DAWN Fridayfax 1999 #15

News from Lesotho, Norway, India

In this issue:
Lesotho: King calls for day of prayer for rain
Norway: Network of networks - Global Evangelisation round table
India: Special report

Lesotho: King calls for day of prayer for rain

Christians in Lesotho who had gathered to pray for rain had to seek shelter from the heavy showers on the way home. Following a long period of drought in the kingdom, King Letsie called for a day of prayer. Lesotho is surrounded by South Africa, and depends entirely on agriculture for its survival. Local weather forecasts speak of more rain on the way. Just in case the rain fails again, the King has already declared the following Sundays to be days of prayer...

Source: BBC/HCJB report on 22 March 1999

Norway: Network of networks - Global Evangelisation round table

Some 80 representatives of the larger Evangelical networks met in Oslo from 21st-25th March 1999 to find new concepts for cooperation in the coming millennium. The conference was organised by the AD 2000 Movement, the Lausanne Movement and the Worldwide Evangelical Alliance UK, and hosted by the Norwegian Missionary Council. Apart from emphasising the similarities between the movements, such as an evangelistic vision, a common, historically-developed Biblical faith and the conviction that the local church plays a central role in world evangelisation, the conference aimed for a common platform for action. This platform, with the working title "Global Evangelisation Forum" is intended to help the networks cooperate in the task of world mission in the new millennium. The report describes the Forum as an open, inclusive and flat-structured partnership for fostering Christian cooperation at the local level and within certain topics. The common aim is world mission, with the emphasis on developing 'a new wineskin' in the form of relational cooperation. Included in this will be a close examination of the theology of the local church, and the construction of a more extensive platform in which Charismatic and non-Charismatic groups, men and women, young and old Christians, academics and implementers can work together.

Source: AD 2000

India: Special Report

Missionary's widow forgives her family's murderers

The situation in India remains tense following the murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and two of his sons by Hindu extremists. Hundreds of millions witnessed Gladys Staines, Graham Staines' widow, forgive her family's murderers in the name of the gospel on Indian television - a scene which moved many to tears "and may have achieved more for the gospel in India than many years of missionary work", according to an Indian evangelist.

Afraid of Christianity?

The election of a Hindu majority government around 1 year ago boosted militant right-wing Hindu groups and gave them astonishing freedom. The groups are often driven only by a fear of "a triumph of the West and its religion, Christianity", according to local observers. Hindu splinter groups such as the RSS recruit mainly dissatisfied 15- to 30-year-old single men, train them in groups which then burn churches and disrupt evangelistic events etc. The groups' main motive seems to be fear, as demonstrated by a newspaper report stating that "Hindutva lobbyists are worried that Christians, of which there are now officially 23 million, will soon outnumber the Hindus, currently numbering 820 million." For some years, it has mainly been Indian Christians which have started to shake the power-based Indian political system as never before through prayer, evangelisation, Christian schools and church planting. "It is simply the fear of members of the 'High Castes' that Christians will destroy their power structures, for example by making the masses aware of their rights," said another newspaper report.

'Hinduistic' Dalits continue to become Christians

Behind the tensions lies also the smouldering caste conflict between the underprivileged Dalits and the overprivileged Brahmans and other members of the so-called "High Castes". Most of India's Christians are from the low castes, and many of the 260 million Dalits are playing with the thought of turning their back on Hinduism, which has brought them little more than suffering and scorn, with the 'hope' of many future reincarnations in a similar social position.

A Christian Prime Minister soon?

The Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which attained power one year ago, is trying its best to create a moderate image. In view of its tolerance of anti-Christian events, these efforts are not convincing even in India itself. Most opinion polls show that the next Prime Minister will be Sonia Gandhi, the Italian-born Catholic widow of previous Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Even the BJP is afraid that the next Prime Minister will be a Christian, according to a high-ranking member of the Congress Party. Most foreigners visiting the present Prime Minister also visit Sonia Gandhi in Janpath Road in Delhi.

Source: various, including EA Religious Liberty, Mark Albrecht, e-mail MarkAlbrecht@xc.org, and www.newsroom.org

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