Mission Network News

We begin today's newscast in strife torn Indonesia where the Muslim and Christian conflict continues. After three days of rioting Christians are fleeing the Island of Lombok (lohm-bahk). Clashes there have claimed two-thousand lives over the last year. Guy Sire with New Tribes Mission says we're seeing a fundamental shift in the country. "Indonesia has always been a Muslim country with an attempt to keep the government secular. But, what we're finding now is without a strong powerful figure in the presidency, Islamic elements are making their bid for control of the country." According to Sire, because many New Tribes missionaries are in safe areas of the country, their work has slowed. "We have a tremendous core of Indonesians that have gone through our training program there. We still have two families still in the Moluccas and have not evacuated out. But, we sincerely need more Indonesians, challenged to reach their own people."