Fighting continues in Kano, Nigeria
 Following the attacks last Friday in which at least 185 people died, terrorists have again attacked a police station in the city of Kano in northn Nigeria. Around 30 gunmen rained bombs and gunfire on the police station killing a woman in the latest attack at 6.30pm last night. This attack is also being blamed on the Islamist group Boko Haram which has killed more than 935 people since they launched a violent campaign in July 2009. Yesterday's attack seems to have been provoked after police tried to arrest a suspect earlier in the day and came under heavy fire at his hideout in the city. Christianity Today also reported attacks on two churches in Kano this past Sunday but with no known casulties.
Korean unification warrior dies
 The death has been announced on 21 January of Rev. Kang Young-sup (left) one of most significant Christian leaders, whose efforts for the reunification of North and South Korea have been significant throughout his life. Kang Young-sup was the chairman of the Central Committee of the Korean Christian Federation (KCF), and had a long standing relationship with the World Council of Churches. The General Secretary of the WCC, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, said “As a patriotic religious leader in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Rev. Kang Young-sup played an important role in nation building, as well as in working for peace and reconciliation on the divided Korean peninsula.” The National Council of Churches in Korea also expressed sorrow over Young-sup’s passing away, and reaffirmed their commitment to continue with his mission for peace and reunification in North and South Korea.
Ceasefire for the Karen in Myanmar
 Christian communities in Myanmar have expressed a cautious welcome for the cease-fire agreement, signed in Hpaan on 12 January, between the government olf Myanmar and the Karen National Union (KNU). As a large minority ethnic group, with many Christian members, the Karen people have been in armed conflict with the government for 60 years. According to reports from human rights groups, military forces have routinely burned Karen villages, homes and churches. As a result, thousands of Karen have been forced from their homes, with over 100,000 seeking refuge in neighboring Thailand. Since the internal conflict began in 1948, an estimated 500,000 people have been killed. Welcoming the ceasefire KNU Vice Chairman, Saw David Tharc Kabaw, added, “I’m cautious, very cautious, there is no certainty, we’re still not sure of the real agenda.”
Christian worker dies in Fiji
 Andrew Duxfield (pictured left with Rev Luke Ravudolo), a Christian worker from New Zealand, has died this week while on mission placement in Fij. Andrew was checking out a number of water projects in Fiji on behalf of the Anglican Missions Board (AMB), New Zealand, and Engineers without Borders (EWB) at the time of his death. “The staff of AMB and the Diocese of Polynesia are shocked at the sudden loss of such a valued friend and colleague,” says Robert Kereopa, the Executive Officer of the AMB. “Andrew had been visiting Fiji since 2004 and was instrumental in brokering a partnership between AMB, EWB and the Diocese of Polynesia to develop water projects in Fiji. May he rest in peace, and rise in glory.” Andrew Duxfield was 51, and is survived by Charmaine and their four children.
Fighting continues in South Sudan
 "Inter-ethnic conflict in South Sudan" claims Christian Aid, is "being fuelled by decades of underdevelopment and the proliferation of small arms in the newly independent country's largest state." The British based development agency is currently providing relief to some of the tens of thousands of civilians displaced by fighting in South Sudan, assisting the wounded and supporting the reconciliation work being led by the Sudan Council of Churches and Archbishop Daniel Deng. Fighting between the Lou Nuer and Murle ethnic groups was sparked by recent cattle raids and child abductions, and has led to the South Sudanese government declaring Jonglei a “human disaster area” and appealing for international assistance to bring the crisis to an end. The UN estimates that more than 60,000 people have been displaced by the latest round of fighting.
Christian outreach center demolished by government in Pakistan
 A protest by 500 Christians in Lahore, Pakistan yesterday, was supported by three Muslim leaders, Pakistan Muslim League-Q MPA Engineer Shahzad and Pakistan People`s Party MPAs Najmi Saleemi and Pervaiz Raffique. The two hour protest, led by the Bishop of Lahore, Rt Rev. Alexander Malik, followed the demolition of a church-owned shelter, Gosha-i-Aman, and the seizure of the adjacent land by the provincial government. The two acre Gosha-i-Aman, built by the Catholic church in 1887, consists of living accommodation for two families, a home for the elderly, sewing school for underprivileged women and a chapel. Protesters claimed that on 10 January officials from the City District Government demolished the buildings without any prior notification or warning. The Bishop of Lahore apparently showed all the documents of ownership to DCO Ahad Cheema but he still declared the land government property and went ahead with demolition.
Leading Mission Researcher dies suddenly
 The death has been announced of Mike O'Rear, the President of Global Mapping International (GMI), one of the leading mission research organisations. Mike suffered a sudden heart attack and after several days in intensive care, surrounded by family and friends, died of complications last week. He was 57. "Mike's death is a tragic loss for all of us who considered him a close friend, as well as a loss for GMI, the mission community in Colorado Springs, the U.S. and the entire world," said GMI board chair Jane Overstreet. O'Rear served in global roles such as Senior Associate for Information Technology for the Lausanne Movement. GMI is an international team of evangelical research, mapping and technical professionals passionate about informing, equipping and connecting the Church with information that will equip them to serve. Mike's contribution to world mission will be greatly missed.
Missiologists meet in South Africa
 Missiologists and mission leaders from across Africa are meeting in Pretoria, South Africa, this week to consider the "Social and Missiological analyses of religion and empire in South africa and the rest of the continent". At this Annual Congress of the Southern African Missiological Society, presentations will include Dr Gerhard Bothma on "Religion and Empire in the 'Our Father' prayer", Wynand van Niekerk on "White youth identity in a post-Apartheid South Africa", and Prof Pieter Verster who will provide an appraisal of the missionary movement in Africa. From Brazil Prof Rudolf von Sinner will present a paper on "Pentecostalism and citizenship". The congress concludes on Friday.
Growth of Anglican Health Network in 2012
 The Anglican Health Network, which aims to facilitate cooperation and communication among those involved in health ministries around the world has started 2012 with a number of positive developments. The Anglican Church of Australia recently resolved to establish its own Anglican Health Network within the province with Dr Alan Crouch leading this initiative. Dr Crouch currently oversees public health outreach programmes for the state government in the remote Cape York and Torres Strait Islands communities. The capacity of the global network has also been increased by engaging specialist services in the UK and volunteer services from the USA.
Anglicans consult on-line about development priorities
 The Anglican Alliance for Development, Relief and Advocacy has launched an on-line consultation today over their priorities for overcoming poverty and injustice worldwide. This builds on four consultations conducted last year with Anglicans in Africa, the Pacific, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean. From these consultations the major development priorities identified were (1) Economic empowerment, (2) Peace and reconciliation, (3) Governance, (4) Women's empowerment, (5) Youth empowerment, (6) Communitiy empowerment, (7) Climate change, (8) Food security, and (9) Migrants and refugees. Food security and climate change were singled out as the key subjects for global advocacy. Anglicans are invited to contribute to this consultation here.
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