Today’s Headlines:

PAKISTANI OFFICIAL PROMISES TO REFORM BLASPHEMY LAW SOON

VILLAGE CHIEF BACKS MISSIONARIES SHOWING CHRISTIAN FILM IN INDIA

MAGAZINE NAMES MULTI-CAMPUS CHURCH ‘MOST INNOVATIVE’ IN U.S.

BRITISH AIRWAYS RECANTS ON RELIGIOUS SYMBOL POLICY, CROSSES OK

Today’s Top Stories:

PAKISTANI OFFICIAL PROMISES TO REFORM BLASPHEMY LAW SOON

A Pakistani official in the capital of Islamabad said on Tuesday, Jan. 23, that the nation is looking to reform controversial blasphemy laws just days after two Christians were acquitted from blasphemy charges by Pakistan courts. Sen. Mushahid Hussain Sayed reportedly said the law, which allows up to the death penalty for insulting Islam, would be changed after a general election due late this year or early next year. Hussain, the secretary general of the governing Pakistan Muslim League party and chairman of Pakistan Senate’s foreign affairs committee, was in Paris at an academic conference detailing steps taken to improve the plight of religious minorities in Pakistan. Although Hussain did not explain details of how the laws would change, he implied the motivation may very well be politically motivated by the opposition party within the country. “We don’t want to hand another election issue to our ‘friends,'” he said, referring to the opposing political party. (BosNewsLife)

VILLAGE CHIEF BACKS MISSIONARIES SHOWING CHRISTIAN FILM IN INDIA

Gospel for Asia reported that native missionaries in Bihar, India, quickly shut down the film about Jesus they were showing because of concerns the audience would be physically harmed if they continued. Earlier in the week the missionaries had asked the village chief for permission to show the film and he consented. Yet during the showing, heavily intoxicated young men disrupted the film and began to mock and beat the village leader saying he was too old to notice the Christians were trying to convert Hindus. Out of respect for the chief, the team immediately stopped the film. However, the next day the chief and other village leaders again approached the missionaries inviting them to return, assuring them the leaders would take responsibility if there was more trouble. The second showing went without a hitch and the village chief told the villagers, “The kind love and mercy we saw in Jesus, we do not see in any of our gods or goddesses.” (Assist News Service)

MAGAZINE NAMES MULTI-CAMPUS CHURCH ‘MOST INNOVATIVE’ IN U.S.

The 10-year-old LifeChurch has been named the most innovative church in the country by Outreach magazine. Part of the Evangelical Covenant Church, LifeChurch averages more than 18,000 attendees at nine campuses in Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona and Tennessee as well as live weekly Internet broadcasts. “The church has been named No. 1 on our list of America’s Most Innovative Churches, primarily for its ability to leverage the latest technology available for its nine multi-state campuses, 18,000 members and thousands of weekly visitors, many of whom are window shopping Christianity,” the magazine reported. Pastor Bobby Gruenewald added that LifeChurch “never set out to be a tech-church,” although the team God assembled is adept at using video and technology. The innovation continued in August 2006 after a sermon series when the church launched a website called MySecret.tv where people confess their sins online. More than 1,500 confessions have since been posted. LifeChurch has made all its materials available to other churches free of charge. Despite some criticism, Senior Pastor Craig Groeschel told Outreach, “Without apology, I will do whatever it takes to grab people’s attention.” (Covenant News/Evangelical News)

BRITISH AIRWAYS RECANTS ON RELIGIOUS SYMBOL POLICY, CROSSES OK

Following tremendous controversy that erupted from its decision to ban a Christian worker from wearing a cross, British Airways (BA) has changed its uniform policy to allow staff to wear a “symbol of faith.” The controversy began when check-in worker Nadia Eweida, 55, was informed she could not wear a cross necklace. After the policy change, Eweida said, “I am very grateful that BA has finally seen sense. If I belonged to any other religion I don’t believe I would have been treated so dismissively.” The airline said it had consulted staff and customers on the issue as well as seeking the views of representatives from the Church of England, the Catholic Church and the Muslim Council of Britain. BA Chief Executive Willie Walsh said, “Most of those consulted felt that a lapel pin was an acceptable and reasonable option. However, some respondents believed that limiting the change to a pin would not satisfy all Christians.” Walsh said the airline had “unintentionally” found itself at “the center of one of the hottest social issues in current public debate” as a result of its decision. (WorldWide Religious News)

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