News Archives

Topping the news, recent reports say the AIDS epidemic is having a tremendous impact on the social fabric of South Africa. Millions are infected with the HIV virus, and in the midst of disease, there is famine and war. Born from this is a spiritual thirst, met by a vibrant Ugandan church. AMG International’s Larry Malone explains their approach. “Even in the midst of all of the problems that we might face today, God is still the answer to those problems…and so long as we have men and women that are dedicated to reaching these children and their families, we’ll see a change in their lives.” Malone says the church has found a specific ministry in the area. “This church is reaching out to many of the people there. The church was established in 1992 and the strategy there is focused on reaching the community, not only through evangelism and discipleship, but reaching into the homes and helping these people with feeding of the children as well as helping them with their education.”

Meanwhile, Christian education abroad is needed to help first and second generation Christians. That’s the word from The Mustard Seed’s Don Richardson. Richardson says Christian schools are essential in Buddhist, Muslim and Hindu areas of the world. “In the absence of Christian schools where do the children of these first and second generation Christians go to school? To public schools. And, a Christian student may be pressured, sometimes ridiculed, sometimes bullied. It’s so easy to intimidate a child.” Richardson says the Mustard Seed has established schools in those areas. He says these above average schools are inviting families of other religious faiths to join. “It’s exciting to see parents of other religious groups wanting to send their children to a Christian school and when they’re the minority they’re not bullied because of their different faith, but treated with respect and it’s a good witness to them and their families through the schools.” Richardson says people are converting to Christ.

A JESUS Film team in India was showing the Film when a local police officer stopped the show. The team was then told they could only receive permission to continue by attaining a written certificate from every household they intend to use electricity from. By doing this, the intelligence department is trying to identify the people who are helping the JESUS Film team. Other evangelistic groups have faced much opposition in this area in the past. Please pray for God’s protection and guidance for this team.

While the mudslides in Venezuela are over, the people of that South American country are still suffering from the aftereffects. Latin America Mission is looking for 20 to 30 volunteers to help on a short term missions team from July 17th to July 29th. LAM’s Polly MacHarg. “We’re going to be working at a distribution center. Sorting, getting things — the goods together so that they can be distributed. For example there are supplies like clothing, medicines that are still continuing to come in and those need to be gotten out.” MacHarg says tract distribution will accompany this outreach. She says while the mudslide happened in December, help is still needed. “There’s still a great deal of work that needs to be done. And, it’s an area, because it was so long ago in December we don’t want to forget them because they are still victims and we still need to do a lot of work in that area.”

Headlining today’s news, Madagascar is reeling after three cyclones have hit that island nation. Harold Mitchell is with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. He describes the devastation. “Buildings were destroyed mainly, and inland villages were destroyed. A lot of the damage is to rice crops which is the main source of diet to the Madagascar people. We anticipate there will be hunger needs for as much as six months.” The IMB is helping with food aid, but much more is needed. Mitchell says as they distribute badly needed food, they’re pointing people to Christ. “We have partnered with this small evangelical church and so we’ve gone with their evangelists and we’re able to share the Gospel every we’ve had a program. People are told why we’ve come and the reason that Jesus Christ loves them.” Mitchell says this is the worst disaster in five years.

Next, a new cease-fire is in effect in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In an emotional speech at the Group of 77 summit, DRC’s foreign minister asked Third World leaders to help end the war tearing his country apart. Grace Ministries International’s Sam Vinton explains his outlook for peace in the country. “Most of us have become sort of cynical, but I have to tell you, in all honesty, my prayer is becoming more and more that for the sake of the people in that country, that the Lord would work something out to where these people either will get tired of fighting or somewhere along the line, they will be willing to talk, so that peace can be restored.” The U.N. Security Council plans to deploy a 5,500-strong U.N. peacekeeping mission to monitor the disengagement within months, but Vinton says their work will continue. “We’ve had some very good reports from the hospital, within the school systems, except we have very few supplies able to get into the area. And our missionaries, we are yet not feeling that we can send them into the interior because of lack of security.”

One-point-two million dollars is being invested into seeing people come to Christ in the United States. According to Religion Today, every home in Palm Beach County Florida will receive a copy of the Jesus Film in the mail this week. The video depicts the story of Christ. More than 100 churches joined together to spearhead the project. The campaign will be accompanied by several prayer meetings. Organizers hope that by watching the videos people will be persuaded to put their faith in Christ.

Meanwhile, SIM reports that evangelical missionaries serving around the world are seeing success in their work on spreading the Christian faith. Mission Network News’ Greg Yoder has details. “Throughout the world, missionaries face the task of bringing the truth of the Gospel to people who may have been taught lies about Christians. Millions are turning to God and discovering He is a personal, loving God. SIM’s Les Unruh (UN-roo) shares what God is doing in the church in Central and South America. “It’s exciting to see what is transpiring in the country of Guatemala, but not only Guatemala, but also some of the other South American countries. I believe in the next few years, we’re going to see a tremendous movement out of Central and South America. It’s exciting to see what God is doing, and it’s especially encouraging as we think of the fact, now we’re seeing Central and South America become a sending force.” SIM adds, although front-line missionaries are needed, there is also a need for behind-the-lines support and prayer. Reporting for Mission Network News, I’m Greg Yoder.”

Headlining today’s news, evangelical relief agencies are puzzled why the famine in Ethiopia isn’t getting much press in the United States. Food for the Hungry’s Dave Evans says the images from the European press are sobering. “Some of the news reports have be showing a lot of camel carcasses. The camel is basically the last thing to die and when that starts to happen you’re in trouble because they’re able to live under the harshest conditions without food or water for a long period of time. The skeleton frames of young children and especially older women.” Evans says financial assistance is needed so they can deliver food through Ethiopian churches. “That first objective in our vision is to see churches reaching out to meet needs. And, we see that not only as spiritual needs, but also physical needs. As the scriptures teach us to reach out with bread and the Gospel.”