The World Bible Translation Center recently finished its complete Mandarin
Chinese Bible translation and the first 10,000 copies should be printed in the
next few weeks. WBTC’s Richard Loh says what’s even more remarkable is where
the copies are being printed. “We have had the opportunity of distributing our Chinese
New Testament inside China for the last two to three years, and that has opened up
many doors for us. It was just by God’s grace that we finished them in time before the
end of last year and we were able to put them into the hands of people who were able
to print it inside Mainland China.” Loh believes the Bibles have really encouraged the
underground church. “Many of them are just thirsting for knowledge, and with a
Chinese Bible that is so easy to read and so easy to understand, it is definitely going to
have a great impact on the spiritual lives of all the Chinese people.”
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Elsewhere, paying off student loans for medical students no longer has to be an
excuse to keep doctors away from the mission field. SIM International says
because the shortage of medical missionaries is so “staggering”, they began looking for
ways to help. There is now a ministry called Project MedSend that helps young
doctors serve on the mission field. The ministry works in cooperation with other
mission organizations to assume the monthly payments of their educational loans. So
far, 84 grants have been issued.
Violence against Christians tops our news today as more than 25 Coptic
Christians have been killed in violence in Egypt. Voice of the Martyrs Todd
Nettleton explains what caused the slaughter. “The Christians in the city of al-Kosheh
have come under attack repeatedly in recent days by fanatic Muslims there.
Apparently the conflict started as a small conflict between one Christian and one
Muslim and then it escalated and apparently the whole village is now under attack.”
Nettleton says Police currently have the situation under control, but that could change
in an instant. He’s asking people to pray. “Pray for safety for these Christians. And,
then I think, pray that even in situations like this they can be a witness for Christ. I think
in adversity and the trials by fire that’s where the true gold can really show through.
And, so, I think God can use these situations to bring people to himself.”
Elsewhere, a week after fierce storms ripped through France, hundreds of
thousands of households remained without electricity. Cultural monuments
suffered damage and the high winds also downed hundreds of thousands of trees.
Evangelical Baptist Missions’ Dave Nunemaker describes what happened. “The
storms that hit France are the worst of the past century or perhaps the worst in
recorded history. Basically put, we had about four hurricanes that hit within the space
of 48 hours, and literally, all of France was touched by it-most of the damage was
severe.” Nunemaker says the storm has also had an impact on their work. “A church
which we had the joy of planting lost their roof completely, and half of the end wall of
the building fell in-that’s pretty severe damage. The most important need is prayer that
the Lord will give them [believers] courage to face the disaster and to be able to trust
the Lord.”
A large and growing gap is being felt by church and mission agencies around the
world as the need for workers increases. The most urgent demand is for long-term
workers according to Operation Mobilization. OM says the problem is there is not
enough prayer and vision to meet the needs and opportunities available. The group also
blames apathy, legalism and Biblical compromise plaguing churches for the continuing
shortage. OM asks believers to become active in missions work and consider where
God may lead in the year 2000.
Meanwhile, Christian workers in China are asking people to pray for
evangelism, discipleship and safety in that country. According to China Partner’s
Eric Burklin, the tremendous growth of false teachers, cults and religious sect is
increasingly putting pressure on the Christian church there. Because the government is
cracking down on these groups it’s causing added pressure on unregistered evangelical
church groups. Pray that this crackdown doesn’t affect China Partner’s theological
training.
Topping the news today, peace talks between Israel and Syria are giving
Christian missionaries more opportunities accomplish their work. Christians
For Israel’s David Sudlow says with or without peace, their work of repatriating Jews
won’t be affected. “All the statistics are saying that. They’re expecting a greater influx of
Jews from the former Soviet Union this coming year. Even if settlement on the Golan or
in parts of the West Bank is curtailed they’re going to cram into little Israel some how.
We’re going forward with our Exodus Project to bring them home.” Sudlow says up to
80-thousand Jews from the form Soviet Union are expected to return to Israel this
year. He says evangelism will be subtle. “It’s really a cup of cold water in Jesus name.
We hope by our rubbing shoulders and helping these people, that for once in the
history of the church they see the love of Jesus. So, as far as the practical witness of
true Christianity we are living witnesses.” Pray that the doors in the former Soviet
Union remain open.
Elsewhere, China has begun the new year by pursuing relations with African
countries. Beijing reportedly has begun a flurry of diplomatic activity in Africa this
month. The Chinese reportedly are looking to build better relations with developing
countries, including African nations. Grace Ministries’ Sam Vinton believes this is
because: “The Africans are sensing more and more that the Western world, the United
States and Europe, have sort of abandoned them to their fighting. We are not really
doing much of anything…whereas, we look at some of those other places where we
intervened-the Chinese, right now, are being looked upon as a government that’s
willing to help them when we are not.” Vinton says although the new ties have not
immediately made evangelistic outreach more difficult: “I think eventually, if these
countries owe China, then of course, China has ways of determining policy. Whether
or not that will effect the Gospel is unclear to me. Although, with long-range
implications, there possibly could be a change of direction for some of these
governments.”
A mission group is alarmed at the growing reports of violence and kidnappings
aimed at believers in Colombia. Latin America Mission says many key Christian
leaders are still being threatened and some churches have lost their pastors to the
violence. LAM asks that other believers pray for the protection of their missionaries
and pastors working in the country. Several are developing ministries to help the
refugees displaced by the fighting and those affected by natural disasters.
Next, a new Spanish Bible is taking the church by storm. The International Bible
Society says the new version has sold more than 1 million Spanish Scriptures in the
United States and Latin America since it was released last year. IBS says that they are
hoping Christians will use this version to aid in evangelism, discipleship, and
strengthening the Spanish-speaking Church. There are plans to introduce the translation
this year in Illinois, California, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and New Mexico.
