TBII Workshops to be Held in the Philippines

Dr. John Jauchen and his wife

The Thompson Bible International Institute (TBII) in its efforts to empower Christians in the Philippines on how to maximize the use of the Thompson Chain Reference Bible is organizing series of workshops.


In a recent release by its National Director, Pastor Johnny C. Gaco he said that this is an opportunity for Filipinos to avail themselves of this priceless Thompson Chain Reference Bible which is being giving out free to registered participants only.

According to him, the workshops will be held in Tagbilaran on September 9-11, Zamboanga, September 20-22, Pagadian, Sept 23-25, Maddela, Sept 27-29. Others are Dumaguete City, November 29-December 1, Bacolod City, December 2-4, while that of CSM Paranaque, will come up on December 9-11

Gaco noted that TBII seeks to motivate God's workers toward Spirit-directed Bible study, which will enable clear and effective communication of God's word adding that the ultimate aim is produce mature reproducing followers of Jesus Christ who live their lives in accordance with His Word.

On how TBII came to be in the Philippines he stated that in 1982, when Dr. John Jauchen, who’s the International Director & Bible Teacher, TBII, U.S.A., was ministering on the remote island of Mindanao in the southern part of the Philippines, and he noticed that good study tools were rare and in great demand in the country.

“Responding to the requests of Filipino pastor-friends therefore, Dr. Jauchen made an informal study of the major Study Bibles available at the time. He came to believe that the Thompson Chain-Reference Study Bible is one of the best one-volume study tools for people who were teaching and preaching on a regular basis. It has no study notes, forcing the student to rely on the Holy Spirit for his primary understanding of a passage,” he added.

Gaco stated that the Thompson Bible has more than 600 pages of reference material including a concordance, maps, and biographical helps and that its foundation is an excellent study system containing more than 4,200 topics, organized in an easy-to-use fashion.

In his words: “This study system facilitates the preparation of message series in a short amount of time. Using this Bible, the servant of God can preach topical, verse-by-verse, and biographical messages - all for the building up of strong Christians who will reproduce themselves in the lives of other people.”

In his own contribution, the facilitator, TBII workshop in Dumaguete City, Dr. Success Kanayo Uchime said that the TBII Dumaguete City workshop is going to be awesome. “You need to do an early registration to avoid last minute rush as limited space is there for participants - only 100 participants.”

He said that the venue for the Dumaguete workshop is Victory Christian Fellowship, located at #2/F Japi Building, 56, Ma. Cristina, (Beside Mero Bank), Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental and that the date is still November 29 - Dec. 1, 2010, starting at 7.00 am

“This is a two and a half day Seminar featuring the latest version of the Thompson Chain- Reference NIV Bible. Upon graduation the delegate will receive the latest copy of the Thompson NIV Bible direct from the USA, for free, a diploma qualifying the delegates to teach the Thompson Bible course and a personalized name inside the Bible,” he noted.

On the number of delegates required for workshop, Dr. Uchime said that the number of participants is limited to one hundred only, and that the registration fee is only P1, 600, “But early registration is P 1, 400.00, which is only on until October 30, 2010. Meals will also be served during the workshop.

For more information on the workshop, log on to TBII website: http://tbii.multiply.com/

Call2All Set For Next Global Congress in Los Angeles

Mark Anderson the President GPN/Call2All

Flowing from the experiences of the last year’s Hong Kong world congress, the Call2All is again warming up for another epoch making global event this time in Los Angeles, United States of America (USA).


Speaking on this latest development, the President, Global Pastors Network/Call2All (GPN/Call2All), Mark AndersonMark Anderson said that the work on the Great Commission is accelerating rapidly. “What you and I do in this next season will be critically important. As a key Christian I would like to ask you to invest some of your time with Call2all over the next year.”

He further stated: “We are going to hold another global congress like Hong Kong but it will be much larger at the end of next year. This will be held in Los Angeles. Leading up to this five-day event we will be holding congresses in six other locations around the world. Some of them have just been posted on our website www.call2all.org.

He pointed out that the schedule for the regional congresses are as follows: November 9-12, Bogota, Columbia; November 22-23, Amsterdam Consultation, Holland; January 30-February 2nd, Malta and then May 16-19, Jakarta, Indonesia.

Mark Anderson noted that soon they will be adding two dates in India to join this list adding that these regional congresses are designed as a build-up toward the global event in Los Angeles.

“Could you help with three things, set one of these dates aside on your calendar, mobilize Christian leaders from your region to participate and also be part of the Los Angeles event,” he stated.

