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.”
News Archives
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.
Topping the news today, violence has erupted between Christians and Muslims in a northern Nigerian town over the introduction of Islamic law. Both ethnic and religious tension have been on the rise across the country against a backdrop of increased insecurity since Christian President Olusegun Obasanjo (oh-loo-SAY-gun oh-buh-SAN-jo) took office. However, Evangelical Baptist Missions’ David Jacobs says: “I don’t think that there’s going to be a great effect if the government puts a stop to it. I think it will bring a better advancement and reach our land with evangelism. They do not like what the President seems to be doing because he was not doing it in the light of their religion and they were not gaining as they were gaining before.” Jacobs explains their outreach needs. “We need more missionaries to help and to evangelize the area that still needs to be evangelized. Continue to pray for the President, that the Lord will give him longer life to continue faithfully what He has already started. Christians are really praying for him because we felt he was doing the right thing.”
Meanwhile, the future of missionary work in Colombia is being discussed among the leadership at New Tribes Mission. Agency spokesman Scott Ross says the Colombian guerrillas have gotten stronger. “The guerrillas are moving to the higher population areas and have become much more violent in what they’re doing. We’ve decide to close our training program at this point, just not wanting to put at risk even our Colombian missionaries.” Ross says three New Tribes leaders are in Colombia talking about whether any work will continue. ” We hate to know in our hearts that there are tribal people still yet that have not been reached, but we also know that it’s becoming a very volatile area. So, please pray for the leadership that they can really know what the situation is and if it’s time to move out of Colombia then let’s do that and see what kind of strategy we can come up with to reach that country.”
Christian Reformed World Missions reports their situation in Sierra Leone is changing almost daily. The missions staff says fighting in the capital city of Freetown has stopped. However, heavy fighting continues elsewhere, pushing thousands of refugees out of their homes. The deteriorating situation is causing enough concern in Africa that a special assembly will be held in Senegal in late April. The purpose is to gather African staff for fellowship, encouragement, prayer, and planning. Please pray for the outreach efforts in this country.
Elsewhere, the Southern Baptist International Mission Board is reporting that thousands of Bulgarians have food on their tables this winter because of a cooperative effort with European Baptists and other Christian groups. That helped produce more than 120 tons of food that has been distributed across the country. A key factor in the effort was hard work by local Bulgarian believers who helped farm more than 40 acres of potato-bearing land. Pray that the gesture will help weary Bulgarian hearts find Christ.
We begin today in the Balkans. After nearly a year of tension over the wars in Yugoslavia and Chechnya, Russia and NATO announced that they are restoring their ties. The effect of the thaw on missions work is yet to be seen. But, World Concern’s Peter Sundt says he’s encouraged. “They’re trying to word the foundations of the Constitution-they’re trying to influence leaders to be thinking tolerance. Well, that can’t help but open up a marketplace of ideas that isn’t prohibiting Christians from giving their message. I think it bodes well.” Sundt adds that their outreach has provided a clear path to sharing the Gospel. “World Concern focused on a very rural area-there’s fourteen villages that we’ve been concentrating on. Over the months, even the Kosovars who work with us are surprised by the poverty in that particular region. The national church in Kosovo is an urban church and so, we’re working toward missionaries that will move in and take advantage of the goodwill.” Sundt says because the people are spiritually hungry, they need prayer for both mature missionaries to the area and good leadership for the country.
Meanwhile, the Inauguration of Stipe Mesec (STEEP-eh MEHS-ich) in Croatia is being viewed positively by mission groups working in the region. Joel Samy with World Hope Ministries lives and works in Croatia. “The president and the Prime Minister have conveyed their strong support of peace in the region. For the Christian community I think this is a very significant step as well which will allow greater freedom and opportunity for the evangelical Christian community.” Until now, many evangelical missionaries were unable to work in the region. Samy says this should help their new program at a local orphanage. “We’re in the process of dialoguing with the school director to allow a Christian correspondence course to be delivered to these 80 children that we’re feeding. And, the decision has yet to be made by the school director, but we’re encouraging Christians to pray for this matter.”
Mission organizations are appealing to retirees to help fulfill the Great Commission. Evangelism Explosion’s Tom Stebbins is inviting retired adults to be a part of the Finishers Forum taking place in Dallas Texas April 6th through the 8th. Stebbins says recruiting older adults is key to evangelism. “At that time of life, age is revered so much in different cultures. And so, their age is an advantage. People listen to them, they want to hear what they’re saying, they’re excited about meeting someone from another culture, so it’s really an asset to be older in many of these cultures.” According to Stebbins this forum will help relieve anxieties and allow them to speak with more than 50 mission agencies. Stebbins says for E-E alone the need for workers is great. “Here in North America we need actually one in every state able to give time to promote evangelism, to organize seminars, visit churches. Overseas we’re looking for at least 7 to 10 full time people.”
