Argentina: Churches celebrate the ‘month of the Bible’
In Argentina, as in many Latin American countries, September is a month to celebrate the Bible. Churches coordinate lectures, workshops and conferences for youth, according to a news release from the World Council of Churches (WCC). ‘Spending a month each year focusing on the Bible helps us to affirm the Word as an essential nutrient to our faith and our commitment to life and justice,’ said Pastor Gerardo Oberman, from the Reformed Churches of Argentina associated with the Evangelical Church of the River Plate, the WCC reported. ‘The overall experience has different local nuances, but we are also motivated by the spirit of the Reformation in which one of the main slogans was the Sola Scriptura - that is, salvation by Scripture alone,’ said Oberman. September activities help believers ‘remember the centrality of the Word of God and highlight the work of Bible societies', said Bishop Nully Frank Brown of the Evangelical Methodist Church of Argentina.
Praise: God for His living word and pray that it will take root in the peoples. (Col.2:7)
Argentina: Churches celebrate the ‘month of the Bible’
In Argentina, as in many Latin American countries, September is a month to celebrate the Bible. Churches coordinate lectures, workshops and conferences for youth, according to a news release from the World Council of Churches (WCC). ‘Spending a month each year focusing on the Bible helps us to affirm the Word as an essential nutrient to our faith and our commitment to life and justice,’ said Pastor Gerardo Oberman, from the Reformed Churches of Argentina associated with the Evangelical Church of the River Plate, the WCC reported. ‘The overall experience has different local nuances, but we are also motivated by the spirit of the Reformation in which one of the main slogans was the Sola Scriptura - that is, salvation by Scripture alone,’ said Oberman. September activities help believers ‘remember the centrality of the Word of God and highlight the work of Bible societies', said Bishop Nully Frank Brown of the Evangelical Methodist Church of Argentina.
Praise: God for His living word and pray that it will take root in the peoples. (Col.2:7)
Indonesia: Church attacked by suicide bomber
A suicide bomber attacked a church packed with hundreds of worshippers in Solo, Central Java, Indonesia, on Sunday, killing himself and wounding at least 20 other people. The church is one of Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren’s sister churches and the pastor posted a notice on his Facebook page reading, ‘Purpose Driven Network Alert - Our sister church in Solo City, Indonesia, Bethel Full Gospel Church, has just been bombed.’ A Muslim suicide bomber, whose identity has not been revealed, was responsible for the attack. The site also says some news reports indicate 27 people were injured in the blast - one critically. Others put the number as high as 30 people. Indonesia’s President called the attack ‘terrorism.’ The city of Solo is also radical Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir's hometown. Bashir is considered the spiritual leader for the group that killed more than 200 people in Bali in 2002, according to media reports.
Pray: for spiritual, physical, and emotional protection for the millions of Indonesian Christians. (Mal.4:2)
USA: Couple fined for holding Bible study in own home
Chuck and Stephanie Fromm have been fined for holding Bible studies in their home in Southern California. According to City officials they are in violation of a municipal code prohibiting ‘religious, fraternal or non-profit’ organisations in residential neighbourhoods without a permit. Without warning they were fined in May, then again in June, for $300 dollars and appeals were denied because they need a ‘Conditional Use Permit.’ Without the permit they face $500 for each additional gathering. A conditional use permit is costly and difficult to obtain as it requires traffic and environmental impact reports and making the home accessible to wheelchairs. The President of the Pacific Justice Institute said, ‘Informal gathering in a home cannot be treated with suspicion by the government just because it is religious. We cannot allow this to happen in America, and we will fight as long and as hard as it takes to restore this group’s religious freedom.’
Pray: for common sense to prevail and for God to use this situation positively for the community. (Ps.11:7)
