|  | |
Previous | Next People & events
Murray Hiebert, a former Mennonite Central Committee worker, was released from a Malaysian jail Oct. 11. Hiebert, who was working as a journalist for Far Eastern Economic Review, was sentenced to six weeks in prison Sept. 11 for writing an article criticizing the judicial system there. Hiebert cited a lawsuit brought by a judge’s wife against a school because her son was dropped from the debating team. Hiebert served with MCC 1973-86 in Vietnam, Laos and the MCC Washington office. He has now joined his family in Washington. – Mennonite Central Committee
As a means to end the killing in Sudan, Evangelical Fellowship of Canada has asked the Talisman Energy Inc. of Calgary to end its investment in Sudan. EFC has also written to Lloyd Axworthy, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, asking Canada to put whatever pressure it can on the Sudanese government. A study by the US Committee on Refugees shows that civil war and famine in Sudan have displaced 4 million people and killed over 1.9 million since 1983. The ruling National Islamic Front is responsible for abuses of human rights, using starvation as a weapon. It also has massacred civilians; bombed hospitals and churches in the south, the east and the Nuba Mountains; forced people into so-called peace camps; and supported the practice of slavery by its militias. – EFC
Church Partnership Evangelism has grown from three evangelistic campaigns in 1993 to 28 in 1999. Thousands of people have heard of God’s plan of salvation; many have prayed and repented. CPE has sent short-term teams to present their testimonies door-to-door in 15 countries. The testimonies have been presented in English, French, Spanish, Lingala, Kituba, Telegu, Chichewa, Tagalug, Portuguese and Russian. The testimonies are translated ahead of time by translators, most of whom are retired missionaries living in British Columbia. CPE will need more than 600 volunteers to accomplish the 30 campaigns that it plans to carry out in 2000. CPE, headquartered in Abbotsford, B.C., is affiliated with MBMS International. – Peter Loewen, CPE
Awareness and education about the effects of abuse of power were called for at a consultation on “Taking Action on Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse” at Peace Mennonite Church in Richmond, B.C., Sept. 24-25. Over 50 pastors, professionals and survivors of abuse also agreed that churches need protocols to respond effectively to abuse if there is to be healing. The Mennonite Central Committee B.C. consultation was designed to bridge the gap between churches and community resources regarding domestic violence and sexual abuse. The conference grew out of a survey of MCC-supporting churches that revealed that pastors didn’t know the community resources that are available for dealing with congregational crises. – Donna Stewart
In their controversial book, The Pink Swastika, Scott Lively and Kevin Abrams assert that many leading members of the Nazi party in Germany were homosexuals. They also claim that eight of the top ten serial killers in the US were homosexuals, including Donald Garvey, John Wayne Gacy, Patrick Wayne Kearney, Bruce Davis and Jeffrey Dahmer. The Apr. 22 Globe and Mail reported that the Columbine high school killers “professed to be bisexuals“. – RTV Bulletin, Western Report
Eighteen students from Canadian Mennonite Bible College in Winnipeg, on their way to watch a volleyball game, were hospitalized after the van they rode in rolled into the ditch. The driver of the van suffered a broken neck. The others were treated for a variety of injuries and released from hospital. The 1995 Ford van, designed to hold 15 passengers, passed a semitractor trailer at about 8:30 p.m. near Morris, Man. The driver then swerved back into the right lane because of an oncoming vehicle and lost control of the van. The students were going to Providence College in Otterburne, Man., which is about 50 km south of Winnipeg. – Winnipeg Free Press
Tribal violence between Hutu and Tutsi tribes in Burundi and Rwanda is beginning to subside, according to some Christians serving in those countries. However, tensions still remain high. Since 1993, at least 200,000 Hutus and Tutsis in Burundi have been killed, at least 800,000 in Rwanda have been killed, and over three million people have been displaced in both countries due to ethnic and political violence. Burundi government officials credit the reduction of violence to religious broadcasts. For the past six years, Trans World Radio has broadcast in the KiRundi language, which is spoken in both countries. In 1996, Burundi officials asked TWR to produce biblically-based programs on reconciliation and forgiveness. In January 1997, TWR began broadcasting half-hour programs via short-wave radio from Johannesburg; these continue to air three days a week. – TWR, EPNS
Statistics on World Religions by Year 2000:
- Christianity – 2 billion
- Islam – 1.19 billion
- Hinduism – 774 million
- Nonreligious – 768 million
- Buddhism – 359 million
- Tribal religions – 252 million
- Atheism – 151 million
- New religions – 101 million
- Sikhism – 22.7 million
- Judaism – 14.2 million
|
Research done by David Barrett and Todd Johnson. – from Religion Today, as quoted in Sword And Trumpet
KTLF, a Christian music station in Colorado Springs, Colo., raised more than $58,000 US in pledges from listeners during the station’s Mission 2000 event Sept. 1-2. Of this total, $10,000 was earmarked for a satellite downlink in Russia for a station called New Life Radio, a partner ministry of HCJB World Radio. The remaining funds will be used to add five translators to KTLF’s radio network in Colorado. In May, Northwestern College Radio in St. Paul, Minn., raised $72,667 for 19 new satellite downlinks in cities across Latin America. The downlinks will be part of the ALAS satellite network, a joint project of HCJB and Trans World Radio. – HCJB World Radio
A 12-day retreat near the Azov Sea in Ukraine in summer helped 11 pastor and missionary families deal with marriage and family issues. Mennonite Central Committee and Light of the Resurrection mission sponsored the retreat. Christians in Ukraine marry young and have children early in their marriage. Husbands often work late into evenings, which puts added stress on families. For some families, the retreat was the first vacation they had ever had. More retreats are being planned. – MCC
A US congressional staff delegation visited Iraq Aug. 27-Sept. 4, the first official congressional trip there since 1991. Mennonite Central Committee contributed $5,000 US toward the trip and sent Carmen Pauls to accompany the delegation. One delegate reported that nine years of US sanctions on Iraq have not toppled Saddam Hussein’s regime, but have denied Iraqis basic needs. – MCC
Robert J. Veitch of St. Jacobs, Ont., has been appointed general manager of Mennonite Foundation of Canada, effective Sept. 1. Previously, he was stewardship consultant for 13 years in MFC’s office in Kitchener, Ont. MFC, an inter-Mennonite agency similar to Mennonite Brethren Stewardship Ministries, has its head office in Winnipeg. In 1973, MFC received a federal charter as a charitable foundation. By the end of 1998, it had $40 million in assets and had distributed $13 million to Canadian charities. – Mennonite Foundation Of Canada
In the wake of Hurricane Floyd, torrential flooding has caused widespead damage in South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Mennonite Disaster Service is assessing the damage in these areas, and will likely set up rebuilding projects in at least two locations where flooding has occurred. – Mennonite Disaster Service
Over 300 people walked or ran in the rain Sept. 12, completing two, five or 10-km courses as part of a “family faith walk” put on by the finance committee of McIvor Ave. MB Church, Winnipeg. A barbecue supper followed the walk through the community surrounding the church. The church held the event to strengthen family bonds, to enhance feelings of connectedness in the church and to be a visible witness in the community. The event also raised $25,800 to pay for a new roof and to help sponsor a refugee family. – Lorie Battershill
Previous | Next
Last modified November 17, 1999.
© 1999 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
Masthead and usage information.
|
