There are reports of a Christian revival in Algeria. A
number of converts report actually seeing God appear to them in reality, like a
vision; some even conversed with Him.
The pastor of one of the largest churches in Algeria, where every Christian
comes from a Muslim background, reports baptising an average of 150-160 new
believers per year.
In China’s eastern province of Zhejiang, which has a large
Christian population, Christians have formed a human shield around a church
that the authorities are trying to demolish. The church in Sanjiang has been
under construction for six years and cost $4.8 million; however, a visiting Communist
party official apparently decided that the cross on top of the church was too
conspicuous and demanded that the top floor of the building be demolished. The
conflict is unusual because the church belongs to the “official state church”
Three Self Patriotic Movement.
A lawsuit in the USA that claimed it was discriminatory for
faith groups to used faith-based criteria for employment selection was
dismissed. A federal court re-affirmed the Constitution’s so-called
“ministerial exception” to anti-discrimination laws.
The appeal of Asia Bibi, the Christian woman imprisoned for
alleged blasphemy in Pakistan, is now due to be heard on 14 April. Her
(Christian) lawyer has recounted several threats that have been made against
him; his response was to quote Psalm 118:6 (The Lord is on my side; I will not
fear; what can man do to me?)
US authorities have arrested a man who claimed to be planning
to attack banks, government buildings and mosques with explosives and guns. He
was arrested after buying explosives from an undercover FBI agent.
In sport, Britain lost both the final of the women’s
Twenty20 World Cricket and also their quarter final in tennis’ Davis Cup.
However, the most remarkable loss of the week belongs to Glasgow Rangers.
Rangers suffered bankruptcy a couple of years ago and were demoted to the
lowest division of Scottish football. They are still making their way back up
the league, and are therefore eligible for the lower divisions’ knockout
competition, currently known as the Ramsdens Cup. However, they lost the final
last week to Raith Rovers.
And finally, 30 people in Punjab, Pakistan have appeared in
court on charges of planning a murder, threatening police and interfering in
state affairs – including a nine month old baby. Police searching for gas
thieves in Lahore arrested a group who were throwing stones at them, including
the baby’s parents, and charged everyone in the group. The baby’s father says
they were protesting against electricity shortages. The baby was bailed, and
the Chief Minister of Punjab has suspended the assistant superintendent who
filed the charges.
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