Today’s Headlines:

HINDU EXTREMISTS ATTACK CHURCH CONVENTION IN INDIA

CHRISTIAN-OWNED TV STATION TO BEGIN BROADCASTING IN MONGOLIA

RUSSIAN CHURCHES PREPARE TO MINISTER TO VICTIMS OF TERRORIST ATTACK

NEW HAMPSHIRE FLOODING PROMPTS BAPTIST RELIEF TEAMS TO MOBILIZE

* LONG-AWAITED CHRISTIAN STATION IN KIEV SPARKS ‘THOUSANDS OF CALLS’

Today’s Top Stories:

HINDU EXTREMISTS ATTACK CHURCH CONVENTION IN INDIA

Hindu extremists stormed the annual convention of a church in Raipur in east-central India’s Chattisgarh state Saturday, Oct. 15, alleging that organizers had kidnapped tribal people for conversion. Returning the next day, they manhandled the believers and shouted anti-Christian slogans. The attackers belong to the Dharam Sena (Army of Religion), an offshoot of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP or World Hindu Council), formed by a local leader of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The attacks took place during the last two days day of the “Gospel and Revival Convention” of the Church of God. “As soon as the police arrived on the scene, the miscreants pointed towards three women on the stage, alleging that they were kidnapped by the Christians for conversion,” said Arun Pannalal, a leader of the Church of North India. In statements videotaped by police, the women denied that they were under duress or that they had been lured by the organizers. The police had not filed charges against the extremists at press time. (Compass)

CHRISTIAN-OWNED TV STATION TO BEGIN BROADCASTING IN MONGOLIA

For nearly 10 years Eagle TV operated as the sole voice of independent journalism on television in Mongolia, airing Christian programming and generating more than 10,000 contacts for evangelism. Now the new Eagle Broadcasting Company (EBC) will begin broadcasting on terrestrial channel 8 in Mongolia’s capital city of Ulaanbaatar Saturday, Oct. 22. The Christian-owned company has been operating as a cable news network through the cooperation of SANSAR Cable TV since last January, delivering live news around the clock from Fox News, Associated Press and the Eagle TV studios, along with Christian programming. Eagle TV’s live news format quickly became a favorite with SANSAR viewers. Now the Eagle TV live news operations will be available for all 1 million residents in Ulaanbaatar. “This is an exciting moment for our staff and all who have loved Eagle TV for so long,” said EBC Managing Director Tom Terry. “When the former Eagle TV, owned by Mongolian Broadcasting Co., closed down in April 2003, many Mongolians were heartbroken at having lost independent news through television. . . . Now that the new Eagle TV is being placed on channel 8, more people will have access to truly independent news and information than ever before.” (Assist News Service)

RUSSIAN CHURCHES PREPARE TO MINISTER TO VICTIMS OF TERRORIST ATTACK

In the aftermath of the recent terrorist attack in Nalchik, Russia, Christians are beginning to strategize how to reach out with the message of the gospel. Slavic Gospel Association’s Joel Griffith said that Rev. Viktor Levashov, regional elder for the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptist, will make an emergency trip to the Nalchik region. “He’s going to be meeting with pastors there and basically take a look at what the situation is and try to determine what the churches can do to help minister to the victims.” The attack by Chechen rebels resulted in the deaths of 33 Russian soldiers and 12 civilians along with 91 rebels. “This is where the churches come in,” Griffith said. “The churches do their best to live a Christ-like example and show the love of Christ not only in their word, but also by their deed as they help the families that are afflicted by this.” (Mission Network News)

NEW HAMPSHIRE FLOODING PROMPTS BAPTIST RELIEF TEAMS TO MOBILIZE

Southern Baptists in New England are assisting at least two towns hit hard by recent heavy rains and strong winds in the region. Crews are being assembled and assessment teams have been deployed for flood cleanup to communities surrounding Keene and Alstead in the southwest corner of New Hampshire, Cal Bankston, disaster relief coordinator for the Baptist Convention of New England, told Baptist Press. Disaster relief teams are on standby as residents of Taunton, Mass., wait to see whether a wooden dam will give way, possibly flooding the town with 6 feet of water, Bankston said. Parts of the Northeast have received more than a foot of rain since Friday, Oct. 7, causing major flooding and damage to hundreds of homes, according to the Associated Press. At least 12 people have been killed from Pennsylvania to Maine as a result of the storm system. States of emergency were declared in Massachusetts and New Jersey but have since been lifted. New Hampshire state leaders have estimated it will cost $25 million to repair flood-damaged roads. (Religion Today/Agape Press)

* LONG-AWAITED CHRISTIAN STATION IN KIEV SPARKS ‘THOUSANDS OF CALLS’

Radio Emmanuel, one of HCJB World Radio’s partner stations, is on the air in Kiev, Ukraine, after five years of work and prayers, making Christian programming available to 3 million local residents for the first time.

Daily broadcasts officially began on Thursday, June 9, on the lower FM band (known locally as UKV). Broadcasts go out in Ukrainian and Russian, and plans are to add programming originating from the New Life Russian radio satellite network based in Moscow.

Initial response by listeners has “surpassed expectations,” says Mark Irwin, director of HCJB World Radio Euro-Asia’s Russia/C.I.S. subregion. “Viktor Radin, Emmanuel’s general director, reported that the station already has received thousands of calls and many visits by listeners who are thrilled with the station’s programming. Many Christians have called to voice their deep appreciation for the gospel message represented in the programming while non-Christians have also called.”

Irwin added that Emmanuel Mission Director Steve Weber expressed “great pleasure to know that the station is now up and running and broadcasting the gospel of Jesus Christ to Ukraine’s capital city. He and his entire team are immensely grateful for all those that have partnered with Emmanuel, including HCJB World Radio.”

Emmanuel is a diverse organization focusing on television production and broadcasting. The ministry is associated with the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), the U.S.-based ministry best known for its popular program, “The 700 Club.” CBN has a large ministry in Ukraine as well as much of the Commonwealth of Independent States (C.I.S.) which comprises the former Soviet states.

HCJB World Radio’s Euro-Asia team has been involved with the station since the initial application for a license was submitted in 2000. “We were advising them and helping them plan for the eventual station,” Irwin explains. “Once the license was granted in 2004, we got even more involved, supplying funding, providing a transmitter and other broadcasting equipment, and assisting with technical consulting and other help to start the station.”

In association with HCJB World Radio’s station relations program, two U.S.-based radio stations have also partnered with Radio Emmanuel to provide funds and assistance throughout the process. Staff members from World Radio Network station KBNJ in Corpus Christi, Texas, and WBNJ of Raleigh-Durham, N.C., helped with fund-raising for Emmanuel.

Several local churches in Kiev have stepped forward to assist Emmanuel with the radio ministry as well as a local counseling ministry to follow up listeners and help new Christians find local churches to attend in Kiev.

When asked about the many different entities that have cooperated to get this radio ministry going, Irwin replied, “The station represents the way we work — that is, working with various ministries in partnership to launch and sustain a ministry. It has included training of personnel, technical advice and support, funding, programming and most importantly, prayer support.”

Radin added that the station already has applied for more FM frequencies in other cities throughout Ukraine in order to extend the reach of Emmanuel. In addition, numerous groups have called the station to see if they can retransmit the programming locally in their cities. Emmanuel hopes to develop a network covering the country’s major cities as well as some of the smaller towns. (HCJB World Radio)