Today’s Headlines:

BELARUS AUTHORITIES VOW TO CONFISCATE CHURCH LAND IN MINSK

CHRISTIANS GATHER TO MARK ANNIVERSARY OF ATTACK IN BESLAN, RUSSIA

TURKEY SEES INCREASE OF OVERT ANTI-CHRISTIAN SENTIMENT

RADICALS ACCUSE MINISTRY OF TRYING TO ‘CHRISTIANIZE’ IRAQ

AMY FOUNDATION FOUNDER JIM RUSSELL PASSES AWAY

Today’s Top Stories:

BELARUS AUTHORITIES VOW TO CONFISCATE CHURCH LAND IN MINSK

Authorities in Minsk, Belarus, announced a decision last week to confiscate the land beneath the cowshed where New Life Church has been meeting for the last three years. Mikhail Petrushin, executive committee vice chairman of the City of Minsk, said the church was originally granted the right to use the land by municipal authorities along with its purchase in 2002. He said the decision cancel the church’s right to the land came because of “inappropriate” use that is “not in accordance with its designation.” However, New Life Administrator Vasily Yurevich said the church is refusing to bow to pressure from authorities. “They have declared war on us, but we will not give up our land,” he said. “Our members have paid [the equivalent of] US$13,000 of taxes on it. They can’t say it’s not ours.” At an emergency meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 30, New Life members decided to conduct a round-the-clock prayer vigil and alert other churches, foreign embassies and human rights organizations about the issue. A meeting will be held on Saturday, Sept. 10, to bring together members of 50 other Belarusian churches affiliated with the Full Gospel Association. Yurevich said the church has invited Mikhail Pavlov to explain the motivation behind the decision to the 600-member congregation at this Sunday’s church service. “We believe the move to confiscate the land is illegal, and we intend to challenge it in court,” said Yurevich. (Forum 18 News Service)

CHRISTIANS GATHER TO MARK ANNIVERSARY OF ATTACK IN BESLAN, RUSSIA

Christians joined thousands of people from around the world in Beslan, Russia, Thursday, Sept. 1, for the first anniversary of the bloody siege when terrorists seized Beslan School No. 1. The three-day siege by terrorists from the Russian republics of Chechnya and Ingushetia at the elementary school ended in a tragic inferno. An explosion in the school gymnasium was followed by a series of other blasts, triggering a chaotic gunfight and a raging fire that left 331 people dead, including 186 children. Peter Wooding, senior news editor for UCB Europe, and a team of British Christians were among those attending the anniversary. “Literally thousands of people have walked around the school to pay their respects,” said Wooding in a live report. “We walked through the gymnasium where the children were held. There were photographs of the children displayed there. There were mothers just stroking the pictures of their children. There was an echo of wailing and crying. Words can’t describe how emotional it was.” He called the Center of Comfort and Reconciliation, opened by the Union of Christians Association of Christian Churches in Russia soon after the siege, “a remarkable place.” Wooding added that “local Christians would visit homes and minister to people one by one and encourage them. Then they found the center, and they invited the children to come and they did Bible studies with them and played games with them. Hundreds of them have now given their lives to Jesus.” Prayer and memorial services are continuing throughout the week with a special memorial to be unveiled at the Beslan cemetery at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3. (Assist News Service)

* HCJB World Radio reaches across Russia with a variety of radio ministries. The mission began sending gospel broadcasts across the country via shortwave in 1941, first from Quito, Ecuador, and in recent years from the U.K. In the early 1990s the ministry began “planting” local radio ministries in Russia and now works with partners nationwide. In 2000 HCJB World Radio helped launch New Life Radio, the first Christian Russian satellite radio network. More than 63 downlinks have been placed in more than 42 cities across Russia and neighboring countries.

TURKEY SEES INCREASE OF OVERT ANTI-CHRISTIAN SENTIMENT

Turkish society is seeing an increase in overt anti-Christian sentiment. Everything from threats and attacks on Christians to constant delays in obtaining legal permission to start churches. “These sorts of attacks are not shocking for me,” said Orhan Kemal Cengiz, legal consultant for Turkey’s Alliance of Protestant Churches (APC). With European Union (EU) accession talks looming on October 3, Turkey is attempting to improve its human rights image. But the EU has remained skeptical, challenging officially 99-percent Muslim Turkey to implement these religious freedoms among its non-Muslim minority communities. Many Turkish Christians admit that they are not expecting either the government or society to change overnight. Umit, a victim who asked to have his last name withheld says the Turkish people have not yet understood democracy. “They still see the state as a father. They don’t know that it’s meant to serve us.” When another victim was asked how he felt about losing his job, enduring a severe beating and being threatened with death — all in one evening — he smiled. “Even if his situation doesn’t improve,” he said, “God tells me to rejoice, because He can bring glory to His name.” (Compass)

* HCJB World Radio worked with Words of Hope and local partners to help establish Radio Shema, an FM station in Ankara, Turkey, in 2003.

RADICALS ACCUSE MINISTRY OF TRYING TO ‘CHRISTIANIZE’ IRAQ

The radical “Iraqi Resistance” group is accusing Christian Freedom International and others of attempting to “Christianize” Iraq. Muhammad Abu Nasr of the Free Arab Voice wrote in the August issue of the “Iraqi Resistance Report” that “missionaries push Christianization under protection of U.S. occupation.” According to Nasr, “Under the protection of the U.S. military occupation of Baghdad, American Christian missionaries have been pushing efforts at Christianization in Iraq (and that a) Christian Bible Society has set up a Bible society in the middle of occupied Baghdad.” Christian Freedom International has been sending much needed humanitarian supplies to Iraq that is in turn distributed through local churches in Baghdad. “The aid,” said CFI president Jim Jacobson, “is sent to local churches in Baghdad and freely distributed to all Iraqis regardless of their religion.” “It is true,” said Jacobson, “we do send Arabic language Bibles, but this is because the Bibles are in great demand and requested by Iraqi Christians.” (Voice of the Martyrs/Christian Freedom International)

AMY FOUNDATION FOUNDER JIM RUSSELL PASSES AWAY

Jim Russell, founder and president of The Amy Foundation of Lansing, Mich., passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 31. Russell was president and founder of The Amy Foundation, known primarily for its sponsorship of the Amy Writing Awards, the Amy Pastor Awards, The Discipled Nation Plan Workbook Series and the Church Writing Group Ministry. Russell received his doctorate of humane letters from Greenville College in 1995. He spoke at various functions on the subject “Awakening the Giant,” the title of his first book published by Zondervan in 1996. He was a regular subject of radio interviews with on programs as Moody Broadcasting Network’s “PrimeTime America.” In 2000 he received the “Faith in Action Award” from the Religious Heritage of America Foundation. The Amy Writing Awards, now in their 21st year, encourage the presentation of biblical truth, reinforced with Scripture, in the mainstream print media. In 2002 the Christian Film & Television Commission awarded Jim Russell with a “Crystal Bear” for his impact on “redeeming the values of the press.” Russell served as chief executive officer of TMG, a company made up of three Michigan corporations: RBF, Inc. of Lansing; Arbor Press Printing of Royal Oak; and AM Press of Royal Oak. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Phyllis, five children, 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. (Assist News Service)