Christians Persecuted for their Faith Remembered
The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church was observed recently. Ann Buwalda, executive director of Jubilee Campaign USA, says that many Christians in India and China are suffering because of ongoing persecution. "Our brothers and sisters in those countries ... who have converted and come to Christ, suffer severely for their new faith," says Buwalda. "And we just ask people around this country, the United States, to remember those who are suffering; and to pray for them, and ask God to have mercy upon them and give them strength as they endure the persecution they are facing." More than 100-million Christians worldwide are estimated to be suffering some form of persecution, ranging from harassment to torture, and even death.

Veterans Honored Across Nation
Veterans' Day was observed around the nation last week. Originally called Armistice Day, marking the end of World War I, and honoring those who served in the conflict, Veterans' Day has since been expanded to include all men and women who have worn a military uniform. Retired Army Major General Bob Dees is executive director of the military ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ International. Dees says, some soldiers return from the war zone with physical injuries, and others have unseen wounds. "The wounds that are perhaps the most insidious," says Dees, "are those of the heart, the soul, the spirit -- that you cannot see but that erode away from the inside -- and those wounds must heal from the inside out. Those are the wounds that we address in our 'Bridges to Healing Ministry;' and we seek to mobilize thousands of churches and tens of thousands of lay and professional counselors on behalf of hundreds of thousands of combat trauma sufferers." In addition, Dees says that the ministry provides troops in harm's way with spiritual resources, including a "Rapid Deployment Kit" -- which includes a Bible, a "How to Know God Personally" and a "Daily Bread" inside of a waterproof bag. He says that their volunteers have put together over 2 million "Rapid Deployment Kits" since 9-11 (in 2001).

Billy Graham Turns 90
Rev. Billy Graham turned 90 recently. Gospel music singer/songwriter Gloria Gaither says that the evangelist has quite a legacy. "I think he's been the pastor of the world - pastor of leaders, pastor of presidents," Gaither said. And, she says, this was done "pretty much without getting involved in politics, which I think is just probably the best thing that he has ever done." In a statement, Dr. Graham said, "Every day is a gift from God, no matter how old we are." He added, "Just because we grow weaker physically as we age, it doesn't mean that we must grow weaker spiritually."

Pro-Life Group Launches New Effort to Battle Abortion
The Christian Defense Coalition has launched "The Birmingham Letter Project," an effort to mobilize Christians and the local church community in the fight against abortion. The Christian Defense Coalition says that the project is based on the principles taught by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in his letter from a Birmingham jail during the civil rights struggles of the 1960s. The ministry's director, Rev. Patrick Mahoney, says that the same principles that apply to the civil rights struggle apply to abortion. Mahoney says, "What we're going to do here during the Birmingham Letter Project, we're going to give them tools and opportunities. We're going to discuss strategies in which people can get involved both at a local level within their communities - [and] how they can impact their local states - because that's where all the action is going to have to be."

U.S. Catholic Bishops Against Expanding Abortion Rights
The nation's Catholic bishops are warning the next president to avoid expanding abortion rights. The nation's top Catholic prelate warned that president-elect Barack Obama's promise to unify the country would be shattered if he pursues policies to increase access to abortion. According to Religion News Service, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said, "Aggressively pro-abortion policies, legislation and executive orders will permanently alienate tens of millions of Americans and would be seen by many as an attack on the free exercise of their religion." George's statement was unanimously approved by nearly 300 bishops in a closed-door session in Baltimore at the end of the bishops' semi-annual meeting.

Connecticut Officially Joins Massachusetts in Allowing Same-Sex Marriages
A superior court judge signed an order last week allowing same-sex couples to apply for marriage licenses in Connecticut. The State Supreme Court ruled last month that gay couples have the right to marry in Connecticut. The justices, in their four-to-three decision said that a civil union law which had been in place since 2005 did not go far enough for same-sex couples. Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal represented the state in opposing gay marriage. Blumenthal said, "We are putting aside all of our past positions - whatever personal opinions or objections we may have - to make sure that this decision is honored and followed and enforced." Connecticut joins Massachusetts in legalizing gay marriages. Californians, two weeks ago, voted to end the practice, which had been in place for the past six months under a State Supreme Court ruling.

Urgent Prayer Needed for Peace and Safety in Congo
The United Nations says that government troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo, who've been battling rebel forces, have themselves been looting and targeting civilians in the eastern part of the country. Ann Buwalda, with Jubilee Campaign USA, says that they're asking for prayer for the hundreds of thousands of refugees who are displaced because of the stepped-up fighting. "They don't have the adequate access to food, medicine - those kinds of things are just not available as they are once again up-rooted from the displacement camps where they have been waiting and waiting and waiting for a peaceful resolution so they can return to their homes," says Buwalda. She urges that prayer is needed for the civilians' safety and restoration of peace. She adds that U.N. peacekeeping troops are overwhelmed, and retreating.

Christians in India's Orissa State Remain in Refugee Camps
Christian leaders are hoping that displaced believers in India's Orissa state will be able to celebrate Christmas in their homes. Hindu extremists have been attacking Christians in the region since August. According to International Christian Concern, Christian leaders are asking for police and para-military security to protect the thousands of Christians who have been forced from their homes. Samuel Wallace, an official with ICC, says, "In one sense, the radical Hindus have succeeded in one of their major goals, which was to chase out all the Christians from this particular district in Orissa." He says that conditions in the state-run refugee camps are very poor. "The Christians are not allowed to conduct any kind of evangelism in the refugee camps - they are not allowed to worship freely, as they choose," says Wallace.

Group Campaigns to Ban U.S. Use of Torture
The Georgia-based National Religious Campaign Against Torture plans to lobby president-elect Barack Obama to issue an executive order banning torture. Metrosource reports that the group was also visiting members of Congress last week to push for a torture ban. The campaign began with a national conference in Atlanta in September. The group says that the campaign is in response to the approval by the Bush administration of certain interrogation techniques. The "Atlanta Journal-Constitution" quotes one Emory University student as saying that she became involved in the campaign for moral and practical reasons. She says, she's concerned that without the executive order, torture may be used on U.S. military personnel in retaliation.

"Why Believe in God" Ads Displayed on Buses in Nation's Capital
A new ad on Metro buses in the Nation's Capital is expected to attract attention and controversy during the holiday season. The American Humanist Association bought at least 200 ads emblazoned with the declaration; "Why believe in a God, just be good for goodness' sake." According to Metrosource, AHA spokesman Fred Edwards said that although the ads may offend some people, that is not the goal. He says that AHA wants to promote the idea that it is possible to be a good person without subscribing to a religion. Edwards says, the association is reaching out to people who are open to the message and are unaware just how widespread humanist ideas are. The ads will begin rolling out on D.C. Metro buses this week.

November is National Adoption Awareness Month
Shaohannah’s Hope is a ministry founded by Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman to care for orphans by engaging the church to help Christian families reduce financial barriers to adoption. Executive Director Scott Hasenbalg says, "Quite simply, there are millions of children in need of homes; and [there are] many families here in the U.S. that want to adopt children, but finances stand in the way. And we try to build that bridge to help reduce that financial barrier, and give financial assistance to qualified Christian families." He says that the third annual "Cry of the Orphan" campaign is set for this week, with support from Focus on the Family and FamilyLife, to help Christians realize the theme, "You are God's plan for the orphan."