RELIGION TODAY

[nChrist]

Watching the Tide of the Silent Tsunami
Katherine Peters

July 31, 2008

In America, the economic downturn and spiked gas prices have forced some people to give up a vacation. Rising food costs have slimmed down family wallets and the line at Starbucks is shorter. The consequences so far are distasteful, but not disastrous on a wide scale.

In Haiti, the economics have more dire consequences. As food costs skyrocket, the increased appearance of "clay cookies" -- clay mixed with oil, butter and salt to make it more pleasant to eat -- highlights the hunger among the very poor.

"It's not another dollar on top of every gallon they use in their cars," said Mark Bush, chief operating officer of CURE International, a nonprofit dedicated to helping physically deformed children in developing countries. "It comes down to the fact of, 'Can I actually feed everybody in my family today?'"

Relief organizations have seen he price of staples such as rice and maize jump to two or even three times their cost last year, slamming developing countries like an unending wave -- like a tsunami.

Measuring the Wave

"This is not a disaster such as an earthquake or a typhoon or a hurricane, where it comes, it's devastating... then it's gone and people can start moving in on the relief perspective pretty quickly," said Mark Hanlon of Compassion International, which focuses on child development in impoverished countries. "This is a different kind of disaster. It's ongoing. It's daily... That's why they call it the 'silent tsunami.'"

Americans spend about 10 percent to 15 percent of their income on food, according to Hanlon, making food spikes comparatively easy to absorb. In many countries where Compassion operates, the cost of food already consumes 50 percent to 70 percent of a family's income. "Sometimes now, with those costs going up, it's even greater than 70 percent," Hanlon said.

According to the World Food Program, an estimated 820 million people experience hunger on a daily basis. About one-sixth of the world's population lives on less than a dollar a day. And decreased purchase power could push an additional 100 million people into deeper poverty, according to World Bank.

And the numbers continue to grow. The World Food Programme indicated July 22 that multiple African countries -- including Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya and Uganda -- face imminent food shortages that will affect 15 million people. North Korea faces its greatest food crisis in a decade.

All those figures and alerts mean huge challenges ahead for relief organizations such as Compassion and CURE -- challenges to not only do more, but to do more with less.

Robert Zachritz of World Vision, a Christian relief and child development organization, notes that while child sponsorship and donations are still increasing for World Vision, the cost of food outstrips growth in giving in many countries.

"[O]n the books, it might say revenue is going up, but because the expenses to buy x amount of things have gone up, there's a lost potential," Zachritz said.

Overall, even Christians are reducing their charitable giving. A study of 1,000 Christian adults nationwide by Dunham and Company showed that 46 percent of the Christian adults indicated that they have reduced their giving to charity.

Taking the Brunt of the Crisis

"I think it's fair to say that it is a crisis in the Third World, where so little of the day to day income is available to do other things, so that when suddenly being fed suddenly costs three times as much," Bush said.

In the Western Hemisphere, the silent tsunami wreaks the most devastation in Haiti and Nicaragua. In Haiti, more than half the country lives on less than a dollar a day and spend more than half their income on food. This makes the price of rice -- which has doubled since December -- especially hard for families to swallow.

In other countries such as Malawi in Africa, a jump in the cost of maize affected CURE's employees along with the rest of the country. And while CURE focuses on helping children through medical procedures, mealtimes while children are at the hospital provide an avenue to sharing the Gospel. The increased cost of meals as well as fuel has forced many CURE hospitals to cut back on the number of yearly field clinics they make into areas beyond the reach of the hospitals.

Although the extent of the crisis varies from country to country, one group of people always takes the hardest hit.

 "The people hurt the most is young children," Zachritz said. "If a child gets stunted, that stunting is with them for the rest of their lives."

The ripple effect continues from the child outward into the community, as families feel the pain of not being able to provide for their youngest members. On the flip side, sponsored children try to provide for themselves and their families by sharing food kits and sneaking food into their pockets to take home from sponsored group meals, Hanlon said.

"We are expanding program to family from food standpoint until some of this normalizes," Hanlon said. "The question is, what is normal."

Building the Life Raft

Hanlon compared the global food crisis to the 2004 Christmas tsunami, which killed more than 225,000 people and left many more homeless and injured. Compassion raised less than $4 million specifically for the disaster and then asked donors to stop giving because the organization had sufficient resources.

Now, Compassion is looking to raise $10 to $15 million in the next six to nine months specifically to help relieve the global food crisis. "It's biggest single campaign or movement towards a disaster or crisis that we've ever done," Hanlon said.

In Malawi, one CURE donor offered to cover any rise in the cost of maize and rice for the next six months for employees, so employees don't feel sharp increases. Ninety-eight percent of CURE's employees are native to the country in which they work.

"We want to make sure our employees continue to have the ability to feed their families, so when they come into work they can focus on the work-issues... That's one less thing that our employees have to worry about," Bush said.

Governments, too, are stepping in with funds. World Vision is partnering with MercyCorp to distribute 100,000 metric tons of food to more than half a million people in North Korea over the next year, all funded by the United States.

In addition to the Korea aid, Congress passed a supplemental aid bill bumping up emergency food program funding from $1.1 billion to $1.9 billion, according to Zachritz. World Vision will help distribute that aid and also look for ways to institute long-term programs like sustainable agriculture.

But Zachritz emphasizes that it isn't just government or big donors that will help turn the tide.

Believing in Widows' Mites

"I think it's an opportunity, for God to be glorified by seeing his people, the church, respond" as long term solutions are sought after, World Vision's Zachritz said. "It's part of our faith. It's who we are, as followers of Jesus, to care for those in need."

Donations from other countries continue to be strong, which helps equalize donations lost in the U.S., but the wave of the silent tsunami is large enough to suck up whatever is offered.

Hanlon encouraged people to look at the example of the widow's mite in Luke 21.

"Compassion is more built on the widow's mite than it is on the major donor donation. Most of our sponsors really only have one child, and that's about all they can handle," he said. "It just makes you stop and say, 'What's the absolute most important we can do with this money in our program?'"

The organization is looking to boost their sponsorship goals by 15 percent this fiscal year, hoping to bring in 140,000 new sponsors for children.

"We're just going to have to deeply rely on the Lord for that," Hanlon continued.

CURE International has a unique take to raising funds -- they created a tell-a-friend widget that donates $5 to CURE every time someone gives their email address.

"There are some donors out there who realize the situation exists not only in countries where we're providing care, but here in the U.S. where the economic downturn is occurring," Bush said. "It's something unique that allows us to get the message out."

As relief organizations, the media, major donors, and even government get involved, however, Hanlon encourages people not to forget the power of prayer and God's people at work.

"We don't really feel like any of those other efforts are going to be successful without the church getting involved," he said. "Compassion really believes that once the church gets involves and kind of understands and gets their teeth into a particular issues, there's not really any global issue that can't be solved."

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[nChrist]

Israel's Messianic Jews: Some Call it a 'Miracle'
Dan Wooding


August 1, 2008

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL -- "In Israel, a resurgence in the number of Jews who believe in Jesus is getting a lot of attention. Many leaders say it's the strongest growth since the time of Jesus and that the Messianic movement could be on the brink of a great revival."

So said Wendy Griffith, CBN News Senior Reporter, in a story for The 700 Club.

"This is the first time where we've seen Israeli society in general being so open to consider who Yeshua is," Messianic leader Asher Intrater told her. "This is a real miracle, and there's beginning to be grace and favor with us in the land."

