Category: News Briefs

Source: Mission Network News, December 6, 2021

Five young men in Ghana spend their days riding motorbikes across the country on an important mission. Each of them carries a projection kit to show the JESUS Film in different villages, some of them completely unreached with the gospel. They are called the Jesus Film Riders. The initiative is part of OneWay Africa’s Jesus Film Campaign.

Reagan Opoku Agyeman, one of the Jesus Film Riders says, “Jesus Christ has given us the commandment that we should all go into the world (Matthew 20:18-20). So that’s why I do this!”

It’s not easy. They must ride across rugged terrain—often for hours—to reach remote and isolated villages. Each Jesus Film Rider must be willing to go anywhere, sleep anywhere, and eat anything.

Another Jesus Film Rider, Lord Cyrus Nyamenlewoke, says, “I’ve been inspired by St. Francis of Assisi spreading the gospel to places that were dangerous to his life. And so it inspires me to know that I can also do something for God and my life.”

Read the full story or watch a five-minute video about this ministry.

For another encouraging story, this one from Australia, read Indigenous People Going to Lead Revival in Our Nation (Eternity News).

Source: Christian Headlines, December 9, 2021

A new study from Lifeway Research found that most Americans believe that Jesus was born in Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago, but less than half believe that Jesus existed prior to being born on that first Christmas.

“Most Americans consider Jesus’ birth a historical fact,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “It can be easy to only evaluate Jesus like you would any other historical figure—thinking about when He lived and what He did. However, the Bible also describes Jesus in a way that [you] must evaluate who you believe He was. Most Americans believe his origin was from God the Father, but half as many believe He existed before His birth.”

Read the full story or go right to the report from Lifeway Research.

Note from Pat: I have been reading the book An Advent for the Cosmos by Jeffrey Pitts. It makes a strong case for the existence and ministry of Jesus before the incarnation.

Source: International Christian Concern, December 8, 2021

A Buddhist association in South Korea is upset about Seoul’s decision to subsidize the playing of Christmas songs in the coming weeks. It is filing a lawsuit to prevent the government from using its budget for the carol campaign.

Copyright laws have been enforced in South Korea to the extent that Christmas songs are disappearing during the festive months. In response, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism recently allocated 1 billion won (US$850,000) to encourage commercial radio stations and public spaces—including shopping malls, cafes, and restaurants—to play the Christmas tunes in the next few weeks.

The state-sponsored program is not well received by everyone. [On December 2] the Association of Korean Buddhist Orders announced its decision to sue the government.

The statement reads, “The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, which should be fair and impartial in policies regarding religion, is leading a Christian missionary project on the pretense of comforting people.”

The Buddhist group added that “If the songs, which some people are uncomfortable about, are played continuously through the media, it turns into a deadly weapon and is nothing more than pollution.”

The ministry has responded to the complaint by saying that it did not favor any religion but rather seeks to promote festive spirit towards the end of the year.

Read the full story.

By the way, could you or your church use some global advent songs? Paul Neeley of Global Christian Worship made a great YouTube playlist. Languages include French, Yoruba, English, Arabic, Irish Gaeilge, Huron, Norwegian, Nepali, German, Hindi, Thai, Italian, Urdu, Spanish, Pangasinan (from the Philippines), Zulu, Korean, and Swahili.

Source: INcontext International, December 2021

Amid the relentless waves of COVID-19 infections and deaths, ongoing conflicts, political instability (coups, protests, and upsets), and an increase in disasters, one could easily sink into despair—were it not for the Lord’s sovereign hand and merciful intervention in our world. In this special edition of A World in Motion, we look at five significant, ongoing stories to watch in 2022. There are already some clear indications of possible impacts to the Church and missions in these regions or situations, while others remain speculative.

1. China-Taiwan flashpoint, one of several
2. Russian-Ukraine tensions and potential ramifications
3. Conflict in Ethiopia and its regional impact
4. Iran nuclear ambitions and their wider geopolitical implications
5. 2022 could be a decisive year in the COVID-19 battle

In Habakkuk 1:5, the Lord says to the prophet:

“Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.”

As followers of Christ, let that be the spirit in which we embrace the coming year—a spirit of anticipation and readiness for what he will do in and through his Church, in our world.

Read the full story or a previous, related story, Five Major Headlines of 2021 and What They Mean for the Church. Both are long and may be easier to read and share in PDF form, which is provided.

See also Three Trends Shaping the Post-Pandemic Church (Ed Stetzer, for Outreach Magazine).

Source: Brian Stiller for World Evangelical Alliance, December 3, 2021

In late November, I met with Ukrainian church leaders to discuss matters of unity and public witness among evangelicals. On a Sunday morning, I walked into a sun-filled sanctuary, alive with a surprisingly young crowd—the average age was probably around the mid-thirties. Worship at the Salvation Church in Kiev was enthusiastic, unabashed, and joyful, led by a worship team and band.

