now, and in the future we hope to have two or three more.” Nedelchez says the ministry could play a key role in preparing Christian leaders for Turkey. “At the moment we are facing a great challenge and opportunities because we see ourselves as a key player in training people for Turkey and the region. We see ourselves [as not fully] prepared to respond and meet the needs.” (Mission Network News)

NORTH KOREA PRAYER EVENT DRAWS HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE Hundreds of Christians met in London’s Westminster Chapel Saturday, June 28, to pray for the oppressed people of North Korea. The meeting began with an address by Joel Edwards, general director of the Evangelical Alliance U.K. Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), as he initiated the week of prayer in partnership with Release International, Open Doors U.K., Jubilee Campaign and Asialink. The Hanbeet Korean Choir performed songs and several Korean church leaders led prayers. People were encouraged to pray in small groups, put prayer stickers on a map of North Korea, write prayers against specific violations of religious freedom, and spend a short time in a tiny cage, remembering the more than 100,000 people being held in North Korean prison camps. Similar events were held in eight other cities across the U.K. as well as in Seoul, Zurich and Los Angeles. “It was encouraging to see so many people committed to praying for North Korea,” said CSW Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas. “It was also a privilege to work in partnership with other agencies and with the South Korean churches in the U.K. We have faith that God will hear our united prayers and that we will see release for the suffering and oppressed people of North Korea.” (Christian Solidarity Worldwide)

77 MAKE DECISIONS FOR CHRIST AT 2 EVANGELISTIC EVENTS IN INDIA Two recent conventions led by a ministry in northwestern India’s Rajasthan state encouraged more than 1,000 believers while 77 persons made decisions to follow Christ and were baptized. The two local conventions combined evangelistic rallies, personal devotional times and prayer meetings. The first event was organized and financed by local youth. Although it was threatened by a local group of hard-line Hindus, the event was spared from violence or interruption, and by the third night more than 1,000 people had gathered. The second convention was jeopardized by a heat wave that swept across this desert region of India, but continued without any problems. Since the conventions, at least seven persons in the area have been baptized each day. (Missions Insider)

* In partnership with FEBA Radio, HCJB World Radio airs weekly Christian programs to eastern India via shortwave in three languages: Bhojpuri, Chattisgarhi and Mundari. A five-hour block of English programs also beams across India from HCJB World Radio-Australia’s new shortwave site in Kununurra, Australia.

WORLD’S FIRST ‘INFLATABLE CHURCH’ TO GO ON DISPLAY IN LOS ANGELES Los Angeles, Calif., will play host to the world’s first inflatable church, which goes on public display for the first time in the U.S. Monday, July 7. The church, made by Michael Gill in the U.K., is 49 feet high and 26 feet wide. It includes a blow-up organ, altar, pulpit, pews, candles and “stained glass” windows. The church holds approximately 60 people. “We are delighted to be the first U.S. congregation to try out the church,” said Rev. Jesse Lee, pastor of New Hope Chapel in Los Angeles. “There are thousands of churches in the city. Space is a problem we all face. I envision the inflatable church as a great solution.” It provides an instant structure that can be raised in a matter of minutes and is suitable to house services, Sunday schools and fellowship meetings. Gill sees the inflatable church as something all traditional churches can use to reposition themselves in the community. “If the people won’t go to church, the church needs to go to the people — and this is one way to do it,” he said. “Just think of the amount of good that could be done by a minister putting up an inflatable church on a patch of grass, say, and holding a service right where people are.” To view photos, visit http://www.inflatablechurch.com. (Assist News Service)

FREE WORLD WALL MAP: Full-color, 22-inch by 34-inch world wall map. To order, e-mail your name and mailing address to or visit http://www.hcjb.org.

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