Central Asia (MNN) — Training starts, hope renews in Central Asia.
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Democratic Republic of Congo (MNN) — Closed village packs football stadium for Gospel film
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Democratic Republic of Congo (MNN) — Closed village packs football stadium for Gospel film
Lesotho (MNN) — New outreach planned among shepherds in Lesotho
Egypt (MNN) — Egypt army topples president, announces transition
Turkey (IMB) — While protesters and police furiously clash in Istanbul, there is a pastor who quietly continues his ministry.
(Image courtesy of the International Mission Board)
Nicholas* lives and works in Taksim, the epicenter of the increasingly violent encounters of recent days in Istanbul. In the most recent clashes, according to the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, Nicholas’ home filled with so much tear gas that his children had to abandon their bedrooms to sleep in the living room, where it was bearable.
Despite the turmoil, Nicholas said he and his family are not afraid. He is concerned about the uncertainty of the future of Turkey but believes it is a blessing to lead a church so close to the action.
“It is important that the church continue normally and demonstrate our faith,” he said. “God is the ultimate authority to whom we submit.”
Nicholas said his nervous neighbors need to see the peace that is evident in the lives of followers of Christ. In fact, in mid-June, Nicholas led 30 people in a subdued worship service despite the brewing threat of violence on the street
Refusing to be distracted by the events swirling around him, he said, “Our mission is beyond this neighborhood and really beyond this world.”
Nicholas said he admires the passion and commitment of the Gezi Park protesters but sees a lack of clear purpose and goals. That is a sharp contrast to his mission of sharing the real hope that comes from having a personal relationship with God, he said.
A few days earlier, Gezi Park was the site of tens of thousands of protesters singing, dancing and drinking in defiance of the prime minister. That party is clearly over; driven out of the park by the police, the protesters have fled and taken to the streets. In addition to being battered and shaken, they are angry and defiant, demanding a change in the country’s leadership. To the protesters, Nicholas said, “Ultimately we find our confidence in God.”
There is a growing fear among Christians in Turkey, but Nicholas said there is always something to fear because Christians live in a broken world.
“Every day there is something to fear — tear gas, cancer, flu and other illness,” he said.
But Christians shouldn’t overcome fear, he explained, by “self-righteousness or willpower.” Victory over fear, Nicholas said, only comes from God.
“If we live life in fear and depression, we’ve stopped living,” he said.
The church will continue on as it always has, because there needs to be a place for people to hear the Gospel. “There are many more dangerous places in the world where our brothers and sisters in Christ meet faithfully,” Nicholas said.
Nicholas asks for prayer for Turkey’s leaders to rule with wisdom and justice. For the citizens of Turkey, he prays they would discover the true hope that can be found in God.
*Name changed
Egypt (ODM) — As Egypt continues to spiral out of control, Open Doors shared this urgent prayer request:
(Photo courtesy Mohamed Shebab86/Twitter)
Andrew is the son of a ministry leader in one of Upper Egypt’s cities. He is in his last year of medical school.
On Sunday he went out in the early afternoon to join one of the country-wide demonstrations calling for President Morsi to step down. While peaceful protestors were peacefully marching, group of fanatic Islamic Muslims opened fire with machine guns on the protestors.
Andrew suffered two bullets wounds; one ended in his small intestines and the other landed near his spinal cord. He was immediately admitted into the nearby government hospital.
After an initial surgery, the first bullet was removed along with part of his small intestine. Later in the evening, doctors miraculously removed the second bullet safely. Andrew is still in the intensive care unit and has been admitted into a private hospital.
Open Doors is asking Christians in the West to pray for Andrew. Also pray for all those who lost loved ones in the weekend protests and rallies, which resulted in a reported 16 deaths and 781 injuries. Pray for the violence to end and a peaceful resolution to the escalating situation.
Michael, a Christian leader in Egypt, says: “My heart is bleeding for my country and for the lost souls as well as for those who are going through pain. Moreover, listening to the threats of the fanatical groups who promised more violence and blood if President Morsi is forced to step down, makes myself, my family and all Christians of Egypt cry out: “Ya Rab,” which means: “Oh Lord.”
For almost 60 years Open Doors has worked in the world’s most oppressive and restrictive countries, strengthening Christians to stand strong in the face of persecution and equipping them to shine Christ’s light in these places.
Open Doors empowers persecuted Christians by supplying Bibles and Christian literature, training Christian leaders, facilitating social/economic projects and uniting believers in the West in prayer for Christians, who are the most persecuted religious group in the world and are oppressed in at least 60 countries.
