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- P. J. K

We find many a God's servants toiling hard for spreading the gospel and yet after years of struggle and service it is found that the desired results are not coming forth. Moreover the number of souls won for the Lord are less than those won and lost. Why?

This can be explained if we as God's servants knew the basic principle of cultivation. A farmer diligently pursues his responsibilities to plow, sow, fertilize and cultivate and expects a bumper harvest at the end. But there are things which are not under his control. He cannot cause the seed to germinate, nor can he produce the rain and sunshine for growing and harvesting the crop. For the successful harvest, he is dependent of these things from God. Moreover selecting the suitable land and time for sowing depends on proper knowledge of cultivation else the number of plants that wither would be more.

Similarly for the growth of any church or ministry, the God's Servant while doing various works like conducting healing prayers and gospel meetings should diligently seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in winning the souls for the Lord. Later the Holy Spirit convicts a person for salvation. However hard we may pray for victory in various issues, we still would be defeated unless we learn to act in obedience to the word of God. Hence we should ask God for the knowledge before our enthusiasm proves fatal for others.

Yours in Christ,
- P. J. K

 

   
 

 

 

- B. R. Clement

J udge not, that ye be not judged. - Matt 7:1

E nter ye in at the straight gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction. - Matt 7:15

S traight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life. - Matt 7:14

U nto men thou appear not to fast, but unto thy father, which is in secret, and thy father which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. - Matt 6:18

S wear not at all; neither by heaven for it is God's throne; nor by earth; for it is his footstool. - Matt 5:34,35

C ast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shall thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. - Matt 7:5

H e that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven; shall enter into the kingdom of God. - Matt 7:21

Rejoice and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven.
- Matt 5:12

I f ye forgive their tresspasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. - Matt 6:14

S eek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  - Matt 6:33

T ake therefore no thought for the morrow; for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Matt 6:34

 
   
 
 

 

- Compiled by G. Bhikshalu

"Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain... as deacons if they are beyond reproach". - 1 Tim 3:8-10

1.HUMOUR

Because man is in the image of God, his sense of humour is a gift of God. But it is a gift that is to be controlled as well as cultivated. Clean, wholesome humour will relax tension and relieve a difficult situation more than anything else. It can be of untold value in a leader, both for what it does for him and for the use it can be in his work.

Humour can defuse a tense situation and can restore the sense of normal. Samuel Johnson advised that man should spend part of his time with the laughters. Archbishop Whatley, the great apologist, wrote "We ought not only to cultivate the cornfield of the mind but the pleasure grounds also." Agnes Scrickland claimed that next to virtue, the fun in the world is what we can least spare.

Charles H.Spurgeon was once chided for introducing humour into his preaching. With a twinkle in his eye he replied, "If only you knew how much I hold back, you would commend me". In justification of humourous touches in his pulpit, he wrote, "there are things in these sermons that may produce smiles, but what of them? The preacher is not quite sure about a smile being a sin, and at any rate he thinks it less a crime to a momentary laughter than a half-hour of profound slumber."

Humour is a great asset in missionary life. It is invaluable as a lubricant. Indeed it is a most serious deficiency if a missionary lacks a sense of humour.

A Swede was urged by friends to give up the idea of returning to India as a missionary because it was so hot there. "Man", he was urged, "it is one hundred twenty degrees in shade!"

"Well", said the Swede in noble contempt, we do not always have to stay in the shade, do we?" A.E.Narrish, a missionary to Indian, testifies, "I have never met leadership without a sense of humour. It is a great safety valve. You will never lead others, for without the joy of the Lord and its concomitant, a sense of humour."

In half a century of experience as a minister, F.J.Hallet claimed he has found that in actual work of a parish, the most successful man is he who possesses a keen sense of humour in combination of God's grace. Humour lends pungency, originality, and eloquence to sermons.

Of one great preacher, it was said, that he used humour as condiment and a stimulant. At times paroxysms of laughter would rock his audience, but he never permitted sacred things to be involved. He would quickly swing to be sublime, and his humour did not degenerate into frivolity.

A good test of the appropriateness of our humour is whether we control it or it controls us. Of kenneth Strachan, a general director of the Latin America Mission, it was said, "He had a keen sense of humour, but he had a sense of the fitness of things. He knew the place for a joke and his humour was controlled."

