Today’s Headlines:

CHRISTIANS MAXIMIZE OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES VIA THE INTERNET

FIRE DESTROYS BARN AT AVANT MINISTRIES’ BIBLE CAMP IN ALASKA

CHRISTIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION STEPS UP EFFORTS IN NEPAL

RADICAL MUSLIMS HALT SERVICES AT 3 CHURCHES IN INDONESIA

AWARD-WINNING CHRISTIAN BRITISH AUTHOR, ACTOR DIES AT 43

Today’s Top Stories:

CHRISTIANS MAXIMIZE OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES VIA THE INTERNET

As cities and suburbs go wireless, more people are increasingly finding themselves in close range with “Wi-Fi hotspots,” wireless fidelity networks that are typically available in highly populated areas. The Christian Post reports that as the Internet takes new heights, Christians are getting on board to make the gospel just as accessible as wireless is becoming. Christians around the world tagged their web pages for this Sunday’s second annual Internet Evangelism Day. An Internet evangelistic ministry reported seeing up to 1,400 indicated decisions for Christ every day on the Web. According to a survey by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, nearly two-thirds of online Americans use the Internet to perform spiritual and religious activities. Tony Whittaker, who initiated Internet Evangelism Day, hopes more Christians and churches will be inspired to join the worldwide online outreach. (Religion Today)

FIRE DESTROYS BARN AT AVANT MINISTRIES’ BIBLE CAMP IN ALASKA

Early Saturday, April 29, fire destroyed the horse barn and loading dock at Avant Ministries’ Echo Ranch Bible Camp in Juneau, Alaska. No people or horses were injured in the fire that destroyed the saddles, bridles, riding helmets and all the necessary equipment and buildings for the horse program. Horses have been a central part of the camp’s ministry, sometimes leading to breakthroughs in young people who don’t respond to other teaching. Campers will begin arriving on Wednesday, June 7, and much of the equipment will need to be replaced immediately for the ministry to continue on schedule. To help, contact the camp at or call (816) 479-7053. (Avant Ministries)

CHRISTIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION STEPS UP EFFORTS IN NEPAL

Christian Freedom International (CFI), a Christian human rights organization, is launching operations aimed at helping Nepal’s persecuted Christians. In the midst of hardships and persecution stemming from civil and religious unrest, “Nepalese Christians need a helping hand, especially now,” says CFI President Jim Jacobson. The organization’s various programs include distribution of food, medicine and Bibles as well as micro-enterprise initiatives and legal assistance. The pastor of an unregistered Katmandu house church, known only as D.K. for security reasons, said, “People who convert to Christianity face persecution from local leaders and sometimes the government. There are pastors in custody right now because they tell others about Jesus. The persecution is getting worse. Many Hindu leaders don’t want Christianity to spread, but it is spreading fast.” Proselytizing is a crime in Nepal where just 0.45 percent of the population in the predominantly Hindu country is Christian. (Christian Newswire)

RADICAL MUSLIMS HALT SERVICES AT 3 CHURCHES IN INDONESIA

Radical Muslims in mid-April forced three churches to cease services in North Jakarta and the provinces of West Java and Tangerang, claiming the meetings were disturbing Islamic communities. On Monday, April 17, a group of 150 people bullied Pastor Yoshua Sugiharto into ceasing worship activities of his Shining Christian Church in West Semper, North Jakarta. In West Java province, police asked the St. Clara Catholic Church in North Bekasi district not to hold a Good Friday worship service on April 14 after Muslim groups threatened to disrupt it. A mob of some 500 Muslims forced the Ciledug Catholic church, meeting in a residential building in the Regensi Bintaro Ciledug housing complex in Tangerang province, to cease services. (Compass Direct)

* HCJB World Radio has worked with local partners to establish more than 14 local Christian radio stations across Indonesia since 2004. Broadcasts from HCJB World Radio-Australia’s shortwave station in Kununurra also encourage listeners nationwide. In addition, HCJB World Radio has helped with relief efforts since the Dec. 26, 2004, earthquake/tsunami and subsequent quakes that devastated parts of Indonesia.

AWARD-WINNING CHRISTIAN BRITISH AUTHOR, ACTOR DIES AT 43

Rob Lacey, award-winning British author and actor, died Monday, May 1, after a battle with cancer. He was 43. Lacey was best known for The Word on the Street (originally published as The Street Bible in the U.K.), a retelling of the entire Bible in modern British “street” English which was awarded the Book of the Year in 2004 by the Christian Booksellers Convention in the U.K. Besides being an author, Lacey trained at the Desmond Jones School of Mime and Physical Theatre, was a founding member of the Trapdoor Theatre Company, and with his wife founded and was co-artistic director of the Gate Arts and Training Center in Cardiff, Wales. Lacey also authored The Liberator, a paraphrase of the Gospels; The Poisoned Pool, a self-published graphic novel; and Are We Getting Through, a communication resource book. He is survived by his wife, Sandra Harnisch-Lacey, and two children, Lukas and Magdalena. (Christian Etailing/Assist News Service)