S Korea: Senior citizens urged to turn to God
South Korean senior citizens are urged to get closer to God in order to find happiness in their old age. Seoul archdiocesan Pastoral Administration for Seniors’ organized the Seniors’ Day festival on Oct. 5 in Seoul. ‘It has celebrated the annual event every October since 1988. Some 3,500 seniors attended the event. Auxiliary Bishop Andrew Yeom Soo-jung of Seoul said, ‘seniors have experienced life’s joys and sorrows. Jesus knows all hardships. What we need most in our remaining days is to realize that we are all beloved of the Lord.’ With Seoul’s aging population increasing to more than one million, Seoul RC archdiocese in cooperation with the local government sets up day care centres for senior citizens at parishes. So far, it has opened six centres in six parishes and plans to open nine more by February next year. Praise: God that He blesses even those who are old and grey. (Is.46:4) More: http://www.ucanews.com/2010/10/06/koreas-senior-citizens-urged-to-turn-to-god/
Libya: South Korean Pastor released
The northern African nation of Libya has released from detention two South Korean nationals – including one pastor – who were arrested this past summer for their alleged engagement in missionary activities, according to Seoul’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. One of the men, a Protestant pastor identified only by his family name, Koo, had been arrested in June for violating the predominantly Muslim country’s religious law, which prohibits the proselytizing of Muslims.The other man, identified by his family name, Jeon, was arrested the following month for aiding in Koo’s efforts, which included bringing Christian books and other materials for missionary work into the country. While South Korea – as the second largest missionary-sending country in the world – is no stranger to situations involving missionary activities, the case in Libya was complicated by the recent expulsion of a South Korean Embassy official who was suspected of collecting information on Libya's leader and other sensitive issues. Praise: God for the release of these prisoners and pray that others still imprisoned would be released soon. (Ps.146:7)
Libya: South Korean Pastor released
The northern African nation of Libya has released from detention two South Korean nationals – including one pastor – who were arrested this past summer for their alleged engagement in missionary activities, according to Seoul’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. One of the men, a Protestant pastor identified only by his family name, Koo, had been arrested in June for violating the predominantly Muslim country’s religious law, which prohibits the proselytizing of Muslims.The other man, identified by his family name, Jeon, was arrested the following month for aiding in Koo’s efforts, which included bringing Christian books and other materials for missionary work into the country. While South Korea – as the second largest missionary-sending country in the world – is no stranger to situations involving missionary activities, the case in Libya was complicated by the recent expulsion of a South Korean Embassy official who was suspected of collecting information on Libya's leader and other sensitive issues. Praise: God for the release of these prisoners and pray that others still imprisoned would be released soon. (Ps.146:7)
USA: Proselytizing Christian banned from library
16-year-old Caleb Hanson has been banned from all branches of the Chattahoochee Valley Regional Library system for six months for proselytizing. According to a letter to his parents from North Columbus Public Library, Caleb repeatedly asked patrons about their religious faith and offered biblical advice. After several warnings ‘not to do it’ Caleb began talking to people outside the library. Caleb’s parents, Tim and Elizabeth Hanson, are in Columbus on furlough from mission work and living with Elizabeth's parents who are retired missionaries. Caleb is home-schooled and is the youngest of four children. Last year he had a real encounter with the Lord and he wants to witness for Christ. Ordinarily he is shy but he began asking to be dropped off at stores and other locations to share his faith. Caleb's library card has been blocked, and if he returns to the library he'll be criminally trespassing. Praise God for New Life In Jesus Christ. Praise: God and pray Caleb will take the ban in his stride, as he matures in wisdom and spiritual discernment. (Ac.2:17-21)
USA: Proselytizing Christian banned from library
16-year-old Caleb Hanson has been banned from all branches of the Chattahoochee Valley Regional Library system for six months for proselytizing. According to a letter to his parents from North Columbus Public Library, Caleb repeatedly asked patrons about their religious faith and offered biblical advice. After several warnings ‘not to do it’ Caleb began talking to people outside the library. Caleb’s parents, Tim and Elizabeth Hanson, are in Columbus on furlough from mission work and living with Elizabeth's parents who are retired missionaries. Caleb is home-schooled and is the youngest of four children. Last year he had a real encounter with the Lord and he wants to witness for Christ. Ordinarily he is shy but he began asking to be dropped off at stores and other locations to share his faith. Caleb's library card has been blocked, and if he returns to the library he'll be criminally trespassing. Praise God for New Life In Jesus Christ. Praise: God and pray Caleb will take the ban in his stride, as he matures in wisdom and spiritual discernment. (Ac.2:17-21)
