Today’s Headlines:

INDONESIAN AUTHORITIES BULLDOZE 5 LOCAL CHURCH BUILDINGS

HOUSE CHURCH IN EGYPT KEEPS MEETING DESPITE PASTOR’S DEATH

PASTOR IN INDIA FACES ATTACKS, DEATH THREATS FOR REACHING MUSLIMS

AUDIO MINISTRY SPREADS GOSPEL AMONG ILLITERATE TRIBE IN MOZAMBIQUE

POLL: YOUNG AMERICAN ADULTS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT REDUCING POVERTY

Today’s Top Stories:

INDONESIAN AUTHORITIES BULLDOZE 5 LOCAL CHURCH BUILDINGS

Local sources in Indonesia have reported that the Pamong Praja police bulldozed five church buildings in an area of Tangerang county west of Jakarta Wednesday, Nov. 30, while church members stood in front of their buildings and watched. When the churches initially heard about the proposed demolitions, they requested a delay until after Christmas. However, at 11 a.m. hundreds of local security officials moved in, cleared the buildings of their contents and destroyed the buildings. The five churches included the Indonesia Protestant Christian Church, Indonesia Pentecost Church, Protestant Batak Christian Huria Church, Indonesia Haleluyah Pentecost Church, and Indonesia Bethel Church. Officials claim that the church buildings violated residential bylaws. Church leaders believe, however, that political interests motivated the destruction. (Voice of the Martyrs)

HOUSE CHURCH IN EGYPT KEEPS MEETING DESPITE PASTOR’S DEATH

Protestant Pastor Ezzat Habib, 58, was killed in an apparent accident after being struck by a taxi in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, Oct. 23. However, his sons, Ibram, George and Amir, suspect their father’s death was no accident. He, along with his entire family, have been threatened by Egypt’s security police for holding church services in their home. The Beit-El (House of God)

congregation has met in the Habib home in the Cairo suburb of Giza since 1997. In the past two years members of the congregation have faced harassment, arrests and even stabbings as they continue to meet. In spite of their father’s death, the Habib brothers remain resolute in continuing their house fellowship. Fearing further police harassment, the three brothers and their mother have been forced to separate and stay with various friends, only returning to their home for church services. (Compass)

PASTOR IN INDIA FACES ATTACKS, DEATH THREATS FOR REACHING MUSLIMS

Since receiving Christ at age 21, Rev. K.K. Alavi of Manjeri, India, a predominantly Muslim town in the southern part of the country, has endured at least four attempts on his life because of his ministry among Muslims. He continues to receive numerous death threats by telephone and letter. The National Development Front (NDF), a major Indian Islamic group, has launched several public campaigns against Alavi. “Now, sources have alerted me that I’m second on the hit list prepared by the Muslim fundamentalist NDF,” he said. Alavi pastors an independent Lutheran church (New Hope India Mission); oversees a literature program involving tracts, booklets and study aides that examining Islamic viewpoints on Christianity; and has written more than 20 books and tracts calling upon Muslims to understand the true essence of the teachings of Jesus. He has led up to 200 Muslims to Christ. (Compass)

AUDIO MINISTRY SPREADS GOSPEL AMONG ILLITERATE TRIBE IN MOZAMBIQUE

Talking Bibles International is reaching an illiterate people group, the Xitshwa, in Mozambique with the gospel through partnership with Cross Connection Outreach, Youth with a Mission (YWAM) and local pastors. Luke Rider with Cross Connection Outreach is the distribution and production partner for the New Testament for the approximately 1.7 million people who speak the language. Rider says the literacy rate in Mozambique makes audio Scriptures essential. “The literacy rate in Mozambique is astounding. Basically, nobody reads their mother language,” Rider said. “The local pastors, they know where we need to take them. Talking Bibles are working with the process. YWAM has provided us with technicians to record and the Bible society is encouraging it. We have about 500 Bibles in the country right now with about 400 in circulation. And, those Bibles are actually in areas where people have never heard the Word of God before.” (Mission Network News)

POLL: YOUNG AMERICAN ADULTS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT REDUCING POVERTY

Barna Research Group conducted a poll for Compassion International indicating that young American adults, more than any other age group, believe they can make a difference in poverty overseas. The poll also showed an increase in giving to the poor in 2005. Officials at Compassion said they believe that the increase was in large part a response to the natural disasters that have been occurring frequently around the world. David Dahlin, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Compassion International said, “We’re grateful that Americans responded. But we also hope they realize that even when there are no natural disasters, there are still children in other countries who are in desperate need.” United Nations’ figures indicate that of the 2.2 billion children on the planet 1 billion live in poverty, and 300 million go to bed hungry every night. An estimated 30,000 children die every day because of malnutrition or disease. One of the most compelling trends in the poll was the generational difference that emerged with young adults aged 18-21 most optimistic about the chances of individual Americans having an influence in the world. “With the optimism expressed by American young people, we are hopeful that this is the beginning of a nationwide trend,” Dahlin said. (Assist News Service)