Next, Words of Hope continues to report good news from their radio broadcasts into Tibet. Because there is no organized church, Lee DeYoung says they’re trying be relevant while encouraging the faith of the believers that do exist. “In the Tibetan broadcasts, there is a 30-minute broadcast each day, seven days a week, approximately half of it is specifically Biblical content, and the other half is material of general interest to Tibetan people.” DeYoung says because the region is heavily Buddhist, much of their work is enhanced by partnerships. He adds there is much to pray for. “I think in any sensitive area where there is opposition, one prays for wisdom and discernment on the part of those who are laboring there-wisdom to know when to take a stand and when to do something bold…for people when they are persecuted, when they are greeted with opposition, to respond in a Christ-like way.”
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Meanwhile, Operation Mobilization says a Christian charity has found a new way to support Christian education in Sudan. The Barnabas Fund, which aids persecuted believers, has pledged to finance three “schools on wheels” to train church leaders. In spite of persecution and a 17-year civil war, the church of southern Sudan is growing fast and more leaders are desperately needed. The idea of mobile theological schools was conceived because of the bombing danger.
Topping today’s news, we turn to the Congo where Rwanda and Uganda are trying to avert a wider war. The two sides agreed to pull back from an area where recent fighting has cropped up. Efforts at peace are frail and, according to Grace Ministries International’s Sam Vinton, desperately needed. “I feel that people are tired of the fighting, with no results, so, to a certain extent, I am optimistic things can be worked out, at least on paper. Now, how to implement that in a country which is so large with all these roving bands out there, that will be the next issue to be dealt with.” Although the fighting has hampered GMI’s efforts to continue their evangelistic work, Vinton insists that: “…it is encouraging to know that the national Christian leaders are going on with their work to the best that they can in light of the situation. We feel that we just have to keep going and being the ones there to encourage, but we certainly are not in the position to put any of our missionaries in those areas where there is no security.”
We begin today with an update from Ecuador. Back to the Bible’s staff report a quiet and uneventful week so far at La Biblia Dice’s compound. This follows an armed robbery which set the organization back 150-thousand dollars. Back to the Bible’s Mark Blowers says immediate efforts now turn to: “…trying to secure the facility. We’ve got to have walls that are replaced and fences that are replaced as well as locks and everything on the building. They’ve actually hired a 24-hour armed guard. We’re working on getting some basic equipment back and making final arrangements with HCJB to record and get our programs back on track.” Blowers adds that the emotional toll that this has taken on the staff cannot be measured in dollars. “There’s one particular lady who was assaulted that is really suffering emotionally still-the ones who were beat[en] physically are doing quite a bit better. I asked David Lagacho, the director of the [Ecuadorian] ministry, how we could pray for him, and here was his answer-his first request was this: “Pray that the Lord will finish His work in us.” They recognize this is spiritual opposition.”
Meanwhile, another missionary has been kidnapped in Colombia. According to Charisma News 51-year-old Edward Walter Smith of Australia was abducted from a church by a band of armed men on May 14th. According to reports, no ransom demands have been made and no reasons were given for the kidnapping. Smith had worked in the north east coastal region of the country for some 16 years with the Sydney based Australian Missionary Tidings. His wife and 23-year-old daughter are asking for prayer for his safety.
Meanwhile, Voice of the Martyrs is reporting Chinese authorities have arrested seven Christian leaders across the Guangdong province. Public Security Bureau officers also visited Hua Du village, where Pastor LiDexian preaches each Tuesday. Authorities barred the doors of the meeting place in an effort to keep Christians from meeting. China reportedly intends to push forward with a crackdown on groups not sanctioned by the government. Please pray for Chinese believers at this time.
An SIM team is planning a construction trip to the southern part of Angola. The war there continues with little hope for peace in sight. They have packed a container with materials for two pre-fabricated church buildings, and wheat and corn for distribution. The team is hoping that the container will clear customs so the supplies will be on hand when they arrive. Meanwhile, SIM reports many are turning to Christ as a result of the current refugee relief project.
Yesterday, we told you about an organization’s commitment to continuing their church planting efforts in Ethiopia. They’re doing so despite war and famine in that country. International Needs is that organization and, as David Culross explains, they have three goals. “International Needs was established over 25 years ago in the early 1970’s to partner with nationals in evangelism, we work in the area of leadership training, and then we have various works of compassionate care nature where we may care for children. We may have a small medical clinic. Something of that nature.” Culross says they minister in 30 different countries. He says evangelism is key to all of their work. “There must be an evangelistic focus on everything we do, or we say, this is a worthy cause, it needs to be done, but it’s not something that we do.” International Needs assists in church planting, vocational training, water purification, child sponsorship and more.
Headlining today’s news, it’s being called the stupidest war on the planet. That’s how outsiders are describing the two-year-old conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea. The border dispute has left thousands dead. However, the conflict isn’t affecting the work of International Needs, which is helping Ethiopian Christians plant churches. Executive Director David Culross. “It’s a situation where the believers there said we would like to double the number of church planters that we have been able to provide for can you help us? So, they said we will put 50 church planters in the field, if you can help us put 50 more in the field. And, we have pretty much met that goal.” While the war rages on, Culross is asking people to pray for these church planters. “We would pray that the Lord would protect them as they work in remote areas. Many times they’re away from home for three or four weeks at a time because of the distance and we just pray that God will protect them and keep the villages open to the message.”
Next, Food for the Hungry is in hand-to-hand combat with the famine in Ethiopia. FHI’s Ted Yamamori says the severity of the famine cannot be explained enough. When the next team heads over at the end of the week, Mission Network News’ Greg Yoder will be with them. Yamamori explains the areas they’ll be in. “He will be taken to the northern part of Ethiopia where we have been working and where we have to be very cautious not to have that region slip into famine stage. Also, he’ll be visiting the southern part where he will be able to see the severity of the drought. Ethiopia as a whole, needs 1.3 million metric tons of grain in order to survive.” Yamamori says a border war in the north worsened the famine, but peace comes from the Gospel. He adds it’s not too late for people to get involved. “It is very important that people pray for the people who are suffering from this prolonged drought…and when Greg sees through his own eyes, the plight of the people out there, we just want to cry out for people to really pray. They can send donations to agencies that are on the ground that are credible to be able to carry on the mission.”
