September 5, 2001 (Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org) - The following information is from recent issues of the Calvary Contender. Jerry Huffman is the editor of this bi-weekly paper <contendr@HiWAAY.net>. The full issues are available on the web at http://home.hiwaay.net/~contendr --

MORMON CHOIR TOURS SOUTH--The 330-voice Mormon Tabernacle Choir and accompanists tour major cities in the South this summer "to establish in the minds of people that Jesus Christ...is central to our faith...." The 6/1 Watchman Fellowship Update states: "To make Christians believe the Mormon Church is Christian has long been the goal of modern Mormonism as to do so is to break down barriers that hinder their recruiting. However, the Jesus that is central to the Mormon faith is not the Jesus of the Bible that is central to the faith of Southern Christians. The Jesus of the Mormon Church is the brother of Lucifer, a worshiper of a god that was once a man on another planet, and the product of a union between god and one of his goddess wives in the pre-existence and between god and Mary on earth. Theirs is a Jesus that won redemption, not by shedding his blood on the cross for whosoever shall come to him, but while praying in the Garden of Gethsemane for everyone, whether they believe in him or not." (Calvary Contender, August 1, 2001)

SUDAN DEATH TOLL--The militant Islamic regime in northern Sudan has waged a genocidal 'holy war" against the mainly black Christians and animists of southern Sudan. Brutal terror tactics include slavery, rape, forced conversion to Islam, bombing, starvation and famine (7/16 New American). Over 2 million are estimated to have died due to war and repression. Sudan's death toll is larger than the combined fatalities suffered in Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Somalia, and Algeria. Twice as many have perished in the past 18 years than all the war-related deaths suffered by Americans in the past 200 years. (Calvary Contender, August 1, 2001)

BELIEVERS IN LAOS MUST RECANT OR FACE JAIL--In communist Laos, Christians in droves are forced to sign such a declaration as, "I unequivocally resign from this foreign religion [Christianity]," officially renouncing their faith (7/18 Relig. Today). The Bible League says those refusing to sign the document face indeterminate prison sentences under hard conditions. There are 30 to 60 known Christian prisoners in Laos now. Communist officials have declared Christianity the "No. 1 enemy of the state." (Calvary Contender, August 1, 2001)

BIBLES BANNED IN TURKMENISTAN--Bibles are disappearing from bookstalls in former Soviet republic Turkmenistan after a government letter ordered vendors to remove the books from off shelves. The Koran is still widely available (7/14 World). Turkmenistan restricts all religious activity and allows only two religious groups, Russian Orthodoxy and Islam, to register legally. (Calvary Contender, August 1, 2001)

GRAHAM CENTER HOSTING MAJOR MISSIONS MEETING--The Billy Graham Center of Wheaton College is hosting a major gathering Sept. 20-23 near Orlando, Fla. "with one purpose in mind: collaborative unity." "Godsmission.commUNITY" is the name of the gathering of some 1500 mission leaders from mission networks across North America who will attempt to bring the Great Commission community together. Major new-evangelical mission entities (e.g., EFMA, IFMA, World Vision, World Evangelical Alliance, Willow Creek) will participate. Speakers include: William Taylor, John Orme, Paul Kaughan, Michael Cassidy, Tom Houston, John DeHaan, Lonnie Allison, and Gary Schwammlein. (Calvary Contender, August 1, 2001)

SAUDIS CRACK DOWN ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM--Two Christians were recently arrested for reasons related to their faith, in Islamic Saudi Arabia, America's strong Gulf War ally (8/6 Religion Today). Only Muslims are allowed to practice their faith. One-third of the population of Saudi Arabia is foreign workers, many of whom are Christians from the Philippines, India, North Korea, etc. They are not allowed to display any Christian symbols or Bibles, nor are they allowed to meet together publicly to worship or pray. There are no churches in Saudi Arabia. (Calvary Contender, August 15, 2001)

CHARISMATICS USE JABEZ PRAYER FOR MONEY, SALVATION & HEALINGS--It had to happen. Wilkinson's The Prayer of Jabez book is tailor made for name-it-and-claim-it, health-and-wealth charismatic charlatans. The 7/14 World said this book "plays to the attraction of the 'prosperity gospel'-claiming that one need just pray this prayer and God will, in the words of Jabez, 'enlarge your territory.'" Charles and Frances Hunter, in their July newsletter, write: "Many of you have called, written or spoken to us about the dream we had after we prayed the Jabez Prayer for the first time. We are so excited about this because the more we think about the dream the more we think about the far outreach of it. This not only meant that we will have an abundance of finances and things in the monetary area, but it includes the salvation of your family. The abundance includes not only the salvation of your family, but also healings you or your family need.... Don't forget to pray for that $1 million gift we need!" (Calvary Contender, August 15, 2001)