RELIGION TODAY

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Religion Today Summaries - Oct. 10, 2008
Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff

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

    * Churches Close Doors to Serve Communities
    * Europeans More Religious Than Assumed, Survey Suggests
    * Sri Lanka: Civil War Hides Anti-Christian Pressure
    * New Bibles Cater to Ever-Changing Culture

 


Churches Close Doors to Serve Communities

As the worsening economy continues to make life difficult for families across the country, churches are putting their faith into action by closing their doors to help serve their neighbors in need, ASSIST News Service reports. According to a news release, this year the event will take place on Sun. Oct. 12. About 300 churches nationwide comprising some 36,000 Americans will participate. Congregations do service projects in conjunction with their local community. The program also helps Christians invite members of their community to join in serving together. Since Sept. 2007, Faith in Action has advocated that churches should cancel Sunday services, close their doors and "Be the Church" by leading local community service projects. The Faith in Action program bridges the gap between families who could use a helping hand this year - and churches who have the extra hands to offer help.

Europeans More Religious Than Assumed, Survey Suggests

Christian Post reports that how religious Europeans are depends on where you are in Europe. Based on comparable data from seven European countries, religion is strongest in Italy (89 percent) and Poland (87 percent) - both heavily Roman Catholic countries - and weakest in secular France (54 percent), according to German think tank Bertelsmann Stiftung's Religion Monitor study. "This survey looked for the first time at religiosity, rather than just institutional affiliations and self-perceptions," Jaeger said. "It shows the situation is highly complex; Europeans are much more religious than is often assumed." Of those surveyed, 74 percent said they are religious. Nonetheless, faith doesn't necessarily affect political views or even sexuality; 58 percent said religion doesn't affect their politics, while 48 percent said religion has little effect on their sexuality.

Sri Lanka: Civil War Hides Anti-Christian Pressure

Mission News Network reports that as civil violence increases in Sri Lanka, so does the pressure to keep quiet. "There's a lot of pressure against believers in Sri Lanka not to be bold in their witness, to stay out of sight, and not challenge the authorities there. Buddhist monks are involved in the attacks. They're leading the mob; they feel like their power is waning," said Todd Nettleton with Voice of the Martyrs. At least two churches have been destroyed in the last two months, and anti-conversion legislation may be in the works as well. "Christians have to decide, 'Am I going to follow the Scriptural mandate to talk about my faith, to invite others to be in fellowship with Christ, or am I going to be intimidated and be silent?'" Nettleton said.

New Bibles Cater to Ever-Changing Culture

The Associated Press reports that newest editions of the Bible are no longer new translations, but new forms. One Bible has taken the high-gloss magazine look and features pictures of figures like Angelina Jolie. "In general, Bible publishers have always been creative, but now they are scrambling to meet a culture where people are moving away from print reading," said Paul Gutjahr, an associate professor of English and adjunct associate professor in religious studies at Indiana University. According to the AP, Bible sales can be expected to grow during economic crises, an expectation that has prompted secular as well as traditional Bible publishers to vamp up their efforts for a generation that is abandoning print media. In addition to electronic Bibles, keep an eye out for graphic novel and comic book renderings, as well as a chronological version due out this fall.
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Amish Report Shows Strong Growth beyond PA Homeland
Daniel Burke


October 13, 2008

The Amish are often portrayed as the most rooted of communities, who seldom venture off the farm except for short trips by horse and buggy.

In fact, nearly 11,600 Amish households have picked up and moved to a different state since 1992, according to a new study. And that doesn't include migration within states, said the study's author, Amish expert Donald B. Kraybill.

Even though more than 2,000 Amish households left traditional settlements in Ohio and Pennsylvania, the communities there grew by at least 60 percent, owing to extremely high birth and baptism rates.

The Amish population continues to explode, growing 84 percent from 1992 to 2008, without the help of immigration or many religious conversions. Kraybill now counts some 231,000 Amish adults and children spread across 28 states.

The Amish believe the Bible calls on them to refrain from using many forms of modern technology, such as cars and computers, and to keep separate from the rest of the world, said Kraybill, a senior fellow at the Young Center for Anabaptist & Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, Pa.

So Amish households, typically two or three at first, have been moving further afield from rapidly suburbanized communities in Ohio and Pennsylvania in search of cheap farmland and pastoral isolation elsewhere.

"The Amish feel the rural setting nourishes their way of life," Kraybill said. In search of such outposts, he said, the Amish have founded communities in seven new states: Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, Washington and West Virginia.

Ten states saw their Amish population increase by more than 100 percent between 1992 and 2007, led by Virginia (a 400 percent increase) and Kentucky (a 200 percent increase), the study found.

As the Amish establish new communities, however, their ways sometimes create misunderstandings with local officials. Often it's the more conservative Amish groups that relocate, hoping to avoid the squeeze of the suburbs and finding new trouble with local laws on building codes, selling produce and traffic issues raised by horse-and-buggy travel.

"Often the local officials don't know what to make of the Amish," Kraybill said, "and they don't know how to make exemptions on the basis of religious freedom."

Thus, some Amish choose to stay where they're comfortable. Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania remain home to more than three in five members of the community. But that's a decline from 1992, when nearly 70 percent of the Amish lived in those three states.

Kraybill said his data include all Amish groups who call themselves Amish and use horse-and-buggy transportation.

Founded in the 17th century in Europe, the Amish are Anabaptists, a Christian sect that believes in only baptizing adults. They moved to Pennsylvania in the 1730s and saw modest growth until the 1950s, when the population began to increase rapidly, Kraybill said.

