For the week of September 19, 2002
Persecuting countries
For the first time, North Korea has replaced Saudi Arabia as
the country where Christians are most severely persecuted, the Open Doors
“World Watch List” indicates. The list is released twice each year
and ranks countries according to the level of persecution Christians face for
following Jesus Christ. For years, Saudi Arabia had held the top spot on the
list. However, growing reports of severe oppression in North Korea have confirmed
that the communist dictatorship of Kim Jong Il is intent on eradicating all
belief systems other than the worship of Kim himself and his deceased father,
Kim Il Sung. Both father and son have an ongoing record of attempting to purge
the land of Christians. Nevertheless, the church has survived in North Korea.
Christian refugees escaping North Koreas famine have told of small house
churches located in the country. The rest of the top 10 on the watch list includes
Laos (third), Vietnam, Turkmenistan, Maldives, Bhutan, Pakistan, Afghanistan
and Somalia. Six of the countries are governed by Islamic regimes, three are
communist and one is primarily Buddhist.
Influence of mothers
Mothers may have more influence than they think when it comes
to daughters and sex, a new report indicates. Teenage girls who are close to
their mothers are more likely to stay virgins, researchers said in a study to
be published in the Journal of Adolescent Health. The key is talking about sex
and being deeply involved in a childs life, researchers from the University
of Minnesota explained. “The message to parents is: You matter,” said
Sarah Brown, director of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. “You
have not totally lost your teens to peers and popular culture.” Based on
findings in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, the new study
shows that 34 percent of all teenagers have had sexual intercourse by the time
they are in the ninth grade. The number rises to 60 percent by the 12th grade.
However, at the same time, research shows that half of the mothers of sexually-active
teenagers do not realize their children are having sex. In turn, while the vast
majority of mothers disapprove of their children having sex, large numbers of
teenagers say they do not know exactly how their mothers feel.
Texas criticism
Southern Baptist leaders have criticized potential plans of
Texas Baptists to form a new missions network and change the way they fund Baptist
causes. The administrative committee of the Baptist General Convention of Texas
recently endorsed recommendations to create a world missions network that would
aid churches in short-term and long-term missions efforts. The network would
work with the Southern Baptist International and North American Mission boards,
as well as the Baptist World Alliance and Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. However,
Southern Baptist Convention leaders have questioned the need for such a network
and urged continuing support of ongoing missions efforts. “I would say
to all my fellow Texans – dont mess with the SBC missions program,”
current SBC President Jack Graham said. The Texas proposal would keep more money
within the state and forward 21 percent for world missions (down from the current
27.7 percent).
Air Force suit
A U.S. Air Force captain who once served on missile combat
crews has filed suit against the Air Force, claiming the military service punished
him for requesting accommodation of his religious beliefs. Capt. Ryan Berry
said he was suspended from certain duties and later permanently decertified
because he had asked for accommodation of his belief that, as a married Catholic
man, he should avoid situations where he had to spend 24-48 hours in a small
underground bunker with a woman. The suit alleges the Air Force terminated the
religious accommodation after previously agreeing to grant it to him. It also
alleges the military service subsequently suspended him from missile alert duties
and permanently decertified him from the Personnel Reliability Program, effectively
demoting him. The suit asks the court to declare that the Air Forces actions
were unconstitutional and to order the service to remove false and negative
statements about Berry from its records. Berry is now on active reserve status.
Jewish numbers
Even though Orthodox Jews account for just 10 percent of American
Jewry, they make up four of every 10 U.S. synagogues, the 2002 American Jewish
Yearbook reports. The Yearbook shows a total of 3,727 synagogues in the United
States – the first comprehensive count since 1936, when 2,851 synagogues
were found. The Metro New York Area accounts for one-third of all U.S. synagogues.
Overall, the yearbook found that the Orthodox movement represents 40 percent
of synagogues, the Reform movement makes up 26 percent of synagogues and the
Conservative movement stands at 23 percent. In contrast, roughly 40 percent
of the countrys estimated 6 million Jews belong to the Reform and Conservative
movements each, about 10 percent are Orthodox and the remaining 10 percent are
either unaffiliated or belong to smaller movements. Figures show 58 percent
of all U.S. Jews live in seven metro areas – New York, Los Angeles, Boston,
Philadelphia, Chicago, Miami and San Francisco.
Tenure and transitions
John Paul II has become the fifth longest-serving pope in history,
having held the office since Oct. 16, 1978. He is just eight months from moving
into fourth place. Charles Sullivan has announced he plans to reitre as executive
director of the State Convention of Baptists in Indiana, effective May 15, 2003.
He has served in the post for 11 years. Ken Sehested has announced plans to
resign as executive director of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America.
He has served as head of the group since it was founded in 1984.
Sudan vigil
Southern Baptists plan to join in a vigil to demonstrate their
concern for Christians and others persecuted by the militant Islamic regime
of Sudan. The vigil for Sudan is set for Sept. 18-24 outside the State Department
building in Washington. Southern Baptists are set to lead a two-hour watch during
the vigil on Sept. 24 from noon to 2 p.m. The purposes of the vigil include
showing solidarity with the persecuted in Sudan, praying for the Sudanese and
calling for the U.S. government to be active in seeking an end to the ongoing
oppression. The Islamic regime in Sudan has engaged in what has been widely
described as a genocidal campaign against Christians, animists and moderate
Muslims. “In light of the atrocities that continue in Sudan, to remain
silent would be truly immoral,” said Richard Land, president of the Southern
Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. Land said he plans to participate
in the vigil.
Did you know?
In a sex-crazed world, the number of listings in a Manhattan telephone book
for adult escort services totaled 64 pages – exactly the same as for physicians.