14 window and that focusing on and unleashing their resourcefulness and energy will make a significant contribution to tackle the pervasive and mammoth issues we face as a nation”. A similar consultation took place in Lahore, Pakistan in March.

'Stop violence' call from Iraqi church leaders

Recent violence in Iraq has led Iraqi church leaders to issue a statement calling on “all government officials and political parties in order to give priority to the public interest and the security of citizens.” The statement was released after an emergency meeting of the Council of the Christian Church Leaders of Iraq (CCCLI) last week. This is partly a response to the 2 May attack in the northern city of Mosul, where buses carrying Christian university students were bombed. One person was killed and 188 men and women were injured, some seriously. Since then more attacks have taken place throughout Iraq according to news reports, although not all were against Christians. Attacks during the past few days have killed more than 100 people and injured hundreds of others. The wave of violence comes after contentious national elections. The church leaders of Iraq closed their statement saying, “We pray to God to give comfort to the martyrs and a quick recovery to the wounded and to protect our country from all harm, and to restore to us the gift of peace and stability.”

1,200 mission leaders gather in Tokyo

Yesterday saw the start, in Tokyo, of the first major “Edinburgh centenary” mission conference this year. Two-thirds of the 1200 representatives gathered in Tokyo this week are from non-Western mission agencies. The event began with a celebration of mission as Japanese church leaders gave thanks to God for the coming of the gospel to their own land and Japanese choirs led worship which brought together the Japanese language and international evangelical spiritualities. Inspired by Ralph Winter, who died last year, this consultation will focus on the building of networks and structures for global cooperation in mission. Today Paul Eshleman (left), founder of the Jesus Film project, will give the key note address on the “State of the Unfinished Task”.

125 Indian Christians arrested

News is just breaking of the arrest of 125 Christians in the Indian state of Karnataka accused of the conversion of Hindu residents. News is sketchy at this time but Indian Christians are requesting prayer for all those in custody. Those arrested on this occasion represent just a small sample of the hundreds of Indian Christians who continue to suffer for their faith. Meantime, at the village of Laksmanpur in Jamalpur, in the northern state of Bihar an evangelist was killed during the showing of the Jesus film. When the generator failed Pastor Ravi Murmu was one of the team members who went out to fix it. He never returned and his body was recovered the following day. Police are investigating.

African Muslims and Christian respect each other

Contrary to much popular media presentation, recent research by the Pew Research Centre, and reported in the Church Times, UK, has suggested that Christians and Muslims in sub-Saharan Africa respect and tolerate each other. Despite the huge growth in both faiths over the past century, Christians and Muslims told researchers that they found each other honest and devout. Overall, Christians polled are less positive about Muslims with an average of 43 per cent believing that Muslims are violent, compared with 20 per cent of Muslims who agree that Christians are violent. However in Nigeria and Rwanda, which have both suffered ethnic violence, more than half of those polled say that religious conflict is a big problem in the region. Muslims are more concerned about Islamic extremism than they are about Christian extremism and in overwhelmingly Christian countries, Christians are more concerned about Christian extremism than Muslim extremism.

Nigeria's new president faces call for peace and security

Whilst Nigeria mourns the death of its president, Umaru Yar'Adua, who died in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after a long illness, a new president has already been sworn in. The new president, Goodluck Jonathan (left), is a Christian from the south of the country and as such is likely to continue to face opposition from Muslim northerners, who have previously provided a political base for President Yar'Adua. This again raises fears of inter-community tension and violence. On April 13 suspected Islamic extremists abducted and killed Church of Christ in Nigeria pastor Ishaku Kadah and his wife Selina in a village in Bauchi state in northern Nigeria. This follows the death of 500 people and the burning of 75 homes in early March. Christian leaders are already calling on the new president to work for peace and security.

Maoists cause chaos in Nepal

With continuing political tensions in Nepal the country’s Maoist party has effectively shut down the capital city of Kathmandu with a bandh, a strike enforced by threats of violence. The bandh started on 1 May and as a result the city's streets are empty and shops, businesses and schools are closed. The Maoists vow to continue enforcing the strike until they can take complete control of the government. Restrictions on travel has closed churches and disrupted many of the activities of the growing Christian community. Several mission agencies have planned a major gathering for Christian youth in Nepal this month and still hope this can go ahead. Nepali church leaders have requested prayer for their nation. In recent years Nepal has seen one of the highest rates of church growth in the world.

Gujarati Christian offer for mission service

Plans are now well in hand for the second Gujurat Missionary Youth Conference. When this event was held in Baroda last year, as well as many young people coming to faith in Christ, 13 young people commited themselves to full-time mission service. One of these is already working in Australia. Those planning this year's event are asking for prayer that a further 15 people will come forward for full-time service. They say they need Gujarati evangelists, church planters, Bible translators, literacy workers and medical workers for a number of mission fields in India and elsewhere.

African conversations about Creation

Christian leaders from across Africa are joined by guests from many other nations this week for the Amahoro Gathering. Meting from 3-10 May in Mombasa under the theme of “Christ, creation and community”, the Gathering seeks to create a community where conversations can take place around Biblical themes. The organizers write, “This year when we gather together we will reflect on the theology of Creation, on the nature of Christ’s relationship with Creation and what that means for His followers and explore together how we can better care for our communities as we take a more holistic approach and care for local landscapes as well.” The director of CMS Africa will be attending with one of his staff colleagues.

Christian students bombed in Iraq

Christian university students have come under attack in Iraq. On Sunday morning, 2 May, two bombs exploded near three buses carrying students near Mosul. One appears to have been a roadside bomb, the second a suicide car bomb attack. One student was killed, and more than eighty injured, three of whom are reported to be in a critical condition. Of more than 20 buses travelling to Mosul on Sunday, the three carrying students from Christian areas were targetted. Many of the students' families have left Mosul due to violence against Christians earlier in the year but the students have remained at university in Mosul to complete their studies. Sectarian tensions have risen in several parts of the country due to the delays in forming a new Iraqi government after the parliamentary election held on 7 March.

Pakistani Christian TV aims to reach Taliban

As Pakistan continues to experience Taliban violence in its Swat Valley a Pakistani pastor has said that he has plans to broadcast the reconciling message of Jesus right into war-torn Afghanistan. Using satellite broadcast and his Isaac TV station Pastor Anwar Fazal Masih, founder of Eternal Life Ministries International and Isaac TV ministries, believes he can reach the minds and hearts of the Taliban people. In an exclusive interview given to an ANS correspondent, Pastor Fazal said, “The setting up of Isaac TV in Pakistan, a 170 million nuclear-armed nation in South Asia, has been commended, not only by the Christians of Pakistan, but also by many Christian brothers and sisters abroad”. Asked why his station is called Isaac TV, he explained: “I thought since both Christians and Muslims believe in the Prophet Isaac therefore I would name the TV channel after the Prophet Isaac.”

European churches debate human rights

European churches are this week considering their role in the protection of human rights. Hosted by the Serbian Orthodox Church from 3-5 May, thirty church leaders from different traditions will discuss some of the practical concepts contained in a Human Rights Manual for European Churches, including Human Dignity – Security of the Person, Religion and Public Life, Discrimination and Equality, the movement of people, and the needs of Roma people. Participants will help to develop and set the agenda for the Churches’ Human Rights Experts Network, which has been tasked with the implementation of the Human Rights Manual for European Churches. The meeting is organised by The Church and Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches.

Kenyan Christians oppose new constitution

Most church leaders in Kenya have indicated that they have major concerns about the proposed new constitution. Announcing the official launch of a campaign for a “no” vote, to be held at Uhuru Park, Nairobi, next Saturday, several Christian leaders indicated that they will use church resources, collections and the gifts of wealthier members, to fund their campaign against the new constitution. Christian groups are demanding that the draft constitution be amended to reflect the separation of state and religion, to outlaw abortion, and to remove Kadhi (Islamic) Courts from the constitution. "There are many Christians and Kenyans who feel strongly about this matter.” said the Rev Peter Karanja (left), the General Secretary of the National Council of Churches of Kenya. However in Southern Nyanza diocese Church of Kenya Bishop James Kenneth Ochiel declared that he would push for a 'Yes' vote.

Russians commit to church planting in Africa

Meeting in Alexandria, Egypt, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, has congratulated Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa (left) on his church's missionary activity in Africia. Working in a number of African countries the Patriarchate of Alexandria now cares for citizens of more than fifty nations with a significant number of these being migrants or temporary residents from Russia and the former Soviet Union. Recognising the significance of this Orthodox mission in Russia, Patriarch Kirill has agreed to help build churches, plant congregations and support mission in Africa as well as training theological students from Africa in Russian theological schools.

African 'Great Lakes' church leaders excited about human rights

Church leaders from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi and Rwanda have made a "firm commitment to work together in promoting human dignity and fundamental human rights". This commitment is one of the main outcomes of a five-day workshop on human rights that took place in the DRC capital city Kinshasa, from 13-17 April. The 45 participants at the workshop, organised by the World Council of Churches, issued a Declaration of Commitment pledging to work together with human rights NGOs and to accompany their respective states "in the fight against corruption, impunity and poverty". Workshop participants requested the support of the organizers to strengthen the capacity of churches with regard to human rights as well as in the areas of education for environmental protection, prevention of HIV and AIDS, advocacy and lobby.

Anglicans called to holiness for mission

The "Fourth Trumpet" statement from the Anglican Global South to South Encounter has called for greater holiness, purpose and discipline after acknowledging that two decades of conflict and controversy have affected their ability to fulfil the Great Commission. The 130 delegates, meeting in Singapore last week and representing 20 ‘Global South’ Anglican Provinces, speak of a "renewed determination" to assist each other "...to make disciples of all nations and to do all that Christ has commanded." Delegates also encouraged Provinces to both develop plans and structures for Church growth in today's post-Christendom context and to find ways to better understand and reach out to young people. Underscoring the group's "grief" regarding decisions made by The Episcopal Church USA, and the Anglican Church of Canada they call for a review of the entire Anglican Communion structure, in order to achieve what they believed would be, "an authentic expression of the current reality of our Anglican Communion." Full report here.

Christians under pressure in Uzbekistan

Uzbek Police raided a Protestant youth conference this month, claiming to check identity documents. Many of the about 70 young people were playing football and basketball, and 43 were taken to a police station where they were fingerprinted and photographed. Two leaders are under investigation for "violation of the procedure for holding mass events" and "violation of the law on religious organisations". Two days after that raid, police, tax inspectors and local officials raided Eternal Life Protestant Church in the capital Tashkent. At the time of the raid, church members were feeding homeless people. Officials complained this was "not according to their registered charter" and police detained several church members.

European churches need revival

The new General Secretary of the European Evangelical Alliance has called for a revival of the churches in Europe and closer cooperation between church and mission structures. Rev Niek M. Tramper (left), pastor of the Evangelical Protestant Church in Vlaardingen (near Rotterdam), was appointed General Secretary of the EEA at its annual conference on 22 April. He succeeds Gordon Showell-Rogers, who is now Associate Director with the World Evangelical Alliance, after serving eleven years with the EEA. On his appointment Rev Tramper said, “The Church and Christian movements need each other in advancing the Kingdom of God …Traditional churches cannot continue without revival. Profound theology and missionary zeal are complementary. … The EEA tries to bring together both in Europe, in the light of the many challenges shared by the church in Europe – the need for cooperation between old and new churches, multi-ethnic cities, a growing number of Muslims, tensions between poor and rich, and human rights violations.”

