Today’s Headlines:

TOWN COUNCIL IN MEXICO DECIDES TO EXPEL 40 EVANGELICAL FAMILIES

FOOD FOR WORK PROGRAM HELPS STARVING FAMILIES IN NIGER

NEW RADIO STATION IN CHAD TO BRING SCRIPTURES TO ILLITERATE TRIBE

MILLIONS OF CHRISTIANS WORLDWIDE JOIN IN PRAYER FOR JERSUSALEM

CREATIVE ‘LIMERICK BIBLE’ TO BE LAUNCHED AT SCOTTISH EXHIBITION

Today’s Top Stories:

TOWN COUNCIL IN MEXICO DECIDES TO EXPEL 40 EVANGELICAL FAMILIES

About 40 evangelical families — about 150 people — will be expelled from their homes in San Nicolas in central Mexico’s Hidalgo state at the end of October following a town council decision on Saturday, Oct. 1. San Nicolas leaders charged that evangelicals in the town of 8,000 were not participating in area work projects. The day after the council’s decision, townspeople blocked access to land belonging to evangelicals and forcibly took away tools and materials to be used for constructing a church building. Rev. Pedro Olvera Rivera, national superintendent of the Independent Christian Pentecostal denomination, denied the frequent accusation that evangelicals have failed to participate in town projects. He said evangelicals are leaders of the committee for community services and have been working hard in that capacity. (Compass)

FOOD FOR WORK PROGRAM HELPS STARVING FAMILIES IN NIGER

A double scourge of locust and drought in the last two years has left up to 8 million people in danger of starvation in the West African country of Niger. Food-related conflicts are growing in number. The SIM team in the region set up a “food for work” program this last spring, reaching three villages and three districts of Zinder. Men who are willing to work are paid in food, thus helping whole families. The program also allows the men to maintain their dignity as the provider of the family, as Hausa tradition dictates. The project was so successful that the team renewed it this month. Work teams have repaired a well in a nearby village, and built a perimeter wall for a Christian school that is under construction. In addition, a sand-blocked road is being cleared by one team. (Mission Network News)

* In cooperation with local partners, HCJB World Radio helped plant a local station, Radio Espoir, in Niamey, Niger, in 2004.

NEW RADIO STATION IN CHAD TO BRING SCRIPTURES TO ILLITERATE TRIBE

Back to the Bible is assisting missionaries Mark and Diane VanderKooi of The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM) in building a radio station in the central African nation of Chad in an effort to reach out to the illiterate Kwong people. “For many years we’ve been a little bit frustrated with the fact that these people can’t read, which means they can’t appreciate the Scriptures,” he said. “We thought for many years that if they can’t read the Scriptures it would be very nice if they could listen to the Scriptures. And radio was the obvious way to be able to do that.” The VanderKoois are planning to begin regular broadcasting at the end of the year. Back to the Bible helped raise funds to build the station which is the only radio station in the area on the FM dial. “We’d like to broadcast the Scriptures and Bible-teaching programs as well as public affairs announcements that would also draw the attention of non-Christians,” VanderKooi said. (Mission Network News)

* HCJB World Radio worked with local partner Church of the Lutheran Brethren to establish a recording studio in Gauna Gaya, Chad.

MILLIONS OF CHRISTIANS WORLDWIDE JOIN IN PRAYER FOR JERSUSALEM

Millions of believers worldwide joined together during the Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem Sunday, Oct. 2. “We asked God to prevail in what man has failed to accomplish through human diplomacy,” said Robert Stearns, founder and co-chairman of the event. “Real peace will come to the Middle East only when hearts and minds are changed.” Stephen Black, a pastor from Haifa, Israel, expressed his gratefulness for the event. “We are elated to see millions of Christians coming alongside their covenantal brothers and sisters in the faith, praying wholeheartedly for peace to come to Jerusalem.” Leaders in the U.S. also coordinated an interactive global teleconference where citizens worldwide could enter “virtual prayer rooms” via telephone. (Assist News Service)

CREATIVE ‘LIMERICK BIBLE’ TO BE LAUNCHED AT SCOTTISH EXHIBITION

A limerick likening Samson to James Bond is featured in a new Bible due to be launched next month at the Scottish Christian Resources Exhibition at the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh, Oct. 13-15. It reads, “The story of Samson’s great weakness . Might be titled ‘The Strength and the Sweetness’ . For the lifestyle he donned quite resembled James Bond . Surrounded by girls for completeness.” It is just one of dozens of verses penned by retired physician Dr. Peter Wallis from West Sussex. The book sets out to retell, creatively, some famous Bible stories and sayings. “I want to encourage the reader to go back to the script, and find out for themselves what God has said,” explained Wallis from. “I believe that all poetry (that is pure, primitive or profound) is a gift to us so that we may receive enjoyment, encouragement and a deeper experience of God.” Wallis will read extracts from the Limerick Bible as part of a special event on the first day of the exhibition. (Assist News Service)