Christian Aid’s Chicago Event to Focus on African Native Missions

BY SUCCESS KANAYO UCHIME

The forthcoming mission outreach events in Chicago fixed for May 19, 2011, will focus on the needs of native missions in Africa.


This is contained in a report in the monthly online bulletin - Mission Insider of the Christian Aid Mission (CAM) (www.christianaid.org) adding that the northern Illinois and Indiana focus has been called in response to "a new wave of interest" in African native missions from pastors and leaders in the Chicago area.

(Bill Bray of the Christian Aid Mission)

Speaking on this recent development, a Communication Staff in CAM Virginia headquarters Bill BrayBill Bray said that during the team's visit to Chicago, they will also make a presentation and exhibit at the National Black Evangelical Association Annual Convention in Oak Lawn.

He noted that they’ll also do same at the annual Focus Pastors Conference at Moody Bible Institute, and the U-Turn 2011 Momentum Conference, Dyer, Indiana. In addition they will speak at many church and mission groups almost every night.

"This is the first time we have ever done something like this in Chicago. However, we have to respond to this new wave of interest - especially now with so many African countries in turmoil, revolution and unprecedented church growth,” he stated.

According to Bray, the month-long outreach to Chicago will feature a reunion banquet for friends of the mission, churches, individuals as well as interested guests on May 19. The "all nations" fundraising event at the Omega Banquet Hall in Naperville will answer questions and offer an opportunity for more people to get involved in the reformation in foreign missions.

He stated: “The celebrative evening begins promptly at 6 pm at the restaurant, 4S040 Route 59, Naperville. Reservations are required. For advance tickets contact Dr. David Rhoads at 630-668-2020 or Dr. David Rhoads at Christian Aid Mission, 800-977-5650.

He pointed out that an exciting presentation team from CAM will share the latest news from North Africa and focus on the amazing power of native missions in Africa and that a special report is expected from Rae Burnett who will have just returned from a two-month inspection tour of ministries in Africa.

“Christian Aid is the oldest and largest indigenous mission's agency in the world, assisting over 800 indigenous ministries to 3000 language groups in 122 countries. The mission aids projects in many of the 54 countries on the African continent,” Bray also stated.


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China Warns Philippines Over South Sea Oil Drilling

BY SUCCESS KANAYO UCHIME

The Chinese authorities Thursday sent a warning signal over the Philippines plans to commence oil exploration in the South China Sea. And this is coming barely few days after Philippines signified its intention of possible drilling there.


This revelation is contained in a report by the Agence France-Presse (AFP) adding that the Philippines Department of Energy Manila said that the United Kingdom (UK) based Forum Energy had completed a seismic survey for the Reed Bank, near the disputed Spratly Islands.

The AFP report noted that the Spratlys are called the Nansha Islands in Chinese and claimed by Beijing.

(Hu Jintao, Chinese President)

Speaking on this development, the Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang YuJiang Yu said China holds indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and the adjacent sea waters.

She noted that any activities by countries or companies to explore for oil or gas in the sea waters in China's jurisdiction without the permission of the Chinese government will constitute a violation of China's sovereignty and will be illegal and invalid.

Jiang did not make any direct reference to the Philippines or Forum Energy, nor did she say the survey area was actually in waters under Chinese jurisdiction.

Chinese embassy officials in the Philippines earlier requested a copy of the Forum Energy announcement, but did not return subsequent calls by AFP.

Officials of Forum Energy on Wednesday said it used the survey data to evaluate the commercial potential of the block and to "help identify the best location for possible appraisal wells to be drilled."

It noted that the Reed Bank lies about 150 kilometers (90 miles) east of the reputedly oil-rich Spratlys, which are claimed in whole or in part by Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines and China.

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Death Toll on Myanmar’s Quake Hits 65

BY SUCCESS KANAYO UCHIME

Following the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that devastated Japanese people, another earthquake has happened in the Southeast Asian nation of Myanmar on Thursday.


In a report by the CNN Wire Staff (http://edition.cnn.com), it noted that the death toll from the powerful earthquake 6.8-magnitude has gone up to 65 adding that at least 111 people were injured.