Griffith said, "Although Jesus and the early disciples were Jewish, for nearly 2,000 years the gospel has been viewed as a religion mainly for Gentiles. Even the name Jesus or Yeshua has been a forbidden word among many Jews. But in the last few years, Messianic leaders in Israel say something important is happening."

"I believe with all my heart, after we have come back to the land, we are seeing the Lord, the Holy Spirit, is removing the veil from the eyes of the Jews and more and more Jews are realizing," Tel Aviv pastor Avi Mizrachi said.

Griffith went on to say, "Although nobody knows for sure how many Messianic Jews live in Israel, it's believed there are about 120 congregations now and 10,000-15,000 Jewish believers in Jesus.

"That may not sound like many given Israel's nearly six million Jews, but it's a far cry from 10 years ago when there were only about 3,500 Jewish believers and 80 congregations.

"A good example is Shemen Sasson in Jerusalem, where attendance has nearly tripled over the past four years. Today, close to 300 people attend the meetings, most of them Jewish or people married to Jews. And salvations are increasing."

She then introduced the Ronens. Daniel, Ayelet and their five children are Israeli believers. Ayelet is an Israeli Jew and Daniel is a Finnish Gentile. But his family has been here since before Israel became a nation. They believe Jesus is the Jewish Messiah.

"When Jesus came, when Yeshua came, he came to talk to our people," Ayelet Ronen said. "He walked on our land, He spoke our language, He spoke in our synagogues. Really, He came for us!

Griffith went onto say, "Yad-Hashmona is a beautiful little village about 10 miles outside Jerusalem, and the only one home to just Messianic Jewish believers like the Ronens.

"For this family, being Israeli and believing in Jesus is a natural fit. They keep the Jewish feasts, circumcise their sons, keep the Sabbath and serve in the army. And even though they live in a Messianic village, they don't feel secluded from the rest of Israeli society."

Daniel Ronen explained, "Our kids go with everybody else to school... I go to work outside...Our principle is to go out and be part of society."

Their children sometimes face challenges but have used those occasions to witness.

"My friends started to know I'm a believer and they ask me if I'm a believer. I tell them I'm a believer in Yeshua and it's really good to believe in Him and that maybe you can one day believe in him, too," third grader Adan said.

Griffith said that the Ronens are sometimes accused of being missionaries, a very bad word in Israel. But they insist they are not.

"My point is to share my faith with anyone who wants to hear me and I will gladly share the Good News of my faith," Ayelet said. "I never speak of 'you should do,' and 'you should change.'"

In addition to Israeli-born believers, many are from other countries. American Jews Eddie and Jackie Santoro became believers during the 1970s Jesus Movement.
They made aliyah to Israel 11 years ago, learned Hebrew, and now lead a growing congregation in Jerusalem.

"Our current congregation, we started almost two years ago with about 20 people. Today we have over 100," Eddie Santoro explained. "We see salvations here and there, but we feel like there's something yet to come. It's definitely growing."
But being a Jewish believer in Israel isn't easy.

"I think probably the greatest challenge is that you always feel that the rest of society isn't accepting you. And so when you meet somebody and you want to talk to them and you want to tell them who you are, there's always that challenge of, 'should I say something," Jackie Santoro said.

Griffith said that for the first time, the secular media are saying something, even mentioning Messianic Jews in a more favorable light. A recent wave of persecution, including the bombing of a young Jewish believer, have put Messianic Jews on the front page.

"At least we see that believers are being asked to explain who they are, what they believe in, why they are here...how they can be Israeli and believe in Jesus and be given an opportunity to tell their story and share their testimony," Knut Hoyland of the Caspari Center said.

What does this movement mean for the Body of Christ?

"It really is ultimately a battle for the return of the Lord - because Jesus will not return until the Jewish people say Baruch h'abba B'shem Adonai - Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord," said worship leader Karen Davis.

"One of our other banner statements is from Romans 11, that all Israel will be saved. So we are focused, not just on growth in the body here and revival - but as I said, ultimately, bringing Yeshua back and His Kingdom being established on the Earth," Asher said.

Ayelet said, "If it wasn't for Yeshua, we would be lost - just like the lost sheep of Israel we would be. It's because of Him there is that completion in our life and hope for the future.

"If it wasn't for Yeshua, we would be lost," Ayelet said.
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Indonesia: Demonstrations Turn Violent at Theological School
Michael Ireland


August 4, 2008

JAKARTA, INDONESIA -- For a second consecutive night some 580 students from the Arastamar Evangelical School of Theology (SETIA) in East Jakarta slept in the lobby of Indonesia's parliament Thursday following demonstrations against the school that left at least 17 students injured.

Hundreds of protestors shouting "Allahu-Akbar ["God is greater]", urged on by announcements from a mosque loudspeaker to "drive out the unwanted neighbor."

The crowd brandished machetes, carried sharpened bamboo and acid and continued to attack 1,400 students and school staff members even as they were evacuated over the weekend (July 26-27), according to Compass Direct News.

Besides the students in the parliamentary building, hundreds of others were evacuated to area denominational and medical facilities, the news agency said.

Compass Direct said the violence took place in spite of the efforts of 400 police officers summoned after tensions erupted on Friday (July 25).

Students and school staff taking refuge in the parliament building lobby asked government officials to return them to the college and guarantee their safety there. They talked with members of parliament, particularly from the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS), a Christian party led by Karol Daniel Kadang, Compass Direct reported.

The agency said the parliamentary members promised the students, staff members and their lawyers that they would contact the head of the National Police Department to file a complaint about officers who failed to protect them during the July 25-27 violence that caused 85 million rupiahs (US$9,325) in damages.

According to Compass Direct, lawyers for the students and staff members also demanded capture of those responsible for the violence, as well as the firing of the mayor of East Jakarta, known as Murdani, for blaming the Christian students whom he referred to as a minority group that "should behave."

The news agency reported that a seemingly harmless incident touched off the protests.

Local sources said that at 10:30 p.m. on Friday (July 25), two SETIA students, Julius Koli and Jonny Gontoh, returned to their dormitory to find a large rat, and one of them threw his sandal at it. The sandal fell onto a neighbor's property, and when the two went there to retrieve the sandal, area residents shouted "Thieves!"

By midnight mobs had formed and were attacking two male dormitories. At 2:30 a.m., mobs had reached the third floor of one of the dormitories and were trying to burn it down. Local sources said that when they set the building on fire, gasoline spilled onto the leg of one of the attackers, and they ran away.

Another mob attacked the main building of SETIA with stones. Male students threw the stones back at them, and by 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning (July 26) local policemen arrived.

That night, area residents and Muslim extremist groups made their way past police checkpoints and some of them armed with metal clubs and machetes broke into a women's dormitory, where male students had been transferred after female students were relocated. While the attackers ransacked the dormitory, those outside threw tear gas and home-made "Molotov cocktail" bombs at the structure.

Evacuations of students began that night.

Compass Direct said that on Sunday evening (July 27), as police were further evacuating students and staff members, the attackers slashed some male students with swords. At least 17 students received treatment for injuries at the Christian University Indonesia Hospital Cawang, East Jakarta. Among them were Gabriel Dessa, 21, and 22-year-old Yopiter M. Bessa, who both suffered stomach and hand wounds.

Local sources said police officers did not arrest the assailants even though the assaults took place in front of them.

Motives for Attack

Compass Direct explained that key among motives for the attack, according to a member of the village assembly, was that area Muslims felt "disturbed" by the presence of the Christian college. They want it to be moved to another area.

SETIA officials explained to parliamentarians that the school, founded 21 years ago, has full legal permission and registration to operate. While now sitting in the middle of a populated area, when originally established the college was surrounded only by cornfields and banana plantations.

