Missions Catalyst 10.21.09 – World News Briefs

In This Issue: News from Somalia, Indonesia, Iran, and More

  • ECUADOR: Partnership to Mentor Latin American Missionaries
  • INDONESIA: Daapoi Won’t Stop Talking About God
  • SOMALIA: Killed for Carrying Bibles
  • MIDDLE EAST: He Used to Blow up Churches
  • INDIA: Christian Elephants?
  • EGYPT: Christian Arrested for Distributing Tracts
  • IRAN: Promising Development for Maryam and Marzieh

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.

ECUADOR: Partnership to Mentor Latin American Missionaries

Source: PowerofConnecting Partnership eNewsletter, October 20, 2009

Latin missionaries who need bi-vocational and personal skills to serve more effectively can now look to a new ministry launched by HCJB Global to mentor and equip missionaries from South and Central America.

Corrientes (or “Currents”) [is] a partnership of missionaries and church leaders from Latin America Mission, IMB, SIM, Paraclete Mission Group, the International Christian Mentoring Network, and numerous Ecuadorian churches and agencies [in order to] help the missionaries learn specific skills, build cross-cultural relationships, learn languages, and deepen their relationship with God.

Currently, the Latin missionary movement numbers 12,000 missionaries serving worldwide, with 40 percent of them in unreached areas.

>> Full story.

>> Read more stories about ministry partnerships at The Art of Networking.

INDONESIA: Daapoi Won’t Stop Talking About God

Source: New Tribes Mission, October 7, 2009

“How can you sit there and tell me that you know for sure these things will happen in the future?” Magabeotoma shouted at his younger brother, Daapoi.

“These are not my words, older brother,” Daapoi said. “They are the Creator’s words. That is how I know these things will happen. And I will never stop talking about the Creator and his message.”

Upon hearing these words, Magabeotoma decided there could only be one solution to this problem. Within seconds he had an arrow pulled back in his bow, pointed directly at Daapoi.

“…go ahead and shoot! In the future when you and I are both dead and gone and are standing before the Creator, you will see then that his words are true!”

Daapoi thought those moments were his last.

>> Full story.

>> Listen to the story of a Muslim leader who came to faith in Christ (PIONEERS).

SOMALIA: Killed for Carrying Bibles

Source: Worthy News, September 20, 2009

Islamic militants have shot and killed a long-time underground Christian in Somalia after finding Bibles in his possession, Worthy News learned Sunday, September 20.

“The Islamic militants found 25 Somali Bibles in one of the [bus] passengers’ bags; when they asked to whom the Bibles belonged, the passengers responded with a chilled silence. The militants found several photos in the bag and saw that the elderly Khalafe resembled a face in one of them,” a source was quoted as saying, speaking on condition of anonymity because of security concerns.

“They asked Khalafe if he was the owner of the Bibles; he kept quiet. They shot him to death,” the source said.

>> Full story.

>> Watch the Global Post video “Meet the President of Hell,” an interview with Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed recently in the US.

MIDDLE EAST: He Used to Blow up Churches

Source: ASSIST News, October 13, 2009

A live show [was] being broadcast in Arabic from Alkarma TV’s studios in Southern California when a phone call came in from the Middle East. The man on the line made a startling confession.

“I used to blow up churches and now I want to pray to receive Jesus Christ as my Savior,” he said. Soon, he was praying the “Sinner’s Prayer” with one of the volunteers with this unique Christian television station which broadcasts the Good News of Jesus Christ 24/7, including six hours live to the Middle East via The Healing Channel.

“We get so many calls from the Arabic-speaking people who watch Alkarma TV, especially from the Middle East, who watch our programs and say that this was the first time they had heard the message of Jesus’ love for them,” said Samuel, an Egyptian-born Christian who, along with his wife Mona, began Alkarma TV some four years ago.

>> Full story with pictures.

>> See also “Former Palestinian Terrorist Embraces Jesus” (ASSIST News).

INDIA: Christian Elephants?

Source: Asia Harvest, September 2009

In 2008, a severe persecution of Christians broke out in the Indian state of Orissa. The end result saw more than 500 Christians murdered, and thousands of others injured and homeless after their houses were reduced to ashes.

The Restoration India Mission has reported that in recent months, herds of wild elephants have begun to storm villages that are home to some of the worst persecutors of Christians during the troubles.

RIM states, “We think that it might have something to do with avenging the blood of martyrs. In fact, the fear of God has fallen on the local people, who have labeled these elephants, “Christian elephants.”

>> Full story.

>> Please pray for two [Indian evangelists] Victor and Ashok, beaten a week ago, still unconscious and on life support. Their hands and legs were broken and both suffered massive head injuries and internal bleeding. Read more at Empart.

EGYPT: Christian Arrested for Distributing Tracts

Source: Compass Direct, October 6, 2009

Abdel Kamel, 61, was arrested on September 23 in downtown Cairo for handing out copies of a Christian leaflet. As they arrested him, police told Kamel it was “unlawful” to hand out religious information on public roads. When Kamel countered that Muslims commonly hand out Islamic literature, police told him it was “more unlawful” for Christians. Kamel also didn’t have his identification card with him.

An attorney who worked to gain Kamel’s release said there is no law in Egypt forbidding the distribution of religious material.

Kamel said he wasn’t tortured, but when asked to describe his treatment, he wept uncontrollably.

The lay preacher said he was proclaiming repentance and forgiveness in Christ because he views it as a service to others.

“I love my people,” he said. “I love Egypt, and I feel my service is directed toward the people I love and the country I love.”

>> Full story.

IRAN: Promising Development for Maryam and Marzieh

Source: The Christian Post, October 16, 2009

The case of two Iranian women who converted to Christianity took an unexpected turn for the better recently when their case was transferred to a new judge [who is] reportedly sympathetic to the situation of Maryam Rustampoor, 27, and Marzieh Amirizadeh, 30.

The two young converts were unexpectedly called to appear in court on the morning of October 7 to face three charges: anti-state activities, propagation of the Christian faith, and apostasy. The new judge acquitted the defendants from the charge of anti-state activities, which Elam [a group that supports churches in Iran] noted rarely happens.

“This is a great relief for the two women, and their lawyer was very pleased,” the ministry reported.

Their case will now be transferred from the revolutionary court to the general court that will oversee the hearings for the other two charges.

>> Full story.

>> See also “Iranian Ponders Islam, Christianity” (Baptist Press) and the recent “Interview with an Iranian Blogger” (New York Times).

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

We’d be glad to get your feedback about this edition of Missions Catalyst. Leave a comment on our website or write to us directly. Thanks!

Deck the Halls

Getting ready for a mission conference or class or just need something visual to keep you focused on the nations? This month Caleb Resources is giving away a free set of posters to bring you face-to-face with representatives of some of the world’s unreached peoples.

>> Enter the drawing.

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