Christians respond to China earthquake

The major earthquake (measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale) which devastated China's Yushu County in the Qinghai Province on 14 April has left thousands homeless. Brian Rushton, serving with WorldServe Ministries, says "They first thought it was going to be around 2,000, and now it's up to 4000 who are dead." Many are still missing as 90-percent of the buildings in this predominately-Tibetan region were destroyed. While church buildings have been destroyed the church itself is doing great work. WorldServe and other agencies have come alongside the church in China to help with the earthquake victims, using experience gained in last year’s earthquake relief. The churches in this region of China continue to grow as Chinese Christians grow in confidence, serving those in need at this time.

Faith2Share Leadership meets in Brazil

The leadership of the 18 international mission agencies that constitute the Faith2Share network met in Recife in north east Brazil from 12-19 April to consider current mission issues and strengthen their collaboration in mission. Faith2Share leaders came from New Zealand, India, Kenya, Nigeria, UK, USA and elsewhere and also met with local mission leaders from a number of Latin American countries. With the recent addition of Friends Missionary Prayer Band (India) and SOMA (UK), this network of agencies currently supports just of 5,000 mission workers in over 120 countries internationally. Two particular focii for discussion were the mentoring of younger leaders and 'Business as Mission'.

SAMS-USA goes global

Following a three year consultation period the South American Missionary Society in the USA has announced a change of name which expresses a significant change in focus. Now known as the Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders, the organization has expanded its vision to offer more opportunities for individuals and parishes to share the good news of Jesus Christ in word and deed across cultures globally. Board chair Richard Englander, said “At first we resisted this global calling, but God opened doors that we never expected and provided key ministry partners to allow us to move into these areas.” Now the SAMS ministry’s scope reaches beyond Latin America into Africa, Europe and Asia. During this process, SAMS also reaffirmed its identity as a community in Christ. SAMS President Stewart Wicker said, “As the board considered our identity as a community, it became increasingly clear that we should become known more by who we are than by what we do. We are a society of missionaries, serving in partnership with the Anglican Church globally. We are also, vitally, a society of senders of these missionaries through giving, praying, and supporting.”

Kyrgystan coup could bring hope for Christians

Churches and ministries in Kyrgystan are assessing the impact of this week’s coup. While the country’s President Bakiyev has refused to resign, an interim government has been established, headed by Former Foreign Minister Roza Otunbayeva. Sergey Rakhuba of Russian Ministries says that the coup “has left many in the country in fear. Families are staying inside. They don't allow their children to go outside because they simply can get killed. There's lots of looting in the city." Whilst most are concerned about the immediate chaos Rakhuba is hoping the coup might also mean a repeal of restrictive laws on religion. "We really hope that this uprising will lead to more freedom for people there, more freedom for evangelical church ministry [and] for Christianity overall." Commentators suggest that this could happen as Otunabayeva wants the new government to draft a new constitution and hold new elections in the next six months.

British Muslim defends Christianity against secularism

Dr. Taj Hargey (left), a Muslim leader based in Oxford, UK, has condemned Britain’s public sector for ‘sidelining Christianity’ and urged Muslims to "defend Christianity when it comes under assault". Dr Hargey was writing in the British newspaper, the Daily Mail, after an employment tribunal ruled that Christian nurse Shirley Chaplin was not discriminated against when her employer ordered her to remove her cross at work. Dr Hargey attacked aggressive secularism for undermining society itself and said "grotesque inconsistencies" that offer more protection for minority faiths "do nothing to promote harmony". He said, "Misguided efforts to emphasise cultural differences have been ‘exploited by Islamic hard-liners".

Business is Mission in Pakistan

Three mission agencies with work in Pakistan are convinced that business people and entrepreneurs can take a leading role in mission as they express God's concerns for human dignity, creativity and a sharing of wealth which transforms communities and individuals. People International, CMS and Pak Mission Society will hold a one-day consultation on 15 April in Rawalpindi to clarify the concept of Business and Mission and share their vision with the Pakistani Christian business community. They also hope to build networks of practitioners and link up with those in other countries already active in Business as Mission. More information is available from Aamir Shahzad.

Australian mission agency seeks new leader

Following the recent announcement that John Thew (left) is to step down as Federal Secretary (CEO) of CMS Australia in 2011 and move into retirement, the Anglican mission has begun a search for his replacement. The board of CMS Australia have said they are looking for a "mission-minded, experienced Christian leader" who will "lead the international ministry of CMS-A by growing partnerships with churches and Christian orgamisations around the world." The Federal Secretary provides a focus for the six state-based Branches of CMS-A which currently supports around 130 missionaries in many different countries. For information about this job click here and to make further enquiries write to CMS-A. The current Federal Secretary, John Thew, brought to this role a deep experience of Christian mission in Pakistan.

Dalits win victory in British House of Lords

The Indian government has long maintained that "caste" is different from "race" and so treating members of each caste differently is not a contravention of international law on racial discrimination. However, much to the embarrassment of Indian authorities, the campaign to outlaw discrimination on the grounds of caste took a step forward recently when the British House of Lords has passed a law that treats caste as "an aspect of race". On March 24, the House of Lords passed the Equality Bill empowering the British government to include "caste" within the definition of "race". This threatens India's much-touted success in keeping caste out of the resolution adopted at the 2001 Durban conference on racism. The provision to outlaw caste discrimination in Britain came in the form of an amendment made by the Lords as a result of intensive lobbying by dalit groups, including followers of the Ravidass sect who suffered a violent attack last year in Austria.

Church of Pakistan welcomes peace initiative

Just 36 hours before the bombing of the US High Commission in Islamabad, the Church of Pakistan hailed the joint initiative of two leading media groups in India and Pakistan to promote peace amidst strained diplomatic relations and rising tension. Bishop Samuel Azariah, the Moderator of the Church of Pakistan, welcomed the joint peace initiative of the Times of India and Jang group in Pakistan, to bring together people of both the nations and foster Indo-Pak dialogue. The initiative, titled Aman Ki Asha, promises to be a revolutionary collaboration, which through "debates, discussions and the telling of stories" seeks to find "commonalities and space, for compromise and adjustment, on matters that have bedevilled relations for over 60 years." Praising the initiative, Bishop Azariah said it reflected the desire of over 1.5 billion human beings living in Pakistan and India. He called it the biggest gift of 2010 to the people of both the nations.

Easter in prison - in Eritrea

Over 2,000 Christians will celebrate Easter in prison this year in Eritrea. The 17 young soldiers arrested in the south of the country after they had gathered for a prayer meeting last Saturday are the latest to find themselves in prison for their faith. Open Doors reports that 28 were arrested in March and approximately 2,200 Christians remain in prison for their refusal to stop practicing their faith outside of the government-sanctioned religious groups. At least 12 are known to have died in prison camps where conditions are often harsh. However, the effort to stop evangelism often backfires as prisoners become prison evangelists. One pastor writes to his wife from prison, “The moment I entered my cell, one of the prisoners called me and said, ‘Pastor, come over here. Everyone in this cell is unsaved. You are very much needed here.' So, on the same day I was put in prison, I carried on my spiritual work. My dear, the longer I stay in here, the more I love my Savior and tell the people here about His goodness.”

Kenyan Christians face mission challenge

Faith2Share member agency, Church Army Africa, has just completed a one day workshop for Anglican Archdeacons and Rural Deans in the Diocese of Nakuru, Kenya. Participants explored 'Challenges facing Anglican mission in Africa' and examined traditional and contemporary approaches to mission amd church development. Challenges such as rural/urban migration, lack of connectivity with youth, untrained leaders, and the growth of nominal Christianity were addressed. By learning how best to empower lay people in the churches, the leaders were encouraged to address each of these challenges in their own context.

Evangelicals identify 'idol of consumerism'

The Theology Working Group of the Lausanne movement met recently in Lebanon to consider what it means to take the gospel to the 'whole world'. Reporting on their meeting in Lausanne World Pulse Dr. Chris Wright (left) highlights four significant issues. He notes (a) a commitment to proclaiming in word and deed that care for creation is a gospel issue; (b) a new awareness of consumerism as an idolatry, especially in the Western world; (c) a commitment to share and participate in grassroots efforts of peace and reconciliation in a world of so many types of violence, and (d) an understanding that poverty is not a lack of resources but a product of personal and institutional injustice and greed, ethnic prejudice, and consumerism.

Healing through story telling

Story telling has the power to heal relationships. This is the conviction of two mission agencies, one Sudanese and one British, who are planning workshops for trauma healing through story telling and literacy in Sudan. Sudan Evangelical Mission (SEM) was established in 1998 as a South Sudanese NGO with considerable expertise in post-conflict adult literacy using the REFLECT approach. It has influential links with the Government of Southern Sudan and has previously influenced the Sudan Basic Education Policy through the integration of literacy and peacebuilding. In May they will work with Feed the Minds, a literacy and education focused mission in the UK to run workshops in Mundri, Southern Sudan. Also involved in this programme is PHARP, Peacebuilding, Healing and Reconciliation Programme an interdenominational NGO based in Kenya with offices in Rwanda, South Sudan, DRC and Burundi.

"Arms down!" say African religious leaders

African religious leaders meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, have asked their governments to support calls for a strong and comprehensive treaty against arms trading so that funds can be redirected into development. After their 23-25 March meeting, Christian, Hindu and Muslim leaders said such an agreement would reduce the human cost associated with the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, and control illegal dealing. Anglican Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini of Rwanda said, “When you manufacture guns, you have to find a market. When you find a market, you cause trouble, you cause conflict, so it becomes an endless cycle. We shall never stop it until we say enough is enough of killing ourselves," At the opening of the meeting, the religious leaders launched the ArmsDown! campaign in Africa, which calls on religious young people to work together towards a safer world.

Northern Nigeria seeks peace

After renewed violence resulting in the deaths of many Muslims and Christians, a three-day inter-faith conference on peace in Plateau State, Nigeria, came to a close with participants drawing up a 12-point communiqué on how lasting peace can be achieved in the state. According to the deputy governor of the state, Mrs. Pauline Tallen, the time has come for youths in the state and across the country, to learn to say no to violence and be tolerant of each other no matter what it may entail. One participant, Mr. Daniel Choji said the conference had assisted in no small measure in identifying the causes of the problems, and the frank discussions had enabled all participants an opportunity to take the messages back to the grassroots as that would be the only way to mend fences properly.

Anglican Primate in assassination attempt

The Anglican Primate of Central America, the Most Revd. Martin Barahona (left), narrowly survived an assassination attempt yesterday amidst a climate of rising violence in El Salvador. Reports suggest that an unknown gunman, without saying anything, shot at the bishop and two of his co-workers. The bullets hit the bishop’s driver, Francis Martínez, who is now recovering in hospital but the others in the car were unharmed. A witness said, “What is odd about these events is that the police was just a couple of meters away”. A church spokesman said, “We are dismayed by this inexplicable fact. The bishop is a pastor whose principle function is to accompany spiritually the faithful who seek his advice and solace.” Bishop Martín (67) has been Bishop of the Anglican Church of El Salvador since 1992 and now serves as the Primate of the Anglican Communion in Central America (IARCA).