He observed that in the coming days he will be expanding on the elements of this 14 month vision adding that they are going to trust God for specific outcomes with each of their seven themes including unengaged, unreached people groups.

“Be watching for registration information over the next few weeks. Go to our website for more information,” he added.

Mark Anderson said that the Amsterdam consultation is aim at bringing together Christian leaders from across the world to focus and strategize together on what it will take to complete the Great Commission in our lifetime.

He noted that the Malta Consultation will ensure that specific organization goals and commitments are set at these Congresses, while the same applies to that of Jakarta, Indonesia.

For more information on these events, log on to Call2All website: http://www.call2all.org/  

Nigeria Police Accused of Undermining the Rule of Law

A team of the Nigerian police

The widespread corruption in the Nigerian Police Forces has been identified as the reason for the abuses against ordinary citizens which undermines the rule of law in the country.


This is the thrust of the report recently released by the Human Right Watch in Nigeria and it has therefore called on the Nigerian authorities to take immediate steps to improve budgetary transparency in the police force and to investigate and bring to justice police officers at all levels implicated in corrupt practices.

With the title of the 102-page report as: “‘Everyone’s in on the GameGame’: Corruption and Human Rights Abuses by the Nigeria Police Force,” it documents the myriad forms of police corruption in Nigeria.

The report also shows how institutionalized extortion, a profound lack of political will to reform the force and impunity combine to make police corruption a deeply embedded problem.

Basic Rights of all Nigerians Threatened

Commenting on the report, senior West Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch, Corinne Dufka said: “The long-term failure of the Nigerian authorities to address police bribery, extortion, and wholesale embezzlement threatens the basic rights of all Nigerians.”

She noted that the report is based on interviews with more than 145 victims of and witnesses to police corruption in Nigeria and that they include market traders, commercial drivers, sex workers, criminal suspects, and victims of common crimes; rank-and-file and senior-level police officers; federal government officials; judges, prosecutors, and lawyers; religious and civil society leaders; journalists; diplomats; and members of an armed vigilante group.

Police Works in Difficult and Often Dangerous Conditions

According to her, HRW’s research revealed that many Nigerian police officers conduct themselves in an exemplary manner, working in difficult and often dangerous conditions. “However, it also showed that corruption and abusive behavior within the Nigeria Police Force is endemic. One police sergeant lamented to Human Rights Watch that corruption is like ‘a disease in all of us’.”

On the high level of extortion and bribery, Dufka said that the report documents how, on a daily basis, countless Nigerians traveling on the country’s roads, buying or selling at markets, running daily errands, or working in their offices are accosted by armed police officers demanding bribes.

She observed that to extort money, these officers frequently threaten victims and commit human rights abuses adding that in some areas the extortion at police roadblocks, ostensibly put in place to combat the rampant crime that afflicts many Nigerian communities, has taken on the nature of a standardized “toll.”

“The officers at the roadblocks make little attempt to hide their collection of money, exposing the near total lack of will on the part of senior police officers and government authorities to hold officers accountable,” she added.

Nigerians Routinely Subjected to Arbitrary Arrest

She further said that the research revealed that people refusing to pay bribes are routinely subjected to arbitrary arrest, unlawful detention, and threats until they or their family members negotiate payment for their release.

“Extortion-related confrontations between the police and motorists often escalate into more serious abuses. The evidence suggests that police officers have on numerous occasions severely beaten, sexually assaulted, or shot to death ordinary citizens who failed to pay the bribes demanded,” she noted.

Dufka said that the research also shows that the frequency of such acts of extortion has also led many Nigerians to become as complacent about police corruption as they are distrustful of the police adding that as one market trader put it to Human Rights Watch: “When you have a problem, you should expect the police to help you, to safeguard life and property – but instead, they go the other way. The police are not protecting us; they are fetching money for their own pockets.”

Christian Aid Mission’s Relief Assistance in Pakistan Makes Great Difference

Pakistani Children line up for food

The Christian Aid Mission’s (CAM) relief assistance to Pakistan is really making great difference, though there are still now many more needs in the country as a result of the worst flooding in 80 years that struck the country recently.


This indication is contained in a report by the organization adding that Christians in Pakistan, who have been suffering a new a wave of terror from Islamic extremists and criminals, are now facing terrible flooding.

It noted that they are desperately in need of more emergency help now stressing that the eye-witness reports from indigenous missionaries say that Christians in many areas are under a virtual state of siege.