School public relations official Bayu Kusuma told the parliamentarians that the college has permission from the Religious Department, a special construction permit for a school/seminary building and registration with the official gazette (Berita Negara), along with documentation from the Republic of Indonesia.

Last year, the Muslim extremist Islamic Defenders' Front demonstrated in front of the college, accusing it of having misapplied its permit, Compass said.

Compass Direct also reported that since 2007, protestors have held six demonstrations. On March 7, 2007, more than 200 Muslims set fire to construction workers' quarters in an effort to keep SETIA from adding a fifth dormitory.

Three days later, some 300 people gathered to protest the construction, demanding that the school close. They claimed it was disturbing area residents when students sang during their classes and that students were evangelizing people in the area.

Compass says that Government officials have brokered talks between the conflicting parties, without success.
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Archbishop of Canterbury Says Gay Ban Needed to Preserve Unity
Daniel Burke


August 5, 2008

CANTERBURY, England -- The spiritual leader of the global Anglican Communion said the communion will be in "grave peril" if its North American churches ignore temporary bans on gay bishops and same-sex unions.

"If the North American churches don't accept moratoria" on gay bishops and blessings, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said on Sunday (Aug. 3), "as a communion we are going to continue to be in grave peril."

The archbishop also said conservative archbishops from the so-called Global South must stop transgressing traditional geographic boundaries and seeking to adopt like-minded parishes in the U.S. and Canada.

Williams' comments came at a press conference at the conclusion of the Lambeth Conference, a once-a-decade gathering that brought together more than 650 bishops representing the world's third-largest Christian body.

Nearly 200 bishops, mostly from Africa, boycotted the conference because they refused to meet alongside bishops from the U.S. or Canada who allow same-sex blessings or approved of the election of an openly gay man, V. Gene Robinson, as bishop of New Hampshire in 2003.

Though there was no recorded vote, a majority of bishops at Lambeth agreed with Williams and said the moratoria, although "difficult to uphold," are necessary to keep the Anglican Communion from breaking apart.

Yet in a sign of problems ahead, at least two California bishops had already earlier said they will continue to bless same-sex relationships in their dioceses.

The bishops' closing statement, which is not binding, came in a 40-page "Reflections from the Lambeth Conference."

The bishops here said same-sex blessings and Robinson's consecration have led to "many negative results." Mission partners have been lost, interfaith partnerships damaged, and the church is ridiculed in some quarters as "the gay church," the bishops said.

Bishops also gave strong approval for a proposed new covenant that would outline Anglican beliefs -- and penalties for churches that flaunt them -- as well as a "pastoral forum" to deal quickly with crises in the communion.

Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said: "We have not resolved the differences among us, but have seen the need to maintain relationships, even in the face of significant disagreement and discomfort."

Jefferts Schori generally favors gay rights in her church, and voted to approve Robinson's consecration. Robinson was not invited to the conference but has been in England advocating for gay rights.

Throughout the three-week conference, bishops have studied the Bible and met in groups modeled on the African concept of villagers convening to hash out serious disputes.

The "reflections" document attempts to capture those conversations, but was also debated by the full body of bishops beneath a big blue circus tent here at the University of Kent.

No binding resolutions were produced, however, after Williams and conference designers determined they would be too polarizing.

But a majority of bishops here clearly want the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada to not allow gay bishops and same-sex unions. The U.S. church says it effectively banned gay bishops two years ago, and has never authorized public liturgical rites for same-sex unions.

Some blessings of same-sex unions still occur in the U.S., however.

"I'm not very happy about that," Williams said Sunday.

As head of the Church of England, the archbishop of Canterbury is spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, but lacks the power to bring autonomous national churches into line.

Still, liberals in the Episcopal Church acknowledged that Sunday was a setback.

"We don't see this as a permanent marginalization," said Bishop Dean Wolfe of Kansas. "This is a dance that will go on for some time."

The Rev. Susan Russell, a California gay rights activist here for the conference said, "This means I'm going to have to work harder to get the Episcopal Church to do the right thing."

Bishop Hector Zalava of Brazil said Sunday that "the communion will split," if Episcopalians allow gay bishops and blessings. "If the Episcopal Church continues that way I don't have any hope for the future," he said.

Some bishops expressed frustration with the conference's design, comparing it to "Bible school for bishops," with endless talk but little action.

"I don't think we've done anything to resolve the crisis," said Bishop Keith Ackerman, a conservative from Quincy, Ill.

Williams said the bishops have taken positive steps.

"We may not have put an end to all our problems," he said, "but the pieces are on the board."
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Saudi Arabia to Deport 15 Christians
Michael Ireland


August 6, 2008

Deportation Comes Two Weeks after King Abdullah Calls for Reconciliation Between Muslims and Christians at Saudi-Hosted Interfaith Dialogue

SAUDI ARABIA -- Saudi Arabia was set to deport 15 Christians on Tuesday, August 5, for holding private worship meetings in a house in the city of Taif.

International Christian Concern (ICC) www.persecution.org  says that on Friday, April 25, twelve Saudi Arabian police raided a house where 16 Christians were holding a prayer meeting.

In an e-mail report obtained by ANS, ICC says: "The first officer to enter the house after breaking down the main gate pointed a pistol at the Christians and ordered them to hand over their resident permits and mobile phones. The other 11 police followed quickly and started searching the entire house. They confiscated an electronic drum set, an offering box with 500 Saudi Riyal in it ($130), 20 bibles, and a few Christian books."

ICC says the police initially accused the Christians of preaching the Bible and singing. They later changed the charge to holding a "dance party" and collecting money to support terrorism.

The report goes on to say that during the raid, the police mocked, questioned and harassed the Christians for four hours.

"Then they took them to a police station where the head of the station interrogated them. The head of the police then wrote down their 'statements' in Arabic and forced the Christians, who are immigrants and not able to read or write Arabic, to sign the statements."

After the interrogations, the Christians were incarcerated and held incommunicado. After three days, the Christians were finally released on April 27, 2008 at 8 PM, ICC said.

The ICC report stated: "Upon release, one of the Christians permanently departed the country. The others, thinking that their ordeal was over, went back to their daily lives and work but soon received letters demanding that they leave the country immediately."

ICC says the arrested Christians are hard working people who came to Saudi Arabia to improve their lives and to contribute to the economic growth of the country. The Saudi officials' decision to deport them for practicing their faith is despicable.

ICC adds: "The decision to deport them runs contrary to recent attempts to portray the kingdom as a beacon of reconciliation among Christians, Muslims, Jews and others. Three weeks ago, Saudi Arabia hosted an interfaith conference in Madrid, Spain. During the conference that took place from July 16-19, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia called for reconciliation among various religions."

Jeff King, ICC's President, said, "Deporting Christians for worshipping in their private homes shows that King Abdullah's speech is mere rhetoric and his country is deceiving the international community about their desire for change and reconciliation."

Please pray for the Christians that face deportation so that Saudi officials will change their decision and allow them to continue working in the country. Please call the Saudi Arabian embassy in your country and ask the officials at the embassies to stop deporting the Christians.

Saudi Arabian Embassies:

Country Phone Fax  Email
USA: (202) 342-3800; (202) 944-3126 Info@saudiembassy.net 
Canada: (613) 237-4100; (613) 237-0567
UK: +44 (0)20 7917 3000; ukemb@mofa.gov.sa 
Australia: (02) 6250 7000; (02) 6282 8911

ICC is a Washington-DC based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC delivers humanitarian aid, trains and supports persecuted pastors, raises aware ness in the US regarding the problem of persecution, and is an advocate for the persecuted on Capitol Hill and the State Department.
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[nChrist]

Religion Today Summaries - July 31, 2008
Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff

Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.
 
