Today’s Headlines:

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS IN 500 LANGUAGES AVAILABLE ON THE WEB

FORMER ORPHANS HELP REACH OUT TO CHILDREN IN UKRAINE

MISSIONARY REPORTS ‘CONSTANT DANGER’ FOR NORTH KOREAN CHRISTIANS

MALAYSIAN LEADER: MUSLIM-CHRISTIAN CONFLICT ‘THE GRAVEST THREAT’

COMPANY BECOMES WORLD’S LARGEST FAITH-BASED REAL ESTATE NETWORK

Jaclyn Victor won the 2004 “Malaysian Idol” singing contest, and Juwita Suwito was the show’s singing coach. They are both Christians and recently came to Australia to sing at local churches and at a ski resort’s chapel. Host Eric Skattebo takes the “World Radio” program on the road as he follows the Malaysian singers’ adventures at the ski resort (both of them had never experienced snow before!).

In addition to the audio of the trip, a short video is also available on the World Radio webpage: http://www.hcjb.org/worldwide/australia/world_radio_programme.html.

Today’s Top Stories:

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS IN 500 LANGUAGES AVAILABLE ON THE WEB

Salem Voice Ministries has compiled Christmas and New Year’s greetings in 500 languages from around the world and published them on its website (salemvoice.bravehost.com). Christmas greetings in languages ranging from Aleut (Alaska) to Zulu (South Africa) are listed on the site. Numerous Christmas cards can be downloaded as well. Private use of the information is free. If permission is sought ahead of time, links can be made to this website from personal websites, weblogs or other publications. Salem Voice Ministries has about 430 missionaries and 291 home churches (213 in India and 78 in other countries) that gather weekly to pray and worship in different parts of Third World nations, especially among Muslim communities. (Assist News Service)

FORMER ORPHANS HELP REACH OUT TO CHILDREN IN UKRAINE

A Life Skills Camp for orphans sponsored by Operation Blessing International and Ukraine Ministries of Oklahoma recently hosted children from five different orphanages across Ukraine to promote the children’s well-being. An international group of young adults spent 12 days working as camp counselors. Three former Ukrainian orphans were among the volunteers who helped expose the children to the gospel through relationships with the counselors and volunteers. One counselor said, “I’ve seen children’s views on life change as they develop a relationship with us.” More than 2,000 orphans have attended the summer camps since the program began in 2000. Ukraine is home to more than 100,000 orphans. (Mission Network News)

* HCJB World Radio worked with local churches to establish Radio Emmanuel, a 500-watt FM station, in Kiev in June. Two additional outlets in Kiev and one in Dneperpetrovsk are also affiliated with New Life Radio, a Russian satellite radio network operated by Christian Radio for Russia with HCJB World Radio as the principal partner. In addition, weekly Ukrainian programs air to the country via shortwave.

MISSIONARY REPORTS ‘CONSTANT DANGER’ FOR NORTH KOREAN CHRISTIANS

A veteran of more than 100 missions trips into North Korea recently reported to the Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) that Christians there live in constant danger of harassment, arrest and torture. The missionary, who asked to remain anonymous, said Christians wishing to meet and worship must take precautions such as assembling in groups of only three or four at a time and covering all the windows. VOM spokesman Todd Nettleton noted, “You have to understand that you’re taking your life in your hands.” He added that even children “are sent out of the room because it’s simply too great a risk to have your children know you’re a follower of Jesus Christ.” One innocent word spoken at school can result in the entire family being arrested. Christians are sent to political prisoner camps where according to Nettleton, “the average sentence for following Jesus is 15 years, but the average life expectancy in those camps is only five years.” Despite the persecution, the missionary who filed the report said people in that communist nation are growing increasingly interested in the message of the gospel while believers continue to meet in secret to share the truth of the Scriptures. (Evangelical News/Agape Press)

MALAYSIAN LEADER: MUSLIM-CHRISTIAN CONFLICT ‘THE GRAVEST THREAT’

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said relations between Muslims and Christians are under “extreme stress,” and the growing divide between the faiths is a threat to international stability. At a speech at a U.N. function in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Monday, Nov. 27, the leader called on the U.N. to hold a special conference to address the schism which Badawi claims is “one of the gravest threats to international stability in the history of the world.” Badawi’s speech outlined what he sees as the geopolitical reasons behind the conflict. “The Muslim world sees the suppression of Palestine, the invasion of Afghanistan, the conquest of Iraq and the destruction of Lebanon as a complicity to humiliate Muslim countries,” he said. Abdullah said secularism in Western societies, especially Europe, had seen religion removed from the public domain. “They expect Muslims, especially those living in their societies, to do the same,” he said, despite the fact that this runs counter to the teachings of Islam. Malaysia is a predominantly Muslim nation, and Abdullah is known for promoting a moderate form of Islam which emphasizes scientific and economic development. (WorldWide Religious News)

COMPANY BECOMES WORLD’S LARGEST FAITH-BASED REAL ESTATE NETWORK

On Wednesday, Nov. 1, after accepting its 1,000th member, the Christian Real Estate Network (CREN) became the largest faith-based real estate network and association in the world. The network, started in 2001, connects buyers and sellers with Christian real estate agents, loan officers and other real estate professionals across North America. After some early opposition to the idea, the faith-based CREN has experienced amazingly quick growth. Cofounder and Chief Executive Officer Bart Smith said, “There are very few companies that do what we do, and none of them have the same vision. We foresee an association of more than 5,000 members in the years to come with membership reaching out to other services related to the real estate industry. We are especially interested in expanding our services to help churches find property as there is a great need for this around the country.” (Assist News Service)

EDITOR’S NOTE: Feel free to forward this to any interested friends. Our lists are distributed for information purposes and to encourage prayer. HCJB World Radio does not necessarily endorse or support the activities on which it reports.

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