Missions Network News
Palestinian Christians afraid to leave Gaza
Wed, 01/07/2009 - 00:00Israel (MNN) -- Israel says it won't agree to an international ceasefire proposal unless a guarantee is made that the smuggling tunnels are found, destroyed and not rebuilt. In the meantime, organizations helping Palestinian Christians are asking the world to pray that the violence will end. President of Open Doors USA Carl Moeller says Palestinian Christians have nowhere to turn. "They're not part of Hamas. They're not radical Islamic terrorists. And, they're not Israelis. So the Israelis see them as Palestinians, and the Palestinian terrorists see them as Christians who are not part of their Islamic movement. It's a tough place to be." Moeller says seeds of the Gospel have been planted. "Brother Andrew, our founder, has shared Christ with all of the leadership of Hamas. We're praying these seeds that Andrew and others have sown would take root. Ultimately, the only hope for peace in Gaza is the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ."
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Missionaries in Gambia plead for pardon
Wed, 01/07/2009 - 00:00Gambia (MNN) -- Next, a British missionary couple is pleading for mercy in Gambia. David and Fiona Fulton were sentenced to one year of hard labor and fined $9,000 dollars for sedition. In a letter read on national television, they publicly apologized and asked for clemency. The International Christian Concern web site says the Fultons were arrested in late November for allegedly criticizing Gambia in a series of e-mails related to their work in that predominantly-Muslim nation.
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2009 a year of narrowed focus for Europe ministry
Wed, 01/07/2009 - 00:00International (MNN) -- 2009 looks to be a year of narrowed focus of outreach to Muslims for Greater Europe Mission. President Henry Deneen says their teams have established two "breakthrough" cities in Cologne, Germany and Sophia, Bulgaria. "We're seeing a corridor running from Germany through Bulgaria down into Turkey. We're trying to focus prayer, people and resources on those two cities to impact not only the indigenous European populations but also the Muslim populations." Deneen acknowledges the challenges of this strategy. He says you can pray in a number of ways: "First of all, pray that we see breakthroughs in Sophia and in Cologne. Second, pray that God would cause a movement of rapidly producing churches all across Europe, North Africa and Turkey. Third, pray that financial resourcing would be provided. Fourth, pray that we could move into a global prayer movement."
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Financial crisis hurts children's hospital ministry in Uganda
Wed, 01/07/2009 - 00:00Uganda (MNN) -- Elsewhere, while Uganda has made significant progress in its fight against poverty, the global financial crisis is crushing. Derek Johnson with CURE International says their children's hospital is feeling the impact. "We've seen around 15 to 16 percent inflation for 2008, which is the highest on record since they started recording inflation in Uganda. That's mostly with fuel, food and other household goods," which means some families will put off needed surgeries. In addition, donations are down. However, Johnson says they serve those who need help, regardless of their ability to pay. The operations can be life-changing in more ways than one. "The number one thing I hear is how much our staff treats them with respect, love and compassion. That makes an impact on people, and they will want to understand more about why this hospital is different from other hospitals in Uganda. That's a great gate for the Gospel, because that gives us a chance--our spiritual team as well as our staff--to share, 'Here's who we are as Christian men and women.'"
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Asian Access launches go2japan.org
Wed, 01/07/2009 - 00:00Japan (MNN) -- And Asian Access has found a way to adapt to the changing landscape of mission mobilization. A2 launched a new Web site, go2japan.org, containing an online forum for missionaries in Japan to share their testimonies and encourage anyone looking to enter the field. The Web site also has FAQ's about all A2 programs in Japan and resources for those who have already been accepted into a program. Pray for many young missionaries to enter the field through this new resource.
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Palestinian Christians face even more trouble in Gaza
Tue, 01/06/2009 - 00:00Israel (MNN) -- The casualties continue to rise in Gaza as Israel continues to retaliate for the dozens of Hamas-fired missiles that broke a cease-fire more than 10 days ago. Tom Doyle with E3 Partners says Hamas voted December 23rd to institute Sharia (Islamic) law in Gaza. Doyle says that means radical Islam will rule -- women must be veiled, secret police will be watching everyone, and worse. "They also included in that the ability to crucify someone if they make a charge against Islam. It's just definitely going backwards in that community." Doyle believes that if Hamas is ousted by the Israelis, there will be dancing in the streets. Others believe radicals will be even more hardened. Despite the turmoil, Christians are having an impact. "We're seeing believers there reach out to help feed believers, Muslims, or nominal Christians, and they're helping out in the midst of it. Doyle is asking Christians to pray that believers will be preserved and will use this opportunity share Christ.
