Today’s Headlines:

ARSONISTS CAUSE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO CHURCH IN INDONESIA

MILITANTS THREATEN TO ERADICATE CHRISTIANITY IN VILLAGE OF INDIA

INDIA’S LOWEST CLASS HELPS SPREAD GOSPEL TO THE HIGHEST CLASS

BELIEVERS URGED TO KEEP PRAYING AS PERSECUTION INCREASES WORLDWIDE

STUDY: FAITH-BASED PROGRAMS REDUCE INMATE VIOLENCE IN U.S.

Today’s Top Stories:

ARSONISTS CAUSE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO CHURCH IN INDONESIA

Unknown attackers set fire to the Beth Eden Protestant Church in Manado, Indonesia, on the night of Thursday, Dec. 8. There were no injuries even though Pastor Stephen Liow and his family were living in the building which received extensive damage. Liow told Asia News that he had been receiving anonymous calls in the past few months from people threatening to burn down the church building. The Christmas season in Indonesia has often been a time of suffering for Christians who are targeted by Islamic militants. Due to the heightened threat of terrorism, thousands of police officers have been put on alert. A police spokesman said, “Churches and other worship buildings have become our top security priority along with entertainment centers and shopping compounds.” (Voice of the Martyrs)

MILITANTS THREATEN TO ERADICATE CHRISTIANITY IN VILLAGE OF INDIA

Tensions remained high Tuesday, Dec. 20, in a village of western India’s Maharashtra state where an angry mob attacked Christian converts in a campaign to “eradicate Christianity,” investigators said. The Washington, D.C.-based human rights group, International Christian Concern (ICC), reported that an attack in the village of Bivsi Dabhadi Saturday, Dec. 10, was the second in as many months. “The village head [wants] to eradicate Christianity from the village,” ICC said. In the latest violence, four villagers, including the village head, tried to attack a convert identified as Dhakya Laksya Bhavar. “The attackers came with sticks, stones and sickles to beat the convert, but he managed to escape.” Although Bhavar “promptly lodged a police complaint,” the police had not arrested any of the attackers. (Religion Today/BosNewsLife)

INDIA’S LOWEST CLASS HELPS SPREAD GOSPEL TO THE HIGHEST CLASS

Bibles for the World is reaching India’s leaders with the gospel through the countries most oppressed class. The majority of people coming to Christ in India are from the Dalit caste, the lowest caste of society. The country’s 300 million Dalits are often known as “untouchables.” Bibles for the World is mailing Bibles that are going into the homes of doctors, lawyers and business people that missionaries can’t reach. The blessing is that new Dalit believers are doing the work. “Our native evangelists and pastors are making disciples of these new believers,” said Mawii Pudaite of Bibles for the World. “When we bring them together they also have the opportunity to have an hour or more as needed to teach them the Word of God. And then, they in turn go home and tell their families and start a little house church. .. . . Isn’t it interesting the untouchable outcasts, whom they can’t even employ inside their homes are now wrapping these Bibles for the elite.” (Mission Network News)

BELIEVERS URGED TO KEEP PRAYING AS PERSECUTION INCREASES WORLDWIDE

Open Doors USA is celebrating 50 years of ministry by encouraging believers to acknowledge the persecution of brothers and sisters who are being tortured, imprisoned and even killed for their belief in Jesus Christ as well as those who are suffering from natural disasters.

The ministry has launched an ongoing Prayer Campaign for North Korea as a result of the estimated 400,000 Christians in North Korea facing daily persecution, including torture in prison camps which put the country at the top of Open Doors’ 2005 World Watch List of countries where persecution is most severe for the third consecutive year.

In Indonesia, Christians were killed and churches burned. Three Christian women (Rebekka Zakaria, Eti Pangesti and Ratna Bangun) were arrested for running a “Happy Sunday” program for children. Muslim fundamentalists protested that they were proselytizing Muslim children and as a result the three were convicted and sentenced to three years in prison.