Churches launch major humanitarian alliance

A new alliance that brings together over 100 church-backed relief and development organizations worldwide, was been formally launched on 24 March with celebrations in Geneva and around the world. The new ACT Alliance is one of the world’s largest humanitarian bodies working in 125 countries with a combined budget of 1.5 billion US dollars. It provides emergency food aid, shelter, water and sanitation facilities, and poverty reduction programmes in the world's poorest countries. The new body is a merger of the disaster relief network ACT International and its sister organization ACT Development. Both ACT International, established in 1995, and ACT Development (2007) were created through the leadership of the World Council of Churches (WCC). The alliance works for the world’s poorest people, fighting the causes of human suffering and injustice.

Don't forget Haiti

“The Anglican Communion needs to be actively involved in helping the rebuilding and healing of Haiti, working with the Église Épiscopale d’Haïti (the Anglican church of Haiti) and its bishop the Rt Revd Zaché Duracin.” This was the message that Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa wanted to share with the wider church after a visit to Haiti on 4-7 March. Archbishop Makgoba was present in Haiti on a solidarity visit and in support of the work of The Gift of the Givers, the largest disaster relief organisation based on the African continent, which is currently delivering its first shipment of relief supplies to meet urgent needs in Haiti following the January earthquake. The organization sent medical teams to Haiti immediately after the catastrophe. The latest death toll estimate for Haiti is 400,000 making it probably the greatest natural disaster in modern history.

African 'giant of a leader' dies

The death has been announced of the long serving General Secretary of the Association for Evangelicals in Africa. Serving in this role for 22 years Dr. Tokunboh Adeyemo (left) has been a mentor and inspiration for many of today’s Christian leaders in Africa. He once said, “Africa’s problem can be summarized in one word: ‘leadership’ – inept leadership, corrupt leadership, selfish leadership. We need leaders who do not focus on greed, but see themselves as servants of the people. If we could use properly the wealth with which God has endowed this continent, Africa would be a super-power!” Having studied himself in some of the best schools in Africa and beyond, holding doctorates from Dallas Theological Seminary and the University of Aberdeen, Dr. Adeyemo encouraged African churches to invest in the training of leaders both for church and community life. More recently he served as editor of the African Bible Commentary. Nigerian by birth Dr. Adeyemo died in hospital in Nairobi, Kenya, his adopted home, on 17 March.

Tokyo 2010 calls for 'final push' in mission

As plans are finalised for one of several large mission conferences this year, David Taylor has spent out the objectives for Tokyo 2010. He writes, “As a frontier mission consultation, Tokyo 2010 comes at a very auspicious time in both world and mission history. Opportunities abound to hasten the engagement of all peoples with missionary teams, but at the same time, very real challenges present themselves as the entire Church mobilizes for this final push. The world is quickly becoming a global village, and while this holds great promise for the rapid spread of the gospel, it also means that missionary work in restricted areas is more vulnerable than ever to misguided efforts. The purpose of Tokyo 2010 is to bring together the sending structures of the world to take an in-depth look at how we can more effectively cooperate in this new environment and encourage best practices in frontier missionary work” To register for Tokyo 2010 click here.

Andrew Palau and Pope Benedict to visit Britain

Plans have been announced for two major Christian events in Britain. This year in April Andrew Palau, son of the well known international evangelist Luis Palau, will lead a ten-day mission to southern England. Andrew Palau and other speakers will take the Gospel to city halls, an immigration removal centre, and schools, with a skateboard and bicycle stunt team giving displays and sharing their faith. This week has also seen the announcement of plans for Pope Benedict XVI to address 500,000 Catholics at a Mass in Glasgow, Scotland, and a prayer vigil in London in September. The Pope will meet the Queen in Edinburgh and the Archbishop of Canterbury in London. There are some fears that the current child abuse scandal could overshadow his visit.

Toilet queues

Monday 22 March is World Water Day. With 4,000 children still dying every day because of a lack of sanitation, campaigners around the world plan to draw attention to this crisis by forming record breaking toilet queues. Many churches have registered to take part in this high profile campaign. This global crisis affects 2.5 billion people, killing more children than malaria, HIV/AIDS and TB combined. The rights of access to clean water and basic sanitation are being refused to people across the world leading to horrific consequences. 4000 children under the age of five dying every day from preventable water related illnesses such as diarrhoea, typhoid, cholera and dysentery. Over half of hospital beds in developing countries are taken by those suffering with diarrhoeal illnesses. The UN estimates that half of girls who stop attending primary school in Africa do so because of the lack of safe and private toilets.

Religious leaders focus on HIV/AIDS

The first-ever summit of senior religious leaders on HIV and AIDS will be held in Den Dolder, Netherlands, from 22-23 March 2010. It aims to generate greater involvement from religious leaders of many of the world’s faiths in the global response to the pandemic. One of the participants, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches said, "As religious leaders we have to be just and honest and address the fact that a vast majority of those among us affected by HIV and AIDS belong to a faith community. We have to provide leadership to uphold the inherent human dignity of all. This meeting should bring us one step further in our ability as peoples of faith to address how we relate to one another as men and women in a just and compassionate way." Over 40 Baha’í, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh religious leaders will participate at the summit.

Christians expelled from village in Laos

The advocacy organization Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom (HRWLRF) are reporting that in southern Laos officials plan to burn temporary shelters built by expelled Christians, within the next 36 hours, unless they recant their faith. Prior to this expulsion of 48 Christians at gunpoint, officials raided a worship service, and destroyed homes and belongings. Left to survive in the open, the Christians began to build temporary shelters, and then more permanent homes, on the edge of the jungle. On Monday (March 15) district head Bounma summoned seven of the believers to his office and declared that although the republic’s law and constitution allowed for freedom of religious belief, he would not allow Christian beliefs and practices in areas under his control. If the Katin believers would not give up their faith, he said, they must relocate to a district where Christianity was tolerated. A communist country, Laos is 1.5% Christian and 67% Buddhist.

Chilean mission candidates aid earthquake victims

Young Christians from a missionary training centre have been some of the first in Chile to bring relief to outlying areas hit by the recent earthquake. In the village of Los Lizamas, about 10 miles outside the city of Molina, at least 60 survivors were left without aid. Youth from the Center for Young Missionaries (Centro Misionero Jovenel) have been sending teams to Los Lizamas regularly to distribute food, water and other essentials. Charles Clark, a member of the IMB's quake-relief assessment team, says, "These Chilean Baptist youth are pretty well known and build a relationship with the people there." The center trains Chilean Christians in their late teens and early 20s with a focus on “living the Gospel”. As a relatively new mission education program they send missionaries to other parts of Chile and into the 10/40 Window.

Adoptive parents deported from Morocco

On 8 March all 16 overseas workers, including 10 parents, and 13 natural-born dependents were informed that they were to be evicted from the Village of Hope, where some have lived with their adopted children for ten years, and deported from Morocco. The reason given was that the parents had been proselytizing, but with no explanation of who, when, where or how this was alleged to have occurred. No charges concerning the welfare and care of the children have ever been made. Village of Hope places children in family units rather than the traditional dormitory orphanages and each child has a ‘mother’ and ‘father’ with whom they live. The deportees have appealed to the king of Morocco. This action against VOH appears to be part of a nationwide crackdown against Christians living in Morocco. For more information and to offer support click here.

49 charged with murder in Jos, Nigeria

The Nigerian authorities have reported that 200 people have now been arrested as a result of the violence in the city of Jos last Sunday and 49 of these have been charged with murder. Official sources put the death toll at 109, although unofficial sources earlier claimed that more than 500 died. Most of the dead are Christians whilst most of those facing charges are Muslims from the Fulani group, according to police spokesman Mohammed Lerama. The violence followed sectarian killings near Jos in January that left more than 300 dead, most of them believed to be Muslims. Although on the surface this appears as a religious conflict, local commentators are pointing to serious underlying tensions which are more to do with land settlement and cultural factors. On Wednesday Pope Benedict XVI denounced the bloodshed as "atrocious". He urged civil and religious leaders "to work towards security and peaceful co-existence".

World Vision staff killed in Pakistan

World Vision today reported an attack on its offices in Pakistan which led to the “brutal and senseless deaths of six members of staff in the Mansehra District of Pakistan, killed in an unprovoked attack by gunmen.” Unconfirmed reports say that gunmen first set off bombs or grenades, then opened fire on the office, located 65 kilometres north of the capital, Islamabad, at 9.20am local time today. In addition to the four men and two women killed, seven employees have been hospitalised with injuries. No threatening letters were received prior to the attack. All of World Vision’s operations in the country have been suspended indefinitely. World Vision work in Pakistan is focused on relief interventions and community development initiatives. After the devastating October 2005 earthquake, World Vision expanded its operations in Pakistan.

Attacks on Christians continue in India

The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) has expressed concern at the continuation of attacks on Christian ministers in India, particularly in Karnataka State. In the most recent incident on Monday of this week a pastor was brutally attacked by a group of Hindu radicals at Mysore. According to GCIC, the incident took place at around 11:30am as Pastor Ravi Chandran, of the Gospel in Action Fellowship, was conducting a prayer meeting at a nearby believer’s house. A group of about 10-15 Hindu radicals are reported to have forcefully entered the house and begun to abuse the pastor and the believers gathered there. Pastor Ravi was hit with glass bottles, kicked and punched sustaining a severe leg injury and head swelling during the attack. Believers took him to a nearby government hospital where he was admitted.

Mission on the agenda as WEA meets WCC

Mission and Evangelism were near the top of the agenda when the leaders of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) and the World Council of Churches (WCC) met in Geneva on 3 March. Rev. Dr Geoff Tunnicliffe (left of picture), International Director of the WEA, had previously met Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit (right of picture), General Secretary of the WCC, in 2007 at the Global Christian Forum. Tunnicliffe said: "This important meeting was helpful in building bridges of understanding in regards to evangelism, religious liberty and caring for the vulnerable. We look forward to ongoing conversations with the WCC." The two leaders also affirmed the continued support of the WCC and WEA for the Global Christian Forum as a platform providing opportunities for encounters and dialogue between Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican, Protestant, Evangelical, Pentecostal and the African Instituted Churches.

Mudslides still threaten 500,000 in Uganda

One young survivor of mudslides in eastern Uganda was sitting in church when a wall of mud hit the building. "All of a sudden the church collapsed. Mud covered the whole place. Five people seated next to me died. I only survived because my head was above the mud," said James Kasawi now in hospital in Bududa recovering from a broken leg and arm. So far, a total of 83 bodies have been recovered though it is feared as many as 300 may have died when their homes, schools and villages on the slopes of Mt. Elgon, near the Kenyan border, were swallowed by fast-moving walls of mud. Catholic Relief Services and other Christian agencies already have teams in the area bringing relief but the government now plans to move up to half a million residents who are still considered to be at risk. A spokesman for the Uganda Land Alliance, however, claimed the plans were not very realistic, saying, "In the Uganda of today it is very difficult to find land that is not owned, so this is going to pose a challenge for government."

