HINDU EXTREMISTS SUSPECTED OF ATTACKING CHURCH WORKERS IN INDIA

SPIRITUAL DARKNESS, POVERTY PERVADE REMOTE COUNTRY OF MONGOLIA

300 COME TO CHRIST AT CONFERENCE IN BENIN, THE ‘CRADLE OF VOODOO’

SURVEY SHOWS THAT 7 OUT OF 10 EUROPEANS BELIEVE IN GOD

MINISTRY AIMS TO DISTRIBUTE COPIES OF ‘JESUS’ DVD TO EVERY U.S. HOME

500,000 TEENS TAKE PART IN ‘FAMINE WEEKEND’ TO BATTLE WORLD HUNGER

Today’s News Stories:

HINDU EXTREMISTS SUSPECTED OF ATTACKING CHURCH WORKERS IN INDIA Radical Hindus are suspected of conducting three recent attacks against church workers in the eastern Indian state of Orissa. The latest victim is Pentecostal pastor Dilip Dalai, 22, who was killed on Saturday, Feb. 26. He was stabbed to death at his home in Begunia in the Khurda district, about 36 miles west of the state capital of Bhubaneswar. Pastor Hrudayaban Dandia, head of Orissa Follow-up, said villagers suspect that Satrughan Pal, a Begonia Hindu, committed the crime. Pal, a native of the same village, was opposed to pastors staying in the village and preaching the gospel. The killing may have been aimed to “put an end to the spread of the gospel,” Dandia said. Police investigations are underway, but Pal has fled.

Dalai is the second clergyman to be murdered in the state in the last two weeks. Pastor Gilbert Raj of the India Mission was killed on Wednesday, Feb. 16. Police reports indicate that the Baptist pastor was tortured before being killed. In another incident on Monday, Feb. 7, a Christian man named Param Sagar was returning from a regular ministry trip in Pathalperia, Orissa, when he was ambushed by four attackers with weapons. He was seriously injured with axe wounds to his head and right hand. When another Christian approached on a motorcycle, the attackers fled, and Sagar was treated in a local hospital. Hindu militants had threatened to kill Sagar several times in the past because of his ongoing ministry. Bishop Banchanidhi Nayak of Believers Church of Orissa said the recent attacks show that “Christians are not safe” in the state. (WorldWide Religious News/AsiaNews/Voice of the Martyrs)

SPIRITUAL DARKNESS, POVERTY PERVADE REMOTE COUNTRY OF MONGOLIA Though no longer under oppressive communist rule, the landlocked country of Mongolia is plagued by poverty and spiritual darkness. Christian workers feel the urgency of the need to break through this darkness with the light of the Lord. Christians make up less than 1 percent of the population of Mongolia. The only officially recognized religions are Buddhism, Islam and Shamanism with its 99 deities. Recent estimates indicate that nearly half of Mongolian adults are addicted to alcohol. Crime and domestic abuse are on the rise, as is prostitution. Workers with Christian Aid Mission are taking positive action to spread the gospel in Mongolia. One of the most vital aspects of their ministry is Bible distribution and translation. A complete Mongolian translation of the Bible was produced years ago, and missionaries have published Braille Bibles for the blind and recorded Scripture on CDs and tapes for the illiterate. These efforts are producing fruit as hunger for God’s Word grows among some Mongolian tribes. There are an estimated 25,000 believers in Mongolia today. As more Mongolians come to Christ, many are beginning to reach their own people for the Lord. (Religion Today/Christian Aid Mission)

300 COME TO CHRIST AT CONFERENCE IN BENIN, THE ‘CRADLE OF VOODOO’ The origins of voodoo can be traced back to the small West African country of Benin, giving it the nickname the “cradle of voodoo.” Though the darkness of this heritage still looms in this country, native missionaries are seeing the light of Christ break through in many ways. At a recent evangelistic conference held near the twin cities of Bohicon and Abomey, 300 people gave their lives to Christ. These cities, once the capital of a great tribal kingdom that lasted from the 1600s to the 1890s, were the hub of a grisly slave trade. Because of the pride and confidence in voodoo powers, many residents of the city are resistant to the gospel. Staff and students at a local ministry’s School of Missions prepared for eight months to hold the evangelistic meetings in Bohicon and Abomey, drawing local pastors for training and discipleship and non-Christians to hear the gospel. Hundreds expressed faith in Christ, including four policemen working as security guards at the event. Twenty-five local church leaders signed up to attend the School of Missions, and 500 conference-goers expressed interest in taking a Bible correspondence course offered by the ministry. (Christian Aid Mission)

