Story number 2 for 1 Jun 2001

(International)–Next, in direct response to the guilty verdicts involving terrorist bombings by Osama Bin Ladin this week, the U.S. Government has issued a security alert. According to the US State Department, American citizens abroad may be the target of a terrorist threat from extremist groups. As far as the impact on missionaries abroad, Voice of the Martyrs’ Ray Thorn had this to say: “It’s generally when other organizations are pulling out, is when Christian missions should be going in. Missionaries abroad are a lot more aware of the situation on the ground, day by day, than many of these organizations. They know when the situation gets to a place where it’s life-threatening.” Thorn adds that while most missionary work will go on unaffected, they do need more prayer support. “It is imperative that the church is praying not only protection for the missionary, but also that God’s direction and His purpose and plan would be fulfilled.”