Orissa: Persecutor turned worshipper
Once a part of the terrible 2008 persecution against Christians in Orissa, Sharda Tamo now has been changed by the love of Jesus into a fellow worshipper in the very church he tried to demolish. In 2008 he joined a mob that tried to destroy the church's building and climbed on to the roof to break its Christian cross. Today he visits the church every week to worship at the cross of Jesus. The church in Orissa was known for its community outreach and ministry to women and youth and well-respected in the community serving hundreds of people under the leadership of a Gospel for Asia-supported missionary. In 2008 the church was badly damaged and its congregation was murdered or forced out of the village. But the church’s days of being a beacon for the love of Jesus are not over, and God’s spirit has not left the area. Praise: God for turning this situation around and ask Him for many more people in Orissa to choose to follow Jesus. (Ps.126:5) More: http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=8247
Orissa: Persecutor turned worshipper
Once a part of the terrible 2008 persecution against Christians in Orissa, Sharda Tamo now has been changed by the love of Jesus into a fellow worshipper in the very church he tried to demolish. In 2008 he joined a mob that tried to destroy the church's building and climbed on to the roof to break its Christian cross. Today he visits the church every week to worship at the cross of Jesus. The church in Orissa was known for its community outreach and ministry to women and youth and well-respected in the community serving hundreds of people under the leadership of a Gospel for Asia-supported missionary. In 2008 the church was badly damaged and its congregation was murdered or forced out of the village. But the church’s days of being a beacon for the love of Jesus are not over, and God’s spirit has not left the area. Praise: God for turning this situation around and ask Him for many more people in Orissa to choose to follow Jesus. (Ps.126:5) More: http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=8247
INSIGHT ARTICLE: Druidry an official religion in UK
A pagan tradition has been formally classed as a religion under the charity law. Druids can now receive exemption from taxes on donations and have the same status as the Church of England. The 350 member Druid network in the British Isles has practiced for thousands of years in Britain. They worship thunder, the sun, and spirits which they believe arise from places such as mountains and rivers. They cultivate a sacred relationship with the natural world through rituals, dancing and singing at stone circles and other ‘sacred’ sites throughout the country. A Druid who works as a counsellor said Druidry appeals to people turning from monotheistic religions but longing for spirituality in their lives. See Also at an Eisteddfod celebration of Welsh culture the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams and the former Chief Constable of North Wales Richard Brunstrom, were inducted as honorary Druids and given Bardic names. See ml Click 'info' for Druidry INSIGHT ARTICLE. Pray: for God to touch the lives of these people, both in the United Kingdom and wherever the root of Druidry is found globally. (Ac.19:18-20)
Tony Blair: Islamic extremists
The west is being ‘out-spent, out-manoeuvred and out-strategised’ by violent Islamic extremism, Tony Blair has warned. He said there had been a failure to challenge the narrative that Islam was oppressed by the west which was fuelling extremism around the world. Too many people accepted the extremists' analysis that military actions taken by the west after the 9/11 attacks were directed at countries because they were Muslim and that it supported Israel because Israelis were Jews while Palestinians were Muslims. Speaking in New York to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Blair said it was impossible to defeat extremism ‘without defeating the narrative that nurtures it’. Moderate Muslims who believed in coexistence and tolerance were, he said, being undermined by the unwillingness of the west to take on the extremists' arguments. ‘Examine the education systems that succour it. And then measure, over the years, the paucity of our counter-attack in the name of peaceful coexistence.’ Pray: for strong leadership in all Christian nations to counter false Islamic arguments. (Jn 8:44) More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/oct/06/tony-blair-islamic-extremism-west
Young people’s 'faded memory of Christianity'
Religion is largely irrelevant to most young people who rely instead on a ‘secular trinity’ of themselves, their family and their friends to give meaning to their lives, a new book claims. The study published by the Church of England concludes that people born after 1982 - known as ‘Generation Y’ - have only a ‘faded cultural memory’ of Christianity. For many young people, religious observance extends no further than praying in their bedrooms during moments of crisis, on a ‘need to believe basis’. Fewer than one in five young people believe in a God ‘who created the world and hears my prayers’, and teenagers were more likely to believe in the ‘nicer’ parts of religious doctrine than those about the devil and punishment. ‘It is undoubtedly the case that the Christian memory is very faint and in many respects Generation Y is a largely unstoried and memoryless generation,’ the study said. Pray: for outreach to young people to give them the true Gospel message. (Ro.1:17)