The bulk of that growth comes from within the Amish community and is attributed to the largeness of their nuclear families, with five or more children on average, and retention rates of 85 percent or higher, according to Kraybill.
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Religion Today Summaries - Oct. 13, 2008
Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff

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

    * Poll: Monthly Churchgoers Swing toward Obama
    * Welsh Bishop Chosen after Secret Ballot
    * Christians Send Love to Indian Leader Despite Ongoing Violence
    * Connecticut Court Legalizes 'Gay Marriage'

Poll: Monthly Churchgoers Swing toward Obama

According to Religion News Service, significantly more monthly churchgoers are supporting the Democratic nominee -- Sen. Barack Obama -- in this year's presidential election than in the 2004 election cycle. According to a new poll, voters who attend religious services one to two times a month are supporting the Democratic nominee by 60 percent, up from 49 percent who supported Sen. John Kerry in 2004, based on a survey released Oct. 8 by the nonpartisan group Faith in Public Life. "The fact that he's getting 60 percent of those voters shows that there has been a movement overall in the last four years in terms of Democratic outreach with religious Americans," said Amy Sullivan, whose book "The Party Faithful" examines Democrats' outreach to religious voters. "That might be related more to economic issues than anything else this year, but it does show that religious voters are willing to vote for Democrats."

Welsh Bishop Chosen after Secret Ballot

After two-and-a-half days locked in a cathedral, members of the Church in Wales have named their choice for the next Bishop of Bangor, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reports. ASSIST News Service reports that the Electoral College of the Church in Wales made the decision on the third and final day of its meeting behind closed doors at Bangor Cathedral. The 46-member electoral college had been meeting in the city's cathedral since Tuesday. The BBC said the Archdeacon of Cardigan, the Venerable Andrew John, aged 44, is the ecumenical officer for the St David's diocese in west Wales. He will be the 81st Bishop of Bangor and now has 28 days to decide if he will take on the role. The election follows the death of the former Bishop of Bangor, the Right Reverend Anthony Crockett in June. The new bishop said he was looking forward to leading the Bangor diocese.

Christians Send Love to Indian Leader Despite Ongoing Violence

The Christian Post reports that Christians all over India have decided to present Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik with flowers on his 62nd birthday on Oct. 16. Christian leaders and laymen have both joined in email campaigns, urging believers to wish the chief minister a happy birthday and to express "love" even after the pain and suffering the Christian community has been undergoing following violence on churches and clergies in the Indian state of Orissa. "Since we love those who hate us, please do not fail to send him special birthday greetings from the Christian community, especially from those who are impressed by his efforts to uphold the honor of women and enforce the rule of law in this state," states the email being circulated among the Christians.

Connecticut Court Legalizes 'Gay Marriage'

Baptist Press reports that Connecticut became the third state in the nation to legalize "gay marriage" Oct. 10 when its Supreme Court issued a much-anticipated ruling declaring that homosexual couples are guaranteed the right to "marry" under the state constitution. The 4-3 decision follows a similar one by the California Supreme Court in May and a landmark ruling by the Massachusetts high court in 2003. All three rulings involved one-vote margins. The Connecticut court overruled a lower court decision that had upheld the state's marriage laws. Conservatives in Connecticut have few options, although their best one will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot, when voters will be asked whether a constitutional convention should be called.

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India: Prayer Team Badly Beaten, Arrested
Shireen Bhatia


October 14, 2008

Two Christians in Chhattisgarh forced to beat fellow believer unconscious under threat of death.

NEW DELHI (Compass Direct News) -- The Christian community of Chhattisgarh state is rattled after a gruesome mob attack and torture in Surguja district.

At midnight on Oct. 3 in Dumarbhavna village, 110 kilometers (68 miles) from Premnagar, three jeeps full of Hindu nationalists broke open the door of a house where a three-day prayer meeting was taking place and attacked participants as they slept -- ultimately forcing two Christians to beat one of their own prayer partners unconscious under threat of death.

The mob from the Hindu extremist Dharma Sena (Religious Army) beat the participants in the prayer meeting, including women, and dragged three of them from the house of Parmeshwar Beik, dumping them into the jeeps.

"We thought that they were taken to the police station, but instead they were taken to a secluded place where they were beaten all night," Yahoshu Kujur, pastor of Blessing Church of God, told Compass.

Muneshwar Ekka and Beik were beaten first, and then the Hindu nationalists ordered them to beat the third captured Christian, Ravi Devangan.

"They threatened to kill us if we did not beat Ravi," Beik told Pastor Kujur. "We were so scared and left with no option, so we beat Ravi until he dropped unconscious."

After failing to find the three Christians at the local police station the next morning, the pastor found them at the Srinagar Government Hospital, where Devangan was admitted with internal injuries and injuries to his chest, legs and other parts of the body.

"Ravi, who is a driver by profession, was just visiting Parmeshwar from Mehagai village," Pastor Kujur said. "He was the worst hit, at home and outside during the attack."

He added that Devangan's wife witnessed the attack on the house.

Police Inaction

Pastor Kujur told Compass that police admitted all three kidnapped Christians to the Srinagar Government Hospital with Devangan in serious condition and the other two in shock.

Beik's wife also sustained internal injuries during the attack, Pastor Kujur said.

"Mr. Ashok Sahu and four other local Christian leaders went on the morning of Oct. 4 and reported the matter at the police station, but so far no action has been taken," the pastor said.

Police reportedly deceived local Christians into believing that no complaint would be filed against the prayer team members for "forced conversion" if they would agree not to file any complaints against the Hindu nationalists.

"They told us that they would set the three free if we did that," Pastor Kujur told Compass.

Instead police registered a case of "forced conversion" against the three Christians under sections 3 and 4 of the Chhattisgarh Dharma Swantantraya Adhiniyam (Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill).

If convicted, the Christians could be sentenced up to a year in prison and/or pay a fine of up to 5,000 rupees (US$100). They appeared in Surajpur local court on Oct. 6. A fourth Christian, Fakir Chand Toppo, was also falsely implicated, Pastor Kujur said.

