A recent upsurge in fighting in Colombia has left much of the country
demanding peace. This, in response to some of the worst clashes in months between
leftist rebels and security forces near Bogota over the weekend. ABWE’s Bob Trout
says, while their church planting work has not really been affected by the violence, the
body of Christ in Bogota is seeing more response to their efforts. “I think the people
are just looking for peace. We’ve noted in the last period of years, a growing concern
on the part of our national brethren for the peace of the country-on the part of our
brethren getting tired of the pressure under which they live. It’s a difficult situation to
live under. They still are desirous of serving the Lord. Of course, the peace that will
come will come through knowing the Prince of Peace, our Savior.” Trout and his family
are staying at D & D Missionary Homes in Florida while they are in the United
States.
News Archives
Next, it was one year ago this week that missionary Graham Staines and his two
sons were killed by Hindu radicals in India. The deaths touched off protests and
started debates on religious conversion. His wife Gladys says she has forgiven her
husband’s killers and has now assumed his duties. She is currently overseeing the
Leprosy Home were he worked, as well as the ministry’s rehabilitation farm. She also
continues to work to fulfill her husband’s dream of building a 40-bed hospital nearby.
We begin today in Ecuador where a poor economy has led to a military coup in
that beleaguered country. Vice President Gustavo Noboa became the country’s 5th
president in three years after a military and Indian revolt forced President Jamil
Mahuad to resign. Back to the Bible’s David Lagacho says it’s not a good situation
for ministry. “People (are) totally distressed due to the situation. And, for ministries it’s
difficult to have all the financial resources because as the economy is bad, many people
don’t have enough money to support ministries financially.” According to Lagacho the
government and economic crisis is giving them opportunities to share the Gospel. “In
situations like ours in Ecuador is when Back to the Bible is most needed because we
bring a message of hope, and that’s exactly what people need in the middle of the
hopeless situation.”
Meanwhile, Christians in India honored those who have died as a result of their
faith in Christ. According to Voice of the Martyrs, the All-India Christian Martyrs
Day was held over the weekend in Calcutta. The event was held in an effort to bring
attention to persecution against Christians and to encourage believers to continue
leading people to Christ. Doctor P-P Job, who heads Tortured For Christ in India,
spoke at the event. After the message hundreds of Christians walked in a processional
through the streets.
Audio Scriptures International is embarking on a new ministry to Albania. The man responsible arrives this week to begin the work. The project
is the first of its kind in the history of Christian literature in the country. He explains the
need they re trying to meet. The situation in Albania is [80-percent] of the population
are not adequately educated, so the written version of the Scripture is great, but we re
targeting those people that live in rural areas that don t know how to read and write.
Dervishi says, as with any fledgling ministry, there are many needs. He adds that they re
currently looking for ways to duplicate the twelve cassette albums for use in Albania.
If we have the albums, then maybe in the end of February or March, we d like to send
the teams there. If there is anybody that wants to contribute to be part of this
tremendous blessing in the history of my country, contact Audio Scripture
International.
Elsewhere, a United States-based outreach is creating a new concept for the
work of churches in their communities. New Focus National’s Betsy Decker calls
this ‘creating space for ministry’. She explains the idea. “Often our lives are so busy,
that we don’t take the time to do what we want to do. New Focus creates the structure
in the church where we can do that. When you have a space, you’re making an
appointment with a person-and, as you’re relating to that person, you have an
opportunity to share your own life testimony about how God helped you.” Decker says
they are asking for prayer support as they work with churches nationwide to implement
their own programs. “Our prayer is that the church will wake up to the potential of
encouraging people daily and being open to people who have needs, so that people
don’t only go to church to worship, but they can go to church to share their need.”
Headlining today’s news the list of countries that fail to allow religious freedom
has been released. It’s called the Open Doors’ World Watch list, comprising of
countries where Christians face the most persecution. Open Doors President Terry
Madison. “Saudi Arabia has the distinction, unfavorable as it is, of being the most
repressive regime in the world for Christian faith. And, they have topped this list again
as number one for a number of years in a row.” Madison says Afghanistan is second,
followed by China, Chechnya and Sudan. 82 other countries made the list. He says
churches can use this as a prayer tool. “It’s very helpful for churches to use because
they can pray their way through the list and remember those who are in bonds for
Christ’s sake. We’re really committed to public education, particularly among the
church folk, to realize that even as we enjoy the freedom that we have, that is not what
others around the world share.”
Headlining today’s news the list of countries that fail to allow religious freedom
has been released. It’s called the Open Doors’ World Watch list, comprising of
countries where Christians face the most persecution. Open Doors President Terry
Madison. “Saudi Arabia has the distinction, unfavorable as it is, of being the most
repressive regime in the world for Christian faith. And, they have topped this list again
as number one for a number of years in a row.” Madison says Afghanistan is second,
followed by China, Chechnya and Sudan. 82 other countries made the list. He says
churches can use this as a prayer tool. “It’s very helpful for churches to use because
they can pray their way through the list and remember those who are in bonds for
Christ’s sake. We’re really committed to public education, particularly among the
church folk, to realize that even as we enjoy the freedom that we have, that is not what
others around the world share.”
Headlining today’s news the list of countries that fail to allow religious freedom
has been released. It’s called the Open Doors’ World Watch list, comprising of
countries where Christians face the most persecution. Open Doors President Terry
Madison. “Saudi Arabia has the distinction, unfavorable as it is, of being the most
repressive regime in the world for Christian faith. And, they have topped this list again
as number one for a number of years in a row.” Madison says Afghanistan is second,
followed by China, Chechnya and Sudan. 82 other countries made the list. He says
churches can use this as a prayer tool. “It’s very helpful for churches to use because
they can pray their way through the list and remember those who are in bonds for
Christ’s sake. We’re really committed to public education, particularly among the
church folk, to realize that even as we enjoy the freedom that we have, that is not what
others around the world share.”
Headlining today’s news the list of countries that fail to allow religious freedom
has been released. It’s called the Open Doors’ World Watch list, comprising of
countries where Christians face the most persecution. Open Doors President Terry
Madison. “Saudi Arabia has the distinction, unfavorable as it is, of being the most
repressive regime in the world for Christian faith. And, they have topped this list again
as number one for a number of years in a row.” Madison says Afghanistan is second,
followed by China, Chechnya and Sudan. 82 other countries made the list. He says
churches can use this as a prayer tool. “It’s very helpful for churches to use because
they can pray their way through the list and remember those who are in bonds for
Christ’s sake. We’re really committed to public education, particularly among the
church folk, to realize that even as we enjoy the freedom that we have, that is not what
others around the world share.”
