Today’s Headlines:

19 SOUTHERN BAPTIST VOLUNTEERS IN LEBANON EVACUATED TO CYPRESS

80+ CHINESE CHRISTIANS DETAINED IN 2 HOUSE CHURCH RAIDS

PASTOR IN INDIA ARRESTED FOR TEACHING BIBLE TO CHILDREN

NEGOTIATORS GAIN RELEASE OF 2 U.S.MISSIONARY HOSTAGES IN HAITI

HUNDREDS PUT FAITH IN CHRIST AT ‘FESTIVAL OF LIFE’ IN POLAND

Today’s Top Stories:

19 SOUTHERN BAPTIST VOLUNTEERS IN LEBANON EVACUATED TO CYPRESS

Nineteen Southern Baptist volunteers from two churches were evacuated out of Beirut, Lebanon, early Friday, July 21, aboard the U.S. Navy transport USS Nashville. Ten members from First Baptist Church of Forney, Texas, and nine from Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church in Henry County, Ga., joined hundreds of other U.S. evacuees transported to Nicosia, Cyprus. U.S. embassy officials set up a receiving area to feed and house the evacuees until they can return home. The Baptists were expected to board U.S. charter flights to return home. The groups were participating in various summer ministries with Lebanese Baptist churches when bombing began between Hezbollah guerrillas and Israeli forces. Southern Baptist official John Brady said, “They were elated to be out of Lebanon and praising the Lord for His protection. They also had some very kind words about how the Lebanese Baptist brothers and sisters helped them every step of the way.” (Baptist Press)

80+ CHINESE CHRISTIANS DETAINED IN 2 HOUSE CHURCH RAIDS

Chinese authorities arrested more than 80 house church Christians in two separate raids last week. Eyewitnesses reported to China Aid Association (CAA) that 43 Christians were in a fellowship meeting in a private home in Hubei province south of Beijing Friday, July 21, when six policemen (two in plainclothes) from a local station entered the house. They searched the home and confiscated Christian books while taking 20 congregants to the police station. Some of the 20 were released around 5:30 p.m. local time while eight were sentenced to 10 to 15 days of detention by police. CAA reported that another large raid took place on Wednesday, July 19, in neighboring Henan province where more than 60 house church members were held and interrogated before being released later the same day. (China Aid Association)

PASTOR IN INDIA ARRESTED FOR TEACHING BIBLE TO CHILDREN

Pastor Om Prakash Pandey, 27, of northern India’s Uttar Pradesh state was arrested on Sunday, July 16, while leading worship at his independent church. Villagers, upset by accusations that he taught the Bible to children, dragged Pandey to the local police station. Police Inspector Jawahar Lal Saroj and others beat him mercilessly but with care that the wounds would not be outwardly visible. Inspector Saroj maintained that Pandey was detained for his own protection saying, “The angry mob might have endangered his life.” Dr. John Dayal, general secretary of the All India Christian Union, believes there is a political motivation to the attack, saying it was part of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strategy for winning votes in upcoming state assembly elections. (Compass Direct)

* Radio programs in 17 languages air to India from HCJB World Radio-Australia’s shortwave station in Kununurra. The programs are produced at the ministry’s studios in New Delhi, India.

NEGOTIATORS GAIN RELEASE OF 2 U.S.MISSIONARY HOSTAGES IN HAITI

Two U.S. missionaries held hostage in Haiti for five days were released Thursday, July 20, after negotiations by the FBI. Tom Barron and William Eugene Seastrum, both from High Point, N.C., spent their captivity in a sweltering, 9-by-10-foot room after gunmen took them hostage, initially demanding $500,000 in ransom. They were released for an amount of less than $10,000. Haitian kidnappings for profit have become more common since the February 2004 ouster of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, most being attributed to well-armed street gangs. Barron, a pastor, and his colleague tried to minister to their captors and other hostages despite hovering helicopters and nearby gunfire related to fighting between U.N. forces and the street gangs. Barron has been ministering in Haiti since 1999 and refused to rule out a return. “If it’s God’s will for me to come back, I’ll come back,” Barron said. “But it won’t be next week.” (Worthy News/Associated Press)

HUNDREDS PUT FAITH IN CHRIST AT ‘FESTIVAL OF LIFE’ IN POLAND

The Festival of Life 2006 in Wisla, Poland, drew to a close Sunday, July 23, after a week of festivities designed to bring the message of joy and salvation to this southern region of the country.

Thousands attended each night as Pastor Mike MacIntosh of Horizon Christian Fellowship in San Diego, Calif., led the festivities and was joined by more than 150 other Christian volunteers from the U.S.

Hundreds of local Protestants and Catholics supported the event. Polish Catholic revivalist Rev. Richard Nowak explained in depth what it means to give your life to Christ after each night’s altar call.

Helping organize the event was HCJB World Radio partner ministry Radio CCM led by President Henryk Kroll. He was ecstatic on the last night of the festival.

“This is a miracle that has been happening with all the pastors and priests; being in one accord working and praising God together,” Kroll said. “It’s absolutely amazing. The work among the children has been incredible. I have just heard that 600 children who were reached as part of the festival have said that they want to start a relationship with Jesus.” (Assist News Service)

* Radio CCM, HCJB World Radio’s partner ministry in southern Poland, operates 24-hour-a-day FM radio stations in five cities, making gospel broadcasts available to more than 3 million residents. The ministry also received approval of a broadcasting license in June for Chorz ³w, potentially reaching 1.5 million people in the metro area. A Christian satellite radio network to link the Polish stations and expand the ministry is planned. Programs also air via the Internet (visit http://www.ccm.pl).