ASSIST News Service (ANS) – PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net — E-mail: assistnews@aol.com Wednesday, February 8, 2012 Islamic Extremists Behead Another Convert in Somalia Young Christian man murdered outside Mogadishu By Dan Wooding Founder of ASSIST Ministries MOGADISHU, SOMALIA (ANS) – Compass Direct News (CDN) is reporting that Islamic extremists from the rebel al Shabaab militia in Somalia beheaded a Christian on the outskirts of Mogadishu last month, sources said. Members of Somalia’s hardline Islamist rebel group, al Shabaab, marching with weapons during a graduation ceremony in Mogadishu (Photo: Reuters) The CDN story said that the militants fighting the transitional government in Mogadishu murdered Zakaria Hussein Omar, 26, on Jan. 2 in Cee-carfiid village, about 15 kilometers (nine miles) outside of the Somali capital, they said. Omar had worked for a Christian humanitarian organization that al Shabaab banned last year. His body was left lying for 20 hours before nomads found it and carried it into Mogadishu, a close friend said. “Last year he mentioned to me that his life was in danger when the NGO [Non-Governmental Organization] he worked for was banned by the al Shabaab,” the friend told Compass. “One of the persons who saw him said, ‘This is the young man who stayed in Ethiopia, and people have been saying that he left Islam and joined Christianity.’” CDN said that Omar converted to Christianity seven years ago while in Ethiopia, where he lived with relatives. He returned to Somalia in 2008 and completed his university education in 2009 with a degree in accounting. Omar had married in the latter part of 2010; he is survived by his wife, his parents (originally from central Somalia), a brother and four sisters. “With estimates of al Shabaab’s size ranging from 3,000 to 7,000, the insurgents seek to impose a strict version of Sharia (Islamic law), but the transitional government in Mogadishu fighting to retain control of the country treats Christians little better than the al Shabaab extremists do. While proclaiming himself a moderate, President Sheikh Sharif Sheik Ahmed has embraced a version of Sharia that mandates the death penalty for those who leave Islam,” said the CDN story. “Al Shabaab was among several splinter groups that emerged after Ethiopian forces removed the Islamic Courts Union, a group of sharia courts, from power in Somalia in 2006. It has been designated a terrorist organization by several western governments.” For more information, please go to: www.compassdirect.org  Dan Wooding, 71, is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for 48 years. They have two sons, Andrew and Peter, and six grandchildren who all live in the UK. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS) and was, for ten years, a commentator, on the UPI Radio Network in Washington, DC. He now hosts the weekly “Front Page Radio” show on KWVE in Southern California which is also carried throughout the United States. The program is also aired in Great Britain on Calvary Chapel Radio UK and also in Belize and South Africa. Besides this, Wooding is a host for His Channel Live, which is carried via the Internet to some 192 countries and also provides a regular commentary for Worship Life Radio on KWVE. You can follow Dan Wooding on Facebook under his name there or at ASSIST News Service. He is the author of some 44 books, one of which is his autobiography, “From Tabloid to Truth”, which is published by Theatron Books. To order a copy, press this link. Wooding, who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, has also recently released his first novel “Red Dagger” which is available this link. ** You may republish this story with proper attribution. Send this story to a friend.   Share <!–BYLINE:By Dan Wooding Founder of ASSIST Ministries–>

ASSIST News Service (ANS) – PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net — E-mail: assistnews@aol.com Wednesday, February 8, 2012 Sudan & Burma: Christian refugees in peril By Elizabeth Kendal Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin (RLPB) 145 Special to ASSIST News Service AUSTRALIA (ANS) – — this is a call for urgent prayer for imminently imperilled Nuba and Kachin refugees. SUDAN: NUBA GENOCIDE LOOMS When Khartoum began ethnic cleansing South Kordofan in June 2011, there were an estimated one million non-Arab, non-Muslim, predominantly Christian Nuba in the state. Today more than half that number have been either killed or displaced. To maximise casualties, the Arabist-Islamist regime of Sudan president Omar el-Bashir (an indicted war criminal) closed the region off to humanitarian aid so as to engineer famine. Now the UN estimates that by March up to 500,000 Nuba will be dying en masse due to famine. A coalition of Christian, Jewish and interfaith anti-genocide groups are urging the American government to intensify its efforts to convince Khartoum to open a corridor for the delivery of humanitarian aid. Aware this might fail, they are also urging the US administration to consider delivering aid without Khartoum’s consent, an act they acknowledge would be fraught with risk. Khartoum insists it will never let aid organisations reward ‘rebels’. Furthermore, without citing any evidence, it has accused the aid organisations of arming rebels. Khartoum would surely view any unsanctioned incursion as a hostile and provocative act and doubtless declare it to be a trigger for war. The situation is extremely delicate. Grave fears are held for some 200,000 starving Nuba refugees slowly making their way south through the Kauda Valley, headed for the Yida refugee camp in South Sudan which is already home to about 24,000 Nuba refugees. Digital Globe images made public by Satellite Sentinel Project (SSP) show that the Government of Sudan has moved Sudan Armed Forces’ tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and artillery into the southern end of the valley, creating a fortified ‘choke-point’ which is preventing refugees from escaping south. SSP images also reveal that the runway at nearby Talodi has recently been extended to handle Antonovs (used as bombers). Satellite images also show new elevated roads