Hundeds die as more violence hits Jos, Nigeria

Bishop Ben Kwashi, Anglican Archbishop of Jos, has reported further bloodshed in northern Nigeria. He writes, “News broke on Sunday 7 March that two other villages plus Dogo na Hauwa had been attacked by Muslim Fulani from about 3a.m. to 5a.m.. Some of these communities may never again be recognised in history because generations have been wiped out. Hundreds of corpses of men, women, children and grandchildren littered the burnt houses, roads, bush paths, farm areas and hiding places. Tears and endless wailings until voices croaked and words are no more.” Following similar violence in January this year reconciliation forums have been held in Jos for Christian and Muslim community members. The bishop concludes his letter by saying, “I urge believers to clean and clear their minds of any form of bitterness, resentment or even any thought of vengeance against one another from within the fellowship, and then we can see clearly how to respond in times of difficulty such as this one.”

International Women's Day

Church World Service, the Christian relief and development agency, has joined many other Christian groups around the world in celebrating International Women's Day, March 8, by renewing the call for increased efforts to achieve gender equality and empowerment of women. They claim that, “Substantial progress has been made in decreasing the marginalization of women throughout the world as recognition is taking hold that investment in women is investment in the well-being of families, communities and society as a whole.” The agency supports programs such as the one in Pakistan that has made it possible for young widowed mothers to go from wondering how they can feed their children to generating enough income to care for them all, and still have money to save. International Women’s Day follows a few days after the Women’s World Day of Prayer which this year used materials prepared by women in Cameroon.

Children the focus of mission in India

The international 4/14 Window movement, which focuses on the place of children in the mission of God is growing fast. The next Global Summit takes place in New York in August but in the meantime major gatherings have taken place around the world, in Argentina, Cameroon and most recently in India. The recently concluded Festival of Hope Crusade hosted by Kids' Kingdom Ministries in Chennai, India, focused on reaching out to young children. Organiser Charles Chandran said over 20,000 children gathered at this special program during the Crusade week where the Gospel was preached and several hundred children came to Christ. The day-long event had several programs exclusively for the children of Chennai. Franklin Graham of Samaritan's Purse was a special guest speaker.

Morality review welcomed by South African churches

At the recent National Church Leaders’ Consultation, South African churches gave a cautious welcome to President Zuma’s call for a national dialogue on morality. In a statement they said President Zuma’s proposal to examine the soul of South Africa was ‘timely’. The ‘common values and principles’ that formed the country under the leadership of President Mandela had been ‘substantially squandered’, the leaders said. The president’s recent fathering of an illegitimate child provoked strong criticism and was seen as a sign of the country’s declining moral standards. President Zuma told South Africa’s Sunday Times there was a need to agree the ‘values that define a common South African identity’. South Africa’s church leaders are keen to clarify this and establish the ‘sacred’ and ‘inviolable’ value of all human life, regardless of ‘race, class, nationality, religion and political persuasion’

Muslim terrorists are "enemies of Islam" says scholar

A leading Islamic scholar has issued a fatwa in Britain condemning "terrorists" as the enemies of Islam, in a bid to deter young Muslims from extremism. Muhammad Tahir ul-Qadri (left), head of the Minhaj ul-Quran religious and educational organisation, said suicide bombers were destined for hell as he released his 600-page edict in London this week. "They can't claim that their suicide bombings are martyrdom operations and that they become the heroes of the Muslim Umma, no, they become heroes of hellfire, and they are leading towards hellfire," he said. "There is no place for any martyrdom and their act is never, ever to be considered Jihad," he said. Ul-Qadri claims that this is the first and most comprehensive fatwa on the subject of terrorism ever written. The Minhaj-ul-Quran movement, founded in Pakistan in 1980, works around the globe to promote peace and interfaith dialogue.

Indian novelist acknowledged by mission leader

Best selling Indian novelist Chetan Bagat (left), recently crowned ‘Paperback king of India’ by The Guardian, provided the illustrations for two talks delivered recently by Church Mission Society (CMS) General Secretary, Tim Dakin, at the Maramon Convention of the Mar Thoma Church in Kerala, India. Addressing the theme, ‘Live the Gospel’, Canon Dakin won over the crowd of tens of thousands, not only by quoting Bagat, but also by contrasting Indian cricketing success with England's mediocre performances. CMS missionaries had a catalytic effect in the "reformation" that led to formation of the Mar Thoma church out of the traditional Syrian Orthodox church in the 19th century. The Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association is also the oldest established indigenous mission movement in India, a partner in mission with CMS and a member of Faith2Share. The General Secretary of the Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association will next month attend the Faith2Share Leadership Consultation in Brazil.

40,000 new Christians in Haiti

he Confraternite Missionaire Baptiste d'Haiti (CMBH) has reported that since the January earthquake in Haiti more than 40,000 new people have confessed faith in Jesus Christ. The Baptist Press reports that "During a Feb. 16-17 citywide holiday observance in Cap Haitien, Haiti's second largest city, Craig Culbreth [director of the Florida Baptist Convention's partnership missions department] saw 'thousands upon thousands filling the streets where people are seeking God and asking Him to spare them from what happened in Port-au-Prince.'" The government of Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere called for three days of prayer and fasting from 12-14 February and it appears that many conversions followed. The challenge for churches in Haiti now is how to effectively disciple these new Christians.

Christians in Chile respond to earthquake

The Anglican bishop of Chile, Rt Revd Hector (Tito) Zavala, has reported that “the city of Concepción is still isolated; electricity supply has not been established, and due to lack of transport no food, water or petrol is getting through. Around seventy families from our church have been affected. Our brethren are sleeping in tents in three different parts of the city: Manqimavida, San Pedro de la Paz and Las Lomas. As the families are grouped together they can share cooking pots and maximise the few provisions they have between them. At an emergency meeting, the Diocese decided to take help to the area. We called upon our churches, both in Chile and abroad to help.” The church plans to support those effected “in an integrated way (body, mind and spirit)", and has arranged for trucks to go to Concepcion and the coastal area of Region VII which was most effected by the local tsunami as well as the earthquake.

European migrants in the spotlight

With migration at record levels in Europe the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME) has just completed a series of consultations with governments across Europe. The final ‘conversation’ was held on 1 March in Hungary where church leaders met with representatives of the Hungarian government, the UN refugee agency UNHCR, civil society organisations and other EU member states. The round table debate in particular looked at the interplay of national policies and EU cooperation in selection, reception and integration of resettled refugees. Considerable attention was devoted to taking stock of the particular situation of newer EU member states engaging in resettlement. Representatives of the Czech and the Romanian government reported about the resettlement programmes, which their countries have started in the last two years.

World Bank sponsors 'Christian tourism' in Nigeria

With an eye on developing tourism in Nigeria the Cross River Quality Initiative of the World Bank has just sponsored two tours to Calabar. The first, last month, was a ‘Valentine holiday getaway’, but the second was its 'Gospel Encounter' tour. This two-night holiday tour had a clear Christian theme. According to marketing executive Rita Akpanette, of Rimallis Internationational Services, the tour between February 26 and 28 aimed to “give greater exposure to the rich Christian heritage of Calabar, as one of the earliest Nigerian cities to receive European missionaries.” Nigeria has a great potential for tourism but also a number of ‘reputational issues’ to deal with as well as the need for tourism industry training. Nigerian Christians are already seeing possibilities for bringing together tourism and ministry in a creative mix.

New director for Micah Network

The Micah Network has announced the appointment of Sheryl Haw (left) as their new International Director to succeed Jane Furniss who left in 2009 after serving the network for five years. Sheryl, who will take up the post on the first of April 2010, was born in Zimbabwe and has worked with Medair in Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, Kenya, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, Uganda, DRC, Zimbabwe, India, Bangladesh and Angola. Following 13 years with Medair she became a self employed Consultant/ Trainer and worked on a BA in theology. Over the last 2 years she started as the Integral Mission coordinator / lecturer at All Nations Christian College in England, where she helped develop the module in development studies and development management. Sheryl says “I am desperate to walk a life of integrity and vitality before God and people – this is for me when change will flow …..”

China supports Christianity says seminary leader

Rev Dr Gao Ying (left), vice president of Nanjing Union Theological Seminary in China, speaking to the United Bible Societies this week, has claims that Christianity now enjoys official support in China. Acknowledging that unregistered churches in some regions continue to be subject to harsh restrictions and closure, Dr. Ying said, ‘China doesn’t resist Christianity any more. We no longer call Christianity a foreign religion because it has been moulded into our blood.” Dr. Ying is herself from a non-Christian family but confessed that “My mind was always preoccupied with a growing curiosity in Christianity”. Nanjing Seminary is the national seminary of the Church in China, established in 1952 by the Chinese Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) in the cultural and historic city of Nanjing. Students come from almost every part of China, from Sichuan, Gansu, Yunnan, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia and beyond. Currently there are 220 registered students although each year more than 800 apply for places and growing churches are desperately short of trained leaders.

Churches respond to Chile earthquake

As fears grew for isolated communities across the Pacific whose sea level homes lie in the path of the tsunami created by the earthquake in Chile, in Chile itself churches have been some of the first to offer aid to those affected. The quake which struck Chile at 3.34am. today (Saturday) was one of the strongest ever recorded. Churches in Santiago (left) have been amongst the many buildings destroyed., President-elect Sebastian Pinera has said more than 120 people died but that number is likely to rise. The quake shook buildings in Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires, and was felt as far away as Sao Paulo, Brazil, 1,800 miles to the east. The quake initiated a tsunami that ran across the Pacific, setting off alarm sirens in Hawaii, Polynesia and Tonga. People in low-lying island nations were urged to find high ground.

UPDATE : With more than 600 people now reported dead most mission personnel have now reported that they are safe, but shaken.

Religious freedom denied in Uzbekistan

Reports of attacks against Christians in Uzbekistan continue. One member of the registered Baptist Union, Valery Konovalov, has to pay a fine imposed in his absence, after he was forced to appear as a witness in the trial of three leaders of the Baptist Union. The three have themselves been forced to pay what the same court claimed was unpaid tax and two were removed from their posts. Uzbek state TV broadcast a programme focussing on the Baptist trial. After the programme parents whose children attended Protestant churches were summoned to schools and warned not to take their children to church. In an unrelated incident three members of the unregistered Greater Grace Protestant Church in Samarkand have also been given heavy fines followeing a police raid on a private home where children and teenagers were illegally interrogated without their parents being present. This church has been unsuccessfully seeking state registration since 2000.

Ecological care a task for the church claims Mar Thoma leader

Two million people attended the eight-day Maramon Convention in the state of Kerala, south India, last week. Billed as the largest gathering of Christians in Asia, the Maramon Convention is organized by the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church. Metropolitan Joseph Mar Thoma, supreme head of this reformed Orthodox Church, claimed the convention was a great success, saying, “More than 2 million people attended the convention most days and the venue was always crowded.” In his final address he urged people to witness to Christ’s teachings on love, compassion and reconciliation and stressed the need to protect the environment. Christians should not forget that protecting the environment “is part of our spirituality,” he said and added that eco disasters challenge Churches as much as poverty does.The Maramon convention began 115 years ago and this year it began with a campaign to plant 100,000 saplings near homes and in parishes. One of the speakers this year was Rev. Canon Tim Dakin of CMS.