According to the report, more than 1,500 people have died and 200,000 Christian families are among the 20 million affected by the disaster adding that three million are homeless. “The flooding began in the frontier regions of Peshawar, northwest Pakistan and across the border in Taliban-infested Afghanistan. However, they have now spread downward throughout the country.”

It further stated: “Christian Aid Mission had established an emergency fund to help care for survivors after Pastor Rashid Emmanuel and his brother were murdered during a court appearance in Faisalabad, Pakistan last month. The brothers were brought to court under draconian blasphemy laws designed to persecute Christians and other minorities. Since then, the needs have expanded beyond persecution.”

“Those wishing to help the widows, orphans and other survivors of anti-Christian violence in Pakistan and the flood victims may give online or send contributions to Christian Aid Mission, Box 9037, Charlottesville, VA 22906. Gifts should be designated to fund code 470PERS,” it added.

The CAM report has it that the native missionaries are grateful for the help they are sending but the needs are increasing every day, hence the need for them to send more help.

It observed that most of the central provinces have been flooded including the rich agricultural heartland of Punjab and that bridges are out everywhere downstream, and in some places, like the Swat Valley, all the bridges are gone! “There is a growing fear that cholera will spread and the reconstruction will take years.”

“Meanwhile, there is still a need for ongoing relief to thousands of Christian families who were burned out of their homes and shops during the organized persecution campaigns that began last month,” it addedd.

It noted that after the murders of the Emmanuel brothers by masked gunmen, thousands of Muslims went on a rampage in the nearby Christian communities of Warispura and Daunagar and that automatic weapons fire and rioting continued for days. “Christian lawyers say the police did nothing to stop the looting of Christian shops and homes.”

It continued: “Christian leaders begged Christian Aid to alert Christians in America and around the world to pray for them - and response is starting to arrive. We will continue to send help to both the flood victims and persecuted believers in Pakistan, just as we have for many years."

We note that Christian Aid Mission sends financial support to 732 indigenous ministries that deploy over 75,000 native missionaries and they are taking the gospel of Christ to more than 3000 previously unreached tribes and nations in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe.

These 732 indigenous missions operate hundreds of Bible institutes and missionary training centers (146 in China alone) where thousands of Christian workers are being trained for future missionary service. These missionaries evangelize unreached people in countries where American missionaries are no longer allowed to go.

For more information on this and others, log in to Christian Aid Mission website: http://www.christianaid.org/.

German Police Chief Advocates Updating of Human Rights Education in the Philippines

Philippines President
Benigo Noynoy Aquino

The German Police Director, Hubert Müller, has advocated the updating of the Human Rights Education curriculum in mandatory career courses in the Philippines National Police (PNP).


Müller, who is also the Head of the Police Training Institute in Bavaria, Germany, stated this during his last month’s official visit to the country to meet with partner organizations of the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) – a non-profit organization (NGO) based in Munich, Germany.

He appreciated the support of HSF and its other partner organizations in the country for facilitating his visit to the Philippines acknowledging that the time he spent meeting with top-level officers of the PNP, briefings from key PNP offices is very rewarding.

Müller, stated that the sharing of experiences through the talks and presentations he delivered to key police officers especially the field officers, gave him the opportunity to broaden his knowledge and also have a first hand experience about police work in the country.

He gave lectures/presentations on key topics in relation to the observance of the rule of law and human rights in police operations, professional ethics in police training and service, and the training program in Bavaria, Germany.

And as a result of his high-level meetings and office/unit briefings, Müller, identified specific policy and operational areas in PNP for possible review and/or enhancement.

Apart from the interaction with the PNP, Müller also attended the regional “Community-based Dialogue Session on Human Rights between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP,) and Civil Society Organizations and Local Communities” for Region 3 held at the Aquino Convention Center in Tarlac City.

Speaking to the participants, he expressed his positive feedback on the results of the dialogue session, noting that the discussions were candid, and that the interaction between the security forces and the civilian sector were cordial.

According to him, this is an important and interesting activity to help better understand each other’s situation and work together toward the common good.

It needs to be observed that HSF has been active in the Philippines since 1979, extending development assistance mainly in human resource development from training and education, research and publications, to project development.

The organization is also involved in the implementation of human rights programs and projects, in particular the PNP Human Rights Development Program and the regional dialogue sessions between local communities and the security forces.

