Next, a building project is pointing people to Christ in the Caribbean. Food for the Poor’s Nick Adams says the program is called two-thousand in two-thousand. Adams says many of the homes will be built in partnership with National Religious Broadcasters. “We hope to build 2,000 homes for needy families in Jamaica during the year 2,000. And, the cost for each home is just $2,000 and this includes the cost of materials, labor, land and shipping. One of the areas that we will be focusing on in Jamaica is Riverton City.” Adams says this project will point many to Christ. “The cornerstone of our ministry is Christ and we see his great goodness working through the hearts of our donors each and every day. And, since we work through the churches in the local communities we establish a relationship between members of the community and the church themselves through our direct ministry of teaching, encouragement and prayer.”
News Archives
We begin today’s newscast in the Middle East. In response to recent disturbances in Israel, many Jews are turning toward Christ in their search for peace. Christians For Israel’s Willim Glashouwer says the call for Palestinian statehood before the years’ end has made the Israelis spiritually sensitive. “There will be definitely a new search for faith in God and make them open for the love of their Christian brothers and sisters.” Glashouwer says the Palestinian pressure, coupled with international strain is putting Israel against a wall, with only God to turn to. “Europe is already on the side of the Palestinians and the Arabs, and now the United States is moving too, so that really puts them back where they should be-trusting the Lord God–The God of Israel, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” The European Union has criticized Israel for its attacks on Southern Lebanon in retaliation for Hezbollah guerilla attacks on Israel.
Next, we turn to Indonesia where the fallout continues from deadly clashes between Christians and Muslims. Monday’s reports indicate the country’s President suspended the army chief, signaling to the world a determination to restore order in the island nation. The Christian Missionary Alliance’s Mike Sohm says the violence has been disruptive to their work. “People have to exercise much greater caution in their work. In some locations, the violence has led believers and people in Christian work to relocate to other places. On one hand, it’s had a negative effect; on the other hand, it creates opportunities to minister to lots of people who are in rather desperate need.” Sohm says while the area appears to be settling, believers always need prayer. “We should pray for grace to endure hardship, at the same time, grace to forgive, grace to be reconcilers in communities where a lot of violence has taken place-to take the initiative as reconcilers.”
Food and the Gospel continue to be a great need in Haiti. That’s the word from Don DeHart of For Haiti with Love. DeHart says a poor economy and drought is causing many Haitians to go without food. He says they’re receiving donations to help, but there are problems. “We’ve got it. It’s in our warehouse, but suddenly the airline that we’ve been using to haul cargo in has gone into bankruptcy. So, there’s not regular way to get it into Haiti. So, what we’re looking for is some short term relief maybe for February and March to get some of this food into Haiti to keep these starving people from dying.” DeHart says providing physical food is essential to evangelism. “Hungry bellies don’t hear quite as well as full bellies. Somebody that’s fed, they’re more willing and more capable of believing the gospel of love, the gospel of salvation and the gospel of redemption, because they’re in the process of feeling and tasting the love of God.” DeHart is praying someone can step forward and help.
Meanwhile, Grace Ministries International has recently opened a new high school in Mumba, Tanzania. According to GMI officials, there is no other educational facility similar to theirs in the area. As the outreach grows, please pray not only for the teachers, but also for the students, many of whom are unsaved, that they might learn about the grace of God.
We begin today’s newscast in Chechnya where Russian troops are pushing their way into the southern part of that rebel republic. The fighting has left thousands homeless and separated from their homeland. Russian Ministries’ Sergei Rakhuba just returned from the region. “There are over 250,000 refugees. I saw lots of people who were just begging from help. Not just for financial or material help, for food for clothing for medical help, that’s needed there. But, there were also begging for spiritual help.” Rakhuba says Russian Christians are ministering to the Chechens, who are predominately Muslim people. “Despite their Muslim roots they need help. We work through our original evangelist/church planting centers in the area. And, there’s great opportunity for ministry for these people. Despite their Muslim roots, again, they’re open to Christianity.”
Elsewhere, four states in India are at the polls in legislative assembly elections. Counting of votes begins February 25th, but already there’s been election-related violence. Global Advance’s David Shibley says despite the trouble, they will continue with plans for evangelistic meetings scheduled for the same time: “We’re certainly not courting any kind of disruption or difficulty. At the same time, we believe that the very future of India is at stake. It is very, very important that the momentum that was gained in the 1990’s, through tremendous evangelistic advance, that that momentum continue in the 21rst century.” Shibley says this is where prayer is most helpful. “The church in the West needs to pray for great breakthroughs for the Gospel particularly in the decision-making arenas of government and education. No one has risen to the challenge of educating the children of India as Christians have historically done, and I frankly believe that will keep a Christian presence in India in the days ahead.”
For the first time in nearly four years, SIM radio station ELWA in Monrovia, Liberia, in partnership with HCJB World Radio, is sending out programs via shortwave. The good news is the station is up and growing, adding a new transmitter, after having been destroyed during Liberia’s civil war in 1996. SIM’s Ron Frazee says it has been an answer to prayer. “Because the country itself is devastated, not much money is available in the country. So, they have one studio operating, broadcasting six hours a day in English and this new transmitter will simulcast those same six hours of English broadcasts. Now, those programs are going to be able to be heard all over Liberia.” Frazee says the broadcasts are sending the message of hope. “They know how much ELWA through the years has been appreciated by Liberian people. So, pray for them that they won’t get weary in their well-doing, pray that they will have what is needed to keep the ministry going, that Liberians who hear the broadcast will be supportive-pray for the spiritual health of those involved.”
A neglected people group in Germany is the target of an evangelistic outreach by international broadcaster Trans World Radio. Beginning this spring prisoners will be able to hear an innovative pilot project called the Remember Me Network. The proposed format will include music, testimonies of prisoners who committed their lives to Christ, and Bible studies written by prisoners for prisoners. If it’s successful it could be translated and adapted into additional languages.
Meanwhile, prayer is needed for Jesus Film evangelistic teams in India. According to the India Missions Association, Jesus Film Project Teams were attacked earlier this month in Tamil Nadu State in southeastern India. According to officials projectors and generators were destroyed. Witnesses say police were not willing to help protect the team or arrest anyone connected to the attack. On January 16th, In a separate case, two other workers were beaten up as they shared the story of Christ.
