>> coming up on the broadcast, how the game of basketball has the potential of changing the destiny of one african nation. >> plus are you ready for football? superbowl 46 takes place this sunday. hear how god is moving on/off the field. >> practically tortured for processing his faith. this boy bullied after converting from islam. >> hello everyone, welcome to this edition's of "christian world news" i am george thomas. >> and i am wendy griffith. the central african republic has high crime rates and years of

political instability add to its problems. >> that's right. one american group is trying to focus on young people and change the country's destiny. the game of basketball is bringing hope to the people of the central african republic. >> in the heart of africa life is extremely difficult in the african republic. >> one country struggles to build a stable future. >> this is a country that has truly suffered. >> you know, when you are used to suffering suffering becomes normal. >> central african republic is a landlocked nation surrounded by the most dangerous places on earth. >> since gaining independence in

1960 from the french, 11 mutinies, numerous rebellious movements in the north as well as the south. today is one of the poorest countries here on the african continent. >> two friends from two different backgrounds and living thousands of miles apart are trying to change the country's out look. theodore cobble runs the largest network of churches. >> we can see the hopelessness. a nation that puts his trust in god will be blessed. >> rob hoescans is from america, he runs a ministry focussed on sharing the gospel will young people around the world. their friendship caught the attention of the government. the two met with top leaders and given unprecedented access to reach the youth with a biblical

message of hope. hoescans says the key was to use basketball, a popular sport to reach the kids. >> you show up with a basketball and kids come from everywhere. they don't have very many basketballs or infrastructures. the very little you do produces amazing results. >> he brought in 5,000 basketballs and a team of christian players from indiana. they put on daily basketball clinics attracting hundreds of young boys and girls. >> some tick off their shoes, some have shoes, some don't. some have incredible ability some don't. >> some face an uncertain future.

>> that moment they are playing and interacting and having fun, they forget everything else. >> in another part of town, coach adrian crawford, a former state university basketball star held drills from players from the central republic's national basketball team. >> we work on defensive principles, there you go! defending ball screens. one thing i like to do is give them drills that they can take and do when i am not here. >> these basketball clinics are more than just the game of basketball. in the end it is about imparting values. more importantly biblical values. >> 15 minutes at the end is the real reason we are here. we took 15-20 minutes everyday in the camp and just shared the gospel, shared the word, told

the kids why we are here. >> i encourage them no matter where they are at if they have been serving god a period of time, always have an intensity of their faith. it will be the same way in their sport. >> those words were life changing. >> i used to think the word of god was a joke. after spending time with coach adrian, i saw it was real. i never thought i needed god. >> the indiana team focussed on basketball clinics, a team from france did it through drama. >> there are still so many children who have not heard the name jesus. >> each child given the book of hope, an interactive bible-based magazine. >> there are articles that

explain to them a word of god and allow children to fall in love with god so they have a life-long relationship. >> they gave them the green light to teach them based on the bible in public schools. >> whether it is education, economy, sports, only god can transform our society and bring lasting peace. >> in the evening, they took to the streets of the capitol going door to door handing out gospel track. the screen is put up, projector and speakers come out. hundreds gather to watch a showing of the godman. one hopes animated film about the life of christ. >> i want to talk to you. >> a gospel invitation is given and many stand to receive christ into their hearts. >> we have done so many bad

things to each other, killed each other, stolen, this is why jesus sent his son to die for us and save us from our sins. >> it is that message they hope will make a difference in changing the destiny of the nation. to learn more about one hope's terrific work please visit their website at www.one hope.net and cbn.com with the president of one hope. great story. sudan's military has bombed a bible school built by franklin graham. eight bombs were dropped, two school buildings destroyed. franklin graham is the president of samaritan's purse. he say sudan's islamic regime is

engaged in a campaign of ethnic cleansing. >> they go after hospitals, food distribution centers, they want to put panic into the hearts and make them flee. it is ethnic cleansing, the serbs did it in bosnia and here. >> u.s. ambassador condemned the bombing. sudan has carried out several attacks in south kordofan. they have forced thousands to flee the area. cbn.com with the challenges facing south sudan. super faith at the superbowl. indianapolis and talk to the players about football and faith.

>> politics and prayer came

together in washington, d.c. u.s. president obama talked from the national prayer breakfast. >> reporter: what could bring two people from opposite ends the political session? >> jesus said if we have mustard seeds, we could move mountains. >> and nancy pelosi. >> give your servant a heart to understand to govern your people. >> together on one stage the national prayer breakfast. it is an event that exams the life of jesus as a model for servant leadership. >> we don't need a constitutional amendment. we need to act better and jesus gives us the place to start. >> for the third time, president obama announced the crowd where he discussed the importance of prayer. >> these moments of prayer slow us down, they humble us.

>> he revealed thipgs about his own spiritual habits including prayer from pastors like joel hunter or td jakes. he said higher taxes for the rich are shaped by his faith. >> for me as a christian, it co insides with jesus' teaching that from to whom much is given, much shall be required. it mirrors the islamic belief those that have been blessed have an obligation to help others our jewish consideration highlighting those for others. >> author erick me tax is liked efforts to the modern day fight for the unborn.

