Category: News Briefs

Source: Arab World Media, January 1, 2019

Istanbul, Turkey. A city where East meets West. The Bosphorus Strait, a narrow waterway, connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara. It also divides the city in two: half on the continent of Europe and half on the continent of Asia. Thousands from the Middle East, displaced by wars, call this city “home.” We pray that they will meet Jesus on their journey.

Most Arabs in the city are trying to get settled, secure a decent job and find some semblance of decency, community, and hope for their or their family’s future. Most hold menial, manual labor jobs and their salaries are very low. Their children are slowly being integrated into Turkish schools and Turkish society. While some still desire to return to Syria, most Arabs who have made it to Istanbul are trying to settle there as immigrants.

As a secular state, the Turkish government does not have laws against conversion or proselytism. However, social pressures and persecution are very prevalent. Friends and family members can make life difficult. There are distinct pockets of different sects and groups that are associated with ISIS and other extremist groups.

Fear inhibits new believers from sharing their faith and stunts the growth of the church among their people. Fear also prevents disillusioned Muslims from actively pursuing a life of faith in Christ. Imagine how much seeking, sharing and evangelism could happen if the barriers of fear were removed!

» See full story for facts about the city, a vision for ministry, and ways we can pray.

» Also read Now Our Faith Is Real, an account of how the gospel has spread from one family of Syrian refugees to more than 300 people meeting to read scripture (Frontiers).

Source: Open Doors, December 6, 2018

Slowly, the five friends make their way to the women’s outhouse they use each day. They look back. No one has followed them. In the stench of the room, they gather in a corner. Saying little, always in muttered whispers, they stand quietly. One woman softly sings. Another leads a short prayer.

Year after year, this is what Christmas looks like for these believers in a North Korean labor camp. Counting the cost, they risk their lives to come together to pray and sing, reflecting on the coming of their Savior—both 2,000 years ago and one future day they all hope comes very soon.

For millions of believers like these, the celebration of our Savior entering the world must be a risk-laden secret Christmas. They know that there is a war on Christmas—and what that war really looks like.

While we see Christmas trees on every corner, persecuted believers might not ever see a single Christmas decoration. If they do, it’s only in a secret celebration because in several countries, Christmas is illegal and banned outright. Any Christmas celebration carries with it the potential for fines, arrest, and imprisonment.

» Read full story or watch the video (less than three minutes long).

» Sure, Christmas observances can obscure or distract from the message of the incarnation instead of highlighting it, but we’re rejoicing in fruit from holiday outreaches reported by churches and in missionary newsletters. And see Iraq Declares Christmas a National Holiday (Gulf News).

Sources: Various

Some fascinating pieces we came across in our sleuthing:

1. Explore a remarkable visualization of the human population of the world’s cities as Population Mountains (The Pudding, via Flowing Data).

2. Download a 34-page booklet from the UN, The World’s Cities in 2018 (United Nations, via Justin Long).

3.  Check out some interesting and data-informed articles on the topic, Is the End of Extreme Poverty in Sight? (Mission Frontiers).

4. See the latest annual Status of Global Christianity from Todd Johnson and his colleagues at the Center for the Study of Global Christianity. A related article was published in the January issue of the International Bulletin of Missionary Research, but you’ll need a subscription to ready it.

Source: Brigada Today, December 30, 2019

What, to you, were the biggest news stories of 2018? We’re talking about stories that impacted your life, your work, and the lives/work of the people around you. So please, don’t suggest that it was all about leading political figures. Yes—they can exert influence. But what top stories DIDN’T relate to polarizing government leaders [and] still impacted your work and witness—even if they only did so in your region?

Here are some possible suggestions to prime the pump. Was it…

• Kim Jong Un announced that North Korea will denuclearize
• The net neutrality debate
• Cuba, and the transition out for the Castro family as rulers
• Iraq holds its first elections since driving out the Islamic State
• Bitcoin crashes (or at least falls)
• Prince Harry and Meghan said “I do”
• Terrible wildfires in California or a new tsunami in Indonesia

» What do YOU think??? Vote for one of these or supply the answer yourself.

» Pat’s note: I’m very curious! Please take a moment to comment at Brigada. I left my comment and want to see yours. For reminders, see top story lists from Christianity Today and IRIN News. We also noted a recent study demonstrating that almost seven-in-ten Americans feel worn out by the amount of news these days! (Pew Research Center).

Carols by Candlelight is an annual tradition for the Madras Musical Association in Chennai, India. In some parts of India, though, caroling can be dangerous. See story below. (Image: MMA)

1. GERMANY: Why a Missionary Created the First Advent Wreath
2. INDIA: A Caroling Calamity
3. THAILAND: Christian Refugees Get A New School for Christmas
4. UZBEKISTAN: Police Arrest Converts and Set up TV Show Trial
5. CHINA: Pastor’s Powerful Letter Released after His Arrest
6. WORLD: Understanding the Remaining Missions Task

Greetings,

This edition includes several Christmas-related stories, but here are two more resources for you, our loyal readers, as a Christmas gift:

1. Anyone remember the global issues talk show, Doha Debates? It’s back! Sign up to be notified when the new season begins.
2. Expect family holiday gatherings to slide into debate? Check out Bethinking’s tools to help answer the question Is Christmas for Real?

