Religion Today Summaries – December 11, 2003
Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world. In today's edition:
- Mission Agency Making Impact in Iraq Despite Violence
- Promise Keepers Founder Officially Steps Down
- Vietnamese Christians Denied Flood Relief
- Theologian Carl F.H. Henry Dead at 90
Mission Agency Making Impact in Iraq Despite Violence
Jerry Dysktra, Open Doors USA
Although many humanitarian organizations are leaving Iraq due to continued violence and unrest, Open Doors with Brother Andrew continues to make progress with its efforts to help needy Iraqi Christians. The outreaches are addressing both spiritual and physical needs as Iraqi Christians prepare for the celebration of Christmas minus the tyrannical rule of Saddam Hussein but uncertain of what the future holds. Open Doors is distributing 50,000 Christian coloring books as a special Christmas gift to the children in Iraq. Early next year Bible stories for children will be printed and distributed and Sunday School teachers will be trained. Devotional materials for adults are also being selected and will be distributed next year. A Christian praise team from Egypt will hold concerts in Iraqi churches during the Christmas holidays and in the spring of 2004. Open Doors is supporting Christian book stores with thousands of books, cassettes and videos and a resource center in Baghdad will open early next year. "During recent visits of Open Doors workers to Iraq, it appears the sentiment is more positive than immediately after the war," says Open Doors USA President Dr. Carl Moeller. "People are trying to resume normal life, although frequent bomb attacks and other violence limit the scope of these positive developments."
Promise Keepers Founder Officially Steps Down
Agape Press
At a farewell dinner last Sunday, Promise Keepers founder Bill McCartney officially passed the baton of leadership to his successor, PK president and CEO Tom S. Fortson. More than 300 friends, colleagues and family members gathered to honor McCartney and his wife Lyndi. The ministry founder stepped down from operational leadership of PK in March to care for his wife and family and to follow other ministry pursuits. The board of PK announced in October that it had unanimously selected former PK executive vice president Tom Fortson to continue and expand McCartney's original vision of transforming men worldwide. At Sunday's dinner, McCartney remarked that it was significant that God had chosen an African American man to lead the organization because "men of color need to be embraced and challenged and know they are valued in the Body of Christ." McCartney commended the PK board for their choice of Fortson and said he prays for his friend and protégé daily. The Promise Keepers founder will continue to serve the ministry in an advisory capacity in a newly created position, effective January 1, 2004.
Vietnamese Christians Denied Flood Relief
John Lindner, Christian Aid Mission
Floods have ravaged the central areas of Vietnam and the government has provided relief for flood victims -- but Christians are being excluded from this help. A series of storms and heavy rains devastated the central region on November 14th, 16th and 24th. Christian Aid has learned that as of December 3 approximately 75,000 houses were destroyed, 120,000 hectares of rice fields were filled with sand and rock, and thousands of rural people are homeless. Most of these people received financial assistance and immediate relief from the Vietnamese government. However, 425 Christians in Quang Ngai province and 654 Christians in Ninh province were refused help solely because of their faith. These Christians already live in dire poverty, and this tragedy left many of them hungry and sick. Without assistance, many are expected to die. The Vietnamese government routinely persecutes Christians in the rural areas of Vietnam, which is currently ranked as one of the worst violators of human rights. There are currently an estimated 400 Christian pastors imprisoned in these areas for simply holding legal church meetings. Christian Aid is committed to helping these Christian flood victims. Gifts to assist them in their hour of trial may be given online at www.christianaid.org.
Theologian Carl F.H. Henry Dead at 90
Agape Press
The pioneering first editor of evangelical Christianity's flagship publication has died. The Associated Press reports that evangelical leader and theologian Carl F.H. Henry, the first editor of Christianity Today magazine, has died at his home in Wisconsin at age 90. Henry attended Wheaton College with Billy Graham, who would later urge him to head a new magazine dealing with faith issues and defending biblical orthodoxy. Henry opposed attempts to "water down" Christianity as well as the tendency of some fundamentalists to withdraw from modern society. He was also among the early leaders of the National Association of Evangelicals, and the author of several books, including God, Revelation, and Authority and The Uneasy Conscience of Modern Fundamentalism. World magazine editor Marvin Olasky, who published some of Carl Henry's last columns, describes Henry as "a major figure" of the latter half of the 20th century who was instrumental in shaping the evangelical movement. "He did not really care for escapism," Olasky says of Henry; "He wanted Christians to be involved and working to transform culture, and not giving up."
Originally published December 11, 2003.
