MAF ADDS AMPHIBIOUS PLANE TO HELP MORE TSUNAMI VICTIMS IN INDONESIA

PAKISTAN DENIES U.S. CLAIMS OF VIOLATING RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS

GERMAN CHRISTIAN APOLOGIZES FOR ATROCITIES COMMITTED BY NAZIS

BACK TO THE BIBLE LAUNCHES AUDIO MINISTRY IN TOKYO, JAPAN

NUMBER OF HOUSE CHURCHES ACROSS U.S. DOUBLES IN 18 MONTHS

TEENS WORLDWIDE TO PRAY ‘A WHOLE NIGHT’ FOR UNREACHED YOUTHS

Today’s News Stories:

MAF ADDS AMPHIBIOUS PLANE TO HELP MORE TSUNAMI VICTIMS IN INDONESIA Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) has purchased an amphibious plane to aid its efforts in Indonesia’s tsunami zone. MAF’s Gene Jordan says there are many waterlogged areas that can’t be reached on land. “Since we’re planning on staying in that province for probably at least two years, we decided that we needed to have our own airplane that has the capability of landing not only on land, but also splashing down in the ocean and on rivers and inlets to better satisfy the needs of helping those who are rebuilding that area of the country.” Jordan says ministry happens moments after the local people see a North American pilot bringing materials. “That’s why I am here — in response to Christ’s command to love each other, to care for each other and demonstrate His love,” he said. (Mission Network News)

PAKISTAN DENIES U.S. CLAIMS OF VIOLATING RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS Pakistan rejected efforts by a U.S. Congress-mandated commission to include the Islamic nation on a blacklist of countries that violate religious freedoms. “These accusations are baseless,” said Pakistani Information Minister Sheikh Rashid, adding that the country is “fully committed to protecting the rights of minorities.” The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has asked Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to include Pakistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in the government’s list of “countries of particular concern.” The commission accuses the Pakistani government of “not providing an adequate response” to vigilante violence perpetrated by Sunni Muslim militants against the Shiite and Ahmadi Muslims as well as Hindus and Christians, and of formulating “discriminatory legislation.” Rashid said Pakistan guarantees religious freedoms and has granted special rights to minority communities, including the right to vote in local and general elections. “All citizens of Pakistan, irrespective of their religious beliefs, enjoy complete freedom of expression and there is absolutely no discrimination,” he said. (WorldWide Religious News/AFP)

GERMAN CHRISTIAN APOLOGIZES FOR ATROCITIES COMMITTED BY NAZIS Leaders gathered in Europe and Russia This week to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. One German Christian who served as a tank gunner during the war says it’s important to keep condemning the Nazi regime for the atrocities committed against the Jewish people. Hilmar Von Campe was 18 years old in 1943 when he joined the German army and served on a tank crew in Yugoslavia. He has since dedicated his life to speaking against what the Nazis did. “They were criminals, murderers, liars and they led a whole nation on the path to destruction,” he said. Even though he was not personally involved in any atrocities, Von Campe has a sense of responsibility and a desire to seek reconciliation for the Nazis’ crimes. (AgapePress)

BACK TO THE BIBLE LAUNCHES AUDIO MINISTRY IN TOKYO, JAPAN Back to the Bible has officially opened its newest ministry “B-Japan,” in Tokyo. B-Japan’s goal is to “help believers grow in their faith, to reach out to their neighbors, reach out to people who they work with, to encourage pastors,” said Dave Hansen, Back to the Bible’s international director. “We have access to an audio channel 24 hours a day which is part of a network of audio channels with more than 1.5 million subscribers. We are also developing an Internet ministry.” Hansen says cable audio channels are more popular than cable television. “Obviously [there are] multiple channels that deal with different topics . . . we are the only religious channel that someone can tune in to.” B-Japan is already “cable-casting” three hours per day with the goal of increasing this to eight hours per day. “We’ve got a list of about 20 different things that we hope to do in the next few years to increase from three to eight hours. Because of the realities of having only three staff members, we are going to look for a lot of volunteers,” Hansen said. (Mission Network News)

NUMBER OF HOUSE CHURCHES ACROSS U.S. DOUBLES IN 18 MONTHS The number of house churches in the U.S. has doubled in the past 18 months, moving to 5,000 from 2,500, said participants at a symposium organized by Church Multiplication Associates’ Neil Cole in Los Angeles April 25-28. “The main growth comes from missionary groups aiming to reach the unchurched with the gospel and involve them in multipliable discipleship structures,” he said. The church-planting effort was prompted by the “Billion Soul Initiative” launched by Campus Crusade for Christ founder Bill Bright before he died in July 2003. He called on Christians to lead 1 billion people to Christ by planting 5 million house churches worldwide in the next 10 years. James O. Davis, John C. Maxwell and Steve Douglass subsequently formed the Global Pastors’ Network. The group will hold a Global Church Planting Congress in September with more than 350 Christian leaders set to plan the “largest evangelistic initiative in human history.” (Friday Fax)

TEENS WORLDWIDE TO PRAY ‘A WHOLE NIGHT’ FOR UNREACHED YOUTHS On Saturday, May 14 — the night before Pentecost Sunday — teenagers around the world will stay up all night praying for young people who have never heard that Jesus is the way to a life that is full and forever. Last year’s “A Whole Night for the Whole World” stirred the hearts of young people on six continents, said Dave Bidwell of Youth for Christ. Organizers with the National Network of Youth Ministries believe the earnest prayers of a few teenagers can change the world, said International Coordinator Daryl Nuss. “On the first Pentecost it was the prayers of a few, gathered together in the Upper Room, who experienced firsthand the power of the Holy Spirit, who began to testify, who saw multitudes added to their numbers, who turned the world upside down,” he said. This year’s event is being conducted in partnership with the first Global Day of Prayer on Sunday, May 15. (Religion Today/Baptist Press)

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