Today’s Headlines:
RENEWED FIGHTING IN SRI LANKA MAY STIR SPIRITUAL REASSESSMENT
2 CONVERTS IN INDIA BEATEN FOR REFUSING TO RETURN TO HINDUISM
IRAQI TEEN BEHEADED FOR CARRYING CHRISTIAN IDENTIFICATION CARD
BAPTIST COUPLE STARTS MINISTRY TO APPALACHIAN TRAIL HIKERS
AUTHORS ENDORSE VIDEO GAME BASED ON ‘LEFT BEHIND’ SERIES

Defending the Christian faith is the focus of a series of programs from HCJB World Radio-Australia this week, featuring guests from Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (http://www.rzim.org). This week’s program features part 2 of our conversation with L.T. Jeyachandran who is originally from India. The topic is, “The Longings of the Human Heart: Which Worldview Best Explains Their Existence?”

Podcast or listen online by checking the following link: http://www.hcjb.org/worldwide/australia/world_radio_programme.html

Today’s Top Stories:

RENEWED FIGHTING IN SRI LANKA MAY STIR SPIRITUAL REASSESSMENT
Fighting between Sri Lankan government forces and militant Tamil separatists increased dramatically this month. For the first time in several years assaults occurred well outside the capital city of Colombo. Attacks in popular tourist destinations have all but shut down the tourist industry which was already impacted by last year’s tsunami. A Southern Baptist aid worker who asked not to be identified has been working near a recently attacked region. He is hoping that when Sri Lankans experience such close calls it might stir some of them to reassess their spiritual lives. “This may create an opportunity for people to understand that life can be short, and they need to be sure about what comes next. It may open up opportunities to share the gospel as an avenue for peace or as an avenue of security,” he said. “I fully expect those opportunities to come.” A conflict between separatist rebels and government forces first broke out in 1972. More than 60,000 have died since the start of the conflict — about 2,300 already this year. (Baptist Press)

2 CONVERTS IN INDIA BEATEN FOR REFUSING TO RETURN TO HINDUISM
Two converts to Christianity in central India’s Madhya Pradesh state have been beaten for their refusal to return to Hinduism. Santu Prasad Barmaia and Kunjan Prasad Barmaia, both farmers and members of a Gospel for Asia church in the village of Paralia, were attacked by a group of 12 villagers on Oct. 19. The attack took place in the morning when the two were on their way to their fields. Both men suffered internal injuries. Police have not arrested the culprits in spite of the fact that the victims named them in a complaint filed at the Amarkantak police station. The two men have been under pressure for the past year since they converted to Christianity. Villagers have refused to allow the two men, the only Christians in the village, to take water from the hamlet’s common well to pressure them to return to Hinduism. In spite of their limited resources, the Christians dug their own well. Vandalism at a Hindu temple was blamed on the two men. When a police investigation revealed they were not responsible, villagers still continued to treat them poorly. (Compass Direct)

IRAQI TEEN BEHEADED FOR CARRYING CHRISTIAN IDENTIFICATION CARD
Assyrian Christian Ayad Tariq, 14, from Baqouba, Iraq, was reportedly beheaded while at work on Saturday, Oct. 21. The boy was working his 12-hour shift maintaining an electric generator when a group of Muslim insurgents in disguises walked in shortly after 6 a.m. Another employee who hid when the men approached reported the Muslims asked for the boy’s identification card. After reading the boy’s religion listed as “Christian,” one man asked Tariq if he was really a “Christian sinner.” Tariq replied, “Yes, I am a Christian, but I am not a sinner.” The Muslims called Tariq a “dirty Christian sinner” and held the boy’s arms and legs as they beheaded him to chants of “Allahu akbar!” (God is great). Terror expert Glen Jevney said thousands of Iraqi Christians are living in fear because of their identification that states their faith. Jevney called the practice “horrendous.” (Assist News Service)

* HCJB World Radio reaches across North Africa, the Middle East and Europe with Christian Arabic programming aired via shortwave, satellite and local stations. The mission’s Arabic satellite network airs programs direct-to-home 24 hours a day. This region has the world’s highest concentration of personal satellite dishes.

BAPTIST COUPLE STARTS MINISTRY TO APPALACHIAN TRAIL HIKERS
The mission field for Craig and Suzy Miles is located among the pines and hardwoods of the famous Appalachian Trail. For the past three years the couple has operated a mission organization called Appalachian Trail Servants dedicated to sharing Christ with hikers along the 2,175-mile trail that runs from Springer Mountain, Ga., to Mount Katahdin in central Maine, passing through 14 states along the way. More than 4 million people hike some part of the trail each year. The ministry began when Craig stopped by his Baptist church one morning and prayed a simple prayer. “Lord, how can you use our time and talents for your glory?” Soon afterward Miles said, “It just clicked in my head that we needed to start a ministry on the Appalachian Trail. Suzy and I were seeing hundreds of hikers pass over the roads and trails and through the woods of north Georgia, but we knew their spiritual needs were not being met.” (Religion Today)

AUTHORS ENDORSE VIDEO GAME BASED ON ‘LEFT BEHIND’ SERIES
Authors of the best-selling books in the “Left Behind” series, Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, are endorsing a new video game based on the series. The game, called “LEFT BEHIND: Eternal Forces,” contains both entertainment and inspirational elements. The strategy game is set in an apocalyptic rendition of New York City and allows players to command the Tribulation Forces as they try to save people from the forces of the Antichrist. “When we saw the finished product we were blown away,” said the two authors. “They [Left Behind Games Inc.] are using cutting-edge technology to reach a whole new generation that desperately needs the truth about Jesus and His plans for the future. The quality of work is far superior than we had ever dreamed. It is superb! We’re glad to have our names as a part of it. Through this game, a seeker has the opportunity to receive Christ. Can you imagine the outreach possibilities?” (Christian Newswire)

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