News Archives

While World by Radio celebrates 15 years of making the Gospel available in every language, the group is excited about reaching their goal. The group consists of Trans World Radio, Far East Broadcasting Company, SIM and HCJB World Radio. HCJB reports for their part in the project, there are six languages left that they’re working with; Chechen, Kikongo San Salvador, Kituba, Luri, Southern Uzbek and Turkmen. Please pray for their work, which is dependent on security, finances and time.

Meanwhile, churches are binding together to reach their communities for Christ, thanks in part to the 50 Spiritual Adventure. Mainstay Church Resources produced this years Spiritual Adventure called Celebrate Jesus. Pastor Andrew Beaty of Yankton, South Dakota says it’s helped their community start a Lighthouse of Prayer program. “We have a map of the city that has been passed around to each of these participating churches to mark places where their people are meeting for Lighthouses of Prayer.” Beaty says Yankton is now being bathed in prayer. He says the program will encourage evangelism. “The 50 Day Adventure is a rapid time of spiritual growth. If we can continuously each year, kind of, give people a shot in the arm, focusing in on their spiritual growth, eventually we’ll see more and more people catch that picture.”

Ten years ago, a group of black Muslims tried to overthrow the democratically-elected government of the Caribbean twin-island state of Trinidad and Tobago. The failed coup attempt is sparking memories this year, an election year that has some missionaries watching carefully. Anthony Oliver tells us why. “Hinduism is very strong in the country on the whole; in fact, you can see the flags, and the monuments all over the place. That’s the greatest challenge; it’s kind of split the country in two now-Hindus against Christians. This is an election year right now, and they [Hindus] really want to get back in power.” Oliver says despite the spiritual and political climate, their work has continued. “There’s a lot of needs, because there, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. We really need prayer that God is going to raise up more people there, knowing that the work is continuing on down there-we need prayer in the area of financing too, because with finances you can do much more than without it.” Oliver and his family are staying at D & D Missionary Homes in Florida while in the United States.

Meanwhile, a man sentenced to death for converting from Islam to Christianity has finally been released. Open Doors is reporting that Mohammed Haji was reunited with his family last week in New Zealand after finally being able to leave Yemen. He was tried for apostasy in June, but a United Nations intervention led to a compromise. Yemeni authorities had since been hesitant to allow Haji and his family to leave, fearing others would ‘convert’ in order to resettle in a western country.

Mission Network News anchor Peter Brooks leaves for Jamaica tomorrow to join Food for the Poor on a special mission. He explains his involvement with an unusual project. “Jamaica is a country of contrast-vivid in some places, stark in others. While there are several beautiful resorts in the area, poverty is a way of life for the vast majority of the island’s residents. The nation’s most glaring need today is adequate housing for the underprivileged. While many of Jamaica’s poor are “squatters”, others are completely homeless and sleep wherever they find space. In response, Food for the Poor launched the “2000 in 2000″ campaign–a project aimed at building two-thousand homes in Jamaica in the year 2000. The idea caught the attention of the National Religious Broadcasters in the United States who made it an industry-wide project. Broadcasters are now involved in helping FFP raise money and manpower for the venture. I’m headed down this week to do both and also find out what other needs can be brought to light. I’m Peter Brooks, Mission Network News.”