being built into the Nuba Mountains, capable of bearing heavy military vehicles in all weather conditions. Images also reveal that helicopter gunships have arrived at the renovated airbase in the capital, Kadugli. Observers believe the regime will want to complete any military offensive and genocide before the onset of the rainy season due in around 8 weeks. BURMA: KACHIN SITUATION IS DIRE Behind the regime’s smokescreen of token reforms-of-convenience, Burma’s ethnic-religious minorities are suffering more than ever. Zetty Brake of Burma Campaign Australia told Radio Australia on 6 February that the situation for these minorities is actually getting worse: conflict is increasing as are human rights abuses, whilst some 60,000 displaced Christian Kachin are still without humanitarian aid. Similarly, the UN estimates that about 55,000 Kachin IDPs (internally displaced persons) in two dozen IDP camps are struggling to survive without basic aid. People are dying of preventable illnesses caused by cold weather and unsanitary conditions. Most of the children suffer diarrhoea and stomach parasites due to dirty drinking water. There is fear that diseases will spread. Women are suffering miscarriages at an increased rate. The situation is dire. Ben Rogers of Christian Solidarity Worldwide recently returned from the Burma-China border saying he heard some of the worst stories of human rights violations that he had ever heard in his almost 15 years of involvement in Burma. Please pray for the Christian Kachin. Also, the Burma Day of Prayer on Saturday 17 March 2012 is a date for church calendars. See http://www.csw.org.uk/prayforburma.htm for resources. For background on Sudan and/or Burma, or to see this prayer bulletin with links, see the Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin blog. PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT – the God who saved Israel from Pharaoh’s army by enabling their escape through the supposedly impenetrable Red Sea, will save the Nuba from el-Bashir’s genocidal schemes. ‘The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.’ (Moses, to the trapped and imminently imperilled Israelites on the shore of the Red Sea, Exodus 14:14 NIV) the LORD of creation, who fed 5000 men and all the women and children present from five loaves and two fish, might magnify all efforts and multiply all provision so that the displaced Nuba and Kachin will not starve. (Matthew 14:15-21) ‘I am with you always . . .’ (Jesus’ promise from Matthew 28:20) Jesus Christ our LORD, who himself lived as a refugee in Egypt, might speak with empathy into the hearts of all his displaced children in Sudan, South Sudan and Burma, drawing them to him for healing, provision and empowerment. (Isaiah 40:27-31) SUMMARY FOR BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE ———————————————————————- CHRISTIAN REFUGEES IMPERILLED IN SUDAN & BURMA The UN estimates 500,000 mostly Christian Nuba fleeing ethnic-religious cleansing in South Kordofan, Sudan, will be dying en masse from famine by March. Furthermore, some 200,000 Nuba are trapped in the Kauda Valley, unable to cross into South Sudan because their escape route is blocked by Sudan Armed Forces. Further to having engineered famine, the Arabist-Islamist regime in Khartoum appears to be preparing for a military offensive. It is extending runways, building roads and bringing in bombers, helicopter gunships, tanks and other military hardware. In Burma, an estimated 55,000 Christian Kachin refugees, driven from their homes by Burmese forces during seven months of war, remain without aid. Children are dying and women are miscarrying — the situation is dire. These are God’s children and our brothers and sisters. Please pray. Elizabeth Kendal is an international religious liberty analyst and advocate. This prayer bulletin was initially written for the Australian Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (AEA RLC). Elizabeth Kendal’s blogs: Religious Liberty Monitoring and Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin ** You may republish this story with proper attribution. Send this story to a friend.   Share <!–BYLINE:By Elizabeth Kendal Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin (RLPB) 145 Special to ASSIST News Service–> <!–LEAD:– this is a call for urgent prayer for imminently imperilled Nuba and Kachin refugees. –>

ASSIST News Service (ANS) – PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net — E-mail: assistnews@aol.com Tuesday, February 7, 2012 Gospel Reaches Iranian Ship Workers and More By Jeremy Reynalds Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service IRAN (ANS) – Farsi speaking missionaries are targeting Iranian ship crews in Christian countries to give them Bibles. That’s according to the Iranian Christian news agency, Mohabat News, which is reporting that missionaries “have taken advantage of the presence of Iranian ships and their crews in ports of Christian dominant countries … by giving away cultural items such as books and Jesus films in Farsi.” Mohabat News said this news followed on the heels of Islamic regime websites criticizing missionaries for not leaving Iranian passengers alone in neighboring countries. Farsi speaking missionaries in action Mohabat News said movements against Christianity are growing in some regime-backed religious media. An independent Shia website which bills itself as the propagator of Shi’ite thoughts in Iran, claimed that Christian missionaries have even become active in Beirut. Mohabat News said the website said that for some time Iranian travelers who go to Beirut and visit the rocky beach of “Raouche Rocks,” have become targets for Christian missionaries. Many times a group of missionaries will go there at the same time with Iranian tourists to give away books and CDs containing evangelical Christian materials. The distributed films also are presented in Farsi, Turkish, French, English, Hindi, Urdu, Arabic, Russian, Kurdish, etc. Mohabat News said it appears that the regime’s religious journalists have been frustrated by the activities of Iranian Christian missionaries abroad. They feel unable with “extreme Islamist ideologies” to influence the authorities