Today’s Headlines:

EVANGELICAL GROWTH BECOMING POLITICAL FORCE IN BRAZIL

PASTOR IN KYRGYZSTAN STILL FEARS FOR HIS LIFE AFTER JULY ATTACK

BABY IN AZERBAIJAN DENIED RECOGNITION BECAUSE OF CHRISTIAN NAME

RISK RISES FOR AID WORKERS IN SRI LANKA AS FIGHTING ESCALATES

WEEKEND OF PRAYER, FASTING SET FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS

Today’s Top Stories:

EVANGELICAL GROWTH BECOMING POLITICAL FORCE IN BRAZIL

Evangelical Christians in Brazil are becoming a powerful political force for change within the nation of 187 million. According to the 2000 census, evangelicals, defined in Brazil as any non-Catholic Christian, nearly doubled their population in the 1990s to about 26.2 million — 15 percent of the population. Traditionally a Roman Catholic country, evangelicals have risen from the ranks to hold more than 60 seats in the nation’s congress, or about 10 percent of the legislature. They are the country’s most effective legislative caucus. The past three governors of the state of Rio de Janeiro have used their evangelical ties as selling points in their campaign, and national candidates regularly visit churches to garner votes. Sociologist Maria das Dores Campos Machado, an expert on the evangelical political movement, said, “The evangelicals are opening political space for themselves and making room for what they see as their enormous potential. Growth is the objective here.” (WorldWide Religious News)

PASTOR IN KYRGYZSTAN STILL FEARS FOR HIS LIFE AFTER JULY ATTACK

Protestant pastor Zulumbek Sarygulov says he remains fearful for his life and the lives of his family two months after a mob attacked his home in the village of Karakulja in the Central Asia nation of Kyrgyzstan on July 28. About 80 Muslims entered Sarygulov’s home on Friday, July 28, beating him until he lost consciousness. Two of his fingers were broken, and he was thrown from the house. The mob then opened a shed containing dozens of Bibles and religious literature, burning them in the courtyard. The attackers then scrawled “House for Sale” on the pastor’s house. Three police officers observing the incident took no action. The Muslims were apparently angry at the pastor’s attempts to start a church in the village, prompting the attack. “People from the mosque have already come back to my house since the beating and told me they will kill me if I do not leave the village,” Sarygulov said. Police officials admit the mob burned Christian literature but are disputing that he was beaten. The police chief in Karakulja reported his forces had the situation “under complete control.” (Forum 18 News Service)

BABY IN AZERBAIJAN DENIED RECOGNITION BECAUSE OF CHRISTIAN NAME

A 3-month-old baby born to a Christian family in the city of Aliabad, Azerbaijan, has been denied official recognition of his name due to the family’s choice of a Christian name. When officials saw the name of Ilya Eyvazov, they refused to issue a birth certificate to the baby’s father because it is a Russian form of the name Elijah. The father of five said he had similar difficulties with the last two of his children, Moisei (Moses)

and Luka (Luke). After visiting city administration offices weekly for the next month, he eventually succeeded in securing a birth certificate that left his newest son’s name blank. In Azerbaijan, where 96 percent of the population is Muslim, Christianity is perceived by many as a “foreign religion,” and conversion from Islam is often viewed as betrayal of the nation. Without a birth certificate it is impossible for an Azeri to receive medical care, attend school or travel abroad. It’s not yet clear what practical problems Ilya Eyvazov will face if his official identification carries no name. (Compass Direct)

RISK RISES FOR AID WORKERS IN SRI LANKA AS FIGHTING ESCALATES

Fighting in the already war-torn island nation of Sri Lanka is again causing challenges for missionaries and ministries within the country. About 65,000 people died in the 20-year civil war, and recently sporadic fighting between the ethnic minority Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan government has escalated. Suicide bombings have taken place, and air strikes are a near-daily occurrence. More than 20 people were killed in a recent church bombing. The violence has also increased the risk for aid workers trying to address the humanitarian crisis created by the conflict. In addition, aid workers are still dealing with needs related to the December 2004 tsunami that killed 40,000 and displaced 325,000 people in Sri Lanka. Both Gospel for Asia and the Bible League are requesting special prayers for a peaceful resolution. (Assist News Service/Mission Network News)

WEEKEND OF PRAYER, FASTING SET FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS

The Salvation Army will hold its first annual International Weekend of Prayer and Fasting for the Victims of Human Trafficking Friday-Sunday, Sept. 29-Oct. 1. The weekend is designed to build awareness and solicit prayer for the estimated 27 million people worldwide who are suffering in slavery. Human trafficking is now the second-largest criminal enterprise in the world, just behind the drug trade. Lisa Thompson with the Salvation Army believes the problem is too large to depend solely on a human solution. “We’re asking people to organize themselves and to pray and to fast,” she said. The Salvation Army’s website challenges believers to “petition God to change things, to free the captives, to end these evils, and to guide and empower Christians to serve, to prevent, to rescue and to restore.” Prayer guides and other resources are available at http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/trafficking. (Religion Today/Salvation Army)