In today's edition:

    * Bush Meets with Chinese Activists
    * Sudan: Ministries Help Prepare for 2009 Election
    * Iran: Jailed Christian in Critical Condition
    * Ethiopia: Interfaith Peace Council Launches

 

Bush Meets with Chinese Activists

Christian Post reports President George W. Bush met to "discuss his concerns about human rights in China" with five Chinese activists Tuesday. According to White House spokeswoman Dana Perino, Bush assured them of his stance of China's human rights abuses and said he will bring those concerns with him to Beijing, where he will meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao along with attending Olympic events. "Engagement with Chinese leaders gives him an opportunity to make the United States' position clear, human rights and religious freedom should not be denied to anyone," Perino said. The meeting follows an Amnesty International report Tuesday that accused Chinese authorities of "tarnishing the legacy of the games by withholding access to journalists, blocking many Web sites, and cracking down on human rights activists.

Sudan: Ministries Help Prepare for 2009 Election

Mission News Network reports that peace may be on paper in Sudan, but an agreement to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in July 2009 may plunge the country back into war. The North-South civil war killed almost two million people and cost four million more their homes, wreaking even more destruction than Darfur between 1983 and 2005, when the peace agreement was signed. Now, ministries such as Sammy Tippit Ministries and Eternal Concepts are helping churches prepare for the worst and prepare to spread the gospel. Discipleship seminars are helping students and church leaders learn not only evangelism, but essentials of the faith and how they apply to the current situation. One seminar included 40 youth leaders from various churches and the denominational heads of all five major churches in Southern Sudan.

Iran: Jailed Christian in Critical Condition

Compass Direct News reports that a diabetic Iranian Christian jailed for two months is in critical condition due to lack of medical treatment, even as new reports of arrests against Christians surfaced this week. Mahmood Matin and Arash Bandari have become frail from more than two months in prison, but the condition of Bandari, who suffers from diabetes, is critical. After two months of solitary confinement at a secret police detention center known by its address, Sepah Street 100, located in the center of Shiraz, Matin and Arash were placed in a cell together around July 15, sources told Compass. In the past 10 days, Iran's Christians have reported that another wave of arrests hit four cities. Christians attending house churches in Bandar Abbas on the southern coast, in Isfahan 334 kilometers (207 miles) south of Tehran, and in Sanandaj and Kermanshah on the Iraqi border were arrested. Sources told Compass that Christians in these cities were held anywhere from one day to a week by the government.

Ethiopia: Interfaith Peace Council Launches

ASSIST News Service reports that United Religions Initiative (URI), an organization committed to creating inter-faith dialogue announced the launch of a National Interfaith Peace Council in Ethiopia on Tuesday. A press release issued by URI noted: "Religions and faith based organizations have a major role to play in promoting a culture of peace, healing and reconciliation." URI went on to report that The Peace Council was comprised of representatives from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Ethiopian Islamic Supreme Council, Ethiopian Catholic Church, Ethiopian Evangelical Mekane Yesus Church, the Baha'i Faith and Interfaith Peace-building Initiative. Meanwhile, a mob of Islamic extremists stoned Seid Ahmed and Musa Ibrahim [names changed for security reasons] in Jijiga, a city on border with Somalia. The attack is the latest attack against Christians in Ethiopia where the spread of radical Islam is fueling the persecution of Christians.

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Religion Today Summaries - Aug. 1, 2008
Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff


Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.
 
In today's edition:

    * Churches and Security Measures
    * Rick Warren Says Pastors Shouldn't Endorse Politicians
    * Special Needs Sunday Schools on the Rise
    * Court Orders University to Recognize Christian Fraternity

Churches and Security Measures

According to OneNewsNow.com, the recent shooting at a Tennessee Unitarian Universalist church has many churches asking what they can do to protect their congregations. Jeff Hawkins, a former Chicago police officer and current security chief for the Answers In Genesis Creation Museum, says unfortunately many Christian organizations have adopted the "it can't happen here" approach to security. "They really have to look at it very holistically and look at the overall scope of what can possibly happen inside their churches and then come up with plans, formulate plans and practice the things that they've put in place to deal with things when they happen," he explains. Ushers, for example, "really need to be trained to recognize the potential of something suspicious, or somebody's behavior that's just not acting right and contacting the police immediately, before something happens." Currently, most states that recognize citizens' Second Amendment right to carry firearms also prohibit them from exercising that right in churches, schools, and most other government buildings.

Rick Warren Says Pastors Shouldn't Endorse Politicians

The Christian Post reports that pastor Rick Warren said he does not believe pastors should endorse political candidates in an interview held weeks ahead of Saddleback Church's leadership and compassion forum. The August 16 forum features presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama. "I don't think it's right for pastors to endorse [a political candidate] in the first place," Warren told CNN when asked if he thinks McCain was right to disavow controversial pastors John Hagee and Rod Parsley. "I would never endorse a candidate. I would never campaign for a candidate," he added. "I think as a pastor my role is to pastor all the flock regardless of their political persuasion, so I wouldn't have wanted endorsements anyways." During the forum, Obama and McCain are expected to answer questions from Warren about faith and moral issues such as poverty, HIV/AIDS, climate change and human rights. "I believe in the separation of church and state, but I do not believe in the separation of faith and politics," Warren said.

Special Needs Sunday Schools on the Rise

Special needs advocates are fond of pointing out that Jesus spent much of His ministry among people with disabilities. However, the message of His ministry was for everyone, said Carlton McDaniel, special needs specialist for LifeWay Christian Resources, Baptist Press reports. "The second half of that story is that by meeting the needs of those He helped and gravitating to people in need, He really modeled love to the able-bodied," McDaniel said during the July 11-14 Sunday School Week. Considering that attendance at special needs conference sessions has quadrupled from past Sunday School conferences, churches may be getting that message. "I see people with disabilities being more visible in the community, more included in life and not shut behind doors anymore, praise God," said Jo Ann Banks of Weaverville, N.C. Starting a special ministry requires a "people-centered" outlook rather than one that is people-driven, McDaniel said.

Court Orders University to Recognize Christian Fraternity

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ordered officials at the University of Florida to recognize a Christian fraternity, The Christian Post reports. The fraternity, Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX), or Brothers Under Christ, had filed a lawsuit for discrimination. Judges from the federal appeals court in Atlanta issued the injunction on Wednesday, ordering the school to officially acknowledge the 23-year-old fraternity currently allowed on at least 20 other campuses nationwide. The fraternity will be able to operate as an active "on-campus" student organization at the university this fall. "This ruling is encouraging to the young men of Beta Upsilon Chi at the University of Florida, but more importantly it makes a strong national statement that the rights of religious freedom and free association must be respected by universities," said Brett Williams, board member of Beta Upsilon Chi.

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[nChrist]

Religion Today Summaries - Aug. 2, 2008
Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff

Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.
 
In today's edition:

    * Bush to Attend Church in China, Urge Religious Freedom
    * Baptist Pastor in Azerbaijan Still in Jail
    * Chinese Gov't Plans a Browse through Foreign Journalists' Internet History
    * Warren's 'Long-Term Relationship' with Rwanda

Bush to Attend Church in China, Urge Religious Freedom

According to a report on Breitbart.com citing of the President's top aides, George W. Bush plans to attend church while in China for the opening of the Olympic Games next month, and will speak about freedom of religion. "When he goes to church on Sunday (August 10) he will make a statement afterwards in which he discusses his view on religious freedom in China," said national security council director of Asian Affairs Dennis Wilder. "You can deliver the message of freedom without politicizing the events of the game," Wilder said. "The president will have diplomatic meetings with the Chinese leadership that are separate from the games. And in those meetings with the Chinese leaders he will of course bring up these issues."

