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The Good Stuff. To Kill an American

You probably missed it in the rush of news last week, but there was actually a report that someone in Pakistan had published in a newspaper an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any American.

So an Australian dentist wrote an editorial the following day to let everyone know what an American is…so they would know when they found one. (Good one, mate!!!!)

Life Issues. Jason McElwain and Respect for Life

You may not know his name, but you have probably seen Jason McElwain in action. A recent videotape of his basketball exploits has touched an entire nation.

I pray that it does more than that.

McElwain, a senior at Greece Athena High School in upstate New York, is autistic. Like many autistic persons, he didn’t speak until he was five years old and has limited social skills. These didn’t stop him from serving as student manager of the basketball team. In two years, Jason never missed a game, practice, or workout. Coach Jim Johnson and the players wanted to reward McElwain for his dedication by letting him play in at least one game.

With four minutes left in the last game of the season, Jason entered the game to deafening cheers. After missing his first two shots, Jason hit six three-pointers, including one that seemed to be launched from a different zip code, and wound up as the game’s high scorer with twenty points.

After the buzzer, the crowd rushed the floor, and his teammates carried Jason off on their shoulders. Coach Johnson called what happened "as touching as any moment I have ever had in sports." Sportswriter Mike Lupica called it "as perfect a sports moment [as] . . . any of us will ever know about." The tape, which aired almost everywhere, made an autistic kid from upstate New York "the most famous basketball player anywhere."

While watching the news reports, I felt great for Jason and his family. As the grandfather of an autistic child, it was wonderful to see a reminder that these wonderful kids can be helped and can exceed our expectations. But, as a Christian, I was struck by a savage irony: At the same time that Americans were touched by one disabled child, countless disabled children in the West face annihilation.

For example, in the Netherlands, medical protocols allow for the killing of disabled infants. As Wesley Smith points out, "disabled" includes Down syndrome, hemophilia, and other conditions that don’t prevent people from living happy lives. All that matters is that the child’s death "serves the interests of their families."

Here in the United States, children with Down syndrome have been systematically "targeted for elimination." A combination of amniocentesis, abortion, and pressure from physicians has made bearing a child with Down syndrome an heroic act. Given this track record, can anyone seriously doubt what will happen as more disabilities can be detected through genetic screening? The pressures to abort children with possible disabilities will be immense. Just last Sunday, the New York Times Magazine had a chilling story about doctors being sued for "wrongful birth" because they have failed to warn the mother of defects in time for her to get an abortion.

It would be a shame if the sentimentality over the Jason story blinded us to the most important lessons we can learn from kids like Jason: What makes their lives worth celebrating is not what they do; it’s who they are. For me, what really mattered most was the love and respect shown to Jason by both his teammates and the crowd.

It’s a model for how all life should be treated, and anything less is missing the point altogether.

Turning Around the Mainline is the title of a new book by Dr. Thomas C. Oden, ecumenist, retired professor from Drew, and Confessing Movement board member. The book discusses the serious problems that exist in the "mainline denominations," identified as Evangelical Lutheran Church, Episcopal Church, United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church, United Church of Christ, United Church of Canada, American Baptist Church, and Disciples of Christ. Since 1965 the Disciples have lost 57% of their membership, the Presbyterians 44%, the United Church of Christ 37%, and the Episcopal Church 36%. The United Methodist Church has a lower loss rate than the others (if that is any consolation) with 25%.

Those churches are characterized not only by church leadership entrenched in liberal theology, by an emphasis on social action that depreciates sound doctrine and evangelistic concern, but also by an unwillingness to open their seminaries and their positions of influence to any kind of evangelical presence. In Oden’s words, they are "imploding" (collapsing from within). The inability (or refusal) of their leadership to change has demoralized churches and pastors and made them seem irrelevant to the world.