South African missiologist missing

It has been reported that Professor Steve De Gruchy (left), the head of the School of Religion and Theology at the University of Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa, has died after a rafting accident. Steve was rafting with his son when their raft disintegrated. His son was soon rescued but Steve's body was not recovered until two days later. An ordained minister in the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA) he was appointed as Professor of Theology and Development at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and has been Editor of the Journal of Theology for Southern Africa. He has always had a lively academic and practical interest in the interface between the Christian faith and social ethics and has published in these areas.

Christian in Orissa still living in the forests

The situation in Orissa's Kandhamal district, India, where at least 38 people were killed during communal violence in 2008, is still critical according to local church leaders. The archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar has today claimed that “At east 4,400 families continue to live in tents, makeshift shelters or the remnants of their damaged houses”. “Fifteen months after they were uprooted, thousands still live in makeshift shanties along the road and in the forest,” Archbishop Raphael Cheenath told reporters. “Some of them just do not want to go back as they are being threatened,” he claimed. Local officials in Kandhamal, however, denied riot victims were still living outside the district. In 2008 more than 25,000 Christians were forced to flee their homes after their houses were attacked by rampaging mobs, which held Christians responsible for the death of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda, although police blamed the Maoists.

Mission faces serious cuts as financial downturn bites

The Church Mission Society, Britain’s largest Anglican-based international mission agency has announced staff cuts of up to 22 posts (out of a total of 77.5 posts) over two years with 14 going in the next few months. They say “Outside forces – the recession and a sizeable pensions deficit – have hit CMS hard. The Society’s trustees believe there is no alternative but to make these painful staff reductions. Other overhead costs are also being significantly reduced.” CMS General Secretary, Tim Dakin, added, ““The recession is biting and we have to take action so that our core mission is safeguarded for the future,” As the CMS People in Mission programme is now largely self-sustaining this means that the vast majority of the Society’s mission partners will be able to continue their work.

Christian journalists released in Madagascar

The president of the Madagascar's largest Protestant church has welcomed the release of two imprisoned church radio journalists, but has warned they are still facing trial for allegedly colluding in an army mutiny after reporting on the action. Lala Rasendrahasina (left), who heads the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (FJKM) warned of threats to the media and churches. He said he believes that pressure from organizations such as Reporters Without Borders and the Malagasy Journalists' Association, as well as other international groups, helped ensure the release of the journalists. The two were arrested on 8 January after the FJKM radio station reported on a plan by a group of solider to overthrow President Andry Rajoelina. Ratsimba had been invited to cover the event in one of the military camps on 28 December 2009.

Camels, Christians and Isa

An article in Christianity Today has resurrected the debate about the so called ‘Camel method’ for evangelism amongst Muslims, first developed by Kevin Greeson of the Baptist International Mission Board. Based on the ancient legend that every Muslim knows 99 names for God but the 100th. name is known only to the camel, this method maintains that the final name of God is Isa, Jesus. Evangelists then use verses from the Qu’ran to show that Isa is holy, has power over death, and knows the path to heaven, before the connecting the Islamic feast of sacrifice, Eid al-Adha, with God’s plan of salvation for mankind. The debate has been rekindled by a mission strategist who claims to have used this method to great effect in the Philippines for ten years. Conservative missionaries question whether teaching based on the Qu’ran and an Islamic feast should be used by Christian evangelists.

Transforming South East Asia

At the recent summit of south east Asian mission leaders Rev. Wong Kim Kong from Malaysia suggested that Nehemiah can provide an effective model for contemporary mission engagement which starts with prayer and situational analysis and then moves on to the identification and mobilisation of key people and the formation of strategy and implementation plans. The key resources for mission in south east Asia identified at the meeting were prayer, people, finances and intellectual capital. The 20 leaders attending came from seven countries, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar, and Brunei Darussalam. The rationale for this summit, organised by Transform World, was to “catalyse and actualise the vision of transforming South East Asia through the united effort and initiative of Christian partnership and networking among the Southeast Asian churches”.

"Truth does not fear dialogue"

"It is not possible for the Lord to agonize over the unity of His disciples and for us to remain indifferent about the unity of all Christians," writes Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (left) in an encyclical issued for the Sunday of Orthodoxy (21 February). The encyclical refutes "fanatical" challenges brought against theological dialogues among different Orthodox churches and against ecumenical contacts with the wider community of Christians by "certain circles that exclusively claim for themselves the title of zealot and defender of Orthodoxy." He goes on to say, "The truth does not fear dialogue, because truth has never been endangered by dialogue." The Ecumenical Patriarch is based in Istanbul and acts as a focus for unity within the Orthodox family of churches.

Iraqi Christians killed in Mosul

A spate of attacks on Christians in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul is causing great concern to churches within Iraq and has already led to Christians seeking to flee the city. On 16 February two Christians students were shot in a drive by shooting, killing one and injuring the other. Later that day two more Christian students were kidnapped, though it is unknown if a ransom has been demanded. On 15th a Christian man was killed in front of his shop in a drive by shooting and on 14th another Christian man was killed in his home by an armed man who forced his way into the house. On 13th a Christian man was abducted and his family have received a large ransom demand. There are unconfirmed reports that three other Christians have been killed whilst attempting to leave Mosul. Church leaders have appealed for prayer for the community in Mosul.

Middle East churches face marginalisation

The marginalisation of ancient Christian communities in the Middle East was highlighted last week during a visit by Thomas Wipf, President, and Michael Bünker, General Secretary, of the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE) to the General Assembly of the Federation of Middle East Evangelical Churches (FMCEE) in Beirut, Lenanon. Conversations took place with with church delegations from Iraq, Iran, Sudan and Egypt as well as visits to ancient communities in places such as Tarik Mitri. They report that everyday marginalisation, eruptions of violence and especially the lack of economic opportunity lead to the emigration of young people and the weakening of the churches. There were also conversations with Muslim leaders in the region. “We have lived together in peace for centuries and we want to hold firmly to that in spite of all political difficulties”, said Abbas El Halabi, who chaired this dialogue.

More bishops injured in Uganda

Yesterday Faith2Share reported on the death in a road accident of Bishop Patrick Kyaligonza of Rwenzori diocese (see below). Sadly we have now heard of a further road accident as bishops were travelling to his funeral service. Bishop Daniel Gimadu of North Mbale Diocese and Bishop Augustine Salimo of Sebei Diocese were both injured and Bishop Gimadu’s wife Perepetua died. This is a real tragedy for the Anglican Church in Uganda,

Maramon Convention opens

The 115th. Maramon convention in Kerela, south India, was opened on Sunday by Rt. Rev. Dr. Zacharias Mar Theophilus the Suffragan Metropolitan of the Mar Thoma Church of India. This gathering of hundreds of thousands of Indian Christians and those enquiring into Christian faith was launched in 1895 and still claims to be the largest Christian evangelistic gathering on earth. Discussions at the convention are mainly aimed at self-purification, dedication, commitment and cultural uplift. Emphasis is also laid on communal harmony, unity and peace. The need for inter-religious dialogue is also promoted with a view to forging greater understanding and co-operation between different religious groups in the secular context of modern India. Speakers this year include Rev.Vinod Victor from Trivandrum, Canon Tim Dakin from CMS, UK, and Bishop Robert Solomon from Singapore.

Ugandan bishop killed in road accident

Less than a year after his consecration as Anglican bishop of the diocese of Rwenzori in Uganda, Bishop Patrick Kyaligonza (left) has been killed in a road accident on Fort Portal road opposite St. Simeon Catholic Church Miranga at Kayihura near Kyenjojo town. The bishop was travelling with his wife Rose Kabahita Mujungu, the chaplain, Moses Tembo and their driver, Patrick Isingoma. Mourning his death the former Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Livingstone Nkoyoyo , said, “we thank God for his life. He was a committed bishop gifted with preaching," The vice-chancellor of Uganda Christian University, Prof, Stephen Noll, described Kyaligonza as a brilliant student who was inspirational to others. The late bishop studied theology at the university. The Archbishop of Uganda, Henry Orombi, led prayers for the family and diocese of bishop Patrick.

Evangelical Orthodox Church leader dies

The death has been announced of Archpriest Jack Sparks (left) of St. John Orthodox Cathedral in Eagle River, Alaska. He was 81. Born in Lebanon Jack began his ministry as a director coordinator with Campus Crusade for Christ in San Bernardino, California and then, in 1968, as director of the Christian World Liberation Front (an evangelical movement amongst hippies and students). With some of his colleagues in Campus Crusade for Christ, Jack began to question their method of evangelism which introduced people to Jesus, but not to the Church. They therefore set out to point people to the New Testament Church, or the nearest modern equivalent, and through a study of church history came to embrace Orthodoxy. In 1977, he was one of the founders and dean of St. Athanasius Academy of Orthodox Theology and was ordained into the Orthodox priesthood in 1987. He moved to the Orthodox community in Alaska in 2004 and for the past decade has worked as project director of the Orthodox Study Bible.

Robin Hood Tax idea launched

The Evangelical development agency TearFund has joined over 50 agencies involved in tackling global poverty to campaign for a tax on financial transactions. In the UK this is being called a ‘Robin Hood’ tax. Initial calculations suggest that a tax of just 0.05% on each financial transaction could raise £250 billion to help the world’s poorest people. The idea already has the support of politicians such as Gordon Brown (UK prime minister), Angela Merkel (German Chancellor) and Nicolas Sarkozy (French President) and those in the business world such as Lord Turner (from the Financial Services Authority), George Soros (the philanthropist) and Warren Buffet (US businessman extraordinaire). TearFund are now seeking to raise grassroots support for the scheme. Faith2Share has signed up and other agencies are invited to do so here.

US missionaries to be freed in Haiti

A Haitian judge said on Thursday he had ruled in favour of the release of ten U.S. missionaries accused of kidnapping 33 children and trying to take them out of the earthquake-stricken country. The prosecutor, Joseph Manes Louis, however, said he would not work on the judge's decision until after the weekend which means the Americans will not be released until Monday at the earliest. The missionaries, most of whom belong to an Idaho-based Baptist church, were arrested trying to take the children across the border to the Dominican Republic 17 days after the earthquake that killed more than 200,000 people in the impoverished Caribbean nation. The five men and five women have denied any intentional wrongdoing and said they were only trying to help orphans left destitute by the quake, which shattered the Haitian capital and left more than 1 million people homeless. But evidence showed that most of the children still had living parents.

Church reopens vocational training centre

The Anglican Church of Melanesia on Friday last week re-launched its Life Raft Service Centre at Taroaniara Shipyard on Gela in the Central Province. The Centre provides employment training for young people in the context of the Taroaniara shipyard which has provided services to many mission vessels as well as other government and private vessels. Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Melanesia The Most Rev. David Vunagi was the guest of honour at the launching programme. He said, “The Church of Melanesia as a stakeholder in the provision of education in this country needs to look at the development of her Vocational Training Centres. They need to be properly equipped and adequately staffed.”

