Category: News Briefs

Source: Assemblies of God World Mission, August 26, 2020

Across Slovakia’s countryside, castles have dominated the landscape for a thousand years, boasting of power, wealth, and luxury. At their feet, sleepy villages rest in lush valleys. Small chapels marked by crosses and images of saints dot the roads, reminders of long-ago days when medieval travelers stopped to rest and pray.

Beyond the mountains, a complex tale has been playing out for decades. It is the story of the Roma people—the “gypsies.” Deeply marginalized by larger society, the Roma have suffered greatly. Yet for 20 years, an unprecedented revival has been growing among Slovakia’s Roma. Church leaders and members alike agree: Only God could bring this about.

Roma who are touched by the revival in Slovakia are now moving across Europe seeking better opportunities for their families. They carry Jesus with them, spreading revival fires wherever they go.

“To see revival is hard work,” [says a Roma church leader]. “But we are seeing its fruit—and the blessings of God—and in that there is great joy. We do not wait for the broken to come to us. We go find them. Revival must first be in us. Its fire must be in our hearts. Pray this for us: We need more servants to come help us. Many villages are crying out to us for help in terrible situations, and we do not have enough people to send. They call and we do not have enough people to answer.”

» Full story describes a pattern of life transformation among Roma who come to Christ.

» Want to learn more? A few years ago, Mission Frontiers magazine had a whole issue focused on the Roma.

Source: Open Doors, August 28, 2020

The “ghost disease.” That’s what North Koreans call COVID-19. “People can be sick without knowing it,” [said] Brother Simon, Open Doors’ coordinator for ministry among North Koreans. “They are usually malnourished already. Then suddenly, they die quickly. Some even just fall dead on the ground. It’s an invisible killer.”

“The central government and local authorities are very fearful of the spread of coronavirus. The only thing they can do is impose lockdowns. Many marketplaces are closed down, even though the population is completely dependent on the black markets. But even if [the markets were] open, there’s little food you can buy. And prices have quadrupled. It will cost you multiple months’ salary to buy a kilo of rice. The border with China is closed, which prevents most trade and smuggling activities.”

2020 has been a very difficult year for North Koreans, according to secret Christians who have shared with Brother Simon’s team and contacts. “It’s not just the coronavirus, the lockdowns, the little food, and the unaffordable prices that [affect] the people,” Brother Simon says. “They have also seen heavy rainfall, mudslides, and now a heat wave. North Koreans are really suffering this year.”

» Full story includes context and prayer requests.

Source: International Christian Concern, September 1, 2020

On Monday, August 31, the transitional government of Sudan and five of the country’s main rebel groups have agreed and initialed a peace agreement. The signing of this peace agreement means the end of a 17-year-long war that has raged in southern Sudan.

The signing of this agreement and the support of South Sudan [may signal] an end to one of the bloodiest and longest wars in recent African history. The next step forward is for increasing freedoms to reach all citizens in Sudan, including its minority Christian population.

» Read full story and pray for lasting peace. Other news sources suggest reaction to this agreement is mixed.

1. INDIA: Seven Generations of Disciples
2. IRAN: Christian Prisoners With COVID-19
3. NIGERIA: Muslim Moved by Christian’s Radical Kindness
4. INDIA: Christian Hospitalized After Assault
5. IRAQ: Prime Minister Urges Christians to Return

God transformed the life of an Indian woman and gave her a vision for multiplication that has led to seven “generations” of disciples making disciples. See story below. Source: Beyond.

Source: Beyond, August 6, 2020

In North India, some women have been trained in making disciples. They have been faithful to apply what they’ve learned and are experiencing joy from bearing fruit. They have also cast a vision for disciple-making in six districts of their state.

One of the leaders of this group, a lovely and gentle woman, recently shared her testimony. Two years ago, she became a follower of Christ. She, her husband, and their children had been idol worshipers. Her family was “broken and terrible.” Then one day, she says, it was as if a light suddenly came on. That was the day she attended a Bible study in a nearby home. She loved it. After participating in the Bible study for three months, she wanted to start one in her own home. Soon, she and her whole family were baptized.

Today, through ongoing obedience to the Word and the application of its truths to their lives, this woman and her whole family have been changed. They actively share with others all that God has done for them. This one woman has started nine different Discovery Groups from which have come seven generations of disciples making disciples!

» Read full story and another about what happened when another group of believers decided to follow the example of the disciples in Luke 10. On August 27, Beyond will offer an online training session on God’s vision for all peoples through multiple generations. Learn more.

» You might be interested in learning about a Turkish man in the UK finding new opportunities to reach and disciple Turkish speakers there (OM).

Source: Church in Chains, August 13, 2020

Four Christian prisoners being held in crowded conditions in Evin prison in Tehran are feared to be suffering from COVID-19 following an outbreak of the virus in the prison.

