In another Muslim country, an evangelical missionary organization is asking for prayer as they prepare to reach the lost in Pakistan. Manmin World Mission’s Johnny Kim says they plan to hold a crusade there in the fall. “It’s not a Christian nation, as you know, it’s an Islamic Republic. More than 95-percent of the total population are Muslim people. They invited the President of Manmin World Mission Rev. Doctor Lee Jae Rock and have the crusade nationwide in this coming October.” Kim says they’re going to use Korean cultural events to to share the Gospel. “For example dance, and praising and I think that the cultural method is a good way to open the mind of the people in different cultures. So through that kind of method we’re going to gather the Muslim people and open their heart and then we will preach.”
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Meanwhile, the Southern Baptist International Mission Board says their missionaries hope that their sharing food with the needy in Bulgaria will lead to Jesus Christ. Three-fourths of Bulgaria’s eight million people live in poverty. Christian groups have helped plant and harvest more than 40 acres of potatoes and then distributed them to hospitals, orphanages, and those in need. The IMB is praying that their food project will be used as a springboard for evangelism and church planting.
Topping the news today, evangelical humanitarian groups are stepping forward to condemn Sudan’s bombing of a Christian school in the south. 14 people died in the attack. Voice of the Martyrs’ Todd Nettleton says an end to the Islamic violence isn’t expected. “I think we’ll see continued attacks and continued violence. And, I think we’ll see continued outcry from the international community calling on the government of Northern Sudan to allow these people to worship freely.” Nettleton says despite the war the Sudanese church is growing. However, the people have great needs and they’re doing what the can to help. “We distribute life packs, which contain what one family needs to survive. Also, it contains a Bible so that they can have not only physical food, but spiritual food as well. The second thing is called the Blankets of Love program. We’re asking Christians to donate a blanket and to donate two-dollars to cover the shipping.”
Meanwhile, four more Christians have been released in Saudi Arabia. According to Compass Direct, 40 days after their arrest Saudi officials released four of the five remaining in custody from the Ministry of Interior detention center. One other Christian is still waiting for the guarantee documents required from his employer. On January 7th, 15 Filipino Christians, including three women and five children, were arrested for worshiping Christ in their own home. All 15 are expected to be deported from the country, which prohibits non-Muslim worship.
In a surprise move, the head of Romania’s Orthodox Church has asked for forgiveness not only for churches destroyed under communism, but also for the concessions made by the Church to the late atheistic dictator, Nicolae Ceausescu. New Hope International’s Marius Abrudan says this may well signal change. “Most of the time, the Orthodox Church tried to outlaw the evangelicals or considered them cults, not Christian denomination. But, that’s a great change, particularly when they’ve kind of started to become more Bible-oriented than [they were] traditionally.” Abrudan says with the advent of the official apology, things could improve even more. New Hope is excited about the growth already in place in their ministry. “Doors are open-we can go into public schools, we can go into orphanages, we can go most everywhere and do Christian missions. One of the new approaches that we have is in partnership with Focus on the Family-we want to go into high schools and present the abstinence alternatives from the Christian point of view.”
Next, a building project is pointing people to Christ in the Caribbean. Food for the Poor’s Nick Adams says the program is called two-thousand in two-thousand. Adams says many of the homes will be built in partnership with National Religious Broadcasters. “We hope to build 2,000 homes for needy families in Jamaica during the year 2,000. And, the cost for each home is just $2,000 and this includes the cost of materials, labor, land and shipping. One of the areas that we will be focusing on in Jamaica is Riverton City.” Adams says this project will point many to Christ. “The cornerstone of our ministry is Christ and we see his great goodness working through the hearts of our donors each and every day. And, since we work through the churches in the local communities we establish a relationship between members of the community and the church themselves through our direct ministry of teaching, encouragement and prayer.”
We begin today’s newscast in the Middle East. In response to recent disturbances in Israel, many Jews are turning toward Christ in their search for peace. Christians For Israel’s Willim Glashouwer says the call for Palestinian statehood before the years’ end has made the Israelis spiritually sensitive. “There will be definitely a new search for faith in God and make them open for the love of their Christian brothers and sisters.” Glashouwer says the Palestinian pressure, coupled with international strain is putting Israel against a wall, with only God to turn to. “Europe is already on the side of the Palestinians and the Arabs, and now the United States is moving too, so that really puts them back where they should be-trusting the Lord God–The God of Israel, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” The European Union has criticized Israel for its attacks on Southern Lebanon in retaliation for Hezbollah guerilla attacks on Israel.
Next, we turn to Indonesia where the fallout continues from deadly clashes between Christians and Muslims. Monday’s reports indicate the country’s President suspended the army chief, signaling to the world a determination to restore order in the island nation. The Christian Missionary Alliance’s Mike Sohm says the violence has been disruptive to their work. “People have to exercise much greater caution in their work. In some locations, the violence has led believers and people in Christian work to relocate to other places. On one hand, it’s had a negative effect; on the other hand, it creates opportunities to minister to lots of people who are in rather desperate need.” Sohm says while the area appears to be settling, believers always need prayer. “We should pray for grace to endure hardship, at the same time, grace to forgive, grace to be reconcilers in communities where a lot of violence has taken place-to take the initiative as reconcilers.”
Food and the Gospel continue to be a great need in Haiti. That’s the word from Don DeHart of For Haiti with Love. DeHart says a poor economy and drought is causing many Haitians to go without food. He says they’re receiving donations to help, but there are problems. “We’ve got it. It’s in our warehouse, but suddenly the airline that we’ve been using to haul cargo in has gone into bankruptcy. So, there’s not regular way to get it into Haiti. So, what we’re looking for is some short term relief maybe for February and March to get some of this food into Haiti to keep these starving people from dying.” DeHart says providing physical food is essential to evangelism. “Hungry bellies don’t hear quite as well as full bellies. Somebody that’s fed, they’re more willing and more capable of believing the gospel of love, the gospel of salvation and the gospel of redemption, because they’re in the process of feeling and tasting the love of God.” DeHart is praying someone can step forward and help.
Meanwhile, Grace Ministries International has recently opened a new high school in Mumba, Tanzania. According to GMI officials, there is no other educational facility similar to theirs in the area. As the outreach grows, please pray not only for the teachers, but also for the students, many of whom are unsaved, that they might learn about the grace of God.