Baptist Pastor in Azerbaijan Still in Jail

ASSIST News Service reports that the judge in the criminal trial of Baptist pastor Hamid Shabanov in Azerbaijan has not yet convicted him. Defense lawyer Mirman Aliev told Felix Corley of Forum 18 News Service that he asked for Shabanov to be acquitted, for an end to the criminal case and for him to be freed. "But the judge was afraid to do so, and instead sent the case back for further investigation," Aliev told Forum 18. Aliev said the judge ordered the re-investigation to be complete by Aug. 23, ready for a new trial. "We expect they will try again to imprison Shabanov - and we will try again to get him freed," Aliev told Forum 18. "He's not guilty. They are doing this solely because he is a Christian." The judge rejected the lawyer's application to have Shabanov released pending the retrial.

Chinese Gov't Plans a Browse through Foreign Journalists' Internet History

China is backtracking on its assurances of open access to foreign journalists during the Olympic Games, says a release from the Institute on Religion and Democracy. Hotel documents cited by U.S. Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) reveal that all the major hotel chains serving the 2008 Summer Olympics have been ordered to install monitoring software by China's Public Security Bureau, and that Olympic reporters' access to certain websites is being restricted. One document said, "In order to ensure the smooth opening of Olympic in Beijing and the Expo in Shanghai in 2010, safeguard the security of Internet network and the information thereon in the hotels... it is required that your company install and run the Security Management System." According to the Los Angeles Times, the Public Security Bureau's order to the hotels says that failure to comply could result in financial penalties, suspension of access to the Internet or the loss of a license to operate a hotel in China.

Warren's 'Long-Term Relationship' with Rwanda

Cynthia McFadden recently interviewed Rick Warren on ABC's "Nightline" about the pastor and author's work in the African nation of Rwanda. "I've been coming to Rwanda for three years now," said Warren. "I think this is my 10th extended trip. The Rwanda I read about in the press and the real Rwanda are two different things." 200,000 people have HIV and 800,000 children are orphaned in Rwanda, a nation the world has hesitated to help since the genocide of 900,000 people 14 years ago. Warren believes "the problem with so many humanitarian efforts is that they just come in and leave. They come for a little while. They take a picture. They go home and put it in a brochure and raise funds. We're not into that. We're into long-term relationships." Many of the locals see Warren as someone who cares -- someone who is making a difference.

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[nChrist]

Religion Today Summaries - Aug. 5, 2008
Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff


Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.
 
In today's edition:

    * Graham Visits North Korea as 'Minister of Christ'
    * Christian, Muslim Leaders Report Progress at Yale Talks
    * Barna Examines What Americans Want
    * Greg Laurie's Son Christopher Remembered

Graham Visits North Korea as 'Minister of Christ'

The Christian Post reports that Franklin Graham arrived in North Korea on Thursday. On the agenda: a visit with high-level government officials, viewing relief projects and preaching at a newly constructed church in Pyongyang. "I do not come to you today as a politician or diplomat," Graham said after arriving in Pyongyang. "I come to you instead as a minister of Jesus Christ with a message of peace -- peace with God, peace in our hearts and peace with each other... In many ways, I feel like I'm coming home," Franklin Graham said. "North Korea was so close to my mother's heart, and she often told us about growing up in Pyongyang." Samaritan's Purse, the relief organization Graham heads, has also been working on aid projects in the country for the past year in response to devastating floods last August.

Christian, Muslim Leaders Report Progress at Yale Talks

According to Religion News Service, following up on a public exchange of letters last year about the need for Christian and Muslim understanding, leaders and scholars representing both faiths have begun the task of trying to make their calls more "concrete." One of the "practical outcomes" of a four-day (July 28-31) meeting at Yale University was to call for Christian and Muslim clerics to speak publicly during a designated week each year in praise of the other's tradition. Asked at the conclusion of the meeting how this might be implemented, Ibrahim Kalin, the director of the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research in Ankara, Turkey, suggested the idea could be taken to the United Nations. Such a proposal might strike outsiders as limited, but theologians and religious leaders here said it represents a small but necessary step toward reducing tensions in a post-9/11 world.

Barna Examines What Americans Want

What Americans want most in life varies clearly depending on their spiritual commitment, Baptist Press reports according to a recent study by The Barna Group found. Evangelicals, notional Christians and atheists, among others, gave significantly different answers when they were asked to rate what goals are important to them in life. "The data provide a distinct image of each faith group," George Barna said. "Evangelicals are intensely driven by their faith. Their life is substantially influenced by their beliefs, and their lifestyle choices and aspirations reflect the centrality of their spirituality. Non-evangelical born again adults consider faith to be important but it is not the defining aspect of their existence; it is influential but not the determining factor," Barna added. "Notional Christians treat faith as just one of many dimensions of their life that serves a purpose, but it is not a driving force at all. Skeptics have replaced faith with a passion for healthy longevity and personal pleasure gained through world travel, sexual experiences and obtaining knowledge," he said.

Greg Laurie's Son Christopher Remembered

ASSIST News Service reports that friends and family remembered Christopher Laurie's passion for life Friday. According to a story by Laurie Lucas and published in the Riverside Press-Enterprise (PE), nearly 2,500 people gathered at Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside to celebrate the life of Senior Pastor Greg Laurie's son during a two-hour memorial service. Christopher Laurie, 33, died in a car accident at 9 a.m. July 24. He was on the way from his Huntington Beach home to the church where he'd been the art director for three years. His car crashed into the back of a Caltrans truck on eastbound Highway 91 near Corona. According to the PE, about 90 people attended the private burial Thursday at Pacific View Cemetery in Newport Beach, said Jeff Lasseigne, one of Harvest's assistant pastors. At Friday's memorial, Greg Laurie spoke for 15 minutes. The PE reported  the elder Laurie said that on July 24, "the worst day of my life," he lost track of time. When well-wishers ask, "How are you doing today?" the PE reported Laurie said it depends on which "nanosecond" you're talking about, because he and his wife, Cathe, take turns crying and comforting one another. Laurie said his son's wife, Brittany, is "trusting but hurting deeply."

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[nChrist]

Religion Today Summaries - Aug. 6, 2008
Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff


Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.
 
In today's edition:

    * Top Hamas Leader's Son Converts to Christianity
    * BYU, Notre Dame, Wheaton 'Most Religious' U.S. Colleges, Survey Says
    * IBS-STL Challenges Churches to End Modern Day Slavery
    * Unitarians Rededicate Church Where Gunman Killed Two

Top Hamas Leader's Son Converts to Christianity

According to The Christian Post, the son of a top Hamas leader has converted to Christianity, an Israeli newspaper reported. Masab Yousef, son of West Bank Hamas leader Sheik Hassan Yousef, revealed in an exclusive interview with Haaretz newspaper that he has left Islam and is now a Christian. Yousef's family previously did not know of his faith. "[T]his interview will open many people's eyes, it will shake Islam from the roots, and I'm not exaggerating," Yousef, 30, said. Yousef is now living in the United States. "I was about to become one of those homeless people [in the U.S.]," he confessed, "but people from the church are helping me. I'm dependent on them." He also dreams that someday he can return to his homeland and prays his family will someday accept Jesus Christ as their savior.

