This week on Christian World News: Hope for Egypt. As citizens line up to support a draft constitution, we’ll tell you why Christians believe it's good news for their community. Plus, Standing up for Saeed. American pastors are risking arrest ...
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Wendy: THIS WEEK ON
CHRISTIAN WORLD NEWS, HOPE
FOR EGYPT.
EGYPTIANS LINE UP TO SUPPORT
A DRAFT CONSTITUTION, AND
WHY CHRISTIANS BELIEVE IT IS
GOOD NEWS FOR THEIR
COMMUNITY.
PLUS, STANDING UP FOR
SAEED.
AMERICAN PASTORS ARE RISKING
ARREST, WITH WEEKS OF
PROTEST OUTSIDE THE WHITE
HOUSE.
AND UNKNOWN, UNWANTED,
AND UNLOVED.
Wendy: MILLIONS OF
CHILDREN WITHOUT PARENTS
STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE.
NOW THE CHURCH IN ONE
EUROPEAN NATION IS LEADING
THE EFFORT TO SAVE ORPHANS.
*
Wendy: AFTER A YEAR OF
TURMOIL, A GLIMMER OF HOPE
FOR EGYPT'S CHRISTIANS.
HELLO, EVERYONE, I'M WENDY
GRIFFITH.
AND I'M GARY LANE.
GEORGE THOMAS IS ON
ASSIGNMENT.
IS IT A NEW DAY IN EGYPT?
THE COUNTRY'S CHRISTIANS
HOPE SO.
THEY TURNED OUT IN HUGE
NUMBERS TO VOTE FOR A NEW
CONSTITUTION THIS WEEK.
THE DOCUMENT DEEMPHASIZES
THE ROLE OF ISLAM, AND
GRANTS GREATER RIGHTS FOR
EGYPT'S WOMEN AND RELIGIOUS
MINORITIES.
Reporter: MEMBERS OF
EGYPT'S INTERIM GOVERNMENT
DESCRIBED THE REFERENDUM AS
THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY FOR
THEIR NATION.
ONE FULL OF STABILITY,
JUSTICE, AND FREE FROM
TERRORISM.
EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER
ABIL TALKED TO THE PRESS
AFTER CASTING HIS VOTE.
WE ARE LAYING THE
BUILDING BLOCKS FOR A NEW
POLITICAL FOUNDATION, HE
SAID, ONE THAT WILL LEAD US
TO ALL WORKING TOGETHER AND
STARTING TO BUILD EGYPT.
MANY EGYPTIANS ARE HOPING
THE REFERENDUM WILL PROPEL
THE COUNTRY INTO A NEW ERA.
BUT THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD
CALLED FOR A BOYCOTT OF THE
VOTE BECAUSE THE NEW
CONSTITUTION EMPHASIZES
SECULARISM.
IT EFFECTIVELY STRIPS THE
CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES
WRITTEN BY THE BROTHERHOOD,
AND APPROVED IN A 20-12
VOTE.
THIS WOMAN, A FORMER MAYOR,
SAYS THE NEW CONSTITUTION
WILL GIVE POWER BACK TO THE
PEOPLE.
I WANT MY ABILITY AS AN
EGYPTIAN TO CHOOSE.
I CAN CHOOSE THE ARMY OR THE
POLICE OR A CIVILIAN.
THIS IS MY CHOICE.
THE WORLD ALWAYS TALKS ABOUT
DEMOCRACY.
LET ME CHOOSE MY DEMOCRACY.
Reporter: THE NEW
CONSTITUTION BANS POLITICAL
PARTIES BASED ON RELIGION.
IT LIMITS THE ROLE OF
ISLAMIC LAW IN LEGISLATION,
AND IT GIVES WOMEN EQUAL
RIGHTS.
BUT SOME ARE STILL BENT ON
DESTROYING EGYPT IN THE
INTERIM.
DESPITE TIGHT SECURITY, THIS
COURTHOUSE NORTH OF CAIRO
WAS NEARLY BLOWN OFF ITS
FOUNDATION TUESDAY MORNING.