Compiled by G.Bhikshalu

   
 
   
 
 

 

Late Dr.K.Paul Richmond Peters, MBBS, DCP, Chief Blood Bank Officer - Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad, is a martyr indeed. For he suffered and made many sacrifices which are known only to a few. Being closely associated with him for about two years, I knew the child behind the royal figure. He was personally responsible for bringing me back into Christ's fold after a long gap. Initially I knew him only as a medical doctor, later as a God's servant who healed people by prayers. I was a witness to a great miracle performed by GOD through Dr. Peters right in the emergency ward of Osmania General Hospital.A child who was in a critical condition was literally given up by the doctors, but Dr.Peters was not in a mood to giveup, for he knew the power of the God in whom he believed. He along with his associates took the child out of the ward and prayed on his knees in a busy hospital. Mind you, he was the Resident Medical Officer of the hospital at that time. And miraculously, the child survived. This had a major influence upon me and I resolved immediately to dedicate myself to the Lord's Ministry and today I stand as a witness to the LORD. Later, I witnessed and experienced in many ways the anointing power Dr.Peters received from God. He healed many people of different faiths from ailments as simple as headache to chronic ailments by prayers. His inspiring messages brought many to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Personally he was an adorable figure in everyone's sight. Initially I surrendered to the sheer power of God which radiated from him and later to the magnetism of his love. Many a times he broke down like a child, when he did not get the results as expected. He loved one and all irrespective of their status. Since I was managing the finances of the gospel meetings conducted by Dr.Peters, I knew very intimately the sacrifices he was making to spread the gospel. His son Mr.Nitin Peters was doing his MBA in Australia which involved heavy expenditure. He let his son suffer due to dearth of resources but never let the gospel suffer. Ultimately Nitin had to abandon his studies as he could not be supported after Dr.Peters demise. He saved his monthly salary from the day the Gospel meetings were announced and withdrew it from the bank along with his personal savings - if any, only a day before he left for the meetings. As he was eligible for professional loan, he also raised the amount from the bank and spent it for the Lord's Ministry. Dr.Peters spent his last paise for the Lord, most of which he never ever projected. About 40% of the entire Gospel expenditure was spent from his pocket apart from the contributions of his wife, Dr.Mrs.Suhasini Peters and other relatives and friends. God blessed him with many talents and bestowed with the spiritual gifts which he used with reverence for the glory of God. His spiritual aspects were never ever in controversy. Everyone irrespective of the denominations acknowledged the fruit of the spirit which was magnificiently manifested through him.- LOVE Earlier he left his flourishing medical practise in a nursing home and surrendered the rights as a business partner and also abandoned the luxuries of riches to spread the Gospel. He also resigned from many lucrative positions in Christian Organisations which could have brought him fame and fortune. Being a true evangelist he toiled day and night in establishing the Lord's Kingdom, till the end of his life. Unfortunately he ignored his health, which ultimately proved fatal. Yet, like a true martyr he was called to glory from the arena - a village where he was evangelising - a privilege which only a handful of God's servants had, apart from the apostles. We thank and pray for the family of Dr.Peters for giving their consent to publish this homage.

 
   
 
 

 

- Compiled by P. J. K

Crucifixion of Jesus from a Physical Perspective

I always found it too difficult to pardon all those who have wronged against me. The pain I had to pass through was too much for me to pardon them. Later, after experiencing the LOVE of God, I knew the pain in not defending myself against false accusations. Being accused on false charges gives a strange feeling. These were the very people whom I loved much. These were the very people who shared my joy and pain. These were the very people who promised to stand by me against all odds. Yet, with changed circumstances the perspective changed and I found myself falsely accused on various issues. The prospect of producing evidence of my innocence and check-mating them gave great excitment. Yet I Ponder, what if Christ does the same with me? What if Christ takes into account every sin I had commited? Yes, a little pain has driven me to the extent of seeking vengeance on my loved ones. But what is my pain compared to that Christ had to pass through for the salvation of the entire mankind ? Then I pondered over the process of crucifixion. It is the most horrible and inhuman treatment that man had ever devised to torment his own.

We almost take the crucifixion for granted unmindful of the most gruesome death meted out to the personification of LOVE.

What exactly happens to a person who is crucified ? What is the pain behind it ? See it from the perspective of a physician.

Though I am not competent enough to present the physiological and anatomical aspects during crucifixion, I feel it is imperative that every Christian should know the LOVE of the Saviour and the courage and the heart to pass through this most horrible death.

Crucifixion is a practice of torture and execution of a person by fixation to a cross. The Romans apparently made several innovations and developed a very high degree of pain.

There is an archaeological evidence to suggest that the cross used in the Christ's day, was the Tau cross, shaped like 'T'. In this cross, the cross-arm(Patibulum) is placed in a notch at the top of the upright portion(stripes) of the cross. The stripes is fixed in the ground and the condemned man was forced to carry the patibulum of about 50 Kgs, from the prison to the place of execution. The nails were driven between the small bones of the wrists (radical and ulna) as they can support the weight of the human body. The titulus stating the victim's crime was placed on a staff and carried at the front of the procession and later nailed to the cross to extend above the head, thus giving the appearance of the Latin cross which is usually depicted in the paintings.

The agony of Christ began at Gethsemane itself. "And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground". - Luke 22:44. This phenomenon of Hematidrosis occurs under great emotional stress of the kind our Lord suffered, tiny capillaries in the sweat glads can break, thus mixing blood with sweat.

Jesus was brought before the Sanhedrin and Caiphas after his arrest in the middle of the night. The physical trauma began. The soldiers mocked and hit Him hard. - Luke 22:63. Then they blind-folded Him and mockingly taunted Him to Identify the persons who hit Him. - Mark 14:65.