of countries in which Christian missionaries are active. Mohabat News said these journalists warn their own rulers about the growth of Christianity in Iran and write, “It is a long time since Christian missionaries have become active in Iran seeking to change Muslims youth’s religion to Christianity by forming house churches. It seems that they don’t even leave Iranian youth alone while they are abroad.” Mohabat News said, “Nevertheless, what is apparent in the regime-backed media and the ruling wing of Iran, underlines the courage and dedication of Iranian Christians in the distribution of the word of God and the spread of Christianity.” Jeremy Reynalds is Senior Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service, a freelance writer and also the founder and CEO of Joy Junction, New Mexico’s largest emergency homeless shelter, http://www.joyjunction.org He has a master’s degree in communication from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los Angeles. His newest book is “Homeless in the City.” Additional details on “Homeless in the City” are available at http://www.homelessinthecity.com. Reynalds lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds at jeremyreynalds@comcast.net. ** You may republish this story with proper attribution. Send this story to a friend.   Share <!–BYLINE:By Jeremy Reynalds Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service–>

ASSIST News Service (ANS) – PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net — E-mail: assistnews@aol.com Tuesday, February 7, 2012 Christian News Agency’s Open Letter to United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran, Points Out Injustices Toward New Believers By Michael Ireland Senior International Correspondent, ASSIST News Service TEHRAN, IRAN (ANS) – In a recent open letter to the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran, a Christian news agency says a ‘Sword of Damocles’ has been hanging over the heads of new converts to Christianity since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. UN Special Rapporteur Ahmad Shahid. (Photo courtesy FCNN.com) In its letter to Ahmad Shahid, United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran, the Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN) www.fcnn.com  , says the death penalty for apostasy in converting from Islam to Christianity is a “Sword of Damocles” hanging over new believers — and has been since the student-led Revolution in 1979. As the voice of Christian-Iranians, and the suffering church in Iran, the Farsi Christian News Network, presented its annual report of sufferings among Christian converts, and informed the Special Rapporteur of “some of the realities of the injustices perpetrated against the Christian-Iranian community during 2010.” FCNN said: “We hope this short list will be a useful contributory factor in your ‘Report on Human Rights situation in The Islamic Republic of Iran’ to the international community.” The open letter says: “The Islamic Regime in Iran claims that Christianity is a state-recognized religion and its adherents are free to worship according to their faith.” FCNN states: “This claim of the Islamic Republic is manifestly untrue. Christians in Iran are actively discouraged and under constant pressure not to attend services. Church attendance must be registered, and lists handed over to organs of State Security and local militia. “Services are ordered to be held only on Sundays, a working day in Iran. Sale and distribution of The Holy Bible and sermons in Persian are forbidden, Christian converts cannot be Baptized, and they are forbidden to enter Churches. Above all they are to follow the Regime’s draconian Public Order and Propaganda requirements to the letter. “For traditional and pre-revolution churches, compliance with these conditions and clauses are obligatory. If churches follow these mandatory orders, they will by default lose any religious content they have and will not be able to offer any meaningful Christian service, and if they do not follow these authoritarian orders they will face forced closure of the church by organs of Islamic Regime’s State Security.” FCNN states as a case in point the Shahr-Ara church in North-Western Tehran, which was closed by direct orders of organs of the Islamic Regime for offering Baptismal and religious services to the new converts. FCNN says the Islamic Republic “claims that Christians are fully represented in the Islamic Parliament by four members of their religion and so enjoy the same rights as the rest of their country folks.” “This is yet another false claim,” FCNN said. “These so called representatives are hand-picked by the regime and are primarily used as agents of control and guidance within Armenian and Assyrian communities of Christians,” the agency said. “These so-called representatives are chosen by the Ministry of Islamic Guidance, and only the few with voting rights can cast their votes for these selected candidates. The Islamic Regime has restricted the community of Christians in Iran to two national groupings of Armenian and Assyrians, while in international circles, with duplicity and deception, claims to be practicing freedom of religion under the Islam.” The FCNN open letter also says the Islamic Republic claims that there are open and active churches, and freedom of religion, where Christians are free to practice their faith. “This claim is also one-sided and deceptive, made primarily to deceive the international community. Since the 1979 revolution in Iran, with rapid population growth — which has more than doubled the populace during the 32 years of Islamic Regime — not even one new Church building has been allowed to be built. New buildings are not allowed and repairs are to existing buildings are forbidden. Repair restrictions have caused the closure of ‘Kelisaye Jamia’t Rabbani’ in Kermanshah in western regions, and the deliberate destruction of Saint Adreas’ Church of Kerman in central Iran.” The open letter points out the Islamic Republic “claims equal rights for its Christian citizens with the Moslem majority, free from any institutional discrimination.” FCNN said: “This is but a bare-faced lie. The relentless