Today’s Headlines:

EXTREMISTS IN INDIA LOCK UP CHURCH, ATTACK CHRISTIANS

ANTI-CHRISTIAN VIOLENCE IN INDIA BEGINS TO IMPACT MINISTRY TEAMS

RUSSIA STUDIES LAW TO INCREASE CONTROLS ON CHARITIES, RELIGIOUS GROUPS

FALSELY JAILED EGYPTIAN CHRISTIAN RELEASED AFTER 28 MONTHS

FIRST ARABIC CHRISTIAN TV CHANNEL IN U.S. SPARKS NUMEROUS CALLS

Today’s Top Stories:

EXTREMISTS IN INDIA LOCK UP CHURCH, ATTACK CHRISTIANS

Christians in the Kakradara area of Jhabua in central India’s Madhya Pradesh state are living in fear after extremists barred access to their new church and beat up their pastor and visiting evangelists after a church dedication ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 5. The pastor and four evangelists were stopped by 12 men carrying long sticks. As Pastor T. Samuel, the district coordinator for Jesus Redeems Ministries, began answering their questions, one of the assailants hit Pastor Ramesh Bhuria from behind. The mob then beat all five Christians. Later, the extremists and other residents visited Bhuria’s home and threatened to “cut [him] into pieces” if he continued his Christian activity in the village. The same threats were issued to other church members. (Compass)

ANTI-CHRISTIAN VIOLENCE IN INDIA BEGINS TO IMPACT MINISTRY TEAMS

Hundreds of reported incidents of anti-Christian violence in India this year, most of it at the hands of Hindu extremists, along with anti-conversion laws, are beginning to have a negative impact on outreach teams in the country, says Sam Vinton of Grace Ministries. “Pastors feel more and more that they have to be careful of who they speak to because of the possibility of someone coming and saying that they were trying to force people to become Christians,” he said. “That has become a more serious issue, especially in some of the cities.” Vinton urges prayer, not only for the safety, but also for the future growth of their ministry in India. “I think one thing we should pray for is boldness. I think that for Christians to be bold is certainly a biblical injunction — and take the consequences. I think that the other part of our prayer is that God would work in the hearts of our leaders to open up the possibilities for the freedom to share their faith.” (Mission Network News)

RUSSIA STUDIES LAW TO INCREASE CONTROLS ON CHARITIES, RELIGIOUS GROUPS

A controversial draft law aimed at tightening state control on non-governmental organizations in Russia passed its first reading at the State Duma Wednesday, Nov. 23. In addition, the Russian-language magazine, Vedomosti, recently published an article based on a document from the Ministry of Justice that recommends radical measures for “intensifying control of religious groups.” The measures are an apparent response to Kremlin fears of a potential Western-sponsored “velvet revolution,” concerns from the Russian Orthodox Church about the infiltration of “totalitarian sects” (including evangelical groups), and the threat of Islamic terrorist groups. The draft bill is expected to pass its second and third readings by the end of this year. The bill would then need to be approved by the Federation Council before President Putin could sign it into law. The Moscow Times reported comments by Independent Duma Deputy Vladimir Ryzhko who protested the potential law before the vote. “This bill will put an end to civil society in Russia,” he said. “The Duma has neither the moral nor the constitutional right to vote in favor of it.” (Assist News Service)

FALSELY JAILED EGYPTIAN CHRISTIAN RELEASED AFTER 28 MONTHS

An Egyptian Coptic Christian jailed without charges for 28 months has been released from the Al-Gharbaliat Prison near Alexandria. Hany Samir Tawfik, 29, was set free on June 28, seven months after his case was first publicized outside Egypt. He had been arrested by Egypt’s State Security Investigation (SSI) authorities on March 3, 2003. A Christian who had gone to Saudi Arabia to work, Tawfik was deported to Egypt in the summer of 2002 after requesting asylum from the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh. He was promptly detained for interrogation at Cairo’s notorious State Security Investigations (SSI) headquarters but released after 52 days. Seven months later, Tawfik was again arrested under unknown accusations. (Compass)

FIRST ARABIC CHRISTIAN TV CHANNEL IN U.S. SPARKS NUMEROUS CALLS

The founder of the first Arabic Christian television channel in the U.S. says he is getting many calls from curious Muslims. The channel Alkarma — which means “vineyard” in Arabic — premiered last month. The founder, Samuel Estefanos, says there are about 35 Arabic-language channels available, but none were Christian until his went on the air. Estafanos says he gets about 10 to 15 calls a day from Arabic speakers who say they are Muslim and need to know more about Christ. He says he has families call him and say they have met Jesus through the programming of Alkarma. Estefanos, an Egyptian-born businessman, has produced some of his own Arabic programming for the channel in different dialects of Arabic, including Syrian, Iraqi, and Egyptian. He also uses some English programs. Estefanos says his goal for Alkarma is two-fold: to provide solid biblical teaching, and to provide family-friendly programming. (Agape Press)