In the East African country of Eritrea, 26 pastors and 1,700 evangelical church members are imprisoned and some have been tortured by government military forces. That’s double the total imprisoned from a year ago. Open Doors responded to the increased persecution by launching an E-Petition Campaign for Eritrea which urges the U.S. Congress and the Department of State to work to put a stop to the persecution.

In response to the Dec. 26, 2004, tsunami in Southeast Asia, Open Doors launched a $2-million relief campaign called “Wave of Hope” to support and strengthen partner churches in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India. In the past year Open Doors brought hope in the midst of suffering by providing shelter, rebuilding churches, trauma counseling, funding livelihood projects and replacing lost Bibles and study materials. The ministry also sent emergency aid to Pakistan which suffered from a devastating earthquake on Oct. 8. (Assist News Service)

STUDY: FAITH-BASED PROGRAMS REDUCE INMATE VIOLENCE IN U.S.

And independent study of inmates at Mississippi State Penitentiary concludes that religion can reduce the incidence of antisocial behavior in prison, making faith-based programs an attractive alternative to expensive correctional treatment. The study, published in the Journal of the Scientific Study of Religion, reports that believing in a higher power, attending worship services regularly and participating in faith-based prison programs directly reduces inmate arguments that typically result in fights. Studies have also shown that treatment programs focusing on literacy, general equivalency diplomas and college training, and recovery from substance abuse are promising, but are expensive in comparison to faith-based programs. (Religion Today/Washington Times)

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Today’s Headlines:

KYRGYZSTAN GOVERNMENT TIGHTENS GRIP ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

INDONESIAN OFFICIALS TO REVISE LAW REGULATING PLACES OF WORSHIP

POLICE IN INDONESIA URGE CHURCHES TO PREPARE FOR CHRISTMAS ATTACKS

FIRST CHRISTIAN JOURNALISM COURSE OF ITS KIND LAUNCHED IN U.K.

PAKISTANI BELIEVERS HOLD DAY TO PROTEST ATTACK BY MUSLIM MOB

Today’s Top Stories:

KYRGYZSTAN GOVERNMENT TIGHTENS GRIP ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

The government of Kyrgyzstan is tightening its grip on religious freedom since a successful coup in March, and Bridge International reports that Christians are ready for the change. “There is a lot of pressure on the Christian leaders,” said Bridge spokesperson R.K. Ulrich. “There is a risk by a large group, by the Muslims [and even the] Orthodox Church to see that the evangelical church is muzzled.” Ulrich recently returned from the region, and she says the church is ready. “They are not at all discouraged. They’re just bracing for the fact that, yes, it’s going to be tougher. They’re training their people for the fact that they’re going to have to stand up and be counted.” Ulrich says if pressure is put on the church, it will only grow. “You’ve seen that historically that when there is a lot of pressure coming from the outside coming on the church, it will grow.” (Mission Network News)

INDONESIAN OFFICIALS TO REVISE LAW REGULATING PLACES OF WORSHIP

Following the closure of scores of churches in the past two years, the Indonesian government is revising a controversial law that regulates places of worship. But Christian leaders fear the changes would do little to keep Muslim communities from blocking or shutting down churches. The original 1969 decree requires all religious groups to apply for permits before setting up a place of worship. Neighbors in the immediate vicinity of a proposed church, mosque or Hindu temple must give their consent before a permit is granted. Under proposed revisions, community members would be given even greater power to determine whether a church could be established as an “inter-faith forum,” mirroring the religious make-up of the village and province, before it could get approval to apply for a permit. “If it comes down to a vote, Muslim leaders will influence others to vote against churches,” warned Father Antonius Benny Susetyo, a spokesman for the Indonesian Bishops’ Council. (Compass)