pressure on Islamization at educational establishments forces many students to leave before graduation from high schools. “In Iran, under the yoke of the Islamic Regime, Christians have no opportunity for further education, as non-Moslem students are not eligible for necessary grants and placement. This is particularly more worrying among the new converts to Christianity, as conversion from Islam can quickly lead to expulsion.” Recent research shows an alarming decline in educational standards amongst Christian-Iranians, FCNN said. The FCNN letter goes on to say that discriminatory legislations, regime decrees, and orders are far more draconian and restrictive in work place than educational system. “All cultural, educational, judicial, Military and Police jobs are strictly for ‘conforming and reliable’ Moslems. All governmental jobs are subject to the applicant being a Moslem and the application forms contain a pledge ‘to observe and practice the Sharia.’ All managerial posts are strictly forbidden to Christians and the discovery of a conversion to Christianity is only ever met with dismissal from any job the new convert may have held, no matter high or lowly it might have been.” FCNN, in its letter, explains that discriminatory laws of inheritance, child custody and/or any financial transactions between and among Christians and Moslems, create an atmosphere of uncertainty, suspicion, and mistrust amongst the community of Iranians. In financial and business fields, restrictive practices stop any growth and development of Christian-owned businesses, FCNN says. FCNN concludes: “The Damocles Sword of (the) death penalty for Apostasy from Islam, has been hanging over the collective head of all new converts to Christianity since the 1979 revolution.” “As UN’s Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Situation in Iran, and a champion of human rights everywhere, the Christian community expects you to carefully examine these and numerous other violations of our basic rights, and inform the world, of suffering and plight of Christians under the Islamic Regime.” ** Michael Ireland is the Senior International Correspondent for ANS. He is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London (United Kingdom) newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB UK, a British Christian radio station. While in the UK, Michael traveled to Canada and the United States, Albania,Yugoslavia, Holland, Germany,and Czechoslovakia. He has reported for ANS from Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Israel, Jordan, China,and Russia. Michael’s volunteer involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department — ‘Michael Ireland Media Missionary’ (MIMM) — of A.C.T. International of P.O.Box 1649, Brentwood, TN 37024-1649, at: Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International where you can make a donation online under ‘Donate’ tab, then look for ‘Michael Ireland Media Missionary’ under ‘Donation Category’ to support his stated mission of ‘Truth Through Christian Journalism.’ Michael is a member in good standing of the National Writers Union, Society of Professional Journalists, Religion Newswriters Association, Evangelical Press Association and International Press Association. If you have a news or feature story idea for Michael, please contact him at: ANS Senior International Reporter ** You may republish this story with proper attribution. Send this story to a friend.   Share <!–BYLINE:By Michael Ireland Senior International Correspondent, ASSIST News Service–>

ASSIST News Service (ANS) – PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net — E-mail: assistnews@aol.com Monday, February 6, 2012 Dan Wooding goes ‘In the Market with Janet Parshall’ tomorrow (Tuesday) on the Moody Radio Network He also plans to turn the tables on Janet and her husband, Craig, by interview them for Front Page Radio at the upcoming NRB Convention By Michael Ireland Senior International Correspondent, ASSIST News Service CHICAGO, IL (ANS) – Veteran journalist, Dan Wooding, will be featured as guest on one of America’s most popular radio shows – “In the Market with Janet Parshall” on the Moody Radio Network at 4:00 PM (Central Time) on Tuesday, February 7, 2012. Janet Parshall being interviewed at a previous NRB Convention by Dan Wooding Wooding, 71, the founder of ASSIST Ministries and the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net), will be the first guest on the show and, during a 30-minute segment, and will talk about stories recently featured on ANS, including information about the fourth annual “Passion for the Persecuted” award that will be given to Dan Wooding, on behalf of ANS, at the upcoming NRB Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, by Dr. Carl Moeller, President and CEO of Open Doors with Brother Andrew. The award is presented to a media organization which has established an on-going commitment to inform its readers/listeners/viewers about the plight of persecuted Christians around the world. Past recipients of this award include, Moody Radio, Mission Network News and The Christian Post. Janet Parshall joins Moody Radio Moody Radio brought Janet Parshall on board to be part of their radio family on May 3, 2010 and her live, weekday, drive-time show highlights the day’s headline issues, analyzes them through the “lens of Scripture” and, “offers compelling commentary with guests and live call-ins.” Parshall has been the recipient of the National Religious Broadcasters On-Air Radio personality award in 2008 and 2011. In 1988, she was elected to the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the National Religious Broadcasters. Parshall and her husband, Craig, live in Virginia, and have four children and six grandchildren. (Craig is Senior Vice President and General Counsel for National Religious Broadcasters.) Wooding says, “I always enjoy being on Janet’s show as she is one of the most well-informed hosts on American Christian radio and does a great job researching her material before each program. “I have been a monthly guest now for some time now, and appreciate the opportunity to shares with the huge listening audience about world missions and the