Next, tomorrow is the anniversary of the Roe versus Wade decision. That’s the
decision that legalized abortion in the United States. Bethany Christian Services, a
Michigan based adoption and crisis pregnancy agency, is helping to point mothers to
be to the Savior. Linda VanderKuyl (vander-KY-uhl) is a crisis pregnancy counselor.
“We’re very empathetic. She’s in a crisis. She needs assurance that there is hope she is
going to get through this. She doesn’t need to make decisions in panic. There’s plenty
of time for making a decision, whatever she decides is going to affect her for the rest of
her life.” VanderKuyl says they use these special times to share the Gospel with these
hurting ladies. “There’s many opportunities when a woman is faced with a crisis like
this. We may pray with her at the hospital or varied different points. The birth mothers
that come here are from all different walks of life.” According to VanderKuyl some of
them do come to Christ.
News Archives
Topping today’s newscast, anti-Christian sentiment has been building in India
for several months, and Hindu zealots have reportedly been spreading rumors
about Christianity to the tribes people in hopes of inspiring intimidation.
However, Dayspring International’s John Gilman says there has been an interesting
turn of events. “Persecution in India is not going to go away for some time because of
the ruling party, but it’s caused the church to come together. In November, 150
Christian leaders gathered together in a historic meeting with a commitment to the
uniqueness of Christ and loyalty to the Scriptures as a result of this wave of
persecution.” Gilman this means there is a new field for ministry. “It’s a spiritual
movement-it’s what we would classically describe as a great move of the Holy Spirit
sweeping the nation of India as the people of God embrace their communities and their
states and their nation.”
Next, we go to Russia where the dust from the latest change in the government
appears to be settling down. Global Advance’s David Shibley says it appears the
country will continue to be open to evangelical work, however: “I believe that our days
of opportunity may be limited in Russia. Consequently, it is all the more important that
we provide the training and the resources necessary for Russian pastors and church
leaders themselves to continue advancing the Gospel and continue fulfilling the Great
Commission in Russia if the Western evangelical presence has to leave.” Shibley says
the Frontline Shepherd’s conference takes place at the end of January and early
February. “Many times, these pastors come tremendously discouraged, and these are
times of great vision casting-it’s a time to recharge-it’s a time to refocus the vision of the
Lord for the lives and ministries, and also it’s a time to look toward the harvest.”
Open Doors is reporting the 15 Filipino Christians who were recently arrested
in Saudi Arabia are still being detained by local authorities. Five of those arrested
during the home worship service were children and some feel that interrogators are
using them as hostages, to force their parents to reveal details about their meetings. The
15 are not allowed visitors until the investigation has been completed. Although the
raided church service was being held in private, the size and mixed crowd may have
contributed to the arrests.
Meanwhile, officials with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board are
looking for some 13-hundred volunteers for evangelistic meetings in Asia.
IMB’s Mark Kelly says this request for volunteers is unusual. “It will stretch southern
Baptist to provide that many volunteers for one project. We had more than 25,000
volunteers go out total for 1999. That’s a record number and a tremendous growth in
recent years in the number of volunteers. But, 1,000 volunteers for one project is really
going to be quite a challenge.” 300 volunteers are needed for meetings in Japan
beginning June 21st while in South Korea one-thousand are needed on November 1st.
Kelly says Christians need to pray. “We want to pray for God to call out the volunteers
that are needed for these projects. We certainly want to pray that he’ll be preparing the
hearts in both Japan and Korea for the outreaches that are going to be conducted
there. Preparing believers in both of those countries.”
We begin today in Venezuela where churches are responding to new
opportunities for ministry in the wake of the devastating landslides and damages
that left at least 30-thousand dead and more than 150-thousand people
homeless. Latin America Mission’s Ken MacHarg reports. “Local churches are
continuing to provide services in the affected area even though some of them were
damaged or destroyed. Venezuelan Christians are exploring church planting
opportunities that will surface in light of government plans to relocate whole
communities. LAM missionary Charles Fuller says that the churches need prayer for
wisdom and favor with the authorities so they can minister. He says that the nation has
been greatly affected by the tragedy and that people are more open to the Gospel. For
Mission Network News, I’m Ken MacHarg.”
Next, evangelistic meetings and conferences are going well in India where Bible
school students were beaten last month in Kerela State. India Evangelical
Mission’s G-V Matthai is there and says many are coming to Christ. City officials
spoke to open the meetings and police are providing security. While the events are
going well, they are seeing signs of caution. The government is not allowing Americans,
traveling with the team, to speak. Agency officials also report the government has
ordered them to discontinue printing their monthly newspaper.
Victims of one of India’s deadliest typhoons are still struggling to survive last
fall’s destruction. More than 11 million people were affected by the storm that hit at
the end of October and bodies are still being recovered. Mission India reports that
wells are polluted, food is scarce and thousands of people have fallen seriously ill.
Getting aid to the region continues to be a challenge because most roads are
impassable, however, Mission India was able to deliver relief to seven villages last
month. As a result, the teams reported many villagers showed an openness to the
Gospel.
Elsewhere, officials at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship are gearing up for
Urbana two-thousand. More than 19-thosuand young people are expected participate
in the event, scheduled for December 27th at the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign. Urbana’s Director Barney Ford explains. “Urbana is a student
missions conference. We’re about student missions mobilization. We would like to
think that Urbana is certainly one of the best, if not the best way for a person of
University student age to find out about what God’s doing in the world and how they
can participate in that.” Ford says it’s not too early to register for the conference.” Our
brochures are out and we’d love for people to begin to pray and think about coming.
The best way to get information is the Urbana web site, or people can write or email
us at: [email protected].” The theme of this year’s conference is worshiping Christ.
We begin today in Panama where the United States government is concerned
about the growing influence of China in Panama, specifically the Panama Canal.
The influx of Chinese in the area is giving additional ministry opportunities to
missionaries in the region. That’s the word from New Tribes Missionary Jim
Enemark. “There are a lot of Chinese in Panama City and in Colon – scatter out
throughout the whole country, really. There is an evangelical Chinese church
functioning, although it’s very small at this point. There needs to be a greater outreach.
There is not the number of men who are able to carry on in that ministry.” Enemark,
who’s staying at D & D Missionary Homes in Florida, says prayer is needed that
God will call more workers to the field. “We don’t need more Americans, I don’t think.
We need those who know their culture, who speak their language, who know who
they are. And, these people are going to be able to reach the rest of the Chinese
there.”