Yet, Oden urges persons who might otherwise be discouraged to stay the course. Division, he says, is not the answer, but renewed emphasis on the historic faith that holds us together. Oden identifies numbers of confessing church movements in the several denominations that are seeking to uphold the historic faith of the churches. He also speaks of the importance of these groups working together. God has not forsaken the mainline churches and Oden encourages us to work for their renewal.

This book is new off the press (February 2006). It can be ordered through Cokesbury or through Baker Books.

United Methodists worldwide are preparing for their annual gatherings, where they will examine issues facing the church and strengthen their spiritual life together. In 122 regional areas across the globe, United Methodists will meet to approve budgets, receive reports from conference boards and agencies, review ministries, adopt policy and programs of mission and ministry and pass resolutions. The church has 11 million members worldwide.

The 63 regional U.S. gatherings will begin May 10-13 when the Troy Annual Conference convenes in Burlington, Vt., and will conclude June 25 with the adjournment of the California-Pacific Annual Conference in Redlands, Calif.

Annual conference meeting dates and places are:

Dakotas, June 7-10, Watertown, S.D.

Detroit, May 19-21, Adrian, Mich.

East Ohio, June 19-22, Lakeside, Ohio

Illinois Great Rivers, June 8-11, Peoria, Ill.

Iowa, June 8-11, Ames, Iowa

Minnesota, May 30-June 2, Saint Cloud, Minn.

North Indiana, June 1-3, West Lafayette, Ind.

Northern Illinois, June 11-14, St. Charles, Ill.

South Indiana, June 8-10, Bloomington, Ind.

West Michigan, June 1-4, Grand Rapids, Mich.

West Ohio, June 11-14, Lakeside, Ohio

Wisconsin, June 11-14, Middleton, Wis.

Baltimore-Washington, May 25-27, Baltimore

Central Pennsylvania, June 8-10, Grantham, Pa.

Eastern Pennsylvania, June 21-23, Philadelphia

Greater New Jersey, June 1-3, King of Prussia, Pa.

New England, June 7-10, Wenham, Mass.

New York, June 7-10, Hempstead, N.Y.

North Central New York, June 2-4, Liverpool, N.Y.

Peninsula-Delaware, June 9-11, Princess Anne, Md.

Troy, May 10-13, Burlington, Vt.

West Virginia, June 8-11, Buckhannon, W.Va.

Western New York, June 9-11, Buffalo, N.Y.

Western Pennsylvania, June 15-18, Grove City, Pa.

Wyoming, June 1-3, Scranton, Pa.

Arkansas, June 11-14, Hot Springs, Ark.

Central Texas, June 4-7, Waco, Texas

Kansas East, May 31-June 3, Baldwin City, Kan.

Kansas West, May 24-26, Salina, Kan.

Louisiana, June 4-7, Shreveport, La.

Missouri, June 9-12, Springfield, Mo.

Nebraska, June 14-17, Kearney, Neb.

New Mexico, May 31-June 3, Glorieta, N.M.

North Texas, June 4-7, Plano, Texas

Northwest Texas, June 7-10, Midland, Texas

Oklahoma, May 29-June 1, Tulsa, Okla.

Oklahoma Indian Missionary, June 8-11, Anadarko, Okla.

Rio Grande, June 1-4, Abilene, Texas

Southwest Texas, June 7-10, Corpus Christi, Texas

Texas, May 28-June 1, Houston

Alabama-West Florida, June 4-7, Mobile, Ala.

Florida, June 1-3, Lakeland, Fla.

Holston, June 11-14, Lake Junaluska, N.C.

Kentucky, June 6-8, Bowling Green, Ky.

Memphis, June 4-7, Paducah, Ky.

Mississippi, June 11-14, Jackson, Miss.

North Alabama, June 1-3, Birmingham, Ala.

North Carolina, June 14-17, Greenville, N.C.

North Georgia, June 13-16, Athens, Ga.

Red Bird Missionary, May 12-13, Beverly, Ky.

