While Russia’s battle for Chechnya continues, ministry leaders are strategically planning how to reach the lost with the Gospel. Russian Ministries’ Peter Deyneka says they’re uniquely positioned to help the thousands of refugees. “Because Russian ministries is an indigenous organization, it is one of the few ministries that has been granted access to the refugees. And, along with food clothing and medical care, Russian ministries is providing the one thing that many other relief agencies can’t, that is hope for the future through Jesus Christ.” Deyneka says evangelism among this predominately Muslim people group could expand as they train Christians this year, but they need help. “It costs $120 per seminar, per missionary to train them. We are looking to God for $204,000 in the next eight months to make these 90 seminars possible to train 1,700 young men and women to evangelize Russia.”
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Elsewhere, Bulgarians may soon experience further restrictions on their religious freedom. The Bulgarian National Assembly recently approved the first reading of a bill which creates a two-tiered system that favors the Orthodox Church and gives them full religious freedom. Forty-four minority religious groups have spoken out in opposition to the law that they say would impede their ability worship and share Christ freely in their community.
Topping today’s news, an evangelical ministry is thanking God for protection in the wake of a volcanic eruption in the Philippines this week. According to Philippine scientists the Mayon volcano has stopped erupting. American Leprosy Mission’s Chris Doyle visited the area and says their work didn’t suffer. “We have some projects at a leprosy hospital close to there. The folks at that hospital have been asked to participate in some of the relief work that’s going on there right now, but in terms of our projects, none of those have been affected.” Doyle says currently they’re assisting the government and community-based leprosy clinics. He says while cases of leprosy are dropping…”We’re still seeing a lot of cases with children. Generally speaking, when prevalence rates are dropping down, you tend to see fewer cases with children. So, we’re trying to continue to get out there and find all the new cases and get them on treatment. And, then help them in whatever way we can, including spiritual care.”
Next, two Christians have been refused bail after being arrested in the port city of Izmir, Turkey. 38-year-old Ercan Sengul and 28-year-old Necati Aydin were arrested March 1st on charges of forcing people to accept Bibles and insulting Islam. According to Compass Direct, the two men were selling and distributing Christian literature. Three local residents made complaints against them. The arrests come on the heals of a special television show which depicted what it called, “Christian missionary sects.” A hearing date is scheduled for March 30th.
Following India’s recent parliamentary elections, one evangelistic ministry is watching to see how the new leadership may effect the work they are doing. Dayspring International’s John Gilman describes the state of the church these days. “There are militant Hindus that are in favor of a Hindu state, but now the church across India has moved away from the foreign missionaries support as the young church in India really takes hold in a dynamic new way.” Gilman explains their film on the life of Christ reaches people because: “…it’s entertaining and dramatic and educational-it makes the people so comfortable. They love this movie on the life of Jesus and it relates to them in their cultural setting. If Jesus walked into one of their villages, they wouldn’t be able to distinguish him from the another villagers. That’s how relevant the Gospel is today in the villages of India.” Dayspring International will be sending new 100 new film teams throughout India this year with the film.
Meanwhile, Global Advance recently finished a series of Frontline Shepherd’s Conferences in India. Dr. David Shibley says while training the pastors for ministry, he came to believe that the persecution believers face has had a constructive result on the countenance of the church. “The reason for increased persecution in India is because of the advance of the Gospel and the tremendous growth of the church throughout most of India in the 1990’s. I believe that the growth will continue in the coming decade as well.” Shibley says this is because the martrydom of missionary Graham Staines and his sons actually galvanized the body of Christ. “I believe that Christians, by and large, though they are concerned for their own safety, certainly, they are really taking strength and being encouraged in the Lord. New churches continue to be planted throughout India.”
Rain has again hit flood-ravaged Mozambique as the people try to recover from weeks of flooding. Hundreds are confirmed dead and nearly a-million people homeless. Food for the Hungry’s Scott Clark explains the situation. “It seems as though the rescue period is starting to wane. We’re seeing now that people have come down from the roofs of their houses. They’re able to get around a little bit further. But, there are serious problems of malaria cases arising. There is some cholera as well as the fact that people just don’t have food.” Clark says there are more problems before them. “To get seeds and tools into peoples hands so that they can take advantage of the second cropping season. The farmers in Mozambique were very close to harvest when these incredible rains and cyclones hit. Their seeds and their food stocks were basically exhausted from the year before.” Clark says they’ll be sharing their faith as they provide these necessities in the weeks ahead.
Meanwhile, Medical Ambassadors International is asking people to help the flood victims of Mozambique by sending a financial gift. MAI’s Executive Director Paul Calhoun says as cholera and malaria increase, the need for medication also increases. Calhoun says they need the funding so they can share Christ’s love in word and deed. “We are putting out a plea to help with the costs of supplying the medications. These medications can be bought at a considerable discount and we commit will go 100-percent to the field.” Calhoun adds when the rest of the world eventually forgets about the devastation in that country Medical Ambassadors will remain there. “When people pull out, Medical Ambassadors will be there establishing community health evangelism outreaches to enable these people to get back on their feet.”
Although more rain has fallen in flood-ravaged Mozambique this week there is still a message of hope for the victims. The southern African nation is recovering from weeks of flooding and the devastation it has caused is expected to set the country back years. Through their unique radio ministry, Trans World Radio continues to air messages of hope in Jesus Christ amidst the misery. They are airing nearly 18 hours of Christian programming each week in 6 languages into the country.
Elsewhere, the Samaritan’s Purse Hospital is the latest victim of recent bombings by the Islamic government in Southern Sudan. For the second time in a week, patients were evacuated from the hospital after 15 bombs exploded near the facility. Hospital officials say in spite of the recent attacks, they are committed to staying open because they are the largest hospital in the area. Samaritan’s Purse continues to show the Sudanese people the love of Christ through various forms of medical missions.
