Next, we continue our coverage of the devastation left behind by flooding and mudslides in Venezuela. The disaster has reportedly wiped out whole towns and left thousands dead. Latin America Mission’s Ken MacHarg tells us how the churches are responding: “LAM Missionary Charles Fuller has been taking food and water to towns where thousands are homeless, while churches are relocating people whose homes have been washed away. “Churches are cooperating now to help the people who are refugees in different stadiums here in the city, trying to provide childcare for children who are having to live day after day in these places. They are also doing counseling.” The Latin America Mission says it will immediately channel funds for Venezuelan relief to missionaries on the field. Long term care will involve counseling, relocation and evangelism. For Mission Network News, I’m Ken MacHarg.”
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For the first time in Mercy Ships history two of their vessels worked side-by-side in outreach in the Philippines. Ministry officials say the Island Mercy and the Caribbean Mercy collectively handled medical, eye and dental care, but they also sent out ministry teams out into the community. The evangelism teams ministered God’s love to the local people through dance, drama, testimonies and preaching. They did so in schools, prisons, churches and on the street.
Those serving with New Tribes Missions have also been affected by the devastation in Venezuela. The Dyck family are representatives to the government and are in danger of losing their home. Most of the New Tribes missionaries are currently serving south of the flooding but have been inconvenienced by the cancellation of international flights as the airport is being used as a staging point for rescue operations.
Meanwhile, officials with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board are mobilizing Hispanic Christians for missions in the United States. That encouragement came from a meeting of Hispanic Baptist leaders recently in Rockville, Virginia. Officials say the Latino population in the U-S has grown 38-percent since 1990. By 2005, Hispanics are projected to make up one-quarter of the country’s population. Because the U-S is in a spiritual crisis, Hispanic leaders are being asked to rise up and use their cultural gifts in evangelism.
We begin today in Macau where the island was handed back to China at midnight. Today, December 20th, dawns the first day under Chinese rule after 442 years of direct rule from Lisbon. The Southern Baptist International Mission Board’s Jack Ollis. “I think after seeing the situation, and the turnover in Hong Kong a couple of years ago, that there is less concern than there would normally have been. I imagine there is some concern, but people seem to be taking it fairly well.” Ollis says like Hong Kong, Macau will be a “special administrative region” of China, with an autonomy that will help preserve much of its culture and Western ways, including evangelistic outreach. “Pray that the IMB personnel would be able to continue to share openly, would be able to adapt to any possible changes that could take place there, and that we would be able to continue, over a period of years, to share the Gospel with the people of Macau.”
Next, workers at a Christian camp in Japan are cleaning up after a fire tore through one of their buildings. Send International’s Bob McKemey is the Director of Okutama Bible Camp. He says no one was injured in the fire that caused more than 700-thousand dollars in damage to chapel/dining hall. He says it is a blow to their ministry. “This camp has been operating for 39 years here and we’ve found it to be one of the most effective thing we’re doing here in Japan for evangelism and outreach. This is going to set us back a while. We estimate another half a year before we can get the building usable again.” According to McKemey, while the building was insured, they still need donations to help replace equipment that wasn’t insured. “We would appreciate any help that we can get. We know we need about $50,000 if the insurance will cover the whole building, but we don’t know that yet.” McKemey says the fire has provided opportunities to share the Gospel with their neighbors.
Open Doors Australia is urging people to pray for Christians in Indonesia as they’re the targets of more violence in that Muslim country. According to ministry officials, last week, a mob of more than 400 people attacked the Doulos compound on the outskirts of Jakarta. Doulos operates a several ministries including a number of Bible schools and rehab centers. One student was killed and 13 wounded in the attack with leveled 80-percent of the compound. Police have made no arrests in the case, and some say they were a part of the violence.
While the war continues in the Russian Republic of Chechnya, missionary radio is providing a message of hope for all those involved. Far East Broadcasting Company’s Victor Akhterov says they’re targeting refugees, with the Gospel message. “We’re planning to distribute a small humanitarian package of food and a cassette with a Gospel message, not a strong one because as you understand that Chechens are Muslims and to preach the Gospel to them they see the war with Russia as a war between Muslims and Christians.” Akhterov says radio programs are also leading Russian citizens and soldiers to Christ by letting pastors talk about the issues of war. “Because everyone’s interested in that. We present the Christian point of view and people like it and people come to local churches and this is our ultimate purpose. We want people to join local churches not just to accept Christ.”
Topping the news today, a group of 30 radical Hindus have struck again in India, this time beating and attempting to kill Bible school students in Kerala state. G-V Mathai is with the India Evangelical Mission. He says students and staff at their Bible College met together for prayer this week when the attack occurred. “All of a sudden a group of people came in and cut off the electricity and they just started beating people. These people had some kind of club with nails in it. Somebody shouted and said, hey he is the principal of the college, kill him. So, somebody took a knife and stabbed him.” He survived the attack, and is hospitalized along with another teacher and student. Mathai says this is happening for one reason, people are converting to Christ. “These fanatic Hindus are so scared. They want to make it tough for all the Christian conversions. But, the Lord has been blessing the ministry and more people are coming to know Christ than any time in our country.”
Next, as despair grips parts of Eastern Europe, Christians are struggling to find material to help teach hope to the children. The answer to their needs came from New Hope International in the form of a four-year Sunday School curriculum. Hank Paulson says they asked themselves: “‘What part of society is most open to be reached?’ It is very much under 20 years of age. Very often parents, that come to the churches, that allow Christian workers into the public schools say ‘If they have any hope, any message for my children, please, let them come.'” Paulson adds they are hoping to train as many as 1500 national workers to help with the community ministry. “It’s a program that helps children develop and make Christ very much the center of their lives. It’s a commitment involved, but it’s also a lot more-it’s making followers of Jesus Christ that we are concerned about. So, we are saying ‘can we help in a strategic way to make a difference for these children?'”
