NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–A Baptist volunteer who was jailed in Haiti for nearly three weeks says he hopes people will once again focus on the plight of the citizens of the earthquake-ravaged country.

The Asian Seminary of Christian Ministries in Makati City, Philippines, led by President Scott Rains, hosted the Tony Lane YCE Training Team last February 3, 4, and 5, 2009. The 3-day conference “Building the Missional Church” was attended by the entire faculty, staff, and student body of the Asian Seminary along with invited guests. Church of God National Overseer of the Philippines, Dr. Mark Ligero, led a group of COG regional overseers and district officers with members of their corresponding churches who came in from all over the Philippines to be equipped by the awesome and dynamic teaching of 8 seasoned teachers, preachers, and trainers from the United States.

India (MNN) ― There’s an alarming trend developing in Northeast India. Criminals are now posing as missionaries.

Five Lutheran organizations, including a key fundraising and financial management organization, joined forces to raise $3 million for Haiti earthquake relief efforts in less than a month.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (BP)–A judge in Haiti says eight of the 10 American missions volunteers who have been detained in the country will be freed today.

After the devastating earthquake in Haiti, a hurting nation looks to rebuild and reach out to its people. The Church of God is continuing to feed the people of Haiti, but must look to the long-term restoration. Nineteen Church of God churches have been destroyed and 74 churches were damaged. We must look at rebuilding the church.

Iraq (MNN) ― We begin today in Iraq where Christians are again being targeted.

The world’s largest Baptist university has named Kenneth Winston Starr, who is most well-known for his work as special prosecutor in the Clinton scandals, as its next president.

Church of God missions veterans Grant and Janice McClung have been selected as participants for “Cape Town 2010,” the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization, set for October 16-25 in Cape Town, South Africa. The international forum on world evangelization will involve 4,000 missions leaders from 200 countries and connect thousands more around the world through an internet “Global Link” and multiple on-site and cyber “Global Conversations” before, during, and after the international gathering.