It also initiated programs towards Asian integration and the Association of South East Asian Nation – European Union (ASEAN-EU) cooperation, specifically in the areas of economic and political cooperation and integration, trade and investment, and environmental management

Further to that, HSF main intervention comes in the form of technical assistance provided in cooperation with local partners. The project activities are based on long-term partnerships, at least over a three-year project cycle, implemented together with its partners. And its current project term covers the period 2008-2010 in priority areas in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

For more information on HSF’s activities log on to their website: http://www.hsf.org.ph/

Nigerian Govt. Lauds the ICT Sector

Nigerian President, Dr.Goodluck Jonathan

The Nigerian Federal Government in giving appraisals to the Information Communication Technology (ICT) of the economy said that the sector is as much important as the power sector to the nation’s development.


The Vice President, Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo, stated this in Abuja the nation’s capital, during the flagging off ceremony of the third Ordinary Session of the African Union’s Communication and Information Technologies Ministerial Conference which took place at the Transcorp Hilton hotel.

Conference an Opportunity to Brainstorm

Vice President who represented the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, described the conference as an opportunity to brainstorm and come up with a holistic approach to the rapid development of ICT in the country stressing that ICT has become the life wire of both business and governance and as such, Africa cannot be left behind.

He noted that the benefits of the appreciable progress already made in ICT advancement in the country includes the massive inflow of investment in the sector from USD50 million in the year 2000 to the present USD12 billion.

Arc. Sambo said the investment has generated employment for millions of Nigerians as well as promoted business and services, and also improved efficiency and productivity.

“Our next focus must be on the development and application of broadband and improvement in internet services to accelerate development in areas of national security, e-governance, tele-medicine, public safety and education, amongst others,” he stated.

In her welcome address, the Minister of Information and Communication, Prof Dora Akunyili, said that in order for Africa to harness ICT for sound economic and social policies, continental and national ICT strategies must be integrated into broader policy agendas and coordinated with different policy agenda such as Poverty Alleviation Programs.

ICT Crucial to National Development

She added that the conference, as the highest ICT policy making entity has set up policies that will make ICT affordable to the people as well as exploring the best ways to promote the development of the ICT sector in the continent.

The Minister stated: “The ICT’s role in national development is crucial for the overall process of development. South Africa is slated to host the Extraordinary Session of this conference from November 2nd - 5th, 2010.”

It would be noted that the conference is a follow up to the first and second editions which was hosted by Egypt and it signifies a collective vision for ICT as a fundamental premise for establishing an economy based on knowledge and innovation.

The conference was attended by African Ministers of Information and Communication, heads of Telecom Agencies, stakeholders in the industry and delegates from other African countries.

Federal Appointments

In a related development the Government has made some appointment into the Federal Executive Council (FEC) following the appointment by the President, Dr. Jonathan of the Chief Economic Adviser and Special Adviser on Policy.

The new Chief Economic Adviser is Professor (Mrs.) Precious Kassey Garba and until her appointment, she had served as Professor of Economics and Dean, Faculty of The Social Sciences at the University of Ibadan. She was also Vice President of the Nigerian Economic Society between 2003 and 2007.

She is also a recipient of several prizes in academic research and author of many research works on Economics.

Also appointed is Professor Dan Adebiyi as the Special Adviser on Policy Monitoring and Performance Evaluation the President.

Professor Adebiyi is a seasoned policy analyst who has served government in various capacities and at present a member of the Presidential Advisory Council. He has his degrees in Political Science, International Relations, and Government and Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan and the Harvard University, USA.

Nigerian Vice President Admonishes Politicians on Good Conduct - By Success Kanayo Uchime

Nigeria Vice president
Arc. Mohammed Namadi

The Nigerian Vice President, Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo, has called on Nigerian politician not to see politics and elections as fighting of wars, but to see it as a means of marketing of ideas and beliefs for national development.


The Vice President made this fact known to politicians at the meeting he had with the Executives and members of the coalition of political parties from Kaduna State who paid him a courtesy call in the State House, Abuja, the nation’s capital on Thursday, August 5.

New Concept of one and new Nigeria

The overwhelmed Vice President who met with a total of about 44 political parties described the meeting as “a new concept of one and new Nigeria” adding that for any meaning full elections to take place, politicians must co-operate for its success and delivery.

Arc. Sambo noted that as Nigeria is celebrating its 50th anniversary, government is determined to conduct a civilized election come 2011 stressing that the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is vigorously pursuing the one man one vote concept and promised that each vote will count.

He used the occasion to extol the qualities of the President describing him as a detribalized and patriotic Nigerian whose disposition is against ethnic, sectional or regional divides.

He further stated that government is fully committed to the provision of basic infrastructure needed for the development of the country citing the efforts of the government in the areas of Hydro Power generation to include the planned award of contract in the next eight weeks of the Zungeru Hydro Power project, which is expected to generate over 700 megawatts of power to the national grid.