In the early morning, the battered and bruised Jesus, duly bound is taken accross the praetorium of the fortress Antonia, the seat of government of the procurator of Judea, Pontius Pilate - Matt 27:2. By this time Jesus was already dehydrated and exhausted from a sleepless night. Pilate sent Jesus to Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch of Judea after he found that Jesus belonged to Herod's Jurisdiction - Luke 23:7. Jesus apparently suffered no physical mistreatment at the hands of Herod and was returned to pilate. - Luke 23:11. In response to the cries of the mob, pilate orders Bar-Abbas to be released and condemned Jesus scourged as his full punishment. - John 19:1.

The Jews had a law prohibiting more than forty lashes to any prisoner but the Romans might not have followed the Jewish law in this matter. - Deut 25:3.

Jesus was stripped of His clothing and with His hands tied to a post above His head, was prepared for the scourging. The Roman legionnaire steps forward with the flagrum, a short whip with heavy leather thongs with two small balls of lead attached near the ends of each. The heavy whip is brought down with heavy force again and again across Jesus' shoulders, back and legs. Initially the throngs cut through the skin only. Later, as the blows continue, they cut deeper into the subcutaneous tissues, producing first an oozing of blood from the cappillaries and veins of the skin, and finally spurting arterial bleeding from vessels in the underlying muscles.

The small balls of lead first producing large, deep bruises which are broken open by subsequent blows. By now Jesus' skin of the back is hanging in long ribbons and the entire area is an unrecognizable mass of torn, bleeding tissue. When the centurian determined that Jesus is near death, he stops the flogging.

Now the Roman soldiers seek fun out of Jesus, for claiming to be the King of the Jews. They throw a robe across the shoulders of the half-fainting Jesus and place a stick in His hand for a scepter. Flexible branches covered with long thorns commonly used in bundles for firewood are plaited into the shape of a crown and this is pressed into His scalp
- Matt 27:28,29. Again there is copious bleeding, the scalp being one of the most vascular area of the body.

The sadistic treatment continued beyond all tolerant levels. After mocking Him and striking Him across the face, the soldiers take the stick from His hand and strike Him across the head, driving the thorns deeper into His scalp - Matt 27:30. Later the robe is torn from His back. Already having adhered to the clots of blood and serum in the wounds, its removal caused excruciating pain just as in the careless removal of a surgical bandage, and almost as though He were again being whipped the wounds once more begin to bleed. The execution squad of the Roman soldiers headed by a centurion begins the procession of the comdemned Christ with the heavy patibulum of the cross tied across His shoulders, along the via Dolorosa accompanied by two thieves.

Inspite of His effort to walk erect, the weight of the heavy wooden beam, together with the shock produced by copious blood loss, is too much. He stumbles and falls. Anxious to get on with the crucifixion, the centurian selects Simon of Cyrene, to carry the patibulum. Jesus follows still bleeding to complete the 650 Yard journey from the fortress Antonia to Golgotha, the place of the skull. - Mark 15:22.

Jesus is offered wine mixed with myrrh, a mild analgesic mixture but he refuses it - Mark 15:23. This could have relieved Him from the horrible pain, yet He chose to suffer for us.

Once the patibulum is placed on the ground, Jesus is quickly thrown backward with His shoulders against the wood. The legionnaire then drives a heavy, square, wrought iron nail through the wrists and deep into the wood allowing some flexion and movement between the arms. The patibulum is placed at the top of the stipes and the titulus reading, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of Jews", is nailed in place - John 19:19.

The left foot of Jesus is now pressed backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knee moderately flexed. Jesus is now crucified. As He slowly sags down with more weight on the nails in the wrists, excruciating pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain- the nail in the wrists are putting pressure on the median nerves. As He pushes Himself upward to avoid the stretching torment, He places His full weight on the nail through His feet. Again there is the searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the meta-tarsal bones of the feet.

At this point as the arms fatigue, great waves of cramps sweep over the muscles, knotting them in deep, relentless, throbbing pain,. with these cramps comes the inability to push Himself upward. Hanging by His arms, the pectoral muscles are paralysed and the inter costal muscles are unable to act. Air can be drawn into the lungs, but cannot be exhaled. Jesus fights to raise Himself in order to get even one short breath. Finally, carbondioxide builds up in the lungs and in the blood stream and the cramps partially subside. Spasmodically, He is able to push Himself upwards to exhale and bring in the life-giving oxygen. It was these periods that He uttered the seven short sentences recorded:

The first, looking down at the Roman soldiers throwing dice for His seamless garment, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." - Luke 23:34.

The second at the penitent thief, "Verily I say unto thee, today thou shalt be with me in Paradise." - Luke 23:43.

The third looking down at the grief stricken and terrified mother Mary, "Woman behold thy son. "Then looking to His disciple John,"behold thy mother." - John 19:26-27.

The fourth cry is from the beginning of the 22nd Psalms, "My God, My God why has thou forsaken me ?" - Mark 15:34.

