Missions Catalyst News Briefs 8.5.15
Sinan Pasha Mosque and stone bridge in Kosovo (Wikipedia / Tobias Klenze).
Source: Train International, July 2015
During the month of Ramadan, while our Muslims cousins were fasting across the globe, a great many Christian brothers and sisters were united in prayer for them. Midway through the month, God moved in a powerful way in Kosova (Kosovo), a Muslim-majority country in Eastern Europe. Powerful, and practically without precedent in the collective memory of both Kosovar nationals and international missionaries serving in the area.
The leaders and elders of a village of about 500 people, located in the patriotic heartland of the country, reached out to a group of Kosovar followers of Christ. These Muslim men had made the trip to a distant city where they knew Christians lived; there were none in their village or even their near vicinity. Their request? “Come tell us about your Jesus.”
Curious about what prompted many of the Kosovars to leave their traditions for the way of Christ, these leaders asked for a delegation of converts to visit their village, share their story of conversion, and explain the gospel and how they could get in on it if they so desired.
When the day came, nine followers of Christ made the trip and were welcomed hospitably in this village. They shared their story, shared the good news, and 27 Kosovars immediately responded, asking to follow the way of Christ. Two days later, 27 had grown to 300!
In that remote village where there had been no church, no Christians, and no missionaries, God was working to stir up hearts and draw his people back to himself. It’s not likely a coincidence that this took place during a time of intense concentration of united, worldwide prayer for the Muslim world. Let’s keep praying for breakthroughs and for the Lord to draw people to himself, responding to opportunities he brings, and celebrating his power.
» Editor’s note: Thanks to the reader who submitted and confirmed this article. No, you won’t find it on their website. Let us know if you’ve heard other reports of how our prayers were answered!
Source: Faith Comes by Hearing, May 11, 2015
Faith Comes By Hearing (FCBH) continues to press forward with an ambitious agenda to provide digital Bible access to the most remote and hard-to-reach regions on the planet. FCBH has awarded a contract to Integrity Applications Incorporated (IAI) to determine the best way to provide the Digital Bible to “unconnected” people in the Middle East, North Africa, Southeast Asia, and China by leveraging space and telecommunications capabilities.
Founded in 1999, IAI is a veteran-owned business with over 600 employees. IAI supports multiple commercial and government customers. On average, IAI employees have over 22 years of engineering experience, hands-on experience with all critical space system components and multiple skill sets to address any space system need. IAI will leverage its expertise in communications, system engineering, and space and ground systems to analyze end-to-end architectures to provide the Digital Bible to these regions.
“[They] are the best-of-the-best in finding communication solutions for the most difficult problems,” said Troy Carl, FCBH vice president and architect of the ministry’s expanding digital outreach. “We are honored to be working with them to fulfill the task of providing access to the Bible in even the most remote locations on earth.”
Source: Christian Aid Mission, July 16, 2015
When a Christian organization based in Lebanon began reaching out to the Deaf five years ago, it discovered what amounted to an unreached people group longing for belonging.
Introducing sign-language into the ministry’s existing outreaches to the primarily Muslim people in Lebanon has resulted in nearly 90 Deaf people putting their faith in Christ, the ministry director said. Two groups of 40 to 45 people each meet for prayer.
“We’ve been shocked by the number of people coming to Christ these days,” the director said. “We’ve been seeing miracles happening these days among the Muslim people. So many are turning to Christ.”
» Read full story, with a picture and opportunity to be involved.
Source: Mission Network News, July 30, 2015
The final hearing of South Sudanese pastors Yat Michael Rout and Peter Yein Reith will be on August 5. The results could lead to the death penalty.
On December 2, 2014, police in North Khartoum beat, arrested, and fined 38 Christians. They were released that night. Pastor Michael was invited to encourage the church to stand firm despite the persecution. But after giving a sermon on December 14, 2014, he was arrested and detained.
Several weeks later, Pastor Reith was arrested for submitting a letter from leaders in the South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church that asked about Michael’s whereabouts.
The pastors have been charged with committing crimes with other churches, spying for outsiders, and collecting and leaking information of Sudanese national security. Two charges include the death sentence.
» Read full story, which includes a picture of the two men and links to other news sources. For several other recent stories about believers in this part of Africa, see the Open Doors Newsroom.
Source: Pray4Saudi, July 15, 2015
The sun has begun to rise upon the daughters of Saudi Arabia.
In an unprecedented political move, Saudi Arabia’s Prince al-Waleed bin Talal announced on July 1 a massive financial donation for the empowerment of women. Al-Waleed pledged US$32 billion to philanthropy, prioritizing women’s empowerment. This marks the first time in Saudi Arabia’s history that a member of the royal family will donate his entire fortune. The nephew of King Salman and grandson of Saudi Arabia’s founder Ibn Saud, Bloomberg lists al-Waleed as the 20th richest person in the world.
For several years, Prince al-Waleed has been a staunch and vocal advocate of women’s rights. In April 2013, he tweeted support for women driving. His staff is made up primarily of women. Educated in the West, he comes under criticism by conservative Saudi women. They disapprove of his support of women’s rights, claiming it violates Wahhabism and traditional Arab customs.
» Read full story with prayer points.