Mission Network News

We turn next to Indonesia where efforts continue to quell the violence between Muslims and Christians that has claimed hundreds of lives in the past 10 days. Compassion International's Joe Harbison says thankfully, this latest eruption has not affected them much. "We do work throughout Indonesia, but we don't have any projects in those areas affected. However, at this point in time, because of different social and economic issues arising in Indonesia, there's been tremendous upheaval. One of the areas that we're mostly concerned with is a situation that affects our children in Timor." Harbison says Timor's mayhem temporarily suspended their program, but the work of the Gospel continued. "We've had a complete upheaval in the population in East Timor of the people who have had to flee. Compassion's response is to look to provide some kind of relief in the area of practical physical aid to the children and families who have been affected. Since we partner with churches, we're also very keen to help them come through the crisis."