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Evangelical Alliance wants
to train a million leaders in 3 years
London, February 1st, 2005 (ACPress.net).
The Evangelical Alliance
is hosting the launch of an ambitious international programme
to train a million new Christian leaders for the future.
'Million Leaders Mandate' comes to the UK and Ireland on 9th
February 2005 and is the vision of American leadership specialist,
John Maxwell. The author of the best-selling book '21 Irrefutable
Laws of Leadership' will run the day-long session, outlining
the specifics of the course and drawing from his considerable
expertise on the subject. The Evangelical Alliance is hosting
the launch event in association with YWAM and Premier Radio.
Those attending the day will learn about a proven three-year
development plan that will provide basic leadership skills.
Facilitated through his worldwide organisation, EQUIP, Maxwell
says, "During his public ministry of three and a half years,
Jesus did not preach campaigns across Asia, nor did He heal
everyone he met. What He did with the majority of His time was
to train twelve leaders to impact the world over the next generation.
I am convinced that if Christian leaders around the world are
trained, resourced and encouraged, there is no limit to what
can be accomplished in fulfilling the Great Commission."
The 'Million Leaders Mandate' launch next month, in London,
begins the recruitment drive to sign up 2000 church and business
leaders in the UK and Ireland for the start of the programme
in October 2005. The course will run two sessions a year for
three years. Each leader will receive copies of the workbooks,
which they will then use to train 25 others. By 2008 Maxwell
aims to have one million leaders ready for action across the
world. The Evangelical Alliance is backing the 'Million Leaders
Mandate'. John Smith, UK Director, says, "We are extremely
excited by Maxwell's vision. We have examined the workbooks
and are impressed by their biblical framework, clear content
and practical application. We encourage anyone who feels they
want to get involved to sign up. It's a great opportunity to
receive excellent training and for many it will be a life-changing
experience."
Source: EA. Editing: ACPress.net
Carnival Cardinal wins humour
award
Bremen, February 2nd, 2005 (ACPress.net).
Cardinal Karl Lehmann,
Chairman of the German Catholic Episcopate, has received the
Order against Animal Seriousness from Aquisgran Carnival, in
recognition of his sense of humour and the pleasant way he goes
about his work.
This is the first time the Aquisgran Carnival organisation has
given its award to a leading cleric, as it usually reserves
the prize for politicians or other public figures. Lehmann showed
that he has the humour to be worthy of such an award. The Cardinal
went along to receive it, and listened to the plaudits of the
man who held the title last year, Henning Scherf, the Protestant
Mayor of Bremen. Scherf then handed over the traditional Carnival
hat which goes with the award.
Source: Efe. Editing: ACPress.net
British churches sending
help to Asia
London, February 2nd, 2005 (ACPress.net).
Various missionary agencies
have redoubled their efforts to help victims of the Asian tidal
wave which, weeks after it broke, is still claiming victims.
Churches all over Britain are sending funds to support relief
work, while organisations such as 'Gospel for Asia' has people
on the ground able to distribute it. 'Tear Fund', the social
arm of the Evangelical Alliance, is also sending aid. A report
from Thailand has caused great concern; a group of nine missionaries
who had gone for a swim have not been seen since and nothing
is known of their whereabouts. Mission leaders have warned people
only to send money through trustworthy channels, that is groups
which are known to be honourable and have the infrastructure
to use the funds in the right place, are directly involved in
relief efforts and can coordinate help to victims.
Source: S&C Comunicaciones. Editing: ACPress.net
Swedish pastor stands by his criticism of homosexuality
Stockholm, February 2nd, 2005 (ACPress.net).
The Protestant pastor
in Sweden, Aake Green, who was given a prison sentence last
year for remarks labelled as 'homophobic', and now viewed as
a martyr by many Christians, has reiterated his views before
an Appeals Court, saying that Christian faith is incompatible
with homosexuality.
The Pentecostal minister was originally sentenced to a month
in prison for comments he made during a sermon in a church in
Borgholm, on Oeland Island, in August 2003. He attacked homosexuality,
saying that "this sexual abnormality is a cancer in society."
His sentence caused outrage among the Christian community and
people with even a nominal attachment to the Church, who accused
Sweden of not respecting religious liberty nor the freedom of
speech. A small group of supporters accompanied Green on his
appearance at the Appeals Court in Jonkoping, in the south of
the country.
Source: ANSA. Editing: ACPress.net
Swedish diplomat who saved
thousands from Nazis honoured
Vienna, February 2nd, 2005 (ACPress.net).
