Religion Today Summaries – July 20, 2005
Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world. In today's edition:
- 16th Annual Harvest Crusade Draws 150,000 In Person And Technologically To Hear Gospel Message
- Exodus International Celebrating 30 Years of 'Freedom'
- Emotional and Sexual Entrapment Common in the Church
- Sri Lanka: Second Anti-Conversion Bill “Gazetted” As Parliament Splits Over Tsunami-Aid Deal
16th Annual Harvest Crusade Draws 150,000 In Person And Technologically To Hear Gospel Message
Michael Ireland, Assist News Service
Harvest Crusades with Greg Laurie has hosted evangelistic crusade events in Southern California for the past 16 years. This year, the 2005 Southern California Harvest Crusade was no exception as 100,000 people of all ages and backgrounds poured into Angel Stadium of Anaheim, July 15 – 17, joined by more than 50,000 via Internet technology. Laurie was accompanied by musical artists and X-Games athletes who presented the same life-changing message, through music, sports, technology, as he told the audience how they could get to know God personally. In addition to those attending the crusade in-person, more than 50,000 people watched and listened via live Internet broadcasts and, for the first time, via podcasting technology, according to an e-mail press release received by Assist News Service (ANS). The release states that during the weekend, more than 28,649 people from 61 countries, totaling over 3,767 hours of streaming, logged on to watch the crusade live on the Internet. "Hits" per night averaged 2 million. And during the past week, 22,581 requests have been received for Harvest’s podcast feeds at www.harvestpodcast.org. Harvest Crusades says that while several people made decisions of faith in Christ through new technology, during the Southern California Harvest Crusade more than 8,500 people stepped onto the field of Angel Stadium to profess their faith.
Exodus International Celebrating 30 Years of 'Freedom'
Ed Thomas, Agape Press
Attendees have gathered this week for a yearly conference in Asheville, North Carolina, that birthed the "ex-gay" ministry Exodus International 30 years ago. The organization's membership director says the continued growth is a testament to the power of Christ, and friends and family, to help those struggling to change. Randy Thomas says the people at the Exodus Freedom Conference this week are being equipped with the tools to overcome homosexuality -- whether for themselves, a family member, loved one, or friend. "They come here with a lot of questions -- and we have answers that [we hope] they will see will bring liberation not only to their sexuality but to their souls," notes Thomas. Thomas says the difference in the method is the biblical answer for freedom from any sin: the power of Jesus Christ. He says Jesus has made that power available through Exodus International for 30 years, since the group was formed following a first such multi-ministry conference in 1975. The Freedom Conference addresses a modern topic of strong need with a Youth Day, providing an emphasis on the many pro-homosexual messages now directed at young people, and equipping them also with ways to overcome. In addition, the conference will address issues surrounding biblical sexuality and sexual addictions.
Emotional and Sexual Entrapment Common in the Church
Charisma News Service
Emotional and sexual entrapment happens in the church, but experts say pastors and church leaders need to learn how to help abusers and their victims. They say men who aren't seeking to establish sincere relationships but are preying upon women emotionally and physically are common in churches. "This happens a lot because we put people together in churches -- whether it's in small groups, cell groups or work teams," Stephen Arterburn, co-founder of New Life Clinics, a group of Christian professional counseling and treatment centers scattered across the United States, told Charisma magazine. Chris Burge, who leads a 600-strong singles ministry in Manhattan, N.Y., believes it's crucial for pastors to preach the empowerment of women. He said the message is vital for enabling a woman to treasure herself and to distinguish between a healthy man and a predatory one. The modern church lacks accountability and large churches with "buffet-style" Christianity enable men to prey with more ease on unsuspecting women, he added. Henry Cloud, a clinical psychologist and co-author of "Boundaries in Dating" and the recently released "How to Get a Date Worth Keeping," advises women, as Arterburn does, to learn how to trust their feelings and avoid relationships with male friends who make them feel off-balance or unsafe. If the friend is a good man, he will become clear about his intentions for either friendship or dating, Cloud noted. (www.charismanews.com)
Sri Lanka: Second Anti-Conversion Bill “Gazetted” As Parliament Splits Over Tsunami-Aid Deal
Compass Direct
Anti-conversion laws are once again on the agenda in Sri Lanka after a brief respite while the government dealt with tsunami aid issues. Christian leaders believe the renewed emphasis on anti-conversion legislation could be a move to appease the Buddhist community following an aid-distribution agreement with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the violent separatist group whose members are largely Hindu. President Chandrika Kumaratunga signed the agreement with the LTTE on June 24, sparking riots in the capital. The president’s position further weakened when her coalition partner resigned in protest of the agreement, leaving her with a minority government. Days after the agreement was signed, the Government Gazette published an anti-conversion bill proposed by Sri Lanka’s Minister of Buddhist Affairs.
Originally published July 19, 2005.
