Today’s Headlines:

TENSIONS MOUNT AS POLICE ARREST PRESIDENT OF MINISTRY IN INDIA

KIDNAPPED CHRISTIAN LEADER STILL MISSING IN INDIA

LAOTIAN GOVERNMENT TO CONFISCATE HOMES OF 15 CHRISTIAN FAMILIES

BOOK OF HOPE LAUNCHES AFRICAN VERSION OF ‘GODMAN’ VIDEO IN UGANDA

Today’s Top Stories:

TENSIONS MOUNT AS POLICE ARREST PRESIDENT OF MINISTRY IN INDIA

Police officers in northwestern India’s Rajasthan state arrested Rev. Samuel Thomas, president of Emmanuel Mission International (EMI) and son of Archbishop M.A. Thomas, EMI’s founder earlier today. Both men had gone underground after Hindu extremists accused them of distributing a controversial book in which the militants alleged that their religion and deities had been denigrated.

EMI’s orphanages, schools and a hospital have been targeted for closure by a wide array of Hindu extremists in the past few months, including some who have offered a reward of $26,000 for the heads of both Thomas and his father.

Tensions increased earlier this week when Rajasthan state’s welfare minister, Madan Dilawar, said he should be “stoned to death” if his government effort to take over EMI’s properties failed. The statement came less than a month after the state revoked the licenses of an EMI Bible institute, orphanage, school, hospital and church. Dilawar also told the Hindi daily, Rajasthan Patrika, that he should be stoned if he is unable to “take action” against Thomas and his father. (Compass)

KIDNAPPED CHRISTIAN LEADER STILL MISSING IN INDIA

Rev. Tongkhojang Lunkim is still missing two months after a rebel army in northeastern India’s Manipur state kidnapped the administrative secretary of the Kuki Christian Church on Tuesday, Jan. 17, and relatives fear for his safety. Lunkim’s kidnappers, the Kuki Liberation Army, have reportedly demanded a ransom of 10 million rupees (US$225,000). Rev. Stephen Bryant, senior international editor and publisher of the Upper Room devotional, said Lunkim’s kidnapping was clearly linked to his Christian work. “He has lived with threats and danger ever since Christ called him,” Bryant told the United Methodist News service. (Compass)

LAOTIAN GOVERNMENT TO CONFISCATE HOMES OF 15 CHRISTIAN FAMILIES

Fifteen Khmu Christian families living in the village of Ban Nam Haeng in Udomxai province, Laos, received notice earlier this month that their homes were being confiscated and given to other families, reported a local informant. Last year the Laotian government unsuccessfully attempted to evict the Christian families. This time handwritten notices were posted on each door, stating that all of their farmland was being confiscated and given to other villagers. Christians are praying that these notices will not be followed by violence in enforcing the evictions. (Voice of the Martyrs)

BOOK OF HOPE LAUNCHES AFRICAN VERSION OF ‘GODMAN’ VIDEO IN UGANDA

Book of Hope just launched the African version of its “Godman” video in Kampala, Uganda. The event was preceded by several community book distributions. Book of Hope’s Carolyn Webber says the response so far has been incredible. “The kids were so excited to see the movie, and they really engaged in it. One of the things that we wanted to do in creating a customized version of the story of Jesus for Africa was to create it in such a way that children would engage in it and would relate to it. It was awesome to see the kids cheer when something good would happen in the movie, or when Jesus healed somebody or ‘boo’ when Satan would come on the screen.” Webber says the movie has opened up numerous opportunities for evangelism and discipleship. When the children were given an opportunity to make a commitment at the end of each showing, “25 to 30 percent gave their lives to Christ.” (Mission Network News)