South Carolina, June 4-7, Orangeburg, S.C.

South Georgia, June 4-7, Savannah, Ga.

Tennessee, June 11-13, Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Virginia, June 11-14, Hampton, Va.

Western North Carolina, June 8-11, Lake Junaluska, N.C.

Alaska Missionary, May 26-28, Anchorage, Alaska

California-Nevada, June 13-17, Sacramento, Calif.

California-Pacific, June 20-25, Redlands, Calif.

Desert Southwest, June 8-11, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Oregon-Idaho, June 7-10, Nampa, Idaho.

Pacific Northwest, June 14-17, Tacoma, Wash.

Rocky Mountain, June 21-24, Greenwood Village, Colo.

Yellowstone, June 7-10, Billings, Mont.

Austria Provisional, May 17-21, Vienna, Austria

Bicol Philippines Provisional, April 6-9 Naga City, Philippines

Bulgaria Provisional, Sept. 18-22, (to be determined)

Central Congo, July 10-16, Katako-Kombe, Democratic Republic of Congo

Central Luzon Philippines, May 4-7, Paniqui, Tarlac, Philippines

Central Russia, June 21-23, Moscow

Czech & Slovak Republics, May 25-28, Plzen, Czech Republic

East Congo, July 24-30, Kindu, Democratic Republic of Congo

East Mindanao Philippines, May 11-13, Tagum City, Philippines

Eastern Russia and Central Asia, May 4-6, Ekaterinburg, Russia

Germany East, May 17-21, Sehmatal-Cranzahl, Saxonia, Germany

Germany North, May 3-7, Eberswalde, Germany

Germany South, May 11-14, Gerlingen & Boblingen, Germany

Hungary, April 18-22, Miskolc, Hungary

Liberia, Feb. 13-19, Niva County, Liberia

Mindanao Philippines, May 25-28, Kidapawan City, Philippines

North Central Philippines, March 24-26, Ilagan, Isabela, Philippines

Northeast Luzon Philippines, March 3-5, Ramon, Isabela, Philippines

Northeast Philippines, May 11-14, Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines

Northern Philippines, April 28-30, Gattaran, Cagayan, Philippines

Northwest Mindanao Philippines, May 4-7, Sta. Cruz, Philippines

Northwest Philippines, April 20-23, San Nicolas, Pangasian, Philippines

Northwest Russia Provisional, May 18-20, Saint Petersburg, Russia

Oriental & Equator, August 9-4, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo

Pangasinan Philippines, May 25-28, San Carlos City, Pangasinan, Philippines

Poland, June 9-11, Grudziaz, Poland

Serbia-Montenegro/Rep. Macedonia, Oct. 18-22, Strumica, Macedonia

Southern Russia, May 25-27, Voronezh, Russia

Switzerland-France, June 15-18, Winterthur, Switzerland

Tarlac Philippines, March 10-12, Tarlac City, Philippines

Ukraine & Moldova, May 10-13, Kiev, Ukraine

Visayas Philippines, April 20-23, Jimalalud, Negros Oriental, Philippines

West Congo, Aug. 22-27, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

- By Linda Green, UMNS; Feb. 13, 2006.

Open Doors USA has released its annual "World Watch List" (WWL) of 50 nations where Christians face the most

intense hostility and harsh treatment because of their faith. The list ranks countries according to the intensity of persecution Christians face for actively pursuing their faith; and for the fourth straight year, the communist nation of North Korea tops that list. Open Doors USA president Carl Moeller says North Korea is the most repressive nation in the world, and Christians bear the brunt of that repression. It is believed that tens of thousands of believers are suffering in North Korean prison camps, where these people of faith endure all manner of abuses and torture. "Christians [in North Korea] are singled out in many ways for their faith in Jesus Christ because they represent a threat to the state, as the state sees it," Moeller explains. "And Christians there can be just barbarically treated." For instance, the ministry spokesman notes, "If you're caught, as a Christian in North Korea, you can be thrown into a labor camp, a prison camp; but not only you: up to three generations of your family -- your parents and your children -- can be thrown into that same labor camp." It is possible, Moeller contends, that the communist government of North Korea has detained more political and religious prisoners than any country in the world. "I think we need to support our government's position that North Korea is one of the most horrifically repressive countries in the world and exert all pressure that we can -- politically and in other ways, economically -- on North Korea," he says.