“The other one is the Mambilla Hydro Power project which has three different Dams and whose documentation and award is slated for the first quarter of 2011. It is also expected to generate 2600 megawatts,” he stated.

The Vice President observed that an Eextra-ministerial committee that was set up on April 27 this year and chaired by Engr. Olapade, which comprises of members from Ministry of Environment, Federal Ministry of Power, Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and three co-opted members from the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and Nigeria Electricity Energy Commission (NERC) were charged with the responsibility of examining the potentials of establishing a coal power plant.

Visit is to Show Solidarity

In his own contribution, the leader of the delegation and who is also the National Chairman of National Democrats (ND), Mr. Abdul Isiaq stated that the purpose of their visit is to show solidarity to the Goodluck/Sambo initiative toward contesting in the 2011 polls.

He congratulated the Vice President on his assumption of office and felicitated with him on his birthday while enjoining him to replicate all the laudable foot steps he had left behind in Kaduna State at the national level noting that he had laid a solid foundation in Kaduna for all to see.

The New Beginning

Mr. Isiaq noted that this shows a new beginning as various political parties are going out of their political parties to nominate candidates that have distinguished themselves in the pursuit of their endeavors.

He posited that this is the beginning of a new era and that they owe it as a moral duty to come out and support both the President and his Vice ticket as it is the guaranteed ticket for moving Nigeria to the next level.

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Japan Lauds IITA’s Research in Root, Tuber Crops - By Success Kanayo Uchime

African coffee farmer at work

The Japanese Government has praised the Nigerian based International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) on its recent research breakthrough in root and tuber crops which has produced several innovative outputs such as the propagation of yam through vine cuttings.


This fact was made known by the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Toshitsugu Uesawa, who was represented by Mr. Shigeru Hamano, at the commissioning of Japan-assisted projects in IITA-Abuja station adding that IITA’s efforts have contributed toward sustainable development of agriculture in developing countries.

Partners Called to Support Yam Research

He thereby called for more action from partners to support yam research noting that the Institute’s research efforts are consequently contributing to reducing poverty, increasing food production, and also improving livelihoods in rural communities.

Mr. Uesawa observed that IITA’s role has been great despite the strides it has made and that the envoy feels that more attention should be given to yam research to prevent the threats of food crises in Africa.

According to him: “Root and tuber crops provide a veritable cushion in times of food crises in Africa and tapping the potential of these crops will result in high payoffs in the region.”

In his own contribution, the IITA Yam Physiologist, Dr. Hidehiko Kikuno, called on farmers to tap the available agricultural innovations from IITA and also to maximize the use of the facilities.

Dr. Kikuno, who has successfully propagated yam through vine cuttings, demonstrated to farmers the practicability of the technology. He explained that for yam production, seeds constitute between 30 and 50 percent of production cost and that the propagation ratio is low (1:5-10) using traditional methods.

“But with the vine propagation technique, the propagation rate would be high with a possibility to reduce the cost of seed yam.”

Also speaking during the even, a staff, Department of Crop Science, University of Abuja, Dr. Beatrice Aighewi said the IITA station in Abuja was strategic especially for capacity building of students in universities around the north central zone and farmers.

She said the facility would be used for teaching and research, adding that “it would in the long run improve the fortunes of Nigeria’s agriculture.”

The Government to Mobilize Farmers

A top official in the Federal Capital Territory, Shuibu Adamu, said the government would mobilize farmers to tap the benefits of the facilities especially as it relates to processing adding that the knowledge to be acquired from the projects would help farmers in cutting down post-harvest losses, which affect all tuber crops. “With the processing center, the problem of storage of yam will be a thing of the past.”

Part of the facilities commissioned by the Japanese envoy included a root and tuber processing center with processing machines, soil preparation shade, and a screen house.

The projects were financed at a cost of over US$82,000 from the Japanese Grass Roots Project, which aims to improve the livelihoods of rural people.

About IITA

IITA as an international non-profit R4D organization was established in 1967, and it’s governed by a Board of Trustees, and supported primarily by the CGIAR. It develops agricultural solutions with its partners to tackle hunger and poverty.

Its award winning research for development (R4D) is based on focused, authoritative thinking anchored on the development needs of sub-Saharan Africa. The Institute works with partners in Africa and beyond to reduce producer and consumer risks, enhance crop quality and productivity, and also generates wealth from agriculture.

Source: http://www.iita.org/