19 January 2007 Daily Update from HCJB Global

Today’s Headlines:

INDIA’S PRESBYTERIANS HOST 100,000 AT EVANGELISTIC GATHERING

BANGLADESH DECLARES MARTIAL LAW, PUTTING CHRISTIANS AT RISK

‘DEFY THE DARKNESS’ CAMPAIGN FUNDS SCRIPTURES IN ECUADOR

ETHIOPIAN MURDERED, HOUSES BURNED, CHRISTIANS IN HIDING

Check out this week’s edition of “World Radio,” a program produced by HCJB Global-Australia. Last week’s guest was former nightclub singer Zorina London, telling about her journey to Taiwan and her involvement in the Overseas Radio and Television Ministry (ORTV). This week’s show features ORTV founder Doris Brougham as she discusses some of the highlights of her amazing career, including playing trumpet with HCJB Global cofounder Clarence Jones! She also played at the funeral of Chiang Kai-shek who led the national government of the Republic of China from 1928 to 1975. ORTV has had a tremendous impact on Taiwan and produces one of the country’s most popular magazines (teaching English).

To listen visit http://www.hcjb.org/worldwide/australia/world_radio_programme.html <http://www.hcjb.org/worldwide/australia/world_radio_programme.html> .

Today’s Top Stories:

INDIA’S PRESBYTERIANS HOST 100,000 AT EVANGELISTIC GATHERING

In December a two-day revival crusade at Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex in Shillong, India, became the largest evangelistic meeting in the history of the Presbyterian Church of India (PCI). The gathering in northeast India drew approximately 100,000 people to the Sunday services led by Rev. Dr. R.R. Cunville, an associate evangelist with the Billy Graham Evangelical Association. Many small children and elderly were among those who made professions of faith as Cunville spoke on Matthew 7:21 which states, “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my father in heaven.” Cunville was joined by members of the Council for World Missions South Asia Regional Council, including PCI President Rev. J. F. Jyrwa and Rev. M. J. Hynniewta, principal of John Roberts Theological Seminary in Shillong. (Council for World Missions)

BANGLADESH DECLARES MARTIAL LAW, PUTTING CHRISTIANS AT RISK

Political unrest and ongoing strikes and protests elections scheduled for Bangladesh on Monday, Jan. 22, prompted interim President Fakhruddin Ahmed to declare a state of emergency, establishing martial law in the country. The sweeping powers allowed by military forces under this declaration can leave minority Christians vulnerable, says Gospel for Asia President K.P. Yohannan. “These are very dangerous times in Bangladesh when anyone can be arrested without question,” he said. In a country where Muslims comprise more than 90 percent of the population, martial law “can be used by anti-Christian extremist groups to falsely accuse Christians and Christian groups,” Yohannan said. The state of emergency limits nearly all individual freedoms. Groups larger than three are not allowed to walk the streets together, a curfew has been imposed nationwide, and all private news agencies have been instructed to broadcast only the bulletins provided by the state. Nearly all forms of communication are monitored. Security forces have detained more than 6,000 people since the state of emergency was declared on Jan. 11. (Assist News Service/International Herald Tribune)

‘DEFY THE DARKNESS’ CAMPAIGN FUNDS SCRIPTURES IN ECUADOR

An initiative of the Bible League allows Christians in the U.S. to help place copies of the Scriptures in the hands of Latin Americans. Dubbed the “Defy the Darkness” campaign, $4 can put a Bible in the hands of a Latin American. American Family News reporter Allie Martin traveled to Ecuador with the Bible League last fall and observed volunteers distributing Bibles in the Andes region where children had completed a six-month Bible study in order to receive their own Bibles. The group also hiked through the country’s Amazon region to a remote village to distribute the Scriptures. (OneNewsNow.com)

ETHIOPIAN MURDERED, HOUSES BURNED, CHRISTIANS IN HIDING

Groups of Ethiopian Christians reportedly remain in hiding in local churches following an incident on Friday, Jan. 5, that left one person dead. Ajja Delge was killed by an unknown assailant in the Ethiopian town of Kfele.

Voice of the Martyrs reported, “Delge, a father of five, was walking near his house when he was hit on the head with a metal iron. His body was found in a nearby jungle the following day.” No claim of responsibility has been forthcoming, but Delge’s family suspect Muslim militants who dominate the area.

Shortly after the murder, the homes of three Christian families and all of their possessions were burned on Monday, Jan. 8, by Muslim militants in the village of Begge. Tareku Meres, Jemal Tasesa and Tamene Gemechu and their families are taking shelter at a local church. At last report police have not investigated the incident or made any arrests.

In a separate case, 10 Christian youth are living in a church in Begge after their families threatened to execute them for converting out of Islam. (BosNewsLife)

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