In Brief: December 07, 1998

In Brief

A plane carrying short-term missions volunteers with Caddo Mills, Texas-based Living Water Teaching International crashed into a mountain in western Guatemala November 1, killing 11 people and injuring 7. Rain from Hurricane Mitch may have contributed to the crash. The volunteers were returning from a medical outreach in Playa Grande. Mission founder James Zirkle, 57, and his son, James II, 30, one of the aircraft’s pilots, both died in the accident.

Graham Hutt, a British yachtsman convicted of smuggling Bibles in Morocco (CT, Aug. 10, 1998, p. 27), sailed out of the country October 6 in his yacht, which had been impounded four months earlier. Hutt was allowed to keep the yacht after paying a $10,000 customs duty fee, but charges of smuggling are still pending.

The Supreme Court of Khakassia has ordered the closure of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission in Tuim in the Russian republic. The mission has been subjected to several court cases during the past year in an attempt to stop its activities. Witnesses reported that judges, under pressure from local secret police, repeatedly tried to intimidate them during a two-day hearing.

Daniel Manase Zindo, 54, acting archbishop of Sudan, died in a car crash October 20 en route to Kampala, Uganda, to set up a regional office for the Episcopal Church of Sudan. His wife was murdered last year.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided over a pan-Orthodox convention in October that mended a rift between rival factions in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. More than 30 Orthodox leaders acknowledged Patriarch Maxim as the legitimate head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, and former followers of Patriarch Pimen agreed to end the schism.

South Africa’s Constitutional Court struck down the country’s sodomy laws October 9. The laws classified sodomy, along with rape and murder, as an offense punishable by life imprisonment.

Copyright © 1998 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also in this issue

Special Christmas Meditation: Reflections/Art Gallery: Walking Bewildered in the Light and other classic & contemporary excerpts.

Our Latest

News

Black Clergy and Christians Grapple with Charlie Kirk’s Legacy

Many say the activist’s inflammatory statements on race should inform how we remember his life.

News

A Sudden Death: Voddie Baucham, Who Warned the Church of Fault Lines

Known for confronting critical theory, moral relativism, and secular ideologies, Baucham died a month into leading a new seminary in Florida.

Why Many Black Christians Reject the Evangelical and Mainline Labels

The history of a prominent church pastored by MLK in Alabama shows the reason African Americans often don’t embrace either term.

News

Pastor Abducted in Nigeria Amid Escalating Kidnapping Crisis

Armed gang continues to hold him after family paid the ransom.

Review

The Liturgy of American Charisma

Historian Molly Worthen studies dynamic leaders, eager followers, and their shared efforts to “consecrate a new reality.”

Inside the Ministry

The Next Gen Initiative

Casting a captivating vision of following Jesus for the next generation.

The Just Life with Benjamin Watson

Bruce Deel: Mercy With A Spine

Creating real pathways to stability so families can flourish through housing, work, and dignity.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube