Religion Today Summaries – October 12, 2005
Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world. In today's edition:
- Pakistan Earthquake: Native Missionaries Rush to Help Victims
- Fasting, Prayer Urged As Courts Consider Equal Rights for Dalit Christians
- Churches Called To Aid Those Who Struggle With Same-Sex Attraction
- Project Encourages Home Educators to Mentor New Home-Schooling Families
Pakistan Earthquake: Native Missionaries Rush to Help Victims
Christian Aid Mission
A massive 7.6-magnitude earthquake, the worst natural disaster in the history of Pakistan, struck that country on Saturday, also affecting regions of northwestern India and Afghanistan. The quake was followed by at least 140 aftershocks several minutes later. Kashmir is the most seriously affected area. The epicenter is located just north of Islamabad in the city of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani Kashmir. Several apartment buildings in Islamabad collapsed, trapping hundreds of people, and many of the roads near the earthquake-affected region have been completely washed out. According to Tariq Mahmood, Kashmir’s communications minister, the death toll is more than 30,000. Another 51,000 are injured. The United Nations reports 2.5 million people in the affected region need shelter. Immediately following the earthquake, Sarla Mahara, South Asia director for Christian Aid Mission, contacted several indigenous ministries in Pakistan who had already begun helping the many injured and homeless but need financial assistance to continue meeting the great number of needs. By avoiding the costs of sending American relief workers overseas, Christian Aid is able to send 100 percent of donations directly to native workers. Native Pakistani ministries report that thousands of homes, schools, mosques and government offices have been destroyed. In addition, telephone lines, electricity and the water supply have been disrupted. To find out more information or to donate please visit: www.christianaid.org.
Fasting, Prayer Urged As Courts Consider Equal Rights for Dalit Christians
Allie Martin, Agape Press
The president of a ministry that trains native missionaries to evangelize Asia is encouraging Christians worldwide to fast and pray for two days next week as lawmakers in India decide whether basic human rights will be granted to that nation's Dalit Christians. On October 18, India's Supreme Court will review a case that could grant to millions of Christian Dalits the rights that Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist Dalits already enjoy. Under current law Dalits, members of the lowest caste in India, have virtually no rights once they convert to Christianity. However, Gospel for Asia president K.P. Yohannan says that could change when India's high court reviews the matter. Yohannan is encouraging other believers to pray and fast Monday and Tuesday of next week as this momentous human rights case is weighed in India's high court. He points out that there is a great deal at stake in the Dalits' cause, more even than the principle of equality. There are approximately 300 million Dalits in India; and if those who convert to Christianity from Hinduism are guaranteed basic human rights, many will be open to the gospel of Christ, no longer hindered by fear of systemic discrimination and anti-Christian oppression. If the court rules favorably, Yohannan says hundreds of millions of people trapped in a modern-day system of slavery could soon have a major obstacle removed, freeing them to respond that much more readily to the gospel.
Churches Called To Aid Those Who Struggle With Same-Sex Attraction
Joni B. Hannigan, Florida Baptist Witness
Tim Wilkins, founder of Cross Ministry, which seeks to equip the church to evangelize and disciple the homosexual challenged those attending the "More Than Words" conference Sept. 24 in Homestead, Fla., to give more than lip service in providing a biblical "loving, compassionate and responsible" ministry to those who struggle with feelings of same-sex attraction. Unfortunately, people's opinions of this complex issue may be misinformed or they may feel ill-equipped to clearly communicate the Gospel in such a situation, Wilkins said. Decrying what he said is misinformation perpetuated by people in all denominations, Wilkins said the attraction for same-sex relationships is commonly misunderstood. Comparing some churches to emergency rooms that won't treat the wounded, he said, "... the church wants to deal with clean sins." Wilkins said churches must take responsibility for how they communicate their beliefs about homosexuality and how they respond to those who struggle in this area. Wilkins said, bottom line, is that believers must care about individuals. For information on Cross Ministry, go to www.crossministry.org or call 919-569-0375. For additional resources about ministry to those who struggle with same-sex attraction, go to www.exodus-international.org or www.lifeway.com/thewayout . For a video, "How can we help?" go to www.faithandfamily.com or call the SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission toll-free at 1-800-475-9127.
Project Encourages Home Educators to Mentor New Home-Schooling Families
Jim Brown, Agape Press
An effort is under way to bring one million additional children into home education over the next five to seven years. The campaign, launched by Exodus Mandate, is called "Homeschooling Family-to-Family" (HFTF). Exodus Mandate was founded by Bible teacher and retired Army chaplain E. Ray Moore, Jr., to encourage and assist Christian families to leave government schools in favor of Christian schools or home education. The ministry is now asking experienced home schoolers to share their heart for home education by offering to mentor families they know into home schooling their own children. A designer of HFTF, author Bruce Shortt, says the project targets people who have expressed interest in home schooling but are afraid to get started. Short encourages those parents with home-schooling experience to let those considering home education know that help is available. These mentors can let uninitiated parents know, for instance, "We'll help you figure out what to do with curriculum, and we'll take you over to meet the folks in the co-op and the local home-school support associations," he says. By joining a home-schooling co-op or network, the families gain access to numerous resources, the HFTF designer points out. "Homeschooling Family-to-Family" has been endorsed by several national home-schooling groups, including the National Black Home Educators Resource Association and the Home School Legal Defense Association. Shortt hopes the HFTF campaign will ignite a renewed spirit of evangelism for Christian education in the hearts of experienced home schoolers.
Originally published October 11, 2005.
