News Archives

Meanwhile, New Focus National’s program is taking on an unusual twist at a church in Mankato, Minnesota. Director Chris Walchuk says they’ve now changed their concentration from a traditional benevolence fund to a revolving loan fund. Walchuk says the pilot program provided more than financial benefits. “We ran one New Focus class, where we gave them money by grant, and another, we said “All this money we’re giving you, you’re signing a promissory note; we expect repayment, and people overwhelmingly preferred the loan. It restored their dignity; it gave them a goal to work toward, and they felt really great when they did, in fact, pay off that loan.” Walchuk explains there were other rewards that New Focus clients soon discover. “We let them know right up front, they’re going to hear the Word of God, they’re going to hear of a lifestyle that will make their lives better in every way. In fact, I was shocked from the beginning how hungry people were for that Word.” New Focus National is a faith-based training group that helps churches provide a system to reach out to their communities.

Missionaries are a bit pessimistic when it comes to the reunification of Korea. On the 55th anniversary of the founding of the North’s ruling Workers’ Party, South Korean delegates are there to help ease tensions and promote reunification. President of Far East Broadcasting Company Jim Bowman, says reunification won’t be easy. “There are three scenarios. One is of course that there will be peaceful reunification. I think that’s going to take a long, long time. The other two scenarios is that the economy will collapse in the north and then the south will simply take it in as West Germany had to take in East Germany. But, the third possibility is a military confrontation.” FEBC is broadcasting to the closed north. Bowman says there’s little response. “To this date we’ve never received a letter and that demonstrates just how closed and how repressive that regime is. There is a growing church of believers throughout Korea. The repression of those young Christians is very, very severe even way more than we’ve heard from China.”

Next, a Grace Ministries International missionary is asking that believers pray for a quick solution for the social crisis in Bolivia. The situation remains tense due to the conflict between government forces, coca growers, peasants, and teachers. The clash has left major highways blocked, making inter-city transportation and moving of food supplies very difficult. Please pray that God will work in the hearts of the leaders of the various factions. Pray, too, for the testimony of God’s people during this time.

Evangelism could expand greatly as a new Spanish translation of the New Testament is going to press. World Bible Translation Center’s Brian McLemore says this translation is unique. “It is written in a very easy to read level. Someone who has a very limited religious experience or little education would have no trouble understanding the basic truths of Jesus Christ. We have made a good effort to try to make this a fresh contemporary language that speaks with today’s Spanish.” According to McLemore this translation will not only help with evangelism in Central and South America, but also North America. “I really see, for Mexican Americans and many other different Hispanics who live in America, this is a way to stay in touch to be able to communicate in their heart language. We even plan in the future to bring out an English-Spanish parallel.”

Elsewhere, the campaign for Haiti’s presidency and nine senate seats is underway in an election expected to see Jean-Bertrand Aristide returned to power. However, the problem is that the people have little or no confidence in their government. Medical Ambassador International’s John McWilliam says many are disillusioned. “There’s really a pervasive, negative spirit in Haiti. This is one of the big problems is that they’ve not seen anything happen positive for helping with their own needs for so long that people have a very negative attitude. Of course, we’re trying to counter this by training and teaching them and helping them.” McWilliam says their work focuses on community health evangelists, and needs support. “Pray for the training team. Voodoo is very strong in Haiti. There’s a tremendous spiritual warfare going on in that country.”