Faith Behind Bars

CBNNews --- Indramayu, Indonesia - In May 2005, three Indonesian Sunday school teachers were imprisoned for converting Muslim children to Christianity.

Our Cbn News Asia Team recently visited the three women in prison and discovered they're still sharing their faith behind bars.

We visited Rebekka, Ratna, and Eti at the local prison in Indramayu, Indonesia and found them in high spirits.

They remain positive, even though they have now spent two years in jail for a crime that most people say they did not commit.

In 2005, the three Sunday school teachers were summoned to court after a group of Muslim radicals in their village accused them of converting their children to Christianity.

Evidence was presented suggesting that the Muslim parents were aware that their children attended Sunday school with their Christian friends. Regardless, the court still pronounced the women guilty and sentenced them to three years imprisonment.

Observers in the hearings concluded that pressure and intimidation from Islamic extremists convinced the judge to hand down the harsh ruling.

Even if people believe that Eti, Ratna and Rebekka were unjustly sentenced. It's amazing how these three women can call this prison their "school of trust."

Rebekka, a Sunday School teacher, said, "I call this prison ‘a school of trust in God.' I think it's not easy to be in prison, but everything is easy with the Holy Spirit. Jesus is very faithful to me in this jail. He supplies all our needs, never leaves me, never forsakes me. They ask me why you never look so sad. I told them there is joy in my heart and peace in my heart because of Jesus."

Ratna and her husband, Sembi, who was then visiting, also testified how the whole experience has made them grow spiritually.

Sembi said, "It is very difficult that my wife cannot be with me and my children at home, but I thank God because he helped us to be stronger in our faith and in our relationship with each other."

The three women did not keep their faith in Christ to themselves. They shared it with fellow inmates.

Edi Koswara is one of them. He is in jail for stealing a motorcycle and says it was the kindness of Rebekka that led him to ask her about Jesus.

Edi said, "I saw the kindness of Jesus on her face. I know every child of God has joy on his face. I want the same and know about this"

A former Hindu and Muslim, Edi embraced Christianity.

"I know Jesus has died for me and has forgiven my sins," Edi said. "When I die, I know I will be with Jesus in heaven."

Inspired by biblical passages, Edi made several paintings which Rebekka used in her Bible studies.

Rebekka says she believes all the good things that happened to them inside the prison were answers to the prayers of Christians from around the world.

"The community of Christians is very good. We have received many letters. That is the very best time for me in jail. Proof to me we are the body of Christ," she said.

And prayers for their early release have also been answered. Eti, Ratna and Rebekka will be freed on parole in June.

Will the three women stop teaching Sunday school to the children?

Rebecca said, "Of course not! But we must be wise because they will watch us."

But with their Heavenly Father closely watching them, Eti, Ratna and Rebekka say they are confident that their future is secured.

- source

Massive Arrest of Chinese and American Christian Leaders in Xinjiang

Christian Newswire -- China Aid Association has learned though credible sources that on April 19, 2007 in Akesu city, Xinjiang province, about 30 major house church leaders were arrested when they met with four American Christians. The four Americans were also arrested. Included among the arrested Americans are a senior pastor and an associate pastor of an American church. Sources tell CAA that the four Americans arrived at Akesu airport on April 17 and fellowshipped with the house church leaders on April 18 at a local church family house.

At the time of this press release the four Americans are still being held for questioning in an undisclosed hotel. The translator for the Americans, Mr. Jinhong Li from Beijing, is also still being detained. On April 23, the PSB confiscated the luggage of the four Americans from the house of their host, a local church family.

Eight Chinese pastors were released on April 20 and at least 6 others have already received criminal detention papers for 30 days detention, accused as "suspects involved in evil cult activities." The names of the accused are Pastor Xinglan Zhao, Pastor Xiurong Huang, Pastor Tianlu Yang, 41, Pastor Chaoyi Wang, 41, Pastor Cuiling Li, 48, and Pastor Sijun He.

The Chinese government may sentence the six accused pastors to 1-3 years re-education through labor because they were previously detained a couple of years ago for one month for organizing house church activities. Eyewitnesses told CAA that at least two of the arrested were seen with bleeding noses and bruises on their faces from torture at the interrogation site. They are being held at A Ke Su City Detention Center.

