Today’s Headlines:

CHRISTIAN HEALTH CENTER IN INDIA SEIZED, 17 WORKERS FIRED

STUDY: BEING RELIGIOUS GIVES SENIORS BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE

4 MISSIONARIES ON TRIAL FOR INCITING VIOLENCE IN KENYA

CHRISTIAN RESOURCE CENTER IN ISRAEL IMPACTS EAST ASIA

‘CULTURAL’ CENTERS IN IRAQ THRIVE AMID THREATS OF VIOLENCE

Today’s Top Stories:

CHRISTIAN HEALTH CENTER IN INDIA SEIZED, 17 WORKERS FIRED

After accusing a Christian health center of “forcible conversions,” the government of India’s Chattisgarh state, controlled by the Hindu extremist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), ordered the takeover of the facility and fired 17 of its employees. The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) in Lundra, India, was ordered to be taken over on Tuesday, Oct. 10. Emilina Xess, a child development project officer with ICDS, said the government action stems from jealousy of the esteem and popularity of Christians at the ICDS in Lundra. A previous investigation into forced conversion charges last year were found the accusations to be baseless. The ICDS has been a model for other such centers serving the poor in the district of Surguja. In 1999-2000 it received the state’s Birsa Munda award for best performance. Rev. Theodore Lakra, judicial vicar of the Amibakpur diocese, claims, “This is done out of malice against the Christian community.” (Compass Direct)

STUDY: BEING RELIGIOUS GIVES SENIORS BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE

A new study published by University of New Hampshire sociology professor Michele Dillon shows that older people who are religious have a significantly enhanced quality of life in old age as compared to non-religious Americans. Older religious people are also more generous and less afraid of death than their less religious peers. Dillon’s research was presented at an international symposium on values and aging in Galway, Ireland, on Oct. 20. Dillon and collaborator Paul Wink, professor of psychology at Wellesley College, found that religious seniors are more involved in social activities, community activities and creative endeavors such as painting and craftwork. All of these result in enhanced overall quality of life regardless of health concerns. In fact, the study showed religious seniors in poor health avoided depression more often due to their involvement. Additionally, those who were highly religious were the least afraid of dying; those who were moderately religious were the most afraid. Secular seniors had a similarly low fear of death. (WorldWide Religious News)

4 MISSIONARIES ON TRIAL FOR INCITING VIOLENCE IN KENYA

Four Christian missionaries in Kenya have been charged with incitement to violence for distributing pamphlets considered anti-Muslim. U.S. nationals Andrew Saucier and Paul Garcia and Kenyans Michael Mullei and Patrick Mutinda were arrested on Oct. 18 in Ngong after distributing pamphlets outside a primary school the previous day. The literature read, “Prophet Mohammed is not a true prophet” and “Allah had no son,” prompting angry Muslims to protest outside the Calvary Baptist Church where the four missionaries serve. As the trial for the four began on Monday, Oct. 23, police were forced to fire live rounds and teargas above the heads of the crowd to disperse the protesters, forcing the court to adjourn the hearing. Magistrate Hellen Wasilwa warned the lawyers for the Islamic community, saying, “The court wants peace as it hears the case. They are not conducting themselves in orderly manner and they have jammed the court.” If convicted, the four could face fines and up to three years in prison. They are currently free on bail. (Evangelical News/ Voice of the Martyrs)

CHRISTIAN RESOURCE CENTER IN ISRAEL IMPACTS EAST ASIA

The mission of the En-Gedi Resource Center in Israel is to provide Christian resources to study the words of Jesus within the Jewish cultural and historical context. The organization started with small goals, but God seems to have had a different plan. Executive Director Bruce Okkema says, “One day we got a call from a pastor in Hong Kong, and he said he had been reading our articles online and wondered if he could translate them into Chinese and put them on his website. That has blossomed into a teaching ministry throughout Hong Kong, China, Cambodia and Vietnam.” This relationship led to more open doors with East Gates Ministries which translated one of En-Gedi’s books into Chinese to aid Chinese Christians with their Bible studies. Director Lois Tverberg said an international ministry wasn’t part of the original plan. “We aimed to be a resource for Christians, and we didn’t realize the Lord had a purpose in sending us all over the world,” she said. (Mission Network News)

‘CULTURAL’ CENTERS IN IRAQ THRIVE AMID THREATS OF VIOLENCE

Despite the turmoil and destruction in Iraq, young people in the war-torn nation persist in their desire to work toward their future and the future of their nation. To help with this desire, Open Doors runs “cultural” centers in two cities of Iraq. They are known as cultural centers because they cannot operate as churches. Each center has a bookshop, a library, an Internet cafe and a place for computer and English courses. Both centers organize Christian activities, either outside or inside the buildings. The centers are in dangerous cities as car bombs have exploded close to both facilities. But Open Doors’ co-workers continue with their ministry, and young people, often students, are coming to the centers. Lectures on religious topics draw the largest crowds with 35 to 50 people often attending and discussing the topic. Open Doors USA President Carl Moeller says, “It is dangerous work. But that is why Open Doors is there — to support and strengthen suffering Christians who remain.” (Assist News Service/Open Doors)