KEY CHRISTIAN LEADER IN DEM. REP. OF CONGO POISONED TO DEATH

CHINESE PASTOR GOES ON TRIAL FOR PRINTING 200,000 BIBLES

SUDAN PASSES CONSTITUTION RELAXING RESTRICTIONS ON CHRISTIANITY

ISRAELI GOVERNMENT DONATES HISTORIC LAND TO CHRISTIAN LEADERS

COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL JOINS IN FIGHT AGAINST HIV/AIDS

Today’s Top Stories:

KEY CHRISTIAN LEADER IN DEM. REP. OF CONGO POISONED TO DEATH

Global Advance, an organization that specializes in pastoral training worldwide, is mourning the loss of one of its workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Global Advance founder Dr. David Shibley says the recent death of Michael Mongane has been a difficult loss. “He was intentionally poisoned,” Shibley said. “The facts are still a bit sketchy as to who may have been the perpetrator. There’s no question that he was intentionally poisoned by people who were seeking to buy his influence because he was such a great unifier of the body of Christ in Congo.” Despite the tragedy, Christians in the country remain confident, Shibley says. “Michael’s death is going to be very much as the church father Tertullian said, ‘The blood of the martyr is the seed of the church.’ I am confident that his death and martyrdom is going to produce great growth for the church throughout Congo.” (Mission Network News)

CHINESE PASTOR GOES ON TRIAL FOR PRINTING 200,000 BIBLES

The leader of an underground Chinese church is due to appear in a Beijing court today, accused of illegally printing more than 200,000 Bibles. Pastor Cai Zhuohua, along with his wife and two other church members, have been charged with “illegal business practices,” his lawyers said. The Protestant pastor already has been in detention for 10 months. Although Bibles are not illegal in China, only one firm is permitted by the state to print them. Cai’s lawyer, Gao Zhisheng, said he is pessimistic about the verdict for his client and two other detainees. “It is impossible for them to be found innocent, but I have confidence to strive for lighter sentences,” Gao told the French news agency AFP. “The books in no way were going to enter the market,” he said. “They were to be given away free of charge to the church members. The court should not be used to oppress religion and religious freedoms, but the authorities are always using economics as a pretext to deal with religious and political issues.” (WorldWide Religious News/BBC)

SUDAN PASSES CONSTITUTION RELAXING RESTRICTIONS ON CHRISTIANITY

Sudan’s National Assembly passed a new constitution Wednesday, July 6, that steps away from complete Islamic rule and paves the way for a former Christian rebel leader to be inaugurated as first vice president later this week. Amid shouts of “Allahu akbar!” (God is great) and “Hallelujah, hallelujah!” the 286 lawmakers who attended the session stood with their hands in the air to unanimously pass the constitution. The document states that Islamic law will not be applied in the mainly Christian and animist south, and removes a requirement that the president be Muslim. It follows a January peace accord between the government and southern rebels who had fought a two-decade war for more autonomy. The rebel leader, John Garang, will be sworn in as the country’s top vice president Saturday. It will be the first time a Christian is appointed as first vice president, a position second only to the president. (WorldWide Religious News/AP)

ISRAELI GOVERNMENT DONATES HISTORIC LAND TO CHRISTIAN LEADERS

The Israeli government recently donated 35 acres of historic land near the Sea of Galilee to a small group of Christian leaders in a move to foster tourism. National Association of Evangelicals President Ted Haggard describes the land as “priceless,” and told Charisma magazine that the offer was unexpected. He added that the group is unsure how they will respond, though the members discussed building a conference center and resort on the site. The land is within eyesight of where most of Jesus’ ministry occurred, including the spot where He is believed to have delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Haggard said the offer could present “an opportunity for what has happened in evangelicalism to be memorialized in Israel.” Tourism is Israel’s leading income producer and since Christians have continued to visit the area despite long-running and violent land disputes in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the land donation could boost the nation’s economy. The land offer is contingent upon the government approval of the delegation’s use of the property. No timetable has been set for them to respond to the offer. (Religion Today/Charisma News Service)

COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL JOINS IN FIGHT AGAINST HIV/AIDS

The Colorado-based child development ministry Compassion International is encouraging Christians to become more involved in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Scott Todd, Compassion’s HIV-AIDS program manager, says about 40 million people are infected with HIV worldwide. “The reason why it’s called a pandemic,” he explains, “is because it’s global. In terms of the growth of this pandemic, about 14,000 new infections are occurring each day. And of those 14,000 new infections each day, about 2,000 are happening in children who are born to mothers who are HIV-positive.” Compassion has established an HIV-AIDS fund to help children worldwide whose lives have been affected by the disease. (AgapePress)