Sara Horn

Media ministry for Iraq Maher Mageed looks through the large collection of master recordings of Christian programs he has taped for distribution to his Iraqi neighbors. Photo by Jim Veneman

BAGHDAD, Iraq (BP)--It would be hard to imagine a time that Maher hasn't smiled. Though short in stature, the Madian-born Iraqi lights up a room, whether it's at the hospital where he helps translate for Iraqi patients, or in his church which has now held services for 10 weeks in a row.
      There was a low point in his life. It came as he was being interrogated in Saddam Hussein's military intelligence prison - the most feared prison in all of Iraq. As he heard stories of other prisoners there who had been severely tortured by the same men who were questioning him, he wondered whether he would ever see home again.
      Maher Abdul Mageed was born into the Madian culture, a sect that can be traced back to the original followers of John the Baptist. Though 90 percent of John the Baptist's followers turned to Jesus Christ after their leader's death, some did not, choosing instead to worship John, a religion that has been passed down for generations.

Reading the Word An Iraqi man reads an Arabic version of the Bible during a worship service held at St. George's Memorial Church. Photo by Jim Veneman

      Maher accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior in 1994 after first hearing the Gospel from his brother who had left Iraq for another country. Within a year, Maher felt called by God into ministry, though there was no schooling in evangelism he could obtain in Iraq. Under Saddam's dictatorship, it was extremely difficult to preach the Gospel in Iraq; it could quickly gain someone a three-year trip to prison if caught.

Thank you "I don't know the proper word to say thank you to the Americans," said this man, left. "If I had been put in an Iraq hospital, maybe my arms would have been cut off. I've been healed. Americans are angels." Photo by Jim Veneman

      A father and a husband, Maher decided to start a media ministry. By collecting audio tapes, books, CDs and videos, he reasoned it was the easiest way to preach the Gospel without being accused of specifically proselytizing for his faith. Using double-deck cassette players, he would stay up until midnight each night taping various Christian programs. His wife would then help copy the tapes while she cooked. He was eager to share his tapes and CDs with fellow members of the church he attended, the sole Arabic evangelical church in the area where he lived.

Connecting at LifeWay Casting Crowns performs in a special showcase held at LifeWay Christian Resources. Pictured are Mark Hall, lead singer, left, and Hector Cervantes, guitarist and vocals. I>Photo by Morris Abernathy

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--An album that debuts at No. 1 and a national tour to promote it is a dream come true for most musicians. Mark Hall hasn't given it much thought, though. His attention is still in McDonough, Ga., where 400 teenagers are without their youth pastor for the month of October.
      "This is a pretty busy month for us [with the youth ministry], so I've been thinking a lot about how things are running while I'm gone," said Hall, youth pastor for Eagle's Landing First Baptist Church in McDonough. "We've got 40 adult workers so [the kids] are in good hands, but my family and the youth group are definitely on my mind."

New Bible study software

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Barry Busby is just beginning his seminary education, but already he can count on one thing: He won't be taking a lot of books with him after he graduates. A 10-year Army veteran, the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary student is studying to return to his branch of service as a chaplain. Thanks to brand-new Bible study software, he'll have the resources he needs as close as his laptop.
      Bible Navigator is a new Bible software tool designed by WORDsearch Corp for LifeWay Christian Resources' technology division in conjunction with Broadman & Holman Publishers. In September, LifeWay surprised Southern Baptist seminary students with a complimentary special academic edition of the PC-based study software, a $249 value.

HCSB Online

NASHVILLE (BP)--You can't hold the complete Holman Christian Standard Bible translation in your hands until spring 2004, but you can scroll through it online with your mouse.
      LifeWay.com has added a "pre-release, preview edition" version of the Holman CSB Old Testament to the Holman CSB New Testament already available through the website's online Bible reference library. The addition comes in conjunction with the release of the Holman CSB translation this fall in LifeWay Christian Resources' Sunday School curriculum.