Today’s Headlines:

PALESTINIAN HAMAS VICTORY CONCERNS CHRISTIANS IN ISRAEL

BUDDHIST EXTREMISTS THREATEN, ATTACK 2 CHURCHES IN SRI LANKA

UZBEKISTAN INCREASES FINES FOR GROUPS THAT BREAK RELIGION LAW

JAILED VIETNAMESE PASTOR SHARES CHRIST WHILE AWAITING HIS RELEASE

Today’s Top Stories:

PALESTINIAN HAMAS VICTORY CONCERNS CHRISTIANS IN ISRAEL

The Islamist Hamas Party was elected into office in Palestine’s first parliamentary elections in 10 years Tuesday, Jan. 24. The Hamas victory has many Christians in prayer because Hamas’ charter calls for the annihilation of Israel.

A victorious Hamas candidate says the election results show that Jerusalem is “Islamic” and that Palestinian voters “want Islam.” A spokesman for the International Christian Embassy which promotes Christian involvement in Israel says Christian tourists are going to be “very uncomfortable going into Hamas areas.”

He adds that life could become more difficult for Palestinian Christians, many of whom live in east Jerusalem. It includes the Old City with its key holy sites for Jews, Muslims and Christians. The main site is the Al Aqsa Mosque compound, Islam’s third holiest shrine, which is built atop the ruins of the biblical Jewish Temples, Judaism’s holiest.

“Hamas has come to power . . . with 76 of the 132 seats [while] Fatah, which had been the ruling political party in the Palestinian Authority, has only 43 seats,” said Jimmy DeYoung of Shofar Communications in Israel. It’s expected to take three weeks for Hamas to set up what’s being described as a “coalition government” of sorts.

DeYoung doesn’t believe this political situation will stop the work of the church. “The only answer is Jesus Christ, and I think they (Christians) are going to be on fire more than they ever have been before to spread the gospel message among the Palestinian people, including the terrorists, which is exactly what’s needed this time in history.” (Mission Network News/AgapePress/Associated Press)

BUDDHIST EXTREMISTS THREATEN, ATTACK 2 CHURCHES IN SRI LANKA

Two churches in Sri Lanka were attacked last weekend as threats from Buddhist monks continued amid tensions between the government and Tamil rebels. On Saturday, Jan. 21, a mob of 500 people demonstrated against an Assembly of God church in Bolaththa (north of Colombo). The next day some of the attackers returned and threw stones at the pastor’s house (part of the church building), breaking windows.

In another incident on Saturday, about 20 men brandishing rods and sticks walked into the parsonage of another Assembly of God church in Alpitiya on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. The pastor’s wife was at home with her three young children when the intruders entered and demanded that they cease all Christian activities. The men knocked over a table, chairs and other furniture and threatened to destroy all of the family’s belongings if their demands were not met. (Compass)

UZBEKISTAN INCREASES FINES FOR GROUPS THAT BREAK RELIGION LAW

The government of the Central Asian country of Uzbekistan has increased the fines by up to 10-fold for groups that break the country’s religion law and laws on how organizations hold public rallies, street marches and demonstrations. Uzbekistan bans all unregistered religious activity and makes it difficult for churches with fewer than 100 members to obtain registration. The steep rise in fines was introduced by changes to the Criminal and Administrative Codes introduced last month. So far religious communities have not experienced any increase in fines but, after the launch of an intense campaign of inspections of religious activity in the capital Tashkent, religious minorities are concerned. “Here in Uzbekistan, inspections of activity never happen just like that — generally their aim is to close down churches,” said a Baptist leader in Tashkent who asked not to be identified. “We are praying that the current inspections will not result in church closures.” (Forum 18 News Service)

JAILED VIETNAMESE PASTOR SHARES CHRIST WHILE AWAITING HIS RELEASE

Pham Ngoc Thach is an evangelist from the Vietnam Mennonite Church who was arrested in March 2004 and later sentenced to two years in prison. He could be released as early as March. Thach is not allowed to have a Bible, pray or speak of Jesus to anyone. Violators face punishments such as beatings, electric shocks and solitary confinement. In the midst of this difficult situation, Thach clings to his faith in God. He prays silently but continues to share his faith with fellow inmates. At Christmas one prisoner gave his life to Jesus after Thach shared the gospel with him. Almost every day a prisoner dies in the jail. Thach is assigned to bury the dead, only strengthening his resolve to share Jesus’ love with those around him. He said he is encouraged by the thousands worldwide who are praying for him and sending him letters. Because of the many letters, he said the guards became more respectful toward him, realizing he is no ordinary prisoner. (Open Doors)