Story number 2 for 13 Mar 2003

(Central Asia)–Next, as war looms in Iraq, mission organizations in Central Asia are also preparing. Bible Mission International’s Malcolm Smith says the violence could actually help them in their efforts to reach the lost. “They’re seeing that followers of Islam don’t have good things happening to them. And, the folks there want to know, well if that’s the religion of peace, why is all this destruction coming on them? And, it creates some real opportunities for them to question, why they would want to be followers of Islam.” According to Smith, the heightened tensions in the region won’t force Bible Mission out of Central Asia. “The propaganda machine in that part of the world is billing this as a war against Muslims. And so, there is some heighten anticipation and caution being exercised by the folks there. But, they realize they have a mission that has to be accomplished and that is taking the unchangeable word of God to the people within its borders.”