Religion Today Summaries - June 23, 2005

Adrian Rogers 'Buoyed Up By Prayer' As Chemotherapy For Cancer Begins
Art Toalston, Baptist Press

"I am doing well," Adrian Rogers said June 16, for someone "in my category" of battling cancer. "I am optimistic about full remission," the former Southern Baptist Convention president said after spending three days at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and returning June 16 to his Memphis-area home. Rogers told Baptist Press he is grateful for the prayers of Southern Baptists for his recovery from colon cancer that has metastasized onto his liver. Cancerous polyps were found in a routine colonoscopy that prompted surgery to remove part of his colon May 16. Rogers said he and his wife, Joyce, "have had no morose or down attitude but a sense of joy and peace and expectancy through all of this. And I attribute that not to mere positive thinking but to this enormous amount of prayer that has gone to heaven on our behalf. And we also expect God, in answer to prayer, to heal." "I'm grateful for prayers," Rogers continued, "and I am in good spirits and confident in God's grace and power. In a way, it's hard to quantify what prayer means, but you can feel in a very strange way being buoyed up by prayer." Rogers said he will undergo two chemotherapy treatments per month "for the foreseeable future."

Christians In America Deceived By Government Forbidding Acknowledgment Of God
Agape Press

The former chief justice of Alabama's Supreme Court says Christians in America have been deceived by a government forbidding the acknowledgment of God. During his speech to the Southern Baptist Convention Pastors' Conference, Judge Roy Moore said preachers must be sure their congregations are educated about the role of God in the foundation of the nation.  Moore gave thousands of pastors a brief history lesson to show how the country's founding fathers recognized God's sovereignty and God's law.  He reminded pastors he was removed from Alabama's high court not because of a Ten Commandments monument, but because of his acknowledgment of God.  "Without the acknowledgment of God, there would not be a First Amendment," Moore exclaimed.  "Let's look at the words in the First Amendment [which] says -- it's very simple, ladies and gentlemen, this is not complicated legalese -- 'Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.'"  Moore compared the U.S.. to Israel in the time of the Old Testament book of Jeremiah, when that nation honored God only with their mouth -- but not with their heart.

Morocco: Radio Ministry Reaches Thousands in Muslim North Africa
Christian Aid Mission

In countries where proselytism is not allowed, an indigenous ministry's radio program is impacting lives for the gospel. A native Christian ministry leader from a Muslim background recently told Christian Aid of fruit his Morocco-based mission's program is bearing: "Every week, we have letters coming from Muslims of North Africa thanking us for sharing with them the good news by radio and Bible correspondence courses. Someone thanks us weekly for helping him or her accept the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior." Many are coming to the Lord amid overwhelming poverty and oppression. The ministry's radio program is also heard by unreached Berber ethnic groups of Algeria. In addition to the radio program, this ministry conducts regular follow-up trips to disciple those brought to Christ. Workers also run summer camps in different areas to give new Christians opportunities for fellowship and growth. Pray for those coming to Christ through this indigenous mission. Many face persecution from Muslim family members or neighbors. Pray that their faith would remain strong. Pray also for protection for native gospel workers courageously taking Christ's truth to dangerous areas.

Sri Lanka: Anti-Conversion Law Being Considered
Charisma News Service

With an anti-conversion law being considered by the country's Parliament, Christians are facing renewed violence and intimidation. According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), the Assemblies of God (AG) Church in Ambalangoda, located in the Galle District, south of Colombo, was attacked on June 5 with rocks, stones and bottles filled with sand. The next morning, a crowd of about 100 people shouting threats surrounded the church. Several hours later, the mob stormed the church, smashing windows and breaking open the door. The pastor's van was also damaged. Armed with iron rods, shovels, swords and other weapons, the mob brutally assaulted the pastor and two church members. One person was seriously injured and all three are now in a hospital receiving treatment for their injuries. There are fears that the mob may return to attack the church again. Sri Lanka's Parliament is debating a new law, which would ban so-called "unethical" or "forced" conversions, CSW said. However, the terms "forced" and "allurement" are so vaguely defined that the law would in effect severely restrict religious freedom in the country. (www.charismanews.com)