>> a part from god we can't see they are persons. those of us that know the unborn to be human beings are commanded by god to love those who dot no yes see that. >> metaxis encouraged everyone to love. that is the key between a living faith and a mere religion. john jessup, cbn news, washington. thanks, john. in the united states, american football is so popular, some say it has become like a religion superbowl sunday being the holiest day of all. that is not the case for many players taking part, cbn shawn brown reports they seek to glorify god through sports.

>> hello and welcome to luke indianapolis state yum. the grudge match between the giants and patriots will happen this sunday. four seasons ago, this time around you might say there is revenge at stake. players from both teams agree there is a lot more to life than winning a superbowl championship. >> jesus is my lord and savior and he has given me the opportunity to show case danger works he has done in my life. >> i am performing for jesus. >> you talk about so many guys that played this game to the best of their abilities. i am completely blessed to have the opportunity, two times in seven years, i definitely give him all the phrase.

>> giant's joachim credits his success on the field to his relationship with jesus christ. >> i am all in. i think that is why i am here today. i know what he put me here on a pedestal to exalt him and humble myself. >> grace is one of the most important things we can have. it helps you to understand no such thing as luck and it is all about work ethic and ups and downs. >> this is danny's first superbowl, 5, 7, 195 pounds, smallest on the team but hasn't stopped him from contributing to this team. >> without my relationship with christ, nothing matters. this is the greatest situation to be in football in my athletic

career. my faith comes first. >> you definitely have to have a lot of faith in yourself and god and jesus and understand you are here for a purpose. you have been given a great stage to go out and present your talents and never taken that for granted and your faith got you here. something you have to lean on constantly. >> veteran wide receiver branch has been here before. >> this is temporary, with him, i am going to be a god-fearing christian. i have to be the father to my kids, husband to my wife. i have to do that forever. this won't last forever. >> amazing. what do you think of the role sports plays in society? have americans turned sports

into a god? join the conversation on cwn's facebook page. the story how one team was persecuted for turningo christ.

>> welcome back to "christian world news." one in four american children are victimized by bullies. >> what about schools in other countries? those where christians are in the minority, gary lane traveled to turkey and brings us the story of a young schoolboy who is paying a big price for staying true to his christian faith. >> february, 2011, a vicious attack on a 13-year-old philadelphia boy. nadin khoury says the assault

came because he is small for his age. he made the rounds on the view programs eager to highlight the attacks. what about other countries? those that convert from islam. attacks like the one against nadin khoury occur regularly throughout the muslim world a the american main stream media is unlikely to tell you about it. >> this 12 year old publically professed his faith in turkey by wearing this silver cross. >> it is not the physical cross, it is the meaning of the cross that is important. it is a beautiful thing. i wanted people to ask me about it and i could tell them about christ. >> hussan was 9 years old at the

time. he had questions about islam. questions that non could answer. he discovered the truth in the bible and church. after he came to faith in christ, he felt so eye alive. >> i was so joyful. >> after he accepted christ, hussan wanted to share the good news with others. he was unaware of the potential danagers for leaving islam. his silver cross>> we referred to it as his problem. we were the ones with the

problem, not hussan. we decided to be like hussan, more open about our christianity. >> muslim classmates taunted him, spat on him and called him names and suffered attacks similar to the one against nadin khoury, the philadelphia boy. >> the boy grabbed me by the arm, skeezed me and yelled and said i am going to shoot you. >> i thought the father would be concerned about his son's actions. he called me names, threatened me and said he would shoot me himself if i pursued actions against his son. >> hussan refused to attend the school. i said are you getting beat up by those boys? he said no, my religion teacher.

>> student of all faiths are required to attend islamic faiths. those are often beaten by the teacher. so it was for hussan. he was punished regularly, with a two-foot wooden rod. [ foreign speaking ] i bear witness there is no god but god. and i bear witness mohammed is the messenger of god. >> i don't like saying it. it isn't in my heart. >> he went to the school and asked why his christian son was beaten because he failed to resite the prayers. >> teacher's beatens took a toll. he started to experience grand maul seizures and now takes

medicines. he now goes to another school and suffers less attacks. >> christ said you will suffer for me. it is okay to suffer for christ. we should be happy, the lord is with me. >> hussan will continue to tell

>> several hundred mourners gathered near the sea of galilee to say good-bye to one of israel's christian pioneers. >> reporter: crowell chose to be buried in israel. he committed most of his life to fulfill that time. crowell came to israel with

three goals, to be a christian witness, provide work and -->> third was to bless the nation of israel. >> crowell established a number of companies, he developed a device that take the gospel to countries in their own language. >> he is bringing the love to the help of the people. a tremendous vision, nobody thought it would work. it worked because of his faith in the lord, the messiah. >> he stood for godliness and holiness. he loved margey so much. >> name gal tronices comes from psalm 37, commit thy way to the lord, trust in him and he shall bring it to pass. crowell's advise. >> i was a seek the lord and

know what he wants you to do and go over and do it as you are led. >> ken crowell survived by wife margey was 79. chris mitchell, cbn news, tie beer tiberius. thank you for joining us for this week's edition of "christian world news.">> from all of us here, good-bye and god