Next, American Leprosy Mission is getting involved in flood relief in the African country of Mozambique. ALM’s President Chris Doyle says, while they don’t have programs in that country, some of their partnering agencies do. The flooding has left more than 500 people dead and nearly a half-million people homeless. Doyle says they’re raising money to help the suffering. The money raised will go to help leprosy effected communities in Mozambique, giving them opportunities to share the Gospel.
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Book of Hope is preparing for their annual Hope Celebration in order to set their sights on their goals for this year. BOH’s John Young says their mission is to influence the future of the world’s youth by providing them with the hope of God’s Word. “We gather once a year, when we bring country directors and folks that work with us around the world to just rejoice in what God is doing, and rejoice in the fact that there is hope for youth and children around the world. It’s just an incredible thing to be able to have the mandate to go and preach the Word and to reach the lost.” Young says despite political turmoil in many of the countries they work in, there are open doors. Of the 26 countries represented, all have committed to distributing the Gospel in unprecedented numbers. “This year marks a milestone for us. In September, we’re looking to distribute our 100-millionth copy to date, of the Book of Hope-so, we’re really excited about that. We need to pray for laborers-pray that God would bring those that have a heart for youth and children to be a part of the ministry.”
Meanwhile, a group committed to Bible translation is renewing its pledge to see that everyone has Scripture in their own language. Jaars, which is Wycliffe’s technical support division, introduced their Vision 2025 plan. Jaars President Jim Akovenko explains the vision. “Vision 2025 is our focusing on the remaining task of the 3,000 language groups who yet do not have any word of scripture in their own language, in a language they fully understand. And, it’s a focal point for us internally as well as to get the word out to the churches world-wide.” Akovenko says it’s awesome to consider getting scripture into every language by 2025. He says communicating that need is challenging. “Because we have the Bible so prevalent in our society here, the idea that there are cultures that don’t have one written word in their language is a big step. So, the challenge is to communicate the need and then to seek out specialists.” Pilots, maintenance workers and computer specialists are some of the positions needed.
Topping today’s news, the voting for the Russian Presidency has already begun, although the official election is still more than a week away. At this point, acting President Vladimir Putin is considered the heavy favorite, despite vague proposals he’s shared during the campaign. Far East Broadcasting Company’s Rudy Wiens says: “At the moment, everybody’s waiting for March 26th, when the presidential election will be held. People hope that after that date, life will return to normal.” Wiens says once the presidential election is settled, they can get a better feel of what kind of leader Putin will be. Until then, FEBC is using the Gospel to address the difficulties facing the people. “In our programming, we mention the war because the war is impacting not only the people in Chechnya, but throughout Russia. There’s lots of suffering on all sides, and for that reason, we, as Christians try to get involved more on the humanitarian side. What we talk about is Christian love to the refugees, to their enemies and ask God for wisdom.”
Next, while the Russia people get ready for Presidential elections next week, Russian Christians are expecting continued religious freedom there. Pastor Alexander Shestov is from Saint Petersburg and is in the United States this week. Speaking through an interpreter, he says religious freedom isn’t in the hands of the government. “I think it depends on the will of Jesus Christ because of these changes in the freedom of conscious are so great. We see in this the clear divine will. If God has begun this work I do not believe that He will stop it until His second coming. The people have a great spiritual thirst. “Shestov says churches are needed to meet that thirst, but the poor economy is making that task difficult. “Our goal is to found 10,000 churches before Christ comes again. Because, only with 10,000 churches in Russia will we be able to do the titanic revival that needs to happen in Russia. And, this is not possible for me, myself to do this.” Shestov says without funding from the west, it won’t be possible.
After yet another day in detention, Pastor Li-Dexian has been released. Voice of the Martyrs reports that the evangelist was arrested earlier this week while preaching, after several weeks harassment-free evangelism. He traditionally speaks twice each Tuesday in the village of Hua Du and has been imprisoned several times as a result. Due to the number of arrests, other Christians have been willing to step in to help fill the gap and continue the work of sharing the Gospel message with the Chinese.
Elsewhere, Mexican immigrants who get into trouble in the United States are shipped to the border town of Tijuana where Greg and Kathy Saracoff, missionaries with Latin America Mission, are working to reach them. LAM’s Ken MacHarg reports. “Greg Saracoff says because Tijuana is the dumping ground for Mexicans deported to Mexico from the U-S the number of alcoholics and drug addicts is double that in other parts of Mexico. He and Kathy have opened a Christian rehabilitation center for men to dry them out and introduce them to Christ. He says that the way they count their successes is that they have 14 Latin Americans on their staff and half of them have been brought off of heroin through the center. Greg says that the Bible is the foundation of their work and the center’s clients are hearing the Gospel. For Mission Network News, I’m Ken MacHarg in Tijuana, Mexico.”
We begin today in Mozambique as two days of sunshine is allowing flood relief to get into the country. International Aid’s Sonny Enriquez is there, surveying the needs. He says Malaria is becoming an incredible problem so they’re raising money to help. “This is the biggest need there is, casting its big shadow in the village camps. When the floods started the was an initial report of 300 cases of malaria in just one camp. Today, after a few weeks it has jumped up to 4,905.” Enriquez says this is near epidemic proportions. He says cholera is also a problem. Enriquez says the church is responding. “Christian witness is very, very active here. The churches are very much involved. And, in fact, it’s enhancing the unity and the solidarity of the churches. The go beyond denominational boundaries and just reaching out together to those who are in need.” Call 800-251-2520 to help.
Meanwhile, The Christian and Missionary Alliance is reporting an attack on Todd and Debbie Adams and their three young children in West Africa. Three armed men in a marketplace hijacked their vehicle last Thursday. The thieves drove off with Todd trying to rescue two of the children, who were eventually pushed out of the car. Thankfully, there were no serious injuries. Todd says while they were separated: “My wife was able to express the reason that we are here in West Africa is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We were able share that we believe that God is faithful and while we don’t understand His plans and His purposes at times, He’s the source of our strength and of our joy.” Adams asks that people pray not only for their continued work, but also for their healing. “There’s a theological knowledge that God is there, and He is caring for our needs. We see that and we recognize that, but our emotions are pretty raw, and it’s difficult to bring those in line with what we know are the truths of God’s character.”
The government of Turkmenistan has refused the application for the Bible Society to provide a legal means for local churches to obtain needed Scriptures. New restrictions were implemented to disqualify the group from legally filing. This is the only country of the former Soviet Union which has not allowed for the development of a Bible bookstore or the Bible Society. Police are continuing to raid Christian churches and homes seizing Bibles, hymnbooks and other Scriptural material.