Kenya deports radical Muslim leader for Sh40 million

Church leaders in Kenya have defended the government’s decision to spent more than Sh40 million to deport radical Jamaican Islamic preacher Sheikh Abdullah al Faisal (left). Concerns have been growing that the radicalisation of the Kenyan Muslim community will undermine much good work done by bodies such as PROCMURA. The government minister responsible for the deportation, Otieno Kajwang, defended the cost saying, ”It is the responsibility of the State to ship back the likes of al Faisal and this was necessitated by the fact that some deportees turn violent. This makes commercial airlines uncomfortable with such travellers," Sheikh al Faisal, whose arrest and subsequent deportation triggered fatal demonstrations by Muslim youths in Nairobi, entered Kenya on December 24, last year, from Tanzania. He served four years in a UK prison after being convicted of calling for the murder of Jews and Hindus.

Church pleads for peace in Sudan

Meeting in Rumbek in the run up to Sudan’s elections, the leadership of the Episcopal Church in Sudan has called for peace. In a statement issued after thew meeting they say, “We reaffirm our commitment to doubling the efforts of the Church in bringing peace and reconciliation to our people, working together with the government as a force for unity and love amongst our people who have suffered for so long. … Tribal differences must be put aside at this crucial time in history and the government must fulfill their duty to provide security for their citizens. … ‘This violence is intended to negatively affect the elections and referendum. The Church must act now to counter these effects for the sake of the rights of the people of Sudan.” The people of southern Sudan have been badly affected by insecurity linked to the build-up to the elections.

Ukrainians assess election results

After elections in Ukraine last Sunday were won by opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych (left) there are growing fears that he may begin to restrict some of the activities of non-Orthodox religious groups. External observers have described the elections as “an impressive display of democracy” and it is unlikely that western-leaning Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko will contest the results. Speaking on behalf of evangelicals in Ukraine the Vice President of Russian Ministries, Sergey Rakhuba said that president-elect Yanukovych had attempted to bring a bill restricting religious groups to parliament two weeks ago but this had been resisted by pro-freedom groups and withdrawn. Compared with Russia and some other ex-Soviet Union countries, Christians in Ukraine have enjoyed considerable freedoms in recent years.

Indians consult on 'Tentmaking' ministry

Two significant consultations took place in India last month for those who want to follow in the footsteps of St. Paul, sharing the gospel whilst engaged in commerce or business, "making tents". In Hyderabad Tentmakiers International brought together 100 mission and church leaders from Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and the Americas for three days to share experiences, dream together and plan join strategies for tentmaker ministries. Shortly before this consultation Global Advance gathered together 200 Indian Christian business owners and entrepeneurs in Mumbai to share how they are using their God-given skills in business to become agents of the gospel within India and beyond. In the coming months Marketplace Missions is sponsoring similar consultations in Sierra Leone and Nicaragua.

Missionary to be freed by North Korea

An American missionary who walked into North Korea on Christmas Day proclaiming Christian salvation and demanding the resignation of the country's dictator, Kim Jong Il, will be released after "repenting" of his crime, according to the country's official media. The state-run Korean Central News Agency has reported that Robert Park (left), a 28-year-old US citizen of Korean descent, will soon be released six weeks after crossing into North Korea from China. Before his departure Mr Park had spoken of his wish to free the occupants of North Korea's gulags and his willingness to die in the attempt. Foreign governments and human rights organisations have repeatedly accused North Korea of suppressing freedom of religion in a country where the only tolerated faith is the personality cult of Kim Jong Il and his late father, the founding "Great Leader" Kim Il Sung.

Peace for Palestinians and Israelis?

The World Council of Churches (WCC) has just launched the "Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum" (PIEF) as a platform that rallies churches together enabling them to coordinate their efforts and initiatives for a just peace in Palestine-Israel. Their website says "the aim is to bring an end to the illegal occupation of Palestine in accordance with UN resolutions, and demonstrate commitment for inter-religious action for peace and justice that serves all the peoples of the region. The PIEF believes that non-violence and rigorous dialogue between people, regardless of religious affiliation, are the pillars around which peace, justice, and reconciliation can originate in the region."

Baptists jailed in Haiti

Ten members of a Baptist church in Idaho, USA, are now in jail in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, after being charged today with child kidnapping and criminal association. The group had tried to take 33 child victims of the Haiti earthquake out of the country last month. The group’s lawyer, Edwin Coq, said that under the Haiti legal system, there will not be a public trial, rather a judge will consider the evidence. It could take the judge three months to deliver a verdict. The maximum sentence for child kidnap in Haiti is 15 years imprisonment. The leader of the group, Laura Silsby, said earlier that they were trying to take orphans and abandoned children to an orphanage in the neighboring Dominican Republic. She acknowledged they had not sought permission from Haitian officials, but said they just meant to help victims of the earthquake.

The deaf hear

In what may be an international first, the Seed Company have just unveiled a new Bible translation for the deaf community in Kenya. Until now this community of 200,000 plus have been largely unreached by the gospel. “Now they have a sign language Bible recorded as a DVD so that those who are deaf or hearing impaired can see in sign language someone signing out the Scriptures in their heart language," explains Mike Toupin of Seed Company. In common with other disabled groups, deaf people are often marginalised and have less access to the gospel than hearing people in almost every country. The Kenyan translation is not the full Bible, but it takes on the major points of the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation with a special focus on the life of Christ. Before each new topic, there is an introduction about the background of the book; at the end of each segment, questions are asked to ensure comprehension and application of the Word. The Seed Company has just introduced a similar project in India and hopes to continue these projects across the globe.

Keeping faith in Bangladesh

Cyclone Aila which ravaged Bangladesh more than eight months ago and destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes has all but been forgotten by the media. With Haiti catching the headlines today there are fears that even the aid organisations will divert their resources away from Bangladesh where thousands still live with little food and no shelter. Many families still live in the jungles. The storm claimed over 300 lives, affected two million people with 40,000 losing their homes. In the aftermath of this disaster, throughout the country, more and more individuals are turning to faith in Isa (Jesus). Several churches need new buildings because they have outgrown their current premises and there is a growing need to training leaders for new communities seeking to follow Jesus. Churches within the country are continuing to supply material and spiritual assistance where they can.

Refugee & Migrant Network brings Anglicans together

As requested by the recent meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council, representatives of Anglican Churches around the world met in Hong Kong last month to discuss the renewal of the Anglican Refugee and Migrants Network (ARMN). The meeting, hosted by the HK Sheng Kung Hui (Province of Hong Kong Anglican Church), enabled the sharing of expertise and reports of work with refugees and migrants by participants in many different parts of the world. In many nations migration is an increasing challenge for the churches as well as sometimes bringing new life to struggling churches as Christian refugees and migrants arrive in new contexts. The Anglican Refugee and Migrants Network is one of a number of Anglican networks coordinated by the Mission Desk of the Anglican Communion.

Anglicans in dispute in Harare, Zimbabwe

The Bishop of Harare, Chad Gandiya (left), was joined by at least 4,000 worshippers from around Zimbabwe in a square adjacent to the city's Anglican cathedral yesterday. After police prevented them from entering their cathedral the bishop said "The custodians of the law are the ones denying us access, threatening to arrest us or use teargas to force us out. There are church wardens who have been arrested and some who bear marks of beatings." Zimbabwe's Anglicans have been embroiled in a feud since 2007, when the former bishop of Harare, Nolbert Kunonga, refused to hand over property in protest at what he saw as the church's pro-gay stance. Kunonga, a supporter of President Robert Mugabe who once described the president as "more Christian than myself", set up his own diocese with a small group of supporters.

President's wife calls Ugandans to give to churches

Preaching at St. Luke's Church, Kenshunga in Kiruhura on Sunday, the First Lady of Uganda, Janet Museveni (left), has called Ugandans to abide by the teachings of the Bible and give a tenth of their income back to God through the church. Mrs. Museveni, who is also the Minister of State for Karamoja Affairs, said Africans dying of hunger and poverty always look to the outside world for help but they should instead follow God's teachings, including tithing and see how they will be rewarded. "The problem with us is that we think that our money is ours and we are not willing to give back to God," she said. She encouraged Christians to give to the church part of their wealth, such as agricultural produce, cattle or goats if they do not have cash.

Nigerian archbishop released

The Nigerian Sunday Tribune have reported the release of Archbishop Peter Imasuen, the Anglican archbishop of Benin Diocese who was abducted at gunpoint a week ago. There is no word as yet as to whether the US$100,000 ransom demanded by his captors was paid or not. Interviewed in today's paper the archbishop's colleague, Archbishop J.O. Akinfenwa of Ibadan who is also chair of the Oyo State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), said, "Evil people are now devicing every means possible to survive and this can be traced to the economy. The recent economic recession and the economic bankruptcy here and there are the major problems. In times like this, people run from pillar to pole to find ways of surviving. And for the wicked, they will continue in their wickedness." Fear for the stability of Nigeria are increasing as the President continues his 60 day absence from the country, reportedly for medical treatment.

Pigs heads thrown into mosques

Attacks on religious buildings continue in Malaysia as inter-religious tension remains high over the court cases surrounding the right to use 'Allah' as a name for God. In the past three weeks 11 churches, a Sikh temple, three mosques and two surau have been attacked both in West and East Malaysia (see map). In the latest attacks pigs heads (considered unclean by Muslims) were found in mosques at Masjid Taman Dato Harun and Masjid Taman Seri Sentosa both in Petaling Jaya and about three kilometres apart. Petaling Jaya Selatan Member of Parliament Hee Loy Sian said "two pig heads were found in one mosque's compound before morning prayers at about 5.30 this morning". Selangor police chief, Khalid Abu Bakar said, "I am warning people not to try and influence the situation and don't try to take advantage to raise the anger of any ethnic group."

Cancel Haiti's debt

Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit (left), General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) has called on the international community to cancel Haiti's foreign debt. An "immediate and full cancellation" of Haiti's foreign debt would be "only an initial step", as the quake-stricken country needs a broader "plan to support recovery, poverty eradication and sustainable development", Tveit said in a statement on 25 January. He went on to say that such a plan "must be developed with the full ownership of the people of Haiti and with the support of the international community under the coordination of the United Nations". Haiti, the most impoverished nation in the western hemisphere, is also a heavily indebted country. In spite of having had US$ 1.2 billion of foreign debt written off last June, the country still owes US$ 641 million to foreign banks and nations.

Government migration policy supports church growth in China

With a booming economy China needs more labour in its urban areas and so the government is encouraging a mass migration of young people from rural areas into the growing urban industrial centres. Unintentionally this government sponsored migration is stimulating church growth in the cities. As young Christians from the villages more into cities and build relationships with other young people who are often suffering from social dislocation the faith is being shared and small churches are being planted. One mission, WorldServe, has now changed its focus from rural to urban ministry as it trains leaders for these rapidly multiplying churches. Not only do urban areas in China tend to experience less persecution than rural areas, but here the government has granted also WorldServe and many churches permission to train Christian businessmen and pastors unhindered.