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Rat plague hits Myanmar hard
Tue, 01/06/2009 - 00:00Myanmar (MNN) -- Elsewhere, the bamboo growth cycle in Southeast Asia has hit the flowering stage and with it comes a plague of destruction. Daniel Punnose (p'nohs) with Gospel For Asia describes the situation in Myanmar. "The rats increase dramatically during that time, and they just destroy the food and everything around there. Bamboo is a food, a building material, it's what they use for paper, and for medicine." The last time bamboo bloomed nearly a half century ago, the season lasted a few months. This time, it has gone on for over a year, and the famine deepened. Worse yet, Myanmar's junta government is intercepting aid. Punnose says their teams are doing all they can to help. "It actually provides us with opportunities to share the love of Jesus with people. Our missionaries and our people are there at the places where people are most affected. We're able to reach out and with food and help in killing these rats. It gives us the opportunity to tell them how much Jesus loves them and how much we want to help them."
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Water may open door to Peru's Candoshi
Tue, 01/06/2009 - 00:00Peru (MNN) -- Living Water International workers were threatened by tribal people in Peru known as the Candoshi. These people number about 3,000. Nearly all have hepatitis B and are hopeless. The Candoshi are feared by everyone because of their violence. LWI entered a village to investigate the need for water wells. One man threatened to kill an LWI worker if a well wasn't drilled. The LWI team went back later and and drilled nine wells. Pray that the water well will allow provide opportunities to share Christ. To help Living Water, follow the links in FULL STORY below.
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Orphan Outreach expands ministry
Tue, 01/06/2009 - 00:00International (MNN) -- Next, Orphan Outreach expanded its ministries in Russia, Guatemala, and India in the year 2008. It recently began a partnership with a ministry called "Redeeming India," said Tiffany Taylor, Director of Marketing and Development for Orphan Outrech. "We are helping with the ministry literally on the front lines of saving baby girls from infanticide, where families believe that these baby girls are cursed and they ask the midwives to kill the baby girls. We just signed a partnership to be helping this orphanage there, and we are going to be building a Christian school there, helping them with long-term planning." The ministry faces economic challenges in the new year, as well as unrest and persecution in places like India. "We have to be so careful with our ministry there that we very carefully protect The children that are in these Christian schools and our staff." Pray that the Gospel will continue to spread through Orphan Outreach in 2009.
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Audio Bibles released in 8 new languages
Tue, 01/06/2009 - 00:00International (MNN) -- And, Faith Comes By Hearingrecently released eight Audio Drama New Testament recordings. These recorded languages represent more than 222 million people on five continents. About 70-percent of the world's population is part of an oral culture and live in poverty. That means access to God's Word can be out of their reach. Faith Comes By Hearing establishes Bible listening groups in order to begin their evangelization. Their goal is to record Audio Bibles in 2,000 languages by 2016.
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Tensions restrict evangelism
Mon, 01/05/2009 - 00:00India (MNN) -- Rising tensions between India and Pakistan are impacting the spread of the Gospel. "We do have work in Kashmir which is where the greatest tension is and even the fighting war has been going on there, but it's very dangerous travel. And so the amount of evangelistic and church-planting work that can go on in Kashmir is very limited. It's limited to a few places where it's relatively safe." That's Dave Stravers with Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Mission India. Many new Christians face anti-conversion laws, which require them to obtain signatures from the police before their baptism. However, they usually disregard the law. "They said, 'No one is doing that. We're not doing that. You cannot obey that law because you're only inviting the police to send extremists to your house to browbeat you or even to attack you.'" Pray that the Gospel will continue to spread as Christians choose to obey God rather than man.
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Rights advocate murdered
Mon, 01/05/2009 - 00:00Bangladesh (MNN) -- Meanwhile, Compass Direct News reports the brutal murder of a Christian human rights defender in Bangladesh. Ladu Moni Chakma was repeatedly stabbed and his throat slashed by Bengali Muslim settlers. A local pastor told Compass that Chakma openly defended the rights of indigenous people and was killed for reporting illegal land grabs to authorities. Assailants also attacked Chakma's family, but they managed to escape to safety. Pray that justice comes swiftly for Chakma's family.
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New school for Totonicapan
Mon, 01/05/2009 - 00:00Guatemala (MNN) -- A new three-story elementary school will open in Guatemala on January sixth, says Steve Geurink of Worldwide Christian Schools. "Three years ago, it was a cow pasture, and we prayed and dedicated and did a walk around the property, dedicating it. And on January 6, there's going to be a grand opening for this brand-new school, built by many, many volunteer hands." Up to 560 children each year will be able to receive the area's only quality education. "The Quiche Indians are kind of a second-class group in the eyes of many Guatemalans. And for these students to have the combination of a Christian education and a quality education, they're going to have to chance to better their lives in the society and the development of Guatemala." Pray that the children attending the school will come to know the Lord and live for His kingdom.
