In This Issue: News from China, Nepal, North Africa, and more
- CHINA: One Uyghur Leader Free
- NEPAL: World’s Largest Animal Sacrifice
- NORTH AFRICA: Camel Like a Chevy
- NIGERIA: Governor of Muslim State Preaches at Church Meeting
- WORLD: Global Witnessing Challenge
- PAKISTAN: CD Shop Bombed for Selling JESUS Film
- MISSION EVENTS – Perspectives and Pathways
- FROM CALEB RESOURCES
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.
CHINA: One Uyghur Leader Free
Source: Compass Direct, November 24, 2009
House church leader Osman Imin (Wusiman Yaming in Chinese) was freed on Wednesday [November 18], sources said. Authorities had called for a 10- to 15-year prison sentence for Osman but significantly reduced the term following international media attention.
Still in arbitrary detention in the region is another Uyghur Christian, Alimjan Yimit. Officials initially closed the foreign-owned business Alimjan worked for in September 2007 and accused him of using it as a cover for “preaching Christianity.” He was detained in January 2008 on charges of endangering state security and formally arrested on February 20, 2008 on charges of “inciting secession” and leaking state secrets.
In Xinjiang’s politically charged environment, Alimjan’s family and friends fear he could face execution if he were wrongly linked with alleged Uyghur separatists.
>> Full story.
>> Editor’s note: Also recently released from prison were 59 Pakistani Christians (ASSIST News) and two Iranian women, Maryam and Marzieh (Elam Ministries).
NEPAL: World’s Largest Animal Sacrifice
Source: Pat Noble, November 27, 2009
Recently we asked you to pray during the many Hindu festivals that took place in October. One very important festival that only happens every five years just took place on November 24. Please pray for the work of God in the lives of the many devotees that are awaiting a response from their goddess.
The Guardian reports that Chandan Dev Chaudhary, a Hindu priest, said he was pleased with the festival’s high turnout and insisted tradition had to be kept. “The goddess needs blood,” he said. “Then that person can make his wishes come true.”
Will you pray?
>> Read Hindu Sacrifice of 250,000 Animals Begins (Guardian) and Biggest Animal Slaughter on Earth (World Wide Religious News).
NORTH AFRICA: Camel Like a Chevy
Source: Open Doors, November 17, 2009
Charles [a new believer in North Africa], likes to ride his camel to visit secret believers in the desert or other places.
“I found other brothers that helped me to grow in my faith and that is wonderful. And I like to share my spiritual growth with others, so they can grow.”
In many places he has to use his camel because of the remote villages and destroyed roads. “The travel is difficult, but I have experienced that God is with me. I receive the strength from God to continue.”
He continues: “My camel is like a Chevrolet in the USA. It brings you everywhere and it often helps you in generating income … I try to do some trading with the persons I meet on my trips, like selling clothes.”
Charles has been a Christian for one year, and because he is rejected by his family for his faith, he moved to a village 150 miles south of his city of birth.
>> Full story.
>> See also some additional stories from North Africa: Gospel Spreads in Tunisia, and Christians in Egypt: A Numbers Game (Bikya Masr).
NIGERIA: Governor of Muslim State Preaches at Church Meeting
Source: Ecumenical News International, November 19, 2009
Ibrahim Shekarau is the governor of Kano State, which practices Islamic Sharia laws and earlier this year experienced clashes between Christians and Muslims.
On Sunday, November 15, Governor Shekarau attended a gathering in Kano organized by the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria.
“The governor’s presence at the revival and his disposition is a watershed in the struggle to restore peace and religious harmony in northern Nigeria,” said the general overseer of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor Williams Kumuyi, who was a speaker at the meeting.
Hundreds of Christians have been killed in anti-Christianity riots involving Islamic extremists in Kano, a predominantly Muslim state.
Nigeria’s population is almost evenly divided between Christians, who live mainly in the south, and Muslims, who make up the largest segment in the north.
>> Full story.
>> Check out some of our past stories about Nigeria, or find broader coverage by setting up a Google Alert.
WORLD: Global Witnessing Challenge
Source: Mission Network News, November 16, 2009
The Global Witnessing Challenge was launched [in October] by Andre Illemann of New Zealand. Illemann said the idea came to him about five months ago.
The initiative “involves Christians traveling the world in teams of two, with whatever means and resources are available to them, to proclaim the good news of the gospel.”
Illeman said, “One of the main purposes is to fire up ‘ordinary’ Christians to become extraordinary ambassadors for Christ, providing them with the vehicle … to travel the globe, and put to good use the talents and the faith they have been blessed with.”
The first expedition will begin in April 2010 and last five months.
Those interested in participating will be responsible to find sponsors to raise funds for the trip and provide for their expenses. Then teams will disperse across the globe on every continent [and each] will visit a minimum of 10 countries.
As teams travel, they will track their progress and provide updates through blogs and video clips.
>> Full story.
>> See also Missionary Kids Take Gospel to Tokyo (Baptist Press).
PAKISTAN: CD Shop Bombed for Selling JESUS Film
Source: Worthy News, November 23, 2009
A man selling compact discs in Pakistan’s war-torn North West Frontier Province remained in critical condition Monday, November 23, after suspected Islamic militants blew up his CD shop because its collection included a film about Jesus and other Christian movies.
Thirteen neighboring shops were also partially damaged, said the still bedridden shop owner, Muhammad Taos Khan.
Khan, 41, said a child had given him a threatening letter some 30 minutes before the explosion on November 11.
He initially shrugged off the threat, laughing over the letter, but [was] “extremely stunned” when noticing that a boy was staring at him “with great fury.” “When I tried to call him he ran away and disappeared in the crowd,” Khan said.
“It is evident from the threatening letter that I was attacked for keeping the JESUS film [about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ] in the Pashto and Urdu languages as well as Islamic and Christian films about [the biblical persons] Abraham, Isaac, Adam, and Eve. We have many such movies on CDs,” he added.
>> Full story.
>> Readers might be interested in learning about Following JESUS, a video-based discipleship curriculum from the JESUS Film Project currently in development for use worldwide.
MISSION EVENTS – Perspectives and Pathways
Looking for some mission education and inspiration? In January 150 Perspectives on the World Christian Movement courses will launch all across North America. We think the class works best when spread over 15 weeks, but there are other options, too. Leaders’ intensives are planned for January 19-27 (Fayetteville, AR), June 11-18 (Vancouver, BC), and August 15-21 (Pittsburgh, PA). Th Perspectives website also provides contact details for Perspectives programs worldwide.
>> Coordinating a class? Consider adding programs for children. Outside the Lines is a curriculum developed for this purpose.
>> Live in Arizona? Seven Pathways to Global Understanding classes start there in January and February!
FROM CALEB RESOURCES
Special offer: The Trail Guide Map – a mission mentoring tool – is now available for FREE from Caleb Resources (while supplies last). All you have to do is pay shipping and handling. UPDATE: thanks for your responsiveness to this – they’re now all gone or spoken for! – Ed.
We also got in a new shipment of THUMB Coloring Books to use in introducing the kids in your life to the world’s tribal, Hindu, unreligious, Muslim, and Buddhist peoples (THUMB for short). These 32-page books are designed for kids ages 5-10. US$3.19 from Caleb Resources, with discounts for bulk orders.