POLICE IN INDONESIA URGE CHURCHES TO PREPARE FOR CHRISTMAS ATTACKS

Police have urged churches in and around the Indonesian city of Solo to dig holes for disposing of suspicious objects that might be bombs, an officer said amid fears of Christmas-related attacks. Police across the world’s most populous Muslim country have been stepping up security measures ahead of the yearend holidays to avoid a repeat of 2000 Christmas Eve bombings of churches in several Indonesian cities which killed 19 people. “I urged churches, especially those in villages, to dig holes to throw away suspicious objects that might be bombs,” Solo Police Chief Abdul Madjid told Reuters. For inner city churches with nowhere to dig, “I order them to make bomb baskets,” he said, referring to large metal drums the police bomb squad uses for defusing explosives. “This is an anticipatory act. Who knows; there might be a pack of bombs,” Madjid said. Officers had been assigned to guard more than 60 churches in the city, and priests were asked to tell congregations to bring only “essential items” to Christmas events such as Bibles and hymnbooks, and not carry backpacks, he said. (WorldWide Religious News/Reuters)

FIRST CHRISTIAN JOURNALISM COURSE OF ITS KIND LAUNCHED IN U.K.

With the aim to equip Christian believers to make an impact in the secular media, the first Christian journalism course of its kind in the U.K. has been launched. Set up by Cleland Thom Journalism Training Services, the coursework is done online with full tutorial support and carries with it the National Council for the Training of Journalists’ qualification. The course leads to the National Council for the Training of Journalists qualifications and will enable those who take the course to follow God’s call into a career in journalism. “That could be on a local paper, or even a national one. Or you could end up working on a magazine, radio station or a website. Or working for yourself as a freelance, or for the Christian press,” said Thom in a website report. The course usually takes about one year to complete. Cleland Thom has been a journalist for more than 30 years and is a member of the Society of Editors. He trains staff at The Manchester Evening News, The Liverpool Post and Echo, The Birmingham Post and Mail, and many other media outlets. (Assist News Service)

PAKISTANI BELIEVERS HOLD DAY TO PROTEST ATTACK BY MUSLIM MOB

Pakistani believers are observing a day of “Protest, Prayers and Fasting” today, signifying the completion of 40 days of mourning for the recent tragedies in the Punjabi town of Sangla Hill when announcements were made in mosques urging Muslims to attack Christians.

“This day [is being] observed to condemn the lawlessness and intolerance in the name of religion and the callous attitude of authorities for not arresting the real culprits, ” said Shahbaz Bhatti, chairman of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance in a news release.

The incidents revolved around a Christian man, Yousaf Masih, who was falsely accused of desecrating the Koran. Following the urging of local Islamic leaders, a mob of approximately 5,000 Muslims attacked Christians with weapons, gasoline, flammable chemicals, sticks and batons.

At the insistence of a variety of Sangla Hill’s community leaders, an official finally visited the site of the incident six days after it occurred. He promised to launch an immediate official inquiry into what happened.

Christians living in Sangla Hill are concerned because of the ongoing atmosphere of fear and insecurity. “Discriminatory laws such as blasphemy laws, a major tool for creating disharmony should be repealed, and reconciliation efforts between people of different faith should be made to eliminate violence in the name of religion,” Bhatti said. (Religion Today/Assist News Service)

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Today’s Headlines:

TURKMENISTAN AUTHORITIES RAID BAPTIST CHURCH, QUESTION 7 MEMBERS

SWEDEN’S HIGHEST COURT ACQUITS PASTOR OF HATE SPEECH

CHRISTIANS IN NEPAL FACE ONGOING DANGER IN SPITE OF CEASE-FIRE

SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO LAUNCHES CHRISTIAN TALK CHANNEL

Today’s Top Stories:

TURKMENISTAN AUTHORITIES RAID BAPTIST CHURCH, QUESTION 7 MEMBERS

Baptists in the Central Asian country of Turkmenistan continue to face pressure from authorities. On Saturday, Dec. 17, officials with the Ministry of State Security (secret police) entered a meeting of the Turkmen-speaking registered Baptist church in Deynau in the northeastern Lebap region. Seven church members were holding a house group meeting when a police officer, a public prosecutor and a local imam raided the house of a recent convert to Christianity. During the raid, the secret police officer and prosecutor started shouting and threatening the Christians and began searching the house (without a search warrant) for religious literature. Two Christians had their personal Bibles confiscated. Later the seven congregants were taken to the public prosecutor’s office where they were again threatened and insulted. Officials told the Baptists that local authorities should hold public meetings in villages to name Christians and denounce them as traitors. The officials also threatened one woman with expulsion from her rented apartment. The detainees were forced to justify their actions in writing before being released. (Forum 18 News Service)

