Missions Catalyst 10.06.10 – World News Briefs

In This Issue: Pictures from Asia’s Spiritual Landscape

• INDIA: Orissa Persecutor Turned Worshiper
• SYRIA: Eight House Churches Shut Down
• ASIA: Hip-hop Pastor Documents Movement in 10/40 Window
• ISRAEL: Anti-missionary Groups Gather in Jerusalem
• BANGLADESH: Buddhist Extremists Capture, Release Christians
• MADAGASCAR: Churches, Chickens, Trees, and Policemen
• EVENTS: New on the Missions Catalyst Calendar

Missions Catalyst is a free, weekly electronic digest of mission news and resources designed to inspire and equip Christians worldwide for global ministry. Use it to fuel your prayers, find tips and opportunities, and stay in touch with how God is building his kingdom all over the world. Please forward it freely!

World News Briefs, edited by Pat Noble, are published twice a month.

INDIA: Orissa Persecutor Turned Worshiper

Source: Gospel for Asia, September 21, 2010

In 2008, Sharada Tamo was so angry at the Christian church in his village that he joined a mob that tried to destroy the church’s building. Sharada personally climbed on the roof of the building and broke its telltale cross.

Today, Sharada visits the church every week. But now he is there to worship Jesus in the same building that he once tried to destroy.

Sharada was part of the violent mobs that tore through Orissa, India, in August, 2008, burning down churches, attacking Christians and setting their homes on fire. When the attackers were finished, 75 Christians were dead and at least 75,000 were left homeless.

Today, [a] GFA-supported missionary is rebuilding this outpost of faith in Orissa. The church building has been repaired and 197 people, including Sharada Tamo, attend worship services at the rebuilt church. In fact, Sharada’s entire family has chosen to follow Christ. The cross Sharada ripped off the building has been replaced and is once again a shining symbol of forgiveness to all – including Sharada – who enter.

>> Full story with pictures.

SYRIA: Eight House Churches Shut Down

Source: ASSIST News, September 28, 2010

According to International Christian Concern (ICC), the Syrian government ordered the closure of numerous house churches for meeting in places the government deems inappropriate for worship. Many congregations in Syria cannot afford to buy a plot of land and build a church, so instead they purchase an apartment and turn it into a place of worship. However, during the past few months, the government has enforced a law stating that congregations must only gather in buildings that resemble a church.

“The government is targeting all religious activities which are considered ‘extreme’ – from Muslim extremists all the way to Christians,” [a Syrian Christian told ICC]. “It is generally believed that the government is getting reports from Orthodox and certain denominations as well as secret police and certain Islamic congregations.”

An Arab believer explained, “Our brethren and churches in Syria need urgent prayers. The government closed about eight evangelical churches [in Northern Syria] in the last two weeks … Churches in Damascus and Aleppo know that their turn will come soon. It is apparently by the approval of the High Counsel representative in Syria.”

>> Full story.

>> See also the video Syrian Government (Prayershorts).

ASIA: Hip-hop Pastor Documents Movement in 10/40 Window

Source: The Christian Post, June 22, 2010

Western churches either do not know or know very little about the large Christian movement occurring in [the] 10/40 Window, said hip-hop artist and pastor Jaeson Ma.

“I want to inspire, to educate; I want to awaken the global church to what God is doing,” Ma said.

“In the pre-modern culture, parents are really the symbols of leadership in society,” Ma explained. “In the modern culture it was teachers. But in post-modern culture today … the symbols in society are the cultural icons, the pop stars. These are the new prophets. These are the new spiritual leaders.”

Young people may not follow a youth pastor, but they want to follow Bono in his crusade to end AIDS in Africa or Angelina Jolie in building homes in New Orleans, he said.

“What you are recognizing nowadays is it is a completely visual media-driven world and within that pop stars, cultural icons, these are the new influencers and culture shapers and creators,” said the hip-hop pastor, who counts MC Hammer as his mentor. “So what we are seeing in Asia is not traditional missionaries that are doing all the work. But what you see is everyone is mobilized.”

>> Full story.

