NewsBytes Feb/Mar 2012

1. SYRIA: AT LEAST 384 CHILDREN KILLED
2. CONTINUING NEED IN HAITI
3. HUNGARY’S EVANGELICAL CHURCHES LOSE OFFICIAL STATUS
4. SUDAN CRACKS DOWN ON CHRISTIANS
5. UNITED ACTION NEEDED AGAINST NIGERIA’S BOKO HARAM
6. RISING POWER OF SHARIA ‘COURTS’ IN UK
7. SATANISM & SUICIDE GROWING PROBLEMS IN IRAN
8. TURKEY: THE 1881 PROJECT
9. HOUSE CHURCH HELP FOR CENTRAL ASIA
10. AZERBAIJAN CHURCH CLOSED
11. CHINA’S LITERATURE HUNGER
12. MORMONISM IN AMERICA
13. MISSIONARY COUPLE MURDERED, MEXICO
14. UK: OLYMPIC GAMES PASTORS NEEDED
15. ESPERANZA FOR SPAIN
16. ONLINE EVANGELISM WORKS!
17. GLOBAL CHRISTIAN DEMOGRAPHICS
18. IN FACT: WORLD MUSLIMS
19. RESOURCES:
    * Year of Prayer for Muslim Peoples * Atlas Project * Post Short-Term Mission E-zine * Church Leaders’ Website

1. SYRIA: AT LEAST 384 CHILDREN KILLED

UNICEF reports 384 child deaths are among the over-5000 people killed since the uprising against Syria’s Assad regime began 11 months ago. Dozens of children have died as security forces shot indiscriminately into crowds. Hundreds more children have been detained, and schools are increasingly being turned into detention centres where children and adults alike face beatings and other brutal treatment by government forces. Sexual violence against children has become rife in these centres. The situation is also worsening for Syria’s Christians, who number about 1.5 million; yet they fear that a change in regime could mean a more radical Islamic government. [CHRISTIAN POST, 27 Jan.]

2. CONTINUING NEED IN HAITI

Two years after the earthquake that devastated Haiti in January 2010 and left more than 200,000 dead, more than 650,000 people still live in makeshift camps, often in terrible conditions. The largest IDP camp in Port-au-Prince holds 50,000, and rape of young women and even children in broad daylight is not uncommon. On the positive side, Baptist Haiti Mission is among the groups that have rebuilt dozens of homes and rebuilt or repaired some 50 churches and 50 schools. Christian relief organisation International Aid is helping to provide hospitals with the tools they need; and Missionary Aviation Fellowship remains actively involved in the rebuilding process, supporting more than 30 relief organisations with critical flights to 15 airstrips. [UN, MISSION NETWORK NEWS, 11 & 12 Jan.]

3. HUNGARY’S EVANGELICAL CHURCHES LOSE OFFICIAL STATUS

Hungary’s new constitution, brought into effect on 1 January, grants state recognition to 14 religious groups but leaves all other groups decertified, including over 300 Christian groups or denominations such as the Methodists and all but one of the evangelical churches. This means they lose their official status, tax exemptions and freedom to run schools. Approved churches include traditional Roman Catholic, Reformed, Lutheran and Orthodox congregations, as well as some Jewish groups. [CHRISTIAN CONCERN/BRITISH CHURCH NEWSPAPER, 27 Jan.]

4. SUDAN CRACKS DOWN ON CHRISTIANS

Sudan President Omar al-Bashir told cheering crowds on 3 January that, following the secession of largely non-Islamic South Sudan last July, the country's constitution will be more deeply entrenched in sharia (Islamic law). Sources say his government has now threatened to arrest church leaders if they carry out evangelistic activities and do not comply with an order for churches to provide their names and contact information. On 1 Feb. a Bible School supported by Samaritan’s Purse was destroyed by Sudanese Air Force bombing. Christian leaders said Christianity is now regarded as a foreign religion following the departure of 350,000 people, most of them Christians, to South Sudan after the secession. [COMPASS DIRECT, 18 Jan., ASSIST NEWS, 3 Feb.]

