In This Issue: Sierra Leone’s 90-day Fast, Bangladesh Tribals Hide in Forest, and More
- SIERRA LEONE: President Calls for 90-day Fast
- BANGLADESH: Tribals Hide in Forest
- INDONESIA: New Broadcasting Association Formed
- GHANA: Tribal Priest Comes to Christ, Frees Sex Slaves
- INDIA: 12 Pastors Detained for “Converting” Hindus
- BURKINA FASO: Fulani Bible School to Open
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.
SIERRA LEONE: President Calls for 90-day Fast
Source: Joel News International, #727, April 13, 2010
In 2009, Ernest Bai Koroma, the Christian president of Sierra Leone, called his nation to a 90-day fast. At the end of that season, in a full stadium, in a ceremony attended by both Christian and Muslim leaders, he dedicated Sierre Leone to God. This year he called for a second 90-day fast, starting April 20 and ending July 19, 2010. This time he considers covenanting his nation with God. This is reported by Dutch prayer leader Pieter Bos, who was invited over to help with the preparations for the nationwide fast.
“In Sierre Leone people don’t separate the spiritual and governmental dimensions of society,” says Bos. “Also Muslim leaders were very supportive for the prayer initiative and eagerly asked our team to pray for them. We made a 1,400-km. trip through the country, spoke to the president, three government ministers, five mayors, many tribal chiefs and spiritual leaders in eight cities. I could explain the biblical meaning of covenanting with God, the importance of repentance, prayer and unity. Ten years after the civil war, this is a new season for Sierre Leone.”
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BANGLADESH: Tribals Hide in Forest
Source: Gospel for Asia, April 1, 2010
This is the third time Hridoy Chakma has found himself homeless. As a tribal man in Bangladesh, he is among a group of people who face repeated violence from another ethnic group – one that appears to have gained the support of the government. This group is attempting to come in and settle on the tribal land, stealing it after generations.
When the two ethnic groups held demonstrations for their causes in February, violence broke out. It culminated in hundreds of burnings, including the homes of several Christians. Reports say part of the motivation for attacking tribal people, like Hridoy, is because many of them have become Christians.
From a nearby hilltop, blackened pillars are the only visible structures left standing for miles around what used to be Hridoy’s village. It disappeared in flames during the most recent spate of violence. Now Hridoy lives in the forest with more than 2,000 other tribals, most of whom lost their homes in the flames. They are waiting for official word that the violence has stopped before they go home. When they return, they will have to rebuild their homes – and their lives – from scratch.
>> Full story.
INDONESIA: New Broadcasting Association Formed
Source: ASSIST News, April 9, 2010
Christian communicators from across Indonesia and the Asia Pacific region gathered recently in that country to discuss the value and importance of an association to provide greater strength and effectiveness in proclaiming the gospel in the largest Muslim country in the world.
Indonesia has almost 240 million people, and is composed of about 17,000 islands, only 6,000 of which are inhabited. It has very diverse cultures, ranging from the major metropolitan cities like Jakarta, to small tribal villages. While it is predominantly Muslim in its religious make-up, Hinduism and animism are prevalent. The Christian population is estimated to be between 15-20%.
>> Full story.
>> See also Christianity’s Surge in Indonesia (Time Magazine).
GHANA: Tribal Priest Comes to Christ, Frees Sex Slaves
Source: Missions Network News, April 8, 2010
Recently, Every Child Ministries [ECM] liberated 55 slaves of the “Thunder god.” Lorella Rouster [ECM co-founder] says it was a long process that started five years ago.
“We went to the priest’s home to meet the wives and to share the gospel. We also met him and began to share the gospel with him. At that time he was very interested. … Several members of the ECM team have been visiting [this priest] for the past five years. And very gradually the priest has come to faith in Christ. He has come to the point where he was willing and even anxious to leave his idolatry and his priesthood and come out as a believer.”
Rouster says his conversion led to the release of the slaves. And that’s not all. “This priest convened all 63 other priests who were under him and urged all of them to follow Christ, too.”
INDIA: 12 Pastors Detained for “Converting” Hindus
Source: Worthy News, April 13, 2010
A dozen church leaders remained behind bars Tuesday, April 13, over a week after security forces detained them in India’s southern state of Karnataka on charges of “forceful conversion” of Hindus, a major evangelical group said.
The Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI), which represents evangelical Christians and churches, said the 12 pastors were detained in the district of Kodagu April 6 after “Hindu extremists filed a police complaint against the Christians about forceful conversion.”
The Hindu militants and several police officers reportedly barged into the home of a Christian where the pastors were having a prayer meeting. “The extremists accused the pastors of forceful conversion and took them to the police station for questioning,” EFI said.
>> Full story.
BURKINA FASO: Fulani Bible School to Open
Source: SIM, April 2010
In August of 2010 the Good Shepherd Bible School will open in Burkina Faso, West Africa. The official name of the school, Ecole Biblique Duroowo Lobbo, is a combination of French – Ecole Biblique – and Fulfulde – Duroowo Lobbo. Duroowo Lobbo means “Good Shepherd” in Fulfulde, which is the language of the Fulani people for whom the school is being established.
The establishment of this Bible school is a monumental event in the ministry among the Fulani people. The Fulani believers are excited about having this visible testament of their identity as followers of Jesus located in the central part of Burkina Faso. To them, the school is more than a place where church leaders can receive training to strengthen and expand the church among the Fulani of Burkina Faso. It is a public statement of their commitment to know God’s Word, teach the Word, and obey the Word as followers of Jesus who is their Good Shepherd.
>> See also God is Moving in Burkina Faso! (The Alliance).
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