"But there's one very particular thing that Christians can do that a government can't," the head of Open Doors USA adds. "We can pray. And as the Church, we must remember that it's our brothers and sisters who are suffering here, not just any kind of religious or political prisoners. These are family members for us."

Moeller urges prayer for believers in the other nations on the 2006 World Watch List as well, particularly those in nations where persecution is the most severe. This year, Saudi Arabia has taken the second spot on the World Watch List for the fourth consecutive year, and other nations in the top ten include Iran, Somalia, Bhutan, Yemen, Vietnam and China.

Open Doors’ World Watch List Rankings

Note: This is as of January 2006; the ranking in brackets [ ] after the country’s name is for January 2005 (last year’s ranking).

1. North Korea [1]

2. Saudi Arabia [2]

3. Iran [5]

4. Somalia [7

5. Maldives [6

6. Bhutan [8]

7. Vietnam [3]

8. Yemen [11]

9. Laos [4]

10. China [9]

11. Afghanistan [10]

12. Uzbekistan [15]

13. Turkmenistan [12]

14. Eritrea [16]

15. Comoros [14]

16. Pakistan [13

17. Egypt [18]

18. Myanmar (Burma) [17

19. Azerbaijan [22

20. Morocco [23

21. Brunei [24]

22. Libya [20]

23. Iraq [21]

24. Cuba [26]

25. Djibouti [30]

26. India [34]

27. Sudan [19]

28. Nigeria (North) [25]

29. Tajikistan [28]

30. Sri Lanka [29]

31. Russia (Muslim Rep) {1} [27]

32. Tunisia [32]

33. Qatar [33]

34. Nepal [35]

35. Indonesia [37]

36. Turkey [39]

37. Algeria [38]

38. Ethiopia [49]

39. Bangladesh [46]

40. Mauritania [40]

41. Kuwait [41]

42. United Arab Emirates [43]

43. Belarus [42]

44. Colombia (Conflict Areas) [36]

45. Oman [44]

46. Jordan [47]

47. Syria [45]

48. Mexico (South) {2} [31]

49. Philippines (South) {3} new

50. Kenya (Northeast) [48]

Notes:

{1} Muslim republics of the Russian Federation: Chechnya, Kabardino Balkarya, Dagestan and Tatarstan

{2} Southern Mexican state of Chiapas

{3} Mindanao

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"Greetings from Cap-Haitian, Haiti, in Jesus' name!  Dana and I would like to thank you all for your continuous and faithful support that we receive on time every month.  You are helping us to provide leadership training and support for our church, two Christian schools, our Bible training institute and our weekly radio teaching in French and French Creole via AM and satellite Internet.

We will be graduating our third promotion at our Bible institute this May, and are moving steadily towards planting new churches in the north of Haiti with some of our graduates.

  The political situation has calmed down somewhat at present with parliamentary elections scheduled for the end of April. 

Please pray for wisdom and a fresh supply of the Holy Spirit in our lives and ministry so that God might raise up a faithful generation of believers here in this troubled land."

For the Kingdom of God,

Pritchard and Dana Adams

Cap-Haitian, HAITI

+ Kill Him, Says Moderate Mullah

+ A House on Sand?

Published by Concerned Methodists, P.O. Box 2864, Fayetteville, NC 28302. Tel. 910/488-4379; FAX: 910/488-5090

Website: www.cmpage.org E-mail: office@cmpage.org