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Today’s Headlines:

HUNDREDS KILLED AS FRESH VIOLENCE ERUPTS IN NIGERIA

EUROPEAN MISSIONARY GROUP BANKRUPT AFTER 30 YEARS OF MINISTRY

INDIA ORDERS LONG-TIME MISSIONARY TO LEAVE

U.S. MARINES FIND FAITH AMID THE FIRE OF IRAQI BATTLEFIELD

CLASSES OPEN DOORS TO SHARE CHRIST WITH INTERNATIONALS IN U.S.

Today’s News Stories:

HUNDREDS KILLED AS FRESH VIOLENCE ERUPTS IN NIGERIA New Muslim-Christian violence erupted in Yelwa in the central state of Plateau, Nigeria, resulting in the deaths of at least 350 Muslims. The clash comes two months after Muslim militants killed a pastor and 48 members of his church there on Feb. 23. Some press reports put the death toll as high as 630, since 250 women and children are still missing, according to police reports. Christian leaders have distanced themselves from these killings saying they are from rogue criminal elements. (Compass)

* HCJB World Radio, together with partners In Touch Ministries, SIM and the Evangelical Church of West Africa, began airing weekly half-hour programs to Nigeria in the Igbo language in 2000. In 2003 weekly broadcasts were added in two additional languages, Yoruba and Hausa.

EUROPEAN MISSIONARY GROUP BANKRUPT AFTER 30 YEARS OF MINISTRY After almost 30 years of mobilizing young Christians for world mission, The European Missionary Association (TEMA) is filing for bankruptcy. Since 1976 the organization has organized ten congresses with more that 50,000 young Christians in Switzerland, the Netherlands and Germany. Tore Askildsen, TEMA ‘s chairman, explained the last congress held in Salzuflen, Germany, resulted in a deficit of US$300,000. The losses were caused by the need for additional technical equipment but also by fewer German day participants than expected. (IDEA)

INDIA ORDERS LONG-TIME MISSIONARY TO LEAVE Officials in India have ordered Jim Borst, 67, of the U.K.-based Mill Hill Mission to leave the country on the pretext that his visa has not been renewed. In an April 22 letter, officials of the Foreigners’ Registration Office threatened to take action against Borst, principal of Burn Hall School and St. Joseph’s school, if he did not leave the country “within seven days.” The Global Council of Indian Christians issued strong protests against the “unwarranted harassment of Father Jim” and appealed the decision to India’s president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and other national officials. Borst has translated the New Testament and Book of Psalms into modern Kashmiri. In recent months, hundreds of young Muslims and lower caste Hindus disillusioned with conflict in the region have reportedly turned to Christian missionaries for answers. “That must be one of the real reasons of the provocation,” a Christian leader in Kashmir said. Borst has been working in Kashmir since 1963. (Compass)

* “The Voice of the Great Southland,” the shortwave station operated by HCJB World Radio-Australia since January 2003, airs more than 44 hours of weekly English programming across India. Daily Urdu programs joined the lineup in July 2003, and since then programs have been added in Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, Nepali, Chattisgarhi, Hmar and Manipuri. Most of the programming is produced at a studio and follow-up center established in New Delhi in 2003.

U.S. MARINES FIND FAITH AMID THE FIRE OF IRAQI BATTLEFIELD On Monday, April 26, the U.S. Marines of Echo Company battled Iraqi insurgents for two hours. One Marine was killed and 15 were wounded. Four Marines from the battle-hardened company asked a Protestant chaplain to arrange a battlefield baptism. “I’ve been talking to God a lot during the last two firefights,” said Lance Cpl. Chris Hankins, 19, of Kansas City, Mo. “I decided to start my life over and make it better.” To give the occasion even greater significance, the Marines chose to have the baptism in the courtyard of a bullet-riddled school they used in their fight with insurgents. Battlefield baptisms are not unusual among front-line troops, said Navy Lt. Scott Radetski, the battalion’s Protestant chaplain. Radetski said he performed one ceremony in Kuwait when Marines were waiting to move into Iraq. Three Marines at another encampment in Fallouja also have asked to be baptized. “When chaos shows its head,” Radetski said, “we need an anchor for our faith. You need that rock that God promises to be. I consider it an honor to fulfill their request.” Sgt. Andrew Jones, 25, of Sullivan, Ind., said he had been considering getting baptized before he left for Iraq. His combat experiences convinced him that the time was right. “With everything that has happened here, all the good friends I’ve lost, I thought it was a good place to be reborn,” Jones said. (Yahoo News/Los Angeles Times)

CLASSES OPEN DOORS TO SHARE CHRIST WITH INTERNATIONALS IN U.S. The number of people who speak English as a second language is growing in the U.S. and since many of these people want to improve their speaking ability, opportunities are opening for Christians to reach foreigners for Christ by teaching English. Cornerstone University of Grand Rapids, Mich., is stepping up its efforts to assist believers in this effort. Recently, the school held its third annual English as a Second Language (ESL) Ministry Conference with about 100 people from three states participating. Event organizer Michael Pasqualle says this conference helps churches start ESL programs and network more effectively. Anne Mallekoote, who works with university students in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship agrees. She says ESL allows Christians in the U.S. to be international missionaries without having to leave home. “God really has been bringing the world to our doorstep,” she said. “The world is surrounding us. We can meet people here from places such as India, Japan, Africa and Europe.” (Mission Network News)

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