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Bethlehem will get a $3 million facelift
before the year 2000, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has announced. The 4-year project, one of 27 announced by UNESCO, includes restored religious and historical monuments, a redesigned Square of the Nativity, a restored central market and a new bus station and car park.--
EPNS
When the True Apostolic Assembly Church outgrew
its south central Minneapolis location and moved to the wealthier Linden Hills area, neighbours complained about the loud church services, which feature spirited preaching and music, often with organ, electric guitar and drums. After installing triple-pane glass to address the problem, the church again received complaints in summer when the church windows were opened to let cool air in. Robert Wesley Hill, pastor of the church, was cited for exceeding state and local noise limits, and spent a night in jail. Hill challenged the law, arguing that the noise restrictions interfered with his freedom of worship. Whereas political meetings are allowed to reach 65-70 decibels, religious speech is limited to 55-65 decibels; the church was cited for noise levels in the 65-70 range. Hill's lawyer successfully argued that state law treats religious speech differently than it treats other types of speech, and is therefore unconstitutional. The 200-member church had no complaints during its 28 years at it previous location. Hill believes the issue is partly one of cultural misunderstanding: The previous location was more of a mixed-race neighbourhood, while the new location is in a predominantly white residential neighbourhood, and white churches take a more sedate approach to worship than black churches do. Fundraising is underway for the purchase of an air conditioning system and additional soundproofing.--
EPNS
US President Bill Clinton
vetoed a bill April 10 that would have banned late-term "partial-birth" abortions, in which the child is partly born before having its brain sucked out and head crushed. The "partial birth" abortion ban passed 286-129 in the House of Representatives--a veto-proof majority--but the Senate's 54-44 margin is not sufficient to override Clinton's veto. The Christian Coalition, a conservative lobby group, warns that Clinton has offended Roman Catholic and evangelical voters by the veto. Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole had voted to ban the procedure, thereby ensuring that the abortion procedure will become an election issue.--
EPNS
Menno Simons
received a tribute Feb. 23 when a new variety of tulip was named after him on the 500th anniversary of his birth. The tulip was "baptized" at a Friesland flower show by a government official with the words, "I christen you Menno Simons," accompanied by a sprinkling of water. The flower is red, symbolizing the warmth of the Mennonite faith, according to a Dutch Mennonite weekly, Algemeen Doopsgezind Weekblad.--
Mennonite Reporter
Mennonite Central Committee
, through the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, is mounting a large relief effort to North Korea following severe floods last year which devastated the harvest there. Canadian Foodgrains Bank sent a 1,000-metric ton shipment earlier this year, followed by another 1,000 tons in May. MCC's contribution is valued at $240,000. MCC is also sending canned meat worth $74,300. In another MCC project, MCC provided emergency assistance to Lebanese refugees displaced by the shelling in Lebanon as Israeli forces fought Hezbollah guerrillas in May. MCC initially released $138,000 for the emergency, to go towards relief supplies such as food, milk, diapers and milk formula.--
MCC
A 29-year-old woman left comatose after a 1985 traffic accident
became pregnant after being raped in the Rochester, NY health centre where she was staying. Her parents decided that she should bear the child, igniting an ethical debate. (Doctors generally honour a family's perception of a coma victim's wishes.) She gave birth to a healthy, premature, 1.2-kg. son. The woman has now come out of the coma, can feel pain and look at people, but seems to have no understanding of what is going on around her. --
Time
The number of Bible-believing Christians worldwide
is estimated to have been 1 per 100 (1%) in 1430. That ratio was 2% in 1790; 3% in 1940; 4% in 1960; 5% in 1970; 6% in 1980; 7% in 1983; 8% in 1986; 9% in 1989; 10% in 1993; 11% in 1995.--
Lausanne Statistics Task Force (quoted in Mission Frontiers)
Cryogenic Solutions
, a Houston, TX-based company, claims to be developing technology which would freeze an aborted baby so that later, when the mother is "better able" to care for the child, the "interrupted pregnancy" can be resumed. The firm hopes to have the technology fully developed in 5-10 years.--
World Magazine (quoted in Intercessors for America Newsletter)
The Lutheran Church
is giving up its status as the state religion of Sweden. As of Jan. 1, children born to at least one Lutheran parent are no longer automatically official church members. Deteriorating church membership and an increase in immigrants and denominations in the country forced the church to give up the official status held since 1593.--
Intercessors for America Newsletter
85% of all street people
are so addicted or damaged that only 15% can be reached by traditional "soup, soap and salvation" strategies of shelter and transitional hospitality, according to the 1994 book, A Nation in Denial: The Truth About Homelessness. The book was based on a compilation of 107 studies. From the "skid rows" of the 1960s (typically occupied by 58-year-old, white winos) to the aging "bag ladies" of the 1980s to the younger women and children of the 1990s, the demographics of street people are constantly changing. Currently, 79% of people served by rescue missions are under 45 years old, 71% are local community residents, and 40% are women, some with children. Less than 5% are middle-aged, alcoholic white males.--
International Urban Associates, statistics from International Union of Gospel Missions
Colorado Governor Roy Romer
vetoed a bill that would have banned same-sex marriages. The bill was prompted by the possibility that the Hawaii Supreme Court may force approval of same-sex marriages. According to the US constitution, US states recognize marriages performed in other states, but under the Colorado bill the state would have refused to honour same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions. Similar legislation has been introduced in at least 20 other states. In Hawaii, the House has approved a bill that would place a constitutional amendment before voters this November. That amendment would define marriage as existing between a man and a woman. Polls show that a strong majority of Hawaii residents oppose same-sex marriage, so such an amendment would be likely to pass. But Hawaii's Senate has approved a bill creating "domestic partnerships" for homosexual couples, giving them the same benefits and obligations as those of married couples under state law. Critics fear that if Hawaii lega lizes homosexual marriages, homosexual couples from all over the US will fly to Hawaii, get married and return to their home states, demanding the rights and benefits that heterosexual couples currently enjoy. A nationwide poll conducted March 15-17 found that 44% of Americans believe homosexuality is acceptable, up 10% from 1982.--
Evangelical Press News Service
The cabinet of India
has determined that Christian converts from low-caste Hindu backgrounds are entitled to the same job and education benefits reserved for Hindus at the bottom of India's rigid caste system. India's Dalit, or "untouchable", Christians had been demonstrating for months, seeking the benefits of the nations's reservation system which sets aside government jobs and school slots for low-caste citizens, as compensation for the discrimination they face in Hindu society. The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, denounced the move as an attempt to win Christian votes prior to elections in India.--
EPNS
Churches in Sweden
were denied permission to use a pre-Easter advertising campaign to boost attendance because Swedish law forbids Christian and political messages on television. Campaign organizers were told the ads would have been permitted if the group had agreed to remove the name "Jesus".--
EPNS
Summit Ministries Canada
, the new Canadian arm of the Colorado-based Christian youth leadership organization Summit Ministries, is holding its first annual conference Aug. 11-24 at Prairie Bible College in Three Hills, Alta. Enrollment is limited to 100 students aged 16 and older. The conference is intended to train youth for leadership and to teach them how to defend their Christian faith.--
Summit Ministries Canada
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