4 November 2005 Update From HCJB World Radio

Today’s Headlines:

UNIDENTIFIED ARSONISTS RAZE LUTHERAN CHURCH IN SUDAN

NIGERIAN CATTLEMAN DETAINED, TORTURED AFTER COMING TO CHRIST

RUMORS OF EAST TIMOR PASTOR FACING EXECUTION ARE FALSE

OPEN DOORS USA LAUNCHES PRAYER CAMPAIGN FOR NORTH KOREA

SURVEY: MORE BRITONS BELIEVE IN GHOSTS THAN IN GOD

Today’s Top Stories:

UNIDENTIFIED ARSONISTS RAZE LUTHERAN CHURCH IN SUDAN

More than two weeks after a Lutheran church was torched by unknown arsonists in a Khartoum suburb, Sudan’s newly installed government still has not responded to church leaders requesting an investigation. Most of the simple church structure was “completely burned” shortly after midday on Tuesday, Oct. 18, said Rev. Yousif El-Denger Z. Kodi, general secretary of the Lutheran Church of the Sudan. The El-Thawra branch, one of four Lutheran churches in the city, has a congregation of 150 to 200 worshipers each Sunday. “The first Sunday [after the fire], they just came and worshiped there without any shelter,” Kodi said. “We have been there since 1980 worshiping our Lord without any complaining or blaming from any citizens.” (Compass)

NIGERIAN CATTLEMAN DETAINED, TORTURED AFTER COMING TO CHRIST

Religious violence in Nigeria was sparked by a Muslim cutting off a Christian’s hand Wednesday, Oct. 26, in Niger state’s Tungan Rogo village. The incident left three Christians dead and at least 13 others injured. Adams Erena, secretary to the government of Niger state, told journalists that a Muslim Fulani tribesman had taken his cattle onto the farm of a Christian from the Gwari tribe, damaging his crops. When the Christian demanded to know why, the Muslim used a machete to cut off one of his hands. News of the severed hand ignited violence that spread to Tungan Rogo where a policeman, Sgt. Danladi Wasse, was among the Christians who died. The violence also destroyed 18 houses. (Compass Direct)

RUMORS OF EAST TIMOR PASTOR FACING EXECUTION ARE FALSE

Hundreds of text messages and e-mails were spread across Europe and the U.K. late last month, prompting Christians to pray for Pastor Ferdie Flores of the South Pacific nation of East Timor as he was rumored to be facing execution for preaching the gospel. Some churches held special prayer meetings. The rumors were false, but Flores said he and his family face the real threat of danger as they spread the gospel. On the family’s missionary website, Flores wrote about a terrifying incident on Saturday, Oct. 8, in Laclo when a mob tried to disrupt a Bible study. “A mob appeared from every direction coming towards us,” he said. “As the mob [came] closer I [sat]

calmly and some hot tempered, furious catechists started to ask intimidating, long and tedious questions. . . . The believers later told me that they already heard the rumor that some notorious fanatics are planning to beat me.” The website confirmed that the rumors of his impending death were not accurate. (Assist News Service)

OPEN DOORS USA LAUNCHES PRAYER CAMPAIGN FOR NORTH KOREA

Open Doors USA has launched a Prayer Campaign for North Korea, a country that for three straight years has topped Open Doors’ World Watch List of countries where persecution of Christians is the worst. The goal of the campaign is to blanket North Korea in prayer for 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is being launched in conjunction with the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP), which will be observed by thousands of churches in the U.S. on Sunday, Nov. 13. “In North Korea, the persecution of Christians is almost beyond description. Thousands of Christians suffer cruel treatment in concentration camps. Some are treated worse than animals. Christianity is observed as one of the greatest threats to the regime of Kim Jong Il, who is worshipped as a god by millions of North Koreans,” says Open Doors USA President Dr. Carl Moeller. An Open Doors co-worker says many people in the underground church in North Korea are aware of the international Open Doors prayer campaign. “The fact that other Christians know about them and pray for them gives them so much strength and hope,” he says. (Assist News Service)

SURVEY: MORE BRITONS BELIEVE IN GHOSTS THAN IN GOD

A total of 2,012 people in the U.K. were polled on their beliefs regarding the supernatural. More than two-thirds (68 percent) said they believe in the existence of ghosts and spirits while just over half (55 percent) said they believe in the existence of a God. Some 26 percent believe in UFOs, 19 percent in reincarnation, and 4 percent in the mythical Loch Ness Monster. The survey found 12 percent believe they have actually seen a ghost. Seventy-six percent said that reality TV shows and films such as “The Blair Witch Project” have helped convince them spooks and ghouls really exist. The poll was carried out in advance of Halloween by entertainment retailer ChoicesUK. (Religion Today/Ananova)