THE BOMBING OCCURRED JUST
YARDS AWAY FROM ONE POLLING
STATION.
NO ONE WAS KILLED IN THE
COURTHOUSE BLAST, BUT AT
LEAST FIVE PRO-MORSI
DEMONSTRATORS HAVE
REPORTEDLY DIED IN CLASHES
WITH SECURITY FORCES IN
AREAS OF UPPER EGYPT.
THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD,
RECENTLY LABELLED A
TERRORIST ORGANIZATION BY
THE GOVERNMENT, HAS CALLED
FOR A BOYCOTT.
REGARDLESS, LINES WERE LONG
AT MANY POLLING STATIONS
TUESDAY MORNING.
AND A POLL TAKEN BY THE
BASIRA GROUP LAST MONTH
INDICATED A HEAVY VOTER
TURNOUT.
76% OF RESPONDENTS SAY THEY
PLANNED TO PARTICIPATE.
AND 74% SAID THEY WOULD VOTE
YES.
THE HEAD OF THE COPTIC
CHURCH URGED CHRISTIANS TO
VOTE YES.
IT WILL ALLOW EGYPT TO GO
FORWARD TO A BETTER FUTURE.
THERE IS A BEAUTIFUL SAYING
AMONG ARABS, SAYING YES
INCREASES THE BLESSING.
Reporter: THAT'S
BECAUSE THE AMENDED
CONSTITUTION GUARANTEES
FREEDOM OF WORSHIP AND THE
BUILDING OF CHURCHES.
Wendy: GARY, YOU'VE
MADE MANY TRIPS TO EGYPT.
IF THIS CONSTITUTION PASSES,
WHAT WILL THE IMPACT BE ON
THE CHRISTIANS?
Reporter: IT LOOKS LIKE
IT HAS PASSED.
ABOUT 98% OF THE PEOPLE HAVE
APPROVED IT.
IT IS GOOD FOR THE
CHRISTIANS, WENDY.
IT GIVES THEM MORE RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM.
IT ALSO GIVES THEM THE RIGHT
TO BUILD CHURCHES AND TO
PRACTICE THEIR FAITH
FREELY.
SO THE KEY NOW, I THINK, IS
IF THE ARMY AND THE INTERIM
GOVERNMENT HONOR THAT.
Wendy: THE MILITARY
STILL CONTROLS EGYPT?
YES.
Wendy: AND THAT BACK
MUBARAK, SO WHY ARE THEY
CHANGING NOW?
WELL, MUBARAK OFTEN
ALLOWED THE EXTREMISTS TO
ATTACK THE CHRISTIANS FOR
HIS OWN BENEFIT.
BECAUSE THE CHRISTIANS
NEEDED THE ARMY AND NEEDED
HIM.
BUT NOW I THINK THERE IS A
REALIZATION THAT THIS
REVOLUTION, THE CHRISTIANS
ARE PARTIALLY RESPONSIBLE
FOR THAT.
IF THEY ARE TO BUILD A
STABLE AND PROSPEROUS EGYPT,
THEY'LL NEED THE CHRISTIAN
COMMUNITY, ABOUT 10% OF THE
POPULATION.
Wendy: GARY, TALK ABOUT
THE ROLE OF CHRISTIANS IN
THE MIDDLE EAST AND WHY IT
IS SO IMPORTANT IT NOT BE
RULED BY RADICAL ISLAMISTS.
IT IS THE MOST RADICAL
COUNTRY IN THE MIDDLE EAST,
ABOUT 85 TO 88 MILLION
PEOPLE.
IF YOU HAVE A STABLE EGYPT,
YOU HAVE A STABLE MIDDLE
EAST AND A STABLE ISRAEL.
Wendy: INTERESTING.
GARY, THANKS SO MUCH FOR
SAIRG THAT.
WORLD LEADERS GATHERED IN
ISRAEL FOR THE MEMORIAL OR
FORMER PRIME MINISTER ARIEL
SHARON THIS WEEK.
