Olympic athletes and spectators will be on the receiving end of an evangelistic outreach in Australia. The International Bible Society is distributing scripture and other material to point people to Christ. Suz Hyde is a part of IBS’ World Outreach Team. She says giving away the More than Gold Interactive Guide will be a part of their outreach. “It includes things like some of the sports records and a spot for people to enter who wins the current medals as well as giving short quotes being an athlete as well as being a Christian. In the end, it also presents very clearly a short presentation of the Gospel.” Hyde says this distribution will be international in scope. “We’ve got it in two version of Chinese, French, Spanish, Romanian, Polish, Greek and Albanian. I believe we’ve also prepared it in the Czech language.” Multiple English versions are also available. Some 500-thousand copies of the booklet will be distributed.
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Meanwhile, we turn to Russia, where a recent mission involving JAARS and Wycliffe Bible Translators helped set a course for the church there. JAARS’ Jim Akovenko explains the point of his visit. “Our purpose was to go to St. Petersburg, Russia to encourage the newly formed Wycliffe organization. In the ‘New Russia’, as they call it, they have formed this organization to mobilize Russians to go out from Russia to the remaining parts of the world where translation is needed.” Akovenko adds that the future for the spread of the Gospel is a hopeful one, because: “We found it very encouraging to see that they were above ground, public and they had a sense that they were a privileged group now to be involved in the church worldwide. That seemed to give them a whole sense of ‘This is working out.’ It was a different sense of how is this new organization going to engage the church in Russia.”
Afghanistan’s violence splinters the country, but ministry continues.
Missionaries are gearing up for an incredible opportunity to share the Gospel with people from all over the world. Athletes in Action is sending150 staff members to the 2000 Olympic games in Australia. In cooperation with the Jesus Film Project, they’ll be distributing more than 10-thousand copies of the Jesus Video to Olympic Athletes during the games. Staff members are praying people from countries closed to the Gospel will receive them. AIA will also be conducting clinics for Australian youth.
Elsewhere, last week’s evangelism conference in Ecuador has motivated church leaders from across Latin America. Latin America Mission’s Ken MacHarg filed this report. “While much of the fourth Latin American Congress on Evangelism focussed on new ways to reach people across the continent, such as the poor, children at risk, and indigenous groups, delegates were reminded to feed their spiritual life and reflect theologically about what they are doing. Speakers challenged the congress to reach out to the lost, seeking to meet people in society where they are, in their context, rather than inviting them to come to a crusade, or expecting them to be saved in church. Peruvian theologian, Tito Paredes said that this event was a milestone, in that it purposely brought together Evangelicals and Pentecostals for prayer, fellowship and ministry. For Mission Network News, I’m Ken MacHarg in Quito, Ecuador.”
Treating the needs of AIDS victims in Ethiopia helps open doors for the Gospel.
Ukraine was the target of an evangelistic effort that saw hundreds turn to Christ. International Evangelist Sammy Tippit , 70 Americans and Ukrainian believers teamed up together to reach the Zaporozhye (zaph-roh-shah) region of the country for Christ. “We were in countless villages where they had never had the Gospel. Where there we no churches, or just a handful of believers. We were in the major cities of the region. We saw about 2,600 people pray to receive Christ. Churches were born. So, we’re just thrilled with all that God did.” Tippit claims the unique part of this outreach is that local churches have taken ownership in the evangelistic program. “We had 70 Americans, we had 66 interpreters and we had an equal number of pastors. So, we had about 200 people who were doing what I do on a smaller level on a day by day basis. And, the affect was just multiplied. And, it was just a tremendous thing because they felt this was something that would continue on.”
And finally, church leaders from throughout Latin America are winding up the conference on evangelizing their continent. Latin America Mission’s Ken MacHarg filed this report from Quito, Ecuador. “The over 13-hundred participants are exploring new methods of ministry through which to proclaim the Gospel. LAM’s president David Befus has led workshops demonstrating how helping the poor start their own businesses provides an opportunity for witness. Meanwhile, LAM’s Katherine Miles has helped over one-hundred participants develop new methods to reach children at-risk, including the thousands who live in the streets. The Congress on Evangelism wraps up with a closing celebration Friday night. For Mission Network News, I’m Ken MacHarg in Quito, Ecuador.”
