Today’s Headlines:

INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT TIGHTENS REQUIREMENTS FOR CHURCH PERMITS

PASTOR IN CUBA WRONGLY ACCUSED OF AIDING ILLEGAL EMIGRANTS

PAKISTANI PASTOR ABDUCTED, TORTURED BY ISLAMIC KIDNAPPERS

2 PROTESTANT CHURCHES IN BELARUS FACE INCREASING LEGAL PRESSURE

SWAZILAND SEEKS ‘YOUNG HEROES’ TO HELP FAMILIES RAVAGED BY AIDS

Today’s Top Stories:

INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT TIGHTENS REQUIREMENTS FOR CHURCH PERMITS

The Indonesian government has completed the revision of a controversial decree on the establishment of places of worship. It requires that all religious faiths must review requests for permits to build places of worship and then provide recommendations to the local government. Back to the Bible’s Frans Silalahi says the requirement to plant a church is unique. “You have to ask permission from 70 people who are unbelievers to set up one church. That’s what the law says.” In order to build a church, the government also requires a membership of 100 people. “We (may not) have a chance to build a church any more, but it doesn’t mean there aren’t any more Christians in Indonesia,” Silalahi said. (Mission Network News)

PASTOR IN CUBA WRONGLY ACCUSED OF AIDING ILLEGAL EMIGRANTS

Cuban authorities jailed an evangelical pastor and former president of his denomination Monday, Feb. 20, on charges of aiding illegal emigrants. Relatives of the Rev. Carlos Lamelas said the allegations against him are groundless. “They accuse him of getting people out of the country illegally, which is a big lie,” said a relative. “If he had that kind of money, he wouldn’t be living with hunger like he is now.” Some sources believe police targeted Lamelas because he has challenged the Castro regime on religious rights issues. Police allowed his wife, Uramis, to visit him for 10 minutes on Monday, Feb. 27, one week after his arrest. She said he appeared exhausted and depressed and that he had been isolated from other inmates during his confinement. A family friend said Uramis has hired a lawyer, and has asked for prayer as she begins a legal battle to free her husband. (Compass)

PAKISTANI PASTOR ABDUCTED, TORTURED BY ISLAMIC KIDNAPPERS

At about 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, Rev. Joseph Praim was walking to his bank in Lahore, Pakistan, to pay a bill when a car stopped near him. Islamic preachers jumped out and grabbed him. A handkerchief was placed over his mouth, and he soon lost consciousness. Local sources said the pastor of the Full Gospel Assemblies Church was robbed and woke up in a dark room where he was tied up, beaten and threatened with death. His abductors told him, “You belong to Christianity and your Christian brothers made derogatory cartoons of Prophet Mohammad in Denmark; that’s why we are going to kill you.” After five days without food or water, he was finally left on the road, tied up. Praim is now in hiding as he recuperates from his captivity. (Voice of the Martyrs)

2 PROTESTANT CHURCHES IN BELARUS FACE INCREASING LEGAL PRESSURE

Two Protestant churches in Minsk, Belarus are facing increasing pressure because of restrictive registration laws, reported the Forum 18 News Service. Pastor Georgi Vyazovsky of Christ’s Covenant Reformed Baptist Church has been charged with holding unsanctioned religious services.

On Sunday, Feb. 5, a local district official entered Vyazovsky’s home as the congregation of 30 met for Bible reading and prayer. When a police officer arrived a few minutes later, the church members refused him entrance. The official responded by accusing the pastor of violating church registration laws. The court hearing against him is scheduled for Friday, March 3.

On Sept. 20, 2005, the Belarusian Evangelical Church had its legal status removed by a city court. Pastor Sabilo has since been ordered to pay all court costs related to the case. With just 12 members and living on a meager pension, Sabilo told the court that he was unable to pay the fine of 127,500 rubles (US$59). He was told that bailiffs would make an inventory of his property for confiscation. At last report, this has not yet happened. (Voice of the Martyrs)

SWAZILAND SEEKS ‘YOUNG HEROES’ TO HELP FAMILIES RAVAGED BY AIDS

Swaziland’s National Emergency Response Council on HIV/AIDS (NERCHA) has announced the inauguration of Young Heroes, a program through which people around the world can sponsor orphan families in Swaziland with monthly donations of food and clothing. With more than 42 percent of adults (age 15-49) infected, Swaziland has the highest rate of HIV in the world. UNICEF estimates that more than 70,000 children in the country’s population of 1 million have already lost at least one parent. “Our greatest desire is to encourage young people with advantages to help their peers who have little or nothing,” said NERCHA Director Derek von Wissell. A crucial goal of Young Heroes is to keep families together on their homesteads and in their communities where they have the most security and are surrounded by a familiar support system. (Religion Today)