>> Ma’s documentary film, 1040, was released for sale in the US on October 1. It explores dramatic changes in Asia’s spiritual landscape. Learn more, watch the trailer, or order a copy from the film’s website.

>> Readers might be interested in video testimonies: Chinese-American hip-hop rapper MC Jin; Taiwanese-American singer Van Ness Wu; hip-hop artist and pastor Jaeson Ma; and Sean, of the Korean hip-hop duo, Jinusean.

>> Also check out the article God’s Doing in Southeast Asia (Lausanne World Pulse).

ISRAEL: Anti-Missionary Groups Gather in Jerusalem

Source: Worthy News, September 14, 2010

Anti-missionary [groups] from across Israel [met] in Jerusalem at the nation’s largest conference center to discuss the growing problem of “missionaries” in Israel.

Ahead of the gathering in the nation’s largest conference center, thousands of leaflets were distributed advertising the “anti-missionary” conference and encouraging people to come.

Many of Israel’s leading anti-messianic organizations along with leading rabbis [took] the opportunity to “educate” people on the “impossibility” of being Jewish and believing in Yeshua (Jesus in Hebrew). Their aim is to inform the public of the great danger Messianic Jews, those who believe in Yeshua, are to traditional Judaism.

The gathering was organized by several ultra-Orthodox groups and observers described it as the largest anti-missionary meeting so far.

>> Full story.

>> See also: Millions to Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem (Charisma) and a post-event article from ASSIST.

BANGLADESH: Buddhist Extremists Capture, Release Christians

Source: Baptist Press, September 16, 2010

Buddhist extremists detained eight Chakma Christians, members of a Baptist church in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh, for four days in August.

The extremists held the men – a pastor, church secretary, village leader, and five church members – captive in a Buddhist temple to attempt to force them to return to Buddhism [Christian workers reported].

During their captivity, the Buddhist extremists forced the men to adopt a Buddhist lifestyle and worship. The Christian believers had to wear Buddhist robes, shave their heads, bow down before a statue of Buddha, and clean the temple. The extremists threatened the believers with severe beatings and even death if they tried to escape.

The men’s wives had orders to bring food twice a day. The extremists threatened the women with severe punishment or death if they refused to comply with their requirements of showing honor to Buddha. The women had to first bow down to a statue of Buddha, present food to the statue, and give food to the Buddhist priests before they were allowed to give food to their husbands.

The Christians were told they would be confined to the temple for 7-15 days, but after four days in captivity the men were released under orders that they remain Buddhist.

“They are not allowed to pray to Jesus nor read Bibles, but they say they are still Christian in their hearts,” say [Christian workers].

>> Full story.

MADAGASCAR: Churches, Chickens, Trees, and Policemen

Source: WorldVenture, September 16, 2010

Madagascar is an island-nation off the coast of Africa, where 78 percent of the land has been laid waste by traditional “slash and burn” farming practices that have threatened wildlife, eroded the soil, and impoverished the land.

Jamie and Alissa Shattenberg are involved with Eden Reforestation Projects. At first glance, planting trees may not sound like a missionary calling, but you may be surprised at how God is using it not only to restore the environment, but to create jobs and open Malagasy hearts to the gospel. To date, over 10,000,000 trees have been planted, and 142 Malagasy have been employed – mostly the poor, widows, and single mothers with children.

One of Jamie’s assistants in reforesting the “Red Island” is a Christian Malagasy young man named Josy. One day some police in the area were told by several men that Josy was leading a church and eating chicken, both of which some locals consider “taboo.” They blamed these activities for their wells becoming salty and for a lack of fish in the ocean and mangrove channels. Josy was also accused of selling the land to foreigners to plant trees.

After hearing these accusations, the police arrested two men who work with Josy, chained them up, and demanded to see their permits allowing them to plant trees …

>> Full story with picture.

EVENTS: New on the Missions Catalyst Calendar

October 01 to 31 – Month of Prayer for the Shan (international). Download a free, 30-day prayer guide.

October 10 – Day of Prayer for the Global Water Crisis (international). Coordinated by Living Water International.

November 14 – International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (resources, contacts, and events available globally).

>> View the calendar or submit an item.

Questions, comments, submissions? Contact us.