We begin today in Panama where the United States government is concerned
about the growing influence of China in Panama, specifically the Panama Canal.
The influx of Chinese in the area is giving additional ministry opportunities to
missionaries in the region. That’s the word from New Tribes Missionary Jim
Enemark. “There are a lot of Chinese in Panama City and in Colon – scatter out
throughout the whole country, really. There is an evangelical Chinese church
functioning, although it’s very small at this point. There needs to be a greater outreach.
There is not the number of men who are able to carry on in that ministry.” Enemark,
who’s staying at D & D Missionary Homes in Florida, says prayer is needed that
God will call more workers to the field. “We don’t need more Americans, I don’t think.
We need those who know their culture, who speak their language, who know who
they are. And, these people are going to be able to reach the rest of the Chinese
there.”
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Meanwhile, children are the focus of a new video being produced by the Jesus
Film Project. Director of the Jesus Film Project, Paul Eshleman, says this is one of
their top three projects for the year. “In February we will be releasing the new story of
Jesus for children. It’s the adaptation of the Jesus Film. We went back recreated sets
just like they looked in the original film and we followed six children from ages six to
12 through the story as they watched Jesus feed the 5,000 and raise the daughter of
Jirus from the dead.” It will be released in English first and then translated into other
languages next year. Eshleman says this is a great tool to lead Children to Christ. “I
think it’ll be used by home schoolers. It’ll be used in summer camps and vacation Bible
school. With many Sunday School teachers not feeling adequately equipped and
prepared to lead their children to Christ in their classes, I think this will be a great tool
for them to use.”
The growing number of Southern Baptist missionaries has prompted a
23-million-dollar expansion project. The International Mission Board of trustees
recently met and approved enlarging their crowed Missionary Learning Center in
Rockville, Virginia. This follows the seventh straight year of record missionary
appointments to Southern Baptists’ oversea teams. IMB says they’re well on their way
to a record of five-thousand missionaries by September 2000.
Next, there’s a new internet service that is calling Christians to evangelism. In
partnership with Ichristian-dot-com, the Luis Palau Evangelistic Association
launched what they’re calling, “First Priority” on the web. The association’s Mike
Umlandt is the editor. “That mix of how to and inspiration and motivation and some of
the very best writing on evangelism by evangelists and leading Christians who are
writing about evangelism calls church leaders and all Christians to put evangelism at the
top of our ministry priorities.” Umlandt says this will not only be a great resource for
people in the United States, but in other parts of the world. He says this is the first site
of its kind. “I’m not aware of a journal like this, like First Priority that is bringing
together the very best writing on evangelism and inspiring Christians to be involved in
the work of evangelism, helping to reach their world with the Good News.”
We begin today’s newscast in the Muslim world where an evangelical group is
building homes to help share Christ’s love. Shelter Now International’s Joan
Grawvunder says last year they built two-thousand homes world-wide in earthquake
and war ravaged areas. She says going into Muslim countries with assistance is an
innovative way to share the Gospel. “The best way to show the love of Christ is to
help. To be there for them. Going and hitting them over the head with the Gospel isn’t
going to help them when they’re sitting out in the rain. By going and trying to help them
through their need and living the Christian life they can see Christ better than they can
hear.” This year, Grawvunder says they hope to surpass the two-thousand home mark.
They’re appealing for more financial help so they can take the love of Christ to other
areas of the world.
Next, an evangelical relief and development agency is asking people to help
them meet the needs of the mudslide victims in Venezuela. The disaster killed
more than 30-thousand, leaving hundreds of thousands homeless. International Aid of
Spring Lake, Michigan is preparing to send more relief supplies. Agency spokesman
Jerry Deykstra. “Those numbers were higher than Hurricane Mitch hit Central America
over a year ago. Our first shipment should get there next week. And, were now
preparing six other shipments and they will go out within the next week or so. And,
those items include blankets, clothes, medicines, personal care items, food, cleaning
materials.” Deykstra says they’re asking people to help with shipping costs. He says
has they deliver this aid, people hear the Gospel. “It presents a real opportunity to help
people and also to spread the Good News of salvation. We’re partnering with the
evangelical association of Venezuela. And, we’re going to be partnering with them and
we’ll be meeting with them next week as we travel down there.”
We begin today in Kosovo where Christian relief and development is in
desperate need of your prayers. World Concern’s Kelly Miller says while there is
an abundance of supplies, the distribution system is a huge problem. Miller says while
starvation isn’t a problem yet, hunger is. “There are pockets areas still within Kosovo
that are receiving little or no aid. That doesn’t necessarily mean there is starvation.
There’s very, very difficult conditions. And, for those that are living in the villages many
of those places still today it’s difficult getting to them to provide that food security.”
Miller says proclaiming the Gospel is their motivation. “Our mandate is to share the
love of Christ with families world-wide. And, in this situation it doesn’t get much more
tangible than the food and the hygiene items. When you’re providing food and your
providing aid on a regular basis, that question is why are you here. That’s the question
that comes up and that’s the open door to share about your faith.”
Reaching out to the blind around the world is the key for one mission group in
their Great Commission effort. Christian Blind Mission’s President Allen Harkey
says there are more than 45-million blind people around the world and, in most cases
it’s treatable. Harkey says, because of the need, they’re spearheading the Vision 2020
plan. “God placed on my heart the challenge to eliminate avoidable blindness from our
world by the year 2020. We have come up with a strategy that promises to actually
make Vision 2020 a reality in our life time.” CBMI is currently working in 107
countries, with more than 10-thousand national workers. Harkey says they’re using
medicine to share the Gospel in hard to reach countries. “We are working in places
that are unreached with the Gospel. And, frankly, we’re able to get in to places that
purely evangelistic organizations can not go, because we’re providing medical help,
medical relief.” However, the plan can’t be successful without additional financial
support.
We begin today in Kosovo where Christian relief and development is in
desperate need of your prayers. World Concern’s Kelly Miller says while there is
an abundance of supplies, the distribution system is a huge problem. Miller says while
starvation isn’t a problem yet, hunger is. “There are pockets areas still within Kosovo
that are receiving little or no aid. That doesn’t necessarily mean there is starvation.
There’s very, very difficult conditions. And, for those that are living in the villages many
of those places still today it’s difficult getting to them to provide that food security.”
Miller says proclaiming the Gospel is their motivation. “Our mandate is to share the
love of Christ with families world-wide. And, in this situation it doesn’t get much more
tangible than the food and the hygiene items. When you’re providing food and your
providing aid on a regular basis, that question is why are you here. That’s the question
that comes up and that’s the open door to share about your faith.”
61-hundred delegates of the Baptist World Congress recently gathered in
Melbourne, Australia. Newly elected Baptist World Alliance President – Billy Kim –
addressed the crowd, emphasizing the importance of prayer. Kim is the pastor of a
large South Korean church and is also involved in other Christian organizations. He
urged Christians to be committed to daily prayer because the lack thereof leads to lack
of spiritual power.
