CHAOS REIGNS AT CONTINUING TRIAL OF 3 INDONESIAN CHURCH WORKERS

CHURCH LEADERS IN CHINA HAVE MIXED VIEWS ON REGULATIONS

HUMANITARIAN AGENCY BUILDS TRAINING FACILITY IN AFGHANISTAN

GOSPEL FOR ASIA OFFERS CHRISTIAN PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN IN INDIA

CANADIAN SEMINARY TO REACH ACROSS CONTINENT, WORLD VIA INTERNET

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CHAOS REIGNS AT CONTINUING TRIAL OF 3 INDONESIAN CHURCH WORKERS

Disturbances continue to mar the trial of three Christian Indonesian women accused of converting Muslim children to Christianity. Rebekka Zakaria, Eti Pangesti and Ratna Bangun were arrested on May 13. If convicted, they could each face prison sentences of up to five years and fines the equivalent of US$103,600. The trial began in the Indramayu District Court on Thursday, June 30, and is only in session for two hours a week, continuing each Thursday until a verdict is reached. Observers say the trial has been marked by numerous disturbances. A Jubilee Campaign report says, “The trial has been marred from the beginning by boisterous Muslim protesters calling for the conviction — even the execution — of the women.” The women were denied bail and remain in prison as their court case proceeds. Zakaria is the pastor of Gereja Kristen Kemah Daud (Christian Church of David’s Camp) in the town of Harguelis in Indramayu, West Java. The three church workers set up a “Happy Sunday” program with Christian songs, games and Bible studies for the children. Bangun and Pangesti ran the program under the direction of Zakaria. A guilty verdict in this case could have serious ramifications in a country that has already seen a great deal of inter-religious violence in recent years, Jubilee Campaign stated. (Religion Today/CharismaNow/Assist News Service)

* HCJB World Radio has worked with local partners to establish up to 10 local Christian radio stations across Indonesia since 2004. Broadcasts from HCJB World Radio-Australia’s shortwave station, “Voice of the Great Southland,” also encourage listeners nationwide. In addition, HCJB World Radio has helped with relief efforts since the Dec. 26 earthquake/tsunami and subsequent quakes that have devastated parts of Indonesia.

CHURCH LEADERS IN CHINA HAVE MIXED VIEWS ON REGULATIONS

China adopted the new Regulations on Religion Affairs on March 1, encouraging Protestant and Catholic house churches to register with the relevant government body. Younger house church leaders were optimistic about the law, while an older generation of leaders — those who survived the Cultural Revolution — are suspicious of the government’s motives. A wave of arrests in May, June and July has cast further doubt on the government’s intent to improve religious liberty. The spread of Christianity among educated Chinese was highlighted in an article in The Economist on April 23 titled, “Christianity is becoming popular with China’s urban elite.” The trend seems to worry the Chinese government. Police have also focused their attention on the unofficial Chinese Roman Catholic Church in recent months. Asia News reported that members of an unregistered Catholic church in Hebei province wrote a letter on June 8 exposing a wave of arrests ordered by their local Religious Affairs department. (Compass)

HUMANITARIAN AGENCY BUILDS TRAINING FACILITY IN AFGHANISTAN

Morning Star Development, a humanitarian agency based in Colorado Springs, Colo., has begun building a training facility to join its medical clinic at the Tangi Saidan Community Center in Afghanistan. Construction began in late June after government agencies agreed on the land use, and the brick building is expected to be ready for occupancy by late summer. It will include one large and two smaller rooms with a combined health education library and office. The facility will offer much-needed space with classrooms for instruction that will benefit 39 villages surrounding the center. Classes cover community healthcare issues (particularly concerning women and children), computer skills, additional vocational studies and English. Among those trained will be volunteer community healthcare workers. The facility will also offer a central meeting house for the area tribal council as well as a culturally suitable site for women’s social gatherings. (Morning Star Development)

* HCJB World Radio is bringing words of hope and encouragement to people across Afghanistan via radio. Together with partners, Christian broadcasts go out via AM in three of the country’s major languages, Turkmen, Uzbek and Southern Uzbek.

GOSPEL FOR ASIA OFFERS CHRISTIAN PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN IN INDIA

Gospel for Asia’s Bridge of Hope program is providing 240 clubs reaching more than 20,000 kids in India. Parents from various backgrounds are allowing their children to learn about Christ. Twenty centers were started along the coast of south India to take care of the children affected by the tsunami. Because of opposition, the centers weren’t operating in the tsunami zones. Every day the children are hearing stories that tell them about Jesus and stories that encourage them to follow the Lord. Medical care, school tuition, food and more are also provided. Greg Yoder of Mission Network News asks people to pray that the opposition ends. (Mission Network News)

CANADIAN SEMINARY TO REACH ACROSS CONTINENT, WORLD VIA INTERNET

It’s one of the first of its kind in North America and is poised to bring education to those in ministry across the continent and beyond. The Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary (CSBS) has worked with Association of Theological Schools to launch a new delivery system, seminarylink.com, that will allow the school to work with students across Canada and the world. CSBS Academic Dean Steve Booth said the program differs from most other online seminary programs in its structure. “Seminary Link is not just a bunch of online courses delivered together,” Booth said. “It’s the delivery of an entire degree program. And students won’t be out there doing this on their own out in cyberspace — we’re going to walk with these students wherever they are.” Under this new delivery system, the class schedule would allow a student to take nine credit-hours online per year and six credit hours in on-campus intensives which equates to two visits to Cochrane, Alberta, per year. Booth added that the seminary is dedicated to making sure the online students get much of the mentoring and spiritual formation that on-campus students receive with such things as counseling, chapel and journey groups replicated in innovative ways via the Web. (Religion Today/Baptist Press)