* HCJB World Radio worked with the Council of Protestant and Evangelical Churches of Benin to help put a Christian station on the air in Cotonou in 1998. The station broadcasts the gospel in French, English and seven tribal languages. Partner ministry SIM also records programs in eight languages at studios in Parakou. Programs air on local stations across Benin.

SURVEY SHOWS THAT 7 OUT OF 10 EUROPEANS BELIEVE IN GOD A survey conducted on behalf of Reader’s Digest Germany shows that seven out of 10 Europeans believe in God. The survey involved interviews with 8,600 people in 14 countries from November to January. The results are published in the March issue of the magazine. Poland came out on top with 97 percent of the interviewees saying they believe in God, followed by Portugal (90 percent) and Russia (87 percent). At the bottom of the list are Belgium (58 percent), Netherlands (51 percent) and Czech Republic (37 percent). Fifty-three percent of interviewees are convinced that physical death is not the end — 18 percent fewer than those who believe in God. Eighty-three percent of those surveyed agreed that God is present in nature, 75 percent regard him as their Creator and 70 percent describe him as an ever-present source in their life. Religious faith is widely appreciated as giving a sense of protection (45 percent) or meaning in life (39 percent). Only 1 percent said that faith intimidates them. Almost one in five regard natural disasters, epidemics or other catastrophes as expressions of God’s displeasure. Sixty-five percent of interviewees said they resort to prayer to get in touch with God. Two-thirds of all prayers are concerned with “people who are important to me.” The survey also showed that churches are losing their influence. Sixty-one percent of all Germans say that churches do not have any decisive say in matters of faith. (IDEA)

MINISTRY AIMS TO DISTRIBUTE COPIES OF ‘JESUS’ DVD TO EVERY U.S. HOME Video Project America, founded in 1992 by the late Dr. Bill Bright, plans to mail free DVD copies of the “Jesus” film to all 122 million homes in the U.S. using its volunteer “saturation evangelism” strategy. The ministry, based in San Bernardino, Calif., has mailed nearly 20 million copies so far. JESUS Video Project America (JVPA), a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ, has unveiled a partnership plan that will help Christian broadcasters fulfill their spiritual “mandate” and further the ministry’s vision. JVPA made the announcement at the recent National Religious Broadcasters convention in Anaheim, Calif. “JVPA’s Media Partnership Plan creates tremendous opportunities for broadcasters to fulfill their mandate to proclaim the gospel, further God’s kingdom and work with area churches and the community,” said Dave Clayton, JVPA’s national marketing director. “It also can help them generate contributions and donations or increase advertising revenue.” The plan will help JVPA launch “JESUS” projects in areas where no project has been initiated, said Clayton. It also helps identify Christian leaders, build teams, raise funds, successfully complete distribution projects and follow-up efforts, and create ongoing discipleship ministries. (Assist News Service)

500,000 TEENS TAKE PART IN ‘FAMINE WEEKEND’ TO BATTLE WORLD HUNGER More than 500,000 teens nationwide took part in World Vision’s 13th annual “30 Hour Famine” Friday-Saturday, Feb. 25-26, in an effort to raise $13.5 million for hunger relief this year. An average of 29,000 children die daily from hunger and preventable diseases. In addition to making pledges, participants in the “Famine Weekend” will engage in service opportunities in their local communities, including working in homeless shelters and conducting food drives. The record-breaking $11.4 million raised last year prompted this year’s goal of $13.5 million. Funds raised from this year’s Famine Weekends will fight hunger and poverty in Kenya, Sudan, Chad, Southeast Asia and elsewhere. Famine Weekends are also planned for April 29-30 and Oct. 28-29. (Religion Today/World Vision) * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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