Raoul Wallenberg, a Protestant
diplomat from Sweden who saved tens of thousands of Jews and
other persecuted people from the Nazis in Hungary during the
Second World War, has been honoured 60 years after his disappearance
in Budapest.
Wallenberg, an unselfish benefactor, was kidnapped by the invading
Soviets on January 17th, 1945. He was taken to the military
headquarters of the Red Army to the east of Budapest and nothing
more was heard of him. It is thought that he might have died
later in Russia. Wallenberg, a Protestant architect, was the
son of a business family. He forged passports which the authorities
accepted. He increased the number of Swedish safe-houses to
30, his country being neutral in the conflict. In this way,
he managed to look after many refugees who would otherwise have
been deported and executed.
Sixty years after his disappearance, the Wallenberg Foundation
is launching an international campaign to collect 100,000 signatures.
It intends to present a petition to the United Nations demanding
an enquiry into what happened to the diplomat. They are calling
on the Russian authorities to put an end to the tragic mystery
and reveal what happened. A memorial to the diplomat in Vienna
still has the date of his death with a question mark: '4th August,
1912 - ?', is how it reads. Many diplomats attended a memorial
ceremony at which they called for the mystery to be cleared
up. Similar acts are to be held in other cities. Survivors of
the Nazi persecution who had been saved by Wallenberg laid a
wreath on the monument honouring the diplomat. Laszlo Ladanyi
recalled that he was 23 when he received a passport from Wallenberg.
Today he is 83 and he still has the passport at his home in
Buenos Aires, with profound gratitude for his benefactor.
Source: La Nación. Editing: ACPress.net
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Political
party led by Christians registered in Mexico
Naucalpan, Mexico. February 1st, 2005 (ACPress.net).
The 'United for Mexico'
Party, led by evangelical Christians, has finally been registered
as an officially-recognised political force, despite all kinds
of calumnies and insults heaped on it by the Catholic National
Action Party, which is in power.
'United for Mexico', whose motto is 'the truth will make us
free', has received accreditation to operate as a local political
party in Mexico State, the area with the largest number of voters
in the whole country, so that its participation will be significant
in forthcoming elections later this year. Although it cannot
put up candidates for popular election this year, because it
is the youngest party and the law forbids such a party from
so doing, 'United for Mexico' plans to make its voice heard
and begin to gain popular support.
The new party is the only political association whose leaders
know, live out and preach the biblical Gospel. It is now legally
recognised and has achieved a landmark that other organisations
attempted to reach and failed. It is a historic moment in Mexican
politics and for the Gospel in that land. As our headline wishes
to make clear, there is a big difference between a 'Christian
political party' and a 'party led by Christians'.
Source: unknown. Editing: ACPress.net
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Egyptian
Christian family found dead in their American home
New York, February 2nd, 2005
(ACPress.net).
An Egyptian Christian
father, Hossam Armanious, his wife and two aughters were found
knifed to death in their home on 14th January 2005. Police are
investigating several theories, but Islamic revenge has been
suggested as a potential motive. Armanious had been threatened
during an internet chat-room session, following his critical
comments on Islam.
Hossam Armanious (47), his wife Amal Garas (36), and their daughters
Sylvia (15) and Monica (8) were found in their house in Jersey
City, bound and gagged with their throats slit and knife wounds
to their heads and bodies. While police are suggesting robbery
as the possible motive, the style of killing has made friends
and relatives suspect a link with Islamic teaching on killing
unbelievers.
Armanious and his family moved from Luxor, Upper Egypt to the
USA in late 1990s to escape the growing anti-Christian violence
in Upper Egypt. Such violence has seen many Christians killed
and much Christian property destroyed in recent years. After
settling in New Jersey the family began making a new life for
themselves. However, as a devout Christian, Armanious was outspoken
about his faith, and continued to publicise the persecution
of Christians in Egypt that had caused them to flee. He was
known to have frequent vigorous debates on religion, including
criticising Islam, in internet chat rooms. Two months ago he
received the threat that if he didn't stop these comments 'we
are going to track you down like a chicken and kill you'. A
parishioner of St George and St Shenouda, the Coptic Orthodox
church they attended, said, 'They are trying to make us afraid,
make us keep our mouth shut.' Armanious' refusal to keep quiet
about Christian persecution under Islam may finally have caused
the fatal stabbings.
