Story number 1 for 18 Sep 2000

We begin today’s newscast in the United States where mission leaders are wondering how talks between U-S President Bill Clinton and Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will affect work in India. Operation Mobilization’s Peter Dance says he doesn’t believe talks will ease the increasing persecution against Christians. “It’s been quite severe up until now. Of course it can get and maybe it will even get worse. But, I don’t think that it’s going to particularly affect us any worse than it already is.” Dance says India’s high ranking on the U-S’ list of country’s that support religious persecution could help change that. “It was publicized in India and some very sure questions (were) asked – what is this doing to our reputation and the perception to the world on our country? So, it’s going to, in the future, have an effect.”