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Today’s Headlines:

CHRISTIANS FACE RENEWED VIOLENCE IN EASTERN INDONESIA ATTACKS RESUME ON SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCHES IN KOSOVO CANADIAN JUDGES MAY ENFORCE ISLAMIC LAW FOR COUNTRY’S MUSLIMS MISSIONARIES TO INTRODUCE GOSPEL TO UNREACHED TRIBE IN VENEZUELA JUBILEE CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES BOOK ON SUFFERING CHURCH LATE-NIGHT TV INSPIRES CHURCH’S INNOVATIVE WEDNESDAY SERVICE

Today’s News Stories:

CHRISTIANS FACE RENEWED VIOLENCE IN EASTERN INDONESIA Christians in the Poso district of eastern Indonesia’s Central Sulawesi Island have been the brunt of renewed attacks by militant Muslims. A news release from International Christian Concern stated that a Christian resident of Tiwaa village (near the city of Poso), was shot and critically wounded in gunfire at about 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1. As a result of this latest attack, the Indonesian government sent an additional 1,000 police officers to Poso in an effort to restore order. Tiwaa is next to another village that was attacked on Saturday, Nov. 29, leaving two residents dead, including the local chief. Two other attacks occurred on Sunday, Nov. 30. Twenty well-armed gunmen entered Kilo Trans, a village 110 miles from Poso inhabited by mostly Christians and some Balinese Hindus, and started shooting into the houses. No Christians were injured as they were at evening prayers, but two Hindu men died from gunshots, and others were wounded. About 15 minutes later two gunmen entered a church service in Tabamawo (70 miles east of Poso) and opened fire. They killed two young men and wounded the pastor’s wife and two others, one critically. A series of attacks in the Poso region in October left another 10 dead. Jihad warriors have been accused of attempting to stir up hatred between Christians and Muslims in Poso. Indonesian Social Welfare Minister Yusuf Kalla said that “outsiders” are stirring up trouble in the area, but he declined to speculate as to who these parties are. (Assist News Service/Missions Insider)

ATTACKS RESUME ON SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCHES IN KOSOVO During the last week of November, two Serbian Orthodox churches in Kosovo were vandalized — the first attacks on churches since August. The Kosovo Police Service investigated all the reported cases, but no perpetrators have been identified or charged. Miroslav Popadic, a priest responsible for the chapel at Gornja Brnjica, reported that the cemetery chapel was broken into. A similar attack occurred several days earlier at St. Dimitrije Church in Susica. Unknown persons damaged the churchyard fence and wrote graffiti on the church wall. This was the second such attack on the church this year. Numerous Orthodox graveyards also have been desecrated and tombstones destroyed or knocked down. Belgrade daily Politika reported that in the past four years more than 50 Serbian Orthodox graveyards have been destroyed with damage reaching millions of dollars. The Orthodox cemetery in Djakovica (Gjakova) also was leveled along with a French military cemetery where World

War I soldiers are buried. This French war cemetery is now used as a city dump. (Forum 18 News Service)

CANADIAN JUDGES MAY ENFORCE ISLAMIC LAW FOR COUNTRY’S MUSLIMS Judges in Canada may soon be enforcing sharia (Islamic law) for the country’s Muslim population. A 30-member council was established less than two months ago to decide disputes, but the move could pave the way to criminal punishments. Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) is watching the events, bearing in mind a similar situation in Nigeria. “In a country like Canada, where you’ve always had the rule of law and the courts make a final decision now, you’re bringing in a new court and is their decision final or not final?” questioned VOM spokesman Todd Nettleton. “It really undermines the judicial system and the court system that has been established.” Nettleton says it’s still too early to predict the effect this would have on evangelistic outreach. Their concern, though, is more for [believers] who may be affected by the change. “We need to pray for our brothers and sisters who are there, regardless of what happens with the legal system. There is a need for witnesses for Christ, and we can pray that Canadians will stand up and be counted for Him.” (Mission Network News)

MISSIONARIES TO INTRODUCE GOSPEL TO UNREACHED TRIBE IN VENEZUELA While many South American Christians are looking into cross-cultural missions, there’s at least one tribe that’s never heard the gospel before. But that’s about to change, says Greg Sanford of New Tribes Mission. Sanford just returned from Venezuela where two couples are breaking new ground with a tribe called the Yanoma. “Through a number of circumstances we’re able to be invited into one of the villages of the Yanoma people. We have two young missionary couples living in tents right now trying to build an airstrip to be able to start to live among the Yanoma people and start learning the Yanoma language.” Sanford finds it amazing there is still a group of people that have never heard the gospel message. “We’re pretty excited about that as we think of the year 2003. We’re celebrating Christmas, remembering again the birth of the Savior, and yet the Yanoma people still haven’t even heard for the first time.” (Mission Network News)

* HCJB World Radio worked with local partners to establish a Christian station in La Morita, Venezuela, in 2000. Partner stations in two additional Venezuelan cities are also affiliated with the ALAS, the ministry’s Latin American satellite radio network with more than 100 radio outlets in 18 countries.

JUBILEE CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES BOOK ON SUFFERING CHURCH Human rights advocate and member of the U.K. House of Lords, David Alton, with co-writer Michele Lombardo, has written a new book called Passion and Pain: The Suffering Church Today. The book, published by the Christian human rights group, Jubilee Campaign, contains information and prayers for different countries where Christians are persecuted. It is full of harrowing but inspiring testimonies of Christians who have kept their faith despite suffering at the hands of brutal regimes and fanatical groups. In his introduction, Alton writes, “The persecution of Christians today is staggering and often far graver in its breadth and severity than any suffered in history. More Christians — Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox — were martyred in the 20th century than in the previous 19 centuries combined. Of the world’s 6 billion inhabitants, more than half live in countries where being a Christian could cost you your life.” (Assist News Service)

LATE-NIGHT TV INSPIRES CHURCH’S INNOVATIVE WEDNESDAY SERVICE Inspired by God and late-night TV host David Letterman, “Wednesday Night Live with Pastor Rodney” is an innovative midweek service “hosted” by Rodney McKinley, associate pastor at Abundant Life Ministries in Largo, Fla. “If we’re honest, most Wednesday-night church services need a shot in the arm,” said McKinley, 37. “I call this a sermon with a twist.” Instead of three points and a prayer, he opens the service at 7 p.m. with a monologue and some lighthearted banter with his co-host followed by a top-10 list with some religious connection (for example, top 10 reasons why God made Eve). Then they welcome the guests — costumed characters straight from the Bible. “The Bible may never look the same again,” observed The Tampa Tribune. The program features a backdrop scene of Tampa’s downtown skyline, a desk for McKinley, a couch guests, and a live band that provides musical interludes, giving the sense of a live TV show. A cameraman records all the action. The service — starting as a four-week experiment in June — is a big hit, tripling attendance to about 150. About 35 people have received Jesus through the weekly event. “It’s not just church folks who are coming,” McKinley said. “They’re bringing their neighbors, friends and co-workers. No matter how much fun we have, Jesus is still the center of the show. We never end it without giving someone the opportunity to receive Christ.” (Charisma News Service)

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