SWEDEN’S HIGHEST COURT ACQUITS PASTOR OF HATE SPEECH

The Swedish Supreme Court, in a unanimous, precedent-setting decision, Tuesday, Nov. 29, acquitted Pastor Ake Green of charges of “hate speech” arising from a sermon he preached in July 2003 denouncing homosexual behaviors, reported the Lawyers Christian Fellowship in London. Green was initially convicted under Sweden’s hate crimes law, enacted in 2003, which makes illegal any expressions of “disrespect” or “incitement towards a group of people,” including groups with “sexual inclinations.” Green had been convicted and sentenced by a lower court in 2004. In a 16-page ruling, the Supreme Court said his sermon was protected by freedom of speech and religion under the European Convention on Human Rights. “We believe that it is probable that a conviction against Pastor Green would not hold up in the European Court of Justice,” said Supreme Court Justice Johan Munck. The Lawyers Christian Fellowship said the decision to acquit Green is “very positive, setting a standard for the right to religious freedom and right to freedom of expression.” (Assist News Service)

Pastor Cai Zhuohua and two other Christian relatives who were found guilty in a Chinese court Tuesday, Nov. 8, of “illegal business practices” were summoned to appear at a second trial on Wednesday, Nov. 30. Reasons for granting the second trial are still obscure. A fourth member of the family, Hu Jinyun, was also asked to appear, although she escaped sentencing in the first trial. A new verdict is expected on Tuesday, Dec. 20, reported the China Aid Association (CAA). Charges against Cai, his wife, Xiao Yunfei, and her brother, Xiao Gaowen, were filed after public security officials raided a warehouse containing more than 237,000 copies of the Bible and other religious publications in September 2004. During the first trial, defense lawyers argued that the books were printed for free distribution throughout house church networks and should not be considered a “profit-making” venture as alleged by the government. The judge rejected these arguments and sentenced Cai to three years in prison, his wife to two years and her brother to 18 months. A key source told CAA that members of the State Security Bureau and Public Security Bureau interrogated Cai almost 90 times from September 2004 to October 2005. These interrogation sessions were often held at midnight. (Compass)

CHRISTIANS IN NEPAL FACE ONGOING DANGER IN SPITE OF CEASE-FIRE

Maoist rebels have extended a unilateral cease-fire in Nepal, hoping this will allow for negotiations in the 10-year-old conflict in the Himalayan nation. Despite the cease-fire, government forces have continued to fight, causing problems for national Christians, says Rody Rodeheaver of IN Network. “Many of our people are right in the middle of where the government and Maoist guerrillas are engaged,” he said. “So it’s been a very difficult time for them. It’s curtailed a lot of their movements.” Rodeheaver says some Christians have been accused of being spies and have been killed by both sides. Despite the violence, the Christians are focused. “In the midst of all of this they are working diligently to share the gospel in any way they can,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity because in times like this people ask the hard questions that are answered by the truth of the gospel and so our people are willing to be there and share.” (Mission Network News)

SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO LAUNCHES CHRISTIAN TALK CHANNEL

A new Christian Talk channel featuring FamilyNet programming has been launched. FamilyNet, the broadcast arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, and SIRIUS Satellite announced that they have launched Christian Talk exclusively on SIRIUS. The new channel airs FamilyNet’s most popular programs, including preaching from some of the nation’s top pastors, innovative radio-specific programs, and leading evangelical talk personalities. Christian Talk is the companion to SIRIUS’ Christian music programming. “It is a goal for SIRIUS to offer the most comprehensive Christian programming,” said Scott Greenstein, president of SIRIUS Entertainment and Sports. “We welcome FamilyNet’s popular talk programming as the perfect complement to our Christian music offerings.” (Assist News Service)