Vietnamese Police Interrogate, Arrest Mennonites at House Church

‘Religious Police’ in Saudi Arabia Raid Another Worship Service

Officials Invite Christian Relief Ministry to Stay in Indonesia

Christian ‘Boot Camp’ Helps Prepare Workers for Terrorist Attacks

Filipino Christians Reach Out to Muslim Tribes on Remote Islands

Americans Urged to Participate in National Day of Prayer

Today’s News Stories:

VIETNAMESE POLICE INTERROGATE, ARREST MENNONITES AT HOUSE CHURCH After just two days of freedom, Vietnamese prisoner-of-conscience Le Thi Hong Lien was arrested for attending a Bible study with other believers meeting at the home of imprisoned Pastor Nguyen Hong Quang on Sunday, May 1. A “work team” of about 30 local officials came to the residence which serves as a meeting place for the Vietnam Mennonite Church in Ho Chi Minh City. When Quang went to talk to them, a number of police officers pushed their way past her into the house, loudly demanding that all religious activity cease. They ordered everyone to the local police station for interrogation. A particularly abusive officer said he had orders to harass the Christians to deter them from going to the Quang house to worship. Lien remained silent throughout the interrogation even though she was threatened with force. She was released at about 10:30 p.m. along with others of the group. She reportedly returned to the Quang home “exhausted and terrified.” (Compass)

‘RELIGIOUS POLICE’ IN SAUDI ARABIA RAID ANOTHER WORSHIP SERVICE One week after arresting 40 Pakistani Christians, Saudi Arabia’s muttawa (religious police) broke into another private worship service of expatriate Christians, arresting five elders of a house church in Riyadh’s central Al-Olaya district. High-ranking Muslim sheiks reportedly took part in the April 29 raid on a congregation of 60 Ethiopian and Eritrean Christians who had gathered for prayer. The muttawa confiscated the worshipers’ personal Bibles and one woman’s cross necklace. The five men detained at the scene were identified as Yemane Gebre Loul and Gazai Zarom from Eritrea and Msfen Tekle, Yonas Tekle and Teklu Mola from Ethiopia. During their initial detention and interrogations, the five Christians were allowed to maintain telephone contact with their families, and one man’s wife was permitted to visit her husband once. But after four days, “things have tightened up a bit,” a local source said. The five men have reportedly been transferred to prison facilities of the Ministry of Interior where they are being held incommunicado. (Compass)

OFFICIALS INVITE CHRISTIAN RELIEF MINISTRY TO STAY IN INDONESIA At a time when many Christian humanitarian groups are being asked to leave Indonesia, International Aid is being asked by the government to stay. International Aid’s Myles Fish says the ministry has been asked by the government to help repair medical equipment in Banda Aceh — something nobody else is doing. “We’re using [the repair center] to train a biomedical technician to work in every one of the hospitals in the Banda Aceh area,” he said. International Aid has been asked to stay even though the organization is openly Christian. “The government knows who we are, what we stand for and what we intend to do. But it’s because we’re appropriate in how we do it. They know that we are Christians. We’re there trying to demonstrate Christ’s love in the hope that we can build the relationships that are necessary for us to actually articulate our faith in Christ.” (Mission Network News)

CHRISTIAN ‘BOOT CAMP’ HELPS PREPARE WORKERS FOR TERRORIST ATTACKS As violence increases against Christians serving Christ worldwide, organizations are beginning to take action. “In 1998 . . . for the first time ever more missionaries and Christian humanitarian aid workers were killed in their line of service than United Nations peacekeepers,” said Kevin Turner of Strategic World Impact (SWI). Because of this, SWI has been offering Disaster Assistance Response Training (DART). Turner says this type of course is important to anyone traveling overseas, offering training in such things as anti-terrorism, personal safety and what to do if a missionary, family member or close friend is taken hostage. (Mission Network News)

FILIPINO CHRISTIANS REACH OUT TO MUSLIM TRIBES ON REMOTE ISLANDS Native Christians are faithfully working among Muslim tribes in remote islands of the Philippines despite many dangers. While some missionaries have left the country due to threats, many remain to share the love of Christ. Medical and educational ministries have been particularly successful. Clinics, dentist offices and drugstores, sanitary toilets and water systems, adult literacy programs, classes for children and vocational training are examples of outreaches that have met the needs of tribal communities while giving missionaries entrance into closed regions. Poor tribal people will sometimes join terrorist groups so they will have a way to feed their families. Missionaries are able to alleviate terrorist activities by addressing the poverty among these people. When missionaries conduct medical outreaches among one particular Muslim animist tribe they are often asked, “Why have you crazy doctors come to this place?” Their response is quick and spreads the message of Christ, “We come because of the love of Issah Almasih (Jesus Christ). We hope you too will know this love.” (Religion Today/Christian Aid Mission)

AMERICANS URGED TO PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER Shirley Dobson, wife of psychologist/author Dr. James Dobson who founded Focus on the Family, says there’s plenty to pray about during the National Day of Prayer Thursday, May 5. Shirley is chairman of the national observance that the U.S. Congress declared should take place on the first Thursday in May each year. She urges Americans to pray for international peace and democracy so that U.S. troops can return home; for the preservation of traditional marriage; for respect for the sanctity of life; for religious liberty, and for the nation’s leaders. The theme for this year’s National Day of Prayer is “God shed His grace on thee.” (AgapePress) * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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.