At press time all four Christians were in Surajpur jail, though attempts to secure bail for them continued.

Political Influence

Pastor Kujur said police officers who are friends of his informed him that police were forced to prosecute the Christians on "orders from above."

Internal police sources told him, he added, that police in the state were working against Christians under Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) pressure that has the support of the Chief Minister Raman Singh.

Christians from Surajpur have received news from sources who wish to remain anonymous that, emboldened by the BJP government that rules the state, Hindu nationalists have announced a cash award of 100,000 rupees (US$2,092) to anyone who murders a Christian preacher.

In Premnagar, also in Surguja district, Hindu extremist mobs have mounted similar attacks, Pastor Kujur said. He told Compass that in 2004 a Christian convention was attacked during which a mob surrounded the venue and shouted anti-Christian slogans. Police intervention averted casualties.

In another incident in 2005, Hindu extremists incited villagers of Premnagar to attack local Christians, reportedly wounding many.

The Dharma Sena was relatively unknown until nearly three years ago, emerging suddenly in the central Indian states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

Attacking Christians throughout the two states, the Hindus extremist group is reportedly backed heavily by the BJP, with BJP leaders pressuring police officials not to register any First Information Reports against it.

It is widely believed that the Dharma Sena is nothing more than the Hindu extremist youth group Bajrang Dal in another form.
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Religion Today Summaries - Oct. 14, 2008
Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff

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

    * Iraq: 3,000 Christians Flee Mosul after Murders
    * Dobson Condemns Conn. Gay Marriage Ruling
    * India's Christians Celebrate First Woman Saint
    * Poll: Campaign Season Has Little Impact on Charitable Giving

 


Iraq: 3,000 Christians Flee Mosul after Murders

In the past two weeks, thirteen Christians were killed in Mosul, Iraq, prompting thousands of other Christians to flee the city in fear, CNN reported. The AFP reported that nearly 1,000 police reinforcements moved into Iraq's third-largest city on Sunday to restore stability, hoping to slow the "major displacement" of Christians. Duraid Mohammed Kashmoula, the governor of northern Iraq's Ninevah province, told the AP that "al Qaeda elements are behind this campaign against Christians," as Mosul is regarded as the last stronghold of al Qaeda in Iraq. According to CNN, last week several predominantly Christian neighborhoods received leaflets that demanded their conversation, payment, or death. Gunmen began stopping vehicles at new checkpoints several days later, targeting - and killing - those with Christian names or other signs of Christian faith.

Dobson Condemns Conn. Gay Marriage Ruling

According to a news release, Focus on the Family Chairman James C. Dobson, Ph.D., issued the following statement Saturday in response to the Connecticut Supreme Court's decision to order same-sex marriage in that state: "Today's ruling by the Connecticut Supreme Court to impose same-sex marriage adds another tragic example of runaway judges trampling on citizens' right to decide public policy for themselves. In doing so, the court has placed the desires of adults over the needs of children who, social science research proves, do best when they are raised by their married mom and dad living in the same home ... We decry this decision by justices unelected and unaccountable to the people, and will do whatever is necessary to oppose it." Dobson went on to emphasize the importance of state amendments that define marriage between one man and one woman, such as those on the ballot in California, Arizona and Florida.

India's Christians Celebrate First Woman Saint

Even as Christians in India face continued violence from Hindu extremists, Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday recognized the faith of one Indian woman with the announcement of sainthood, the AP reported. Sister Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception is the first Indian woman to be canonized, although many view Mother Teresa, originally of Albania, as one of India's own. Alphonsia was beatified by the previous pope, John Paul II, which is the second-to-last stage to formal sainthood. The pope also recognized three other new saints Sunday, saying, "May their examples give us encouragement, their teachings give us direction and comfort."

Poll: Campaign Season Has Little Impact on Charitable Giving

Although the economic downturn continues to have an impact on giving, a poll sponsored by Dunham+Company in late September shows the political campaign season has not significantly affected charitable giving. "The fear that the political campaigns would add to the financial woes of charities by dramatically impacting giving is unfounded," said Rick Dunham, the company's president and CEO. "There is a greater likelihood, however, that charities supported by those who lean liberal or Democratic could feel some impact." Wilson Research Strategies conducted the polling. The study found that nearly 8 in 10 (78 percent) of Americans say they will not contribute to the political campaigns in the coming weeks. In the key giving demographic of adults 55-64 years old, nearly 9 in 10 (85 percent) say they won't contribute. And of those who do say they will contribute to the political campaigns, 63 percent say it won't limit their giving to charity.

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Assyrian Aid Society Asks for Help with Mosul Refugees
Michael Ireland


October 15, 2008

MOSUL, IRAQ (ANS) -- The recent attacks on Assyrian Christians in Mosul, northern Iraq, has lead to a rapid exodus of Assyrians from the city to safer areas in the Nineveh plain.

The Assyrian International News Agency (http://www.aina.org/) says that according to a report from the Assyrian Aid Society on Saturday, the number of families who have escaped Mosul totals 770.

AINA says that four to five thousand people have become displaced within the last five days.

A report obtained by ANS says: "The exodus of the Assyrians from Mosul has been carried out in a manner of panic and most families have not been able to take with them their personal belongings. The displaced families are moving into relatives' homes in the Nineveh plain and are being placed in some monasteries and churches."

The Assyrian Aid Society, a humanitarian aid organization based in northern Iraq with its main office in the city of Dohuk, has documented in detail the exodus from Mosul, compiling detailed information on the displaced families and where they have fled to.

According to Cristina Patto, secretary of the Assyrian Aid Society: "We are keeping track of the families who flee Mosul and we have complete data in order to be able to offer them rapid assistance. Our resourses are however limited to cope with this kind of acute situation and we are therefore asking for help."

