Religion Today Summaries – July 6, 2005
Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world. In today's edition:
- New 'Thought-Provoking Messages From God' Hit the Road
- Christian Persecution In Laos
- Israeli Government Donates Sea of Galilee Land to Christian Leaders
- Burma: Strategic Training Reaches Lahu Tribe
New 'Thought-Provoking Messages From God' Hit the Road
Charisma News Service
The "messages from God" billboards that drew media attention nationwide six years ago are back with new one-liners and a website. Launched in 1999, the GodSpeaks campaign began with a handful of outdoor signs featuring disarming phrases signed "by God" that quickly mushroomed to 10,000 billboards. Now, GodSpeaks is back with new messages to entertain and inspire harried motorists across the country, including "As my apprentice, you're never fired" and "The real Supreme Court meets up here." With the same anonymous sponsor behind it, the latest nondenominational GodSpeaks campaign was launched recently in partnership with the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA). Billboard owners nationwide have already purchased more than 400 billboards and bus shelter posters in 21 cities, and are donating the advertising space as part of a national public service campaign. The creative team behind GodSpeaks said the anonymous sponsor wants God's identity, rather than their own, to be the focus of the campaign. To accompany the signs, there's an enhanced interactive website, www.GodSpeaks.com, which provides more information to those seeking to know more about God and the messages of the billboards. (www.charismanews.com)
Christian Persecution In Laos
Agape Press
An Oklahoma-based ministry dedicated to the persecuted Church says it is not surprised at a recent report of Christian persecution in Laos. Todd Nettleton is director of media services at Voice of the Martyrs. He has examined the annual report on human rights violations released by Amnesty International. That London-based group says evangelical Christians in Laos have been locked in wooden stocks for refusing to renounce their faith. Nettleton says he has no reason to doubt the report. "I have not heard specifically stories of the stocks except in the Amnesty International report, but that would not be a surprising thing from a government which has done so many things against Christians," he states. But Nettleton says VOM certainly does not agree with Amnesty International on everything. "We appreciate when they bring to light the persecution of Christians around the world. [But] some of the other stuff they do, I think obviously we wouldn't agree with," the VOM spokesman shares. "If they want to talk about Christians being persecuted, then we are happy to have them use their platform in order to bring that persecution to light." Amnesty International has taken heat for including the United States as a top human-rights offender for its handling of Islamic terrorist prisoners.
Israeli Government Donates Sea of Galilee Land to Christian Leaders
Charisma News Service
In a move to foster tourism, the Israeli government recently donated 35 acres of land near the Sea of Galilee to a small group of Christian leaders invited to attend a series of meetings with the Ministry of Tourism. Describing the land as "priceless," National Association of Evangelicals President Ted Haggard told Charisma magazine that the offer was unexpected. Haggard added that the group isn't sure how it will respond, though the members discussed building a conference center and resort on the site. Haggard said the land is within eyesight of where most of Jesus' ministry occurred, including the spot where Jesus is believed to have delivered His Sermon on the Mount. He said the offer could present "an opportunity for what has happened in evangelicalism to be memorialized in Israel." It could also boost Israel's economy because tourism is the nation's leading income producer and Christians have continued to visit the area despite long-running and violent land disputes in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The land offer is contingent upon the government approving of the delegation's use of the property. No timetable has been set for them to respond to the offer. (www.charismanews.com)
Burma: Strategic Training Reaches Lahu Tribe
Christian Aid Mission
Though Southeast Asia's Lahu tribe has responded strongly to the Christian message, poverty and isolation make it difficult for Lahu believers to obtain missionary and discipleship training. Such training is one of the greatest needs of the tribe, according to Christian Aid's Lahu contacts. Indigenous missions are meeting this need through a strategic training institute located on the Burma- China border. The institute's 3-year Bible and evangelism program is attended by over 50 students from the two countries. Isolated in China's southern mountains, the need for training is especially strong among Lahu believers there. Hundreds from Burma have been trained. Though the Burmese government's crackdown on ethnic minorities has driven thousands of Lahu across the border into Thailand, many remain. Most still live as they have done for hundreds of years, in thatched homes on stilts. Though the Christian faith has spread among the tribe through the work of native missionaries, a majority still hold to ancient animistic beliefs. Because of frequent discrimination and physical and linguistic isolation, these people of Tibetan origin often dwell in poverty and illiteracy with no way of improving their lot. However, native gospel workers in Burma have been reaching the Lahu people with the gospel for years. The number of Christians in the tribe is growing, as is the number of trained Lahu leaders.
Originally published July 06, 2005.
