Bloggers Fight Repression
Some time ago I linked to a news report about a guide published to help bloggers avoid the tactics used by repressive governments to control the Internet. The guide contains information that would be useful to human rights activists and missionaries operating in China, Saudi Arabia, North Korea and other countries that limit free expression. There is a chance that the news report may be outdated and the link may have expired, but the guide itself can be found here in PDF.

Using Mobile Devices
The Web Evangelism Newsletter had a report about using mobile devices to share the gospel:

Although mobile devices have been with us for some years, till now there have not been too many avenues to use the medium for evangelism. With the
new 3G devices, things may change. At last it is practical to download, and pass to friends, video and cartoon clips. There is great potential for short specially-made downloads of this type, and Christians are discussing the best way to utilize this medium. They recommend ATS Tracts as one of several groups developing material in this area. Finally, check out the Gospelcom guide to mobile tech.

Now that the enemy is preparing to send porn to mobile devices, I think it's only fair to counter with the Gospel.

Guardian Unlimited - State Dept. Cites Saudi Arabia on Rights
The Guardian Unlimited reports on the release of the annual U.S. State Department report on religious freedom:

The State Department cited Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for denying religious freedom to non-Muslims and found fault to a lesser degree with other allies including Israel, Belgium, France, Germany and Pakistan...Burma was accused of severe violations of religious freedom. China was faulted for showing insufficient respect for freedom of religion, Cuba for controlling and monitoring religious activities, and North Korea for not permitting religious freedom at all. Listed as hostile toward minority or nonapproved religions were Eritrea, Iran, Laos, Sudan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam, as well as Saudi Arabia. The State Department said that in Iran, Sunni Muslims, Bahais, Jews and Christians reported imprisonment, harassment, intimidation and discrimination based on religious belief. Burma was accused of severe violations of religious freedom. China was faulted for showing insufficient respect for freedom of religion, Cuba for controlling and monitoring religious activities, and North Korea for not permitting religious freedom at all. Listed as hostile toward minority or nonapproved religions were Eritrea, Iran, Laos, Sudan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam, as well as Saudi Arabia. The State Department said that in Iran, Sunni Muslims, Bahais, Jews and Christians reported imprisonment, harassment, intimidation and discrimination based on religious belief.

Let's agree to pray for the persecuted church in these countries, that they will persevere and continue to shine the light of hope amid dark oppression.

IFC - The Aftermath of GodBlogCon
Internet For Christians (IFC) Andy Rau gives a post-conference report for all of us who missed it:

October 28, 2005 -- GodBlogCon is over, but even if you didn't attend, you can benefit from the conference, as the media reports on it and as attendees blog about their experiences. An article at Wired provides a good basic overview of the conference's goals and highlights. If you want more specific details on the conference, the GodBlogCon blog is the place to check--it's got links to the many bloggers who attended and blogged their impressions, experiences, and opinions. In particular, this post provides a comprehensive look at reactions from all over the internet. Thanks to the conference and its blogging attendees for sharing their conference experiences online for everyone who couldn't make it this year!

Wow, I wish I could have gone. I didn't even hear about it until after it was underway...maybe next year.

Miami Herald - 'Left Behind' screened in 3,200 churches
The latest installment in the film version of the blockbuster Left Behind books (and blog inspiration) is being screened in churches and will soon be available to consumers.

Yahoo News - 'God Bloggers' Head to National Conference
Christians are finding news ways to share the Good News: blogging. Yes, using blogs (just like this one) Christians have found yet another tool to present the message of salvation. This AP news report talks about the first national conference for "God bloggers" being held now at Biola University. More information on the conference can be found on the official "GodBlogCon 2005" website.

My Way News - China Wants Only 'Healthy' News on Web

"China said Sunday it is imposing new regulations to control content on its news Web sites and will allow the posting of only 'healthy and civilized' news...Online dissidents who post items critical of the government, or those expressing opinions in chatrooms, are regularly arrested and charged under vaguely worded state security laws."

Evading the Censors
Suppose you are a missionary or human rights worker operating in a repressive country, how would you go about evading Internet censorship? The Reporters Without Borders group has the answer (Yahoo News - Guide Aims to Help Bloggers Beat Censors):

A Paris-based media watchdog has released a free guide with tips for bloggers and dissidents to sneak past Internet censors in countries from China to Iran. Reporters Without Borders' "Handbook for Bloggers and Cyber-Dissidents" is partly financed by the French Foreign Ministry and includes technical advice on how to remain anonymous online. It was launched at the Apple Expo computer show in Paris on Thursday and can be downloaded in Chinese, Arabic, Persian, English and French.

Let's hope this guide offers timely assistance to those shining the light of freedom (both spiritual and political) in the world's darkest places.

Arab Outreach
The Internet For Christians website recommends the Joshua Project as a resource for missionary outreach.

