Today’s Headlines:

PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS GROWS UNDER SAUDI ARABIA’S NEW KING

KENYA’S PROPOSED CONSTITUTION RAISES CONCERNS AMONG BELIEVERS

2 PERUVIAN CHRISTIANS MAY FACE RE-IMPRISONMENT ON FALSE CHARGES

DOORS FOR GOSPEL BEGIN OPENING IN BHUTAN AS 2,000 COME TO CHRIST

METHODIST CHURCH IN U.K. TO LAUNCH CHILDREN’S WEBSITE

Today’s Top Stories:

PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS GROWS UNDER SAUDI ARABIA’S NEW KING

With the death of Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd and the arrival of King Abdullah, the persecution of non-Muslims — especially Christians — is on the rise. Local sources in the capital city of Riyadh confirmed that members of the muttawa (religious police) have raided the homes of foreigners, especially those where Christians reside. This has forced many groups who used to meet in the privacy of their home for prayer, to stop this activity. Other Christians have stopped meeting out of fear that the police might link them to one another. Christians from India appear to be targeted as nine Indians have been arrested for illegal religious activities in recent months. India’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia sent a circular to Indian nationals living in the country, warning them that the number of Indians in detention for engaging in religious activities was growing. He told them not to organize prayer meetings in private homes or preach in any way. He also advised his government to warn all those leaving for Saudi Arabia to leave religious books, Bibles, photos or icons behind. (WorldWide Religious News/AsiaNews)

KENYA’S PROPOSED CONSTITUTION RAISES CONCERNS AMONG BELIEVERS

Christians in Kenya are concerned about a new constitution that recognizes Islamic law (sharia) in family or religious disputes. However, it doesn’t give jurisdiction in criminal cases. “The new constitution being drafted for a November vote is meeting with opposition from Christians for a very good reason,” said Todd Nettleton of Voice of the Martyrs. “What the Christians are saying is, ‘Wait a minute, this is a religious court, and we are giving it power in our secular society.’ They don’t give pastors the power to settle disputes or settle criminal matters, and yet here they are giving sharia courts that power.” With sharia in Sudan and parts of Nigeria, Christians have good reason to be concerned, Nettleton said, adding that this is the first step toward giving Islam power in a country that is predominantly Christian. “We know that radical Islam is violently opposed to Christian evangelism and mission work. I think these Christians in Kenya are saying, ‘You know, we need to be very cautious because we don’t want that to happen here.'” (Mission Network News)

* HCJB World Radio has worked with local partners to install eight radio outlets in seven cities of Kenya.

2 PERUVIAN CHRISTIANS MAY FACE RE-IMPRISONMENT ON FALSE CHARGES

Two innocent Peruvian men are in danger of being re-imprisoned after the Peruvian Supreme Court nullified a lower court decision absolving them and issued an order for their re-arrest. Christian Solidarity Worldwide reported that Augusto Camacho Alarc ³n and Carlos Jorge Garay who was absolved and released Oct. 26 and Nov. 2, 2004, respectively, have both been informed that their absolutions have been invalidated. The Supreme Court has ordered that they must be retried on charges of terrorism, and return to prison in the meantime. Peace and Hope, a Peruvian human rights charity, has issued an appeal for international action on their behalf. The organization pointed out that both men have already spent more than 12 years in prison for crimes of terrorism that they did not commit. Alarc ³n also suffers from a serious lung condition as a result of his unjust imprisonment, and Garay was considered by Amnesty International to be a prisoner of conscience. Both were absolved of terrorism charges last fall after a lengthy judicial process by the National Penal Court. (Assist News Service)

* HCJB World Radio, together with local partners, has helped plant Christian radio stations in seven Peruvian cities. Affiliate stations in three cities also carry Spanish programming distributed by ALAS, the ministry’s Latin American satellite radio network. Radio programs in both Spanish and Quechua also air across Peru via shortwave from Quito, Ecuador.

DOORS FOR GOSPEL BEGIN OPENING IN BHUTAN AS 2,000 COME TO CHRIST

Bhutan, a small country in the Himalayas, was closed to missionaries for decades. But Bibles for the World’s Rochunga Pudaite began to pry the doors open. Today, some 50 years later, Pudaite said his dream to reach this country for Christ is becoming a reality. “God has brought more than 2,000 converts to worship Christ,” he said. “These new converts have a burden to give the gospel to the people of Bhutan. They have translated the New Testament in Dzongkha, the national language of Bhutan. And the Christians have quietly organized a plan to deliver a copy of the New Testament to every home in Bhutan.” Pudaite says his ministry plans to publish the New Testament in Dzongkha as resources become available. (Mission Network News)

METHODIST CHURCH IN U.K. TO LAUNCH CHILDREN’S WEBSITE

The Methodist Church in Britain has announced that it will launch a website dedicated to children on Thursday, Sept. 1. The website (methodist.org.uk)

will give children up to the age of 12 a “chance to have their say about what is important to them in church life and social issues. Children will be able to discuss their experiences and beliefs with one another through message boards, and there will be regular polls to find out their opinions on many issues.” The site will allow children to post their pictures on the site for display in the photo gallery, explore the “Methodist Story” online and read an animated storybook. The website will also advise children on serious issues such as staying safe on the Internet. A section will appear on the site for children’s workers with resource links and information about training courses and events. A message board will also be included, so a network of leaders can be formed to give visitors an opportunity to express their concerns and challenges, give advice and “benefit from one another through sharing experiences and new ideas.” (http://www.christiantoday.com)