Day: June 3, 2015

In This Issue: Music to connect heaven and earth

1. KAZAKHSTAN: A House of Mercy
2. MALI: Thousands Flee Violent Upsurge in North
3. PAKISTAN: Giant Cross Erected
4. EGYPT: “Garbage Kids” Dream Big
5. ERITREA: Six Years in Prison

Dear Readers,

Northern New York has had the craziest weather this spring; one day I had a fire in my parlor stove and the next I had the air conditioner on. Yet one thing about June has been consistent for years. It is what I call the quiet season, simply because so little music is written to herald summer. I do have memories of the Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” but not much more. Send me your summer playlist if you have one!

When new music is born, I think heaven celebrates. Perhaps when composing we hear heaven’s strains. And heaven must grieve when music is quenched on earth (see the Mali story below; read about  the “savior of Afghan music,” a musicologist who lost his hearing to a Taliban bomb; and look up Psalm 137, the song about not singing).

Could music that glorifies God make the news in heaven? Think of angels saying, “Hey, they GOT it! A bit different than what I sent down, but it’s good!”  Check out Global Worship for lots of great music and images.

Musicians without Borders says, “War divides, music connects.” Its greatest purpose may be to connect us not only with one another but also with God. He is not limited to using music in a church or music written or sung by evangelicals. If we are willing to make connections with people different than us, God may open the door to allow us to help them connect with him, building bridges between heaven and earth, God and man.

One more thing: the Global Consultation on Music and Missions, in Thailand is less than a month away. Pray for the attendees to make strategic connections. May heaven rejoice that new music is rising from all nations. As one of the stories below reminds us, “the resources are in the harvest.” That’s especially true when it comes to music.

Blessings,
Pat

Source: Joel News International, May 21, 2015

A missionary from Canada reports about a recent trip to Kazakhstan:

“We are working with two expressions of community. The first is the house of peace, or house church as expressed by Jesus in Luke 10, and the other our friends in Central Asia have called houses of mercy. A house of mercy is a community where people off the street, out of prison, out of addiction [or] out of prostitution can live for as long as they desire. The only basic rule is to contribute to the community as they are able. The healing program? Worship and work in relationship.

“Friends wanted to have a house of mercy but could not find appropriate rental accommodation and, if they did, the owners would not rent to them for such a purpose. So four years ago they rented a disused Soviet-era bath house (banya).

“A few years ago a [Muslim cleric] well known in Kazakhstan became a follower of Jesus through reading the Koran. He is fearless in sharing his testimony and began to lead others to become followers of Jesus. He met our friends in Kazakhstan and loves how they are doing community. He shared the story of the house of mercy in the banya within his circles of influence and two secret Muslim-background followers of Jesus blessed our team with two large houses and two cars. Each house is home to a community of about 15 people.

“We could not have purchased or rented two houses for our friends in Kazakhstan even if we had wanted to, but they made the step to rent whatever they could and make a start, and God provided! One of the characteristics of all movements that multiply is that the primary resources in people and finance are in the harvest.”

» Thanks to Joel News for sharing this story. See also the original source.

Source: IRIN News, May 29, 2015

A spike in violence in northern Mali has driven the number of people displaced in the country above 100,000, many of them urgently needing food, water, and shelter as time runs out before the rainy season begins.

The situation is worst in the northern Timbuktu region, where an estimated 23,000 people have been driven from their homes in only a few days, fleeing a marked upsurge in attacks by rebel coalitions and government-controlled militias.

Many key players were absent from a peace signing ceremony in the capital Bamako on May 15 that had been trumpeted as a solution to years of conflict involving the Malian government, the militias, Islamist groups, and Tuareg rebels.

The fighting in northern Mali, which has seen a resurrection of attacks on civilians and humanitarian workers, persists despite several truces, preliminary peace deals, and increased engagement from the international community.

» Read full story.

» Learn about Mali’s annual music Festival in the Desert, now silenced by local conflict. Readers may also be interested in the new film Timbuktu. Read about it in The Guardian. I also strongly encourage you to read a review by Stephen Davies. Thanks for praying for Mali!

Source: CBN News, June 1, 2015

A giant cross is rising in a place where Christians often suffer persecution for their faith: Karachi, Pakistan.

The 140-foot cross stands at the entrance of a Christian cemetery in the center of the city. It’s being built by Parvez Henry Gill, a Pakistani businessman who said the idea came to him in a dream.

“I want to show the world the Christian community in Pakistan has religious freedom,” Gill said.

While some have criticized the cross, Gill said he “leaves that to God.”

» Read full story or watch video clip.

» Read also 140 Foot Cross in Pakistan: Practical or Novelty? (Mission Network News) and People of the Cross (Voice of the Martyrs). On another note, read about the removal of crosses in China (Christianity Today).

Source: ASSIST News Service, May 22, 2015

Unlike Mother Teresa, who came from poverty and took a vow of poverty, Mama Maggie came from wealth. And during an encounter when she was a successful marketing executive, connected with a child in the garbage slums—a famous district of Cairo that has been mostly neglected.

She eventually gave up her marketing career and started a ministry called Stephen’s Children.

“Many times when the kids are asked what do you want to do when you grow up, they’ve really never thought that far in advance. And some of the kids, can you believe, have never been called by their name by anyone,” [author Marty] Makary said.

Mama Maggie’s ministry teaches the children a trade like shoe and clothing manufacturing—marketable skills for earning money and serving others, whether in the garbage slums, or elsewhere.

Makary said they’re not talking about getting out of the garbage district.

“They’re talking about serving the garbage district. And sure enough, a good number of the full time staff were kids in the ministry themselves, have graduated and want to give back,” he explained. “I’ve met doctors in the clinics over there and they’re working for almost no money.”

» Read full story. Note that seven of the 21 Egyptian Christians killed by ISIS in Libya last February were involved with Mama Maggie’s ministry. See Makary’s book, Mama Maggie: The Untold Story of One Woman’s Mission to Love the Forgotten Children of Egypt’s Garbage Slums.

» See also Retirees Volunteer, Impact World for Christ (IMB Commission Stories).

Source: GodReports, May 19, 2015

“Alice” grew up in Eritrea, then spent almost 20 years in the United States. But she answered a call to go back to her people and share the Good News of Jesus Christ and lead Bible studies.

When Alice attempted to leave Eritrea in 2009, authorities arrested her at the airport. All her possessions were confiscated and she was thrown into prison. There were no charges filed, no lawyers, no trial, just an indefinite prison sentence, according to International Christian Concern (ICC).

“It was as if she had just disappeared,” noted Troy Augustine with ICC.

Alice’s family did not know her specific location for five years. Her mother spent many tearful nights, wondering if her youngest daughter was still alive.

In the prison, Alice witnessed boldly for her faith. Through Alice’s influence, Muslim inmates turned to Christ in their darkest hour as they faced abuse.

It is estimated that 1,200 to 3,000 people in Eritrea are currently in jail for their faith, the majority of whom are evangelical Christians. Because of these abuses, Eritrea has been called the “North Korea of Africa.”

» Read full story.

» Also read Not All of Eritrea Marks an Anniversary of Freedom (Mission Network News