News Archives

Elsewhere, the new school year has dropped an unbelievable opportunity into the laps of New Hope International. NHI’s Hank Paulson. “Our Romanian team leader was called to the government official in charge of education in one of the regions; the result of that was a carte blanche for the whole region in Romania, plus a government official saying, “We need to work with Bucharest and get accreditation and approval to get into the schools throughout the country.” ” Paulson says this was the result of much prayer. “The overwhelming thing to us has been that we haven’t even initiated anything. It’s just been in response to the public schools requesting a program to help their kids, with a message of abstinence, meaningful relations connected with Christian values.”

And, the final stages are nearing completion for Evangelical Baptist Missions’ Bethesda Outreach-a special village for South Africa’s AIDS-driven orphan population. EBM’s David Seefried says their homes offer a safety net for the children to grow up in, protected, healthy, educated and evangelized. Seefried says things are moving right along. “We have a purchase offer on a piece of property-it’s about 200 acres and has already seven homes on it that we can used before we do any building of the new cottages. We have about 50 days to raise the money; we need about 80-thousand more dollars.” Seefried adds that their plan is more than community-based outreach, it means: “…refuge to these children in homes of mercy, where they will find the nourishment and the love and care and the Christian training that is so desperately needed. Through our compassion, we can help raise a generation of African children who will impact the next generation.”

Christians from the Kogui (koh-GOOEY) tribe are facing severe persecution from Colombian guerrillas. New Tribes Mission reports that a heavily armed group burned all the New Testament translations, readers and hymnbooks in the Kogui language. The guerillas had been looking for believers all week in their initial search. Those who did not deny Jesus Christ were expelled from town and their houses were burned down. 33 Kogui Christians have left. Please pray for their safety and continued testimony.

Elsewhere, International Aid has sent still more food and medicines to Ethiopia. The group also added a portable lab kit and hygiene kits to help with the diagnosis and prevention of disease. Nearly 10-million people are suffering from the effects of a three-year drought and food shortage. Emergency relief coordinators say because of quick action, a major famine has been averted, but there are millions who remain vulnerable. I-A is committed to not only meeting physical needs, but also to sharing the Gospel.

Meanwhile, Keston News is reporting that nine Christians in Uzbekistan have been detained, beaten and forced to write statements dictated by the police. In a second raid on their meeting place immediately following the men’s release, police said they had been ordered to expel all visiting Baptists from Tashkent. Recent reports from Open Doors confirm a separate recent raiding of two other churches in the area and the continued refusal to register the Greater Grace congregation.

The Dalai Lama is warning that a cultural genocide is under way in Tibet under the guise of Chinese-led development programs. Reports indicate national Chinese now outnumber Tibetans, and their Buddhist traditions are quickly being forgotten. Words of Hope’s Lee DeYoung says their Christian radio program is sensitive to that. “We try to preserve a cultural heritage of the listeners in the Tibetan language. But, then included among the day’s segments, is always approximately half the program, which talks about matters that are rooted in Biblical teaching.” DeYoung doesn’t anticipate any changes in Words of Hope programming. “I don’t see the recent perceptions, observations of the Dalai Lama pushing us in a new direction, but rather confirming the direction that’s already in place regarding Christian broadcasts and World By Radio and the Tibetan broadcast of Words of Hope over FEBA radio.” Many believe this cultural shift will open hearts to the Gospel.