BYU, Notre Dame, Wheaton 'Most Religious' U.S. Colleges, Survey Says

The Princeton Review's annual college rankings list, which is entirely based upon student responses, listed, among other things, the country's 20 "Most Religious" colleges. The survey is designed to help prospective students answer the question: "How do you know that you'll be comfortable -- and that others will be comfortable with you -- at your chosen college? We dish the dirt about demographic backgrounds, lifestyle attitudes, and religion on campus." 120,000 students at 368 colleges and universities were asked to what degree they agreed with the statement, "Students are very religious at my college." The top 10 were revealed to be: Brigham Young University (UT), University of Notre Dame (IN), Wheaton College (IL), Grove City College (PA), Hillsdale College (MI), University of Dallas (TX), Thomas Aquinas College (CA), College of the Ozarks (AR), Furman University (SC), and Samford University (AL). Other major colleges making the list include Baylor, Texas A&M, Auburn, and the University of Utah. The United States Air Force Academy's inclusion may prove surprising to some. Interestingly, Brandeis University in Waltham, MA came in as the No. 18 most religious college, while also making the "most liberal students" list. Ranking as the "Least Religious" institutions of higher education were Lewis & Clark College (OR); Eugene Lang College (NY); Reed College, known to some in evangelical circles as the Portland, Oregon school Donald Miller writes extensively about in his book Blue Like Jazz; Bennington College (VT); and Bard College (NY).

IBS-STL Challenges Churches to End Modern Day Slavery

According to a report by Mission Network News, an estimated 800,000 people are trafficked across borders each year. To combat this modern day slave trade, IBS-STL Global is partnering with Bristol Bay Production and World Changers, LLC. The organizations share a common goal of changing the world by ending human trafficking, so they have created a resource kit to help churches engage in the battle. The kit includes: Amazing Grace DVD, World-Changers Live to Serve book by Bob Beltz and Walt Kallestad, Five-week, small-group discussion guide, and Once Blind: The Life of John Newton book by Kay Marshall Strom. Many countries rationalize human trafficking as an economic necessity. China, India, Brazil, Mexico and Russia are among the countries on the U.S. list of worst offenders, though the United States itself has its share of offenders.

Unitarians Rededicate Church Where Gunman Killed Two

Religion News Service reports that Unitarian Univeralists in Knoxville, Tenn., reopened their doors on Sunday (Aug. 3), just one week after a gunman opened fire during a production of a church musical and left two people dead. "This sanctuary, which has been defiled by violence, we rededicate to peace. This holy place, which has been desecrated by an act of hatred, we reconsecrate for love," the Rev. Chris Buice told an overflow crowd at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church. Joined by two former ministers, Buice praised the congregation's commitment to progressive social justice in the face of violence. "(The gunman) came into this space with a desire to do an act of hatred. But he has unleashed unspeakable acts of love," Buice said. According to Knoxville police, Jim D. Adkisson, 58, opened fire during a July 27 performance of the musical, "Annie," killing two and wounding seven. In a letter found in Adkisson's car, the shooter blamed the church's liberal teachings for his current unemployment.

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[nChrist]

Gay Issues Left Undecided at Lambeth Conference
Rebekah Montgomery


Whether or not you are Anglican or Episcopal, you will want to take notice of what happened--or didn't happen--at the once-a-decade Lambeth Conference in Canterbury, southeast England. Regardless of denominational affiliations, the same issues chaffing Anglicans worldwide are demanding the attention of nearly every group of believers and very well may affect your church's direction now and in the future.

Some 650 bishops attended the 20-day conference, which ended July 31, for intensive sessions of worship, study, and discussion. Yet, about a quarter of the Anglica Communion's bishops--including most from Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda--opted to stay away after the Church of England, the Communion's mother church, okayed women as bishops.

Regardless of their boycott, the ordination of practicing homosexual clergy and same-sex union blessings/marriages remained the bigger flashpoints of the Lambeth Conference. Voices pro and con discussed these issues. In the end, Anglican leadership placed a moratorium on making any decision. Neither side won. Or lost. And nobody was happy.

Yet, according to some, avoiding taking a stand doesn't mean nothing will happen.

Reverend Peter Frank, spokesman for Anglican Communion Network, an evangelical renewal movement, said that by design, the Lambeth Conference was structured to forestall any decision-making.

"It was depressing for those who hoped the Anglican Communion would return to mainstream Christianity," said Frank.

Further, because of the moratorium on decisions concerning ordination of gays and same-sex unions, Frank foresees a widening in the present divisions between liberal and conservative factions.

"Nether side will wait for another 10 years to act," said Frank. "The moratorium will empower the innovative to be freer to act because they know that nothing on the radar will happen to them. However, it (the lack of any official decisions) will empower the defenders of the faith to be realistic, not count on the leadership, and organize within the structure. And they are in the majority."

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, upon whose invitation Lambeth Conference conferees attend, attempted to sidestep directly confronting issues concerning gay bishops and same-sex unions by not inviting Reverend Gene Robinson, a homosexual bishop of the New Hampshire diocese who recently married his partner. Robinson was elected to the bishopric June 7, 2003, sparking action between opposing factions in both the Anglican Communion and Episcopal Church.

Frank says that even before the Robinson ordination, the church was drifting theologically, promoting goddess worship, selling books of spells, and "lots of crazy things." For those maintaining a traditional view of Anglican worship and the authority of scriptures, Robinson's election was, said Frank, "the straw that broke the camel's back." Subsequently evangelical renewal groups formed to stem the trend.

While Robinson was not invited to Lambeth and thus could not attend the conference, nevertheless, his presence was felt. And his voice heard. While delivering a sermon at a church in south London, a lone protester denounced Robinson as a heretic and repeatedly called on the bishop to repent. Robinson's supporters clapped to drown out the protester's voice.

The question remains: Will the Anglican Communion hear the voice of protest?

Frank fears that unless there is a heeding to the call for repentance from the renewal movement, in another 50 years, the Anglican Communion will be centered in Africa and Asia; while in the United States, it will dwindle to half or a quarter that it is today and be less Christian.

But Frank also sees hope on the horizon as Anglican leaders meet at the end of August. "We may not solve or deal with every issue. But we can get on to being an Anglicans and Christians."
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[nChrist]

The State of Religion in London: Interview with an American Missionary Part 1
Shawn McEvoy, Crosswalk.com Faith Editor,


Islamicization. "No-go zones." Moral vacuum. Empty churches. Anglican schizm.

These are just a few of the phrases regarding the state of religion in England that have made their way across our desks here at Crosswalk in the past year. How much is really true?

Every American student is taught that our land was colonized by Christian Brits seeking a new life and freedom from a state-imposed Church, so it's interesting to consider our common roots, whether we're headed in the same direction just several years behind, and whether the roles have reversed several centuries later.

A couple months ago, thanks to Facebook, I regained contact with a college roomate, Tim Miller, who has lived in London for several years, doing ministry with his wife Jamie. I forwarded Tim many of the articles and columns about England & Religion (view the ones I sent him at the end of this interview) we'd run from various sources in the past several months, and asked him to read them and see how they jived with his experiences and encounters. He was happy to give Crosswalk readers the straight scoop as he's seen it first-hand...

Tim Miller: A disclaimer or two before I begin:

First, my experience is almost exclusively London-based. It would be an understatement to suggest that Scotts, Northern Irish, Welsh, and even English people living outside of London would have different points of view on a number of the questions you've given me to answer. That said, the one thing most of these groups have in common is their cynicism towards religion.

