Police Arrest Two Christians in Azerbaijan
ISTANBUL, April 11 (Compass) — Two Christians were sent to jail yesterday for seven days on charges of “disobeying the police” in the town of Ismailly, 120 miles west of the Azerbaijani capital of Baku.
Month: August 2001
Taliban Vow To Execute Afghans Who Convert
ISTANBUL (Compass) — The supreme leader of Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban militia warned on January 8 that his regime will apply the death penalty to any Muslim who converts to another faith.
Laity key to church planting, conference speakers claim
WACO, Texas (ABP) — Church planting is too big a job for just seminary-trained ministers, conference leaders told a group of Baptist church starters. “Some of the best church planters in the world today are not ordained pastors,” Charles Brock, a 20-year veteran church planter in the Philippines, said during a three-day event sponsored by the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
Study Queries Protestant Clergy About Religious Persecution; China Names #1 Coutry for Persecution o
Protestant ministers in the United States generally believe that religious persecution is a major problem in today’s world, and they believe the U.S. should impose sanctions against countries where this is occurring. These findings have just been released from a research study conducted among Protestant clergy in America.
Saudi Arabia Is Again The World’s Worst Persecutor of Christians
SANTA ANA, CA (ANS) – Turkmenistan has moved to fifth place on the Open Doors World Watch List of worst persecutors of Christians, behind Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Laos and China, causing “great concern” to persecution watchers around the world.
Top Stories of the Year 2000
The growing awareness of worldwide Christian persecution can hardly be explained by the actions of a few people or the dramatic events in a specific country. So the following list of “top” stories for 2000 should be viewed only as a representative sample of significant news stories that have taken place this year. The list is also limited to areas where Compass Direct correspondents were able to provide in-depth coverage. Some of the stories come from isolated events. Others describe the ongoing oppression Christians often face. All help give us a glimpse of the difficult situations faced by the church around the world.
Persecution is coming to America, Josef Tson tells seminary students
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)–Christians in America will face great persecution soon and they must be aggressors in the midst of it, Josef Tson said March 2 at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.
Burkett’s Christian Financial Concepts announces merger with Crown Ministries
GAINESVILLE, Ga. (BP)–Larry Burkett, founder of Christian Financial Concepts and host of the national “Money Matters” radio program, has announced that Christian Financial Concepts has merged with Crown Ministries.
Groups Say China Trade, Human Rights Should Be Concern of New Administration
(AgapePress) – A coalition opposed to the special trade privileges for Communist China is urging the new administration to reverse the Clinton-Gore policy mistakes of the past eight years.
Courageous Christians Imprisoned for 15 Days (China)
The Voice of the Martyrs rejoiced to learn yesterday that Chinese Christian “Sister Tong†has been released from prison following a 15 day prison sentence. A VOM worker in the area was able to pass financial support and encouragement to her.
Church Harassment in Eastern China Worsens
BEIJING (Compass) — Christian leaders in both the unofficial house churches and the registered “Three Self” churches in eastern China confirmed in June that their situation has become more difficult.
Four weeks without arrest for Chinese pastor Li De Xian
Pastor Li De Xian preached twice this week in his usual Tuesday meeting in Huadu near Guangzhou, China without interference from Chinese authorities. This marks four consecutive weeks without arrest or interference for Pastor Li’s ministry.
Cereal Maker Backtracks After Including Bible with CD-ROM Offer
(AgapePress) – General Mills has issued an apology for including a free software version of the Bible in more than 12 million boxes of its cereals due on store shelves this morning. According to the Detroit Free Press, the $10 million promotion campaign was set to kick off today.
CBF to approve funding for pro-homosexual groups; gay church literature featured in CBF exhibit
ORLANDO, Fla. (BP)–The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship will continue funding a pro-homosexual organization whose booth was prominently featured at the CBF’s General Assembly and another group whose immediate past president suggested that homosexuals can be called to the pastorate, according to action taken during the June 30 – July 1 meeting in Orlando, Fla.
CBF to approve funding for pro-homosexual groups; gay church literature featured in CBF exhibit
ORLANDO, Fla. (BP)–The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship will continue funding a pro-homosexual organization whose booth was prominently featured at the CBF’s General Assembly and another group whose immediate past president suggested that homosexuals can be called to the pastorate, according to action taken during the June 30 – July 1 meeting in Orlando, Fla.
Christian Community Center Burned in Malaysia
LOS ANGELES, August 23 (Compass) — A Christian community center in Malaysia was set ablaze on July 21 by suspected Muslim extremists. The building was unoccupied during the alleged arson attack, reported local fire and rescue officials.
Arafat Puts on Milage, But Spins in Place
PLO chief Yasser Arafat has launched another trademark whirlwind tour in search of more international support for the Palestinian intifada, but his latest anti-Israel offensive found little traction this week at the United Nations or Arab League.
Pro-lifers decry NIH guidelines permitting embryo-cell research
WASHINGTON (BP)–The federal government released final guidelines Aug. 23 permitting taxpayer funding of research on cells from human embryos amid a chorus of criticism from pro-life advocates.
Campaign-finance bill violates free-speech rights, critics say
WASHINGTON (BP)–A bill reforming campaign financing that was approved by the U.S. Senate April 2 violates the free-speech rights of pro-life and other advocacy organizations, according to charges made before and after the vote.
Calif. marriage proposition gains ‘Gays for 22’ support
SAN FRANCISCO (BP)–A California ballot initiative that would define marriage has gained an unexpected group of supporters — a group of homosexual men and women.