Archbishop held for ransom

Following the abduction by gunmen last Sunday of Archbishop Peter Imasuen (left), the Anglican archbishop of Benin Diocese in Southern Nigeria, it is reported that a ransom demand for $750,000 has now been made. Archbishop Peter is also the state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). He was abducted in front of his official residence on his way back from a church service after the armed kidnappers reportedly followed him from St. Matthew Cathedral. His current location is unknown. State Governor Adams Oshiomhole is said to have decried the kidnaping, which he blamed on the federal government’s withdrawal of soldiers from a state joint security program. The identity of the kidnappers is not clear. In recent years abducting public figures for ransom has become common in the South-South and South- Eastern zones of the country, where militant groups have been campaigning against poor level of development.

Attacks of Christians continue in India

In several areas of India Christians continue to come under attack from extremist groups. Last Sunday at the church in Bharamasagar, Chitradurga district, in the state of Karnataka, pastor Raju was attacked and beaten whilst his Bible and song book were burnt in front of the congregation and the pulpit was broken. The gang of about 40 extremists, suspected to be RSS members, who had invaded the worship service then took Raju by force to the local village demanding that he point out the homes of Christian believers. Police are now investigating. This case is one in a long line of cases reported by Faith2Share member IEM and the NCCI.

Haiti Hub to coordinate relief efforts

Christian agencies and churches seeking to offer assistance in Haiti are being encouraged to coordinate their efforts through the Haiti Hub set up by CrossGlobal Link. The goal is to connect Haitian relief workers with people who have the resources to help the Haitians. Any agency or church can register and share information about their needs and/or resources. The website provides (1) information about facilities, materials, personnel and transportation, (2) peer-to-peer connections between those with needs in Haiti and those with resources to meet those needs, and (3) real-time sharing of needs and solutions. You can register at Haiti Hub. This site does not receive donations.

Sri Lankans vote
Christians, Buddhists and Hindus have all been called to prayer today as the nation of Sri Lanka goes to the polls for the first time since the ending of the 26-year civil war in the north of the country. Tension is very high. More than 68 thousand policemen have been deployed to ensure order but still in Jaffna there were four explosions early this morning. Around 250 thousand observers are monitoring the fairness of elections in which there are 22 candidates competing to become President. The most likely winners are the current President Mahinda Rajapaksa or the former head of the Armed Forces, General Sarath Fonseka. Poverty is an election issue with 47% of the 20 million population living on less than $2 per day. The government's treatment of 300,000 Tamil refugees incarcerated in northern refugee camps also weighs heavily on the outcome of the election.

Nigerian Archbishop seeks peace

The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Ignatius Ayau Kaigama (left) has criticised recent press coverage of rioting in the region and denied that a Muslim attack on a parish spawned the recent violence there. He said, "In particular, it is not true that a church was attacked and burned. The origin of the conflicts of today, like those of November 2008 are the contrasts between the Hausa, of Muslim beliefs, and the indigenous peoples, mainly Christians, who struggle for political control of the city." The violent clashes of the past week have now claimed hundreds of lives although no official death toll has yet been announced. In the 2001 riots 915 people died and in 2008 at least 400 were killed. The Archbishop also called for clarification as to how some rioters obtained sophisticated weapons. There have been unsubstantiated claims that Muslim gangs were given weapons by the army or police. Religious leaders, both Muslim and Christian, are continuing to call for peace and reconciliation in Jos.

Christians train for football World Cup

As South Africa prepares to host the 2010 football World Cup the South African Sports Coalition (SASCOL) is recruiting Christians to minister to the thousands of visitors expected. An initiative by predominantly church leaders, SASCOL has launched numerous partnerships to capture this golden opportunity for transforming the youth of Africa through values and behavioural change. One of those seconded to SASCOL is Kate Randle, a Crosslinks mission partner based in Stellenbosch. Her main role will be to co-ordinate an internship programme linked to the World Cup as well as delivering sports ministry training. SASCOL is working alongside several other organisations and agencies under the banner of The Ultimate Goal (TUG), defined as "to share the love of Christ as well as the gospel in many different ways to players, their families, coaches, spectators, tourists and local residents."

Churches in Haiti meet daily

It is now becoming apparent that church communities have been decimated in Haiti. Typical of many, at Shiloh Baptist Church only 100 of its 2,000 members have been accounted for since the earthquake. Many including the pastor, Bienne Lamerique, and three church leaders are known to have died whilst others remain missing. The church building still stands but has undergone a great deal of structural trauma. Support beams have been damaged, and the inside of the church has been disturbed. Despite the massive devastation and loss, churches have not lost hope. Congregations and informal prayer groups continues to meet, now daily, in the open air, with new members joining them quietly to share their grief. International Mission Board missionary Mark Rutledge, who is currently in Haiti as a translator for the media, says he is confident that revival may well arise out of the chaos.

Mission responds to Haiti crisis

Faith2Share member SAMS-USA is working through its partners in the Dominican Republic to respond to the crisis in Haiti. Michael and Anita Dohn and Cathy Donahoe, from SAMS-USA, serve as health missionaries there ministering to many immigrants from Haiti. Much of the immediate aid will come overland from the Dominican Republic. SAMS-USA will assist with the effort that the diocese of the Dominican Republic is making to gather relief supplies and funds for Haiti. Cathy Donahoe reports, “The Bishop is on his way to the border with household items. The needs can only be tremendous! …We’ve had some rain today and if Haiti is getting rain on top of this, then the earth slides will hamper everything that is already a mess!" To donate to SAMS-USA click here.

Death toll in Jos over 200 and violence spreading

As the Nigerian army enforce a 24hr. curfew in Jos after Sunday’s rioting and the death of a reported 265 people, violence has now broken out in the city of Pankshin about 60 miles away. In Jos both Muslims and Christians are claiming larger numbers of deaths within their own community. Muhammad Tanko Shittu, a senior mosque official organising mass burials claimed that 350 Muslims had died. The Red Cross, which was unable to get into Jos on Tuesday, now reports that its workers have begun to treat the wounded. Fears are growing that people are running short of food because they are confined to their homes during the continuous curfew. At least 5,000 people have fled the violence and are using army barracks and public buildings as temporary accommodation.

Vietnam sees fall in drug addiction

Churches in Vietnam are cooperating with a government drive to reduce drug addiction and in the process seeing ex-addicts come to faith in Jesus. In the past two years the number of drug users in Vietnam has remarkably decreased by 25 percent as a result of the government programme. Although communist government officials are often hostile to Christians, churches like Emmanuel Full Gospel Church in Ho Chi Minh City gather former addicts everyday to pray, worship and read the Bible. Phoung Le, an addict who now leads the church worship team, is amazed how God has given him the skill to play instruments despite never having any formal musical training. He has dedicated his life to sharing the grace he has received.

Collaboration in South Africa prevents HIV/AIDS

South Africa has the highest number of HIV infections in the world. In response Southern Africa HIV/AIDS Collaboration (SAHC)) has been mobilizing and equipping existing community resources to reduce new HIV/AIDS infections by 30-50% within five years in participating communities. It’s aim is to create a youth movement in which youth embrace the only behaviors that eliminate the risk of HIV infection—postponing sex until marriage and keeping sex within marriage thereafter—and urge their friends to do the same. This, sometimes controversial, approach to HIV/AIDS prevention is already proving successful in several townships. Collaboration is uniting, mobilizing, and equipping existing community resources in effective ministry.

Mexico faces a rise in violence

Missionaries from a number of agencies working in Mexico are developing contingency plans for personal safety after a rise in violence and kidnappings. The country saw 69 murders in just one day during January with 283 people are believed to have died in drug-related violence in Mexico in the first ten days of this year. Steve Dresselhaus of The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM) reports, "The vast majority of the violence is cartel-on-cartel, or cartel against the military or the police, so it's pretty much limited to those groups. Where it does become a problem for us is a case of somebody being at the wrong place at the wrong time." TEAM missionaries are building solid churches able to minister in the midst of the despair of Baja's tourist towns, such as in the capital of Baja, La Paz, and in Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.

Violent clashes in Jos, Nigeria, claim 12 lives

Religious leaders in Jos, in northern Nigeria, are today appealing for calm after a night of street fighting in which at least 12 people died. Troops and riot police are patrolling the city centre after houses, mosques and churches were set alight and a dusk-to-dawn curfew is now in force. CMS mission partner, Susan Essam, contacted Faith2Share requesting prayer for her troubled city which has a history of ethnic and religious tension. At least 200 people were killed in 2008 and 1,000 in 2001. A Reuters news agency report says that residents claim the violence started after an argument over the rebuilding of homes destroyed in the 2008 clashes. Communal violence in Nigeria is often blamed on sectarianism but local leaders suggest that poverty and access to resources such as land often lies at the root of the tension. For more information see Jos Diocese.

Water of life for Haiti

Within hours of the Haiti earthquake Samaritan’s Purse cargo planes began arriving in Haiti with much needed aid. “We’ve got more planes coming in each and every day with medicine, with equipment on board, with personnel on board,” Samaritan's Purse President Franklin Graham said. “We will have three to four flights a day now for the remainder of this week and we’ll have more next week. We’re going to have enough material for 6,000 temporary shelters by the end of next week. Water is a tremendous issue. By the end of next week we’ll be able to produce close to a half-million gallons of fresh water a day.” With three out of four people in Haiti normally living off less that US$2 a day local resources to cope with this emergency are almost non-existent. Samaritan’s Purse currently have 21 teams on the ground. For more details go to Samaritan’s Purse.

More arrests in China

It is reported that last week officials in Handon City, Hebei province, detained 30 Chinese House Church Alliance (CHCA) leaders. One of the detained pastors was able to use his cell phone briefly to notify an outside contact about their plight. The pastor said the Public Security and Religious Affairs Bureaus' officers broke into their meeting place while the 30 men and women were holding a Bible study. He reported that officials removed them forcibly and took them to an unknown interrogation center in the city. Two of the leaders detained were Pastor Li Ciuxiang and Elder Wu Jianghe. Following the incident, Pastor Zhang Mingxuan urged the Handan government to release the church leaders immediately. This most recent event adds to the ongoing movement against Christians in some parts of the country.

Christians respond to Haiti earthquake

As the nation of Haiti begins to count its dead and recover from yesterday’s 7.0 magnitude earthquake churches are already responding to pressing needs. Ron Sparks of Baptist Haiti Mission reports that a hospital in the city of Pation Ville was badly damaged and the smaller mission hospital run by his mission is now handling a lot of injuries. Telephone and other communication lines are down and it is still too early to assess the full impact. Already it is known that some churches have been damaged and church workers killed. A number of mission teams from the US and elsewhere were in the country at the time. Several have reported in safely but others are still to be located. Church leaders in Haiti and the US and a number of development agencies, including Christian Aid, have already appealed for resources to respond to the emergency.

Algerian church attacked

A growing church in Tizi Ouzo, western Algeria, has been under a series of attacks since opening its new 350-seater building in November. Shortly after the opening the authorities issued a letter to the church stating that it was not officially licensed for religious purposes. This was despite the church being a member of the Église Protestante d'Algerie which is registered with the authorities. On 26 December and again on 27 December a mob gathered at the entrance to the church seeking to prevent worshippers from gathering for their regular meetings. The following day the church building was broken into and then on 2 January the mob returned threatening worshippers, and manhandled the pastor. The service was stopped and calm was restored. Later in the day a group broke into the building and vandalised the interior until the police arrived and restored order. During the night there was another break-in and many contents were set on fire, though the structure of the building was not damaged.

