News

VCR's Provide New Gospel Outlet in USSR

According to reports from ISSACHAR Frontier Mission Research, the Soviet government recently announced its citizens would, for the first time, be permitted to purchase and own video cassette players.At the moment,' said ISSACHAR founder and president George K Otis Ill. "units are available only in limited quantity, and tend to be rather expensive bat they are now legally available."

Otis went on to say. "Whether or not the government fully calculated the potential ramifications of its move, the fact is that it has opened up a significant new avenue for ministry inside the Soviet Union.

"Most Soviet citizenry in European Russia live in large, communal apt'smenL villages housing hundreds of fatuities. Whenever anyone in the 'neighborhood acquires anything novel (i.e., new technology), it is common knowledge within 48 hours, The owner, like it or not, will command a great deal of atlenton for many months, Should he be a believer who decides to use his apartment as a 'home theatre' to show Western video programming (in Russian), especially of a 'forbidden subject (i.e.,

Window Closes in Kuwait

Bureaucrats b percent of Kuwait's population are under in for working only 56 minutes in a six hour day. An efficiency drive on government workers threatens the jobs of foreigners, who make up 60 percent of the people in Kuwait With the end of the oil beam has come calls for greater "Kuwaitizaton" of the work force.

Palestinians, Iraqis, Egyptians, Iranians, and Asians may be the first to go. The Kuwait News Agency observed that the number of civil servants in most other countries does not exceed 3 percent of the population. —J'idse religion), he is sure to attract steady audiences.

"Following the screening of programs dealing with science and the Bible, or the testimonies of famous

Western personalities, living room discussions are sure to delve into lifechanging truths. Several trial rims of this approach have already yielded outstanding results.

Delegation Finds Persecution in Nepal

A delegation of British and U.S. officials said it found ample evidence of outright persecution and torture of Christians during its recent six day investigation inside Nepal.

The team, which included two members of British Parliament and two representatives of U.S. congressional staff, interviewed individuals who have suffered religious rights abuses, attended worship services, and discussed the situation with Nepalese Christian leaders.

Missionaries contacted by Missionmy News Service said the report confirmed what they already knew. According to one source, human rights become less important outside the Kathmandu Valley and away from the sizeable foreign population. Apparently most of the abuses are aimed at tribal groups. If complaints are filed against him, a person who leads others to the Lord can receive a six year sentence equivalent to the punishment given for manslaughter. People who are baptized can be jailed for one year.

Sponsored by Christian Response International (CRI), the delegation would like to see Nepalese law conform to the U.N. Declaration on Human Rights. Specifically, they are pressing for tolerance and fairness toward Christians. According to CR1 Director Rev. Jeff Collins, "It is urgent that Christians throughout the world come immediately to the aid of the persecuted Nepalese believers." he suggested writing letters to the Nepalese ambassador in Washington and praying for religious freedom in the Hindu country.

But one missionary feels such action could lead to unfortunate consequences for Nepalese believers. "I have very grave doubts that it is the proper response," she said. "In the Asian way, you corner the government and force them to respond." If they react negatively, she said, the government could lash out at believers or restrict foreign visas. "With this kind of reaction, I feel we can hurt the church.'

Christians look at Western pressure on their government with mixed feelings. The Nepalese church would like their government to think of Christians as their best citizens, she said. Christians feel "privileged" to suffer for the Lord, in a worship service someone will say, "I have a trial on such and such a day" and people will pray for them. "Sometimes they say they have been acquitted, and there is great rejoicing.'