HE PASSED AWAY AFTER
LINGERING EIGHT YEARS IN A
COMA, BROUGHT ON BY A
MASSIVE STROKE BACK IN
2006.
HE WAS REMEMBERED AS A
MILITARY AND POLITICAL GIANT
WHO HELPED DEFEND AND SHAPE
ISRAEL FROM ITS FOUNDING IN
1948.
HE ALSO STOOD UP FOR
CHRISTIANS IN THE MIDDLE
EAST.
IN 1989, HE SPOKE ON CBN'S
"700 CLUB" ABOUT THE PLIGHT
OF CHRISTIANS CAUGHT IN THE
MIDDLE OF LEBANON'S BLOODY
CIVIL WAR.
SOME SAY HIS WORDS STILL ARE
RELEVANT TODAY AS CHRISTIANS
ARE FLEEING THE MIDDLE
EAST.
LOOK AT WHAT SHARON SAYS
ABOUT THE ATTACKS ON
CHRISTIANS AND THE FAILURE
OF WESTERN DEMOCRACIES TO
PROTECT THEM.
HE SAID THIS MORE THAN 20
YEARS AGO.
WE, THE JEWS, BEING A
SMALL NATION AND A MINORITY,
WE UNDERSTOOD THE NEED TO
SUPPORT AND BACK THAT SMALL
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY.
AT THE PRESENT TIME, WE CAN
SEE THE DISASTER IN
LEBANON.
WE CAN SEE THE PROBLEMS, THE
HEAVY SHELLING BY THE
SYRIANS, AND WHAT BOTHERS ME
IS THAT THE FREE WORLD, THE
WESTERN DEMOCRACIES, ARE NOT
TAKING THE STEPS IN ORDER TO
HELP THE CHRISTIANS.
I THINK THE WORLD SHOULD
COME UP AND STICK TO ITS
COMMITMENTS, NOT TO LET THE
SYRIANS AND THE TERRORIST
ORGANIZATIONS, THE ARAB
TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS, TO
THREATEN THE SMALL CHRISTIAN
COMMUNITY.
Wendy: THAT WAS ARIEL
SHARON 20 YEARS AGO.
YOU CAN SEE MORE OF THIS
INTERVIEW AND LEARN MORE
ABOUT THE LIFE OF ARIEL
SHARON ON OUR WEBSITE,
CWNEWS.ORG.
PRESIDENT OBAMA SAYS HIS
ADMINISTRATION IS COMMITTED
TO PROMOTING RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM ACROSS THE GLOBE.
SO JENNIFER WISHON ASKED
PRESS SECRETARY JAY CARNY TO
GIVE SOME EXAMPLES OF HOW,
AND TO ENSURE THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE THAT THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION IS DOING
EVERYTHING IT CAN TO HELP
PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS IN
IRAN.
ABSOLUTELY.
WE ARE APPEALING TO THE
IRANIAN GOVERNMENT, WHEN IT
COMES TO THOSE WHO ARE BEING
HELD.
AND WE HAVE.
AND I HAVE RAISED IT
FREQUENTLY FROM THIS
PODIUM.
AND WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
BROADLY, WE AGGRESSIVELY
SUPPORT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
AROUND THE WORLD.
AND MAKE CLEAR OUR
OPPOSITION TO POLICIES IN
COUNTRIES THAT RESTRICT
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
AND THAT'S A BROAD,
COMPREHENSIVE EFFORT.
DESPITE AMERICA'S NEW
NUCLEAR DEAL WITH IRAN,
CARNEY SAYS THE
ADMINISTRATION'S POSTURE
TOWARDS IRAN'S HUMAN RIGHTS
ATROCITIES AND TIES TO
TERRORISM REMAINS THE SAME.
Wendy: AMERICAN PASTORS
ARE TAKING A BOLD STEP IN
THEIR EFFORTS TO GET
PRESIDENT OBAMA TO DO MORE
FOR PASTOR SAEED ABEDINI.
THEY'RE CALLING ON CHURCH
LEADERS TO COME TO THE WHITE
HOUSE AND RISK ARREST.
EVERY MONDAY, FROM NOW UNTIL
MARCH.