Relatives of the family grew worried when they had not heard
from them for several days. The extended family had been planning
to gather together on 15th January to celebrate Sylvia's 16th
birthday. Early on the morning of 14th January police broke
into the family home and found all four in separate rooms. Autopsies
have concluded that they bled to death from their multiple wounds.
Sylvia, who had been known amongst her friends as 'very religious
and very opinionated', seemed to family members to have taken
more savage wounds than the others. She had a large gash across
her chest and also stab wounds on her wrist. Though the slash
on her wrist was near her tattoo of the Coptic cross, which
all the family had, police have stated that it looks more like
a defensive wound than an attempt to cut the tattoo.
Police officials and Coptic church leaders are attempting to
downplay the religious link, asking people not to jump to conclusions.
A break-in just a few months earlier had caused Armanious to
increase security at the home, and as there were no signs of
a forced entry police believe the family may have known their
attacker. They have also reported that there was no jewellery
or money in the house, with Mr Armanious's wallet emptied and
pockets turned out, leading them to the possibility of robbery
as a motive.
However, family members who were permitted to enter the house
to collect important papers have said that all the jewellery
was there. These conflicting reports have added fuel to the
relatives' outrage and some in the local Egyptian Christian
community are calling for revenge. A deacon at their church
has said that he is worried there may be a ripple effect following
the murders, with both anger and fear growing. At the funeral
several people carried placards saying 'Islam is not a religion.'
The procession later descended into chaos as mourners started
jumping on cars and threatening violence to a Muslim cleric
who had attended.
These tragic deaths seem as if they may be part of a growing
trend by Islamic militants to kill - often by slitting the throat
- those whom they see as a threat, including those who address
the issue of persecution of non-Muslims within the Islamic tradition.
The fear under which the family had lived is poignantly illustrated
in a poem which Sylvia had written: 'No more tears for me to
cry. No more days where I have to lie.. No more sadness to darken
my day. No more rain to fog my daydreams. No more pain in my
life. No more fear of getting killed with life's knife.'
Source: Barnabas Fund. Editing:
ACPress.net
Christian student strangled
by Muslims in Nigeria
Nigeria, February 2nd, 2005
(ACPress.net).
Muslim opposition to
evangelical Christianity once again reared its ugly head in
northern Nigeria with the murder of Sunday Nache Achi, a 4th-year
architecture student at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in
the city of Bauchi.
The university authorities had expelled various Christian students
for handing out tracts which compared the teachings of Jesus
with those of Islam. Muslim students at the nearby Bauchi Federal
Polytechnic threatened to kill two Christians before they were
expelled for similar evangelistic activities. Achi was kidnapped
from his room by masked intruders dressed in the style of jihad
fighters. He was later found strangled to death near a mosque.
The state Governor of Bauchi, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu, promised
a full investigation. However, the authorities have so far not
arrested anyone in connection with the crime.
Source: Compass Direct, Iglesia
en marcha. Editing: ACPress.netAmerican
government recognising Christian social work through state funds
Washington, February 2nd,
2005 (ACPress.net).
The American government
gave close to 1,000 million euros in 2003 to 'faith-based organisations',
and some of these funds went to groups where prayer and spiritual
guidance are central to their activities.
Money also went to many groups which are not religious at all
and whose aims are entirely secular. However, some faith groups
were surprised to find themselves on the White House list, which
includes religious groups that have social work projects but
which were considered 'too religious' before George Bush assumed
the Presidency. In total, faith-based groups received around
12% of state aid for social projects in 2003, and the proportion
is set to rise.
Bush came to power with the support of many evangelical groups
and promised to open state funds to their social work, recognising
that "they do a better job at helping the poor" than government
agencies. The lay secularists are getting jittery that the government
might end up financing religious activities directly, although
the White House official in charge of the funding of faith-based
organisations says the government has always made it very clear
that they will not do this. The secularists would be better
employed offering useful service to their country themselves.
It is good to see common sense overcoming the more blinkered
aspects of a rigid church-state separation, and recognition
that evangelical Christians are in the forefront of helping
the needy.
Source: E.PRESS. Editing:
ACPress.net
Archaeologists discover
Pool of Siloam in Jerusalem
Jerusalem, February 2nd, 2005
(ACPress.net).
Archaeologists in Jerusalem
have identified the remains of the Pool of Siloam, where Jesus
healed a blind man, and are excavating it slowly as it still
contains water.
Today the area in which the pool is situated is called Silwan.
