CHURCH IN INDIA ATTACKED FOR FOURTH TIME IN 7 MONTHS

LAOTIAN CHRISTIANS ‘LOCKED IN STOCKS’ FOR REFUSING TO DENY FAITH

PROGRAM ENCOURAGES CHRISTIANS TO PRAY FOR PERSECUTED BELIEVERS

SIM JOINS WITH AFRICAN MISSIONARIES TO REBUILD EDUCATION IN SUDAN

RELIGIOUS MEDIA AGENCY IN AUSTRALIA TO CLOSE AFTER 33 YEARS

* WORLD RADIO NETWORK STATION IN ARIZONA GETS NOD TO BOOST POWER

Today’s News Stories:

CHURCH IN INDIA ATTACKED FOR FOURTH TIME IN 7 MONTHS Unidentified gunmen opened fire on the Believer’s Church in Lamding in the Thoubal district of northeastern India’s Manipur state on Sunday, May 29. Approximately 30 Christians were gathered at the church when a Jeep drove slowly up to the premises at about 11 p.m. “When they turned on their torch lights to see who was in the vehicle, the people in the jeep opened fire,” said Rev. Prim Vaiphei, pastor of the Believer’s Church. “They fired as many as 40 rounds in the air and around the church, [causing] panic and chaos in the church area. As a result, one of our workers, Jangkhogin Chongloi, fell into a ditch and received minor injuries.” Earlier that day a Hindu villager who sympathized with the Christians had warned Vaiphei by telephone that villagers were planning an attack on the church that night. The following day, local police refused to register a complaint, and church members submitted a memorandum to Manipur Chief Minister Ibobi Singh in protest. This was the fourth assault on the church in seven months. Previous attacks took place on Nov. 23, 2004, March 8 and April 19, 2005, each causing major damage. On Feb. 3 a local court ordered local police to provide a security guard for the church, but protection has been sporadic. (Compass)

LAOTIAN CHRISTIANS ‘LOCKED IN STOCKS’ FOR REFUSING TO DENY FAITH Christians were reportedly locked in wooden stocks for not renouncing their faith in Laos where serious rights violations were widespread in 2004, said London-based Amnesty International. In a story released by Associated Press, Amnesty International said in its annual report that human rights abuses were widespread in the communist-ruled country, one of Asia’s poorest, including religious and racial persecution and abuse of political and other detainees by authorities. Foreign Ministry spokesman Yong Chantalangsy denied that anyone had been placed in stocks for any reason and said allegations of religious persecution in Laos were “groundless.” He said, however, “that some Protestant sects had proselytized in aggressive and inappropriate ways that may have caused trouble with local people.” (Assist News Service)

PROGRAM ENCOURAGES CHRISTIANS TO PRAY FOR PERSECUTED BELIEVERS The Bible League, which has been offering annual programs since 2000 to encourage church congregations to pray for the world’s persecuted Christians, is offering an updated program with church leaders in mind. This year’s program includes a 21-day devotional booklet, a Bible bank for offerings, a bulletin insert, a video, an interactive website, and a sheet with 21 suggested activities for all ages that can be used by families or youth groups. The program will be available this fall and can be used in conjunction with the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church set for Sunday, Nov. 13. Coordinator Connie Reitsma says the goals are to raise awareness of persecution worldwide and provide Bibles to persecuted Christians. “The premise of the program is that persecution is difficult, persecution is extreme — yet not even death can separate us from the love of Christ,” she explains. “But God is ultimately in control, and the Bible is the connection to His love.” (Bible League)

SIM JOINS WITH AFRICAN MISSIONARIES TO REBUILD EDUCATION IN SUDAN The recent peace accord in Sudan, a country which had endured more than 20 years of civil war, has opened the way for SIM International to renew its ministry work in the southern part of the country. “Much of Sudan’s infrastructure has been completely devastated,” said SIM’s Steve Strauss. “We have been planning, thinking and invited to come in specifically to work in helping rebuild the educational infrastructure.” SIM is partnering with African churches from countries such as Ethiopia and Nigeria to send missionaries to southern Sudan. They are working as “teacher-evangelists,” helping in elementary schools and encouraging churches. (Mission Network News)

RELIGIOUS MEDIA AGENCY IN AUSTRALIA TO CLOSE AFTER 33 YEARS Worldwide Photos Ltd., a registered religious news service and ministry founded by Ramon A. Williams, will close on June 30. Williams, 75, said he is stepping down after 33 years “without any regrets.” Also known as the Religious Media Agency, the ministry based in New South Wales, Australia, was registered in 1972, but the work began in 1967 in Indonesia when Williams and his wife, Dorothy, served as missionaries for WEC International in the audiovisual and promotions department. In 1968 he took photos of a Billy Graham crusade in Australia and forwarded them for publication at no charge. “I’ve been serving the Christian media that way ever since,” said Williams. In 1972 Stewart Dinnen of WEC suggested separating Williams’ ministry from WEC in order to serve all missions, and his groundbreaking outreach was formed. Williams said he would continue to make available his services as a media consultant and photographer on a freelance basis. (Religious Media Agency)

* WORLD RADIO NETWORK STATION IN ARIZONA GETS NOD TO BOOST POWER After three years of waiting, KWRB in Sierra Vista, Ariz., an English-language FM station in the World Radio Network, has received a construction permit to boost its power, enabling the outlet to more than double its potential audience. The station, southeast of Tucson, is part of the 23-outlet World Radio Network, one of HCJB World Radio’s partner ministries. This is one of four outlets in the network that broadcast in English; the rest use Spanish.

The Federal Communications Commission gave the station a construction permit on April 10 to increase its power to 990 watts, up from the present level of 58 watts, said Station Manager Jerry Wagner. “The process took a long time because of the red tape with the Mexican government,” he said. “The station is so close to the Mexican border that approval for the change had to come from both U.S. and Mexican communications authorities.”

When the transmitter and antenna are upgraded by September, some 70,000 people will be within hearing range of the station, at least double the present number of between 25,000 and 35,000.

The signal will also come in better for those who can already hear it. “We’re surrounded by mountains on all four sides,” Wagner explained. “Our signal will still be obstructed by the terrain, but we’re looking to put a stronger signal into areas where we’ve had a modest signal, especially in the northern part of Cochise county. We’re now looking to reach the entire county.”

He added that the boost in power will coordinate well with the station’s annual sharathon Sept. 28-Oct. 1. The theme of the event, “Celebrating God’s Faithfulness,” was already selected before news of the power increase came through.

“Oh, how He has proven Himself to be faithful,” Wagner said. “We are so grateful and thrilled about what He has done. We look forward to our increased listenership — now people will be able to hear the station better in their homes, and not just in their automobiles.” (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://www.beyondthecall.org * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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