AEIOU - SAT-7, Jerusalem, Islam, Outcasts, Peace Plan
SAT-7 REACHING MILLIONS
Surveys conducted in 8 Arab nations conservatively find that SAT-7, a Middle Eastern Christian satellite television broadcast, has 5-6 million regular or occasional viewers in the Arab world, AND 2-3 million devoted weekly viewers. Each month the team receives over 1,000 letters, emails and phone calls from viewers. SAT-7will soon be available to Arabic and Farsi speaking audiences in Australia and New Zealand. According to the 2001 census, over 210,000 Arabs have moved to Australia in recent years. Other sources say the actual number of Arabic speakers may be as high as one million. 50,000 Farsi speakers are also believed to live there. SAT-7 is also experimenting with live broadcast streaming on its websites www.sat7.com (Arabic) and www.sat7.org (English). [SAT-7 NEWS]
JERUSALEM'S "GAY PRIDE" FESTIVAL SPARKS OPPOSITION
A dozen top Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders are uniting against what one New York Rabbi has called "a spiritual rape" of the Holy Land -- a homosexual pride festival expected to draw thousands from around the world this August. The leaders have drafted a joint statement urging the Israeli government to stop the festival. "Such an event would constitute a severe affront to the hearts and souls of adherents of all religions," they said in a Jerusalem Post report. The alliance called on the Israeli government to prohibit plans for an immodest street march. The event is being organized by the International Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Coordinators. [BAPTIST PRESS/CHARISMA 7 April '05]
ONLY ISLAM REPRESENTED AT EXPO 2005
Religion gets little attention at this year's world exposition, Expo 2005, in Japan. The only exception will be Saudi Arabia's presentation of Islam, in its pavilion. The Christian faith is absent as are other religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism. The German weekly magazine, Die Zeit, commented, "Religion, the major controversial issue of our times, is being ignored in Nagoya." By contrast, religion was prominently featured at Expo 2000 in Hanover, Germany, where Protestant and Roman Catholic churches presented the "Christ Pavilion." Evangelicals also operated a "Pavilion of Hope" as an evangelistic project. Expo 2005 (March 25 to Sept. 25) will be viewed by approximately 15 million spectators and represents 120 countries. [CMDNet 23 April '05]
TAKING THE GOSPEL TO JORDAN'S OUTCASTS
The 3 million Gypsies who live in Arab countries are considered "outcasts of the outcasts" and get little exposure to the gospel. In Jordan they are excluded from public medical benefits and education, perpetuating the cycle of poverty. National workers have begun providing medical care and distributing pairs of goats to poor Gypsy families, giving them a reliable means of income. This has opened opportunities to share spiritually and some Gypsies are coming to the Lord. Workers are now developing a Bible translation in their native Domari language since none yet exists. [CHRISTIAN AID 18 April '05]
A NEW "PEACE" PLAN TO MOBILIZE FOR MISSIONS
Rick Warren's book "The Purpose Driven Life" has sold 22 million copies, a world record for a nonfiction hardcover book. Warren and his wife have since founded three Trusts that channel 90% of the income from the books to world mission, including AIDS help in developing nations. Now Warren is launching a movement to mobilize a billion Christians for global missions, using small groups. Letter of the "PEACE" plan stand for: Planting churches, Equipping leaders, Assisting the poor, Caring for the sick, and Educating the next generation. [FRIDAYFAX 29 April '05]
Surveys conducted in 8 Arab nations conservatively find that SAT-7, a Middle Eastern Christian satellite television broadcast, has 5-6 million regular or occasional viewers in the Arab world, AND 2-3 million devoted weekly viewers. Each month the team receives over 1,000 letters, emails and phone calls from viewers. SAT-7will soon be available to Arabic and Farsi speaking audiences in Australia and New Zealand. According to the 2001 census, over 210,000 Arabs have moved to Australia in recent years. Other sources say the actual number of Arabic speakers may be as high as one million. 50,000 Farsi speakers are also believed to live there. SAT-7 is also experimenting with live broadcast streaming on its websites www.sat7.com (Arabic) and www.sat7.org (English). [SAT-7 NEWS]
JERUSALEM'S "GAY PRIDE" FESTIVAL SPARKS OPPOSITION
A dozen top Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders are uniting against what one New York Rabbi has called "a spiritual rape" of the Holy Land -- a homosexual pride festival expected to draw thousands from around the world this August. The leaders have drafted a joint statement urging the Israeli government to stop the festival. "Such an event would constitute a severe affront to the hearts and souls of adherents of all religions," they said in a Jerusalem Post report. The alliance called on the Israeli government to prohibit plans for an immodest street march. The event is being organized by the International Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Coordinators. [BAPTIST PRESS/CHARISMA 7 April '05]
ONLY ISLAM REPRESENTED AT EXPO 2005
Religion gets little attention at this year's world exposition, Expo 2005, in Japan. The only exception will be Saudi Arabia's presentation of Islam, in its pavilion. The Christian faith is absent as are other religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism. The German weekly magazine, Die Zeit, commented, "Religion, the major controversial issue of our times, is being ignored in Nagoya." By contrast, religion was prominently featured at Expo 2000 in Hanover, Germany, where Protestant and Roman Catholic churches presented the "Christ Pavilion." Evangelicals also operated a "Pavilion of Hope" as an evangelistic project. Expo 2005 (March 25 to Sept. 25) will be viewed by approximately 15 million spectators and represents 120 countries. [CMDNet 23 April '05]
TAKING THE GOSPEL TO JORDAN'S OUTCASTS
The 3 million Gypsies who live in Arab countries are considered "outcasts of the outcasts" and get little exposure to the gospel. In Jordan they are excluded from public medical benefits and education, perpetuating the cycle of poverty. National workers have begun providing medical care and distributing pairs of goats to poor Gypsy families, giving them a reliable means of income. This has opened opportunities to share spiritually and some Gypsies are coming to the Lord. Workers are now developing a Bible translation in their native Domari language since none yet exists. [CHRISTIAN AID 18 April '05]
A NEW "PEACE" PLAN TO MOBILIZE FOR MISSIONS
Rick Warren's book "The Purpose Driven Life" has sold 22 million copies, a world record for a nonfiction hardcover book. Warren and his wife have since founded three Trusts that channel 90% of the income from the books to world mission, including AIDS help in developing nations. Now Warren is launching a movement to mobilize a billion Christians for global missions, using small groups. Letter of the "PEACE" plan stand for: Planting churches, Equipping leaders, Assisting the poor, Caring for the sick, and Educating the next generation. [FRIDAYFAX 29 April '05]
Comments