Christians Respond to Katrina
The Christian web portal Internet For Christians offers to following information on how Christians all over the world are responding to the hurricane disaster:

How have Christians around the world reacted to the suffering and devastation unleashed by Hurricane Katrina? With prayer and financial giving, according to a CrossWalk report that describes major disaster relief efforts by religion organizations like the Salvation Army, Southern Baptist Convention, and Christian Reformed World Relief Committee. A Yahoo News story describes massive, worldwide prayer directed towards New Orleans, refugees and rescuers. Many relief organizations are reporting generous donations from Christians and others. For more information about the developing situation and the Christian response to it, the Christianity Today weblog has more updates.

Religion News Blog
The Religion News Blog (RNB) provides religion researchers, media personnel, authors, legal professionals, academics and other interested parties with expert-selected news items about religious movements, cults, sects, world religions and related issues (including ethics and human rights concerns).

Bible Commentary Online
Internet For Christians offers yet another invaluable resource for those using the Internet to share the Good News: Classic Bible Commentaries, sponsored by E-Word Today makes it easy to access any commentary author, chapter and book, with cross-links to all authors, chapters and books--only one click away. The Web site also links closely with Bible Gateway so Web surfers can read a Bible passage and read several commentaries about the passage.

Thought Factory Preaches with Reason
Here is another outstanding resource recommended by Internet For Christians. According to their review, the Thought Factory introduces people to Jesus through interviews, people profiles, and topical articles. IFC calls it a, "good example of Christianity, culture and the Internet intersecting to reach out to Web users."

Christians Respond to London Terror Attacks
Christians all over the world are joined in prayer for the victims of the terrorist attacks in London, for their families and loved ones, and for the search for those responsible. Prayer points for the situation are covered in this UK-based Christian news site.

Billy Graham's Last Crusade
The greatest living Christian evangelist will take his bow tonight on the stage in New York. This AP report (MyWay News - Graham to Give Last Crusade Sermon Tonight) demonstrates the reach of his amazing ministry:

Graham has preached to more than 210 million people in 185 countries. He has been sought out by U.S. presidents and leaders worldwide and, more than any other religious figure, has come to represent the American evangelical movement.

One of the things I admire about Billy Graham is the way he has always preached the simplicity of the gospel message of salvation through faith in Jesus. Times have changed over the many years of his ministry and the church has changed in many ways, but his message has remained true to the gospel. For more information on the crusade and on Billy Graham, visit the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. I think his approach is a model for the church in the end times, stay true to the gospel message, don't get distracted by new trends and ideologies, by materialism and culture wars, keep focused on the central message of salvation. The time is short.

Podcasting The Gospel
A podcast is a radio-style show that anyone with a microphone can make on a computer and post to a web site server and they are big now and getting bigger all the time (ipodnn - Report: podcast popularity to skyrocket). Free receiving software allows people to pick podcasts from online directories, download them to any MP3 player such as an Apple iPod -- hence the term "podcast" -- and listen to them at their leisure. So, is anyone out there podcasting the Gospel? Know any good Bible prophecy podcasts? Please use the comments link to recommend your favorite podcasts.

Online Bible Commentaries
Peggie Bohanon of Internet for Christians recommends this set of Bible commentaries: Wycliffe Associates (UK) present the EasyEnglish Bible, a "major new resource of evangelical, theologically-checked, Bible commentaries and Bible texts." These free resources, written in a simple English form developed by Wycliffe Associates (UK), include Bible commentaries, Bible translations, Bible studies and more. These commentaries, noted to be "theologically advanced," are especially valuable for those who do not speak English as a second language and are available for free download or to read online.

Microsoft Helps China Censor the Net
This blog is not about China, but since there is a large underground church in China and China is known as a repressive government, we do mention China quite a bit here. This story about China seeking to control the Internet has been unfolding for some time. China sees the Internet as a tool of commerce, something that can help the country's great leap forward as a totalitarian capitalist society. I'm not sure such a variant has ever existed, but China seems determined to prove that it can. The problem with the Internet is that it also allows people to share information and ideas, and that can be dangerous to a one-party dictatorship. Last week was the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre in which the People's Liberation Army liberated student pro-democracy demonstrators from the shackles of this mortal coil and demonstrated the official party policy on the merits of democracy. Long before that a famous dead communist said that a capitalist will sell you the rope you can use to hang him. We seem to be witnessing the same phenomenon here as Western corporations rush to provide China everything they need to modernize their country (and military) while keeping firm control over their citizen subjects. Major Western corporations like Microsoft are selling technology to China that allows them to monitor and suppress the use of such dangerous keywords as "democracy" and "freedom" on the Internet, including on blogs like this one (InternetNews.com - MSN China Agrees to Ban 'Freedom'). I call upon Christian investors to let Microsoft know they do not wish their money used in support of tyranny and the repression of religious and political minorities.

China Cracks Down, Again
And speaking of China (as we were a few posts back), a new initiative has been announced to control the Internet in that country. According to this report (China to close unregistered domestic Web sites) from NEWS.COM, "China soon will close unregistered domestic Web sites and blogs as the government tightens its grip on the Internet..." This report also notes studies by other media watchdogs who called China, "the world's leading censor of the Internet and said its government employed thousands of officials and private citizens to monitor and control online content." China is demonstrating that an oppressive government can crack down on Internet fueled dissent even in the 21st Century. This does not bode well for the house church movement in China. In many cases, the technology and software that allows China to monitor and control the Internet is being provided by Western companies. I think it is important for Christian investors and voters to let their voice be heard, Western companies should not be profiting from the persecution of political and religious minorities. The techniques of control and intimidation used in China will be exported to other countries, to the Middle East and Africa. The time to act is now, build alliances with underground churches so that lines of communication can remain open, and if your skills run toward the technical side, help them find ways around these new restrictions.

