Afghan Constitutional Grand Council to Hold Pivotal Meeting Sunday (VOA)

'Loya Jirga,' composed of 500 of Afghanistan's most prominent citizens, will determine how Afghanistan is governed

10:38:41 AM    

VIETNAMESE HOUSE CHURCH LEADER SURVIVES ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
Organizes Prayer and Fasting Campaign to Release 48 Pastors (ANS)

HO CHI MINH CITY  (ANS) -- Prominent house church leader Nguyen Hong Quang narrowly escaped injury from a motorcycle accident staged by police on December 9 in a clumsy assassination attempt. Following a 24-hour imprisonment, he subsequently launched a prayer and fasting vigil for 48 pastors recently arrested by police for distributing Christian literature.

10:36:49 AM    

TURKMENISTAN: FROM BAD TO WORSE (ANS)

AUSTRALIA  (ANS) -- Turkmenistan is a former Soviet, Central Asian state, north of Iran and Afghanistan and south of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea. More than 91% of the population is Muslim (only 2.6% are Christian, mostly Orthodox). The nation is ruled with Soviet style oppression by President Saparmurat Niyazov, a totalitarian nationalist dictator who has created a personality cult around himself. Turkmenistan has a population of 5 million, and they have little chance to hear the gospel. Those who share the gospel, do so at great risk to their life and liberty

9:23:44 AM    

HO CHI MINH CITY, December 11 (Compass) -- News of clashes between Christians and public security police over Christian tract distribution has been pouring out of Vietnam since the opening of the 22nd Southeast Asia Games on December 5. The house churches, often zealous in their evangelism, have apparently organized the distribution of Christian tracts and literature featuring the testimonies of prominent Christian athletes, severely pushing the limits of religious freedom in Vietnam. By noon on December 10, at least 18 Christians were known to be in detention. Others were still missing. Meanwhile, the Rev. Nguyen Hong Quang, a prominent house church leader and religious freedom activist, survived an apparent assassination attempt on December 9. He threatened to organize street demonstrations if those detained over the literature distribution were not released. Although Vietnam recognizes two Protestant groups, dozens of house church organizations remain illegal and subject to official abuse. 

9:19:27 AM