PAUL STRAND EXPLAINS.
Reporter: PASTORS PUT
THEIR FREEDOM ON THE LINE TO
BRING ATTENTION TO SAEED
ABEDINI, SENTENCED TO EIGHT
YEARS IN ONE OF THE WORLD'S
MOST BRUTAL PRISON, WHILE
THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT
REPORTEDLY DOES NOTHING TO
SECURE HIS FREEDOM.
THESE PASTORS SAY IT IS TIME
FOR MORE THAN TALK.
WE BELIEVE OUR CULTURE IS
DYING FOR A MODEL.
WE ALSO BELIEVE THERE ARE
MANY COURAGEOUS MEN IN THE
PULPITS IN AMERICA WHO
UNDERSTAND IT IS TIME TO ACT
NOW.
Reporter: THESE PASTORS
ARE RISKING ARREST IN FRONT
OF THE WHITE HOUSE TO STAND
WITH AN AMERICAN PASTOR
IMPRISONED IN IRAN.
THEY POINT OUT PRESIDENT
OBAMA HAS NEVER REACHED OUT
TO SAEED'S WIFE AND
CHILDREN.
THAT'S ONE REASON NAGHMEH
ABEDINI WILL JOIN THE
PROTEST.
IF PRESIDENT OBAMA WON'T
REACH OUT FOR HER AND WON'T
STAND FOR HER HUSBAND AND
THE PERSECUTED CHURCH, SHE
IS COMING TO HIS FRONT
YARD.
SHE WILL PERSONALLY
INVITE PASTORS FROM ACROSS
THE COUNTRY TO COME AND STAY
WITH HER AND HER CHILDREN
BECAUSE HER HUSBAND IS BEING
NEGLECTED IN A FOREIGN JAIL,
WITH NO REPRESENTATION,
EXCEPT FOR THE CHURCH.
Reporter: PAUL STRAND,
CBN NEWS, THE WHITE HOUSE.
COMING UP, WHAT DOES
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM HAVE TO DO
WITH ENDING SYRIA'S NUCLEAR
WAR OR STOPPING SYRIA'S
NUCLEAR PROGRAM?
THE ANSWER WHEN WE COME
BACK.
Wendy: RELIGIOUS
HOSTILITIES AROUND THE WORLD
ARE GETTING WORSE.
A NEW RESEARCH REPORT SAYS
SOCIAL HOSTILITIES INVOLVING
RELIGION REACHED A SIX-YEAR
PEAK IN 2012.
22% OF 200 COUNTRIES AND
TERRITORIES EXAMINED HAD
HIGH OR VERY HIGH NUMBERS OF
INCIDENTS IN 2012.
THAT WAS UP FROM 20% IN
MID-2007.
AND THOSE INCIDENTS INCREASE
IN EVERY MAJOR REGION,
EXCEPT FOR THE AMERICAS.
JOINING US WITH MORE FROM
WASHINGTON IS DR. ROBERT
GEORGE, CHAIRMAN OF THE U.S.
COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
DR. GEORGE, THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US.
The Doctor: IT'S MY
PLEASURE, GARY.
WERE YOU SURPRISED BY
THOSE FINDINGS AND WHY THE
INCREASE IN RELIGIOUS
HOSTILITIES AROUND THE
WORLD.
The Doctor: I'M SORRY
TO SAY I WAS NOT SURPRISED,
AND WE'RE VERY, VERY
CONCERNED ABOUT
DETERIORATING CONDITIONS FOR
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN NATIONS
ACROSS THE GLOBE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK WE CAN
DO TO REVERSE THIS TREND OF
INCREASED RELIGIOUS
HOSTILITIES.
The Doctor: WE NEED TO
PRIORITIZE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
IN OUR FOREIGN AND
DIPLOMATIC POLICY.
THAT IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF
MORAL THINKING.
THAT'S ACTUALLY A MATTER OF
LAW.