Come, Let Us Adore HIM!
Pat

Source: International Mission Board, December 10, 2018

Johann Hinrich Wichern (1808-1881) was eager to find a way to spread God’s message among the people in Hamburg. He worked as a missionary among the poor. In 1833, he founded a school called Rauhes Haus (“Rough House”) to redeem and serve neglected children and orphans by feeding, housing, and educating them.

To help contain the children’s excitement leading up to December 25, he created the first Advent wreath. The first wreath had 24 candles. The four largest candles indicated the Sundays of Advent. During daily prayer, a child lit a candle each day up until Christmas Eve when all the candles were finally illuminated.

Many Germans today simply enjoy Advent wreaths as centerpieces on their table. Although the tradition was born in their country, they may be unaware of the symbolic meaning the wreath holds.

» Read full story. It includes more on historic and contemporary Christianity and Christmas practices in Germany.

» Then read A Look at Christianity in Post-evangelized Germany (Missions Network News).

Source: Beyond, December 13, 2018

When “Sanjay” and some fellow followers of Christ decided to celebrate the Christmas season with caroling, they knew to be discreet. After all, they lived in northern India, where persecution of Christians is an everyday threat. Casually going into the streets singing to random strangers was not an option. No, they purposed to only go to the homes of friends like Raja. Raja was not yet a follower of Jesus but he was regularly participating in one of the local Bible studies. Surely it would be okay to sing outside his house? They assembled at Raja’s home and had begun singing when the front door flew open and a man shot into their midst. It was Raja’s older brother, Charan.

With a machete-like knife in his hand, the irate man lunged into the crowd of carolers. Charan first destroyed the drum they were playing and then began slashing wildly toward the people. He got close enough to cut one man’s shirt, but thankfully no blood was drawn. The carolers quickly left and reported this incident to the police. Some officers accompanied them back to Raja’s home, but by the time they arrived, Charan had fled. After the officers left, Sanjay and the others prayed for Raja and his whole family.

About one week had passed when Sanjay’s phone rang. It was Charan. He explained that he had turned himself into the police and asked if Sanjay could come down to the station. As soon as Sanjay arrived, Charan bent down, touched Sanjay’s feet three times (a gesture of respect) and said, “I am very sorry. You are a good person.” God had been at work in the lives of Raja’s family, and, because of this incident, all of Raja’s family except Charan decided to become Christians.

» Read full story and watch the video Ordinary People… Extraordinary Gospel about how movements are growing in India.

Source: Christian Freedom, December 14, 2018

It’s been a tough year for Pakistani Christians. A crackdown in Thailand forced [Pakistani] Christian refugees who fled there to scatter in fear. It was too risky for the refugee kids to go to school, so the teachers went to them, finding students in their hiding places to keep up on their lessons.

Since the school meeting place was no longer secure, the director found a new location. It needed work. Lots of it. Toilets and faucets were broken. Water stains on walls. Rats and cockroaches. Water pump burned out. Few lights. So teachers, students, parents, and friends all pitched in.

The director told us: “I gathered the students, bought the materials: paint, lights, toilet cleaners and detergents, trash bins and bags. [I] invited some adult men [and] gave them all a pep talk that it is a privilege for us that we get the honor to build this school piece by piece. …We cannot leave the future of our children and nation in the hands of others. …None of the Pakistani people who would come to work asked for any money, but only for food and tea. Both the children and adults happily worked for long hours.”

» Read full story.

» Speaking of refugees, read the continuing story of a North Korean teenager whose family escaped to China. After studying in a Christian university in the US, she now hopes to return to Asia to serve in ministry through business (Lausanne Movement).

Source: Barnabas Fund, November 6, 2018

Police in Uzbekistan arrested 43 converts to Christianity from Islam, including a number of teenagers, and later tried to get them to appear in court in front of TV cameras in an apparent show trial.

Police put considerable pressure on a number of the arrested converts, even attempting to recruit some to work for the police as informers. Several were forced into giving incriminating written statements against the organizers and leaders of the gathering. The converts face[d] charges of “illegal assembly” and potential fines of up to the equivalent of US$2,500 if found guilty.

[At the October 23] hearing many of the Christians facing charges refused to enter the courtroom because there were cameramen and TV journalists present, and they did not wish to be part of a show trial. The judge again postponed the hearing, which was eventually held on October 30.

The presiding judge ordered the TV journalists not to film the trial proceedings, but they were permitted to film the verdicts. All the Christians charged were found guilty, but only received minimum fines, equivalent to between US$75 [and] US$500. Police subsequently promised to reduce the fine for any of the converts who agreed to be interviewed for TV.

» Read full story.

» Read about the Silk Road Transmitter, a project to help support the persecuted church and make Bible programs available to some 60 million people in Central Asia (Trans World Radio, via Mission Network News).

Source: Open Doors, December 17, 2018

Last week, Open Doors reported that one of China’s largest house churches had been raided by police resulting in arrests of more than 100 Christians, including church leader Wang Yi, one of China’s most well-known pastors.

Pastor Wang Yi has been charged with “inciting subversion of state power,” a crime that could result in a sentence of up to five years, but up to 15 years in extreme cases.

Two days after he was arrested and taken away, church members released an open letter he wrote in September [with] instructions that it be publicized if he went missing for more than 48 hours.

» Read the full letter, The Disobedience of Faith.

» See also China Closes Megachurches Before Christmas (Christianity Today).