Date: 2021-02-26

Story 1

Democratic Republic of the Congo’s 2021 death toll includes 100+ believers

Congo-Kinshasa (MNN) — Nightly raids claim more than a dozen lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Officials blame the Allied Democratic Forces, or ADF, for this week’s violence. It’s the latest in a disturbing upward trend. Armed groups have killed more than a thousand civilians in the eastern DR Congo since late 2019. Voice of the Martyrs Canada’s Greg Musselman says this year’s death toll includes over a hundred believers so far. Ask God to move powerfully in this situation.

(KRAMER :18) Nightly raids claim more than a dozen lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Officials blame the Allied Democratic Forces, or ADF, for this week’s violence. It’s the latest in a disturbing upward trend. Armed groups have killed more than a thousand civilians in the eastern DR Congo since late 2019. Voice of the Martyrs Canada’s Greg Musselman says, (MUSSELMAN :05) “In 2021, we’ve seen mass attacks by these Muslim extremists.” (KRAMER :06) Over a hundred armed groups operate in DR Congo. Not all of them are Islamic, but those that are have one goal in mind. (MUSSELMAN :09) “These radical Islamic groups, even though they may have lost some of their control in places like Iraq and Syria they’re doing whatever they can to cause destruction.” (KRAMER :03) The 2021 civilian death toll includes over a hundred believers so far. (MUSSELMAN :07) “They are targeted because they’re Christians and it’s a desperate situation for them. These are people who lost their families; whole families were killed.” (KRAMER :02) Ask God to move powerfully in this situation. (MUSSELMAN :23) “It does get a little bit discouraging at times [but] let’s not lose hope. We pray and we ask God to protect them, and we believe that He can. Part of my work with the Voice of the Martyrs is having seen how God has protected believers. We can’t lose track that God is ultimately in control. It maybe doesn’t feel like it, but He is in control.”

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(MUSSELMAN :07) “And there’s eternity at stake here. That’s why we continue to spread the Gospel, our time on earth is very short.”

Excerpt:

Congo-Kinshasa (MNN) -- Increased militant attacks beleaguer Christian communities.

Story 2

Tent Schools International funding a truck school in Lebanon

Lebanon (MNN ) — And you’ve heard about tents schools. But what about school in a truck? That’s a new project from Tent Schools International. Anne Hamming says the truck will be able to reach refugee kids anywhere in Lebanon. “Our partner in Lebanon has had a fair amount of success reaching out to Syrian refugees, with schools in shipping containers that he has set up in or on the perimeter of different refugee camps. However, with time, we’ve learned that there is a problem with that system because the refugee camps can actually be disbanded. pretty short notice.” At different times, the truck will be used to train kids of different ages, including teaching trade skills to young adults. When the truck isn’t being used for school, it won’t sit idle. “It can be used to help meet any of several dire needs in Lebanon right now. Lebanon has been on lockdown. And they’ve only partially reopened, where only banks and grocery stores are open right now.” See concept art for the truck at mnnonline.org. And pray the care of Christians for refugee kids will point many to Jesus.

Excerpt:

Lebanon (MNN ) -- You’ve heard about tents schools. But what about school in a truck?

Story 3

Turkey endures year-long drought

Turkey (MNN) — And throughout the past year, Turkey has suffered an intense drought. In 2020, important agricultural regions of the country received 30 millimeters of precipitation, as opposed to 80 in 2019. Joe Willey of SAT-7 USA says, “Recent rain and snow have caused a slight rise in Istanbul’s reservoirs, but it’s still a dangerous situation. Experts in the region, they say that if there isn’t adequate rainfall in the next two to two and a half months that there will be water shortages in the summer.” SAT-7 Turk has been covering the drought on its weekly news programs, as well as the show Worldview. “Now, the presenters of this program, they not only focused on the drought and its implications for Turkey, but they also looked at the issue from a biblical perspective. So they looked at how God has given us the responsibility to care for his creation,” It’s a lesson the global church can tap into, as 2020 brought many catastrophic weather events and natural disasters. Pray Turkey will see more rainfall, and avoid water shortages this summer. “Also pray that Christians would show compassion and wisdom in dealing with others during a difficult time because tensions can rise when there are shortages and problems. We ask that you pray that Christians would be a great witness for God’s care and his love.”

Excerpt:

Turkey MNN) -- Important agricultural regions of the country received just 30 millimeters of precipitation.