Category: News Briefs

Source: INcontext International, November 2017

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri unexpectedly resigned on Saturday, November 4, during a trip to Saudi Arabia, saying his life was under threat. His sudden departure creates a leadership vacuum in an already politically divided country. He accused Iran of meddling in the region, causing “devastation and chaos.” He went on to say: “Iran controls the region and the decision-making in both Syria and Iraq. I want to tell Iran and its followers that it will lose in its interventions in the internal affairs of Arab countries.”

Iran has refuted these allegations. Mr. Hariri’s resignation is seen by others in the region as orchestrated by his patrons, the Saudis, to isolate Hezbollah by collapsing Lebanon’s national unity government, which included both Hezbollah and Mr. Hariri’s Sunni faction.

There are growing fears that Lebanon could become another battleground for the escalating rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran, as war-torn Syria has been in recent years. This small, yet strategic Mediterranean country could face economic collapse or even conflict if a quick resolution to the current crisis is not found.

Lebanon currently hosts approximately 1.5 million Syrian refugees who now, together with the 5 million Lebanese, face an uncertain future.

Please join us in praying for Lebanon.

“God is the only one who can make the valley of trouble a door of hope” (from Hosea 2:15).

» Read full story.

» Also read A Call to Prayer for Lebanon, which includes links to a variety of news stories (Lebanese Society for Educational & Social Development).

Source: International Mission Board, November 13, 2017

Harshil Tamang once fashioned artwork depicting the traditional Buddhist understanding of existence. His work represented the recurring cycle of life while expressing a longing for an elusive escape from reincarnation to nirvana, the ultimate spiritual goal.

Like his father before him, he learned to paint thangkas, Tibetan Buddhist paintings on cotton or silk. The Wheel of Life painting is the most well-known thangka. It’s a visual representation of life, death, and rebirth for Tibetan Buddhists. For eighteen years, Harshil painted traditional thangkas and taught others to do the same.

When Harshil’s grandmother passed away, a priest commissioned him to make a thangka to make merit on her behalf. Harshil asked his father about the symbolism of art created for the dead. The thangka is like a god, his father said, and making one was a way to serve his grandmother.

The idea that his artwork held god-like status stunned Harshil. He remembers wondering who his art made him if it was a god. If his art could work for salvation, who was he? He knew he was not more powerful than a god.

So his Buddhist faith waned. “There is no god in this universe. Man is god,” Harshil recalls thinking. “I am also god,” he declared.

Not long after making this bold claim, a storm struck and flooded his home and destroyed 300 thangkas representing months of work and rendering a devastating financial loss.

He wondered if the Lord was challenging his claim to divinity.

» Full story includes a video and images Harshil’s art today.

» See also The Spirit of Tibetan Buddhism (OMF International). I had no idea that the Tibetan Buddhism has so much in common with the church of Luther’s day! (Hint: merit.)

Source: Wycliffe Alliance, October 2017

As we celebrate the milestone of translated Scripture in more than 3300 languages, we celebrate that God is accomplishing his mission through his power and through partnership.

At least 1.5 billion people do not have the full Bible available in their first language. Over 652 million of these have the New Testament; others have portions or at least some level of translation or preparatory work begun.

There is known active translation and/or linguistic development happening in 2584 languages across more than 170 countries.

As of October 1, 2017, over 114 million people, speaking 1636 languages, need some form of Bible translation to begin.

Also in 2017:

• YouVersion celebrated making Scripture available in more than 1100 languages.
• Faith Comes by Hearing also has recordings of Scripture in more than 1100 languages.
• The JESUS film is available in more than 1500 languages.

» Read full story.

» Also read Wycliffe USA Celebrates 75 Years of Bible Translation.

Source: Mission Network News, November 10, 2017

With extreme levels of persecution against Christians in the Muslim-dominated country, many Sudanese pastors have been killed, fled the country, or suffered imprisonment.

“James” is a pastor in Sudan and has witnessed the depleting pool of fellow clergy. “Some foreigners were deported from Khartoum. And pastors from South Sudan, they went to South Sudan. Those who remain in Sudan are few. The pastors who shared the Bible and teach the Bible, they are few.”

Because of this, James has to wear many spiritual hats. He pastors a Baptist church, serves as chairman of a council of Baptist churches, preaches the Bible at conferences, and has even taught the New Testament in some Christian schools.

As he puts it, being a pastor in a country like Sudan can be lonely, and he has even suffered persecution himself. “In these situations, the person looks at himself [thinking] maybe he is alone. Of course, we get discouraged. But I believe that God is involved.”

» Read full story with prayer points.

https://vimeo.com/224721305

The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church will be observed in churches around the world on November 5 or November 12. See also this video and the story below for five ways to take action on Sunday (or anytime). 

Missions Catalyst News Briefs 11.01.17

1. WORLD: Five Ways to Take Action for the Persecuted
2. AZERBAIJAN: No Fair Trial for House Church Leader
3. PHILIPPINES: From Fear to Faith
4. KENYA: Former Sponsored Child Now Archbishop
5. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: Magic Charms, Black Cats, and the Power of Jesus

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Greetings,

I hope you have availed yourself of the many resources concerning the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. I’ve learned a lot!

I especially liked this talk from Eric Metaxas (National Religious Broadcasters), about writing a biography of Martin Luther, and the article Three Surprising Ways the Protestant Reformation Shaped our World (CNN). My husband and I enjoyed RC Sproul’s 10-part series, Luther and the Reformation. I’d love to know if you have any recommendations!

