Praise and Prayer

Pray: 18 Christians Arrested in China’s Henan Province

ASSIST News Service reports that a dozen Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers raided a house in China’s Henan Province on April 30 and took away 18 believers. Sixteen are still being held.

According to ChinaAid (www.ChinaAid.org ) a group of house church Christians and leaders from the house church group China Gospel Fellowship (CGF) were gathered for a communion service at a house church in Xinye city, Henan province, when they were raided by PSB officers. All 18 were forced to pay a 1,000 Yuan (about US $150) fine. Ten of those still in custody are pastors from Hubei province.

China’s unregistered house churches face frequent intervention from China’s totalitarian authorities.

Religion Today Summaries

Praise/Pray: Kazakhstan Declares Religion Law Unconstitutional

Mission News Network reports that although a restrictive religion law has been officially defeated in Kazakhstan, ministries are encouraging believers to remain alert and courageous.

A proposed amendment to the law would have imposed exorbitant fines on any religion publicly operating without government permission, and demanded permission of both parents before a child could attend a religious event. The amendment drew international criticism, and the country’s Constitutional Council found it unconstitutional. Still, the spirit behind the amendment remains.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we see something similar—another push to try to restrict religious freedom. This isn’t the first time, and it probably won’t be the last,” said Carl Kresge of SEND International.

Religion Today Summaries

Praise: India’s Christians Celebrate Congress Party’s Win

Mission News Network reports that Christians and minorities in India hope for a peaceful future under the newly elected Congress Party, which replaces the extremist-leaning party in power.

According to reports, the Congress party won 262 seats in Parliament, up from the 190 seats they had in the previous elections. The results from the month-long elections promise a secular government that will not try to force Hinduism as the national religion.

“Hundreds of thousands of people across India and the world have been praying. We are so grateful to God for answering our prayers. This will definitely benefit the growth of Christianity in the next five years,” said President of Serve India Ministries Ebenezer Samuel.

Samuel does not expect persecution to disappear, but hopes the new government will ease some tensions.

Religion Today Summaries

Praise: Shuttered Stores Find New Life as Churches

Religion News Service reports that at Prime Outlets in Huntley, Ill., a former Mikasa fine china store will soon become the home of Christian Life Church.

“This provided an opportunity, for moving from being kind of a homeless church, if you will, to finding a home,” said Pastor Daryl Merrill, whose church had been renting space weekly at a local hotel.

The tough economy may have shuttered some retail stores, but the vacant spaces aren’t necessarily sitting empty: some are becoming new locations for worship. Churches have considered former big-box sites, closed auto dealerships and mall locations.

Experts say it’s a potential win-win situation, both for churches that want to have a location they can use every day—rather than once-a-week arrangements at schools or hotels—and for property owners having trouble finding new tenants.

Religion Today Summaries

Pulpit Helps Magazine, a ministry of AMG International, is the pastor’s one-stop-shop for tools to effectively serve a congregation. Founded in 1975 by Dr. Spiros Zodhiates, Pulpit Helps is dedicated to the mission of equipping our readers with a greater understanding of the words of Scripture so that they can adequately fulfill their calling as Christ’s ambassadors. It is to that end that we provide sermon starters, bulletin inserts, illustrations and quality articles on preaching, counseling, Christian living, and more.