5. UNITED ACTION NEEDED AGAINST NIGERIA’S BOKO HARAM

The extreme Islamist group Boko Haram continues its spread of terror across northern Nigeria in their goal of establishing Islamic law. Scores of churches have been attacked, hundreds of Christians murdered, and now even Muslims are being targeted.--Mostly those who are trying to protect Christians or are sympathetic to them. On 20 January multiple bomb blasts killed 256 people in the city of Kano. The Christian Association of Nigeria is asking Muslims in the country to join them in halting Boko Haram. Says Voice of the Martyrs’ Todd Nettleton, "The government seems unable to stop these attacks….and that's a concern not only to Christians in Nigeria, but really to everybody in Nigeria." [MNN 24 Jan.; CHRISTIAN POST, 3 Feb.]

6. RISING POWER OF SHARIA ‘COURTS’ IN UK

Thousands in Britain use sharia (Islamic) law to settle their disputes, and the numbers are rising. Since the UK’s Arbitration Act of 1996, the rulings of religious arbitration tribunals can be enforced in commercial and civil cases. While local Sharia councils do not, technically, have legal powers, they frequently claim legal jurisdiction in family and criminal matters and ask people to sign an agreement to abide by their decisions. Critics say such courts discriminate against women and should not operate as a parallel legal system in the UK. A bill has now been brought before the House of Lords by Christian humanitarian Baroness Cox, to curb the growth of Sharia courts. If passed, it would outlaw the practice of giving women’s testimonies half the weight of men’s. It would also make it a criminal offence for councils to falsely claim legal jurisdiction. [THE CHRISTIAN INSTITUTE, 18 Jan.]

7. SATANISM & SUICIDE GROWING PROBLEMS IN IRAN

A recent survey has revealed that 70 factions of Satanism are active in Iran, and these satanic groups have attracted as many as 2,000 followers in some cities. Most are in the age range of 16 to 24, and boys are 10 times more likely to be involved than girls. Suicide is also on the increase: 10 people commit suicide in Tehran alone each day. For women, being the second wife, and for men financial problems are the primary reasons cited. Women are three times more likely than men to attempt suicide. [ASSIST NEWS SERVICE, www.mohabatnews.com, 25 Jan.]

8. TURKEY: THE 1881 PROJECT

Last July 2011, Turkey's Bible Correspondence Course (BCC) launched an 18 month initiative to challenge residents of all of the country's 81 provinces to consider the claims of Christ. More than a third of these provinces have no meeting of believers; many have no known believers at all. The BCC is working with international volunteer church and youth groups, giving training and advice as well as furnishing literature and other media to be distributed in each province. For more info or to sign up for prayer updates or even join live prayer meetings in Istanbul every 81 days, see http://the1881project.org.

9. HOUSE CHURCH HELP FOR CENTRAL ASIA

In the vast rural areas stretching across Central Asia it is particularly difficult to be a believer; this makes Christian fellowship and small house churches essential. “House Church” is a 15-minute weekly radio series produced by TWR Europe with the assistance of international partners, helping to establish and grow local house churches. Topics are set into the local context so that listeners can comprehend, remember and apply the ideas. [TWR EUROPE INFO SERVE]

10. AZERBAIJAN CHURCH CLOSED

Following a police raid and the questioning of all members of a Baptist church in Neftechala on 23 December, the Azerbaijan authorities sealed the building and confiscated all the books they could find. Said one, “Without registration you can’t pray. We close any place of worship that isn’t registered.” However, the church had applied for re-registration and gotten no response. Christians are less than 3% of the 9 million strong Muslim-majority country in Central Asia. Exercising the right to freedom of religion or belief without state permission is illegal, in defiance of international human rights standards. Members of the small church remain unsure whether their pastor will face criminal charges. [FORUM 18 NEWS, Dec.’11]

11. CHINA’S LITERATURE HUNGER

With an average of 10,000 people per week in China becoming Christians, many have to wait years to have a Bible of their own. In some fellowships as many as 10 believers share one. With the church approaching 80 to 100 million, and with only 600 Christian books in legal circulation, China has one of the largest publishing vacuums of Christian literature in the world. The nonprofit, non-denominational Robert Morrison Project, named after the first Protestant missionary to China, aims to legally publish 50 to 60 needed books like Bible commentaries during the next 5 to 10 years. www.robertmorrisonproject.org

12. MORMONISM IN AMERICA

There are more than ten million Mormons worldwide. About half live in the US, and three-fourths of these Mormons are in the western part of the US. Two presidential candidates are Mormons, including Mitt Romney, the front runner for the Republican nomination. Mormonism is the largest new religious movement from the West and the first home-grown American religion. A November 2011 Pew Research Center survey found that one-third of non-Mormon US adults say the Mormon faith is not a Christian religion, and an additional 17% are unsure. Mormonism continues to grow because of it missionary impulse and its commitment to doctrinal and ethical distinctives. [MORMONISM 101, Kevin DeYoung; THE PEW FORUM ON RELIGION & PUBLIC LIFE]

