Today’s Headlines:

MUSLIM EXTREMISTS RANSACK DISCIPLESHIP CENTER IN BENIN

NEW AWARD TO RECOGNIZE CHURCHES THAT ADDRESS HIV/AIDS

18,000 ‘BOXES OF LOVE’ BRING HOLIDAY CHEER TO NEEDY AMERICANS

Audio clips from the award-winning radio group GRF Christian Radio, produced to coincide with the release of the new James Bond film, “Casino Royale,” are available from HCJB World Radio-UK. The spots are ideal for playing in church services or classrooms or for broadcast, prompting listeners to think about the root causes of evil and suffering. Each clip is 40 seconds long and can be downloaded from Audiopot, the ministry’s online library of creative Christian audio, at http://www.audiopot.org.

Today’s Top Stories:

MUSLIM EXTREMISTS RANSACK DISCIPLESHIP CENTER IN BENIN

During the night of Saturday, Nov. 4, Islamic extremists from a nearby mosque ransacked a discipleship center operated by Christ Power Ministries, an indigenous ministry in the Islamic city of Porto Novo in the West African country of Benin. Native missionaries living at the center managed to escape with their possessions unharmed. However, chairs, tables, doors, desks and other materials were destroyed.

Police investigations revealed that the imam of a nearby mosque ordered the destruction of the center. The Muslim landlord, who rented the facility to the believers because of their kindness to her, was also verbally attacked and threatened by the Islamic community for allowing Christians on her premises.

Since the center was started in 2000, more than 1,500 disciples and 650 children’s ministry workers have been trained to work in native churches. The center was an important place of prayer for trainees and instructors. An outreach program to Muslims and their children was also developed.

“We have lost our center after many years of work,” wrote ministry leader Claude Sossa. “But we continue to love those who destroyed it because Jesus died for them, and I believe that many of them will come to the Lord. The struggle continues.” (Christian Aid Mission)

* HCJB World Radio worked with the Council of Protestant and Evangelical Churches of Benin to help put a Christian FM station on the air in Cotonou in 1998. The station broadcasts the gospel in French, English and seven tribal languages. Partner ministry SIM also records programs in eight languages at the studios in Parakou. A nationwide FM network is being planned.

NEW AWARD TO RECOGNIZE CHURCHES THAT ADDRESS HIV/AIDS

The Willow Creek Association and World Vision have teamed up to create the “Courageous Leadership Award” to honor churches helping address the AIDS pandemic. “The goal of the award is not only to honor those churches already involved in fighting HIV and AIDS, but also to be a catalyst, encouraging other churches to explore how they might get involved in what God is doing through His church to have an impact,” said World Vision President Richard Stearns. “Regardless of the church’s size or budget, the recipients of the award will be selected based on how they strategically, intentionally and creatively have leveraged their God-given vision, gifts and resources to help address AIDS.” Bill Hybels, founding pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill., and board chairman of the Willow Creek Association, added that “AIDS demands an active response from those who are called to be followers of Jesus Christ. If we truly wish to represent Christ in the world today, we must seek out those who are poor and sick and forgotten, offering both eternal hope and practical help.” The announcement of the award came about two weeks before World AIDS Day on Friday, Dec. 1. (Christian Newswire)

* HCJB World Radio’s Vozandes Hospital-Quito in Ecuador has operated an AIDS clinic since the early 1990s. The mission has also sent a staff member and short-term teams to Cape Town, South Africa, to help with an AIDS clinic at a community center operated by King of Kings Baptist Church. Recently HCJB World Radio assigned three missionaries to serve with Partners of Hope in Malawi, including an AIDS outreach.

18,000 ‘BOXES OF LOVE’ BRING HOLIDAY CHEER TO NEEDY AMERICANS

This weekend volunteers are assembling more than 18,000 “Boxes of Love” for distribution in 20 U.S. cities. Each box holds the ingredients for a full classic holiday meal for a family of six. “It’s designed, not for the homeless, but for the working poor, the people who are struggling, but have a place to cook a meal.” Ted Gandy of Here’s Life Inner City says it’s not unusual for needy families to stretch such a meal out for up to four days. This year more than 111,300 poor Americans will have a special reason to give thanks. “It’s been a wonderful program all these years because it gives churches an opportunity to reach out people who are struggling in their communities,” Gandy said. (Mission Network News)

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