persecuted church.” Stations Moody Radio owns and operates 35 radio stations with a Christian perspective on the news, interactive talk, teaching and inspirational music and it also reaches audiences around the world through Internet radio streams and podcasts, and seeks to provide compelling substantive content that impacts people—wherever they are. Moody Bible Institute D.L. Moody Moody Radio is a part of the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, Ill., founded by evangelist Dwight Lyman Moody in 1886. Its purpose is to equip and motivate people to advance the cause of Christ through ministries that educate, edify, and evangelize. Moody is best known for its education branch, which includes an undergraduate school, graduate school, aviation school and continuing education. Other Moody ministries include Moody Publishers and Moody Conferences. Turning the Tables At the upcoming NRB Convention, that takes place at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Spa in Nashville from February 18-21, 2012, Wooding is planning to turn the tables on Janet Parshall when he interviews Janet and her husband, Craig, for his Front Page Radio program which originates on the KWVE Radio Network – www.kwve.com – and is carried on many other stations around the world. Wooding, who before moving to the United States in 1982 with his wife Norma and their two sons — Andrew and Peter – has worked for some of the UK’s largest circulation newspapers and was also an interviewer for BBC Radio One, revealed, however, he still needs support to travel to the convention with his son, Peter Wooding, who is flying over from the UK to work with him for the many interviews he will be doing. He will also sharing with the attendees from all over the world about why he believes it is “vital” for them to carry ANS material on their media outlets. (The Annual NRB Convention and Exposition is the largest nationally and internationally recognized event dedicated solely to assisting those in the field of Christian communications. It is the best place to network with Christian communications leaders, to promote a program and to obtain serious industry training. www.nrb.org.) “We have raised over a third of the $2,500 needed to pay our expenses,” he said. “So we have a little way to go.” So if anyone would like to ASSIST us at this time, just go to: http://www.assistnews.net/assist/donations.htm or send a check made out ASSIST and mail it to: ASSIST, PO Box 609, Lake Forest, California 92609, USA. To get more details about the show, just go to: http://www.moodyradio.org/inthemarketwithjanetparshall/ where information about tomorrow’s program show will be posted first thing in the morning. ** Michael Ireland is the Senior International Correspondent for ANS. He is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London (United Kingdom) newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB UK, a British Christian radio station. While in the UK, Michael traveled to Canada and the United States, Albania,Yugoslavia, Holland, Germany,and Czechoslovakia. He has reported for ANS from Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Israel, Jordan, China,and Russia. Michael’s volunteer involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department — ‘Michael Ireland Media Missionary’ (MIMM) — of A.C.T. International of P.O.Box 1649, Brentwood, TN 37024-1649, at: Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International where you can make a donation online under ‘Donate’ tab, then look for ‘Michael Ireland Media Missionary’ under ‘Donation Category’ to support his stated mission of ‘Truth Through Christian Journalism.’ Michael is a member in good standing of the National Writers Union, Society of Professional Journalists, Religion Newswriters Association, Evangelical Press Association and International Press Association. If you have a news or feature story idea for Michael, please contact him at: ANS Senior International Reporter ** You may republish this story with proper attribution. Send this story to a friend.   Share <!–BYLINE:By Michael Ireland Senior International Correspondent, ASSIST News Service–>

ASSIST News Service (ANS) – PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net — E-mail: assistnews@aol.com Monday, February 6, 2012 Religion & Ethics Digest with Scott Cramer Takes to the High wire with the Flying Wallendas, Visits Albuquerque’s Joy Junction — and there’s Talk About Angels Everywhere By Michael Ireland Senior International Correspondent, ASSIST News Service PALM SPRINGS, CA (ANS) – Dear friends of ANS: I am pleased to let you know that we have just released our latest fast-moving Religion & Ethics Digest which is hosted by veteran broadcaster, Scott Cramer. Each of the stories are chosen every week from the pages of the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net ). In this latest program, Cramer begins by telling how one Texas pastor used an unusual ‘visual aid’ during a recent sermon series. Pastor Kerry Shook of Woodlands Church in Texas continued his sermon series EXTRAORDINARY with a special message called Extraordinary Faith. As pastors usually do, Shook had a visual illustration to help the congregation understand the message he will preach. But this was just any ordinary means of helping attendees to visualize his teaching points. The Flying Wallendas. Those who attended Shook’s church got to see extraordinary faith in action as they watched the amazing high-wire performance of Tino Wallenda, his two daughters, Alida and Aurelia and his 10-year-old granddaughter, Ysabella, who make up the Flying Wallendas.   