THE INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM ACT, WHICH WAS
PASSED AND SIGNED INTO LAW
IN 1998, REQUIRES THAT OUR
GOVERNMENT GIVE PRIORITY TO
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
ONE THING THAT WE NEED TO DO
IS TO LIVE UP TO THE
REQUIREMENTS IN THE STATUE
WHEN IT COMES TO DEFENSE
DESIGNATING CERTAIN
EGREGIOUS PEOPLE, AS
COUNTRIES OF PARTICULAR
CONCERN ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WHEN THE
STATE DEPARTMENT DOES THAT,
UNLESS STEPS ARE TAKEN FOR A
WAIVER, CERTAIN SANCTIONS
FOLLOW.
AND WE KNOW THESE SANCTIONS
FROM PAST EXPERIENCE CAN BE
USEFUL.
LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT SYRIA.
THE PEACE TALKS BEGIN I IN
GENEVA ON WEDNESDAY.
THE PLIGHT OF THAT COUNTRY'S
CHRISTIANS IS VERY
IMPORTANT.
DO YOU THINK THAT WILL BE ON
THE AGENDA?
The Doctor: WE ARE
RAISING THE ROOF, TRYING TO
MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ON THE
AGENDA.
WE THINK IT IS VERY
IMPORTANT THAT
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
RELIGIOUS MINORITY GROUPS
ARE REALLY REPRESENTED THERE
AND HAVE THEIR VOICES
HEARD.
THAT'S REALLY CRITICAL.
YOU CANNOT FACTORY LEGIONS
FREEDOM OUT OF THE
EQUATION.
NOT JUST IN SYRIA, BY THE
WAY, WHERE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
IS DISHONORED, AS IT HAS
BEEN IN SYRIA, BY BOTH SIDES
IN THAT CIVIL WAR.
YOU GET MORE CIVIL STRIFE.
YOU GET ECONOMIC STAGNATION,
YOU GET VIOLENCE, AND YOU
GET EXTREMISM, INCLUDING
TERRORISM THAT THREATENS OUR
OWN PEOPLE AND INTERESTS.
THE UNITED STATES HAS A VERY
CONCRETE STAKE IN ENSURING
THAT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IS
RESPECTED AND ELEVATED IN
COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD
WHERE IT IS DENIED,
ESPECIALLY PLACES LIKE
SYRIA.
SYRIA IS SUCH A SAD,
TERRIBLE CASE.
IT IS ANOTHER CASE OF
CHRISTIANS, AMONG OTHERS,
BEING AMONG THE PERSECUTED.
MANY CHRISTIANS IN IRAQ, WHO
HAD TO FLEE IRAQ BECAUSE OF
RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION, FLED
TO SYRIA.
AND NOW THEY'RE HAVING TO
FLEE FROM SYRIA.
NOW, THIS IS REALLY A
SITUATION THAT IS OUT OF
CONTROL.
AND WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE IT
IN OUR OWN FOREIGN AND
DOMESTIC POLICY.
WE, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US,
DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN,
LIBERAL, IS CONCERNED ABOUT
THE PLIGHT OF PASTOR
ABEDINI.
BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST,
SOMETIMES IMPRISONED AND
TORTURED AND KILLED FOR
THEIR FAITH.
THIS IS THE CRADLE OF
CHRISTIANITY.
THE VERY EARLY CHRISTIANS
WERE IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
THE FAITH SPREAD TO THE
GENTILE WORLD BEGINNING IN
THE MIDDLE EAST.
THE TERM CHRISTIAN WAS FIRST
APPLIED TO THE FOLLOWERS OF
JESUS.
YOU MENTIONED SAEED
ABEDINI.
SECRETARY OF STATE KERRY
SUGGESTED HE DIDN'T WANT
LINKAGE IN THE NUCLEAR TALKS
WITH IRAN ON THAT ISSUE.
DO YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE
LINKED?
SHOULD WILL BE A DISCUSSION
THERE?
I THINK IT IS A BAD
MISTAKE, A TERRIBLE
DIPLOMATIC MISTAKE, ONE THAT
WILL RESULT IN NO PROGRESS
BEING MADE IF WE SWEEP
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ASIDE AND
IMAGINE THAT THAT CAN BE
SACRIFICED IN ORDER TO MAKE
PROGRESS ON COMBATING
NUCLEAR ARMS OR TERRORISM OR
ANYTHING ELSE.