The Assyrian Aid Society report cited by the AINA news outlet states: "The number of targeted killings against the Assyrian Christians of Mosul is increasing and according to sources on the ground leaflets are being distributed telling the Assyrian Christians they must leave Mosul or face death. The number of fleeing families is increasing by the hour and a humanitarian catastrophe is imminent."

The website http://www.assyrianaid.org/  says the new refugee crisis has suddenly developed in Northern Iraq with as many as 4,000 Assyrians fleeing Mosul following bombings and more than a dozen murders targeting the Christian minority.

The Assyrian Aid Society-America (AAS-A) is immediately launching a nationwide drive to raise sufficient funds to meet this critical emergency.

The Assyrian Aid Society-Iraq (AAS-Iraq) is responding by providing food and other necessities, as well as assisting in finding adequate shelter. Most of the refugees are temporarily locating in churches, community centers, and the homes of relatives and friends.

The website says the International Medical Corps (IMC) sent a convoy carrying food, mattresses, blankets, and hygiene items to the Tel Kief area in humanitarian support of an estimated 120 families. IMC is the only international organization currently providing such assistance in the area.

The Assyrian Aid Society has been serving Assyrians, Chaldeans, and Syriacs around the world since 1991.
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Religion Today Summaries - Oct. 15, 2008
Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff

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

    * Pakistan: Taliban Bombs Catholic Girls' School
    * Pope Condemns Persecution in India, Iraq
    * McCain, Obama Supporters Clash on Poverty
    * Polls Shift in Favor of Cali. Proposition 8

 


Pakistan: Taliban Bombs Catholic Girls' School

Compass Direct News reports that Taliban militants bombed a Catholic-run girls' school in Pakistan's war-torn Swat Valley as part of a larger effort to subvert women's status in society through Islamic law, locals say. On Wednesday (Oct. 8 ) the Islamic terrorist group bombed the Convent Girls' School in Sangota, run by the Presentation Sisters, a Catholic religious order that has opened girls' schools around the world. Militants have threatened the school frequently for offering education to females. No one was injured in the attack. The school had closed a few months earlier due to deteriorating security in Swat, a source told Compass. Students and faculty left in July following threats. "The Taliban said, 'We have asked you so many times to close down the school but you are not listening. We are going to set it on fire,'" said Yousef Benjamin, a Lahore-based peace activist. The high school enrolled approximately 1,000 female students, nearly 95 percent of them Muslim.

Pope Condemns Persecution in India, Iraq

Pope Benedict XVI has spoken in condemnation against the violence of Christians in India and Iraq, ASSIST News Service reported. "I invite you to pray for peace and reconciliation as situations cause concern and great suffering... I think of violence against Christians in India and Iraq," he told the crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square, after a ceremony canonizing Sister Alfonsa, an Indian saint who died in 1946. In Iraq, the government reported having dispatched 1,000 police to the northern city of Mosul on Sunday, in order to protect Christians who have become the target of the worst violence perpetrated against their community in five years, according to The Times of India. Nearly 1,000 Christian families have fled homes in the city since Friday after 13 were killed in the previous two weeks.

McCain, Obama Supporters Clash on Poverty

OneNewsNow reports that a new poll shows how strong supporters of John McCain and Barack Obama sharply differ over what the next president's priorities should be. Compassion International found that among McCain supporters, 80 percent believed fighting terrorism was a higher priority than fighting global poverty, while only 30 percent of Obama supporters agreed. Instead, 45 percent of Obama supporters placed the reduction of global poverty as a higher priority than terrorism. According to Compassion International Senior Vice President Mark Hanlon, the different priorities reveal different theories of the role of government in reducing global poverty. "This is where, from Compassion's perspective, while we would say that government interaction and intervention is important and social action is important, we also believe the church, and especially Christians in the church, are a key part of the solution to global poverty," he explained.

Polls Shift in Favor of Cali. Proposition 8

Proposition 8 in California may yet triumph on the November ballot, as new polls indicate huge leaps in support for the measure that would affirm traditional marriage in the state constitution, according to a news release. The measure's support had been lagging until a week ago, when a CBS5/SurveyUSA poll found the measure ahead 47 percent to 42 percent. This was a 10 point reversal in just 11 days. A separate poll by a leading Democratic public opinion research firm had similar results, with 47 percent for the measure and 43 percent against. "No natural occurrence could explain such a dramatic shift in these numbers," said Jim Garlow, lead pastor at Skyline Church in La Mesa and one of the team of pastors overseeing the church outreach campaign. Arizona and Florida have similar measures on their November ballots to define marriage as one man, one woman.

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China: Son of Pastor 'Bike' Severely Beaten by Officials
Dan Wooding


October 20, 2008

BEIJING, CHINA (ANS) -- China Aid Association (CAA) says that it has learned that Zhang Jian, the elder son of Pastor "Bike" Zhang Mingxuan, was severely beaten by Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials while at home with his mother, Xie Fenglan, in Beijing on Thursday, October 16.

A CAA spokesperson told ANS that Xie Fenglan has testified that at about noon Beijing time, 15 Beijing PSB officers entered their residence and secured the exits before severely beating Zhang Jian with iron bars for 25 minutes.

"As Zhang Jian lay bleeding profusely, his mother called an ambulance, but the receptionist told her that a higher government authority gave a directive not to dispatch any ambulance to rescue her son because he is related to Pastor Bike Zhang," said the CAA spokesperson.

"Zhang Jian's mother then called her younger son, Zhang Chuang, who rushed to the house where he was also beaten by the same authorities. After some time, a personal friend of the Zhang family was able to take Zhang Jian to the Beijing Min Hang (Aviation) Hospital emergency room where Zhang Jian remains now.

