21 KILLED AS 2 BOMBS EXPLODE IN CHRISTIAN VILLAGE OF INDONESIA

INDONESIAN OFFICIALS RECOGNIZE VALUE OF MISSIONARY AIR SERVICE

ISLAMIC COURT ACQUITS IRANIAN CHRISTIAN OF ‘APOSTASY’ CHARGES

NEW OUTREACH BRINGS PHYSICAL, SPIRITUAL HELP TO RURAL AREAS IN U.S.

CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES ON CREATION MUSEUM IN KENTUCKY

* PARTNERS HELP LAUNCH SHORTWAVE STATION IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Today’s News Stories:

21 KILLED AS 2 BOMBS EXPLODE IN CHRISTIAN VILLAGE OF INDONESIA Two bombs exploded in a busy market in a refugee village for Christians in Tentena, Indonesia, the morning of Saturday, May 28, killing 21 people and injuring 49. The timing of the attack was calculated to inflict the greatest possible damage. One source reported that telephone communication was cut off immediately after the explosions and that only two ambulances were available to attend to the wounded. Observers believe the attack could stir up renewed fighting between Christians and Muslims in eastern Indonesia’s troubled Central Sulawesi province. The bombing may be linked to an earlier raid on a Christian village in Mamasa regency on Sunday, April 24. A young man arrested in connection with that incident was carrying documents that revealed a wider terrorist plot to carry out bombings and attacks throughout Indonesia. (Compass)

INDONESIAN OFFICIALS RECOGNIZE VALUE OF MISSIONARY AIR SERVICE In light of recent terrorist threats in Indonesia, Americans have been discouraged from traveling to the country, even to help with tsunami relief. Those given more leeway are humanitarian groups registered with the Indonesian government such as Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). “I read a couple letters, one from the minister of welfare in Jakarta whom our folks have personally talked to,” said MAF’s David Wunsch. “This man is very clear that he wants a number of groups to stay because he knows the value of what they’re doing for the government there and for the people.” While MAF flights continue amid the dangers, so do opportunities to share the love of Christ. “The work that we’ve been doing might be a little lower profile than what some of the larger groups have been doing,” Wunsch says. “But we haven’t run into any problems at all, and at the ground level, there’s a lot of appreciation for what we’re doing.” (Mission Network News)

Islamic Court Acquits Iranian Christian of ‘Apostasy’ Charges An Islamic court in southern Iran acquitted Christian lay pastor Hamid Pourmand on apostasy and proselytizing charges on Saturday May 28, declaring, “Under sharia (Islamic law), there are no charges against you.” The judge at the hearing in Bandar-i Bushehr said he was acquitting Pourmand, a former Muslim who converted to Christianity 25 years ago, because he had “done nothing wrong” according to Islamic law. But the lay pastor has been sent back to Tehran’s Evin Prison to serve out a three-year prison sentence still under appeal before the Supreme Court for a separate conviction, also linked to his religious conversion. This weekend protests intensified in front of the Iranian Parliament demanding the release of prominent prisoners of conscience jailed with Pourmand at Evin Prison. (Compass)

NEW OUTREACH BRINGS PHYSICAL, SPIRITUAL HELP TO RURAL AREAS IN U.S. Convoy of Hope recently launched a ministry model in the U.S. called the Neighborhood Compassion Outreach (NCO). While Convoy of Hope provides resources to local organizations to meet physical and spiritual needs, NCO is designed to help smaller and often more rural communities. All NCOs offer grocery distribution and a place of prayer. The first NCOs in four communities of northern Texas provide a variety of services ranging from dental and medical work to musical entertainment and haircuts. National Director Michael Redmon said the NCO model is still in its early stages and warns that the “bugs are still being worked out.” He anticipates an overwhelming demand for the new ministry. “The rate of working poor is growing in rural communities, and I don’t know how some of these people are making it — many aren’t — and we’re passionate about helping to meet their needs,” he said. (Assist News Service)

CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES ON CREATION MUSEUM IN KENTUCKY Creationist Ken Ham has spent 11 years and $25 million working on his Creation Museum in northern Kentucky. The museum, which is expected to officially open in two years, will present the view that God created the world in six, 24-hour days on a planet that is only 6,000 years old. When completed, it will be the largest museum of its kind in the world, and Ham hopes to draw 600,000 people in its first year. Ham, 53, isn’t bothered that his literal interpretation of the Bible runs counter to accepted scientific theory which says the earth and its life forms evolved over billions of years. He added that his website, Answers in Genesis, generates 10 million page views per month, and his “Answers with Ken Ham” radio show airs on 725 stations worldwide. “People will get saved here,” Ham said of the museum. “It’s going to fire people up. If nothing else, it’s going to get them to question their own position of what they believe.” (Worldwide Religious News)

* PARTNERS HELP LAUNCH SHORTWAVE STATION IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA The first test broadcasts from a new shortwave station that covers Papua New Guinea with Christian broadcasts went on the air Friday, May 20, through a partnership involving Atlanta-based Life Radio Ministries, Inc., EBM International of Summerfield, Fla., HCJB World Radio and local believers.

The milestone culminates three years of planning as the partners established the nation’s first Christian Broadcasting Network with a single FM station in the capital city of Port Moresby in January 2002. It was recently rated as the city’s leading radio station.

“At 3:43 p.m. May 20 the first test programming from the shortwave station at Wantok Radio Light in Port Moresby was beamed to the nation of Papua New Guinea on 7120 kHz,” said HCJB World Radio engineer Curt Bender of Elkhart, Ind., in an e-mail report. “This initial broadcast was heard by an enthusiastic crowd of men and boys who had helped us build the station and get it operational. The programs aired for about 20 minutes, and then we patched in a station identification, telling listeners in Papua New Guinea about the station.”

After three hours of inspection and testing, communication officials in Papua New Guinea approved the shortwave installation. One test remains, but Wantok Radio Light has been granted approval to continue with regular broadcasts.

“Praise God for this approval,” said Bender who worked with Mike Axman and Don Hastings of the HCJB World Radio Engineering Center in Elkhart along with seconded missionaries David and Patti Olson to install the shortwave station. A live nationwide broadcast to dedicate both the shortwave station and the FM network is set for Saturday, June 11.

“We have been deeply impressed with the sincere desire of the Christians in Papua New Guinea to see Wantok Radio Light grow and be used of God to reach the lost for Christ,” Bender said. “Many people have sacrificed much to make this happen, both in Papua New Guinea and in the U.S. Many prayers have been lifted up for the success of this project, and now it is at hand.”

The 1,000-watt shortwave station will make the signal available to the nation’s entire population of nearly 5 million. Music and Bible teaching programs will air in English (the official language) and in Pidgin.

Life Radio Ministries President Joe Emert said the Christian broadcasts have plenty of local support. “At a recent radio-sponsored luncheon for pastors in Port Moresby I was told by our leadership there that such a mixed group of evangelical pastors rarely came together for fellowship prior to the birth of the FM station,” he said. “Now many churches and pastors are working together to bring Christian radio to all of Papua New Guinea. They gather almost daily for prayer at the radio station studios. I look for that same spirit of revival nationwide as the shortwave is launched.”

Recently the husband of a staff member came to Christ after hearing a radio drama on the local station. “The station is also having an impact for Christ at the highest levels of government with financial support coming from the prime minister, the deputy prime minister and a number of parliament members,” Emert said.

In early June, Emert and Doug Doran of Life Radio Ministries will assist Olson with the installation of four additional FM repeaters in the cities of Ialibu, Goroka, Lae and Rabaul. The national license issued by the Papua New Guinea government approves up to 30 repeaters.

The shortwave broadcasts will originate from the same location in the highlands where, 50 years ago, a missionary school and church was established by veteran missionary G.T. Bustin, founder of EBM International and Christian radio station 4VEH in Haiti. For more information visit http://www.missionaryradio.info. (HCJB World Radio) * * * * * * * * * * * * * Harold Goerzen HCJB World Radio E-mail: Phone: 1-719-590-9800 Fax: 1-719-590-9801 Web: http://www.hcjb.org http://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

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