13. MISSIONARY COUPLE MURDERED, MEXICO

A married couple who had served for 28 years as Baptist missionaries in Mexico were murdered on 31 January at their home near Monterrey in El Cercado, Santiago, Nuevo Leon. Americans John Casias, 76, and his wife Wanda, 67, were strangled by intruders who stole a safe, ministry vehicles and other items. The area has suffered heavily from attacks by drug cartels in recent weeks, including the murder of the mayor of El Cercado. Christians have been among the targets of the narcotics traffickers because the message of Christ turns people away from their business. The Casias, who planted churches in the area, are survived by 10 children who have reportedly said they hope to continue their parents’ ministry. [COMPASS DIRECT, 3 Feb.]

14. UK: OLYMPIC GAMES PASTORS NEEDED

More Than Gold has announced that it is looking for 800 “Games Pastors” to demonstrate the love of Christ during this year's Olympic and Paralympic Games in the UK. The agency said that Games Pastors would be deployed at main transport hubs and where large crowds gather and respond to the practical and spiritual needs of around 800,000 people. Churches are also being encour­aged to send members to “Get Set” training days between now and April, which will include sessions on becoming a Games Pastor, running a community festival, and “using sport to impact every age group”.  [CHURCH TIMES, 3 Feb.]

15. ESPERANZA FOR SPAIN

National evangelism event “Mi Esperanza” (My Hope) took place in Spain from 15-17 December, with the help of some 1,400 evangelical churches. Members invited people to their homes to hear a 30 minute TV programme with testimonies, music and a brief message from Billy Graham. Spain’s population is 46 million, with only about 450,000 evangelicals. [BRITISH CHURCH NEWSPAPER, 13 Jan.]

16. ONLINE EVANGELISM WORKS!

The Christian Growth Index shows that more than half of the people who make a decision for Jesus over the internet have subsequently shared their faith with others. Of the over 100,000 people surveyed worldwide, 51% said they had shared their faith three times or more, and 37% said they’d shared it at least once or twice. The study indicates that online evangelism and discipleship is measurable and effective. [RELIGION TODAY, 12 Dec.’11]

17. GLOBAL CHRISTIAN DEMOGRAPHICS

The number of Christians worldwide has nearly quadrupled in the last 100 years, from about 600 million in 1910 to 2.18 billion in 2010. This number represents nearly a third of the estimated 2010 global population of 6.9 billion. However, the world's overall population also has risen rapidly, so Christians make up about the same portion of the world's population today (32%) as they did a century ago (35%). Christians are so geographically scattered that no single continent or region can indisputably claim to be the centre of global Christianity. Only about a quarter of all Christians live in Europe (26%). More than a third are in the Americas (37%). About 1 in every 4 Christians lives in sub-Saharan Africa (24%), and about 1 in 8 is found in Asia and the Pacific (13%). [PEW FORUM]

18. IN FACT:

1.3 billion Muslims don’t have the freedom to change their religion. [SET MY PEOPLE FREE, http://freedom2worship.org]

19. RESOURCES:

• Remember 2012 is the Year of Prayer for Muslim Peoples. Check out http://www.pray4muslimpeoples.org/ for useful guides.
• World Missions Atlas Project provides 237 downloadable country profiles with excellent maps that help assess their current status of missions progress. Great for visual presentations. http://www.worldmap.org
• “The Next Mile” is a 12-part E-zine designed especially for those recently returning from a short-term mission experience: http://www.thenextmile.org/ezine-signup/
• Great website for church leaders, including an article called, “7 Things Every Leader Should do in 2012”: www.churchleaders.com

*NewsBytes is compiled monthly by Debbie Meroff of Operation Mobilisation (OM International), based in London, England. HTML version and back copies available from http://news.om.org/newsbytes. Material may be freely copied and forwarded. Items do not necessarily reflect OM’s position and questions should be directed to the original news source. For a free e-mail subscription send a ‘subscribe’ message to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

OM’s role in the Church is to mobilise people to share the knowledge of Jesus and His love with every generation in every nation. OM pioneers and leads initiatives to redeem lives, rebuild communities and restore hope in over 110 countries.