"His doctor said Zhang Jian's right eye may lose sight forever because of the severe damage resulting from the repeated beating. Pastor Bike Zhang, who was traveling in Yunnan province at the time, is currently unable to be contacted. It is assumed that he has been detained by authorities."

CAA said that Pastor Bike Zhang's wife, Xie Fenglan, was kicked out of her legally rented apartment, located at Room 206-102 at the Beijing Olympic Garden apartments, after her elder son Zhang Jian was sent to the hospital. The family's furniture was thrown into the street. Government authorities ordered all hotels in Beijing not host her so she is now residing at Dr. Fan Yafeng's home. Dr. Fan, a house church leader in Beijing, is an internationally renowned Chinese Constitutional law scholar and rights defender.

"China Aid strongly condemns the unjust and criminal actions of the Chinese government," said the spokesperson. "The brutal and unprovoked assaults on innocent civilians are acts of desperation and cowardice of a regime that has continued to ignore basic human rights and freedoms despite outcries from the international community. These reprehensible acts by the Chinese government should serve as a reminder to the international community that the Communist Party of China is only interested in self-preservation and will gladly sacrifice its own citizens' freedoms in order to maintain its corrupt power."

During the past 22 years, Pastor Bike and his family members have been arrested, beaten and evicted from their home numerous times because of their Christian faith, yet he and his family continue to serve the house church Christians in Beijing. China Aid says that it is standing with the Zhang family and will continue to send out updates on their situation.

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Church Leaders Plead for Help in Mosul, Iraq
Special to Compass Direct News


October 21, 2008

ISTANBUL (Compass Direct News) -- Amid escalating violence against Christians, Iraqi church leaders have appealed directly to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki for increased efforts to curb the continuing attacks In Mosul.

In a meeting with Al-Maliki, 10 heads of Iraqi churches urged the prime minister on Thursday (Oct. 16) to send the army to Mosul to help the approximately 1,000 police that were dispatched this past week to keep watch over Christians in the city.

Church leaders said police efforts to curb violence were insufficient and more needed to be done to stabilize the city, from which an estimated 2,500 families, or 15,000 individuals have fled following recent killings of Christians.

Al-Maliki assured the church heads that he would do whatever was in his power in cooperation with them and that he hoped to send soldiers to Mosul "immediately," said Shlemon Warduni, an auxiliary bishop of the Chaldean Church in Bagdad present at the meeting.

"He is upset and he's sorry for what is happening," said Warduni. "He is going to do whatever he can in cooperation with those who work with him."

Members of the Christian communities believe that the police already sent to the city have made little difference and more forces are needed to ensure peace.

"I hope they will follow it up with more action; that they will continue as they said themselves until there is peace," said Warduni. "We firmly ask for the army to be sent in the hopes that peace will come back and people will return to their homes."

Father Basher Warda of St. Peter's Seminary, spoke by phone to Compass with similar urgency. Government officials have visited Mosul and the victims promising to help, "but there is nothing," said Fr. Warda. "A few initiatives here and there, but they cannot correspond to the whole crisis."

He pointed out how no military spokesman has said Mosul is now secure, leaving only the government's promises.

"The whole system needs to be reconsidered," Fr. Warda said. "In a crisis the government should not take any holiday or rest, but they said, 'We will see what to do in the coming days.' But it's not a matter of coming days; it's a matter of families who have left everything behind."

Families are still fleeing as threats, bombings and deaths persist in Mosul, according to Fr. Warda. He said 20 percent of the displaced people he has spoken to said they had been directly threatened before they fled Mosul. Others described how they witnessed threats against their neighbors, "the killing of a man, or a father and his son," in their streets.

"These [accounts] ... show there is something planned to evacuate Christians form Mosul," he said. "They say: 'We cannot risk it.'"

Change in Parliament

It is not clear who is behind the attacks on Christians in Mosul, where U.S. and Iraqi forces have been conducting operations against the Sunni militant group al-Qaeda.

The displacement of Christians follows comes on the heels of an Iraqi parliamentary vote to drop a clause in its new provincial election law, Article 50, that protected rights of minorities by guaranteeing their representation on provincial councils.

The change earlier this month sparked protests from Christians in Mosul, which some believe have fueled the attacks on the Christian community.

In their meeting with Al-Maliki, church community leaders also pleaded for the re-instatement of Article 50. Al-Maliki assured them he would bring it to the attention of Parliament in the next session, Warduni said.

Although unwilling to draw direct links to the demonstrations, Fr. Warda did tell Compass that he thought the attacks were coordinated.

"Maybe it's a coincidence, and maybe it's an occasion for violence," said Fr. Warda. "But whatever the reason was, it looks like there was a plan [for the violence]. We cannot say it's just a coincidence, it happened in such a quick way."

He called the effort to clear Christians out of Mosul, a "massive task."

"We are talking about 1,700 families who have fled in nine days," he said.

In the wake of attacks on churches and individuals, Iraqi Christians have fled to surrounding villages leaving homes and businesses.

Some of Mosul's refugees have sought shelter across the border in either Turkey or Syria. It is the small and unprepared villages surrounding the city, however, that have borne the brunt of the displacement, according to Fr. Warda.

For now, the primary concern of church leaders is the safe return of those who have fled.

"[Mosul is] their history, their heritage, memories are there. Every beautiful memory is there. We have to do something," said Fr. Warda. He said those he spoke to were too afraid to go back to their homes and did not know if they could trust the government for their security.

Asked whether he thought Mosul would lose its entire Christian population, Fr. Warda said, "I don't care to think about it, because it would be a tragedy for all people. The choices are so limited. My concern now is for Christians who are leaving."