Second, I'll approach your questions from two strands. One strand will be observations of the Muslim people we work with, the other will concern itself with our observations of the Brits we know, worship with, and live around.

Crosswalk.com: What is your role with the Salvation Army, and what ministry are you doing in the UK?

Miller: I actually have two roles with the Salvation Army in the UK. My actual title is Divisional Youth Officer which requires me to help with the oversight of the Army's youth work around the city of London. This includes meeting with youth workers, helping to equip them through resources and training, holding them accountable in some cases, assessing their work in other cases, and also meeting with local Salvation Army ministries who are interested in getting started in youth work.

My second role is that of church planter. Shortly after moving to the UK, a Salvation Army-owned building became available in our neighbourhood and my wife and I were approached about starting a ministry there. Jamie is actually the director of our local ministry, and I officially serve as a volunteer but, as anybody who has ever church-planted knows, it is a full-time job that really should be attended by a small team of workers.

We actually started our ministry in the community by leading after-school educational activities that dealt with learning the English language. We were (still are) living and working in a community that had over 350 different languages represented which created a real barrier for young people who were trying to work their way through school. Not only was listening to English speaking teachers a barrier but, with no English speaking parents at home, homework was a real struggle.

Since that time we have also begun working with adults, offering English classes and a community support group that helps immigrants get their children enrolled in school, helps families get signed up for a local doctor, and also helps to translate English documents into different languages.


I think one of the things I've learned through this style of ministry is that once people know how much you care, they care how much you know. It pains me to say it because it's a real cliché. The funny thing is, while I've heard it said a million times, I've rarely ever seen it put into practice, even by those making that statement from the pulpits.

When we moved to this neighbourhood, which at the time was a strictly Muslim neighbourhood, we knew that we had two immediate strikes against us that would need to be overcome: first, we were Christians, and second, we were Americans. Those were tough odds and, as for the American part, there was no way of hiding it. Neither of us can fake a British accent to save our lives. So with that in mind, we set out to dispel the myths (and sometimes realities) that often go hand-in-hand with American Christians.

First, we made it clear that we are here to serve. And when anybody asked us why we did what we did, we took it as an opportunity to explain that the Christian faith compelled us to do it.

In the past few years we've come to believe that many versions of the American Christian faith are quite condemning, even though Jesus specifically said that He did not come to condemn. We've also been reminded that Jesus' message was always described as "Good News," and that it furthermore seemed to be especially "Good News" to the poor (Isaiah 61:1, Matthew 11:5, Luke 4:18, Luke 7:22). With that in mind, and if the "Good News" only referred to the afterlife, why does the message go hand-in-hand with the poor so often? That says to me that there must be something more to "The Good News" than simply answering the question of the afterlife. We've come to believe that Jesus' gospel message addressed the issues of here and now, as well as the issues of the afterlife. It's a much broader sweeping redemption than we were originally taught to believe.

With this theology firmly in place, we set out to serve the community and to build relationships in the community. And it worked. Don't get me wrong, there were hiccups along the way. And I can't pretend that there weren't those who weren't suspicious of us (this was made clear the day two of our Bengali-Muslim boys suggested that we vote for Osama Bin Laden in the 2004 Presidential elections), but we continued to serve people and, when asked, took the opportunity to inform people that Jesus' message compelled us to love and serve our neighbours.

It's been four years since we moved into the neighbourhood and, though resources have been very hard to come by, our relationships with people continue to grow. It is now a fairly common occurrence to be invited into Muslim homes for a meal or even to celebrate religious holidays. What's more, we started a group for young people in January and 60 percent of those attending are Muslim. Most of them are young men. One of our Muslim mothers even cooks the meal for this Bible study despite the fact that it is plainly advertised as a discussion about God, the Bible, and the Christian religion. Apparently, now that they know how much we care, they're willing to listen to how much we know. I only pray that what we say will represent Christ's message of "loving God and loving our neighbour" well.

CW: We read a lot about issues within the Anglican Church. What's the local perspective?

Miller: As for the Anglican Church, there is certainly a large percentage of them that are dying, but there's also a movement within the Anglican church that seems to be rising up out of the ashes. As you know, there is great concern regarding the split taking place across the world in this denomination. The Church of England seems to be somewhere between the ultra-liberal American Episcopal version of Anglicanism and the fiercely conservative branch in Africa. That said, outside of the strong relationship we have with the local Church of England in our own neighbourhood, I can't tell you much more.
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[nChrist]

The State of Religion in London: Interview with an American Missionary Part 2
Shawn McEvoy, Crosswalk.com Faith Editor,

CW: Europe and the UK are often written about as becoming 'Islamicized.' Do you see this happening where you live, and is it truly a concern? Have you gone into a 'no-go zone'?

Miller: I think different people would probably have different definitions for the term "Islamicized" and I think that it's a bit of an alarmist's word. To me, "Islamicized" means that a country is being run by Muslim clerics and/or according to Muslim law.  That certainly can't be said of a country that continues to debate whether or not Muslim girls should be allowed to wear headscarves in school and where members of Parliament suggest to the media that Muslim women should never be allowed to cover their face in a public setting in Great Britain.

What I would suggest is that the British seem to understand that if we're ever to heal the great rift that exists between so-called Muslim nations and so-called Christian nations, we're going to have to do our best to understand each other and to respect each other, even if we disagree with each other. And I know that it's very difficult to respect a religion whose values seem to fly in the face of our very own, but consider the following:

    * While many Americans consider it sexist to ask a woman to cover her head, many Muslims consider it disrespectful for a woman to be uncovered. For them, it isn't a matter of keeping a woman in her place, it's a matter of respecting her by not exposing her to a man who is not married to her.  Consider the fact that many Muslim men will not shake my wife's hand. It's not because they deem her unclean, but because they believe that it would be disrespectful to their own wife to even shake the hand of another woman.
    * Consider also that they see America, a self-described "Christian country," as a country with absolutely no morals. They see our media where women parade half-naked on stage, they watch as our military sends women to the front lines, and they watch as Christians continue to worship what they see as a prophet (Jesus Christ) alongside the one true God.

From these perspectives, and so much more, Muslims here have just as much to overcome in respecting us as we do them. Mind you, I'm speaking of mainstream Muslims here and not the extremists. I think it would be fair to say that neither Muslims nor Christians would be happy to have their extremists representing them around the world.

One other thing that your readers might find interesting is that Muslims in London absolutely have as many false notions about Christians as Christians do about Muslims.  For instance, when one of my Muslim girls caught me typing out a few paragraphs for a Christian article, she looked at me puzzled and said, "Sir, you're not a Christian." To which I replied, "I'm not?" To which she responded, "No. You're a Protestant!"

Many of our other Muslim young people have cornered me on issues such as our "worship of Mary." Something else American Christians might be interested to know is that up to 25 percent of the Kurds living throughout the Middle East are Christian. Many estimates suggest that there are just as many Christians living in Palestine as well.

As for "no-go zones," again, that would be a matter of perspective. Many people would probably consider our neighborhood a "no-go zone." We do not.

CW: What do you think are the most specific issues and challenges to religion/Christianity/the gospel in the UK?

Miller: In addition to the obvious issues facing the spread of the gospel among the Islamic population of Great Britain, the following are some of the issues we face in sharing the gospel with the indigenous peoples of Great Britian:

Somewhere along the way - I'm not sure when - Brits became quite wary of mixing religion and politics. However, I do know that most Brits point to America as the reason why they are wary.

