7 November 2005 Update From HCJB World Radio

Today’s Headlines:

DOCUMENT REVEALS VIETNAM’S STRATEGY TO ‘ERADICATE’ CHURCHES

MISSION LEADER FEARS DOORS FOR GOSPEL COULD CLOSE IN BELARUS

BILLY GRAHAM CONFIRMS THAT NEW YORK CRUSADE WAS HIS LAST

CANADIAN CHURCH UNAPOLOGETIC ABOUT USING SHOCK TACTICS ON SEX

SIX-MONTH WALK ACROSS U.S. INTENDED FOR ‘SPIRITUAL AWAKENING’

Today’s Top Stories:

DOCUMENT REVEALS VIETNAM’S STRATEGY TO ‘ERADICATE’ CHURCHES

A leaked document obtained by a Christian religious rights organization shows that government officials in tribal areas of Vietnam are vowing to “fight religion” and “eradicate” places of Christian worship. The Center for Religious Freedom, based at Freedom House, has a document describing a “comprehensive campaign by Communist Party and government officials, in partnership with the police and military that was scheduled to have been waged from March 2 through June 30, 2005.” Because of the remoteness of the rural district, Freedom House says it has not yet been confirmed whether the campaign was implemented. The document reveals an official policy of forcing Hmong Christians to give up their faith and of “eradicating” Christian meeting places. “This document indicates that the situation in Vietnam can be summed up as repression as usual,” said Center for Religious Freedom Director Nina Shea. There are an estimated 100 religious prisoners in jail or under some form of house arrest for religious activity and hundreds of churches, home worship centers, and meeting places in Vietnam remain closed. (Assist News Service)

MISSION LEADER FEARS DOORS FOR GOSPEL COULD CLOSE IN BELARUS

Christians in the Eastern European country of Belarus are reporting increased harassment from authorities, says Tim Burns of Global Aid Network (GAiN-USA) who is working to assemble a winter project team to go into the country. However, he is concerned that the doors for future teams could be closing. “It is beginning to be a little bit harder to go into certain areas,” he said. “Some public schools we were able to go in before with open arms are not so welcoming anymore. Our staff on the ground there are really starting to see a difficult time to get into some locations.” Despite the difficulties, Burns doesn’t expect the government will stop GAiN-USA from bringing much-needed aid to the orphans and poor. “We’ve been blessed by God to have some open doors that other organizations, perhaps, cannot, because we’ve been there for over 15 years. But those doors are starting to close somewhat, and we don’t quite have the freedom that we used to have to proclaim the gospel.” (Mission Network News)

BILLY GRAHAM CONFIRMS THAT NEW YORK CRUSADE WAS HIS LAST

Evangelism Billy Graham, who turns 87 today (Monday, Nov. 7), confirmed that his final large-venue crusade in New York in June was in fact his last. Graham, who has been the friend and confidant of kings and presidents as well as being considered one of America’s most admired public figures, is enjoying time for recuperation and reflection at his home in Montreat, N.C. An announcement from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) stated that while the crusade phase of his evangelistic ministry is over, Graham keeps busy, such as working on a book. “Ruth and I have enjoyed our time together these last few months, and we both feel at peace about the decision to have the New York meetings be our last,” Graham said. “We know that God can still use us to reach people with the gospel message in other ways, and we look forward to seeing how He will do so.” Most recently the Grahams offered their old home as a shelter for a New Orleans family left homeless by Hurricane Katrina. Graham also serves as chairman of the BGEA board of directors and attends those meetings as his health allows. (Assist News Service)

CANADIAN CHURCH UNAPOLOGETIC ABOUT USING SHOCK TACTICS ON SEX

New Beginnings, a nondenominational Protestant church on the southern edge of Winnipeg, Canada, unconventionally advertises on their billboard, “Sex: Live Chat Room.” The church is unapologetic about the shock tactics it’s using to entice people to enter the church. Pastor Ivor Grant, 42, said, “Our aim is to connect with people who would not darken the doors of a church. God has an interest in our sexuality. God invented it. Clearly he had an understanding of what could give us pleasure.” Grant believes no other church in Canada has properly addressed sex and the Bible. He offers an evening class that he describes as “blunt and explicit,” adding that “we live in a sex-obsessed society. For the church not to talk about it seems to make us irrelevant.” Despite his novel approach, Grant holds to traditional beliefs that sex before marriage and abortion are outside God’s intent. Grant said his strategy is working — the Word of God is getting through to people who wouldn’t otherwise be interested. Eight newcomers, all women, have joined his congregation since the sex talks began. (Religion Today/Toronto Globe and Mail)

SIX-MONTH WALK ACROSS U.S. INTENDED FOR ‘SPIRITUAL AWAKENING’

Rick and Jane McKinney, of Our Heart Ministries, are gearing up for a six-month walk across the U.S. Beginning Jan. 1 from Los Angeles, the McKinney’s intend to cover about 20 miles per day in an effort to draw attention to the nation’s need for a spiritual awakening. “Walk to Reclaim America” is slated to begin at the Santa Monica Pier in California and progress east across Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma. Then they will follow the I-40 corridor through Arkansas and Tennessee, then head north through Virginia. The trek will carry them across 2,800 miles to Washington, D.C., by July 4, 2006. Joining them will be other concerned Christians who want to share their journey as they set out to reclaim America one step at a time. The project has many aspects, says Our Heart’s Rick McKinney. “We’re going to be interceding for our country and its people. Secondly, we’re going to be encouraging Christians and churches to stand up and be counted.” McKinney served as a pastor for more than 20 years. (AgapePress)