Brazilian Evangelicals Tried for ‘Hate Crime’ Violation

A heated debate over freedom of religion in Brazil has gone to court. Legal representatives of Umbanda and Candomble spiritist groups are pressing a lawsuit against Baptist pastor Joaquim de Andrade, 41, and Aldo dos Santos Menezes, 33, a deacon of the Anglican Church, in connection with an annual evangelistic outreach on the beaches of Sao Paulo state.

Four Christians Murdered in Colombia

Twenty-five armed men entered a rural church in northern Colombia Tuesday night, May 6, and murdered its 80-year-old evangelical pastor and three other believers, confirmed the head of the nations evangelical alliance.

The Muslim World On “The Fall of Baghdad”

THE PALESTINIANS:

“Whether consciously or unconsciously, the Americans are paving a long, broad path for the death of tens of thousands, maybe even more, of their people. The American madness will bring nothing but counter-madness. They [Americans] have begun an era of destructive and lethal war for human beings in order to feed their aggressive military economic machine, and they will bear the responsibility for it.” Al-Ayyam (PA), April 10, 2003.

Shooting Incident in Southern Mexico Signals Rising Tension

Traditionalist Catholic “caciques”(village leaders) in Chiapas, Mexico, accused evangelical Christians of provoking a violent confrontation that left seven people wounded by high powered rifles. However, the 27 evangelical Christian families left homeless for two weeks following the shooting say they are not at fault.

Christian Persecution in Chiapas Goes On

Since the armed attack on indigenous Mexican evangelicals in the southern province of Chiapas in 1995, the situation has not changed in favor of the persecuted Christians. (Pictured: Indian Christian woman and her child in Chiapas).

Blind Cuban Human Rights Activist Faces Up to Six Years in Prison for ‘Resisting Authority’

Juan Carlos, a blind Christian human rights activist imprisoned since March 2002 has learned that he could face up to six years in prison. His wife Maritza has been told that he will be charged with ‘acts of disrespect towards Fidel Castro, public disorder, resisting authority, and disobedience’, according to the Coalition of Cuban American Women. The prosecutor’s office in Ciego de Avila is recommending that he be given a six-year prison sentence. Juan Carlos Gonzalez Leiva, President of both the Cuban Human Rights Foundation and the Brotherhood of the Independent Blind People of Cuba, was arrested along with several … Read more

Church Waits for Demands from Colombian Guerrillas

AUSTIN, Texas (Compass) — Guerrillas manning a roadblock near Medellin kidnapped an associate church pastor as he returned with a group of church members on Sunday, April 28, from an afternoon baptismal service, reported the head of that city’s pastoral alliance.

Rebels Force Churches To Close in Colombia

COCHABAMBA, Bolivia, May 15 (Compass) — In mid April, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) forced 11 evangelical Protestant churches in Arauquita, a town near Colombia’s border with Venezuela, to suspend public worship services.

Kidnapped Pastor Freed In Colombia

AUSTIN, Texas, May 16 (Compass) — Guerrillas snatched Juan Carlos Villegas on his way back from a baptismal service near Medellin, Colombia, on April 28. A few days later, they sent a demand to Family Christian Church: hand over $25,000 or their assistant pastor would be killed.

Kidnapped Pastor Freed In Colombia

Guerrillas snatched Juan Carlos Villegas on his way back from a baptismal service near Medellin, Colombia, on April 28. A few days later, they sent a demand to Family Christian Church: hand over $25,000 or their assistant pastor would be killed.

Pastor Kidnapped Near Medellin

Guerrillas manning a roadblock near Medellin kidnapped an associate church pastor as he returned with a group of church members on Sunday, April 28, from an afternoon baptismal service, reported the head of that city’s pastoral alliance.

Seminary profs reflect on study on healthful benefits of prayer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP)–With a heart institute study showing that prayer helps patients improve, two Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary professors warn against depending upon scientific verification of a spiritual exercise.

Colombian Pastor Reads Bible to Kidnappers

Last May, evangelical pastor Juan Carlos Villegas was kidnapped and held for 12 days by the National Liberation Army in war-torn Colombia. They forced him to walk for many hours each day so that neither the Colombian Army nor the paramilitaries could find them. Several times they threatened him with death.

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