Missions Catalyst 02.16.11 – World News Briefs

In This Issue: Protests, Peace, and Prayer in Albania

• ALBANIA: Caravaning for Peace
• EGYPT: Crisis Opens Doors
• NORTH AFRICA: Healing Prayer
• PAKISTAN: Interview with Minister for Minorities
• SOMALIA: Testimonies of Secret Believers

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!

Greetings!

As I wrap up this week’s news briefs, people in Iran, Algeria, Yemen, and Bahrain are protesting. Everyone is wondering what the new Middle East will look like when this ends. Are you optimistic? Fearful? Either way, now is the time to pray. If you don’t have your copy of Operation World yet (What are you waiting for?), check out their list of countries. Also check out WIN’s country profiles for the nations of the 10/40 Window, many of which have been in the news lately.

Has the news disrupted your life this month? It takes a lot for me to get to the point where I need a break, but I reached that point this week. Mubarak stepped down just in time: Life was passing me by as I sat glued to Al Jazeera and C-SPAN. I appreciate programs that help me lighten up, like NPR’s news quiz Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me! If you’d enjoy some lighthearted “news” as well, check out the Skit Guys’ Newscast LIVE!

Lighten up! God is in control and you are HIS!

Pat

ALBANIA: Caravaning for Peace

Source: Joel News International 762, February 2, 2011

Totally overshadowed by the dramatic events in Tunisia and Egypt, thousands of Albanians have also been taking to the streets in desperation for just and stable national leadership. On January 31, Christians initiated a Caravan of Peace which gathered in front of Mother Teresa’s monument in the square named after Albania’s most famous daughter.

Arian Galdini is a young Albanian politician who for years has been trying to raise a Christian voice in the public square in this country, which once proudly proclaimed itself the world’s first atheistic state. Inspired by the European Parliament Prayer Breakfast in Brussels, he has initiated national prayer breakfasts in Tirana to bring the nation’s top politicians together in a humble attitude of dependence on God.

“As Christians, we must do what we can to be peacemakers.”

>> Full story with picture (original source: Jeff Fountain, Schuman Centre for European Studies).

EGYPT: Crisis Opens Doors

Source: International Mission Board, February 9, 2011

Two weeks ago, Mina Peter didn’t know a soul in his Cairo apartment building. Like many young Egyptians, the 22-year-old computer science major was simply too busy to make the effort. And as the only Christian in the building, Peter wasn’t sure his Muslim neighbors cared to know him.

But that was before a massive revolt calling for the ouster of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak plunged the city into chaos. Demonstrations turned violent; police threw tear gas while protesters traded rocks and Molotov cocktails. Businesses were looted and vandalized. Tanks rolled down Cairo’s streets.

The violence brought many Egyptian communities together. Neighbors improvised checkpoints at their apartment buildings to ensure safety. And in the process, Mina says, they inadvertently began to get to know one another.

“[I] have been building relationships with people who have been living in the same building with me for years and I haven’t known them,” he says. “Now I get to know them all, I get to speak to them, we drink tea with each other … [and discuss] what’s happening in the country.

“I believe that God has been opening doors for us in this time of trouble that we can have bridges with people – that we can build more relationships that can open doors and we can deliver the message of Jesus.”

>> Full story.

>> See also Christians at Tahrir Square asking God to bless the nation (Arabic video; thanks to Joel News for the tip). Carmen McCain points us to this picture of Christians protecting Muslims during prayer. Thanks to Leonard Rogers of Evangelicals for Middle East Understanding for pointing us to the song Egyptian Revolution. Be sure to click on the “closed caption” link to get the English subtitles. The chorus goes, “In every street in my country, the sound of freedom is calling.” For more music videos, see The Songs of the Egyptian Revolution (NPR). No closed captioning on these but they are still inspiring. Finally, take a look at the ingenious makeshift helmets of Tahrir Square (The Guardian).

NORTH AFRICA: Healing Prayer

Source: Operation Mobilization, January 31, 2011

Hamid mentioned his son was quite sick, and no medicine seemed to work. Adam, a worker with OM, offered to pray in Jesus’ name, and Hamid accepted. Two days after praying, Hamid phoned and asked to meet Adam, saying he had something important to discuss. The elated father explained that 30 minutes after Adam had left, his son was completely healed!

Confused about how praying in Jesus’ name would heal his son, Hamid had gone to the imam of the mosque. The imam said this was from the devil and Hamid shouldn’t have anything to do with the Christians. Hamid shared that he didn’t believe good things could come from the devil and his son’s healing was a good thing, so he didn’t believe the imam and wanted to know more about who Jesus is.

Soon after, Hamid found a Bible in French and started reading it. Adam met a number of times to talk with him and explain what he was reading in the Bible. Meanwhile, Hamid also met with a cousin who is already a believer. A month later, Hamid shared with Adam that he had made the choice to believe Jesus and follow him.

>> Full story.

PAKISTAN: Interview with Minister for Minorities

Source: The Christian Post, February 8, 2011

Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, met with The Christian Post [in early February] in Washington, D.C., while he was in town for the National Prayer Breakfast and to meet with the U.S. Department of State.

[He says], “You know that I’m getting threats and I’m told by the extremists that if I will continue to speak against the blasphemy law I will be beheaded. So after the [death of] Governor Taseer, I am the number one target in Pakistan. It is written in the Pakistan and international media a lot.

“I will continue to raise the voice of the voiceless. And I will not feel fear because of these threats because I follow Jesus Christ who has given his own life for us. So as a follower of Christ, my destiny is to speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves.

“In the past I faced assassination attempts. I faced harassment, intimidation, and prison due to my bold stand on this issue. But these difficult challenges strengthened my faith; strengthened my belief; and strengthened my commitment and devotion to this cause.

“I made it clear that I will consider – this is the important phrase I am trying to say – myself most fortunate if Jesus Christ will accept the sacrifice of my blood to raise the voice for the justice and rights of the persecuted and victimized Christians and other minorities in Pakistan.

“I don’t believe that bodyguards can save me after the assassination [of Taseer]. I believe in the protection from heaven. So I ask the people to pray.”

>> Full story. See also: Ministry for Religious Minorities Survives Pakistan’s Cabinet Downsize.

SOMALIA: Testimonies of Secret Believers

Source: Open Doors, February 9, 2011

Somewhere inside Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, secret believers arrive one by one at the agreed meeting place. Once everybody settles in, the prayer leader opens a folded piece of paper and begins to share a message. Although some of the members own Bibles, not one is in sight – if caught with a Bible they face certain death.

The opportunity is rare and much appreciated, but these believers cannot dare to meet for longer than three hours. Careful not to leave any tracks, members abandon the meeting place separately at intervals. As a precaution all evidence of conversations are destroyed. Telephone numbers are exchanged, but for safety purposes these numbers are memorized, ensuring that fellow Christians cannot be traced, should one be captured.

In spite of these obstacles, the church in Somali continues to thrive. Radio stations offer programs that help converts grow in their faith. “It encourages us to stay grounded in our faith,” testifies an avid listener. “The reception is good, but we have to listen in secret.”

At a recent training session for underground prayer leaders in Somalia, believers shared their testimonies …

>> Full story.

Pat Noble has been the “news sleuth” for the Missions Catalyst since 2004. In addition to churning out the news, she is working to create a SWARM (Serving World A Regional Mobilizers) in Northern New York using the NorthernChristian.org website. A mission leader in her local church, avid reader, and follower of world news, Pat is also a Northeast Regional rep for ACMC (Advancing Churches in Missions Commitment).