14 February 2007 Daily Update from HCJB Global

Today’s Headlines:

CRICKET WORLD CUP OPENS OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHURCH COOPERATION

PROPOSED LAW IN INDIA COULD HINDER SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS

2 GIDEONS CHARGED FOR DISTRIBUTING BIBLES ON FLORIDA SIDEWALK

CHRISTIAN GROUP SEEKS TO STAND WITH IRAQIS IN WEEK OF PRAYER

‘AMAZING GRACE SUNDAY’ TO MARK END OF SLAVERY IN ENGLAND

This week’s guest on “World Radio,” a program produced by HCJB Global-Australia, is tennis great Michael Chang. He is best remembered for becoming the youngest-ever male winner of a Grand Slam singles title when he won the French Open in 1989 at the age of 17. He shares insights into his breakthrough performance against Ivan Lendl in that tournament and about his tennis career in general. Chang also talks about his Chinese heritage and the role his strong Christian faith has played — and continues to play — in his life.

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:

CRICKET WORLD CUP OPENS OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHURCH COOPERATION

Sources: Assist News Service, Wikipedia.com

As 16 teams prepare for the Cricket World Cup set for the Caribbean March 13-April 28, churches in the region are gearing up for the event as a cooperative outreach opportunity. Using the theme, “Islands Playing in Praise,” planned activities (held in cooperation with Jamaica-based Caribbean Sports Reach) include such things as concerts, children’s games, crusades, tract and Bible distribution, clean-up campaigns and distribution of a free booklet about the history of the Cricket World Cup. The booklet, featuring memories of famous cricket players, will be distributed not only in the Caribbean, but also in the U.K., India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. A major sporting event in England and many of the nation’s former colonies, cricket is the most popular sport in much of South Asia, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. It’s also a major sport in most English-speaking countries in the West Indies.

* In cooperation with the Bible Broadcasting Network and Caribbean Radio Lighthouse, HCJB Global Voice helped establish an FM station in Antigua. In addition staff members from the HCJB Global Technology Center in Elkhart, Ind., helped install an FM transmitter and antenna at Christian partner station Streams of Power in St. Vincent & Grenadines and a 500-watt FM transmitter, antenna and studio together with Tarrant Baptist Church in Kingston, Jamaica.

PROPOSED LAW IN INDIA COULD HINDER SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS

Source: Compass Direct News

A proposed amendment to a law on foreign funding of social service organizations in India could seriously hinder the work of an estimated 20,000 developmental organizations, half of which are Christian. Called the Foreign Contributions Regulation Bill, the law would obligate service organizations that receive foreign funding to re-register every five years and enable authorities to revoke registration at any time. At present, registration to receive foreign funding is granted indefinitely. An example of how the law could be used against Christian organizations is the ongoing legal battle of Emmanuel Mission International (EMI) whose registration was arbitrarily dismissed due to two alleged procedural violations. Many organizations believe the new amendment would give sharper teeth to the same nationalist groups who have harassed EMI. The government claims the amendment is needed to keep a check on militant and separatist organizations that raise funds abroad for “anti-national” activities.

2 GIDEONS CHARGED FOR DISTRIBUTING BIBLES ON FLORIDA SIDEWALK

Source: OneNewsNow.com

Two volunteer members of the evangelistic Bible society, Gideons International, were arrested Friday, Jan. 19, while handing out Bibles on a public sidewalk outside a school in Key Largo, Fla. Anthony Mirto and Ernest Simpson are facing criminal trespassing charges filed by the State of Florida despite their compliance with a police officer’s order to leave a public sidewalk. They will face a court hearing on Monday, March 5, in Monroe County Court. A spokesman from the Alliance Defense Fund who is representing the two men said that neither man entered the school grounds and no law was broken by simply providing the books on a public sidewalk.

CHRISTIAN GROUP SEEKS TO STAND WITH IRAQIS IN WEEK OF PRAYER

Source: Christian Newswire

The Christian Defense Coalition is leading an effort to hold a weeklong prayer vigil in Baghdad to seek God’s divine intervention to bring healing and peace to Iraq. The group has initiated discussions with Iraqi officials in Washington, D.C., and recently sent a letter to Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki seeking permission to hold the meetings in Baghdad. The group hopes to coordinate a week of prayer and fasting with thousands of U.S. churches, much like they did two years ago along with Faith and Action before the Iraqi national elections. “Regardless of how one has viewed the war, we can all agree that we are in desperate need of God’s mercy and grace,” said Rev. Patrick Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition. “It is important that the people of Iraq know that the Christian community of America stands with them during these challenging and difficult times.”

‘AMAZING GRACE SUNDAY’ TO MARK END OF SLAVERY IN ENGLAND

Sources: Religion Today, Religion News Service

Dubbed “Amazing Grace Sunday,” Feb 18 has been set aside as a worldwide event bringing together more than 2,500 churches and tens of thousands of individuals to commemorate the abolition of slavery in England and to take a stand against modern-day slavery. Religion News Service reports that individuals from throughout the world will cross racial and denominational divides to pray for freedom and sing the historic song, “Amazing Grace.” The event was inspired by Bristol Bay Production’s newest film, “Amazing Grace,” which chronicles the lives of anti-slavery pioneer William Wilberforce as well as John Newton who wrote the lyrics for the hymn.

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