Religion Today Summaries - June 22, 2007

Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff | Crosswalk.com | Published: Jun 21, 2007

Religion Today Summaries - June 22, 2007

Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.
 
In today's edition:

  • Christian Doctors Meet to Discuss Responsibilities
  • Pakistani Mob Assaults Christians with Axes, Guns
  • Christians Slam Christian Response to Gaza Carnage
  • Former EPA President Trains Writers in Africa

Christian Doctors Meet to Discuss Responsibilities

16,000 Christian doctors and dentists from across the United States will meet in Orlando, Florida next week to consider the responsibilities of being a Christian in the medical field, ASSIST News Service reports. The Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA) will be discussing a plethora of topics including human trafficking, missions, right of conscience, human genome and the future of medicine and suicide, depression and spiritual care. CMDA is a national organization with over 80 ministries, including international missions, continuing medical education and a policy arm that educates members and the church on bioethical issues like stem cell research and physician-assisted suicide.

Pakistani Mob Assaults Christians with Axes, Guns

Christian families fled a Pakistani village this week after an armed mob injured Protestants preparing for an evangelistic meeting, the victims’ lawyer said. According to Compass Direct News, seven Christians were injured when at least 41 Muslim men armed with guns, axes and wooden sticks attacked a Salvation Army church in Chak 248 north of Faisalabad on Sunday night June 17, lawyer Khalil Tahir Sindhu said. The Christians’ refusal to give in to demands that they cancel the evangelistic meeting prompted the attack, Sindhu said. The mob ruined many of the church’s books, and seven Christians suffered from bruises and fractured bones. “Some of the injuries were caused by being hit with the blunt side of an axe, while others were caused by the weapon’s sharp side,” Sindhu said. Police initially refused to file a case against the mob, and doctors came under pressure from the Muslim attackers to under-report the Christians’ wounds.

Christians Slam Christian Response to Gaza Carnage

Israel Today reports that Christians for Fair Witness on the Middle East (CFW) issued a statement this week harshly criticizing the reaction of Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) to last week's military conquest of Gaza by the Hamas terrorist organization. As Gaza fell, CMEP issued a bland statement calling for an end to “domestic fighting” in Gaza, while at the same time taking the opportunity to demand Israel end its “occupation” of Judea and Samaria and the eastern half of Jerusalem. “The statement posted by CMEP seemed designed to convey a belief that the siege in Gaza was a mere diversion from fighting the ‘occupation,’” noted Fair Witness Executive Committee member Dexter Van Zile. “We believe it is irresponsible for Christian voices in the US to be silent on the extent of this brutality while seeming to attempt to focus attention on Israel.”

Former EPA President Trains Writers in Africa

Former Evangelical Press Association (EPA) president Terry White has just returned from a 2 ½ week trip to sub-Saharan Africa, helping to teach writing and editing and publication principles to believers in Cameroon and the Central African Republic, ASSIST News Service reports. The writer's seminar in Yaounde, Cameroon, focused on What is a Christian Writer?, How to Write Effective Magazine Articles, and other practical topics. Approximately 25 students participated in general sessions on Christian writing and magazine article writing. White also said that in the Central African Republic, classes were held in the capital city of Bangui. Participants included pastors, students, and staff members from Christian organizations such as Wycliffe, SIL, and others. According to White, "Nearly all the commentators I'm reading now are saying that the center of Christianity has moved to Africa. Europe is 'way past being post-Christian, and the USA is very nearly there.' Therefore the 'ripe harvest' area for the near-term future is likely to be these African countries where there is still a regard for absolute truth."

Religion Today Summaries - June 22, 2007