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Children enjoy Christmas party
Mon, 01/05/2009 - 00:00Haiti (MNN) -- Next, starving children in Haiti enjoyed a Christmas party this year complete with food, gifts, and a Gospel message. "The only sad part is the number of people who were still outside the gate who we didn't have enough food for, because everybody is so desperately hungry." That's Eva DeHart from For Haiti With Love. The missionaries held a church service before feeding the children beef, rice, and beans. The children sang and danced, and enjoyed a powerful Gospel message. "When you're living in the middle of what they're living in now, without hope, they would all be committing suicide. But if you can give them a taste of hope that things can be better, they hold on to the hand of Jesus and see that we can make it all better together." Pray that these children will come to know the Lord, and that He will care for their physical needs.
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Compassion helps Guatemalan girl fulfill her dreams
Mon, 01/05/2009 - 00:00Guatemala (MNN) -- And in Guatemala, a young lady assisted by Compassion International has fulfilled her dream of becoming a doctor. When Damaris was young, she knew she wanted to be a doctor and believed God would help her overcome all odds. Inspired by her faith, Damaris' parents enrolled her in the Compassion-sponsorship program. Today, she provides medical care to hundreds in her community. Pray for the hundreds of children like Damaris that Compassion helps through child sponsorship.
Categories: News
India's bloodshed provides ministry opportunity in year to come
Fri, 01/02/2009 - 00:00International (MNN) -- 2008 was a rough year for many believers. Global food shortages and financial disaster hit many churches hard. Persecution increased in many places, but the greatest challenge this year came in India. Dave Stravers with Voice of the Martyrs Canada says their work will not only continue in 2009, but they have plans to expand. "Pray for our brothers and sisters; it is what they ask for, first and foremost. Then [we're involved with] doing advocacy work on their behalf, writing on their behalf, writing to those who are in prison, helping to provide Bibles and legal aid for those that are going through trial, and helping to take care of the families." Part of their focus in 2009 will be responding to church leaders in India. Their plea: "We need to know how to respond Biblically. This is something Voice of the Martyrs focuses on, what we call a 'Biblical theology of persecution' -- teaching church leaders in particular what the Bible teaches about persecution and then passing it on."
Categories: News
Persecution in 2009
Fri, 01/02/2009 - 00:00International (MNN) -- Next, persecution will probably continue to intensify in 2009, says Carl Moeller of Open Doors. "I think this is an extremely volatile time, and I think Christians around the world are more and more subject to persecution in the name of false gods and false philosophies. So unfortunately, as Brother Andrew likes to say, our work is increasing." Open Doors is keeping its eye on persecution hot spots like Iran, North Korea, India, and Nigeria. If economic struggles make it harder for free countries to stand up against persecution, life could get more difficult for many Christians. "Frankly, as western governments are less and less able to economically intervene on behalf of those persecuted minorities, that's going to expose more Christian communities to a greater amount of persecution in the years to come." Pray that the Gospel will spread despite persecution.
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Christmas Day massacre in Congo brings fear
Fri, 01/02/2009 - 00:00Uganda (MNN) -- International Christian Concern reports that members of the Ugandan rebel group, the Lord's Resistance Army, killed 400 Christians celebrating Christmas in Congo. Their sources also report that the LRA denies responsibility for the attacks on December 25th and in the days following. Thousands along the border of Sudan sought refuge with churches. Pray for their safety and ask God to provide for their needs. Pray that believers will be able to act as the hands and feet of Christ during this crisis.
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Ministry to Greece laying foundation with youth
Fri, 01/02/2009 - 00:00Greece (MNN) -- Meanwhile, in Macedonia, ministry continues to grow. Although many are "Christians" are in name only, church workers say the people of the region are spiritually hungry. Evangelical churches are often viewed as "cults," however. Still, a SEND International team has seen encouraging progress with building the foundations of a new Junior High Ministry, among other longstanding work. Please pray that God will prepare the hearts of the kids who will participate in this ministry, that they will be receptive to teaching from God's Word.
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Super Bowl outreach
Fri, 01/02/2009 - 00:00USA (MNN) -- And, more people are needed to help evangelize at the Super Bowl. "If you have two of us down there and we're in the middle of 100,000, that's very difficult. You have 200 people in the middle of 100,000, and you have lots of opportunities to talk one-on-one. That's what makes this sort of grand opportunity." That's Bill Adams of Sports Fan Outreach. About 150-200 people are already signed up for the event. The slowing economy may actually increase their opportunities to witness. "There'll be a lot of people but a less-festive environment, actually making it easier spiritually for us to communicate the Gospel. And I believe that's sort of something that God has set up for us. If you have a desire to evangelize, or a passion to evangelize already, it is a perfect set up for you." Follow the links in FULL STORY below to register to share the Gospel with Super Bowl fans.
Categories: News