Today’s Headlines:

CHRISTIANS URGE PRAYER AS 3 INDONESIAN WOMEN AWAIT COURT’S VERDICT

‘DREAM CENTER’ BRINGS NEW HOPE TO TSUNAMI VICTIMS IN INDONESIA

INDIA’S SUPREME COURT DELAYS HEARING ON DALIT CHRISTIAN RIGHTS CASE

MINISTRY DISTRIBUTES 900,000 BIBLES TO UNSAVED TEENS ACROSS U.S.

SURVEY SUGGESTS MANY EVANGELICALS HAZY ABOUT MEANING OF SALVATION

Today’s Top Stories:

CHRISTIANS URGE PRAYER AS 3 INDONESIAN WOMEN AWAIT COURT’S VERDICT

As the trial of three Christian women accused of “Christianizing” Muslim children ended Thursday, Aug. 25, Christians are being urged to pray about the verdict which is to be handed down on Thursday, Sept. 1. The three women, Rebecca Laonita, Ratna Mala Bangun and Ety Pangesti, conducted a “Happy Week” vacation Bible school-type program in their homes in the village of Haurgelis, West Java. When Muslim imams heard that Muslim children had attended the meetings, they charged the women with “Christianization,” a violation of the nation’s Child Protection Act of 2002. The women have been held in prison without bail since the end of May. Since the trial began in the district court of Indramayu, West Java, it has been a stage for Islamic propaganda. Muslim radicals regularly jammed the courtroom and conducted Muslim worship in it while proclaiming their militant propaganda in front of the courthouse. Jeff Hammond, founder and director of Bless Indonesia Today who attended the court session last week, said Islamic radicals took over the courtroom for more than an hour during which time they conducted an Islamic worship service and proclaimed messages with a megaphone. They threatened reprisals if the women are found not guilty or receive light sentences. (Assist News Service)

‘DREAM CENTER’ BRINGS NEW HOPE TO TSUNAMI VICTIMS IN INDONESIA

The earthquake and resulting tsunami in Indonesia did something humans couldn’t do — it brought peace to the civil war-plagued region as an agreement was signed last week. It also allowed Christians such as those at Strategic World Impact (SWI) to build a local Christian-inspired dream center. “We have a counseling center. There is computer training and a reading room,” says SWI’s Kevin Turner. “And this Dream Center was actually their idea. This was a way to continue to reach out and meet the needs of the Achenese after the relief phase was done, and after the restrictions which we knew would come.” Turner says this never would have happened five years ago. “We’re rejoicing that we’ve been able to get in, have an impact with the initial humanitarian relief, but also set up a strategy that empowers the local body of Christ to continue to meet needs and continue to have a platform to preach the gospel.” (Mission Network News)

* 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.

INDIA’S SUPREME COURT DELAYS HEARING ON DALIT CHRISTIAN RIGHTS CASE

Christians throughout India have begun a week of prayer and fasting following a government delay in determining equal rights for Dalit Christians. Dalits belonging to the Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh faiths qualify for a government plan that reserves 26 percent of jobs and educational places for them. Under current laws, Dalits who convert to Christianity or Islam lose their reservation privileges. The campaign to secure equal rights for Dalit Christians followed successful lobbying by Dalit Sikh and Buddhist communities that forced the government to include them in the rights scheme. The Supreme Court was to hear the matter on Thursday, Aug. 25, but two days earlier the government demanded a four-month adjournment. “The government is trying to buy time on the issue,” said John Dayal, president of the All India Christian Council. “We feel betrayed.” (Compass)

* Radio programs in 11 languages (English, Urdu, Hindi, Nepali, Chattisgarhi, Bangla, Bhojpuri, Tamil, Marwari, Marathi and Santhali) air to India from HCJB World Radio-Australia’s shortwave station in Kununurra. The programs are produced at the ministry’s studios in New Delhi, India.

MINISTRY DISTRIBUTES 900,000 BIBLES TO UNSAVED U.S. TEENS

American Family Association/American Family Radio is partnering with Tim Todd Ministries this week to place the Truth for Youth Bible in the hands of Christian teenagers who agree to distribute them to unsaved students in public schools across the U.S. It features a modern-language New Testament along with full-color comics that give “absolute truths” regarding issues such as sexual purity, homosexuality, abortion, pornography, drugs, drunkenness, peer pressure and school violence along with a clear plan of salvation. More than 900,000 copies of the Truth for Youth Bible already have been distributed to teenagers “in an effort to bring salvation to young people and restore religious freedoms in public school,” said American Family Association Chairman Donald Wildmon. (American Family Association)

SURVEY SUGGESTS MANY EVANGELICALS HAZY ABOUT MEANING OF SALVATION

Actor Kirk Cameron, co-producer and host of the Christian TV show, “The Way of the Master,” says he is “deeply disturbed” by the results of a recent survey which found that many people who consider themselves followers of Christ actually believe there are “many paths to God.” A recent Newsweek/Beliefnet poll found that 68 percent of evangelical Christians say a “good person” of another faith can get into heaven. When he’s not acting, Cameron has been working with Way of the Master Ministries in which he partners with evangelist Ray Comfort to teach fellow Christians biblical methods of sharing the gospel. “Christians who claim there is another way to heaven other than Christ need to reexamine their salvation,” he said. “If they don’t understand Jesus is the only way to heaven, then perhaps they don’t understand what it means to really put their faith in Christ alone.” If getting to heaven were all about “being a good person,” Cameron continues, “surely you could join all sorts of churches or charitable organizations that could improve your benevolence and good works in the community. But those things have nothing to do with getting to heaven.” (AgapePress)