- Muslim extremists are suspected of murdering eight members of a Christian family November 18 in their northern Pakistan home in the city of Nowshera. The father, Sabir John Bhatti, 70, had conducted regular Christian healing meetings that attracted Muslims seeking cures for ailments. Most of the murdered had their throats slashed by knives. Other victims included Bhatti’s 65-year-old wife, Ruth; their daughter; daughter-in-law; and four grandchildren, including a six-month-old infant. Muslim radicals have been emboldened by recent proposals to implement Islamic law (CT, Dec. 7, 1998, p. 22).
- Militant Hindus are suspected of murdering 34-year-old Vasu Sritharan, pastor of Canaan Fellowship Church in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, on November 5. Sritharan, who had a successful 13-year outreach to Hindus in the northern Sri Lankan city, had been threatened with death in a phone call a week earlier. Police say three unidentified men entered Sritharan’s bedroom after he had gone to sleep and slit his throat.
- Elmer V. Thompson, 97, founder of West Indies Mission (now called World Team), died October 20 in Columbia, South Carolina. His missions career spanned more than 60 years, including 20 years as a missionary in Cuba and 18 years as general director of West Indies Mission.
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