Jesus endures the hour of limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint-rendering cramps, intermittent partisal aphyxiation, searing pain where tissue is torn from His lacerated back as He moves up and down against the rough timber. Then another horrible agony begins. A terrible crushing pain deep in the chest as the pericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compress the heart. It is now almost over. The loss of tissue fluid has reached a critical level; the compressed heart of Jesus is struggling to pump heavy, thick, sluggish blood into the tissue; The tortured lungs are making a frantic effort to gasp in small gulps of air. The markedly dehydrated tissues send their flood of stimuli to the brain.

Jesus gasps, His fifth cry, "I Thirst." John 19:28

A sponge soaked in posca, the cheap, sour wine which is the staple drink of the Roman legionnaries, is lifted to His lips, He apparently doesn't take any of the liquid. The body of Jesus is now on extremes, and He can feel the chill of death creeping through His tissues.

This realisation brings out His sixth word, possibly little more than a tortured whisper, "It is finished." - John 19:30

His mission of the atonement has completed. Finally He can allow His body to die.

With one last surge of strength, Jesus once again presses His torn feet against the nails, straightens His legs, takes the deep breath, and utters His seventh and last cry, "Father ! into Thy hands I commit my spirit." - Luke 23:46

In order that the sabbath not be profaned, the Jews asked that the condemned men be dispatched and removed from the crosses. The common method of ending a crucifixion was the breaking of the bones of the legs. This prevents the victims from pushing himself upward; Thus the tension could not be relieved from the muscles of the chest and rapid suffocation occured. The legs of the two theives were broken, but when the soldiers came to Jesus they saw that this was unnecessary. - John 19:33

To make sure of Jesus' death, the legionnaire drove his lance through the fifth interspace between the ribs, upward through the pericardium and into the heart. "And Immediately there came out blood and water." - John 19:34. That is, there was an escape of water fluid from the sac surrounding the heart, giving post-mortem evidence that our LORD died not the usual crucifixion death by suffocation, but of heart failure due to shock and constriction of the heart by fluid in the pericardium.

Thus we have had our glimpse- including the medical evidence of that epitome of evil which man has exhibited towards God. It has been a terrible sight, and more than enough to leave us despondent and depressed. Then how grateful should we be towards God to have the great sequel in the infinite mercy of God towards man. Imagine your beloved, Parent, Spouse, Child or a Friend in place of our LORD on the cross. Can you still be complacent in not accepting Christ ? All that you see around this world is but an illusion created by us hypocrites. Satan is lurking around to victimise any innocent being that does not look towards and accept the sacrifice of the personification of LOVE- JESUS CHRIST.

Come now, for Christ is waiting to be accepted and have a very personal relation with you, which lasts eternally. Send in your reactions after reading this article to the editor.

 
   
 
 

 

1) A one-day seminar on Christianity in today's world, was conducted by the International Christian Chamber of Commerce India, Hyderabad Subchamber on 1st March 1999 at Hotel Viceroy. Rev. Dr. G. Samuel inaugurated the Seminar while Mr. Bill Peters, International Vice President (ICCC), Rev. Jackson Chandrashekaran and Mr. T. Divakaran spoke on the occasion.

2) 'Youth Aflame', a life changing youth get-together was conducted by Bro. Vijay Kumar, D. Velugu, Arise Shine Ministries, Hyderabad on 3rd March at Centenary Baptist Church, Secunderabad. Bro. S. R. Manohar, Ray of Love Ministries, Bangalore was the speaker for the special youth evening.

3) Vineyard Music Group in association with CBN presented. 'Come 'n' celebrate', with Scott Underwood, a musical evening at Rail Kalarang, Secunderabad on 5th March. Scott Underwood is a singer, song write, worship leader based in California, U.S.A.

4) All Christian Churches and Leaders participated in the National Christian Prayer and Peace Assembly on 7th March at Nizam College grounds, Hyderabad. The meet was coordinated by Mr. Joseph D'Souza, Executive Director OM India for prayer and solidarity against atrocities on Christians in the Nation. Several National and State leaders gave their testimonies on this occasion.

5) Pas. P. Moses of Little Flock Ministries, Hyderabad delivered the word of God at the Gospel Meetings conducted from 22nd March to 28th March 1999 at Aari Karavva Road, Kovvuru.

 
   
 
 

April 1999

Pope Speeds up Sainthood process for Mother Teresa

Vatican City, March 1:
Pope John Paul has granted a special despensation from Catholic Church rules that will allow Mother Teresa to be put on the fast track towards eventual sainthood, the Vatican said.

Church rules call for five years to pass after a person dies before the bureaucratic procedure that can lead to sainthood can begin. A Vatican statement said the Pope had dispensed with this regulation for Mother Teresa, who died on September 5, 1997, and was revered by many as a "living saint" because of her work for the poor.

Archbishop to hold full enquiry:

Vatican City, March 1:
Armed with the special dispensation granted by Pope John Paul to speed up the process of conferring sainthood on Mother Teresa, the Archbishop of Calcutta Father Henry D'Souza, can now take the preliminary step to beatification.

He must conduct a full enquiry into the acts, writings, and possible martyrdom of an individual whose "reputation for holiness" has been brought to the atttention of religious authorities.

