Christian publishers are excited about the first World Christian Book Fair hosted by Christian Book Sellers Association of India. The event was held recently in Bombay. International Bible Society’s Steve Johnson says they participated in the event, which was risky. “It’s becoming more and more hostile toward Christianity. And, so this book fair was of particular significance because it enabled the exhibitors to showcase their materials in an environment that in many ways is becoming more hostile toward Christianity. So, they are real opportunity to help equip believers in India for more effective discipleship and evangelism.” Johnson says 50-thousand people visited the book fair. He says literature is a key tool in evangelism in India. “I think it’s absolutely true that the more resources that are made available and the more publicity these resources receive in India the more believers in India will be involved in greater evangelism and outreach. The Indian culture cherishes literature.”
News Archives
And finally, 30 Christian radio stations from the state of Michigan joined together yesterday to help encourage people to be a lighthouse in their community. The Lighthouse Movement’s Paul Dozeman says the goal of the Lighthouse Movement is to… “Mobilize Christians, putting them into their neighborhoods in a form of prayer evangelism, where we talk to God about our neighbors before we talk to our neighbors about God. And so, that’s the Lighthouse Movement. It’s mobilizing Christians to be effective in their neighborhoods to be that shining light.” Lee Geysbeek is the General Manager of Radio station WCSG in Grand Rapids. He says this is the first event of it’s kind, but it’s catching on. “There are states around the country that are looking at what we’re doing today to learn from and to hopefully model.” People from every part of the state called, sharing their commit to prayer evangelism in Michigan.
We begin today in Nigeria where new outbreaks of violence have erupted in Kaduna. The riots between Christians and Muslims came over demands for the introduction of Islamic law. The International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Mark Kelly says during the riot, a seminary student was killed and the mob breached the wall of the Baptist Seminary compound. “People are waiting to see how things develop right now. There are news reports that there was additional violence in the city. Nigerian Baptist leaders have been able to come back to the campus. They discovered that the administration/academic buildings, the chapel all were burned, but part of the campus are still intact.” Kelly says the tensions are growing, and the believers need support. “There are a lot of tensions between ethnic groups as well as religious groups, and it would be awfully easy for this violence to spread to the rest of the country…people are asking that we pray that lives will be spared, that the violence will end quickly.”
Next, persecution against Christians continues in Vietnam. Voice of the Martyrs’ Todd Nettleton explains the latest event that has many Christians on their knees. “Voice of the Martyrs has learned that the last Assembly of God church building in the nation of Vietnam has been destroyed. Before 1975 when the communists took over Vietnam there were 10 Assembly of God Churches and nine we taken over or destroyed kind of in the years after revolution.” According to Nettleton, the evangelical church has been forced to go underground, however evangelism is flourishing. “In the countries where Voice of the Martyrs works the church is growing in spite of these types of situations. It’s a little different breed of Christian because they’re tested by fire from early on in their spiritual walk. And, so you get a quality of Christ that is really on fire for Christ and on fire for others to hear the Gospel.”
There’s been a breakthrough for the “JESUS” film project in Indonesia. The organization reports that a coordinator was looking for a way to broadcast the dramatized audio version of “JESUS”, but felt that few radio stations would consider it. However, an unexpected introduction to two radio station managers led to a network of contacts with all the radio stations in south Sumatra. The end result: “The Story of Jesus,” aired on 22 of the islands’ 28 stations and reached thousands with the Gospel.
Meanwhile, materialism in Spain is making it difficult for evangelism. CAM International’s Joe Ciluffo (sihl-OO-foh) just returned from that country. Ciluffo says they use friendship evangelism to reach the lost. He says they desperately need committed workers. “We need experience men and women have been in ministry, that are not looking for a pat on the back, that are not looking for results over night, and that are willing to come here for the long haul. Don’t come if you’re only planning on a year or so. We need someone who’s willing to give a great deal of time to ministry here.” Ciluffo says even the Catholic Church is struggling. “There isn’t an interest in God at all. It’s sort of a society that is so moving toward materialism that God meets no need in their lives, apparently. So, even the Catholic church is finding it very difficult. Attendance is really low. So, whether you’re a Catholic or a protestant there’s still a lot of bearers into reaching people for Christ.” Ciluffo says while the process is slow and the fruit is small, people are coming to Christ.
We begin today in Mozambique where torrential rains and windstorms battered parts of Mozambique yesterday, already hit by its most devastating floods in 30 years. SIM’s Dr. Paul Hudson says the flooding has displaced up to 300-thousand people. Hudson says the local churches are finding ways to help those in need. “The church is there not just to provide only spiritual food, but really to be hands and feet and to show the love of the Lord. So, what they’re doing is actually saying how can we practically, not just help rebuild our own homes, but how can we rebuild our communities. And, in the process show the love of Christ and work with young people and preach the word.” While a specific relief plan is being developed, Hudson is asking people to respond now. “The responses would be prayer. We will be developing a project. I can’t give you specifics of the project yet, but there will be needs for funds for that.” Pray that many will come to Christ because of it.
Next, African leaders and European ministers are pushing for an end to the war in Burundi, but the main armed rebel groups failed to turn up. In the rebels’ absence, few expect the gathering to bring peace significantly closer. International Bible Society’s Simeon Havyarimana (hav-yaree-MAHN-uh)says the change will have to come from within the country’s borders. “I believe that problems will be solved as all the groups come together. This peace talk, I think, the problems will be solved by Burundians themselves. I don’t think an outsider person, other than being a mediator, has the power to stop the problems.” Havyarimana says despite the fighting, the Gospel has gone out. However, during the next stages of peace, they need prayer support. “Ask the people around the world to pray for Burundi because we are part of the body of Christ as Christians all over, so if one group suffers, you feel affected in the same way because we have been created by God. So, as they think of us, we just know that we have friends overseas–also, pray for us.”
Evangelistic outreach in some parts of India may be threatened by a recent turn of events. Walk Through the Bible’s Terry Sparks just returned from India. He says that while they were there, they were concerned about a news media report. The article pointed out it is now against the law for someone from Gujarat State to convert another person. “We have seventy people that are working in that state, and obviously, we’re very concerned about them. So, we would appreciate your prayers…but the thing that really strikes me is just the commitment of the people-everyday, they’re putting their life on the line.” Sparks says evangelism continues, but pray for: “…continued protection for our World Teachers. We have1212 teachers now, working in India in about ten different languages. In a couple different places, Gujarat and Orissa, there have been real problems.”
Elsewhere, Hindus, Muslims, and Jews in the United States are increasing their training to resist the teachings of Christian evangelism. The religious groups expressed their concerns shortly after the Southern Baptist Convention was held. Convention members distributed prayer guides aimed at helping Christians evangelize people of other faiths. In response, classes are now being offered by the Hindu, Muslim and Jewish communities to strengthen their beliefs.