It was used by the Jews for ritual purification for 120 years
until AD 70, when the Romans destroyed the city. Archaeologists
have found a pool about 50 metres long and a channel which carried
the waters from a spring to the pool. They have even found a
section of the path which went from the pool to the temple.
The water in the Pool of Siloam was considered by some to have
purifying qualities which could cure a leper, but few will be
persuaded by Stephen Pfann, who claims that "this discovery
helps to resurrect the Gospel in a Jewish context", believing
that Siloam not only healed physical ailments but also one's
spirit. Archaeologists were able to identify the pool as Siloam
due to old Jewish coins and fragments of pottery they found
at the site.
In John 9, the evangelist tells the story of how Jesus put mud
on the blind man's eyes and sent him to wash in Siloam (which
means 'Sent'). When the man obeyed, he came back seeing. Jews
who went three times a year to the temple at Jerusalem used
to submerge themselves in the water of the pool. Archaeologists
are now negotiating with the owners of the property, the Greek
Orthodox Church, for permission to continue the excavations.
Source: A.PRESS. Editing:
ACPress.net
American Catholic Church
joins moral Alliance with Protestants in face of crisis
Washington, February 2nd,
2005 (ACPress.net).
Times must be bad for
the Catholic Church in the USA to agree to join forces with
the majority Protestant faith in an ecumenical alliance to defend
moral values in that nation.
It is the first such initiative seen in the USA and is to be
called 'United Christian Churches of the USA'. 67 million Catholics
are thereby linked to the far greater number of Protestants,
with the aim of discussing Christian opinion on issues such
as abortion, divorce, homosexual marriage and euthanasia.
The stark truth is that the American Catholic Church is in freefall
after the child-sex scandal involving hundreds of priests broke
2 years ago. Bishops have extended the time-frame for the collation
of data regarding sexual abuse committed by Catholic priests
to see if the different diocese are fulfilling their obligations
to prevent further abuse. Compensation payments have seriously
hit the Church's finances. Three diocese have declared themselves
bankrupt to protect themselves from expensive claims, and two
more are considering making the same move.
The Catholic Archbishop of Boston, in north-east USA, Sean O'Malley,
announced that 83 parish churches would close due to the lack
of people attending Mass, a lack of money and a shortage of
priests. 47 have already ceased functioning and this has caused
rank-and-file Catholics to complain that they weren't consulted.
Source: Efe. Editing: ACPress.net
Pakistani
Christian acquitted in blasphemy charge case
Lahore, February 2nd, 2005
(ACPress.net).
A Christian was recently
acquitted after being accused of blasphemy in Lahore, but he
has been forced to stay in hiding because of death threats.
On December 17th, Anwer Masih was found innocent, making him
the first Pakistani Christian ever acquitted of blasphemy in
the nation's lower courts. Masih, 32, was arrested on November
30th, 2003 for "disturbing someone's religious feelings"
and slandering a religious prophet. A neighbour of Masih's who
had converted from Christianity to Islam claimed that he had
mocked his new beard and derided Islamic beliefs. Masih was
held in the jail for six months and released on bail on June
4th, 2004. But Justin Gill, Masih's lawyer, said his client
remains in hiding, unable to be reunited with his wife and four
children since his acquittal a month ago. Fanatical extremists
from the Lashkar-e-Mujahideen (Islamic Religious Army) have
vowed to kill Masih over his alleged remarks against the prophet
Muhammad. In a handwritten threat sent to Masih after he was
released on bail, the group warned Masih that only heavy police
security at his court hearings had prevented them from shooting
him.
Source: Charisma News. Editing:ACPress.net
A.C.Press:
The News Agency of the AEE (Spanish Evangelical Alliance)
Digital magazine at the website: www.ACPress.net
Telephone: 91 747 14
89; Fax: 91 747 59 24; E-mail: noticias@ACPress.net. Postal
address: Apartado 59198, 28080 Madrid, Spain. Co-ordinator
of A.C.Press News: Jonathan Dawson, E-mail: jdawson@protestantedigital.com
A.C.Press is part of the Spanish Evangelical
Alliance, whose E-mail is: oficina@AEEsp.net (www.AEEsp.net)
The Alliance is a forum for fellowship, reflection and the development of Christian
thought, produces various publications, and is involved in
the struggle for religious liberty. It is also part of the
European and World Evangelical Alliances.
A.C.Press news items may be reproduced as long
as their source is mentioned (ACPress News) |
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