Today’s Headlines:

CHINESE COURT JAILS HOUSE CHURCH PASTOR, 2 FAMILY MEMBERS

ISLAMIC ‘HIT MEN’ ASSASSINATE HOUSE CHURCH PASTOR IN SOMALIA

RUINS OF ANCIENT CHURCH UNCOVERED BENEATH ISRAELI PRISON

JAILED IRANIAN CHRISTIAN GRANTED MONTHLY VISITS WITH FAMILY

MISSIONARIES SEEK WITNESSING OPPORTUNITIES AMID UNREST IN ETHIOPIA

Today’s Top Stories:

CHINESE COURT JAILS HOUSE CHURCH LEADER, 2 FAMILY MEMBERS

Cai Zhuohua, a prominent Beijing house church leader, was among three Chinese Christians handed jail terms on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Cai, who received a three-year sentence, said he will appeal to the Beijing Intermediate Court.

The case dates back to Sept. 11, 2004, when plainclothes state security officers abducted Cai from a bus stop and dragged him into a van. A fellow inmate said he was repeatedly tortured with electric shocks and forced to give false confessions to serious charges.

On July 7, 2005, Cai, his wife, Xiao Yunfei, her brother, Xiao Gaowen, and his wife, Hu Jinyun were tried on charges relating to “illegal business practices” at the People’s Court in Beijing’s Haidian district. Cai’s wife and her brother were sentenced to two and 1 ½ years in prison respectively. Hu was exempted from criminal punishment and is expected to be released after her lawyer completes relevant legal papers.

The charges followed the discovery of 200,000 copies of the Bible and other Christian literature in a storage room that Cai managed. The sentences were handed down as Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in the U.K. to meet with senior government officials.

In a separate incident, six house church leaders who were taking part in a service attended by about 100 Christians were arrested in Henan province Sunday, Nov. 6, for being part of an “illegal religious gathering.” Four of these church leaders were later freed, but two remain in detention. Authorities said they would not be released unless they stop holding meetings or register the church with the officially sanctioned Three-Self Patriotic Movement. (Christian Solidarity Worldwide)

ISLAMIC ‘HIT MEN’ ASSASSINATE HOUSE CHURCH PASTOR IN SOMALIA

Dr. Osman Sheik Ahmed, a well-known figure in Somalia’s higher education sphere, was shot and killed Friday, Oct. 7, in northern Mogadishu. Witnesses have confirmed to Osman’s family and members of his house church that he was assassinated by Islamic hit men from Mogadishu’s radical Islamic courts. He is survived by his wife, Zahra Ali Hassan, and nine children. His wife is in hiding fearing for her life. Osman began assisting a number of Christian non-governmental organizations from 1988-1990 as a volunteer. His skills in government relations and pubic service earned him much respect from Somalis and from the international community he was assisting. In a separate incident, three Somali Christians were attacked on Monday, Oct. 31. A pastor was shot in the stomach and is in serious condition, hospitalized in a coma. The second Christian suffered an arm injury, and the third was not hurt. (Voice of the Martyrs)

RUINS OF ANCIENT CHURCH UNCOVERED BENEATH ISRAELI PRISON

The ruins of what could be the oldest Christian church in the Middle East — and probably the world — have been discovered in Israel’s Megiddo prison area. Yardena Alexandre, a spokeswoman for the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), called the discovery “one of the most important finds for the history of early Christianity.” The find, dating back to the 3rd or early 4th century, contains broken pottery, a distinctive mosaic style and inscriptions citing Jesus. Since Christianity was outlawed in the Holy Land during this period of history, and worship often occurred in private homes or in secret, the ruins technically may not be called a “church.” The Megiddo area is known as a rich terrain for archeological findings from different historical ages. Prison services allowed archeologists to draft prisoners to their digs where a number of coins and crockery have been found since February. (Assist News Service, Religion Today, The Washington Post)

JAILED IRANIAN CHRISTIAN GRANTED MONTHLY VISITS WITH FAMILY

Jailed 14 months ago for converting to Christianity, former Iranian army Col. Hamid Pourmand has been allowed to visit his family on a monthly basis since August. Pourmand has reportedly developed good rapport with both guards and prisoners at Evin Prison. Despite earlier reports that Pourmand’s case had been appealed before the Iranian Supreme Court, sources now say that his lawyer has decided to drop the appeal out of fear that it would be perpetually delayed, giving authorities an excuse to keep the Christian in prison. While in prison, Pourmand has been psychologically tortured — more than once told that he would be imminently hanged, and at other times forced to listen to the screams of children. (Compass)

MISSIONARIES SEEK WITNESSING OPPORTUNITIES AMID UNREST IN ETHIOPIA

A call to strike regarding Ethiopia’s disputed election results has a lid on a simmering pot of tension in Addis Ababa. Last week’s riots forced many to stay home this week for fear of a new outbreak of violence. The anti-government protests are a result of the general election in May in which the governing party won. The opposition says voting and counting were rigged. Steve Strauss, director of SIM USA, says the unrest has prompted staff members to exercise caution. “Our missionaries are basically not doing any unnecessary travel . . . until they’re sure that things are fully calmed down and quiet again,” he said. “There’ve been no injuries of our missionary personnel, nor have I heard of any of any of our related church personnel there.” Strauss added that even with the uneasy calm in Addis Ababa, the teams are looking for ways to meet the needs of those affected by the rioting. “Pray that God would use the uncertainties created in a time like this to turn people to Him — that they would recognize that they can’t find their ultimate answers in any kind of political process. And pray that Ethiopian believers and missionaries would have many opportunities to share the gospel.” (Mission Network News)

* Staff members at HCJB World Radio-Australia’s studios record Oromo language programs that air to 28 million speakers in Ethiopia and Kenya via FEBA Radio’s shortwave facilities.