Should this initial enquiry prove worthy, the file will be transferred to a special Vatican sainthood committee, which will then decide whether to send it on to the Pope, who makes the final decision.

Mother Teresa Plea by July

Calcutta, March 3:
The Archbishop of Calcutta Henry D'Souza, who has been empowered by the Vatican to conduct a full inquiry leading to the conferment of sainthood on Mother Teresa, said he would submit the petition by July.

Opposition, BJP clash over attacks

New Delhi, March 5:
Ruling and Opposition party members clashed in the Rajya Sabha on Friday over recent attacks on Christian missionaries with opposition members charging the Bharatiya Janata Party with "justifying" the attacks.

Church burnt in Orrisa Village

Bhamini (Srikakulam) March 5:
A CBM Baptist Church at Jagannadhapuram Village in Orissa was torchered in the early hours of Thursday. On learning about the incident, Pastor Chinnaiah lodged a complaint with the Gunupur police following which a police contingent has been posted at the village on Friday as police pickets guarded the place.

Prayer Hall Tourched In Surat

Surat, March 5:
Police were investigating the reports of a thatched prayer hall of tribal Christians being set ablaze by some unidentified miscreants at the tribal village of Vadgam. The miscreants allegedly set on fire the front portion of the prayer hall and fled the scene, police said.

Pope Likely to Visit India

New Delhi, March 6:
Pope John Paul II is likely to visit India in December as the Vatican has short listed the Country among the three possible venues for the papal Asian Visit.

VHP brings 11 Christians back into Hindu fold

Utnoor(Adilabad), March 7:
Eleven persons were 'reconverted' to Hinduism from Christianity here on Sunday at an event organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. It may be recalled that an event similar to the one on Sunday, was organised by the VHP in Luxettipeta in 1982, when 2,000 tribals were reconverted.

Non - Christians get the bulk of funds from west: Forum

Hyderabad, March 7:
John Dayal, representative of United Christian Forum for Human Rights, on Sunday said that the second phase of attacks on Christian minorities had begun through a "disinformation and lies" campaign by vested interests.

Addressing a meeting organised by National prayer and peace Assembly at Nizam College grounds here, he said, "Violence of a different kind is being continued through a disinformation campaign against Christians".

The European Commission had mantained that only four percent of the funds came to Christian institutions and organsiations. "Rather, Non - Christian institutions were getting more funds from Western Countries and Churches", he said. Presenting a national report on the attacks on Christians, he said that a conspiracy to attack them was hatched three year ago much before the murder of Graham Staines and his sons, the rape of nuns at Jhabua and the attack on Christians and Church properties in Gujarat.

Christians' Service Immense, says CM

Hyderabad, March 8:
Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu assured the Christian community that he will take up with the Central Government the apprehensions about the alleged ultimatums being given to Christian workers to leave several districts in the States of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Orissa and Bihar by March 31 this year.

He complimented the community for its "immense service" in the fields of education, health and uplift of downtrodden.

According to an official press release from the Chief Minister's office here, Naidu urged the christian community to open more educational institutions in the State.

The delegation comprised Joseph D Souza, co-ordinator, prayer and peace Assembly, Bro Ebenezer Sunder Raju, India Missions Association, John Dayal, United Christian Forum, Rev G Samuel and several others, the press release added.

Nirmala not to pressure Pope

Calcutta, March 8:
The Missionaries of Charity on Monday said it was against creating pressure on the Vatican to expedite Mother Teresa's sainthood by next year.

The formal pressure for sainthood could begin with papal clearance only after the postulator returned to Rome and filed a petition, she said.

3 more held in Staines murder case

Keonjhar (Orissa), March 8:
The Crime Branch of the police has arrested three more persons in connections with the gruesome killing of the Australian missionary, Graham Stuart Staines, and his two minor sons at Manoharpur village in Keonjhar district on the night of January 22. The police said that all three suspects were arrested at Rimilidiha on Friday night. With these arrests, the total number of arrests has gone up to 56, several of whom have since been released on bail.

Honour for Graham Staines

Bhubaneswar, March 11:
Australian Missionary Graham Stuart Staines, who was burnt to death along with his two minor sons on January 22nd night at Manoharpur in Orissa, has been chosen for the Rashtriya Ekta Puraskara this year.

MC asks for testimonials of miracles

Calcutta, March 11:
Missionaries of Charity superior-general Sister Nirmala on Thursday appealed to beneficiaries of Mother Teresa's favours and intercessions to submity written testimonials so that these could be included in the petition for her cause of sainthood
.

Hate Campaign against Christian Missionaries

Lucknow, March 11:
The three-day annual convention of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, which began here on Thursday, will draw up an action to counter "aggressive Christian strategy" and contain the "hate - Hindu campaign" unleashed by anti-BJP forces.

The RSS leader welcomed the national debate on conversion.

