DAWN Fridayfax 1996 #35

DAWN News from Iraq, India, Vietnam, USA

Iraq: church growth in Basra

The mission organisation Open Doors reports that the evangelical church in Basra, which a few years ago consisted of only two families meeting in a dilapidated church, now consists of sixty families. They were able to build a new church in a convenient area of the city, partly with government assistance. The mission organisation delivered 30 tons of bibles and books to Baghdad in spring 1996, where the bible was the most-requested book at a book fair.

Source: Open Doors 8/96

India: possible political breakthrough for Christian Dalits

Another massive breakthrough for Indian Christians is in the works, which could have a significant effect on evangelism in the country. If the Premier and President keep their word, a huge political blockage will be removed which Indian Christian leaders say would allow millions of Dalits ('suppressed') to convert to Christianity.

"Christians have no caste system." Indian Christians have been suffering from a particular dilemma since the then President wrote that short sentence in the Constitution in 1952. Since India's independence, the low Hindu castes and so-called 'Untouchables' have received social support and special concessions for education, employment and credit. Christians, on the other hand, were and are officially considered a 'higher caste'.

The unofficial reality is that the large majority of Christians come from low castes. Many of the so-called 'Dalits' want to become Christians, according to Christian leaders, but in that moment would lose their social status as 'Quota Dalits'. Because of this, according to the Indian evangelist Sadhu Chellappa (Madras), many Dalits find themselves financially and legally trapped in Hinduism and are practically prevented from becoming Christians by the threatened massive loss of social support.

Last year, Christians demonstrated in many cities for equal rights for Christian Dalits, following which President Narasimha Rao promised to pass a law in the winter 1995/96 session. The law failed to be passed because of massive protest and a boycott by the Hindu BJP party, whose government was dissolved after only 12 days earlier this year.

Chellappa: "The BJP government's first official act was to demand annual financial reports from all Christian churches and organisations in order to be able to put them under pressure. Almost all of India's Christians were on their knees praying for the end of the fanatic Hindu government, and God answered their prayers. The BJP quickly lost its influence, and the new coalition government led by Prime Minister Devi Gowda has promised to pass the ground-breaking law for Christian Dalits on September 9, even against the BJP's protests. This would be a historic breakthrough for members of the lower castes. It is impossible to ignore how many millions of people would become Christians. India's churches and mission organisations are preparing themselves for this situation."

Source: Sadhu Chellappa, 15 Sivakami Puram, 1st Cross Street, BBC Enclave, Block H House B, Madras 600 041, India

Vietnam: the right photos

Open Doors also reports that the Christian church in Vietnam is continuing to grow despite persecution. Recently, visiting western Christians showed photos of home to the Vietnamese Christians, whose leaders did just the same: they brought out photo albums containing pictures of people who were recently saved.

A whole communist village is saved

When a travelling evangelist went to the Vietnamese village Giabac (in Dilinh), all hundred inhabitants were saved, according to Open Doors. That was a shock for the government, because the village was known for its faithfulness to the Communist Party. In an attempt to win the villagers back, officials called them together, slaughtered a goat and mixed its blood with wine. The ex-Communists were supposed to drink it and deny their Christianity, but nobody was persuaded: "The more the Communists persecute us, the more God blesses us and the faster the church grows," said one of the Vietnamese Christians. During evangelisation training, according to Open Doors, a class went out to practice and could win 913 people for the house church movement in a short time. One group of house churches gained 16,000 members last year alone.

Source: Open Doors 8/96

Chinese Studies via Internet

You can now study at degree level on the Internet. For example, the American 'Wheaton College' is offering a course in "Chinese Studies - missions and church history" led by Samuel Ling and Brent Fulton. According to coordinator Doug Milford, the course practically combines home study with constant interaction between the students and teachers via e-mail. The course material and teaching cassettes are sent in advance by post.

Info: Wheaton College Graduate School, Doug Milford

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