The stories of persecution below sound much like what Luther endured 500 years ago. The powers that be are still trying to control the Church. We can rejoice in Jesus’ words, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).

blessings,
Pat

Source: Open Doors, October 2017

Pastor Edward is truly on the front lines of persecution in Syria. His community was destroyed by ISIS and yet, alongside a small group of other believers, he is committed to remaining in the area as a light.

We have a golden opportunity coming up this Sunday [November 5]: the International Day of Prayer (IDOP) for the persecuted church. Believers like Pastor Edward have endured extreme trials this year and they need our mighty prayers.

You can be a part of this battle in prayer against the powers of darkness. There’s never been a time your faithful intercession is needed more.

Here are five key ways that you can take action on IDOP Sunday and stand united with our persecuted brothers and sisters:

1. Write a digital letter to a persecuted Christian and remind them they’re not alone.
2. Pray for the top 10 countries on the World Watch List.
3. Listen to the Daily Prayer Story about real people living in persecution.
4. Pray for these five believers imprisoned for their faith.
5. Share this meme on your social accounts and ask friends to join you in prayer.

» Full story summarizes each step as well as providing links to learn more. See also The Ripple Effect for additional resources, including a free, interactive study about the persecuted church, sermon outlines, and more.

Source: World Watch Monitor, October 19, 2017

An Azerbaijani man fined for leading a “house church” without state permission has not been treated fairly during his appeal against the fine, a local source has told World Watch Monitor.

Shabanov was found guilty at a hearing in January and several appeals were rejected.

During his appeal process, the source said hearings had been held in the Azeri language, which Shabanov does not speak because he was educated in the Georgian language common to the area where he was born and where he still lives. The court also failed to provide a translator although this is required by law.

The source said the pastor was “asked repeatedly to sign documents he could neither read nor understand, both in the appeals process and police investigations, including a document that waived his rights. This is both illegal and negligent of the legal process in Azerbaijan.”

» Read full story. Another story from WWM describes several court battles over faith in Sudan, where a former Prime Minister is speaking up for the rights of the persecuted.

Source: Ethnos360, October 29, 2017

The Higaunon people used to live in fear. They lived in bondage, worshiping their ancestors and sacrificing pigs and chickens to appease the spirits.

And then the gospel message changed all that. Fear turned to faith.

After hearing the gospel message, the newly saved Higaunons said, “All we could talk about was what Jesus had done for us and how we could now see the truth so clearly. … We were amazed at the darkness and depth of sin that we were in before. To think that we actually worshiped God’s enemy, thinking that we were on the right track! … It was such a joyful time in our lives to be set free from the terrible bondage that the spirits had held us under through fear.”

The infant Higaunon church became burdened for their fellow Higaunons in other villages. They wondered why it took so long for the gospel to reach them.

“It seemed to us that 2,000 years was a really long time to bring the message to our place, and we didn’t want it to be a long time before it reached other Higaunon villages,” the Higaunon believers said.

They didn’t just talk about it. They did something about it. And as a result, there are churches in over 20 other Higaunon villages.

» Read full story.

» Editor’s note: This story reminded us of the one told in the video Never the Same chronicling the return of author Don Richardson and his sons to the village described in the bestselling book Peace Child.

Source: World Vision, October 20, 2017

For centuries, the Maasai traveled with their cattle along the Great Rift Valley in Kenya and Tanzania. Families were polygamous—men had many wives and kids. Children rarely went to school, instead helping their parents take care of animals and doing chores around the house.

This is the world into which Jackson Ole Sapit, 53, was born—with one father and 11 mothers. He’s not sure how many siblings he has but guesses more than 50. Jackson’s father died when he was young, and his mother—his father’s seventh wife—and her three children were chased away from the family home by shrewd older brothers who understood the value of land. Jackson’s mother and her children became destitute.

Maasai parents didn’t believe in education, as boys were to herd cows, and girls worked around the house. But in 1973, Jackson and the other Maasai boys in his village were forced to attend [school]. There, he began to hear about Jesus. “One of the songs [they sang],” he says, “was ‘More About Jesus.’” But he thought they were singing “moo” instead of “more.” He says, “I wondered, ‘Are they singing about cows?’” This was something he could relate to as a herder; his curiosity was piqued.

The next year, Jackson became sponsored through World Vision.

» Read full story to hear how this Maasai herder saw God change his life and became a leader to 5 million Anglicans in Kenya and read other World Vision stories from the field.

Source: International Mission Board, October 30, 2017

In the US, the world of evil spirits and magic spells becomes a national obsession just once a year—during Halloween. [Then] the dark side of the supernatural realm quickly fades into the background as the focus shifts to Thanksgiving and Christmas.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, spiritual forces are palpable year round. Items like charms and amulets are ever-present evidence that beliefs in the spirit world are real and affect every aspect of life. In African traditional religion the natural world is filled with spiritual forces. There’s a fine line between the physical and spiritual world—so fine, in fact, that it often seems to dissolve.

“The greatest need among African peoples is to see, know, and experience Jesus Christ as the victor over the powers and forces from which Africa knows no means of deliverance,” said Dr. John Mbiti. Join us in praying for Africans to realize that Jesus—the one victorious over death—is more powerful than any spirit, amulet, or spell.

» Full story includes some great images and prayer points.

» See also Armed for Battle, an interview with veteran missionaries about spiritual warfare, and a related video from Thailand (Pioneers).