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Today’s Headlines:

PARTS OF SRI LANKA’S PROPOSED ANTI-CONVERSION BILL RULED ILLEGAL 8 CATHOLIC PRIESTS, 2 SEMINARIANS ARRESTED IN CHINA REPORTS SHOW PERSECUTION IN MYANMAR ‘NOT LIMITED TO CHRISTIANITY’ POLL: MOST U.S PASTORS FAVOR SANCTIONS ON PERSECUTING NATIONS SPORTS CAMPS OPEN DOORS FOR GOSPEL IN ‘CLOSED’ NATIONS LOCAL CHURCHES JOIN RELIEF EFFORTS IN STORM-RAVAGED FLORIDA

Today’s News Stories:

PARTS OF SRI LANKA’S PROPOSED ANTI-CONVERSION BILL RULED ILLEGAL On Tuesday, Aug. 17, Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court announced its ruling to the parliamentary speaker on the proposed “Bill of Prohibition of Forcible Conversion.” The court determined that sections 3 and 4(b) of the proposed bill violated article 10 of the country’s constitution that “guarantees the freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including the freedom to have or adopt a religion or belief of one’s choice.” To become law in its present form, the bill would require a two-thirds majority vote of the parliament as well as a national referendum. However, the court added that if the offending sections are deleted, the bill would be consistent with article 10 and would not require the two-thirds majority or referendum. Section 3 of the proposed bill required a person who is converting from one religion to another and any person performing or involved in a “conversion ceremony” to report to the divisional secretary of the area. Section 4(b) stipulated punishments of a fine and prison term for violators. The National Christian Evangelical Christian Alliance of Sri Lanka has expressed serious concerns about certain provisions of the bill. The proposed law now goes to a parliamentary standing committee for discussion. (Voice of the Martyrs)

8 CATHOLIC PRIESTS, 2 SEMINARIANS ARRESTED IN CHINA On the evening of Friday, Aug. 6, eight underground Roman Catholic priests and two seminarians were attending a retreat when 20 police vehicles and a large number of officers raided the remote village of Sujiazhuang in China’s Hebei province. The Cardinal Kung Foundation reported that the 10 are in custody in the Baoding Security Bureau. Those arrested include Huo Junlong and Zhang Zhenquian of the Baoding diocese and Father Huang of Sujiazhuang. Joseph Kung, president of the Cardinal Kung Foundation, criticized the arrests. “While the whole world is in awe at the performance and the spirit of the Olympic Games, the Chinese government, which will be hosting the 2008 Olympics, failed to respect such Olympic spirits and violated its own constitution guaranteeing religious freedom by raiding and jailing these innocent religious personnel,” he said. (Voice of the Martyrs)

REPORTS SHOW PERSECUTION IN MYANMAR ‘NOT LIMITED TO CHRISTIANITY’ Human rights groups have found that Christians, Muslims and Buddhists alike are suffering from varying degrees of persecution in Myanmar (Burma). A recent report published by the Chin Human Rights Organization claims that “Burma’s ruling military regime is systematically persecuting the country’s Chin Christians.” Believers from certain ethnic national groups have experienced practices such as destruction of churches, forcible conversion to Buddhism and forced labor. Another report released by Amnesty International earlier this year claims that Muslims in Rakhine (Arakan) state are effectively denied Burmese citizenship. Their freedom of movement is also “severely restricted,” and they are subject to arbitrary taxation, land confiscation, forced eviction, destruction of property and forced labor. Even Buddhists, who comprise almost 90 percent of Burma’s population, face suppression when challenging the country’s regime. The Shan ethnic national group of northeastern Burma, which is primarily Buddhist, faces similar human rights violations as those experienced by Christians and Muslims, including rape and forced labor. (Forum 18 News Service/Christian Solidarity Worldwide)