Egypt (MNN) — A movement called ‘Tamarod’ which is the Arabic word for ‘Rebellion’ planned the demonstrations. Two days before June 30th the demonstrations, ‘Tamarod’ announced they collected 22 million signatures. Not long after that, they had gathered 25 million signatures.
(Photo courtesy Wikipedia)
Tamarod has given a time limit to the president till Tuesday 5:00 pm to step down and the Egyptians are determined to keep filling the streets until the change takes place, or they march to ‘Alqoba’, the presidential palace. SAT-7 USA’s president, Dr. Rex Rogers says, “These protests against the current regime are much, much larger—I mean, multiple millions in the streets. If you look at pictures, it’s unbelievable.”
Those in opposition say that President Mohamed Morsi has failed to meet campaign promises, such as improving security and turning around the nation’s flagging economy, and that this has disappointed or angered millions of Egyptians. “One of the biggest issues that the protestors are claiming is that the regime has become a one-party, one-ideology sort of protective force rather than representing all Egyptians.”
The writing of a new constitution without the proper input of Christians and other minorities has also stoked the opposition. Rogers says, “People seem to be fed up. They’ve had a year, an apparently democratically elected president, and it hasn’t worked. The government hasn’t responded in the way that the hopes of the Arab Spring caused people to envision, and now, they’re asking for that.”
This time, the protests hold the energy of new beginnings. Rogers explains, “[Look] how much of the so-called ‘average Egyptian’ is in the streets as opposed to what we’ve seen in the past, which are a lot of young men representing different groups. More families are there. More Christians and Muslims are standing together. This is a different kind of protest.”
On Monday, the Army announced that the two sides have until Wednesday to resolve the growing governing dispute or it will step in to restore order. It’s an attempt to force Morsi to come to an understanding with the opposition. If nothing happens, according to SAT-7s Egypt Director, Mr. Garas, “They will then force their own roadmap to democracy on the government”, essentially threatening the end of Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood‘s regime.
Shortly after the army’s statement, four military choppers flew over the streets of Cairo greeting the demonstrators.
(Photo by Jon Williams/Twitter)
Garas shared what he saw when he walked among the demonstrators next to the presidential palace ‘Eletehadia’. He said, “I was proud of the Egyptians who decided to complete their revolution in spite of the threats they receive from the terrorists. I saw families, young people, and children, I saw Christians and Muslims standing together to seek ‘bread, freedom, human dignity, and social justice’ the same thing they have asked for in January 25th,, 2011 revolution.” He echoes Rogers’ sentiment of genesis, adding, “We don’t know how things will turn out, but the sure thing is that Egypt is changing, Christians are sharing with their fellow Muslim citizens for the good of the country, the masks are falling, and the need for the good news is increasing.”
Meanwhile, SAT-7, a Christian satellite television ministry to the Middle East and North Africa, is airing special episodes offering biblical guidance, urging viewers to act peacefully, and calling on them to pray for the future of Egypt.
Last week, SAT-7 ARABIC and SAT-7 PLUS aired short clips of prayer meetings at Kasr El Dobbarah Evangelical Church. In the clips, pastors shared encouraging words and urged viewers to pray for Egypt’s future.
The current affairs program, Bridges, dedicated three consecutive episodes to the protests. The host talked about how Christians should respond to violence, the power of non-violent protest, the psychological effects of violence, and how it can change people and nations. SAT-7 crews also shot tape from around Egypt before the protests, as well as footage from the streets.
George Makeen, Programming Manager for SAT-7 ARABIC, is praying that God protects people over these critical few days. He says, “It is encouraging to see that Egyptians, after the revolution of January 2011, have lost their fear of the government, and have learned to express their opinions freely. I hope the next step will be to embrace coexistence…But this will not happen before people stop being deceived by those who use religion to gain support.” George predicts that, even if the anticipated protests on June 30th do not bring about a decisive change in Egyptian politics, such a change is bound to happen eventually. SAT-7 stands by to offer viewers a compelling biblical understanding of life and liberty, peace, and government, and pray with them for the future of Egypt.
Rogers says, “SAT-7 gives people a ‘venue’, if you will, to hear different kinds of thought interacting with each other in ways that, many times, are not available to them on other channels.” And, this week, SAT-7 also urges its supporters and friends around the world to join us in prayer for Egypt – the Arab World’s most populous country, hosting most of the region’s Christian population.
International (MNN) — After 20 years, ministry sees end in sight – and it’s a good thing
Egypt (MNN) — Egypt’s army steps into fray; ultimatum issued