CAA has learned the US Embassy is intervening for this case.

- Source

Malaysian ministry bans shark's fin soup

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Natural Resources and Environment Ministry has struck off shark's fin soup from the menus at official functions, to help conserve the species, a report said Saturday.

Minister Azmi Khalid told the official Bernama news agency that the ministry had made the commitment to the Malaysian Nature Society.

"By refraining from the consumption of shark's fin soup, it is hoped that the ministry would contribute in one way or another towards the current conservation efforts for sharks species," he said.

"Their demise would start off a domino effect, which at each stage could result in the depletion or overpopulation of other fish and marine species leading to an imbalance in the marine ecosystem," he said.

Malaysia's population is dominated by Muslim Malays, but there are also large ethnic Chinese and Indian communities.

- CNA

Show on a high

If it were up to him, Taiwanese entertainer Show Luo would cast compatriot crooner Jolin Tsai, 27, as bookish girl-next-door Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Anne Hudgens) in High School Musical 2.

"She can speak English … she can dance," he explained.

As for the role of spoilt brat Sharpay Evans (Ashley Tisdale) — his favourite character in the show — Selina Ren from girlband S.H.E is his pick.

Luo, himself, would of course replace California-born actor Zac Efron as campus heartthrob-cum-basketball captain Troy Bolton.

While the 28-year-old singer-host hasn't exactly realised this big-screen dream, he's at least now the star of the music video for the Mandarin version of the song Bet On It, from the Disney telemovie.



In Singapore last week for a promotional trip, he was all smiles and cheeky humour, even attempting a few halting phrases in English.

But it wasn't all smooth sailing when shooting the three-minute video, in which he appears playing basketball and baseball as well as a ninja.

He hurt his foot while landing hard on the ground after a jump in a dance routine. But he gamely went ahead with the shoot. Following that injury, record label EMI Capitol insured his legs for a reported NT$50 million ($2.31million).

After releasing four albums in five years, he is now busy with his Show on Stage concert tour, which is scheduled for Dec 1 in Singapore.

And just how does he see himself in comparison to current Hollywood IT boy Efron? "Oh, he's definitely cooler, but I'm cuter!"

The Asia special edition of the High School Musical 2 soundtrack will be out in stores from Sept 17.

- CNA

New iPod touch arrives in Singapore

SINGAPORE: Surf with your iPod with just one touch of your finger.

Apple fans will be able to do that, and soon, with the new evolution of iPod line, the iPod touch. To be on sale by the end of September, the iPod touch features for the first time, WiFi networking and a 3.5-inch wide screen with multi-touch interface that allows users to find and enjoy their music, videos, photos and more with just the touch of a finger.

The functions and designs of the iPod touch are similar to the iPhone because the technology came from the breakthroughs seen in the iPhone. Little surprise that it has been dubbed an iPhone, without the mobile capabilities.

The touch-screen iPod in 8GB and 16 GB, sports a slick casing that's just 8mm thin but packed with surprises. As Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO aptly put it, "People are going to be amazed at how thin it is and how much it does."

For starters, the iPod touch boasts a built-in accelerometer which senses when the device is rotated and will automatically display photos, websites, or videos in their respective landscape or profile aspect ratios. It also has the ability to allow users to zoom in and out on the screen by pinching the image with their fingers.

What sets apart the iPod touch from others in the iPod family is the built-in WiFi that allows users to launch into Apple's Safari web browser which comes with custom Google and Yahoo search functions. Also included is a YouTube application for fast wireless access to millions of free videos.

Apart from the iPod touch, Apple has also polished its iPod product line aimed at boosting year-end holiday season sales.

The iPod nano now comes in five new colours,including green, silver and special edition RED, and features a larger, clearer (204 pixel) screen that should come in handy for the new extra on board - games.

There is also the sixth generation iPod Classic with 80 GB or 160 GB of storage in an all-new metal enclosure.

Like the iPod Nano, the iPod classic will also be bundled with three games, the new Cover Flow interface to flip through the stored digital music and video and longer battery-life on a single charge.

– CNA