POLL: MOST U.S PASTORS FAVOR SANCTIONS ON PERSECUTING NATIONS More than three-quarters of pastors in the U.S. want the government to impose sanctions against foreign governments that persecute Christians. Seventy-seven percent of those questioned in a nationwide poll said that America should take action against nations where believers face opposition for their faith. The strength of that opinion varied depending on the ministers’ church affiliation. Seventy percent of evangelical church leaders felt “strongly” that persecution of Christians abroad was a problem, while only 37 percent of mainline or liberal churches did. China was most identified as the country where the worst persecution occurs with 30 percent of respondents citing its poor religious freedom record. Also singled out were Sudan, 16 percent; India, 5 percent; and Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Iran, each at 4 percent. The study was conducted by Ellison Research of Phoenix, Ariz. Mike Yoder of Open Doors said that the pastors’ grading of persecution severity closely matched that found by his organization’s global monitoring. Recent years have seen a “remarkable increase” in awareness by the American church of worldwide persecution of Christians. Jim Jacobson, president of Christian Freedom International, said the survey results suggested that many religious leaders were abdicating personal responsibility to the government. “Unfortunately, too many fail to see they have any personal responsibility to help.” (Charisma News Service)

SPORTS CAMPS OPEN DOORS FOR GOSPEL IN ‘CLOSED’ NATIONS Nations that are normally closed to missionary efforts often open their doors to OC International’s Sports Ambassadors teams. Ministry spokesman Robin Cook says the team found an atmosphere of openness on a recent trip to southern India’s Tamil Nadu state. “We were invited by the Sports Ministry in Coimbatore and Chennai to hold clinics and play basketball games in the schools and at the YMCA,” he said. Using “Evangecube” as a tool, team members presented the gospel to numerous Hindus. “A lot of them kept asking, ‘Can I keep this? Can I have this?’ We had great opportunities to share the gospel, whether one on one or with a whole group of 200 or 300,” Cook said. Beyond sharing testimonies in stadiums and through the mass media, athletes also ministered through sports clinics in schools, churches, universities, prisons and town squares. (Mission Network News)

* “The Voice of the Great Southland,” the shortwave station operated by HCJB World Radio-Australia since January 2003, airs more than 59 hours of weekly Christian programming across South Asia. Programs go out in nine languages: English, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, Nepali, Tamil, Chattisgarhi, Hmar and Meeitei. Most of the programming in the Indian languages is produced at HCJB World Radio’s studio in New Delhi. Additional releases from Australia, primarily in English, reach the South Pacific, Southeast Asia and East Asia.

LOCAL CHURCHES JOIN RELIEF EFFORTS IN STORM-RAVAGED FLORIDA Piles of rubble sit where buildings once stood in Arcadia, Fla., after Hurricane Charley ripped through Florida’s Gulf Coast on Friday, Aug. 13. Nearly every tree is on its side with branches ripped from trunks and lodged in houses. Homes are missing roofs, walls, porches and windows. Storm debris is everywhere. Amidst the debris stands Trinity United Methodist Church which suffered only minimal damages. As a result, it now serves as a major command center, offering food, supplies and support to the residents of the devastated Florida town.

“We started off just handing out water, and it mushroomed from there,” said pastor David Harris. Volunteers in front of the church hand out hamburgers, baked beans, hot dogs and cold water. Downstairs, a room full of donated food and supplies is staffed by other volunteers. Residents can stop by to pick up what they need. The church even has construction crews to help people secure their roofs and keep out the rain. “This operation is incredible, it’s amazing what the Lord can do,” Harris said.

Trinity United Methodist is just one of dozens of local churches that have joined relief efforts in the area. At nearby Myakka City United Methodist Church, members were happy to see generators arrive on Tuesday. With temperatures in the area reaching 100 degrees, anything to help folks in a town without power was welcomed. Volunteers from the church took turns pausing for a moment in front of the large fan as they unloaded donations from a truck. Church members have been serving meals, handing out food and doing what they can to assist affected families. Pastor Chet Zarzicki said the community spirit has been fantastic. “We’ve had calls coming in from churches across the state, asking how they can help,” he said. “And then this community has been great. People I don’t even know have been stopping by and donating items.”

A similar story is happening at the nondenominational Family Worship Center in Indiantown, Fla. A large barbecue grill and a long table full of hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and bottled water — along with warm smiles and encouragement — greets all who stop by. “The Lord called us to do this,” said church member Jonnie Flewelling. “We come from a church of people who care.” In two days the church fed more than 1,600 people. (Disaster News Network) * * * * * * * * * * * * * 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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