Missions Catalyst 05.18.11 – World News Briefs

In This Issue: Artists Respond to Egypt’s Revolution

  • EGYPT: Arts Festival Features Works Created in Response to Revolution
  • MALAYSIA: Christians Accused of Trying to Create a Christian State
  • NIGERIA: Ecumenical Projects Unite Christians and Muslims
  • PAKISTAN: Youth Fed Up with Image
  • IRAN: An Intercessor’s Testimony
  • 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!

Greetings!

Last fall for a Perspectives class I began a paper about displaced Muslim peoples (not finished yet!). I had no idea that in a matter of weeks the Muslim world would see an unprecedented number of people moving to safety, some for the second or third time.

Iraqis who fled their country are now heading back home because of the unrest in Syria. Syrians are fleeing to Lebanon. Berbers from northern Libya are moving to southern Tunisia only to be caught up in border clashes. Ivoirians fled to Liberia after the elections. Just the latest. WOW!

Syria’s Unrest Seeps into Lebanon (New York Times)

UN Preparing Iraqis to Flee Syria (The Washington Post)

Exodus of Berbers to Southern Tunisia Interrupted by Border Clashes (AllAfrica.com)

Number of Displaced People Hits Global High (Reuters)

Is the global Church up to the challenge of “loving on” these folks? I know of a few who are responding. I’d like to see a great movement in the Church, a movement of short-term teams equipped and ready to serve these displaced peoples. Your thoughts? Got a story to share? Email me.

Praying with you,

Pat Noble

EGYPT: Arts Festival Features Works Created in Response to Revolution

Source: ASSIST News, May 7, 2011

The 2011 Egyptian revolution that overthrew the regime of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak brought together Egyptian people from all backgrounds and faiths, but it saw the cancellation of a popular arts festival due to take place in Cairo.

But now, the interfaith art gathering of premier Middle Eastern and Western artists, using the arts as a bridge for intercultural and interreligious dialogue, has been rescheduled and is to be hosted at the historic St. John’s Church, May 12-18, 2011.

In response to the enormous outpouring of expression from the Egyptian people, a parallel exhibition will be held at the church entitled “The Peoples’ Egypt since January 25th.”

A spokesperson added, “A number of the Caravan participating artists courageously joined the protests in Tahrir Square, some for all 18 days. For this parallel exhibition, the participating artists have been invited to contribute artworks that have been created in response to the events of the Egyptian revolution.”

>> Full story with pictures. See some of the artwork here.

>> See also Egyptian Islamist Calls for Tolerance – about Aboud al-Zomour, a prisoner for nearly 30 years for his role in killing President Anwar Sadat. He is now called a “messenger of peace” (VOA News).

MALAYSIA: Christians Accused of Trying to Create a Christian State

Source: Christian Post, May 10, 2011

The accusation was made on two blogs which were then quoted in a front page story in Utusan Malaysia, a Malaysian daily owned by the ruling party.

The newspaper claimed that Christian leaders had dinner with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and discussed making Christianity Malaysia’s official religion.

Lim denied the claims. His Malaysian Democratic Action Party has lodged a complaint with the police against the newspaper.

“We have never asked for Malaysia to become a Christian, Hindu, or Buddhist state,” he said.

The dinner was organized by the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship, Global Day of Prayer, Marketplace Penang, and the Penang Pastors Fellowship. Organizers insist that the only issues discussed at the dinner related to corruption and bribery in the marketplace and had nothing to do with Christianity’s position in Malaysia.

“The Christian community in Penang is disturbed by the unwarranted and unsupported claims,” they said, according to The Star newspaper.

>> Full story.

NIGERIA: Ecumenical Projects Unite Christians and Muslims

Source: ENInews, May 12, 2011

An ecumenical organization, the Fellowship of Churches of Christ in Nigeria, plans to establish small business and agricultural enterprises that will bring Christians and Muslims together in the troubled north-central part of Nigeria.

“We believe that projects jointly owned by Christians and Muslims cannot be destroyed because they belong to them … and [would] bridge the relationship gap between them,” [said project coordinator] Helen Philemon Haggai.

In the past two decades, the north-central area of Nigeria has been engulfed in religious violence, resulting in the destruction of places of worship and the killing of thousands on both sides.

>> Full story.

>> See also: Pastor Loses Family Members in Nigeria Attack (Mission Network News).

PAKISTAN: Youth Fed Up with Image

Source: International Mission Board, May 10, 2011

For most Americans, the name Osama bin Laden conjures up images of destruction – the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on 9/11. For many in Pakistan – particularly Muslim university students – it conjures up those same images.

They’re not proud of him. They don’t align themselves with him or [with] the conservative Muslims who do. They are concerned about what the future will bring.

“It’s very painful to talk about Pakistan’s image across the globe,” said Ghina Guneta, a Pakistani university student. “Pakistan is known as a ‘terrorist’ country. Wherever there are any terrorist attacks, Pakistan is held responsible, either directly or indirectly.”

A university instructor said his students regularly talk about the effects of world events on young people in Pakistan. “These students represent a whole generation of Pakistani youth that are ready for a turning point in their country.”

“The people are demoralized by chronic poverty, racked by corruption, and desperately seeking God,” said one American Christian.

“Nearly 70 people have come to faith in recent months,” [reported a couple serving with the IMB].

>> Full story.

IRAN: An Intercessor’s Testimony

Source: Ron Kernahan, Lausanne World Pulse, May 2011

A lady opened her atlas and began praying for a city not far from Tehran. Years later, an Iranian came to her church. After the service, she dashed over to him. “Where are you from in Iran?” she asked.

He replied, “You won’t have heard of it; it is an insignificant city,” but shared the name of the town.

“I’ve been praying for this city for 34 years!” she blurted out through tears.

“Thirty-four years?” the Iranian brother asked incredulously. “I got saved 34 years ago and now lead 400 believers in the city.”

The prayers of one old lady helped birth a congregation of four hundred believers in a Muslim country. Praise the Lord!

What an encouragement. This makes me want to pray more. (And I only have 14 years to go since I’ve be praying for the Muslim world for 20 years.) More importantly, this testimony has been used to release both prayer and workers to the Muslim world.

Testimonies are so vital to us. The Bible is full of testimonies of the grace and power of God. We are encouraged over and over again with records, facts, and faith builders. The more we read, the more faith is released in us. The more faith we have, the more we can personally testify of Christ so others will be changed.

>> Full story. See also For Real?! and other stories in the May edition of World Pulse, the theme of which is “the power  of personal testimony.” Consider joining Ron in interceding for the Muslim world in this year’s 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World, August 1-30, 2011.

EVENTS: New on the Missions Catalyst Calendar

Want to grow in your understanding of the Muslim world? The next Encountering the World of Islam online class begins June 6 and goes through August 28. Join this 12-week course from wherever you live.

Interested in computers and missions? Consider the International Conference on Computing and Mission June 17-21 at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, USA. Participants share a vision for effective use of technology in bringing the gospel to every nation.

>> See our complete Mission Events Calendar, and let us know what ought to be added!

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. You can connect with her at www.whatsoeverthings.com.

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