IT'S A PACKAGE.
IF YOU WANT PROGRESS IN ANY
OF THESE DOMAINS, YOU'RE
GOING TO HAVE TO PUT
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AT THE TOP
OF THE LIST AND MAKE SOME
PROGRESS ON THAT ONE.
DR. ROBERT GEORGE, WE
APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR
EFFORTS.
The Doctor: MY
PLEASURE.
I APPRECIATE IT.
Wendy: AND UP NEXT,
SEEING UKRAINE'S O ORPHAN
E EPIDEMIC.
HOW CHRISTIANS ARE SEEING
THAT EVERY ORPHAN IS ADOPTED
BY A FAMILY.
Wendy: WELCOME BACK.
MILITANT BUDDHISTS ARE
ATTACKING CHRISTIANS IN THE
ISLAND NATION OF SRI LANKA.
THIS MOB, LED BY RADICAL
BUDDHIST MONKS, ATTACKED TWO
CHRISTIAN PRAYER CENTERS IN
A RESORT TOWN.
WERE YOU ONTHE MILITANTS
SAID THE CHRISTIAN CENTERS
HAVE BEEN ORDERED CLOSED AND
WERE VIOLATING THE LAW BY
STAYING OPEN.
THE CHRISTIANS SAID THE
BUILDINGS WERE REGISTERED.
SIGNS AND WINDOWS WERE
SMASHED.
BIBLES AND DOCUMENTS,
DESTROYED.
Gary: THEY'RE UNKNOWN
AND UNWANTED AND UNLOVED.
MILLIONS OF ORPHANED
CHILDREN WORLDWIDE LIVE
WITHOUT PARENTAL CARE.
Wendy: NOW HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES IN THE
EASTERN NATION OF UKRAINE
WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN
THE LIVES OF THE MOST
VULNERABLE.
GEORGE THOMAS HAS MORE FROM
KIEV.
George: TO THE HUMAN
MIND, IT SEEMS ALMOST
IMPOSSIBLE.
BUT SPEND TIME WITH THE
ASIAH FAMILY, AND THEY'LL
SOON CONVINCE YOU THAT WITH
GOD, ALL THINGS ARE
POSSIBLE.
THE MOMENT YOU SEE AN
ORPHAN'S EYES, I PROMISE IT
WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
George: 10 YEARS AGO,
VE SVETLANA LIVED A HARD
PAST.
BOTH HAD A RADICAL ENCOUNTER
WITH JESUS CHRIST THAT
CHANGED THEIR LIVES
FOREVER.
I BEGAN TO SEARCH FOR
GOD.
I COULD SEE THE PATH THAT I
NEEDED TO GO ON.
George: THE COUPLE'S
DREAM: TO SEE THEIR NATION
OF UKRAINE WITHOUT ORPHANS.
IF SOMEONE TOLD ME 10
YEARS AGO I WOULD HAVE THESE
MANY CHILDREN, AND WOULD BE
MARRIED TO AN H.I.V.
POSITIVE MAN, I WOULD SAY
THAT IS HUMANP IMPOSSIBLE. HUMANLY IMPOSSIBLE, BUT GOD
BIRTHED IN US SOMETHING
SPECIAL.
George: THEY BECAME THE
FIRST FAMILY IN UKRAINE TO
ADOPT A CHILD WITH H.I.V.
NOT JUST ONE, BUT SEVEN
H.I.V. POSITIVE CHILDREN.
IF WE WANT TO SEE A
UKRAINE WITHOUT ORPHANS,
CHRISTIANS HAVE TO BE A PART
OF THE SOLUTION.
George: AND CHRISTIANS
ARE ANSWERING THE CALL.
SVETLANA JOINED HUNDREDS OF
PASTORS AND CHRISTIAN
LEADERS FROM DIFFERENT PARTS
OF THE GLOBE IN KIEV
RECENTLY FOR A SUMMIT ON
ORPHAN CARE.
