We begin today on the continent of Africa where the cult tragedy in Uganda has claimed hundreds of lives. Reports say new breeds of Christian religious sects are mushrooming across Africa as people disillusioned with politics seek to improve their lives. SIM International’s Ron Frazee explains why cults are considered treacherous. “The thing that makes them dangerous is that they have some bit of Christianity mixed in with their beliefs, and this sometimes draws young Christians away from the true faith.” Frazee adds that evangelistic workers need prayer support as they fight the heresy of a cult and continue their outreach. “They have to keep teaching the Bible, and as the truths of the Scripture appears into people’s minds and becomes part of their lives, then they begin to be able to judge between right and wrong, between truth and error.”
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Meanwhile, pastors and lay leaders are participating in seminars in preparation for special meetings in Pakistan in October. Manmin World Mission’s Johnny Kim says Doctor Lee Jae Rock will be holding evangelistic meetings in that Islamic country. Kim explains how they’re able to do this. “We have a lot of Pakistanis here in Korea. And we evangelize them and we taught them the Bible and we trained them so they could evangelize the people in Pakistan. So, when they finished their training here in Korea, they went back to Pakistan and established a church and evangelized the people.” Kim is asking people to pray as they may have a chance to share the Gospel with the leader of Pakistan. “Minister Derick Cyprian promised that he would arrange a special meeting with General Musharraf. If we visit we would like to introduce who Jesus is and how we are so much blessed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
The ministry of the World Bible Translation Center came through the recent havoc in Indonesia relatively unscathed. WBTC’s Craig Smith says they are thankful for God’s protection for their current project. “While we’re very concerned about the strife in various parts of Indonesia, our main ministry right now is focused on getting a complete Bible translated into the modern Indonesian language that the people speak today. We’re talking about a country here that’s a chain of some 17-thousand islands, inhabited by two-hundred million people.” Smith asks that believers pray “…for receptive hearts among the Indonesian people. It’s a country that’s heavily Muslim-dominated, and at the same time, there are many searching people. We feel like we have a great window of opportunity right now to share the good news of Jesus.” WBTC currently has seven translations of the New Testament and one full Russian Bible text available on-line, with more to come.
Next, the largest Christian event in Europe is underway in Bremen, Denmark. TV satellite is beaming the message of “ProChrist” to 12-hundred locations in 17 countries from France to the Ukraine this week. According to IDEA News, 45 interpreters are translating the Gospel message into 14 languages. Guest speakers are stressing the importance of making the Christian faith the focal point in the lives of Europeans. The organizers are expecting close to one million people will hear the Gospel by the end of the week.
Headlining today’s news mission groups say Taiwan’s new president could ultimately help evangelism in that island nation. Send International’s Victor Lao (low) says pro-independence candidate Chen Shui-bian’s (shoo-AY bee-ihns) victory over the nationalists has many concerned. China has long threatened to invade, if the Island declared independence. “It’s just kind of a disturbing feeling. I’m sure in this kind of a situation that we have a chance to share the Gospel. Many are still worshiping idols. We continue to need prayer. And, I think the unsettlingness of this election (will) cause other Christians in other parts of the world to be concerned.” Loa says Shui-bian has somewhat changed his stance on independence, easing tensions in the region. “I believe that right now the situation is settling down. The elected president is calming the situation and even China, I think, has also calmed down. It’s kind of a wait and see – and I don’t think that the elected president would move toward independence.”
Next, just as aid agencies were making headway in feeding hundreds of thousands displaced by flooding in southern and central Mozambique, new floods hit a remote northern region this week. Sue Sprinkle is with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. “It’s mad confusion when aid comes in. People fight and there are riots just to receive one simple solo plastic plate (of food) that Americans use on picnics. People are fighting to get clothing because they’ve lost everything that they had in the flood.” Sprinkle says they’re distributing aid to show Christ’s love. She says long term planting programs are needed. “So that the people will not starve. If the waters do not recede soon there will be no planting and Mozambicans will require at least 18 months of aid.”
In Eastern Europe, New Hope International is dedicated to training and equipping the existing church, working within the public school systems and setting up Christian publishing houses. New Hope has a team in place this week in the Ukraine doing just that. NHI’s Hank Paulson says: “Their purpose is to equip nationals in family counseling. The leaders of the churches in the Ukraine have said ‘Hey-this is a tremendous need’. Everything we do is to respond to what are felt needs on the field.” Paulson adds that the partnership they’ve developed works toward the future. “We, in turn, have said to the church leaders, ‘Select up to twelve couples and we will come and provide over a two-year program, training and resource materials to make those workers more effective’. Local leaders there have said, ‘These are key people that we trust. Can you further equip them for ministry within our communities and churches?'” Paulson says this approach to working with the national staff gives a sense of local commitment, vital for the ministry’s longevity.
Meanwhile, a variety of Christian ministries are combining their effort to organize the largest prison outreach in the U-S history. Prison Fellowship Ministries along with thousands of other volunteers are planning to launch “Operation Starting Line” over the Easter weekend. The program hopes to changes lives by introducing them to Christ. The event will kick-off a five year evangelistic program aimed at reaching every person in every prison in the nation. Today there are more than six-million men and women under correctional supervision.
Next, a Muslim rebel offensive in the southern Philippines has been squelched by government troops, but the uprising has missionary groups on alert. Kermit Karlberg is the Philippines field director for World Team. Karlberg, who’s on furlough and staying at D & D Missionary Homes in Florida, says they’re cautiously moving forward. “We do have to be careful. And, just be sensitive to our type of ministry and also to the environment and what’s going on around us. There have been instances in the past because of fighting or skirmishes that we had to have our workers leave an area.” Karlberg says despite the Muslim dominance in the region, people are reading scripture. “They are understandably very religious and open to the scriptures and to studying the Bible. They are very respectful of the scriptures and of worshiping God so they are also interested in what the scriptures have to say.” Karlberg hopes that interest will lead many to Christ.