(The devastating effect of the Myanmar earthquake)

Quoting the Myanmar Radio and the U.S. Geological Survey, CNN said the earthquake happened near Myanmar’s borders with China, Thailand and Laos adding that it was a relatively shallow quake, which can be very destructive.

The U.S Geological Survey according to the report said that the quake had a depth of 142 miles (230 kilometers), but it later revised its estimate to say the quake was 6 miles (10 km) deep, putting it fairly close to the surface.

It noted that Myanmar, which is also known as Burma, has been badly hit by natural disasters in the past few years and that a powerful cyclone in 2008 left an estimated 100,000 people dead, and another one two years later left 70,000 people homeless according to United Nations (U.N).

CNN said the quake was significantly less powerful than the one that hit Japan two weeks ago, causing a tsunami and leaving thousands dead or missing stressing that the quake also prompted fears of a nuclear meltdown.

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Churchnet, New Online Christian Social Networking Site Launched

BY SUCCESS KANAYO UCHIME

It’s amazing to note the formal launching of Churchnet, a new online Christian Social Networking Site (CSN) (http://www.churchnet.co.cc), which its owners say will carter for the new trend of people relying on online social networking sites like facebook, myspace, twitter, etc., to get across to friends and family.


Speaking on this new development, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ayofem Concepts, the Nigerian born, Oluremi Bamidele in a statement said there is an overwhelming need for churches to provide an online community to cater for their members.

(Churchnet)

According to him, the CSN application is geared towards helping church members, workers, ministers and pastors get much more involved in the day to day activities of the church stressing that it is also an online community where church members can share ideas, discuss spiritual matters, seek Christian related employments, meet and interact with members of their church all over the world.

“They can also listen, view and watch life changing messages from matured men of God from their church. Through our online Christian Social Networking (CSN), members can view each others profiles, pictures, share thoughts and ideas also create groups,” he stated.

On the control user registration, Bamidele pointed out that registration of members is carried out individually, but that it is possible to setup the application so that the site administrator(s) can decide either to reject or accept an application if the individual is not a member of the church.

He stated: “Also member’s access can be restricted to certain pages, and protection is giving to each member as to the information to be shown to others. The administrator(s) can also delete members that are disturbing other members unnecessarily or not complying with the terms of use of the site.”

Bamidele observed that their system is easy to use and provide unparallel Christian community package that will benefit all members of the church, giving them a family-like atmosphere online and providing refreshing spiritual experience on the internet away from all other negative influence on the internet.

“We are available to provide additional information, product demonstration and other services required by your church. Also we have uploaded a demo site to give you an insight into the working of the Christian Social Networking (CSN) Application,” he also stated.

And to avail yourself of the opportunities inherent in this new Christian Social Networking Site, log on to http://www.churchnet.co.cc/

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Nigerian Extremists Plan to Disrupt April elections

BY SUCCESS KANAYO UCHIME

The Muslim Extremists in Nigeria are seriously planning on how to disrupt the forthcoming general elections in April by stirring up unrest in some parts of the Northern States.


This view is contained in a report by the United Kingdom based registered Christian Charity organization, Release International (www.releaseinternational.org) adding that they have launched fresh attacks on Christians and churches in Plateau.

(Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Nigerian President)

It noted that in Plateau state, central Nigeria, bombers appeared to be targeting church goers when they detonated a device in Nasawara Gwom, a mainly Christian district of Jos, on Sunday. However, they succeeded only in killing themselves and damaging a nearby shop.

It observed that the intended targets of this attack were apparently members of the nearby Church of Christ In Nigeria and the Evangelical Church Winning All adding that the militants also planted a second bomb behind the headquarters of the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministry (MFMM) but it was discovered and made safe.

“Churches were already on high alert – after warnings of bomb attacks. Release sources suggest that extremists may have been trying to sidestep heightened security around churches, by targeting Christians on their journeys home,” the report stated.

It continued: “Release sources in Nigeria say that extremists appear to be trying to whip up religious violence to create a state of emergency in Plateau ahead of the elections on April 9. Last week, security officials intercepted a truckload of explosives and ammunition in Jos.”

It noted that Release partners also reported that three other people, said to be Christians, were killed earlier on Sunday – and six others stabbed.

