Next, it’s a county of nearly 61 million people, however they don’t have a Bible in their own language. That’s the word from International Bible Society’s Steve Johnson talking about the country of Ethiopia. Johnson says they’re now translating the scripture into the language of Amharic (am-HAHR-ihk). “The scripture that most Ethiopians use today is an Amharic translation, translated from ancient Geez, which is virtually not understandable to a common every day Ethiopian. The closest analogy in our context would be a person trying to read the word of God in Chaucerian English.” According to Johnson the project is nearing completion. “We’re hoping to have the translation complete late this year. We hope to have the type setting and ready to go to press some time in March of the year 2,000. And, right now the hope is to be able to generate sufficient funding and resources so that the folks in Ethiopia can print and do major distribution of this resource.”
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Compass Direct is reporting that an evangelical radio station in Athens is now closed after police raided its offices and arrested the technician, a 73-year old pastor. Greek authorities accuse ‘Channel Station 2000’ of not having a proper operating license. However, the station manager says no free radio station has ever managed to get one. Further, he believes the Greek Orthodox Church is behind the order to close them down, citing a rise in anti-Protestant sentiments in the area.
Meanwhile, we continue our series on the needs in Liberia after years of civil war. Feeding Starving Children International’s Dick Proudfit just returned from the country. A thriving church and Christian government are two areas that will help them reach those in need. Proudfit says they’re trying to raise five-million dollars to help feed the starving children there. He says by doing so, it opens doors to share the Gospel. Pray that God will meet this financial need as millions of children are starving and dying without Christ.
We begin today in Sri Lanka where a 16-year civil war has left thousands dead and many families grieving. Sri Lankans now want an end to the fighting and peace has become a major issue in the December presidential elections. Shelter Now’s Jeff Hollenbeck says the situation is still a bit unstable. “There has been quite a bit of ethnic unrest within the country. There’s a group of people trying to pull away from the government-it’s a revolutionary kind of force that’s trying to gain independence from India and create a society for themselves. Sri Lanka is a country where people are doing Christian work, but you do have to be a little bit careful about where you do that sort of thing.” Hollenbeck says in the lull between battles: “One of the projects that we’re working on is to build some homes for the war widows in six of the villages up there in the north. It involves housing, and some water and some sanitation. In the name of Jesus, demonstrating the love of God, just doing what we do for these people and just hope that the seeds that we plant will grow inside these people.”
Meanwhile, the International Bible Society is providing resources to help people through depression and other emotional needs. IBS has developed some scripture tools to help in seven key areas of emotional stress, which many times, hits around the holidays. Debbie DeaBueno (dee-BWAYN-oh) is the managing editor of this project. “We know that God’s word can heal hurts in lives, but sometimes giving someone a Bible is a little overwhelming. They start with page one and they get stuck in Deuteronomy or Numbers. Although the power of God’s word is there, we needed to direct people straight to some of the scripture.” DeaBueno says pointing people to scripture will turn many hearts to Christ. “Seeing that it’s okay the Jesus cried out to God in these scriptures and other Biblical characters did the same, I think it helps to know that I’m not the only one who’s ever had this problem and they received help and comfort and hope. ”
The Protestant Churches of Turkey reports that people in the quake zones are in desperate need of shelter. Following a severe earthquake in November, thousands of people in the affected areas were left homeless. The area is now experiencing cold temperatures and rain. PCT is sending emergency supplies to help during the crisis. Church leaders add that the spiritual atmosphere has intensified this month and ask that believers pray for the people of Turkey.
Next, we continue with our series on the needs facing Liberians as civil war ends in that country. Feeding Starving Children International’s Dick Proudfit says they’re taking a leadership role in helping the people with food and medicines. He says Liberia has lush farmland and they’re going to help rebuild its agricultural base. “The country is just lush. They have the rain forest there. The surrounding country outside of the rain forest is green, but it is over grown because of the war. We’re looking for large donations of seeds. Two or three containers of seeds.” Proudfit says they also need farm implements. He says this is just another step toward leading people to Christ, but they can’t do it alone. “We’re asking a lot of people to step forward and some of the bigger financial entrepreneurs to step forward and be a part of the organization. And, I believe the big picture that we’re looking at immediately is five-million dollars.”
We begin today’s newscast in Vietnam where the country’s worst flooding in 50 years has left more than five-thousand people dead and thousands more homeless. Evangelical Baptist Missions’ David Haag says they just returned from a medical mission trip to that communist country. “They have completed a two week project of not only hands on ministry with a medical team, but also taking a considerable amount of antibiotics, which are always needed in a situation like that, as well as finances to assist some of the people who have literally lost all of their possessions.” According to Haag this project gives Christians a more open door to share the Gospel. “And, it does enhance their identity in the situation to be seen as the ones who are exercising compassion. I know that it’s provided an opportunity for the church in the west to link hands with the church in the east and I think in that spiritual good will come from that.”
Next, Trans World Radio is making plans to bolster its outreach to listeners in North and South America. After seeing success in the Caribbean Gospel Network, the ministry will be relocating the Bonaire work to Florida. TWR’s Scott Hollinger. “The location on Bonaire, while it served us well, and continues to serve us well for medium wave broadcasting, is not ideally suited for the kinds of interactive ministry that we now have through the Caribbean Gospel Network…but, South Florida suits both our affiliates and us.” Hollinger is excited about the move because: “It’s really a new day for Trans World Radio. We’ve gone to them and said, ‘How can we help?’ We are learning from our partners at the Caribbean Gospel stations and in return then, we’re able to utilize the resources that Trans World Radio has to produce programs that a local station can use that will most effectively reach their people.”
While police are dismantling army checkpoints in Liberia, the needs of the people continue to surface. Feeding Starving Children International’s Dick Proudfit just returned from the country. Proudfit says the lack of food isn’t the only problem. He describes what he saw when he went into a hospital. “I was flabbergasted walking in that building to see nothing. Almost zero medical supplies. Zero equipment because the country has been looted. And so, what they’re asking for is equipment and medical supplies immediately.” Proudfit says meeting their physical needs is vital to reaching them with the Gospel. He says the church will be their link to those who haven’t heard the message of Christ.”The church is already in place. They’re practically in every village around the country. We would like to begin to partner with them to start a feeding programs for the children and the families that they know who are devastated.”