Kenyan bishop seeks help for flood victims

Following the severe flooding which hit parts of Kenya at the end of December, residents of Narok town have been forced to vacate their business premises and move to higher ground. The rains paralysed transport along the busy Narok-Kaplong road and some residents have been blaming the Narok county council for failing to take precautionary measures despite early warnings. Bishop Jackson Ole Sapit of Kericho Diocese reported to CMS Africa that the floods have significantly affected residents in Narok. In addition to the displacement of residents and ruin of businesses there is fear of an outbreak of water borne infections. Narok is one of Kenya’s main breadbaskets with large-scale wheat farming. The bishop has requests prayers for all affected families and appealed for aid in the form of tents, blankets and basic essentials.

Churches fire bombed in Malaysia

In a dispute about the use of the name Allah for God, three churches in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, were attacked on 8 December. The administrative offices of one church were destroyed by a firebomb attack and one of the other two churches was slightly damaged. In the long-running dispute, reported previously by Faith2Share, Malaysian courts recently ruled that non-Muslims could use the word Allah to refer to God. This decision is known to have angered a number of Muslim groups are believed to be behind these attacks today. The government of the mainly Muslim nation has condemned the attacks on the churches and vowed to take action. About 60% of Malaysians are Malay Muslims. Bishop g Moon Hing (above) of the Christian Federation of Malaysia has issued a statement which can be read here.

Egyptians shot on (Orthodox) Christmas Eve

Last night two vehicles approached a Coptic church in Nag Hammadi, 64km from Luxor, as worshippers were leaving a Christmas Eve midnight service. Gunfire was sprayed into the crowd. Seven people were killed, six Christians and a Muslim security guard. Ten others were injured, including two Muslim passers-by. On the morning of 7January fighting broke out when police tried to disperse a large crowd of Christians gathered outside the local hospital. There are reports of shots having been fired into the air and of at least two people being injured. The authorities believe that the attack was intended as retaliation for the alleged rape of a young Muslim girl by a Christian man in November that triggered five days of widespread sectarian violence in the area.

Arab Vision seek International Director

Only formed in 1997, the Christian broadcasting mission, Arab Vision, has grown rapidly in its attempt to reach the 300 million Arabs in North Africa, the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsular, with the gospel. The mission currently distributes its programmes to nine satellite channels and over 46 terrestrial stations globally. The aim is not only to invite viewers to become followes of Jesus but also to transform societies through the impact of the gospel. After 13 years of operation the mission is now seeking to appoint an International Director. Anyone interested in this post can find more information here, download the job description here and respond directly to Arab Vision.

John Stott's Orthodox colleague dies

On Orthodox Christmas Day the death has been announced of Father Michael Harper (left) the former Anglican priest who converted to the Orthodox church. Michael Harper was a curate at All Souls Church, Langham Place, London where, in the 1960s, he became involved in the Anglican charismatic revival and received Baptism in the Holy Spirit. This caused a rift with the church's more conservative rector, John Stott, and Michael left All Souls in 1964 to found the Fountain Trust, an organization dedicated to spreading the charismatic message. As an Anglican charismatic leader, he wrote several books. He left the Anglican Church in 1995 because of what he saw as the Church of England's increasing doctrinal laxity and joined the Orthodox Church where he was ordained and made dean of the newly established Antiochian Orthodox Deanery of the UK and Ireland. He related his journey to Orthodoxy in The True Light published in 1994.

Missionary Pakistani bishop dies

The death has been announced of Bishop Bashir Jiwan, former bishop of Hyderabad, Pakistan. Born into a poor Punjabi family and educated in a Christian hostel, he went on to theological seminary where he accepted the missionary call to go to the province of Sindh, which then as now was widely regarded in the Punjab to be a lawless and unattractive place to live. He became the first Bishop of the new diocese of Hyderabad in 1981 and worked closely with Faith2Share agencies, CMS, CMS Australia, NZCMS and Interserve. He established a number of Christian community centres that would provide practical services to village people and be centres of outreach. In 1988 he was invited to speak at the Lambeth Conference, the first to which leaders of the united churches of South Asia were invited. Bishop Bashir died on 3 January 2010. For a full obituary click here.

Church teams fly in Mongolia

As the church in Mongolia grows Christians are finding new ways to reach outlying villages and small rural towns. From the large Ulaanbaatar Baptist Church<> in the capital city teams regularly fly with Blue Sky Aviation to other towns and cities to share the Gospel and to encourage local believers in their faith. They also add practical support, sometimes with medical care, other times offering a service such as cutting hair. Through these services, they can demonstrate the love of God to people who have never heard about Jesus Christ. Many people have made a commitment to Christ during these short visits and then go on to share their faith in their own communities. Blue Sky Aviation is a division of Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) who have been flying in Mongolia since 2000.

Central Asian churches face illegal status

The deadline has now passed for re-registration of churches and religious communities in Azerbaijan and Tajikistan. New laws in these countries required religious groups to re-register by 1st January or face illegal status. As far as is known only about 120 of Azerbaijan's 523 religious communities have been able to do so. Less than half of Tajikistan's religious communities re-registered. Many churches seeking registration faced obstruction from local officials. As yet it's unclear how strictly the governments of the two nations will enforce their laws but they could close congregations and impose heavy fines on church leaders. The laws do not only apply to Christians, Muslim and other religious groups are facing similar problems as state regulation of worship, religious publishing, youth work and other activities become much tighter.

Bible translation brings Christians together in the Philippines

Cooperation between Protestants, Evangelicals, and Roman Catholics is growing strong a century after the Bible was translated into a local language in the Philippines, say Christian leaders. "We now come and celebrate together for this great gift of God through which his word, through translation, has become alive in us since one hundred years ago," said Methodist Bishop Nathanael Lazaro, president of the Philippine Bible Society. Lazaro was speaking in December 2009 during the centennial celebrations in Baguio City of the translation of the Bible into Ilokano, one of seven major languages in the Philippines, which has more than eighty languages and dialects.

Youth ministry is growing in Peru

Young Christians in Peru are wanting to contribute to church life and be active in mission but are sometimes sidelined by local church leadership. Paul Tester of the South American Missionary Society, Ireland, however reports that “Youth ministry is really beginning to be taken seriously in Peru”. Having recently attended the national youth leaders conference in Lima, Paul reports on the follow up to a youth mission in Juliaca in the south. He says, “It was great to have over thirty attend and see that the group that started after our mission trip there is still meeting and growing.” Peruvian youth face many challenges as their country develops and many seek the spiritual resources to cope with questions their parents never needed to even ask. This presents churches with new opportunities if they are ready to work with their own young people.

US youth still offering for mission service

The annual Urbana missions conference in the US, sponsored by Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, came to a close today having drawn thousands from across the country. In the final event more than 16,000 young people filled the seats of the Edward Jones Dome at the America's Center in St. Louis. Many attending were seriously offering for mission service. Daniel Doss from North Carolina said, "I wanted to learn more about business as mission and how to apply it to my life." Emily Blizard from New Jersey said, "I'm thinking of possibly serving abroad, I've got lots of new ideas and organizations to contact now." While attendance was down this year compared with 2008, many left full of energy and commitment to seeing the Great Commission completed.

Zambia is a Christian nation, affirms president

President Rupiah Banda of Zambia has challenged the church to unveil and explain clearly what the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation entails. Mr Banda said yesterday, in Lusaka, there some groups within the nation had reservations but these mainly arose from the fact that the Christian community had not adequately explained the insights enshrined in the 18 year old covenant declaration. The second Republican president of Zambia, Frederick Chiluba, declared the country a Christian nation in 1991. Speaking in Holy Cross Cathedral President Banda urged Zambians not to take for granted the peace the nation has enjoyed in recent years because, if people become careless and forget the peace provider, Jesus Christ, the country might open a window to the enemy.

MISSION NEWS ARCHIVE

Prayer unites Zimbabwe churches

Will Pakistan emergency aid be returned as debt payments?

Chinese government pays for new church

Right place, right time!

Reconciliation ministry in Israel/Palestine

Conflict disrupts bishop's consecration in DR Congo

Muslims fund new church centre in UK

Kenya looks forward

President of Sierra Leone seeks God's power

Lausanne sponsors mission across Africa

Focus on children in Paraguay

Afghan killings investigation continues

Anglican church in Zambia celebrates 100 years of mission

Mission Global Round Table meets in UK

International aid flows into Pakistan

Ten humanitarian charity workers killed in Afghanistan

Church responds to Pakistan floods

CMS Ireland Appoints New Mission Director

Mission through discussing difference

Anglicans take two new steps in holistic mission

Palestinian bishop to lead Lutheran global family

Peace agenda set by new head of CWM

Bhutan to strengthen "anti-conversion" legislation

Human rights concerns in Morocco

FM radio helps plant churches in Nepal

Violence again in Pakistan

Blogging Patriarch

Tension in Burundi

AIDS not the only killer in Africa

Iranian pastor 'liable to capital punishment'

Leading Russian pastor shot dead in Dagestan

African religious leaders can build peace

Baptist will lead governance of Anglican mission

Children protected from trafficking in South Africa

Ugandans called to love Somali neighbours

Methodists take action on Palestine

WCC denounces killing of church ministers in Philippines

Uganda prepares for 'Love Kampala' campaign

Japanese churches to address suicide epidemic

Churches respond to flooding in Brazil

Plea for solidarity with Afghan Christians

A Burmese birthday

President calls National Day of Repentance

WCC seeks new understanding of mission

Bishop evangelists grow the church

Churches rebuild in Haiti

Vegetarian theology

South African goals

Bloodshed continues in Kyrgyzstan

Bishops seek "compassionate and accountable leadership".

Christian relief work suspended in Afghanistan

Call for collaboration in mission

Edinburgh 2010 speaker warns Lausanne movement

Missionary bishop murdered in Turkey

All nations and languages meet in Edinburgh

Children at risk

Christians protest Israeli attack on aid in Gaza

Football World Cup prayer guide published

Christians pray daily for peace in Kyrgystan

Bishop requests prayer for healing in Jamaica

UN accused of complicity in Sri Lankan violence

Russian church leader beaten to death

Christians pray while battle rages in Somalia

Mission centre damaged as Cyclone Laila kills 23

Followers of Jesus leave Iran acquitted of all charges

United missions anticipate Pentecost

South African Christians prepare for World Cup

American 'mercy mission' leader released in Haiti

Memorial events disrupted in Jaffna, Sri Lanka

God gave Nigerian governor the mandate

Child hostages released, but parents still missing

Thai churches unveil evangelism plan

Missions merge to serve the Arab world

Repentance, Respect and Coperation in Tokyo

Millions prepare to pray

'Stop violence' call from Iraqi church leaders

1,200 mission leaders gather in Tokyo

125 Indian Christians arrested

African Muslims and Christian respect each other