Although "hopeful" about the situation of Mosul's Christian community, Warduni did not hesitate to criticize what he calls the "silence" of the international community on the human rights of Iraq's Christian community.

"I want to tell the developed world that from the outset no one has said anything," he said. "No one is talking about the rights of Christians and minorities in Iraq. We are waiting for support from the outside, at least as human beings not only as Christians."

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SBC Urges Background Checks for Short-Term Missions
Adelle M. Banks


October 24, 2008

(RNS) -- The Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board has requested that participants in its short-term mission trips pass background checks before leaving for the field.

The new child protection policy, which is not mandatory and would not apply to missions trips taken independently of the IMB, was approved at a September meeting of trustees. It becomes effective Jan. 1, 2009, the board announced.

"Children are a precious resource entrusted to us and their care and protection is a top priority," reads an executive summary of the policy.

"Because almost everyone serving on the mission field interacts with children, we are asking that all short-term mission trip participants ages 18 and older have child protection training and go through a background screening process."

The process will include references, a criminal background check and an interview by local churches.

"Though it is regrettable that we should even need to consider such a policy for mission team members, we are acutely aware of incidents within our own local churches -- even among staff members," said Ken Winter, IMB vice president of church and partner services, in announcing the new policy Tuesday (Oct. 21).

"We know that many Southern Baptist churches are already providing background checks and training for members who are serving in local church ministry, but it may not extend to those headed overseas as a part of a mission team."

In a "Frequently Asked Questions" portion of the policy posted online, the board says individuals who refuse to submit to a background check will not be permitted to participate in a mission team working with the IMB. The board also will not permit anyone with a history of sexual abuse to serve on a board-related mission trip.

The Southern Baptist Convention has come under scrutiny by abuse victims' advocates who have said their efforts to prevent sexual abuse have been insufficient. Last year, the Baptists passed a resolution expressing their "moral outrage" about child sexual abuse.

Earlier this year, the SBC Executive Committee chose not to pursue a proposed database that would track clergy who have been convicted or accused of sexual abuse. The decision was based in part on the autonomy of local churches.

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"Somebody's Daughter" Raises Pornography Awareness - Part 1
Ginny McCabe

October 27, 2008

Pornography succeeds in luring about 40 million adults in the United States annually into its many traps. This includes untold numbers of Christian leaders and pastors who struggle against its daily attraction and stumble in the fight.

The September release of the DVD-CD set "Somebody's Daughter: A Journey to Freedom from Pornography" focuses on this struggle of Christians in ministry. Oct. 26 through Nov. 2 is Pornography Awareness Week, and the makers "Somebody's Daughter" hope the DVD will not only promote awareness but also help those facing the addiction.

"Somebody's Daughter" is a multimedia release featuring a television documentary, which details the lives of three men and one couple active in Christian ministry, who struggled with and overcame addiction to pornography. It addresses the universal appeal of pornography, speaking to individuals, families and churches.

The Writing of "Somebody's Daughter"

The concept for the project was born out of a song of the same name. Christian recording artist John Mandeville and Steve Siler, founder and director of Music for the Soul, wrote the song after Mandeville revealed to Siler that he struggled with pornography. After attending a meeting for sex addicts, the two men wrote the song to illustrate that women should be viewed as a creation of a Holy God. The song was also a starting point in Mandeville's healing.

"I was deeply honored that John asked me to go with him to a meeting, because I knew it took a lot of courage for him to call me and share his secret with me," recalled Siler. "I went with to him to the meeting, and after hearing several different stories, I came away wondering if this was happening to anyone else. So, I started talking to my friends within the Christian music industry, and within a few weeks, I realized I knew seven Christian songwriters or artists' who were dealing with this."

Later, Siler confirmed that the problem extended far beyond the Christian music industry. "I did even more research and found out it was a church-wide issue," Siler said. "Even though this has not been a personal struggle for me at the level of addiction, I would say for every man that visual imagery in this culture is a struggle."

Since then, Music for the Soul has produced 18 music and spoken word tracks, four music videos and a television documentary, all compiled on "Somebody's Daughter." A curriculum guide is also available to help churches and ministries implement the resources on the DVD and CD. Ten percent of sales of the project will be donated to Christian counseling centers to aid in counseling people with pornography addictions.

According to Siler, "Somebody's Daughter" was produced to shed light on how the $13.3 billion pornography industry is plaguing those who profess Christianity, and to promote healing and deliverance from the growing epidemic.

"The latest statistics I've heard state that 70 percent of lay leaders are struggling, and 40 percent of pastors are struggling. The statistic that I feel is most important is that if you open your eyes and look at our culture, 100 percent of kids are going to be facing this stuff because it's in our magazines, iPod's, cell phones, Internet, cable television and billboards--it's coming from everywhere," Siler said.

"I really felt like we needed to do something that would help the church in particular to take on this issue, because it's a difficult thing to talk about. So, we wanted to create 'Somebody's Daughter' as an icebreaker and as something that the church could use to show videos, or personal testimonies. It gives them a way to start the conversation."

"Somebody's Daughter" is scheduled to air Nov. 30 and Dec. 7 on the ION Television Network (formerly PAX TV). The documentary also is slated to air on INSP, Faith TV and "It's Time for Herman & Sharron.

What Feeds the Addiction

According to Family Safe Media, the average age of a person who is first exposed to Internet pornography is age 11. They also reported that 40 million U.S. adults regularly visit Internet pornography websites.

Stephen Simpson, teacher at Fuller Theological Seminary's school of Psychology, and author of What Women Wish You Knew About Dating (Baker 2008 ) and co-author of What Women Wish You Knew About Sex, is another Christian leader who is helping to raise awareness as a psychologist and  speaker.