Reveal religion, BJP tells donors

New Delhi, March 12:
The Union government has quietly ammended the Foreign Contribution regulation Act 1976, making it mandatory for organisations seeking prior permission for accepting foreign contributions to state their religious identity. This clause linking contributions to the religious nature of an organisation has been introduced for the first time in independent India.

RSS opposes Constitutional right to propagate religion

Lucknow, March 12:
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh wants a national debate on Article 25 of the Constitution which gives an individual the right to profess, practice and propagate a religion of his choice.

Talking to reporters, the RSS leaders said that in 1977, the right to propagate did not give one the right to conversion. "In fact, the Orissa government had framed a law which prohibits conversion by fraud, by force, and by inducement. The RSS is not opposed to individual conversions. If a person genuinely believes in a particular faith, he can convert. However, we are opposed to mass conversions, " he explained. The RSS resolution condemned the church for "internationalising the non-existent issue of atrocities on Christians in India" and blamed the English press for blowing these issue out of proportion.

Two more arrested for Staines' murder

Bhubaneswar, March 13:
Two more persons have been arrested in connection with the killing of Australian missionary, Graham Stuart Staines and his two children at Manoharpur in Orissa on January 22nd night, DIG (crime) Prakash Mishra said here on Saturday.

Both of them are believed to have accompanied Dara Singh, the prime accused in the murder case, when they attacked the missionary in his sleep, Mr. Mishra said. With this, the total number of arrests in the case has gone up to 57, of which 44 people were released after interrogation.

Mr. Mishra said the hunt was on to nab Dara Singh.

13 Christians still in custody as they fail to pay fee

Hong Kong, March 13:
Thirteen Christians, detained without charge in eastern China for the past three months, face labour camp if they cannot pay police a stiff fee, a Hong Kong-based rights group said on Saturday.

The Christians are part of a group of 40 believers arrested in December in Henan province after a police swoop on a private house where they were celebrating Christmas, the information centre of Human Rights and Democratic Movement in China said.

US Christians petition India: Attacks

Washington, March 13:
A delegation of about 100 representatives of the National Association of Christians in the US has given a memorandum to the Indian Embassy voicing  concern over the attack on Christians in India. Mission deputy chief T P Sreenivasan, in the absence of Ambassador Naresh Chandra, received the memorandum and replied to questions of the delegation. He assured that the government had done everything possible not only to punish attackers but also to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future.

Christian body flays RSS remarks on churches

Hyderabad, March 14:
The National Congress of Indian Christians on Sunday strongly objected to the reported accusation of the RSS that Churches were tarnishing the image of the country by "internationalising the  non-existent issue of attacks on Christians". The NCIC condemned the RSS and said that the services rendered by the Churches and other Christian institutions were immense. The RSS instead of levelling allegations should involve themselves in community services, it said.

Hindu renovates Goan Church 

Panaji, March 14:
Goa is known for its old and magnificient churches, which were built during the four centuries of Portuguese occupation that continued till 1961. One of these churches was recently renovated by a Hindu artist, with help from people of Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities.

Situated just 30 kilometers from here, Bicholim is a town of 28,000 people. Christians comprise just two percent of the population. Yet they have one of the most beautiful Churches in Goa.

Bicholim is yet another example of how secularism is very much a part of the Indian ethos.

Staines judge raps lax Centre

New Delhi, March 16:
The Supreme Couort Judge heading the commission  probing the murder of Australian missionary and his sons slammed the Union government on Teusday, saying it was not serious about finding the killers.

Justice Devinder Pratap Wadhwa who heads the commission investigating the mob burning of Graham Stuart Staines and his sons in Orissa in January this year, said the government had not provided adequate resources to the commission.

"Is the government serious that we should conduct this commission ?". He asked at the first public hearing of the body, held in his house because the government had failed to provide a venue.

Advocate Gopal Subramaniam, counsel for the commission, said that the government had put the body in an embarrassing situation. "The conduct of the government, and in particular its officers who have interacted with the commission, is plainly unsatisfactory and inadequate".

Fresh attacks in Orissa

Bhubaneshwar, March 16:
Four persons were injured when the simmering communal tension in the Ranalai Village in Gajapathi district took a violent turn on Tuesday.

Two of the injured sustained bullet wounds, while two others were hurt in stone-pelting by a rival group.

They were admitted to the Cheligarh primary health centre.

The miscreants set fire to 20 houses belonging to Christian families in the village, reports reaching here said.

The violence took place when the peace committee, formed to resolve the differences between two groups over marking of a cross by some youths in the nearby Khillery hill on Sunday, was meeting.

Prayer hall torched in Surat

Surat, March 17:
Police were investigating the reports of a thatched prayer hall of tribal Christian being set ablaze by some unidentified miscreants at the tribal village of Vadgam in the district on Tuesday. The miscreants allegedly set on fire the front portion of the  prayer hall and fled the scene, police said.

Centre assures help to Staines judge

New Delhi, March 17:
The government would extend all possible assistance to the Justice D P Wadhwa commission probing into the killing of the Australian Missionary Graham Staines, sources said. The Home ministry had created 2 posts for the commission and deputed joint secretary Sandeep Bagchi as officer on special duty. Five rooms at Vigyan Bhavan have been provided, they said.

