Meanwhile, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to help disciple Christians in China. That’s the word from China Partner’s Erik Burklin. Burklin is participating in theological training there this week. However, Burklin says it hasn’t been easy getting there. “Because of the increase of more and more evangelical groups going to China wanting to help the church in China that always has to be answered to by, to the government. So, it’s becoming increasingly more difficult to get permission sometimes even to the point of, like in our case, we have been restricted with the amount of time that we can teach.” According to Burklin, because of the lack of theological education cults are forming in large numbers. “So many are coming to know Christ with lack of good evangelical training and discipleship because there are not enough pastors to do that. And, so many veer off and misinterpret a verse here and there and before you know it you have another cult.” Pray that more education will be available in the months ahead.
News Archives
Homeless children in Brazil and under aged prostitutes in Costa Rica are just two reasons Latin America Mission is participating in the Viva Network’s Worldwide Day of Prayer for Children at Risk June 3rd. Ken MacHarg reports. “Organizers expect participants of the day of prayer to be better informed and motivated to address problems of children in the streets, exploited child labor, and sexual exploitation throughout Latin America. LAM missionaries are also concerned about children who are at risk spiritually and are including Bible studies and evangelistic presentations as part of their outreach. Meanwhile, LAM ministries in the region are lifting dozens of opportunities for short term and permanent missionary service working with children on the streets of Mexico, Venezuela, Ecuador and other countries. For Mission Network News, I’m Ken MacHarg in Miami.”
Next, Spiritual revival isn’t happening in the United States. According to Religion Today, research by George Barna says If spiritual revival were occurring, you’d see increasing levels of interest in a relationship with God, church involvement, and in commitment to the Christian faith. However, Barna says none of those are evident. He says if revival was happening among teenagers you’d see their levels of unselfish living, modest lifestyle and integrity surpassing adults. But, Barna says that’s not happening either. Pray that God will bring a revival to the United States.
Ethiopia is where we begin today as eight million people face malnutrition. Three years of drought is causing the famine, which is being compared to 1984 where one-million people died. World Concern’s Tom LePage is in Africa and says a repeat of that death toll can be avoided. “There is a different government in place and they have a different attitude toward aid. There’s much more private aid going to private organizations. It is not being done on a bilateral or government to government basis as much. And, therefore, being able to target the people in the greatest need is much easier this time around.” However, it can’t be avoided if Christians don’t get involved. He says donations help keep people alive physically and spiritually. “We’ve contacts that would allow us to be present on the ground and to use local capacity to respond to the physical needs as well as put people in place that could share the Gospel in many different ways.”
Next, the hostage situation in the Philippines has caused quite a bit of concern for many Christian groups working in the area. Far East Broadcasting Company’s Jonathon Mortiz says the terrorism of the extremist Muslim groups seems to be targeting Christians. He says that has created a cause for concern. “We have stations in [the] Mindanao area, and we’re very much looking at this because the same people group that murdered our two programmers in 1992 are the same group that are doing this hostage taking. We’re thinking that this will be controlled because the negotiator coming from the government is also a Muslim.” Mortiz adds that they are optimistic about the future for ministry, but need prayer. “It’s very, very hard for us to penetrate them more. But, we are reaching these people through public service announcements, news and through good programming. These times of hostage takings affects the Muslims and the Christians.”
Keston News Service is reporting that Belarus city codes that regulate the use of buildings appear to be targeting charismatic churches in the country. Congregations are also having difficulty getting permission to meet in private apartments under revised codes. No churches have been permitted to build since President Aleksander Lukashenko came to power. Several congregations have also been warned that they could lose their regular meeting places. Please pray for the believers in Belarus.
We turn next to Russia where indigenous churches are looking for ways to help support their ministries. Send International’s Dwayne King says they’re providing churches with sawmills. He says these churches are starting businesses, which is providing the income they need. “The concern that we’ve had for a number of years is that we help the Russian church to be more supportive of themselves. To diminish the affects of dependency we’ve really worked hard at this to try to give them ways in which they can support their own churches.” According to King, because of the poor economy, the need is great for these types of programs. “This is a growing trend and every church is asking for ideas, instruction and training in different businesses and different kinds of work that they can become more self- sufficient.”
We begin today in Russia where there has been a recent change that could seriously impact international adoption organizations. Initially, Bethany Christian Services responded with alarm at what appeared to be a moratorium. However, BCS’s Tom Jackson clarifies the situation. “Legislation that was prepared during Yeltsin’s era never had the implementation regarding adoptions. And now, Putin has signed the implementation plan. This is now going to help to control less-than-desirable agencies, so they’ll have some ability to manage the adoption process.” Although they’re respected, Jackson says they’ll be affected. “It’ll probably cut our adoption activity by a third to a half for this year, because of the need to supply the information, collecting that and having that evaluated, and approved. It has slowed down the children that would have come through Bethany this year.” Bethany manifests the love of Jesus Christ by helping families with quality social services.
Meanwhile, a group of politicians in India are demanding that a local Hindu organization, known for attacking Christians, be banned. The Bajrang Dal’s mission has been to promote Hinduism and they have used violence against those who work to convert Hindus. Some feel that a member of this militant group was involved in the murder of missionary Graham Staines and his sons. Political leaders said that the BJP-led government in the state should be fired for failing to protect Christians.
Voice of the Martyrs is reporting that after 15 days of imprisonment, Chinese authorities have now released evangelist Li-Dexian. Despite his treatment, VOM says he is weak but recovering and in good spirits. The evangelist continues to preach at an unregistered house church and authorities regularly arrest him in hopes of forcing him to stop. The treatment by his captors has also intensified. The Public Security Bureau recently visited the house church and told members to officially register or stop meeting.