Speaking on this latest development, the Archbishop of Jos, The Most Rev. Dr. Benjamin Kwashi, stated: 'The only real answer is prayer. I trust God to defend us. I have been threatened with death personally three times. In all three times, the Lord has rescued me.”

Quoting Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), the report said that violence continues in other parts of Nigeria. In Bauchi state, more than 4,000 people fled their homes after armed assailants launched night raids on villages in the Tafawa Balewa area on March 10. Extremists burnt down 13 churches and more than 450 homes.



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Nigerian Govt. Set to Implement Key Economic Policies

BY SUCCESS KANAYO UCHIME

The Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has said a special technical committee that will include members of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) will be set up soon to ensure that key economic policies of government are implemented to the letter.


Speaking at an interactive session with representatives of the MAN in Lagos on Monday, March 21, President Jonathan maintained that he has the political will to implement all policies that will step up the living conditions of Nigerians and improve the economy of the country.

(Dr Goodluck E Jonathan of Nigeria)

According to President Jonathan, the manufacturing sector is key to the realization of the nation’s Vision 20/2020 aspiration, hence a team of technocrats from MAN, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and related bodies as well as key government officials will constitute a special committee to be coordinated by the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, that will deliberate regularly on policies that will improve the nation’s economy.

“If we must create jobs, we must manufacture. This is a critical sector and I have the political will to implement any policy that will improve the economy of this country,” the President said.

President Jonathan urged the manufacturers to examine the nation’s laws critically and intimate government of any law that impedes economic growth, assuring that such will be tabled before the next National Assembly for amendment.

The President said the issue of multiple taxation, for instance, will become a thing of the past as the new National Tax Policy to be endorsed soon will address it and related issues.

President Jonathan also expressed Government’s desire to reduce production costs by inviting manufacturers of imported commodities that are in high demand among Nigerians to set up production factories in the country.

Speaking earlier, MAN president, Chief Kola Jamodu, commended the Jonathan administration for various intervention funds granted the textile and agricultural sectors as well as the small and medium scale enterprises, noting that the grants have helped in no small way to revive and expand the sectors.

Jamodu also lauded government for protecting the nation’s economic interest by not hurriedly signing the Economic Community of West African States/ European Union (ECOWAS/EU) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), while calling for a more critical look at the document to accommodate national interest.

He said the private sector holds the reforms of the Jonathan administration to heart, noting that the interactive session at the instance of Mr. President “is a clear testimony of the deep and abiding rapport that exists between the present administration and the private sector”.

While praising President Jonathan for his commitment to infrastructural development, improved power supply and uninterrupted supply of petrol in the country, the MAN president said the body is developing a blueprint for accelerating the growth of the manufacturing sector and will present it to government soon.

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Three Filipino Drug Convicts to be Executed in China

BY SUCCESS KANAYO UCHIME

Chinese Government has set coming week as the date for the execution of the three Filipinos, Ramon Credo, 42, Sally Villanueva, 32, and Elizabeth Batin, 38 that were recently convicted of drug offences.


This development is contained in a statement by the Agence France-Presse (AFP) adding that the Philippines Government said it will no more make any appeals to salvage their lives.

Speaking on this, the foreign department spokesman, Ed Malaya said the Philippines government respects the laws of China and the final judgment of the Chinese People's Court. "All sentences will be carried out in one day."

(Philippines President Benigo “Noynoy” Aquino III)

He noted that Chinese court officials had informed Philippine authorities that the three convicts will be executed next Wednesday adding that Philippine authorities had gone to great lengths in a bid to save the three, who were convicted in 2008 of trafficking heroin, and made repeated appeals for their sentences to be commuted to life in jail.

Malaya noted that the government had insisted that the three, who are among 227 Filipinos jailed in China for drug offences, were from poor families and were duped into becoming drug mules by crime gangs. “Vice President Jejomar BinayJejomar Binay went to Beijing last month to plead for their lives.”

He said Chinese authorities responded to his move only by delaying their executions stressing that they were originally scheduled to be executed in February, but said they would eventually be put to death.

“The foreign department said the relatives of the death row inmates had been informed of the impending executions, and arrangements were being made for them to leave for China to see them for the last time,” he also stated.


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