As far back as 1780, in the cafes of Old Bohemia in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the ancestral Wallenda family was a traveling circus troupe consisting of acrobats, jugglers, clowns aerialists and animla trainers all in one family. The second story is about a visit to Albuquerque’s Joy Junction homeless shelter which is typically thought of as being a place where needy people can find a place to stay and enjoy a warm, nourishing meal. But there is much more than just that going on there. Graduates of the CIP program at Joy Junction. Founder Jeremy Reynalds, who is also Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News, says: “While we shelter, feed people and provide an array of other services, we also offer a nine-month faith-based life recovery program called CIPP, standing for Christ in Power Program.” Reynalds says CIPP participants are taught the skills they will need to reenter and succeed in the work place. “They’ll learn, for example, anger management, coping skills, resume writing and a variety of other important tools,” said Reynalds, who added: “Just a few days ago, we had a ceremony for 13 program graduates. Some of them shared how the program had touched their lives.” The final segment features a story that begins: “During an emotion-filled evening of worship at the Vineyard church in Laguna Niguel, several photographs taken with a digital camera reveal some unusual effects.” “It seems like the angels are showing up more,” says Kathy Tanaka, a regular at the church. Her nine-year-old son Joshua took several photos with his new camera, which seem to show an angelic presence floating above his mother’s head. “My son just got his first camera, and he got a bunch of photos like that,” she said. You can hear the program by going to: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIXgtEVKIN4   I hope you can listen to it, and don’t forget to tell you friends where you can find this digest online. From your ASSIST News friend, Michael Ireland. ** Michael Ireland is the Senior International Correspondent for ANS. He is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London (United Kingdom) newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB UK, a British Christian radio station. While in the UK, Michael traveled to Canada and the United States, Albania,Yugoslavia, Holland, Germany,and Czechoslovakia. He has reported for ANS from Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Israel, Jordan, China,and Russia. Michael’s volunteer involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department — ‘Michael Ireland Media Missionary’ (MIMM) — of A.C.T. International of P.O.Box 1649, Brentwood, TN 37024-1649, at: Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International where you can make a donation online under ‘Donate’ tab, then look for ‘Michael Ireland Media Missionary’ under ‘Donation Category’ to support his stated mission of ‘Truth Through Christian Journalism.’ Michael is a member in good standing of the National Writers Union, Society of Professional Journalists, Religion Newswriters Association, Evangelical Press Association and International Press Association. If you have a news or feature story idea for Michael, please contact him at: ANS Senior International Reporter ** You may republish this story with proper attribution. Send this story to a friend.   Share <!–BYLINE:By Michael Ireland Senior International Correspondent, ASSIST News Service–>

ASSIST News Service (ANS) – PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net — E-mail: assistnews@aol.com Monday, February 6, 2012 Glowing tributes at service for Latin America’s beloved Christian broadcaster By Mark Ellis Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News Service SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA (ANS) – Family and friends gathered to pay tribute to Hermano Pablo (Paul Finkenbinder), the veteran broadcaster who led thousands to faith in Christ through his crusades and programs on radio and television. Flowers surround portrait of Hermano Pablo Paul’s joyous homecoming was January 27, 2012 at age 90. His memorial service, February 4th at Templo Calvario in Santa Ana, California, told the story of a man of authenticity, who behaved the same publicly as he did privately, and treated servers waiting on his table with the same concern as heads of state. “He was the outstanding hero of my life,” said Pastor Danny de Leon, of Templo Calvario. “I will never forget my times with him – they are dear to my heart.” Granddaughter Jenny Kaneaster spoke about Paul’s priorities. “He cared more about people than material things,” she said. “What everyone saw at home was the same as he was publicly.” Rev. Norm Mydske, with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, recalled traveling through Latin America with Paul. “He was a tremendous preacher whose skills were unequaled,” he noted. “Thousands came to Christ through the crusades.” “What he was in the pulpit was what he was on Monday morning,” he continued. “He was totally and completely transparent. He didn’t have a dishonest bone in his body.” His optimistic outlook on life touched Rev. John Bueno, the former executive director of the Assemblies of God. “One day I saw Paul and asked, ‘How are you?’ “If I was feeling any better I would levitate,” Paul replied. Bueno reflected on the fact that Paul “levitated the other day,” when he went into the presence of the Lord he loved. MORE Mark Ellis is a senior correspondent for ASSIST News Service and the founder of www.Godreports.com.  He is available to speak to groups about the plight of the church in restricted countries, to share stories and testimonies from the mission field, and to preach the gospel. mark@Godreports.com ** You may republish this story with proper attribution. Send this story to a friend.   Share <!–BYLINE:By Mark Ellis Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News Service–>