THE ORGANIZER LEADS A
GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT TO CARE
FOR UKRAINE'S ORPHAN.
GOD WANTS EVERY ORPHAN TO
BE IN A FAMILY.
HOW IS GOD GOING TO DO IT?
IT IS THROUGH THE CHURCH.
ADOPTION AND PROVIDING A
HOME FOR AN ORPHAN IS AN
INTEGRAL PART OF THE
GOSPEL.
George: AND THIS IS A
CROWD THAT IS VERY SERIOUS
ABOUT SEEING A UKRAINE
WITHOUT ORPHANS.
SITTING IN THE CROWD, THERE
ARE ABOUT 160 FAMILIES THAT
HAVE EITHER ADOPTED A
UKRAINIAN CHILD OR TODAY ARE
FOSTER PARENTS.
THIS MAN IS ONE OF THEM.
HE IS A PASTOR, AND ALONG
WITH HIS WIFE, THEY HAVE 31
FOSTER CHILDREN.
SHOULD ALL FAMILIES TAKE
31 CHILDREN IN, LIKE WE
DID?
NO.
BUT IF THIS MOVEMENT IS TO
HAVE A LASTING IMPACT,
CHRISTIAN LEADERS MUST SET
AN EXAMPLE, AND THEY ARE.
GOD HAS BEEN MOVING ON THE
HEARTS OF PASTORS TO LEAD
THE CHARGE.
George: PAUL IS VERY
ENCOURAGED BY WHAT HE SEES
HAPPENING IN UKRAINE.
THE POTENTIAL HERE IS
HUGE BECAUSE THE CHURCH IS
ENGAGED ACROSS
DENOMINATIONAL LINES, TO BE
A MODEL TO COUNTRIES AROUND
THE WORLD, HOW THE CHURCH
CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR
CHILDREN.
George: PENNINGTON IS
WITH "CHURCHES FOR
ORPHANS."
PENNINGTON HAS SIX CHILDREN,
FIVE OF WHOM ARE ADOPTED.
THE ONLY WAY TO REACH
140 MILLION ORPHANS AROUND
THE WORLD IS THROUGH THE
CHURCH.
ONLY THE CHURCH IS BIG
ENOUGH.
ONLY THE CHURCH HAS THE
POWER AND THE MANDATE TO
REACH THAT MANY CHILDREN IN
A SUSTAINED WAY.
George: PASTORS IN
RUSSIA, BELARUS, ROMANIA,
HAVE STARTED SIMILAR
NATIONS.
THE PRESIDENT OF COMPASSION
INTERNATIONAL SAYS HE IS
MOVED BY THE PASTOR'S
DEDICATION TO THE VISION.
THEY DO IT WITH AN
UNDERSTANDING THAT GOD
COMMITS TO BLESS ORPHANS AND
THOSE WHO DO BLESS ORPHANS.
TO SEE AN AUDACIOUS VISION
THAT THESE GUYS ACTUALLY ARE
QUALIFIED TO TALK ABOUT
BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING IT.
George: STEVE WEBBER
CALLS THE MOVEMENT A
MIRACLE.
WEBBER LEADS CBN'S UKRAINE
OFFICE, WHICH HAS AN ACTIVE
ORPHANS OUT REACH.
20 YEARS AGO, THERE WAS
SUCH A SIGMA AGAINST THE
ORPHANS THAT CHRISTIANS
WOULD FAKE PREGNANCY BY
CARRYING A PILLOW BEFORE
THEY WOULD TAKE AN ORPHAN.
TODAY WE'RE PREACHING, TAKE
THE ORPHANS HOME IN OUR
CHURCHES.
George: AND THE PUBLIC
IS TAKING NOTE.
AT A NATIONALLY TELEVISED
EVENT THAT DREW UKRAINE'S
RICH AND FAMOUS, SVETLANA
AND HER HUSBAND WERE HONORED
WITH THE PRIDE OF THE NATION
AWARD FOR THEIR HEART FOR
ORPHANS.