Berhampur, March 17:
Twenty nine people have been arrested in connection with a clash between two communities in Gajapati district of Orissa during which 150 houses, mostly belonging to Christians, were burnt down and 12 people injured, official sources said on Wednesday.

Probe will cover fresh violence too: Gamang

Bhubaneswar, March 18:
The Orissa government on Thursday ordered a judicial probe into Wednesday's communal violence at Ranalai village in Gajapati district.

The probe will be conducted by retired judge of Orissa High Court Krishna Chandra Jagdev Ray. He is also currently investigating the December 9, 1998, violence at R Udayagiri in the same district when irate tribals attacked the local jail, killed two undertrials and burnt their bodies in front of the police station. The mob also set afire several houses belonging to the Christian community.

Hindus not to blame, says Christian body

New Delhi, March 18:
Several Christian organisations on Thursday said the recent attacks on Christian families in Ranalai village in Orissa was not a conflict between Hindu and Christian tribals but an act of "a third fundamentalist group using Hindu religion."

They condemned the attack in the village where they claimed 1,200 families were victimised.

The leaders, who were here regarding a three-day national convention on poverty, said, "some reported remarks of the Human Resource Development Minister regarding not celebrating 2000 years of Christ disturb the sentiments of the community and send wrong signals to the fundamentalist elements to carry on with the atrocities against the Christian community."

1 Lakh Reconversion

Bangalore, March 19:
Vishwa Hindu Parishad senior vice-president Acharya Giriraj Kishore. He said during the last one decade, more than 1,00,000 reconversions had taken place. Those Hindus who had converted to Christianity and Islam were making homecoming. The process was on. Asked to specify the number of reconversions during the last one year, he declined to answer.

Kerala Christians on the warpath

Thiruvananthapuram, March 20:
Heads of major churches in Kerala have planned to deliver a condemnatory message from the pulpit expressing grave concern over attacks on minorities, even as the State BJP branded it as a step towards nurturing fundamentalism. The joint circular, which would be read out in all the churches in Kerala on Sunday during Mass, noted that what had happened in Gujarat and Orissa recently was part of an evil design of "torture and banish Christianity from  India by branding it as alien and foreign".

44 Freed on bail in Staines murder

Cuttack, March 20:
The Orissa High Court has granted bail to 44 of 51 persons arrested in connection with the Graham Stewart Staines and his two sons at Manoharpur in Keonjhar district on January 22nd last.

The crime branch of police has submitted a report indicating nil evidence against the 44 accused.

The State government has already handed over the investigation of the case to the CBI.

Meanwhile, the Orissa government has suspended four police officials on charges of dereliction of duty in connection with the clash between the Christians and Hindu tribals in Ranalai village in Gajapati district on Tuesday.

At least 13 persons from both the communities were injured while 157 houses of Christians were burnt as both communities clashed over defacing of a Cross. Sources said the CI and the officer-in-charge of Ramgiri Udayagiri police station, the special branch inspector of Parlakhemundi and the SI of Cheligarh has been suspended.

VHP drive in tea areas

Guwahati, March 20:
Vishwa Hindu Parishad has Launched a project to set up "one teacher schools" in the tea belt of Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts of upper Assam to impart the tenets of Hinduism to children in a bid to check growth of Christianity among tea garden workers.

Those among the tea community who have been able to do well in life have done so due to the education facilities provided by the Christian Churches.

Meanwhile, Archbishop Thomas Henamperambil of Guwahati said that the Church had no objection to the VHP starting schools provided they were doing it with good intentions but that a controversy over conversions should not be whipped up.

Fight communalism, Church tells faithful

Thiruvananthapuram, March 21:
Religious heads of Christian denominations in Kerala on Sunday issued a message from the pulpit urging the community to fight the fundamentalist threats faced by the country by joining  hands with those who believed in secularism and democracy.

Condemning the recent attacks on Christians in Gujarat, Orissa  and Maharashtra, the lengthy circular issued by the eight major Christian religious leaders titled Obey God More than Man, affirmed the community's resolve to continue its mission of emancipating man.

Whatever be the trials and tribulations Christianity would continue its mission of emancipating the hapless, the leaders affirmed.

Pope John Paul II likely to visit India

New Delhi, March 21:
Pope John Paul II is likely to visit India in December as the Vatican has shortlisted the country among the three possible venues for the Papal Asian visit of this millenium.

The recent attacks on Christians and killings of the Australian missionary Graham Staines and other incidents of attacks on the community are also highlighted by those lobbying for India, Rediff in the Net has quoted an Indian Church official as saying.

Award for Bible in Sanskrit

New Delhi, March 21:
The Vachaspati Puraskar, given by the K K Birla Foundation to an outstanding Sanskrit work published during the last 10 years, has been given for 1998 to Baneshwar Pathak for his poetic work Yeeshu Charitam, a poetic translation of the Bible into Sanskrit.

This is the first translation of the Bible into Sanskrit.

Hyderabad, March 24:
The state government has on Wednesday appointed Justice Sadatulla Hussaini as chairman and Dr. Livingston as the vice - chairman of the Andhra Pradesh State Minorities Commission
.

The state government has also appointed Zaibunnisa Begum, Shaik Mohiuddin, Guru Bachan Kaur, E Mariya Das and K. Pestonji as members of the Commission.

51 attacks in Gujarat, Minister tells House

Gandhinagar, March 24:
Fifty one incidents of attacks on churches and Christians has been registered in eight towns and cities in Gujarat during the last six months, Minister of State for Home Haren Pandya informed the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.

He said the attacks has damaged the property like houses, prayer houses, churches, school buildings and hostels worth Rs. 4 Lakh. Forty persons have been injured in the incidents and 198 arrested in connection with the attacks.

Church Body Sees disinformation drive

Bhubaneswar, March 24:
The National Council of Churches in India on Wednesday accused the Sangh Parivar of spreading a disinformation campaign leading to increasing attacks on Christians in Orissa.

The NCCI president contested Chief Minister Girdhar Gamang's statement that the incident in Ranalai was started by the Christians stating that the report presented by him in the Assembly and prepared by officials was not based on facts.

He said the local Christians had agreed to the wiping out of the cross painted on a hillock by the Hindus to establish peace in the area. However, a 2,000 - strong crowd, armed with guns and bows went to the hillock to celebrate the occasion with a show of strength which led to the incident.

No proposal to ban conversions:

Kochi, March 24:
The Centre has no plans to ban conversions since a national consensus had to emerge before resorting to such a step, Venkaiah Naidu, official spokesman and general secretary of the BJP said on Wednesday.

Staines probe sitting today

New Delhi, March 25:
The Justice D. P. Wadhwa commission will hold its second sitting here on Friday to record the statement of witnesses in connection with the killing of Australian missionary Graham Staines his two sons in Manoharpur village of Orissa on January 22nd.  The commission had earlier visited the site of the incident.

NMC absolves Hindus: House - burning

Bhubaneswar, March 26:
A fact - finding team of the National Commission of Minorities on Friday rejected the contention that the Ranalai incident in which 156 houses belonging to Christians were burnt down was a handi work of Hindus. It was the handi work of a group of people with political inclination, NCM member James Massey said here.

Vatican's no to woman deacons

Vatican City, March 26:
The Vatican has reiterated its refusal to have women serve as deacons, a role that lets men preach at mass and help celebrate liturgical services. "A female diaconate would represent a step toward the priesthood", said Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, who heads the Vatican's congregation for the clergy. Ordination as deacons is a step below priesthood, which the Roman Catholic church reserves solely for unmarried men.

Biblical stories told through Kathak dance

March 27:
In March 27th 1999, Rina Singha, a visiting dancer, created a unique dance recital in India. Her Kathak performance was based on a form of literature which is truly symbolic of India's multi-religious and diverse cultural heritage. It is called Yeshu Katha and is based on the four gospels of The Bible. Rina Singha has been in India for the past few months as a senior arts award recipient of the Shastri Indo - Canadian Institute.

Yeshu Katha is a form of worship which originated among Christian indentured labourers from India who were taken to Guyana by the British. They felt an acute need for some instruments of Christian worship. They saw that their Kathas which were performed in homes or gatherings by priests.

The Christians then sent a group of scholars to  India to write and print the Yeshu Katha based on The Bible and the gospels. The book was printed only for the Guyana Indian Christians and was in clear, Sanskritised Hindi.

VHP's reconversion mela in WB flops

Popra (West Bengal), March 28:
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad's plan of reconverting non-Hindu tribals into Hinduism failed as it coincided with a tribal festival. It had proposed to initiate the re-conversion of 500 tribal Christians and 50 Muslims into Hinduism on March 25th, the auspicious day of Ramanavami. But the plan could not materialise as it coincided with a tribal festival where only prayer rituals were held.

Malda district magistrate M. V. Rao admitted he received reports that a conversion programme was on in Popra, but said there were no complaints of forced reconversion. Father Verghese of a Catholic church in Malda contested the VHP's claim. "These simple people worship nature. I don't think they were ever Hindus and if they are converted, it is not reconversion. It is conversion from Christianity to Hinduism," he said.

Faithful relive Jesus's Palm Sunday march

Jerusalem, March 29:
Retracing Jesus' final steps in Jerusalem nearly 2,000 years ago, Christian pilgrims from around the world, led by Palestinian Children, sang hymns and hiked on Palm Sunday from the Mount of Olives to the Old City here.

The hike, led each year by Christian Palestinian children in scout uniforms, began at the Church of the Ascension where Jesus started his last journey to the gates of Jerusalem.

Missionary murderer offers to surrender

New Delhi, March 29:
Notorious criminal Ravindra Pal Singh alias Dara Singh, the main accused in the killing of the Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons in Orissa, has offered to surrender before the authorities if found guilty by justice D P Wadhwa Commission. However he denied being present at the site on the night of the ghastly murder and also to being a member of Bajarang Dal.




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