ASSIST News Service (ANS) – PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net — E-mail: assistnews@aol.com Sunday, February 5, 2012 Nine-year-old Lakshmi works in a factory as a cigarette roller. She tells her sister’s story Gospel for Asia For Immediate Release Breaking the chains of illiteracy SOUTH ASIA (ANS) – “My sister is ten years old. Every morning at seven she goes to the bonded labor man, and every night at nine she comes home. He treats her badly; he hits her if he thinks she is working slowly or if she talks to the other children, he yells at her, he comes looking for her if she is sick and cannot go to work. I feel this is very difficult for her. “I don’t care about school or playing. I don’t care about any of that. All I want is to bring my sister home from the bonded labor man. For 600 rupees I can bring her home—that is our only chance to get her back. We don’t have 600 rupees…we will never have 600 rupees [the equivalent of U.S.$14].” According to the Human Rights Watch, bonded labor is life for over 10 million children in India. Calcutta alone is home to more than 100,000 street children who know neither mother nor father, love nor care. They are not just numbers or statistics—they are real children. Though nameless and faceless on the streets where they live, each one was created with love and is known by God. It is doubtful they’ve ever held a toothbrush or a bar of soap; they’ve never eaten an ice-cream cone or cradled a doll. The child laborers of South Asia toil in fireworks, carpet and match factories; quarries and coal mines; rice fields, tea plantations and pastures, and even brothels. Because they are exposed to dust, toxic fumes, pesticides and disease, their health is compromised; their bodies are crippled from carrying heavy weights. Some are bonded laborers, enslaved to their tasks by family poverty. To find out more about how you can help children like this, please go to: www.gfa.org/sponsorachild/ At: www.gfa.org, you can discover how Gospel for Asia IS breaking the bonds of illiteracy. Gospel for Asia is an evangelical mission organization based in Carrollton, Texas, involved in sharing the love of Jesus across South Asia. ** You may republish this story with proper attribution. Send this story to a friend.   Share <!–BYLINE:Gospel for Asia For Immediate Release–>

ASSIST News Service (ANS) – PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net — E-mail: assistnews@aol.com Sunday, February 5, 2012 A Red-Letter Day Awaits you By Rick Marschall Special to ASSIST News Service SWARTZ CREEK MI (ANS) – “The words of our Savior in red,” some Bibles say on their spines. But what about the words printed in black? I recently posted a picture on Facebook of a tattered Bible, opened to no place in particular, but the two pages looking like a Technicolor spectacular, with notes, revelations, and reminders in its margins. Bookmarks and Post-It notes splayed forth from many spots. Many people mark verses and passages that speak -– or shout -– to them in their Bibles. Accompanying this picture I found was the quotation by Charles Spurgeon, “People whose Bibles are falling apart usually lead lives that aren’t.” It reminded me of the country song whose title warned listeners against “dust on the Bible.” There are some devout people who think that any notes or marks we make in the Holy Bible is a form of desecration, but I am of the school that thinks that scripture, the Holy Word, is also God’s User Manual for Life. I suspect it pleases Him when we are touched by a truth… want to revisit things easily… find ways we can organize the wisdom, commands, and promises… and know it all better. In a way, margin-notes and color highlighters are not all that different from the old-fashioned versions of the Bible, those “Red Letter” editions. On the spines or title pages, sometimes, we read, “Jesus’ Words in Red.” Just so. Easy to find; quicker to, perhaps, memorize. Certainly there is utility in highlighting Christ’s words. But even when a kid I used to wonder whether that would suggest to some people that the rest of the Bible was NOT the inspired Word of God, or not AS inspired. If God caused scripture to be written; if the Holy Spirit inspired every word, should not ALL the Bible be printed in red letters? “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the servant of God may be perfect, thoroughly provided for all good works” (II Timothy 3:16-17). Again, just so. Jesus is Savior, but we must resist the temptation, when highlighting only His words, to think that the rest of the Bible might (as many in the world think) “merely” be the thoughts of good men, or well-meaning legends, or less than Holy. I have been blessed enough to visit some of the world’s great cathedrals, and it was brought to my mind, despite the memorable majesty, that God does not dwell only in grand churches. In fact, we go to church to worship God, not really to meet Him. I have also been profoundly moved in some of the world’s humblest chapels; and, so, I am sure, you have been too. Plus, we are reminded that our very bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, like Bibles we mark and underline, our worship-temples are not remote: they come with us, they are part of us. A fancy Bible can prompt reverence, just as a mighty cathedral can remind us of God’s grandeur. But if it stops there, we sadly are left with counterfeit experiences. The Bible is, instead, a lamp unto our feet. And when we enter the Temple of Life, so to speak -– not some New Age cliché, but in the reality of God’s habitation of every aspect of our lives -– then we can experience many “red-letter days” God intends for us. + + + “The Temple of Life” is a place we all may enter! Like Red-Letter Bibles, we run the fear of proscribing, or categorizing, the God-portions of our lives. If we “carve out” times for God, better it would be that we spend every hour of every day with Him, and let that one hour on Sunday morning go astray! A musical celebration of that point of view is this “Christian blues” song (in chord structure, not a blue or sad theme!) -– in fact an upbeat, reverent, “Thank you Jesus” song, in the words of its closing words. That the singer is Avril Levigne might surprise some people, but she grew up Christian and her early performances and recordings were Jesus songs, like “Temple of Life.” Click: The Temple of Life Rick Marschall is the author of 65 books and hundreds of magazine articles in many fields, from popular culture (Bostonia Magazine called him “perhaps America’s foremost authority on popular culture”) to history and criticism; country music, television history, biography and children’s books. He is a former political cartoonist, editor of Marvel Comics, and writer for Disney comics. For 10 years he has been active in the Christian field, writing devotionals; co-author of The Secret Revealed with Dr Jim Garlow. His biography of Johann Sebastian Bach for the “Christian Encounters” series (Thomas Nelson) was released in April, 2011. His history of cartoon Advertising, Drawing Power, will be published in July 2011 by the Marschall Books imprint of fantagraphics Books. In October his major biography of Theodore Roosevelt, BULLY!, will be publ;ished by Regnery History of Washington DC. He is currently working on a One-Year CDevotional for Tyndale House; and edits the the reissue of Harper’s Weekly — the Civil War Years for NOVOink e-books. Rick is a former Director of Product Development for Youth Specialties. He is recipient of the 2008 “Christian Writer of the Year” award from the Greater Philadelphia Writer’s Conference, and produces a weekly e-mail devotional, “Monday Morning Music Ministry.” His e-mail address is: RickMarschall@gmail.com. ** You may republish this story with proper attribution. Send this story to a friend.   