Today’s Headlines:

TURKMENISTAN, UZBEKISTAN DEPLORED FOR LACK OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

CROATIAN BELIEVERS LEAD EVANGELISM, CHURCH-PLANTING EFFORTS

YOUTH ENCOURAGED TO HELP PERSECUTED ERITREAN CHRISTIANS

OMS INTERNATIONAL SENDS AID TO INDIA FOLLOWING MONSOON FLOODING

RECORD CROWDS FILL ARENA IN TEXAS FOR FRANKLIN GRAHAM FESTIVAL

Today’s Top Stories:

TURKMENISTAN, UZBEKISTAN DEPLORED FOR LACK OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is calling for the Central Asian nations of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to be ranked among the worst offenders against religious freedom in the world when the State Department next releases its annual report on religious freedom. “Turkmenistan, among the most repressive states in the world today, allows virtually no independent religious activity,” said a USCIRF statement released Monday, Aug. 8. “The government of Uzbekistan places strict restrictions on religious practice and continues to crack down harshly on individuals and groups that operate outside of government strictures.” The commission, established by the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998, gives religious freedom a more prominent place in U.S. foreign policy. It monitors the status of freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief globally and makes recommendations to the president, the Secretary of State and Congress as to how the U.S. government can further the protection and promotion of religious freedom and related human rights in its relations with other countries. (WorldWide Religious News/U.S. State Department)

CROATIAN BELIEVERS LEAD EVANGELISM, CHURCH-PLANTING EFFORTS

World Bible Translation Center’s Gary Bishop says he’s excited about the indigenous work happening in the European country of Croatia as local believers take the lead in evangelism and church-planting efforts. “As the people of a language group or a people group take over ministry responsibilities and administration themselves, it has a tremendous impact within their own people group or country,” he said. The center’s staff will continue to give support and provide the easy-to-read translation of the Bible for ministry outreach. Bishop says the future of Croatia’s church is exciting. “We’re seeing right now the planting of four new churches by this group, and I think their goals are the important ones. In the next few years, they expect to plant 10 new churches within Croatia.” (Mission Network News)

YOUTH ENCOURAGED TO HELP PERSECUTED ERITREAN CHRISTIANS

Underground, the youth ministry of Open Doors, is encouraging young Christians in the U.S. to help support imprisoned and suffering Christians in the East African country of Eritrea. Compass Direct reported that 16 Eritrean pastors and nearly 900 other Christians, including approximately 60 young people, are being held in prisons, military confinement camps and even large shipping containers for the “crime” of worshiping in non-government-approved churches. Young people across America are being encouraged to attend a “Night of Persecution” event in their area. Through role-playing and other activities during these events, youth will learn firsthand some of the stresses and pressures which persecuted Christians face every day. “For young people in America who are looking for a cause-something greater than themselves and something urgent -this is it,” said coordinator Jeff Shreve. “This is a time when our generation of young people can stand and make a difference in the lives of suffering Christians.” The goal of the campaign is to raise $55,000 to help support believers in Eritrea. (Assist News Service)

OMS INTERNATIONAL SENDS AID TO INDIA FOLLOWING MONSOON FLOODING

More than 100 people have died as a result of waterborne disease in the aftermath of last month’s monsoon rains and flooding in Bombay, India. Don Saum of OMS International says workers are reaching out to slum dwellers in the hardest-hit areas by providing funds to local churches to supply food, clothing and temporary shelter. “There were very few Christians in this particular area that they would like to help, and there has not been other help,” he said. “To help 1,000 families would cost about $100,000. It’s really just showing the compassionate love of Christ in these communities and trying to help not just our own people, but to try to reach out.” However, fund-raising has been especially challenging. “India was so hard hit with the tsunami that there’s just not a lot of extra funds available from our churches.” (Mission Network News)

RECORD CROWDS FILL ARENA IN TEXAS FOR FRANKLIN GRAHAM FESTIVAL

Overflow audiences totaling 31,215 gathered at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi for the South Texas Festival 2005 with Franklin Graham Friday-Sunday, Aug. 19-21. The festival was the largest event ever to be held in the arena. Each evening Graham preached a gospel message, addressing spiritual issues that impact the culture. Organizers said that 2,556 people responded to Graham’s invitation to commit their lives to Jesus Christ, making it one of the highest responses ever to a Graham festival in the U.S. in terms of percentages. The local effort reflected the city’s name which means “body of Christ.” Hundreds of volunteers and 170 churches representing many denominations worked together with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to help make the event a success. In addition to the nightly preaching, 5,300 children came to the Saturday-morning kids’ program. Following the presentation, 549 children responded to the invitation to commit their lives to Christ. While in Corpus Christi, Graham also spoke to hundreds of troops and civilians at the Naval Air Station in nearby Kingsville. (Assist News Service)