A ministry of HCJB World Radio

Today’s Headlines:

EGYPTIAN POLICE RELEASE ALL BUT ONE OF 22 DETAINED CHRISTIANS JAILED CATHOLIC BISHOP LOCATED IN CHINA AFTER 6 YEARS SAUDI PRINCE GAINS RELEASE OF 2 EGYPTIAN HOUSE CHURCH CHRISTIANS NCC DELIVERS FOOD AID TO NORTH KOREA, URGES PEACE TALKS BETHEL VILLAGE REACHES OUT TO UGANDA’S AIDS ORPHANS, STREET KIDS CHURCH TRIPLES IN SIZE BY SPEAKING DIFFERENT LANGUAGES

Today’s News Stories:

EGYPTIAN POLICE RELEASE ALL BUT ONE OF 22 DETAINED CHRISTIANS Police in Cairo, Egypt, have released on bail four more of the 22 Christians originally arrested in Alexandria in late October. However, they have called on the services of an Islamic scholar in their case against the last remaining detainee. Of the converts and their supporters who were arrested between Oct. 21 and 24, only Mariam Girgis Makar remains in custody, and police appear determined to make an example of her. A scholar from Al-Azhar Islamic University in Cairo has been called in by the police to aid them in their case against Makar. The authorities are apparently seeking advice about bringing charges concerning crimes against Islam for which they could prosecute her. Although the other converts and their supporters have been released, charges are still outstanding against them. The police have recalled Makar’s husband, Yusuf Samuel Makari Suliman, also a convert, for a writing sample to compare it with that on an official document. All the converts and those who had helped them were originally indicted under charges related to falsifying their names on documents. A Christian who converts to Islam in Egypt can receive new identification papers with a new Muslim name within 24 hours. However there is no reciprocal arrangement for a Muslim who converts to Christianity.

JAILED CATHOLIC BISHOP LOCATED IN CHINA AFTER 6 YEARS In 1997 Su Zhimin, the bishop of an underground Catholic church in Baoding, Hebei, China, was arrested and was not heard from until he was taken to hospital for treatment in mid-November. Zenit reported Nov. 20 that Zhimin was taken to the Baoding Central Hospital for an eye operation and for heart ailments. His name was never officially registered at the hospital, and he was closely guarded by about 20 security personnel. Zhimin has been arrested at least five times and spent a total of 27 years in prison. The Cardinal Kung Foundation reported that every bishop of the underground Roman Catholic Church is in jail, under house arrest, under strict surveillance or in hiding. Earlier this month, the Hong Kong-based Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy reported that more than 400 Buddhist temples and churches were closed in Zhejiang province — some destroyed by authorities and others converted into entertainment centers. (Voice of the Martyrs)

SAUDI PRINCE GAINS RELEASE OF 2 EGYPTIAN HOUSE CHURCH CHRISTIANS Two Egyptian Christians who were arrested in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last month were released on Thursday, Nov. 13, and allowed to remain in the capital. Sabry Awad Gayed and Eskander Guirguis Eskandar were accused of evangelizing non-Christians and of opening a place of non-Muslim worship. The intervention of Saudi Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud brought about their release after the authorities produced no evidence to substantiate the allegations against them. The prince serves as Saudi Arabia’s second deputy prime minister and minister of defense. He became involved when he received a letter from a church member stating that they had been arrested for “no good reason.” He personally reviewed their case, and his order that they be released was implemented nine days later. The prince was quoted recently by the Saudi Press Authority as saying, “We say to Christians, ‘Do whatever you want, you and your family, in your home, worship what you want, but there has not been, or will not be, a church.'” Gayed works as a pediatrician and has been in Saudi Arabia for four years while Eskandar is a carpenter. Together they lead worship services in a home for fellow Arab Christians from Egypt and elsewhere. When arrested they were carrying their personal Bibles. (Middle East Concern)

* HCJB World Radio reaches across North Africa, the Middle East and Europe with Christian Arabic programming aired via shortwave, satellite and local stations. The Radio Al Mahabba (Radio Love) Arabic satellite network airs programs direct-to-home 24 hours a day. This region has the world’s highest concentration of personal satellite dishes.

NCC DELIVERS FOOD AID TO NORTH KOREA, URGES PEACE TALKS A delegation led by the National Council of Churches (NCC) returned from the Korean peninsula urging the Bush administration to re-engage North Korea in peace talks. The seven-member delegation delivered 420 metric tons of refined wheat flour to the isolated communist nation and met with Christians on both sides of the demilitarized zone along the heavily fortified border. The delegation, led by NCC General Secretary Bob Edgar and the Rev. John McCullough, executive director of the Church World Service humanitarian agency, will brief officials at the State Department on Wednesday. “It is our conviction that diplomacy and negotiations remain the best approach for finding durable solutions,” the delegation said, urging a new phase in the on-again, off-again talks with Pyongyang over its alleged nuclear program. The delegation met with the Korean Christian Federation in North Korea and the National Council of Churches in Korea in Seoul, South Korea. Leaders urged prayer for the “isolated Christian family in North Korea.” The Christian leaders also urged support for the United Nations’ $200-million appeal for humanitarian assistance in 2004 for North Korea, including increased aid from the U.S. The flour, paid for by the Church World Service’s member churches, will be used to make 132,000 loaves of bread. (Religion News Service)

BETHEL VILLAGE REACHES OUT TO UGANDA’S AIDS ORPHANS, STREET KIDS As HIV/AIDS continues to escalate in Ghana, the number of orphans living on streets is also on the increase. As a result, Rashid Luswa has started a ministry that partners with others to reach out to these children. He says the ministry started as a ranch that eventually evolved into a ministry called Bethel Village with a variety of outreaches. The ranch continues to provide a source of food and income. The ministry is also working with Worldwide Christian Schools to construct and operate a school where the focus will be on biblical teachings. (Mission Network News)

CHURCH TRIPLES IN SIZE BY SPEAKING DIFFERENT LANGUAGES An Assemblies of God congregation in California has tripled in size during the last eight years, partly by learning to speak different languages. Rich Guerra, pastor of Visalia First Assembly in Visalia which attracts 3,000 people for Sunday-morning services, said the growth is the result of a willingness to reach out to the community, Assemblies of God News reported. The 75-year-old church, which built its first permanent building in 1931, has services in Spanish, Lahu and Korean. It also has a weekly radio program that reaches a 150-mile radius. “We’ve been willing to get out of our comfort zone,” Guerra said. The church’s mission statement is “to connect people to God and His church, help them grow in their faith, equip them to serve and share their faith and experience genuine worship.” Last year about 850 people signed salvation cards. The congregation’s community-minded outreaches include using its 40 acres for citywide high school band and choral concerts as well as musical competitions that typically draw 2,000 people. The church is also used as a meeting site for local businesses. Additionally, youth hang out and play video games after school or on weekends at the church. Each Christmas the church also sponsors an “adopt-a-family” program, providing toys, clothes and groceries for needy families and more than 6,000 children. (Charisma 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 .

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

Editor’s Note. Feel free to forward this to any interested friends. Our lists are distributed for information purposes and to encourage prayer. HCJB World Radio does not necessarily endorse or support the activities on which it reports. _______________________________________________ HCJBDaily mailing list

with subscribe in the subject line.

— Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).