When taking steps in dealing with the addiction, he advised, "First, remember that 'addiction' is seldom the primary problem. It is usually a symptom of one or more of a number of problems: relational problems, self-esteem deficits, depression, anxiety, past sexual abuse, etc. The list is nearly endless. Though it's important to implement behavioral steps to decrease use of pornography, it is essential to examine underlying issues."

Simpson said it is going to take dealing with porn on personal, church-wide, and on a national level to make a difference.

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"Somebody's Daughter" Raises Pornography Awareness - Part 2

On a personal level, he said there are a lot of great books, programs, and even software available to help people overcome a problem with pornography. Accountability and having limits on computer access is the most direct approach. He said, however, underlying problems must be addressed or the problem will not go away. Married individuals need to maintain an active and vital sex life. Healthy physical intimacy in marriage is an excellent deterrent.

One Cincinnati-based small group pastor, Jody Burgin of Vineyard Church Northwest, is not only raising awareness on a local level, but he's bringing that awareness into the national spotlight. Burgin, who once struggled himself, now speaks and writes about pornography and the power of the addiction.

In addition to writing and speaking, Burgin also regularly talks about it from the pulpit on Sunday morning.

"We are created for dynamic relationships with God and others. Yet many of us don't feel all that close to God or to other believers. We tend to settle for counterfeit loves, such as material objects, sports, work, addictive substances, etc. These substitutes provide only a temporary illusion of comfort and reassurance," he said in one of his messages from http://www.vcnw.org/.

He said common counterfeits also include illicit sexual relationships and activities. "We should recognize, however, that when a man turns to sexual counterfeits, sex may or may not be his primary yearning. He may, rather, be driven more by feelings of loneliness, pain, stress, and the desire to be loved and accepted," Burgin said.

What Attitudes We Need in the Church

Promoting awareness on a church level is obviously is important, but Simpson conveyed something else is needed--positive attitudes about sex.

"The church does a great job of saying 'No!' when it comes to sexuality, but we are terrible at promoting healthy, fun sexuality, despite the fact that an entire book of the Bible is devoted to having great sex, 'The Song of Songs,'" he said.

"God gave us our sex drives and a desire to be physically close to someone. If The Church doesn't emphasize the importance of this and encourage Christians to become great lovers, then the porn industry is ready and waiting to fill that void. We need to spend more time talking openly about sexuality across the lifespan, and emphasize the positive and healthy aspects as much as we do the sinful and negative ones."

Simpson said as a nation, we must make federal laws that limits access to pornography. "Right now, it's like putting a free vending machine in the room of someone who's trying to stay on a diet," he said.

Alan Chambers, President, Exodus International, who regularly faces the problem on a national level, believes awareness is key.

As the largest Christian ministry helping those affected by unwanted same-sex attraction, the organization routinely sees men and women who struggle with pornography and other sexual addictions.

"It is a very real problem that has become a pandemic within the body of Christ," Chambers said. "Therefore, we have to care about it. People are addicted to it and we have to provide the answer."

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"Somebody's Daughter" Raises Pornography Awareness - Part 3

Many ministries offer resources to help.

For example, XXXchurch has a free program that is available to churches called Porn Sunday. This program includes a 30-minute sermon video, support group guide and a complete guide for pastors for addressing porn in the local church. XXXchurch also provides a free accountability software called X3watch, available at x3watch.com, which requires an accountability partner.

In addition to these resources, XXXchurch tours over 200 churches and colleges a year speaking at events such Porn Sunday; the ministries Men's breakfast, Porn and Pancakes; and the newly launched Porn and Pastries, an event for wives, spouses and who are women struggling.

"You never can come to the point in which you think you have arrived. You have to be constantly on the guard as you push forward. It's important to continue to have safeguards in your life. Freedom is not a destination but it is a process and it takes time," said Craig Gross, founder of Fireproof Ministries and XXXchurch.com.

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Indonesia: Students Forced to Move to Abandoned Office
Edi Mujiono


October 28, 2008

JAKARTA (Compass Direct News) -- Over 1,000 students forced from the Arastamar Evangelical School of Theology (SETIA) in East Jakarta have now moved into an abandoned mayor's office in Jakarta after management at the Bumi Perkemahan Cibubur (BUPERTA) campground demanded that 700 students temporarily resident there had to leave by Oct. 14.

Urged on by announcements from a mosque loudspeaker to "drive out the unwanted neighbor," hundreds of protestors shouting "Allahu-Akbar ["God is greater]" and brandishing machetes, sharpened bamboo and acid had forced the evacuation of staff and students from the SETIA campus in Kampung Pulo village on July 26 and 27, following a misunderstanding between students and local residents. Attackers injured at least 20 students, some seriously.

Key among motives for the attack was that area Muslims felt "disturbed" by the presence of the Christian college. They want it to be moved to another area.

Following the evacuation, some students were temporarily billeted in church offices, while others slept in the lobby of Indonesia's parliament building. Officials then moved 600 female students to the BUPERTA campground, where they were later joined by 100 male students. A further 400 male students remained at a migrants' center in Bekasi, while 32 post-graduate students were accommodated in a housing complex in Kota Wisata, not far from the campground in Cibubur.

Campground manager Umar Lubis sent a letter to SETIA principal Matheus Mangentang on Oct. 6 ordering the students to vacate the premises in advance of a pan-Asian scouts jamboree scheduled at the facility for Oct. 18-27. Lubis sent a copy of the letter to Fauzi Bowo, the governor of Jakarta.

Mangentang initially protested, since the campground could accommodate up to 30,000 people and there would only be 300 participants in the jamboree. He also noted that despite an agreement reached in September, Bowo had failed to repair and extend bathroom facilities in an abandoned mayoral office in Jakarta offered for use by the staff and students.

