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THE BapTisT TimEs Thursday, November 29, 2007

Trial begins in Turkish murder case

By JENNY WILLIAMS

THE TRIAL of five suspects accused of murdering three Christians in south eastern Turkey in April has begun. Evangelicals Necati Aydin and Ugur Yuksel, and German missionary Tilmann Geske, were tortured and murdered at a Protestant publishing house in Malatya. The accused, all aged between 19 and 20, face life sentences if found guilty. Christians, who now account for just one per cent of the population, have experienced an upsurge of violence against them, owing to an increase in radical religious nationalism in the country. In April, the widow of father-of-three Tilmann Geske, Susanne, called for forgiveness, saying she harboured no thoughts of revenge. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the killings, describing them as ‘savagery’. The trial has been adjourned and is expected to continue in January.

Aid pours into Bangladesh in wake of Cyclone Sidr

By TOM RICHES

THE RELIEF operation in Bangladesh is continuing apace after a devastating cyclone hit the country earlier this month claiming more than 3,500 lives. Cyclone Sidr, which also left approximately two million people homeless, has been described as Bangladesh’s worst cyclone since 1991. BMS World Mission has given a further two grants to partners in the country following an initial £19,200 to help the 335congregation Baptist Church Sangha reconstruct 1,000 homes. It has given £49,000 and £2,000 grants to help partners rebuild houses and supply emergency food in some of the worst affected areas. BMS manager for mission partnerships David McClellan said the needs of Bangladeshis were ‘significant’. ‘Homes have been destroyed and there is a higher likelihood of death from waterborn diseases,’ he said. ‘We could see more people die after than from the cyclone itself.

‘It’s where we have the best opportunity to help.’ The Disasters Emergency Committee’s (DEC) 13 major aid agencies launched an appeal last week to help those left without food and water by the cyclone. As winter approaches donations will be used for immediate needs such as food, clean water, medicines and shelter. DEC chief executive Brendan Gormley said the member agencies, which include Christian Aid, Tearfund and World Vision, were already working to provide humanitarian aid. ‘We know that funds are urgently needed to be able to continue this work,’ he said. ‘This is a terrible tragedy and the sheer scale of devastation and suffering means we must help in every way we can.’ To contribute to the BMS relief effort go to www. bmsworldmission.org/relief or call 01235 517641. To donate to the DEC appeal log on to www.dec.org.uk or call 0870 6060900. Sudan teacher faces jail over teddy bear

Picture: B MS World Mission

By TOM RICHES

A BRITISH teacher in Sudan could face 40 lashes and six months imprisonment after she allowed her class to name a teddy bear Muhammad. Gillian Gibbons, a 54-yearold primary school teacher from Liverpool, is being held in a prison in Khartoum and may face blasphemy charges of insulting Islam. The class voted against their teacher’s suggestion to name the toy ‘Faris’. Instead 20 out of the 23 pupils favoured the name given to Islam’s prophet. Ms Gibbons has won support from various quarters, including Muslim. Inayat Bunglawala, assistant secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said it appeared to have been a ‘horrible misunderstanding’ and Ms Gibbons should never have been arrested. He added that there was no apparent intention to offend Islamic sensibilities or defame the honour and name of the Prophet Muhammad. School director Robert Boulos said, ‘This was a completely innocent mistake. She would never have wanted to insult Islam.’ British Embassy officials are trying to secure her release.

Nomination hopes rise for Huckabee

By TOM RICHES

THE REVD Mike Huckabee’s campaign to become Republican presidential candidate has received a boost from a number of high profile supporters. The former Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) minister, who had previously been dismissed as a no-hoper, has in recent weeks become one of the Republicans’ most serious contenders to challenge for president. Mr Huckabee is one of eight main Republican candidates vying to challenge for the top job in next year’s elections. Baptist motivational speaker Zig Ziglar, Left Behind coauthor Jerry Jenkins, actor Chuck Norris and weightlifter Rik Flair are among the growing list of figures to back him. ‘I will be encouraging all voters to look closely and seriously at Mike Huckabee,’ said Mr Ziglar, ‘the man I believe will best represent the values and beliefs of conservative Americans.’

Mr Jenkins said this was the first time he had ever publicly endorsed a presidential candidate. ‘I resonate with his values and personal character and believe he is the kind of man who can guide the country through difficult times,’ he said. Despite a lack of funds and organisation the former Arkansas state governor came second behind the current favourite Mitt Romney in a recent ABC poll ahead of January’s first primary election in Iowa. The vote will trigger a series of further primary elections in other states to decide who will take on the Democrat candidate in November 2008. Mr Huckabee, who calls himself an ‘authentic conservative’, opposes abortion, same-sex marriages and civil unions. He is widely seen as a health advocate after his own drastic weight loss and his book Stop Digging your Grave with a Knife and Fork.
THE BAPTIST TIMES Thursday, November 29, 2007

Entertaining prayer

Showbiz can be tough for Christians. Jenny Willams finds out what we can do to help

