Today’s Headlines:

ETHIOPIAN CONVERT HANGED ON A CROSS FOR BELIEF IN JESUS

SAUDI ARABIA’S DEFENSE MINISTER VOWS TO BAN CHURCH CONSTRUCTION

CHINESE OFFICIALS STOP U.S. PASTOR FROM PREACHING AT LOCAL CHURCH

‘UNTOUCHABLES’ WELCOMED AT ‘JESUS WELLS’ ACROSS INDIA

* NEARLY 100 RADIO OUTLETS IN RUSSIA FORCED OFF THE AIR TEMPORARILY

Today’s Top Stories:

ETHIOPIAN CONVERT HANGED ON A CROSS FOR BELIEF IN JESUS

Reports of severe persecution of Christians in western Ethiopia are trickling to the outside world by local sources who often deliver news by foot to Voice of the Martyrs Canada. Reports of subsistence crop destruction, the razing of homes and the forced use of a Christian woman’s land to construct a mosque as part of a ‘mosque every 2 km’ plan have emerged in the last three months. Most shocking is the incident on July 5 when ex-Muslim Shek Hamed Adem was severely beaten and hanged on a cross. The crowd yelled, “Jesus was hanged on a cross and beaten, and as His follower you also deserve the same punishment!” Team members from Voice of the Martyrs believe the persecution is the result of continued church growth. (Mission Network News)

SAUDI ARABIA’S DEFENSE MINISTER VOWS TO BAN CHURCH CONSTRUCTION

Saudi Arabia’s defense minister, Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, said in a recent press conference that the Muslim nation will not allow churches to be built on its land, the birthplace of Islam. The sultan said foreigners are allowed to worship freely in their homes, but the construction of church buildings “would affect Islam and all Muslims.” The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has previously complained about Saudi Arabia’s absence from lists of countries that severely limit religious freedom, saying religious liberty “does not exist” in Saudi Arabia. The sultan came down squarely on the side of Islam saying, “This country was the launch pad for the prophecy and the message, and nothing can contradict this, even if we lose our necks.” His comments were published by Saudi newspapers and confirmed by several journalists who attended the press conference. (International Christian Concern/Pakistan Christian Post)

CHINESE OFFICIALS STOP U.S. PASTOR FROM PREACHING AT LOCAL CHURCH

Religious Affairs Bureau officials in China’s Shanxi province have prohibited U.S. Pastor Dennis Balcombe from preaching at a church affiliated with the state-sanctioned Three-Self Patriotic Movement in Pinglu, later forcing the regular pastor to leave as well. Balcombe is an active missionary in Asia and contributed to the 1980s revival in Henan province. Sun Tianfang, head of the Pinglu Religious Affairs Bureau, attempted to force the church’s pastor, Hu Qinghua, to cancel the invitation. When Hu refused, it prompted surprise visits and harassment from Sun early in July. Eventually the church elders were compelled to cancel Balcombe’s appearance, but stood together in support of Hu who was placed under house arrest within the church. Religious officials eventually forced a meeting on July 25 to “discuss” Hu’s leaving the church. Elders and other church members again supported the pastor, outlining his many achievements. Religious Affairs Bureau officials listed several violations against Hu and forced him to leave the church. (China Aid Association)

‘UNTOUCHABLES’ WELCOMED AT ‘JESUS WELLS’ ACROSS INDIA

India’s 300 million Dalit people, often referred to as “untouchables,” are often prevented from using village wells and water tanks by upper-caste people who deny them access. Gospel for Asia (GFA) missionaries are successfully drilling wells that are open to everyone at churches across India. Called “Jesus wells,” they provide water to everyone “regardless of religion or social class,” says GFA President K.P. Yohannan. He believes water is a great equalizer. “One of our native missionaries in Rajasthan commented that the ‘Jesus well’ in his community is bringing all of the people, even those who were unfriendly, together,” Yohannan said. “It’s as if the wells are breaking down invisible barriers.” GFA has more than 16,000 native missionaries in 10 Asian nations. (Evangelical News)

* NEARLY 100 RADIO OUTLETS IN RUSSIA FORCED OFF THE AIR TEMPORARILY

All but two of the nearly 100 outlets affiliated with New Life Radio (NLR), a Russian satellite network operated by Christian Radio for Russia with HCJB World Radio as the principal partner, have been forced to go off the air temporarily.

“NLR had to move to another satellite to distribute its programs,” said Mark Irwin, director of HCJB World Radio’s Russia/Commonwealth of Independent States subregion. “This is due to the fact that the satellite distribution slots on the satellite we were using were all bought up by the Russian government.”

At the end of July NLR learned that it would have to move from one satellite (Eutelsat W4) -the main satellite that carries entertainment programs in Russia-to another satellite (Intelsat 904) “in just a matter of days,” Irwin explained. He added that going back to the Eutelsat satellite may still be an option, “but the costs appear to be prohibitive.”

At present only two affiliates are broadcasting NLR programs-an FM station in Volgodonsk, Russia (operated by Volgodonsk Baptist Church), and KICY in Nome, Alaska. Local technicians in Volgodonsk made the necessary changes immediately while KICY never went off the air since it downloads the programs via high-speed Internet.

Most of NLR’s outlets are off the air until changes can be made to their satellite dishes. Each unit needs to be repositioned and new reception equipment installed in order to pick up the signal from Intelsat.

“These dishes are scattered all across Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic states and parts of Europe,” Irwin added. “The problem is getting to these sites. It could take up to a year before they’re all changed. This means curtailing a lot of effective ministry.”

The biggest impact could be on the downlinks that have been installed in Russian prisons, he said. “NLR has been used to preach Christ across Russia and Eastern Europe and was making an especially big impact as a ministry tool in dozens of local prisons. The prison ministry could come to a halt temporarily.”

Other outlets are in remote areas of Siberia-in tiny drug rehabilitation centers, at distant military sites or faraway churches and Bible schools. “Making all the necessary changes is a mammoth task, and our staff is very busy,” he explained. “And for some of the more remote sites, the outlets may actually be outside the footprint of the new satellite. We don’t know yet.”

Irwin said moving to the new satellite could also result in a “90-percent reduction in listenership” for certain subscribers who pick up the programs on their personal direct-to-home satellite dishes.

“If somebody is receiving a big satellite television package and New Life Radio is on that package, as was the case, and then NLR goes to a totally different satellite, the listener will have to make a choice, ‘Will I give up my television package so I can follow NLR to a different satellite?'”

He added that this is a “really sensitive time in Russia” with current events straining relations between Moscow and Washington, D.C., and countries in Europe. “Political events and developments between Russia and Western governments sometimes affect ministry in Russia,” Irwin said.

Since 1931 HCJB World Radio’s passion has been to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Through the practical tools of media and healthcare, the mission is equipping the voices and hands of the growing church. By working with local believers around the globe, ministries have been established in more than 300 communities in more than 100 countries as partners focus on blessings their communities.

Together with these partners, HCJB World Radio broadcasts the gospel in more than 120 languages and dialects. Thousands of healthcare patients are also meeting Jesus. Believers are being trained as missionaries, pastors, broadcasters and healthcare providers. HCJB World Radio’s desire is to integrate discipleship with practical tools to equip the growing church around the world and see lives transformed. (HCJB World Radio)