When the council made no attempt to begin renovations on the mayor's office, Mangentang himself hired bricklayers and carpenters to install more toilets, repair damaged ceilings on two floors of the building and erect partitions to create 13 classrooms.

The students last week moved into the abandoned mayor's office. But the building still lacks many basic amenities, according to staff. Students carry well water into the building in large plastic drums for showers, toilets, laundry and cooking.

One staff member told Compass that the water was slimy to the touch and not suitable for showering.

Broken Promises

Bowo had also promised Mangentang that the students could return to their original campus at the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. He then promised to find a site for a new campus and provide an official building permit, but at press time there was no evidence of action taken to fulfill these promises.

Mangentang has refused to cover costs for the campground, which now amount to some 580.7 million rupiah (US$58,418 ), on the grounds that since they were unfairly evicted from their campus, the governor's office should fund the cost of temporary relocation.

Cibubur campground officials had also charged SETIA 50,000 rupiah (US$5) per day for water. When Mangentang refused to pay this fee, officials restricted the water supply so that there was not sufficient water available for laundry and shower facilities for the students.

Bowo had committed to paying those bills but said he must first meet with the local House of Representatives to request funding for them and any other expenses that would be incurred by providing a new building site and campus for SETIA.

SETIA staff sought advice from the National Commission on Human Rights in Jakarta on Sept. 7. The commission then wrote to the superintendent of police in Jakarta, asking for a police escort to return the students safely to their campus, but the superintendent did not respond. Neither has any investigation been carried out against the residents who violently attacked staff and students in July.

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

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.

Government officials have brokered talks between the conflicting parties, without success.

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Somalia: Aid Worker Killed for Converting from Islam
Special to Compass Direct News


October 29, 2008

NAIROBI, Kenya (Compass Direct News) -- Among at least 24 aid workers killed in Somalia this year was one who was beheaded last month specifically for converting from Islam to Christianity, among other charges, according to an eyewitness.

Muslim extremists from the al Shabab group fighting the transitional government on Sept. 23 sliced the head off of Mansuur Mohammed, 25, a World Food Program (WFP) worker, before horrified onlookers of Manyafulka village, 10 kilometers (six miles) from Baidoa.

The militants had intercepted Mohammed and a WFP driver, who managed to escape, earlier in the morning. Sources close to Mohammed's family said he converted from Islam to Christianity in 2005.

The eyewitness, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said the militants that afternoon gathered the villagers of Manyafulka, telling them that they would prepare a feast for them. The people gathered anticipating the slaughter of a sheep, goat or camel according to local custom.

Five masked men emerged carrying guns, wielding Somali swords and dragging the handcuffed Mohammed. One pulled back Mohammed's head, exposing his face as he scraped his sword against his short hair as if to sharpen it. Another recited the Quran as he proclaimed that Mohammed was a "murtid," an Arabic term for one who converts from Islam to Christianity.

The Muslim militant announced that Mohammed was an infidel and a spy for occupying Ethiopian soldiers.

Mohammed remained calm with an expressionless face, never uttering a word, said the eyewitness. As the chanting of "Allah Akubar [God is greater]" rose to a crescendo, one of the militiamen twisted his head, allowing the other to slit his neck. When the head was finally severed from the torso, the killers cheered as they displayed it to the petrified crowd.

The militants allowed one of their accomplices to take a video of the slaughter using a mobile phone. The video was later circulated secretly and sold in Somalia and in neighboring countries in what many see as a strategy to instill fear among those contemplating conversion from Islam to Christianity.

Unconfirmed reports indicated that a similar incident took place in Lower Juba province of Somalia in July, when Christians found with Bibles were publicly executed. Their families fled to Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya, and such killings are forcing other Christians to flee to neighboring Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti.

Somalis Attacking Somalis

Somali refugees to Kenya include Nur Mohammed Hassan, in Nairobi under U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees asylum. In spite of the protection, two weeks ago five Somali Muslims broke into Mohammed Hassan's house and beat him and his family, he told Compass.

"On Oct. 14 five Muslims entered my house around 10 o'clock in the night and forced us out after beating us indiscriminately," Mohammed Hassan said, adding that the youngest of his eight children suffers from a liver disease. "Thank God the police arrived immediately and saved our lives. For two days now we have been sleeping outside in the cold. We have been receiving police security, but for how long will this continue?"

Mohammed Hassan now lives in Eastliegh, Nairobi with his wife and children. He had fled Mogadishu after Muslims murdered his sister, Mariam Mohammed Hassan, in April 2005, allegedly for distributing Bibles in the capital.

"We are nowadays no better than our fellow Somali Christians inside Somalia who are killed like dogs when discovered to be Christians," Mohammed Hassan said. "We are not safe living here in Eastleigh. The Muslims killed my sister in Mogadishu, and now they are planning to kill me and my family."

The last three years in Nairobi, he said, he has suffered many setbacks at the hands of other Somali immigrants.

"Indeed the situation for the Muslim Christians in Kenya and Somalia is disastrous and horrifying -- we are risking our lives for choosing to follow Christ," he said. "My family is in danger. No peace, no security. We are lacking the basic necessities of life."

One of the most dangerous countries in the world, Somalia is subject to suicide bombings, sea piracy and routine human rights violations. Islamic militants object to foreign troop intervention, especially those from neighboring Ethiopia. Christians and anyone sympathetic to Western ideals are targeted, with foreign aid workers especially vulnerable in the past year.

Aid groups have counted 24 aid workers, 20 of them Somalis, who have been killed this year in Somalia, with more than 100 attacks on aid agencies reported. In their strategy to destabilize the government, the Islamic militants target relief groups as the U.N. estimates 3.2 million Somalis (nearly a third of the population) depend on such aid.

Somali Islamic clerics such as Ahlsunna Waljamea have condemned the killing of aid workers in Somalia.