Thanks for choosing to receive e-mail from HCJB World Radio. Please add to your e-mail address book or safe sender list to ensure that you receive these e-mails.

Today’s Headlines:

TURKISH CHURCH REOPENS 6 DAYS AFTER AUTHORITIES SEAL BUILDING MAOIST REBELS KIDNAP, THEN RELEASE NATIVE MISSIONARIES IN NEPAL EXTREMISTS ATTEMPT TO MAKE BUDDHISM SRI LANKA’S STATE RELIGION TERRORIST THREATS HINDER DOZENS OF BIBLE TRANSLATION PROJECTS CAMPUS CRUSADE SEEKS TO EXPAND INNER-CITY MINISTRY IN U.S. SURVEY: CANADIANS’ INTEREST IN RELIGION CONTINUES TO DECLINE

Today’s News Stories:

TURKISH CHURCH REOPENS 6 DAYS AFTER AUTHORITIES SEAL BUILDING Bodrum Grace Church in Turkey, which police had closed and sealed last Friday, was reopened at 6 p.m. (local time) Thursday, Sept. 30. About an hour earlier the local police chief telephoned the church pastor, telling him to go immediately to police headquarters. “As soon as he arrived, they told him to write an official request for the church to be reopened and that it would be opened the next morning,” said Lance Thollander of Hope Builders International in an e-mail report. “They gave him a pen and paper and told him to write the request as dictated by the police officer. He did as he was told. Then they told him to go immediately to the governor [of Bodrum] for his signature. Even though the governor was out of town, his assistant signed the document.” Although police officials said they wouldn’t reopen the church until the next morning, just 20 minutes later they called the pastor and “told him to go to the church building immediately,” Thollander added. When the pastor arrived, police officers immediately unsealed the building, much to the delight of church members. A church leader wrote in an e-mail message, “We thank our Lord for listening to our prayers . . . and for His touching the hearts of the authorities.” Officials gave the congregation permission to use the current building until the city council approves a “suitable site for a church building.” (Hope Builders International)

MAOIST REBELS KIDNAP, THEN RELEASE NATIVE MISSIONARIES IN NEPAL Maoist insurgents kidnapped an entire native missionary team working in Nepal last week, and then released them on Monday, Sept. 27. The missionaries had preached the gospel in one remote mountain village and were on their way to another when they were intercepted by rebel fighters. “All the time they were in captivity, the missionaries remained in prayer,” said the local director. “They can see God’s hand in all of these events.” For years Maoists have fought to control rural villages of Nepal and worked to keep outsiders away — particularly Christians. Lately insurgents have been picking up momentum, launching attacks on the capital city. While missionary work has become more hazardous in recent months, native gospel workers continue to spread the gospel. (Christian Aid Mission)

EXTREMISTS ATTEMPT TO MAKE BUDDHISM SRI LANKA’S STATE RELIGION Buddhist extremists in Sri Lanka have drafted an amendment to the country’s constitution, changing the status of Buddhism from the “foremost religion” to the “state religion.” One clause in the constitutional amendment would prohibit Buddhists from converting to another religion. While the proposed amendment contains an article providing freedom for the practice of other religions, this is qualified by the requirement that they are practiced “in peace and harmony with Buddhist teachings.” One article of the proposed amendment states, “To convert Buddhists into other forms of worship or to spread other forms of worship among the Buddhists is prohibited.” (Christian Solidarity Worldwide)

TERRORIST THREATS HINDER DOZENS OF BIBLE TRANSLATION PROJECTS Terrorism was on the minds of Bible translators in the U.S. as they celebrated World Bible Translation Day Thursday, Sept. 30. The annual event highlights Bible translation as essential in global evangelism. Bruce Smith, president of Wycliffe Associates, says there’s still a great need. “Current research indicates that there are 6,819 unique languages spoken in the world today. But out of that number we’re estimating that approximately 2,700 do not have one verse of Scripture translated into their language.” Smith says terrorism is just one of the factors that threaten Bible translation projects. “In our specific case, we’ve had literally dozens of translation teams in various parts of the world that have had to be either relocated temporarily or permanently in order to avoid security concerns.” Wycliffe Associates uses Christians with technical or administrative skills to assist in Bible translation. Despite terrorism threats, the volunteer staff is growing, Smith says. (Mission Network News)

CAMPUS CRUSADE SEEKS TO EXPAND INNER-CITY MINISTRY IN U.S. Here’s Life Inner City, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ, is helping thousands of people in the U.S. who are physically and spiritually hungry. These people need food, clothing, basic medical supplies and spiritual assistance. Through the ministry’s warehouse and food distribution program, Here’s Life helps 450,000 people in more than 18 cities each month with about 2,000 of these making decisions for Christ. Here’s Life is looking to expand its operations in Chicago, Atlanta and Minneapolis. Additional warehouse space has been donated in each of these cities, but funding is needed to pay staff and purchase equipment to open new ministry warehouses. Here’s Life already has turned down offers of donated food because of a lack of storage capacity and a network to distribute the supplies. (Mission Network News)

SURVEY: CANADIANS’ INTEREST IN RELIGION CONTINUES TO DECLINE Canada is bounding along the road toward a secular society with half the adult population now of the opinion that more regular attendance at religious services by people would be of “no benefit” to Canadian society, indicates a recent survey published by the Center for Research and Information on Canada. The poll showed that 61 percent of Canadians believe religious practice is an “important factor” in the moral and ethical life of the nation, down from 79 percent in 1980. When asked how important religion is to their personal lives, Canada ranked among the world’s most secular countries as only 29 percent of Canadians said religion is a “very important” part of their lives. Another 37 percent of Canadians said it is “somewhat important” — for a total of 66 percent. Twenty years ago 76 percent of Canadians said religion was either very or somewhat important. As for the question of whether society would be better off if people attended religious services more regularly, 50 percent agreed while 48 percent disagreed. Just 50 percent of young adult respondents felt that Canadian society would be better off if more people regularly attended religious services. A majority of Canadians (56 percent) agreed that public schools should teach children about the major religions of the world. Environics Research Group conducted the telephone survey of 1,500 adults in June. (WorldWide Religious News/The Globe and Mail)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * 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.

__________ NOD32 1.881 (20040930) Information __________

This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. http://www.nod32.com