This was the very day on which we heard that Ukraine’s neighbor to the east had expanded its military presence, heightening fears of an imminent invasion. Yet in this country where Evangelicals represent about 4% of the nation’s population of 41 million, neither the geopolitical uncertainty nor the pandemic seemed to negatively impact church attendance. Following the service, we were taken to the construction site that will soon become a 4,500-seat sanctuary. That’s not exactly a sign that the church is about to go into hibernation or close its doors.

For much of the 20th century, [Ukraine] lived under tight Soviet political, economic, and ideological control. Churches were closed and pastors killed; many spent years in prison; congregations were driven apart by intimidation and spy networks.

As the Soviet empire crumbled and freedom seeped in, Evangelicals seized the opportunity to witness and provide Bible training. But here is what surprised me: Evangelicals in Ukraine care deeply about maintaining biblical orthodoxy but they also know that working constructively with the Orthodox, Catholics, Jews, and Muslims matters. In the aftermath of decades of subjugation, they had the courage and creativity to work with all religious groups, at a time when the Evangelical presence was ascending.

I’ve traveled to scores of countries, working among Evangelicals and other Christian communities, but I’ve not often seen anything parallel to this. When they are a minority, Evangelicals tend to keep an arm’s length from other Christian communities and other religions, due to concerns over dilution of theology and waning of witness.

I’m writing this because it is a reminder of what spiritual resilience can accomplish. Ukrainian Evangelicals are more than surviving. Their fervent faith, evangelistic outreach, and energetic worship could offer a positive example as new mutations of the coronavirus wind their way from region to region.

Read the full story.

Source: Open Doors, November 2021

Nine months after Myanmar’s military staged a coup and took over the civilian government, the violence continues as the Tatmadaw (Burmese local army) leaves traumatized civilians and destruction in their wake.

Yet like so many situations where God’s people are pressed on every side (2 Corinthians 4:8), faith continues to survive in the devastation. Our local partners report that increasing numbers of people are turning to Jesus for their hope.

Our local partners are aware of 544 people giving their lives to Jesus this year in Myanmar, with 166 of them making decisions to be baptized.

Of that number, 50 new believers were children who have dedicated their lives to Jesus in an Open Doors training last month.

The full story includes pictures and prayer points.

See also Army Attacks Continue in Myanmar’s Most Christian State and Why I Pray for Myanmar with Hope (Christianity Today).

Source: Mission Network News, November 15, 2021

On October 25 the United Nations said Afghanistan is on the brink of the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, worse even than Yemen or Syria. Out of 38 million people in the country, 23 million won’t have enough food to last the winter without more aid.

But the Taliban continues hunting down civilians who oppose their ideologies, including activists and Christians. Greg Kelley spoke to contacts of World Mission inside the country. He says, “Not only that, but they’re identifying communities. Because where there’s one Christian, in most cases there tend to be several Christians.”

Kelley heard a remarkable story from his contacts about a group of Taliban fighters that went out searching for a Christian community. “They went to this community and they killed them all. Now on their way back, they had an encounter with an angel, and this angel rebuked these men and gave them instructions on where to go. Now this someone (they would have no idea who this individual was) happened to be a leader of the underground church movement.”

Kelley says the Taliban fighters laid down their weapons before this church leader, who then proclaimed Jesus to them. Now, Christians have taken them in as disciples in the way of Jesus.

Kelley compares this story to what the Apostle Paul experienced while hunting for Christians. His encounter with the risen Jesus and subsequent conversion is recorded in Acts 9. He says this story should encourage Christians everywhere. “I think it just needs to be a reminder to all of us that we can’t put God in a box, even as we look at the horrors and tragedies of Afghanistan.”

Read the full story and see also Despairing Afghan Refugees Find Aid and Hope and Not All Christians Are Fleeing the Taliban.

Source: Lausanne Global Analysis, November 2021

Korea and Japan are called, “the closest but the farthest nations.” Yonhap News reports that only 16.7 percent of Koreans have positive feelings toward Japan, while 20.2 percent [of] Japanese have positive feelings for Korea. The Japanese prohibition of hate speech has not extinguished the discriminatory actions against Koreans, and the anti-Japan campaigns in Korea seem to be a political strategy for more support from citizens. A deep gulf still exists between the two nations.

The Christian population in Korea is 19 percent of the total population, while in Japan it is about 0.8 percent. Korea often identifies herself as the “Israel in East Asia.” Japan, to the contrary, is known as the “graveyard of missionaries.”

In the midst of such contrast, learn how a Korean church reached across the divide and contextualized its efforts to share the gospel in Japan.

You might be interested in another (brief) article from Lausanne, Friendship Is Part of Our Gospel.