Today’s Headlines:

FAMILY-BASED MEDICAL OUTREACH FINDING SUCCESS IN UGANDA

YOUNG PAKISTANI BRIDE RAPED, BEATEN FOR REFUSING TO FOLLOW ISLAM

‘MUSLIM-BACKGROUND BELIEVERS’ PERSECUTED IN UGANDA, KENYA

HILTON GRANT HELPS CHARITIES PROVIDE CLEAN WATER IN ETHIOPIA

9th ANNUAL ‘SCRIPTURES IN SCHOOLS WEEK’ SET FOR SEPTEMBER

Today’s Top Stories:

FAMILY-BASED MEDICAL OUTREACH FINDING SUCCESS IN UGANDA

Health workers in Uganda with Medical Ambassadors have found medical and spiritual success with the family-based model they call Community Health Evangelism. In Mbale, Uganda, the workers teach basic hygiene while working on projects and training focused on preventing diseases. They focus on family groups as a unit, says Medical Ambassadors’ Terry Dalrimple. “These workers that are going into the home are working with the families to meet the needs of the family both physically and spiritually.” Special focus on overwhelming numbers of AIDS orphans is also family-oriented. “The solution is for Christian people in a community to organize their communities to come around and care for their own orphans.” (Mission Network News)

YOUNG PAKISTANI BRIDE RAPED, BEATEN FOR REFUSING TO FOLLOW ISLAM

A Christian girl in Pakistan has gone into hiding to escape her Muslim in-laws who beat and raped her for fleeing her forced marriage and refusing Islam. Asya Khadim, 15, had been married for 13 months when her mother filed divorce papers for her in January. “They tried to force me to read the Koran,” she said. “My husband beat me every day for two months because I refused.” Khadim fled to a relative’s home for protection. When her husband found her, he and 10 family members took her at knifepoint and imprisoned her in a small house with guards. Khadim says her husband “locked me in my room and then beat and raped me. He told me to say that I was a Muslim, otherwise he would rape me again.” Khadim’s story highlights the ongoing debate regarding Pakistan’s controversial Hudood Ordinances that are based on Muslim laws, and some say encourage domestic violence against women. (Compass Direct)

* HCJB World Radio sent two medical teams from Ecuador to Pakistan following the Oct. 8, 2005, earthquake that left tens of thousands dead and thousands more injured and homeless. Staff members helped SIM International with relief efforts.

‘MUSLIM-BACKGROUND BELIEVERS’ PERSECUTED IN UGANDA, KENYA

Open Doors reports a series of attacks targeting Christians who came from a Muslim background in Uganda and Kenya. Beginning in May, Islamic missionaries entered Uganda to train people in Islamic doctrines, triggering a series of persecutions against what Open Doors refers to as “Muslim-background believers.” In one incident an unnamed Ugandan was attacked in his home, barely escaping with his family while the home was destroyed. On Monday, July 3, in Entebbe, Uganda, Muslims attacked a Christian seminar. Four gunmen and a number of others entered the meeting, shooting and throwing stones at the participants. Several people were injured, and a car was severely damaged. Kenyan Christians also have been kidnapped, driven from their homes and forcibly divorced because of their beliefs. A Christian radio station was also attacked on May 12, killing one and injuring three. (Evangelical News)

* HCJB World Radio has worked with local partners to install eight radio outlets in seven cities of Kenya.

HILTON GRANT HELPS CHARITIES PROVIDE CLEAN WATER IN ETHIOPIA

Six leading non-governmental organizations that focus on providing clean water to Ethiopia received at least $13 million in grant money from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. The foundation, founded by the hotel entrepreneur of the same name, organized the foundation in 1944 as the philanthropic leader in water development in needy countries. “Water is life, and today 1.2 billion people lack this basic necessity,” said Steven M. Hilton, president of the Hilton Foundation. “That’s why our foundation has made supplying potable water to developing countries a major priority.” The main beneficiary is the Millennium Water Program, a consortium of organizations including Living Water International, CARE, WaterAid and World Vision. Combined, the Hilton grant will help provide clean water to an estimated 1.6 million people in the next five years. (Assist News Service)

* Staff members at HCJB World Radio-Australia’s studios record Oromo language programs that air to 28 million speakers in Ethiopia and Kenya via FEBA Radio’s shortwave facilities.

9th ANNUAL ‘SCRIPTURES IN SCHOOLS WEEK’ SET FOR SEPTEMBER

The ninth annual “Scriptures in Schools Week” is slated to take place the week of Sept. 24-30. Christian students, teaches and support staff in schools across the U.S. are encouraged to bring their Bibles to classes and “Tote ’em and quote ’em! And use ’em in class.” The Scripture in School project was developed as a legal, low-key, friendly but effective way to introduce biblical concepts back into American public school classrooms. Coordinator Bob Pawson encourages everyone, saying, “Dare to bring your Bibles. Let’s return the Bible to our public schools and restore basic biblical literacy to America’s children.” (Christian Newswire)