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Today’s News Headlines:

INDONESIA’S NEW EDUCATION LAW MAY JEOPARDIZE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS RESTRICTIONS ON CURRENCY, FUEL IN ZIMBABWE HAMPER MISSIONARIES CHRISTIANS IN INDIAN STATE LOSE APPEAL AGAINST ANTI-CONVERSION LAW ADVOCATE: CEDING POWER TO MUSLIM IRAQIS COULD THWART PEACE EFFORT 4,000 COME TO CHRIST IN ALBANIA THROUGH LUIS PALAU OUTREACH CANADIAN CHRISTIANS GATHER AT ONLINE ‘CHURCH’

Today’s News Stories:

INDONESIA’S NEW EDUCATION LAW MAY JEOPARDIZE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS Indonesian’s new Education Bill appears to threaten the future of the country’s private Christian schools. On June 11 the Indonesian parliament passed the hotly debated bill. The section arousing the most controversy is Article 13 which states that all schools with more than 10 students of a particular faith must provide a teacher of the same faith to teach religious classes. A place of worship would also have to be provided. While the wording appears fair, it forces Christian schools that have a majority of Muslim students to teach classes on Islam. Muslim families often enroll their children in the private Christian schools because of the quality of education. Up to 65 percent of the student body in these schools is Muslim. The fear is that instead of Islam being taught in an objective way, the lessons will be used as a proselytizing tool. Ironically, many of Indonesia’s Christian schools were set up by missionary organizations. All parents who enroll their students in private Christian schools are now required to sign an agreement stating that they have no objection to their children receiving a Christian religious education. Christian leaders are concerned that the Education Bill is just part of a growing trend to Islamize Indonesia’s education system. (Barnabas Fund)

RESTRICTIONS ON CURRENCY, FUEL IN ZIMBABWE HAMPER MISSIONARIES Life in Zimbabwe is becoming increasingly difficult with new government restrictions on carrying currency and fuel. Ministries such as Operation Mobilization bring a message of hope, but missionaries face many challenges. Due to the country’s money laws, selling literature will become almost impossible as people are not allowed to carry cash. And missionaries risk being stranded in the bush because of the fuel restrictions. (Mission Network News)

CHRISTIANS IN INDIAN STATE LOSE APPEAL AGAINST ANTI-CONVERSION LAW The Gujarat High Court in western India has dismissed petitions filed by the All India Christian Council (AICC) challenging provisions of the highly controversial Gujarat anti-conversion bill. A Buddhist organization called Buddha Gaya Mahabodhi Vihar supported the AICC appeal. The Christian and Buddhist petitioners challenged Section 8 of the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act which makes it compulsory for an individual or organization wanting to convert to another religion to seek prior approval from a district magistrate. It imposes heavy fines and prison sentences on both the agents of conversion and the converts. As many as 55,000 Dalits (people outside the caste system) have declared that they are ready to voluntarily convert to Buddhism in defiance of the law. On Monday, June 30, Advocate General S.N. Shelat presented counter-arguments to the court, asserting that the state government has not yet issued a notification of the act in the official gazette, a step required to make the law operational. (Compass Direct)

ADVOCATE: CEDING POWER TO IRAQI MUSLIMS COULD THWART PEACE EFFORT A leading religious freedom advocate has warned that the Bush administration may throw away the possibility of creating a genuinely free Iraq because it is ceding authority to fundamentalist Shiite Muslim clergy in its effort to restore order to the chaotic country. “It’s a form of sharia (Islamic law) that’s being imposed on a de facto basis,” said Nina Shea of Freedom House’s Center for Religious Freedom, a member of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. “Even more worrisome are Islamic courts that are being set up to settle disputes. They have been set up on an ad hoc basis, but with the acquiescence of the U.S. military which is in charge. It’s a dangerous trend.” Shea made her comments in an interview with Kim Lawton on the PBS television program, “Religion and Ethics Newsweekly.” After its swift military victory in Iraq, the U.S. military has been plagued with a breakdown in law and order that has hindered the establishment of the religious liberty and democratic values. “The U.S. reconstruction team at times has turned over neighborhoods, hospitals, schools, even towns to the Shiite clergy to rule, to run,” Shea said. “This is unacceptable.” She acknowledged the need for law and order and the restoration of the supply of basic necessities such as electricity and water. “But there is a growing organization among extremist elements in the Islamic community that threatens the very survival of a free democratic state,” Shea said. (Episcopal News Service)

4,000 COME TO CHRIST IN ALBANIA THROUGH LUIS PALAU OUTREACH Thousands of people gave their hearts to Christ in Albania as the Luis Palau Evangelistic Association’s Next Generation Alliance sent evangelists into the region June 16-21. Spokesman Tim Robnett says evangelistic meetings focused on politicians, prison inmates, teachers and others. “We had a saturation evangelism ministry in seven different cities,” he explains. “Our people held almost 100 events. More than 4,000 people made decisions for Christ.” Robnett asks for prayer for follow-up as there are only about 8,000 believers in the country. “The follow-up itself has to be enormous — just the number of people that need to be contacted because we do always institute a process of follow-up. The energy and the time demands to get it done is challenging.” (Mission Network News)

CANADIAN CHRISTIANS GATHER AT ONLINE ‘CHURCH’ Canada’s Christian community now has a special place where people can gather, share and grow together online. Located on the web at http://www.christianity.ca, this “unique virtual house has room for this country’s Christian community in all its diversity,” says Gail Reid, director of communications for the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC). “As an initiative of the EFC, this new gathering place provides opportunities to all Canadian Christian denominations, ministries and businesses,” states a press release. “Christian ministry leaders, academics and writers supply material for the site on a regular basis. Visitors to any one of the 12 ‘rooms’ in the house are inspired and encouraged by stories of how God’s love, grace and healing power are changing lives in this country.” (Evangelical Fellowship of Canada)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * James A. Ferrier Web: http://www.hcjb.org http://www.beyondthecall.org