Believers Persecuted
Saudi Arabia is denying that they persecute Christians (AP - Saudis Deny Persecuting Christians). Let's immediately send in a crack squad of missionaries to test their religious tolerance.

Quote of the Day
"Any power must be an enemy of mankind which enslaves the individual by terror and force, whether it arises under the Fascist or the Communist flag. All that is valuable in human society depends upon the opportunity for development accorded to the individual." --Albert Einstein

Oppression Will Be Blogged
This news report (Censored Singaporeans take to the Internet for free speech - Yahoo! News) suggests that it is still possible to use the Internet to fight an oppressive government. It would appear that Singapore is not quite as adept as China in managing online dissent, but give them time, I'm sure they will catch up. This is the time to use the Internet for witnessing and missionary work in oppressive countries, before governments like Singapore and China master the art of censoring the net.

The Bible Blog
Andy Rau of Internet For Christians recommends this resource, it's a blog about the Bible by the people who translate the Bible. Andy's recommendation: The translators of the English Standard Version Bible have started a blog at which to talk about the ESV, answering questions about the translation and offering related news and information. It's not the first time we've seen an informational website about a Bible translation--not too long ago, an extensive website was set up by the International Bible Society to answer questions and release news about the TNIV Bible -- but this may be the first time a blog has been used for such a purpose. Even if you're not interested in the ESV Bible itself, this is an interesting example of a ministry using a blog to spread information about its services. (Hat tip: Blogs4God.)

Blogging For Human Rights
The idea that the Internet can shine a spotlight on oppression and promote freedom is being revived by bloggers. Human Rights Watch is making an appeal to bloggers to get involved. As their press release puts it:

If you are a blogger, you can use your bully pulpit to stand with the victims and activists to prevent discrimination, uphold political freedom, protect people from inhumane treatment in wartime, and campaign to bring offenders to justice. You can expose human rights violations and hold abusers accountable. You can challenge governments and those who hold power to end abusive practices and respect international human rights law.

I'm all for that, especially if Christian bloggers can use their voice to combat religious persecution.

Secure E-Mail Provider Hacked
The Hushmail secure e-mail service that I've previously recommended here was hacked. As this report (Yahoo News - Hushmail DNS Attack Blamed on Network Solutions ) makes clear, the company was not at fault, it was the domain registrar that allowed impostors to gain access to their DNS settings. Still, it's clear that someone doesn't like the idea of consumers having access to secure electronic communication. Secure e-mail is of great use to missionaries working in repressive countries and every TF cell should have some means of secure communication, if only to let VOM and Amnesty know what is really going on.

Persecuted Church
If you are looking for news and information on persecution, check out a new site called Christian Monitor. They collect news reports from all over the world and make them easily available to their readers.

New Webs for Old Words
Peggie Bohanon of Internet for Christians recommends Words Online, a web project providing a thematic presentation of the words of Jesus. The purpose of the project, according to publisher Lee Cantelon, "is to extend, especially to those alienated or distanced to the Christian message by culture, personal or political barriers, the opportunity to approach the words of Jesus, and to discover, firsthand, His call." The site offers more than two dozen translations of the words of Jesus, and a growing number of audio narrations. Download "The Words" for personal reading, study or distribution. A reading room is provided, as well as a gallery of Christian images, MP3 downloadable files and editions for the Palm Pilot.

Terrorism on the Web
According to this CNN report, "Islamic militants who want the world to witness their attacks and beheadings in Iraq have engineered new ways to ensure their videos appear on the Internet, defying efforts to banish them from cyberspace." I think we should turn the tables on them and produce more Christian web pages. How about web sites devoted to sharing information on how to set up underground house churches in Saudi Arabia?

Iran Cracks Down
Hoder notes that Iran is cracking down on use of certain Internet destinations and he recommends a strategy for fighting Net censorship in Iran.

Women of the Way
Peggie Bohanon of Internet For Christians notes this resource for persecuted Christian women living in repressive countries.

Turning The Tables
This report from the New York Times (On the Open Internet, a Web of Dark Alleys) reveals how terrorists are using the internet to communicate in secret. I think it would be a nice idea to turn the tables and for missionaries operating in repressive countries like Saudi Arabia and China to use these same techniques to communicate. I especially like the creative use of webmail accounts to share information without actually ever sending an e-mail.

Religion Today - Groups Mobilize Disaster Aid
The above link to Religion Today cites a Charisma News Service report on how Christian groups are responding to the SE Asian disaster. The scope of this disaster is truly hard to comprehend, but we can be certain of the spiritual response that is required of us: pray for those in need, provide for those in need, and witness (Matthew 24:14) to those in need.