‘SHOWBIZ and Christianity back then really didn’t go hand in hand,’ says Syd Little. He is speaking of the era when his British comedy duo Little and Large were at their peak. ‘“Christian” was like a dirty word.’ Syd didn’t meet a famous Christian who would speak of faith until the 1970s. Cliff Richard paved the way for showbiz Christians, he says. ‘He was the first openly Christian entertainer for the time really, and his career did suffer for it.’ But it seems faith in entertainment is more vital than ever. With tabloid tales screaming of showbiz drug binges, prison time, and desperate feuds, Syd says he is glad he lived when he did. So on December 2 churches are asked to pray for those in show business. Showbiz charity, Christians in Entertainment, is inviting churches and individuals to spare a thought for our entertainers. ‘It’s so nice that people are doing something for us rather than us entertaining them!’ laughs Syd. Founder and director of the charity is Chris Gidney, himself an entertainer. ‘It’s easy to forget that those who work in entertainment

are often under a huge amount of pressure whether it be unemployment, separation from their families, or the stress of keeping a career alive in a fast‐moving industry,’ he says. The charity offers a support group, which currently meets each week backstage at the Phantom of the Opera – in which three members star – to provide support and discuss faith. The group even has a confidential helpline, manned by prayer co‐ordinator and pastoral assistant Sally Goring, offering support for performers working in isolation. ‘It’s a great idea,’ says Syd. ‘ The group strengthened everything I believed in and it was an encouragement ‐ which is what I needed. ‘I’d been involved in Church life from a young age,’ he adds. He read the Bible, attended the church – which was just four doors away – and went to Sunday school. ‘But it wasn’t a true faith,’ he says. ‘In the showbiz years, faith was squashed out by other things.’

Now in his 60s, the comedian has experienced personal devastation. In the mid‐1990s Syd’s eldest son died of a drugs overdose. Three months later he almost lost his daughter after an attack. ‘It doesn’t matter if you’re a millionaire or in showbiz, these things happen to anyone. ‘And it was faith that got me through. It has got stronger and stronger.’ Soon after, Christians in Entertainment held a meeting in Bobby Ball’s dressing room, and Syd went along. The group had gathered for a discussion on faith and forgiveness. ‘I said to them, “I’ve never asked God to forgive me,” and Bobby said, “Well, go on then.” ‘I just wept and wept. It opened my heart and now I don’t want to be without God.’ This year marks the charity’s 25th anniversary and the producers of Songs of Praise have expressed interest in honouring the occasion in a forthcoming programme. Chris recently appeared on the BBC Heaven and Earth show, which looked at the faith struggles faced by entertainers. As for Syd, he is grateful to Cliff, who ‘inspired others in showbiz to think about faith. ‘He had a calmness about him,’ recalls Syd. ‘And I thought, “What’s that? I want some of that.”’ These days Christians in showbiz are increasingly common, he says, ‘because they’re not scared any more’. And he prays for the new generation

of entertainers, who ‘have a harder life to put up with now. They’re a lot younger and they’re hooked on horrible things. ‘I wish they could have more family and faith around them. Family life is a part of the Christian faith. ‘My faith has been so good for me and I want others to share in it. I pray for them every day.’ Since comic partner Eddie Large had a heart transplant in 2003, Syd has gone solo, performing on cruise ships and in panto. ‘But I’m never alone’, he says. ‘I’m still a double act ‐ but now it’s with God.’ Entertainment Sunday is on December 2. For more information go to www.cieweb.org.uk.

A prayer for Entertainment Sunday

Dear God, we praise you and thank you that you are the giver of all that is good and worthwhile and that you have created gifts of entertainment to be used in your world. We ask that you will inspire and encourage all who work in theatres, television and radio. We pray for all those working in the entertainment business, including actors as they bring drama to life, comedians as they remind us how to laugh, dancers as they provide elegance and beauty and singers as they offer the wonder of music. We pray that all entertainment will be used as a tool for understanding, healing, relaxation, enriching and to express your love for humanity. Amen.

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Appointment - (left to right) The Revd Canon J G Hunter, company chairman; Grace Whitaker Thornleigh, general manager; the Revd Dr Martyn D Atkins, president of the Methodist Conference

Full house for lecture

THE 10th LECTURE on Evangelism took place recently at Thornleigh Hotel, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, with a capacity audience. This annual event brings together church leaders from the NorthWest, heads of Christian houses and organisations, and specialists concerned with evangelism. The event is designed both to inform, and to provide fellowship for those with similar interests over an excellent five-course dinner following the lecture. The speaker this year was the Revd Dr Martyn D Atkins, president of the Methodist Conference and principal of Cliff College. Dr Atkins’ subject was entitled, Learning from our Great-Grandparents in God – Conversion in a postChristian Context . He chose the title because it marries together two of his great passions – (i) he did his PhD in historical and sacramental theology, and (ii) he has been lecturing for the last 13 years in mission and evangelism. The Revd Canon J G Hunter, chairman of Highway Trust and the Thornleigh

Board, in thanking Dr Atkins for having honoured their invitation in his busy presidential year, also expressed his appreciation to former general manager, David Mycock, who had retired from full-time employment the previous week, for having made these events a feature of the Thornleigh calendar. It was his initiative which had made such occasions possible and this was the first time he had been able to be present as a guest. Canon Hunter congratulated Grace Whitaker on her appointment as the new general manager of the hotel, and informed those present that next year’s lecture would be given by the Bishop of Bradford, the Rt Revd David James. Next day, Dr Atkins dedicated the new Chapel at Thornleigh Hotel, to the memory of St Kentigern, a Celt, who worked in Cumbria as an evangelist, some 1,500 years ago. He had left his identity in such places as Mungrisdale (the Scots know him as St Mungo) and Kentdale, also Kendal, in the county.