Global village
Russian Evangelicals co-operate
For the first time in four years, all leading evangelical denominations in Russia have found a way to meet. It’s a return for the Russian Baptist Union (RUECB), which withdrew in 2015 over differences with a Pentecostal bishop.
The setting for the meeting was a September session in Moscow of the Advisory Council for the Heads of the Protestant Churches of Russia.
At last report the Baptist Union was working toward fully rejoining the council. The Baptist Union also recently held official talks with a smaller group, the Russian Evangelical Alliance, founded in 2003 and already a full member of the advisory council.
Evangelicals also participated in October in Russia’s version of the World Council of Churches, a body called the Christian InterConfessional Advisory Committee for the CIS-Countries and Baltics.
Much of the collaborative activity centres around the Russian Evangelical Alliance, which is working hard to encourage a united evangelical voice in response to the 2016 Yarovaya laws, which increased regulation and monitoring of evangelistic activities.
Government examination of Moscow’s numerous Protestant seminaries continues. Only two presently enjoy state accreditation. WWW.EVANGELICALFOCUS.COM
Freed in India after nine years
Seven wrongly convicted Christians were freed recently in India after almost a decade in jail.
The injustice dates back to Aug. 23, 2008, when a Hindu monk was shot dead in the Indian state of Odisha (Orissa). A meandering funeral procession over the next few days drew crowds chanting anti-Christian phrases. By the end, the Swami’s murder had triggered the worst outbreak of violence against India’s Christians for several hundred years.
Nearly 100 Christians were killed and 56,000 displaced. Around 300 churches and 6,000 Christian homes were damaged.
In October 2008 a Maoist Naxalite leader claimed responsibility for the Swami’s murder, but the first arrests made in December 2008 were of seven Christians – six of them illiterate and one mentally challenged.
They were convicted unfairly according to human rights activists but remained in jail until last year. The Maoist confessed killer was eventually arrested in July 2014 and convicted of the Swami’s murder in May 2019, finally leading to the release of the seven Christians on bail.
A petition is being circulated to have their convictions overturned.
The local community has also struggled to receive adequate compensation from the government. The final date to claim compensation was Nov. 30, 2019. WWW.WORLDWATCHMONITOR.ORG
Australian churches respond to fires
Australian churches are aiding relief efforts after the country’s worst-ever brush fires. About 110,000 sq. km of bushland and parkland was burned, killing at least 33 people including four firefighters.
At press time the threat was not over, although mid-January rain and cooler weather had reduced the wildfires. “There are more difficult days to come,” wrote Simon Hansford, moderator of the Uniting Church in his New Year pastoral letter.
Churches have been providing chaplaincy care, first aid, emotional and spiritual support according to Anglican Bishop Philip Huggins of the National Council of Churches.
Teams of trained, church-sent volunteers have also prepared meals, provided clothing and bedding, and even helped with displaced pets, according to Anglican Archbishop Glenn Davies.
Church leaders continue to encourage their members to give financially to the relief efforts. WWW.OIKOUMENE.ORG
“Businesses and economic leaders have an important role to play in . . . creating an environment that protects Christians from the increasing Islamist attacks in West Africa.” —Wissam al-Saliby of the World Evangelical Alliance
WWW.WORLDEA.ORG