THERE WAS HARDLY A DRY EYE
IN THE CROWD AS PEOPLE STOOD
AND APPLAUDED.
WE DIDN'T THINK ABOUT ANY
AWARDS.
WE SIMPLY WERE DOING WHAT
WAS ON OUR HEARTS TO DO.
WE HAVE ONLY GOD TO
THANK.
HE SHOWED US HOW TO LOVE THE
UNLOVABLE.
WITHOUT HIM, WE HAVE NO
LIFE.
WITHOUT HIM, MY CHILDREN
HAVE NO HOPE.
WITHOUT HIM, THE ORPHANS OF
UKRAINE HAVE NO HOPE.
George: GEORGE THOMAS,
CBN NEWS, KIEV, UKRAINE.
Gary: FINALLY TODAY IN
THE PHILIPPINES, TYPHOON
VICTIMS NEED NOT ONLY FOOD,
WATER AND SHELTER, THEY NEED
EMOTIONAL SPIRITUAL SUPPORT
AS WELL.
Wendy: THEY SURE DO.
THAT'S WHY ONE GROUP OF
ISRAELI COUNSELLORS IS
THERE, PARTNERING WITH CBN
TO HELP PEOPLE COPE WITH THE
TRAUMA.
LUCILLE TALUSEN REPORTS.
Reporter: MORE THAN TWO
MONTHS SINCE TYPHOON HAIYAN
STRUCK THE PHILIPPINES,
SURVIVORS LIKE THIS WOMAN,
STILL FEEL HAUNTED BY THEIR
NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE.
THE WATER WAS RISING.
MY SISTER AND I IMMEDIATELY
RAN OUT OF THE HOUSE AND
SWAM IN THE STREET TO HIGHER
GROUND.
MY SISTER, WHO DID NOT KNOW
HOW TO SWIM, HELD ON TO A
WATER JUG.
Reporter: LORRAINE AND
HER SISTER LIVED IN
TACLOBAN.
MONICA STILL FEELS THE
TRAUMA.
I STILL SHAKE, AND I AM
AFRAID EVERY TIME IT RAINS
HARD AND I HEAR THE STRONG
WIND.
Reporter: ASIDE FROM
ATTENDING TO THE SPIRITUAL
NEEDS OF THE VICTIMS OF
TYPHOON HAIYAN, CBN HAS
BROUGHT IN EXPERT
COUNSELLORS.
THIS IS TO HELP THE PEOPLE
COPE WITH THEIR TRAGIC
EXPERIENCES SO THAT THEY CAN
MOVE ON WITH THEIR LIVES.
WE CHOOSE TO PARTNER WITH
CBN BECAUSE YOU'RE REALLY
WILLING TO GIVE ANY HELP
THAT IS NEEDED EVERYWHERE.
Reporter: THIS DOCTOR'S
GROUP HELPS TRAIN VARIOUS
GOVERNMENT UNITS, THE RED
CROSS, AND SEVERAL SCHOOLS.
IT IS VERY SIMPLE:
ACTIVATE THE PERSON,
ACTIVATE YOURSELF.
TRY TO STAY OUT OF
HELPLESSNESS.
I FEEL VERY RELAXED NOW.
I WILL TEACH THIS TO MY
FAMILY AND APPLY IT TO MY
TWO DAUGHTERS, WHO ARE MOST
TRAUMATIZED IN TRYING TO
SAVE THEMSELVES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, ISRAELI
RELIEF COALITION, AND TO
CBN.
YOU ENLIGHTENED OUR MINDS
AND TAUGHT US NOT TO LOSE
HOPE.
Reporter: LUCILLE
TALUSEN, CBN NEWS.
Gary: THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US THIS WEEK.
I ENJOYED BEING HERE.
Wendy: IT'S NICE TO
HAVE YOU HERE.
AND I WANTED TO GRADUATE
LUCILLE, BECAUSE SHE GOT THE
PRESIDENT'S AWARD.
UNTIL NEXT WEEK, FROM ALL OF
US HERE, GOOD-BYE AND GOD
BLESS YOU.