Yasser Mossayebzadeh was one of twelve prisoners in Ward 8 in Evin Prison (which houses mainly religious and political prisoners) to test positive on August 10 during a random test of seventeen prisoners. About 60 prisoners are held in the ward.

Fellow-Christian prisoners of conscience Saheb Fadaie, Youcef Nadarkhani, and Naser Navard Gol-Tapeh were not among those tested, but each has been displaying symptoms.

Naser’s friends and family are particularly concerned about him as he recently turned 59 years old and remains in his crowded cell despite being laid low with fever for nearly a week.

» Read full story includes photos of the men and links to more biographical information. Let’s pray for them.

» See also Iran’s Covid Death Toll Three Times Higher Than Admitted, Says Report (The Guardian).

Source: Christian Aid Mission, August 6, 2020

Idris had opposed the efforts of Christian workers for many years. A local ministry leader said Idris believed he had a divine mandate to stop all efforts to lure people away from Allah and his prophet, and he told local missionaries to leave the area.

“He was extremely hostile to all efforts and to our missionaries, leading to the persecution against all of our converts there,” the leader said. “Idris even promised to kill our missionaries if they would not stop reaching their communities and preaching the gospel.”

Recently his pre-teen son was hit with rashes, vomiting, and pain in his eyes, joints, and bones. Idris rushed him to a medical clinic but in that area of Nigeria, hospitals do not admit patients who cannot pay beforehand.

“No one was willing to loan the money to him,” he said. “Our missionary heard the news that Idris was stranded and that his son was dying, and our workers went straight to the hospital and gave him the equivalent of about 40 dollars.”

That amount was enough for doctors to treat symptoms for a few days, keeping the boy alive until the illness ran its course. His son returned home and recovered after several days’ rest.

The genuine concern for him and his son’s welfare from Christians he had hurt changed Idris’ attitude, the ministry leader said—they would have no illusions about him leaving Islam, Idris thought, yet they had gladly helped an enemy.

As grateful as he was astonished, Idris began to research Christianity; he had to try to find out what was behind such bizarre behavior.

» Read full story. See also a report from Christian Aid about how recent violence in Nigeria is affecting their ministry partners.

» Also from West Africa: Did you hear Mali has just had a coup? Lift up that country and its people.

Source: Morning Star News, August 17, 2020

A Christian father of seven in northern India was hospitalized for more than two weeks after Hindu extremists with iron rods interrupted his night prayers with his family and beat him at his home. Pappu Kumar, released from a hospital on August 13 was praying with his family in Balawali village, Uttarakhand state at 9:30 p.m. on July 28 when a mob of at least 10 Hindu extremists appeared at his door, sources said.

The visitors told the 40-year-old Kumar, who put his faith in Christ just three months ago, to stop praying, said Mange Singh, a church pastor in the region who has been discipling Kumar’s family.

“Pappu responded that he was praying inside his house, and that should not bother anybody,” Pastor Singh said. “But the furious mob began to assault Pappu.”

Kumar sustained a severe head injury, a broken leg, and fractured bones in his hand in the assault. The assailants relented only at the intervention of villagers, the pastor said.

Pastor Singh said he later tried convincing Kumar to report the assault to police. He declined, saying he had to continue living and working in the village and would have to live with the consequences of filing a police complaint the rest of his life.

» Read full story and another from the same source, Hard-Line Hindu Neighbors Attack Pastor and Guests at His Home in India. Lord, we pray for peace.

Source: International Christian Concern, August 13

[On August 9] Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi called for the return of Iraqi Christians to their home. With ISIS declared militarily defeated, Al-Kadhimi hopes Christians will feel more comfortable returning. He expressed these hopes to Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Louis Raphael I Sako, as well as a number of other bishops from Iraq.

Al-Kadhimi stated that “Iraq is the country for everyone, and that Christians are the original children of the country, and there is no difference between the people of the same country, as everyone is a partner in building the future of Iraq.”

“We are serious about providing assistance to our Christian families and solving their problems,” he continued. “We are glad that Christians will return to Iraq and contribute to its reconstruction. Iraqis of all sects are yearning for a new Iraq that believes in peace and rejects violence.”

In response, Patriarch Sako pledged the Church’s support for Al-Kadhimi, noting his hope that Iraq will achieve security and stability as displaced Christians make their returns.

» Read full story.

» See also Voices of Iraq, a 10-minute video about Iraqi Christians (Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East, 2018).

1. LEBANON: Deadly Blast in Beirut
2. USA: Sharing Stories of Faith Through Henna Designs
3. KAZAKHSTAN: City Authorities Plan to Confiscate Church Buildings
4. USA: State of the Bible Report Released
5. ZAMBIA: A Champion for the Love of God