Today’s Headlines:

2,000 DIE IN FLOODING IN INDIA, OUTREACH GEARS UP FOR RELIEF EFFORTS

4 CHINESE MISSIONARIES TORTURED FOR 6 HOURS IN YUNAN PROVINCE

MINISTRY LEADER: PLANNED AIRLINE BOMBINGS SHOW ‘SPIRITUAL DARKNESS’

SUPREME COURT RULING IN INDIA MAKES CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION ‘EASIER’

Today’s Top Stories:

2,000 DIE IN FLOODING IN INDIA, OUTREACH GEARS UP FOR RELIEF EFFORTS

More than at least 2,000 people are reported dead and millions are homeless after what is believed to be India’s worst flooding in 200 years. Some areas reported more than six inches of rain in one day, leaving only tall trees above floodwaters in many areas. “[Up to] 400 villages are completely submerged,” said Gospel for Asia (GFA) President K.P. Yohannan. “We cannot see one thing except the tall trees sticking out through the water.” The situation is extreme, and GFA has already set up five relief centers to coordinate relief efforts. “We have more than 500 of our missionaries and church members fully engaged in bringing relief work and giving food and all kinds of things to the people,” Yohannan said. Mission leaders hope that when victims see the love Christians demonstrate while providing physical aid, they will also open their hearts to Christ. (Mission Network News/Assist News Service)

4 CHINESE MISSIONARIES TORTURED FOR 6 HOURS IN YUNAN PROVINCE

Local police arrested four Chinese missionaries in China’s Yunan province Monday, July 24, charging them with “superstitious activity” and then torturing them for more than six hours. The head of the local police station and 10 other policemen tortured the four from 8 p.m. Monday, July 24, until 2 a.m. the following day. One woman missionary had much of her hair torn out, and all four said they were in so much pain they found it difficult to walk once released. Police threatened to turn over the two female missionaries to a local minority tribe to be raped and said, “In this remote area, where it is far from the emperor, I can beat you until you obey. You have nowhere to lodge a complaint.” The police could not prove any wrongdoing by the missionaries and released them at about 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 25, after confiscating Bibles, computer disks containing hymns, and the equivalent of US$400. Two of the four missionaries had just been released in March from two years in a “re-education through labor camp” for previous religious activities. (China Aid Association)

MINISTRY LEADER: PLANNED AIRLINE BOMBINGS SHOW ‘SPIRITUAL DARKNESS’

Open Doors USA President Carl Moeller says the recent failed plot to bring down airliners is evidence of the spiritual darkness in which Muslims exist. The foiled plan, just days away from being carried out, would have used liquid explosives to bring down 10 planes in a nearly simultaneous strike reminiscent of the 9/11 attacks. A Washington law officer said at least one “martyrdom tape” was found during ongoing raids in Britain, further indication that al-Qaeda may be involved. President George W. Bush said the attack was a reminder of America’s “war with Islamic fascists.” Moeller added, “In the war against terror we have to give Muslims a reason for living before they come to us with a reason for dying.” He believes it’s critical to have Christians living and working in Islamic nations. “We have to reach out in Christ’s love to witness to these people so they don’t come to us with bombs,” he said. “We can go to them with the weapon of love in Jesus Christ.” (Agape Press)

The planned execution of three Indonesian Christians has been stayed until Tuesday, Aug. 22, after large street protests in Indonesia and a deluge of calls to Indonesian embassies around the world. Fabianus Tibo, Marinus Rewu and Dominggus da Silva were supposed to die early Saturday, Aug. 12, for allegedly being part of the violence against Muslims during the religious conflict in Poso in eastern Indonesia between 1998 and 2003. About 10,000 Christians were killed with no Muslims being convicted during the conflict. Jeff King, president of the human rights group, International Christian Concern, said, “We are expecting the Indonesian government to put off the execution for a week hoping that the national and worldwide furor over the executions will die down, and then they will attempt to carry out the execution.” (Christian Newswire)

SUPREME COURT RULING IN INDIA MAKES CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION ‘EASIER’

On Friday, Aug. 4, India’s Supreme Court ruled that police do not require warrants to issue “First Issue Reports” and arrest or detain anyone accused of religious conversion activities. Critics say the ruling will allow Hindu sympathizers among police to act as “agents of persecution.” The law places at risk any Christian, actively witnessing or not, whom hostile Hindu extremists bring charges against, giving rise to comparisons between this law and Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy law. Previous to this ruling, Christians were “somewhat protected” because police officials were required to obtain previous sanction of the “central government or of the state government or of the district magistrate” before action could be taken. Under the new law, there is no barrier preventing police from arresting and detaining Christians accused of proselytizing. (Assist News Service)