Both British believers and non-believers cannot reconcile the idea of Christians believing in the death penalty, the right to carry firearms, a pro-war stance, or opposing healthcare for the poor. For them these ideas are completely opposed to the teachings of Christ.  They have watched U.S. President after U.S. President claim to be a Christian while standing up against all of the values which they associate with the message of Christianity. Because of this, they are extremely wary of politicians who claim to be Christian, so they would rather keep religion and politics separate. And they would point to the hypocrisy of religion in American politics as the reason why.

It's a bit of a dichotomy really because, on one hand, Brits would like to keep religion and politics separate, yet they're also very critical of the fact that so many American Christians seem to be so hypocritical when it comes to their religion and politics. There seems to be this overriding belief in the UK that Americans have sold out religiously. And that's just among the British believers. As for the unbelievers, they look at the above concerns and see nothing about Christianity that's admirable. One of the toughest battles I fight with liberals is that many of them are doing more "good work" than many Christians I know. Between that and the traditional stances on the death penalty, war, equal rights, and gun control, sadly they see nothing morally redeemable about our faith at all.
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[nChrist]

'Buzz' in China Yields to Elaborate Opening Ceremony
Tim Ellsworth

August 12, 2008

BEIJING (BP) -- More than 91,000 people watched the long-awaited and elaborately produced opening ceremony to start the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing Aug. 8 at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium.

The four-hour ceremony celebrated the cultural history of China and featured thousands of performers, intricate choreography and dazzling light displays. More than 15,000 costumes were used in the production.

Rehearsal for some performances began 13 months ago, and volunteers began their first mass rehearsal in March.

Following the production, the ceremony featured the traditional parade of athletes from 205 countries, brief addresses from Liu Qiu, president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games, and Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, and the declaration of the official opening of the Olympics by Hu Jintao, president of the People's Republic of China.

The ceremony concluded with the entry of the Olympic flag, an oath by the athletes to abide by the rules "in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams" and the lighting of the Olympic torch. The torch relay began April 1 and crossed five continents and 21 countries, with more than 2,000 people bearing the flame.

"This is a very special season," Beijing resident Tan Yu Huai said prior to the ceremony. "Right now it is a very special Beijing. Right now it is the greatest time in China."

Philadelphia resident Nancy Whelan and her sister, Mary Ann Whelan of New York, were decked out in red, white and blue to cheer for the United States during the ceremony.

They began planning their trip to the Beijing Olympics two years ago, but the trip was in jeopardy when Mary Ann broke her leg in six places at the end of June.

But Mary Ann got approval from her doctor only one week ago for the journey.

"We're just ... thrilled to be here," Nancy said.

Mark Tedder, an American, lives in Beijing and won a ticket for the opening ceremony in an online ticketing lottery about a year ago.

"I think everybody in Beijing's excited," Tedder said. "Here in the city there's been a buzz. It's been exciting over the last two years to see how the city's grown and to see how they've built new buildings for the Olympics."

Tedder and his family came to Beijing two years ago so he could serve a two-year commitment as worship leader at Beijing International Christian Fellowship. They will return to the United States at the end of August.

"I think the government and the people who relate to the Olympics specifically are expecting China to have its coming out party these next few weeks," Tedder said of the Olympics. "As a result of that, I think it will put China on the world stage."

He also thinks the Olympics may open up opportunities for people to come to China to live, teach and minister. That's a sentiment shared by many local pastors, Tedder said, that the aftermath of the Olympics may lead to greater religious freedom in a country that has historically denied Christians full freedom to worship without government approval.

"No one knows for sure," Tedder said, "but because they've opened their doors so wide, I think there's an incredible opportunity for people to come and give themselves away for a year or two years."
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[nChrist]

Mongolia: Two Missionaries Released from Detention
Michael Ireland


August 13, 2008

Two Others Remain in Detention

INNER MONGOLIA -- Two of the four missionaries detained in Inner Mongolia in early July have been released after serving 30 days administrative detention.

China Aid Association (CAA) says that Yu Yongqing and Li Shusen were released on Aug. 6 and Aug 10, respectively.

Yu Yongqing was released after paying an undisclosed amount of money to Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials for his release.

Two of the four detained missionaries, Li Li and Wang Shuang remain in detention.

CAA says Mr. Wang's wife and sister visited the PSB detention center where he was being held and upon entering the station they were shown into Wang's cell where he was seen being hung by handcuffs. The two women left seriously distraught yet helpless to change the situation.

The other detainee, Li Li has been diagnosed by PSB officials as having a serious lung disease and possibly lung cancer. Detention guard officials, fearful that Li will die under their watch, have determined that Li will be placed under house detention with the condition that Li will promise not to escape while at home.

In a July 31 report by China Aid, the human rights watch group said the four missionaries in Inner Mongolia were arrested on July 20 and that police also searched their houses. Among the arrested, Wang Shuang was hung up and tortured by the police.

In that report, CAA said that missionary Li Li and her husband Li Shusen were arrested on July 17. At 9:00 p.m. on July 25, missionary Wang Shuang was taken away by the police and arrested. The charges against them were "utilizing a cult to undermine the implementation of the state law."

According to an insider, "The authorities are apt to arrest leaders of the churches. They arrest whoever is in charge of the affairs. A sister of mine and I went to visit Li Li at a detention center and tried to give her some luggage. They directed us to the Homeland Security Defense Brigade office.

"The Homeland Security Defense Brigade of the Municipal Public Security Bureau is in charge of arresting people. They asked me direct questions and the investigation was thorough. They asked me how many years I have been a Christian and where I was baptized. Upon seeing me, she knew immediately that I am an ordinary believer and not a leader. Therefore, she didn't arrest us."

According to information obtained by China Aid, most of these believers are peasants living in rural suburban areas and they are very simple people without sophistication.

China Aid stated: "On the other hand, Li Li came to this area to preach the Gospel from Jilin Province. She lived in urban areas. When they first arrested Li Li, the police also took away her two brothers who were not released until the second day. The above-mentioned insider also said: 'The charges against other people are not as serious as Li Li. They accused Li Li of associating with overseas reactionaries. They said people from overseas once sent her a remittance of 1,500 at a time and sometimes even 20,000. In fact, there is no such a thing.'"

Another insider told Fang Yuan, reporter from Radio Free Asia, that when some sisters went to the PSB to visit Wang Shuang, they saw with their own eyes "a scene of horror."

The insider told the radio station: "When his sisters and his wife went to see him (Wang Shuang), they saw upon entering the door that he was being hung with handcuffs. His trousers were at the bottom and his underwear was up there without the waistband. When the sisters came back and told other people, they were shocked."

A reporter from the radio station called Wang Shuang's wife, Ms. Sun, for more information and she told him that at 9 o'clock on the 25th of the month, four policemen from the Homeland Security Defense Brigade of the Municipal Public Security Bureau climbed over the wall to enter the house of Wang Shuang. They took away Wang Shuang by force. On the second day, they interrogated her for a whole day. After that, they also searched her house.

She said: "When I went to the public security bureau to ask for the reasons, they also detained me for a day there. They interrogated me and asked me where I was baptized and where I began to believe in Jesus. After the interrogation, they hauled me back and turned my house upside down. They didn't find anything but took away my notebook and my Bible. They also destroyed my kang the warm-bed just to look for Gospel flyers and books."

The reporter said: "According to our understanding, the police also told her to go to the PSB again on Monday, July 28. She didn't go there as she is afraid."

As the police searched the houses of the four people arrested, all the belongings in the house church, including Christian books, computers and disks were all confiscated, Radio Free Asia stated.
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