Christian prayer warrior, estate owner and cash crop entrepreneur killed in Kerala

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent,
ASSIST News Service

KERALA, INDIA (ANS) -- A Christian estate owner was killed at Thathengalam, near Mannarghat in the Palakkad district of Kerala, India, on 17 August.

According to Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service, John Mathew, 47, who was also known as Monachan of Pothukal Njettikkulam in Nilambur of Malappuram district, was killed in his farm house at Thathengalam on Thursday night.

His dead body was found at 7.30 on Friday morning on the floor inside the farm house. Both of his hands and legs were tied up. Mathew was staying alone at the house.

SVM News says it seems that whoever killed Mathew destroyed the door and entered into the house. Some kind of white powder was scattered on the verandah and around the house.

John Mathew has 12 acres of land in Thathengalam. He also has another 14 acres of land at the neighboring village called Anamooli. He was involved with cultivating rubber, pepper, coconut and other cash crops.

Deputy Superintendent of Police C.K. Ramachandran, Circle Inspector Suresh Babu, Sub Inspector Hussain, Addl. Sub Inspector Unnikrishnan are investigating the case, SVM News reported.

"From the first investigation we conclude the intention of murder was not robbery, because nothing found missing from the house. We can say nothing more until after the postmortem report," C.K. Ramachandran, Deputy Superintendent of Police told Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

Mathew leaves behind Joyamma, his widow and his children Shiju, Shinu and Preethi. They are living in Nilambur in Malappuram district. Shiju studies for mechanical engineering, Shinu for bio-medicine and Preeti is in IVth standard.
It was Mathew's practice to stay with the family once a week only. The rest of his time was spent at his estate looking after the cultivation of the cash crops.
"Monachan was with us on last Saturday and Sunday," his wife Joyamma told SVM News. "He was an active prayer warrior in the church and prayer group," she continued.

Paul Ciniraj, president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) condemned the slaying of John Mathew. He asked the government to find out the murderers were and to arrest them immediately. "There must be some strong hands behind this Christian persecution," Ciniraj said.

The Robertson Factor: Pat Robertson extends his influence beyond Washington to Hollywood

Graduate from Robertson’s Regent University makes inroads into Hollywood moviemaking

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent,
ASSIST News Service

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA (ANS) -- Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson launched Regent University in 1977 with a mission of "preparing leaders who would not only succeed in their professions, but also advance as Christians equipped to effectively impact their world."

Pat Robertson has influence on both East and West coasts -- in Wasington and Hollywood.

Robertson has long been a fixture in the corridors of power in Washington DC, but lately he's once again begun to have an impact in the nation's entertainment capitol, this time through students who have graduated from Regent.

In the mid 1990's, Robertson made his first major foray into Hollywood when he acquired the MTM catalogue and launched the Family Channel, but both were subsequently sold to Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation in 1996. Since then Robertson has kept a low profile in 'Tinseltown' until now.

The Ultimate Gift, a film whose screenplay was written by Cheryl McKay and staring Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) and James Garner (Maverick) is scheduled to be released on DVD on August 21st. The film is based on the best selling novel by the same name, written by Jim Stovall and has won several prestigious awards including the Crystal Heart Award at the Heartland Film Festival.

McKay, who is a Regent graduate, is one of the university's first major success stories in Hollywood. She graduated with an M.A. from the University’s School of Communication & the Arts.

McKay’s “The Ultimate Gift” opened in more than 800 movie theatres on Friday, March 9, taking 1.2 million in box office, for a healthy $1,520 per screen average. After two weeks, "The Ultimate Gift" has earned $2.5 million in box office.

Ms. McKay is part of a new generation of talented and devout filmmakers who have begun to have a significant impact in Hollywood, but the association with the famed TV preacher can also lead to misunderstandings. The Ultimate Gift was released theatrically in March of this year and was criticized in some quarters for allegedly harboring anti-abortion and pro-poverty messages, something McKay laughs off.

Fore more information, log-on to: www.assistnews.net/Storis/2007/s07080137.htm

Convoy of Hope sending aid to Peruvian earthquake victims

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent,
ASSIST News Service

SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI (ANS) -- Through an ongoing partnership with FedEx, Convoy of Hope (www.convoyofhope.org) will be shipping relief supplies to Miami where the Peruvian Air Force will then airlift the supplies to that country’s most severely affected areas following the earthquake there earlier this week.

In an e-mail update to ministry supporters, Convoy of Hope (COH) says: "Since news of the devastation first reached Convoy of Hope, staff have been in constant communication, confirming the safety of local partners there and assessing how the international compassion organization can best help."
COH says that more than 500 people have lost their lives with another 1,500 injured.

"Many of the victims are employees of three separate hospitals that collapsed on top of the employees. A prison with 600 inmates was also destroyed with only 90 being captured at last communication."

To learn more about the response efforts by COH, or to help send relief to these victims during their time of desperation, please visit www.convoyofhope.org

Jailed elderly Beijing church activist’s life in danger; Relatives appeal for medical parole

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent
ASSIST News Seervice

MIDLAND, TEXAS / BEIJING, CHINA (ANS) -- The health of a jailed Beijing house church activist, 77-year-old Ms. Shuang Shuying, is in serious condition.

According to China Aid Association (CAA), Shuang Shuying was sentenced to two years by Beijing Chongwen District People's Court on February 26, 2007 on the trumped-up charge of willfully damaging public and private property. Her son pastor Hua Huiqi is an internationally known human rights activist and was released on July 25 after serving 6 months in jail for "disturbing social order."

In an urgent letter to CAA written by Ms. Shuang's daughter-in-law, Ms. Wei Jumei, Ms. Shuang was said to be "in extremely poor health" when she was visited in her jail by her relatives recently.

"Her hands were trembling and she looked very pale. She used to weigh 110 jin (121 lbs). Now she weighs only about 80 jin (88 lbs). The jeers and verbal abuses she gets from fellow inmates and the police's terror and psychological pressure have made the old lady all the more miserable." said Ms. Wei.

Moreover, CAA says, according to the policemen who came to Ms. Shuang's house and told her son pastor Hua that some Beijing government leaders are using Ms. Shuang as a hostage to silence pastor Hua's religious and rights defense activities.

At the end of the letter, stating that Ms. Shuang has serious diabetes, high blood pressure, cataracts and neuralgia in peripheral nerves, Ms. Wei appealed to the international Christian community to pray for her mother-in-law. In the meantime, she urges the Chinese government to release Ms. Shuang and reunite with her family. She also asks Christians to pray for the Chinese police and government as well as the detained prisoners.

"We appeal to the international community to protest the injustice done to this ill, elderly Christian lady by writing letters and making phone calls to the Chinese authority" said Bob Fu, "it definitely represents a new low on the so-called rule of law in China especially in the host city of 2008 Summer Olympics."

Fore more information, log on to: www.assistnews.net/Stories/2007/s07080147.htm