When Jordan’s King Abdullah spoke at the recent National Prayer Breakfast, many Christians could only scratch their heads and ask why. But Christian activist Randall Terry believes he can explain why the podium was given over to a Muslim. “I think that the U.S. State Department doesn’t have a clue as to the real threat that Islamic ideology poses to America,” says Terry. And there may be another factor, he says. “I think that some of the president’s advisors have never really studied historic Islam, the Quran, or the life of Muhammad — and they’re repeating the new mantra that Islam is a religion of peace.” Terry says the president, who has been criticized for embracing Islam, was being gracious to the millions of Muslims who would never threaten or kill anyone over a cartoon.
- Bill Fancher

After accusing them of being spies, Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez has given a group of New Tribes missionaries until Sunday to leave their remote outposts among jungle tribes. Chavez has become well known for his anti-American rhetoric, despite the fact that his regime gets millions of dollars in American money through the CITGO oil company, which his government owns. New Tribes Mission spokeswoman Nita Zelenak says the missionaries facing the Chavez expulsion order are “shattered.” She says 35 missionaries have relocated to urban areas while they appeal the order, some after decades of evangelism and Bible translation work amongst the tribes. Zelenak tells Associated Press that Christians’ prayers would be appreciated. “Continue to pray for all those involved,” she requests. “This has been a very difficult thing, [as] you can imagine, for both the missionaries and the tribal people who are their good friends because it’s difficult to say goodbye not knowing when or if you’ll be able to see each other again.” Still, she says the expulsion has not shaken their faith. “We have very strong confidence that God is in control and that He will bring good from this situation,” Zelenak shares. “We just don’t know what His purpose is. But we know that whatever it is, it will be accomplished.” New Tribes has denied Chavez’s charge that it has been spying for the CIA and foreign mining and pharmaceutical firms, and has offered to open its jungle missions to government inspectors.

- Fred Jackson