Share This story is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of the ASSIST News Service or ASSIST Ministries. <!–BYLINE:By Rick Marschall Special to ASSIST News Service –>

ASSIST News Service (ANS) – PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net — E-mail: assistnews@aol.com Sunday, February 5, 2012 Iran: Concern over health condition of Pastor Farhad Sabokroh in prison By Dan Wooding Founder of ASSIST Ministries AHWAZ, IRAN (ANS) – Concern is growing in Iran over health condition of Pastor Farhad Sabokroh who was arrested together with two other Christian converts. They have now been in custody for over 40 days. Pastor Farhad Sabokroh (From Mohabat News) According to the Iranian Christian news agency, Mohabat News (www.mohabatnews.com), family, relatives and a wide range of Iranian Christians within and outside Iran expressed their concern over the health condition of Pastor Farhad Sabokroh, who was arrested on December 23, 2011, with others in attendance at the Christmas service of the Assemblies of God (AOG) church of Ahwaz, where he was pastoring. According to this report, sources affirmed that Pastor Sabokroh, Naser Zamen-Defzuli and Davoud (David) Alijani were transferred to Karoun prison of Ahwaz. They have now been held in prison for over 40 days. They were arrested by security authorities in Ahwaz, (543 miles south west of Tehran, the Capital), which is in Khuzestan province. “Prior to his arrest, Pastor Sabokroh was under treatment for cataract disease and underwent surgery but now has no access to a doctor,” a spokesperson for Mohabat News told the ASSIST News Service. “Knowledgeable sources define his situation concerning this because, after the surgery, he needed to visit his doctor on a regular basis for the required medications. Now, with this situation, he is still not allowed to leave the prison after over 40 days to continue his treatment.” Christian Prisoners’ Rights Advocacy Club sent a report to Mohabat News expressing their deep concern and objection to illegal and inhuman acts by the Iranian Security system towards Iranian Christians, especially Pastor Sabokroh and the two other Christian prisoners who are being held with him. Illustration from www.freedomessenger.com   They called on the Intelligence and Judicial systems of Iran to free them immediately and grant Christian prisoners their legal and human rights. This organization also considers the continuation of Pastor Sabokroh’s medical treatment as his human right and adjudged the authorities as directly responsible for the health and welfare of Christian prisoners. Pastor Sabokroh’s wife was allowed to visit him briefly on January 27, 2012, and expressed concern over his health condition. “It’s being said that he spends most of his time in prayer and fasting in his cell. His physical situation is extremely bad and he has lost weight. He also asked all Iranian Christians to pray for the release of Christian prisoners,” added the Mohabat News spokesperson. “It should be remembered that Mrs. Shanaz Jeizan, the wife of Pastor Sabokroh was also among those arrested at Christmas in the AOG church of Ahwaz. After 10 days, she was temporarily released from the Intelligence office of Ahwaz after submitting a house title deed as bail.” According to this report, no news is available regarding the condition of the two other prisoners, Davoud Alijani and Naser Zamen-Dezfuli. They’re still being held in uncertainty and without being formally charged.” The reports also indicate that Noorollah Qabitizade, another Christian convert who was arrested on December, 24, 2010, is still being held in Karoun prison of Ahwaz. “He was subjected to severe interrogations by Intelligence officers from the time of his arrest,” added the spokesperson. “It is being reported that security authorities and interrogators have put him under different mental pressures including forcing him to sign commitments stating that he won’t participate in any evangelical activities and to write repentance notes renouncing Christianity, in order to make him discontinue his faith in Christ.” Dan Wooding, 71, is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for 48 years. They have two sons, Andrew and Peter, and six grandchildren who all live in the UK. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS) and was, for ten years, a commentator, on the UPI Radio Network in Washington, DC. He now hosts the weekly “Front Page Radio” show on KWVE in Southern California which is also carried throughout the United States. The program is also aired in Great Britain on Calvary Chapel Radio UK and also in Belize and South Africa. Besides this, Wooding is a host for His Channel Live, which is carried via the Internet to some 192 countries and also provides a regular commentary for Worship Life Radio on KWVE. You can follow Dan Wooding on Facebook under his name there or at ASSIST News Service. He is the author of some 44 books, one of which is his autobiography, “From Tabloid to Truth”, which is published by Theatron Books. To order a copy, press this link. Wooding, who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, has also recently released his first novel “Red Dagger” which is available this link. ** You may republish this story with proper attribution. Send this story to a friend.   Share <!–BYLINE:By Dan Wooding Founder of ASSIST Ministries–>