HINDU EXTREMISTS ATTACK, BEAT VILLAGE CHRISTIANS IN INDIA

PAKISTANI HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS BEATEN BY POLICE, STUDENTS

MORE PASTORS THAN EXPECTED ATTEND CONFERENCE IN ZIMBABWE

GEORGIAN PASTORS IN POVERTY ARE BLESSED BY BASIC GOODS

GLOBAL LEADER TRAINING INITIATIVE LAUNCHED FOR 2005

Today’s News Stories:

HINDU EXTREMISTS ATTACK, BEAT VILLAGE CHRISTIANS IN INDIA Hindu extremists physically attacked 11 Christian families from Jamanya village in India on May 16, when they refused to give up their faith. Problems began May 15, when village officials summoned the families to a community court. The families were accused of bringing bad luck to the village after embracing the Christian faith and were asked to renounce their faith for the common good of the village. Officials from Jamanya and other villages threatened the Christians until mid afternoon, attempting to persuade them to renounce their faith. At about 3:30 p.m., according to one witness, a mob began chasing the Christian men out of the village. As they were running, the mob caught and beat some of them with heavy sticks. When some of the men returned to their homes after dark, they found groups of villagers outside each home, armed with weapons. The men fled again, this time to other villages where they sought shelter. On the following day, a witness reported, the mob targeted the women and children. Some children fainted after receiving severe beatings. The mob also tried to disrobe the women. Meanwhile, the men managed to contact other Christians in the area who took them to the Yawal district police station, where they filed a complaint against the community leaders. Village officials filed a case against the Christians at the same police station, accusing them of forced conversions and disrupting the peace. (Compass)

PAKISTANI HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS BEATEN BY POLICE, STUDENTS International Christian Concern is reporting that Christian human rights activists in Pakistan were recently beaten by police and university students. The human rights activists were planning a rally in the city of Lahore to protest the increased power and influence of Islamic ‘priests’ called Mullaism. On May 14, just before the rally was to begin, police from various stations around Lahore raided the offices where they were gathered and charged the activists with their batons. The ensuing melee included at least 10 bus loads of university students — counter-activists belonging to the Jamaat-e-Islami party who joined with police in beating the Christian activists. Police officers and Jamaat-e-Islami members pulled the hair of the women, dragged them down the road and stripped them of their clothes. Men involved in the rally were severely beaten and later taken to Model Town Police Station along with some women. While detained, no one was allowed contact with the Christian human rights workers and no formal charges were brought against them. All of the activists were released later the same day. It is unclear what provoked the violent beatings. (International Christian Concern)

PASTORS CONFERENCE IN ZIMBABWE WELL ATTENDED More than 2,000 pastors gathered in Zimbabwe recently to participate in the Global Advance Frontline Shepherd’s Conference in Harare. Only 1,200 were expected to attend. Dave Shibley with Global Advance says, “We had representatives from many, many different denominations and from all of the provinces of the nation. So it did become, in fact, a national pastor’s conference.” Shibley says the difficult economic and political conditions in Zimbabwe have left the church without vision for missions, but things are changing. “Even in the midst of the challenges that they face, the Zimbabwean church is lifting up her eyes once again and looking on the fields not only of Zimbabwe, but beyond that [to] the continent of Africa, particularly to the north, and even to the ends of the earth for getting the gospel to unreached people.” Global Advance plans to sponsor about 45 more conferences this year. (Mission Network News)

GEORGIAN PASTORS IN POVERTY ARE BLESSED BY BASIC GOODS The Bridge International has become a means of blessing, support and encouragement for 18 pastors’ households in the country of Georgia. Bridge missionaries made a spring delivery of practical supplies to meet the basic needs of these families who are faithfully spreading the gospel even as they struggle with poverty. Many of the households have between two and seven children as well as elderly family members. The delivery included items such as food, garden seeds, tools, clothing repair kits, hygiene items, household items, literature and medical kits. The impact of the gift is far greater than the small amount of money it took to bring such a blessing, as God’s provision and care for these pastors enables them to continue being active in evangelism and church planting in these remote regions. (Mission Network News)

GLOBAL LEADER TRAINING INITIATIVE LAUNCHED FOR 2005 A Georgia-based non-profit global ministry called EQUIP has announced its 2005 initiative called “Million Leaders Mandate.” John Hull, EQUIP president, says the goal of the Million Leaders Mandate is to provide a million people of faith from various parts of the world with training that will increase their effectiveness for ministry and their spiritual impact in their own countries. This spring, U.S. leaders will help teach training workshops for 35 European countries taking part in the global outreach effort. The three-year program involves a live training session every six months. EQUIP is trying to respond to the cry of churches around the world who need leaders in order to grow. More than 100 U.S. leaders will be investing their personal time in the Million Leader Mandate’s three-year training program. (Religion Today/Agape Press) * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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.