News Briefs – Page 145 – Missions Catalyst

WORLD: Potential Reach of Scripture Recordings Climbs to 80 Percent

Source: Faith Comes By Hearing, April 10, 2014

Faith Comes By Hearing (FCBH) recently added 16 languages to their expanding catalog of recorded Scripture. Now at 813 languages, FCBH’s recordings as a whole represent a potential outreach to more than 5.7 billion people in 189 countries − 80% of the world’s population.

Of the current releases, Tajik is the largest people group, with more than 4.4 million speakers, while the smallest is Cree Plains, spoken by about 260 people, primarily in Canada. Combined, these newest releases represent over 10.2 million people who now have God’s Word in audio available in their heart language.

FCBH has seen the growth of a small tape lending library established in 1972 to what is now the world’s largest resource of digital Scripture content.

» Read full story. This Easter season, FCBH encourages you to gather your family and listen to a New Testament account of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection in an audio drama format.

CHINA: Christianity in Chinese Society

Source: OMF International, Global Chinese Ministries Newsletter, April 2014

Religion is flourishing in China − particularly evangelical Christianity and Buddhism. The government is now taking a more benign view of the role of religious believers in society. A conference on the role of Christianity in Chinese society was held in Shanghai last October. Government official Wang Xinhua stated: “The government welcomes the support of the church. We lack the resources to meet all the needs we face, so we need religious organizations in order to do so.”

The government particularly has in mind the challenge of caring for the elderly who number several hundred million.

There is every reason to foresee that the Chinese church will continue to grow, mature, consolidate, and reach out in effective evangelism in the coming decades. Some Chinese academics advising the government even believe the church is on course to total 200-300 million [Protestants] in the next 30 years or so. This will make the Chinese church far and away the largest church in the world. Is it any coincidence that this is happening just as China is poised to become a world power?

» Full story has further analysis of the state of the Church in China.

YEMEN: Do You Want to Know More about Jesus?

Source: OM News, April 9, 2014

Yemenis are responding to Christian media. “Anas,” a local believer, was following up a contact, a young man, by phone. He said, “I am calling because you wanted to talk about Jesus. Is this true?” The young man responded, “Jesus is not here; I think he went to the capital and will be back next week.” Since the Arabic name for Jesus is not unknown in Yemen, Anas wondered whether the fellow was confused or just crazy, and the call ended.

God soon after prompted Anas to visit the contact in person − a risky decision, yet he did so in obedience. When he arrived, the young man explained, “Shortly before you called, I had a dream in which a bright shining figure told me that someone named Anas would call me and tell me more about Jesus. When you did call, I thought, this can’t be happening. So I acted crazy because it made me afraid.”

The young man brought together nine other friends to hear more, and they continue to study the Scriptures together with Anas. This is Arab culture, to do all things together, including a spiritual journey.

» Read full story.

» See also Sacrifice, reflections on Easter in an Arab Muslim country (Arab World Media).

Missions Catalyst World News Briefs

In This Issue: Voices from Russia and its neighbors

About Us

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!

Pat Noble has been the “news sleuth” for Missions Catalyst since 2004. In addition to churning out the news, she is working to create a SWARM (Serving World A Regional Mobilizers) in Northern New York using the NorthernChristian.org website. You can connect with her at www.whatsoeverthings.com.

RUSSIA: Jesus Appears to Buddhist Woman

Source: SEND International, via God Reports, March 28, 2014

Yulia was raised by educated Buddhist parents living in Russia. By local standards, they were making it. Her family regularly visited the local shrine to worship and pay their respects to Buddha. Although her father was an engineer and her mother a biochemist, Yulia failed to get an education and did not enjoy her job cleaning houses.

When her father died suddenly, her mother slid into a spiral of depression, alcoholism, and abuse. Day after day, fights and arguments ensued and there were more and more problems. One day, when Yulia was 21, her mother – in a fit of drunken rage – told her to leave. Her mother’s last hateful words were, “Just leave. I don’t even care. And if you die, I won’t even cry.”

In the depths of her despair, Yulia did an accounting of her life. Her mother told her she did not care and her so-called friends abandoned her at the time of her greatest need. She had no education and hated her job. So she decided to take her life …

» Read full story, and pray for people like Yulia who want to give up.

» See also The Power of the Book, about a Moldovan man who found hope and new life from reading the Bible (OM News).

UKRAINE: Street Children Lost amid Political Turmoil

Source: Christian Aid, March 13, 2014

There’s a hidden segment of Ukrainian society that is receiving little attention in the midst of the nation’s political and economic clamor – its tens of thousands of street children.You won’t see them because they find sanctuary in the basements of abandoned buildings or crouch next to hot water pipes in a system of tunnels running underneath city streets.

To stave off feelings of cold and hunger, they sniff glue. The resulting “high” may offer temporary escape from the misery of their existence, but it can’t give them what they need most – the joy of a loving family, food, and shelter.

Most of these kids are “social orphans” who have at least one parent at home. Tired of living in an environment of neglect or physical abuse, they prefer to take their chances surviving as best they can on the streets where at least they enjoy freedom.

According to UNICEF, in Kiev alone there are some 20,000 homeless children. While the true figure is difficult to determine, more than 100,000 boys and girls are estimated to live on the streets in cities throughout Ukraine.

» Full story reports on Christian Aid’s ministry to street children.

» See also In Their Own Voices, a five-minute clip produced by Serious Pictures (YouTube) and this interactive map, Human Trafficking Patterns Mapped in Asia (IMB Asia Stories).

Editor’s Note: April 12 is the International Day of the Street Child.

ISRAEL AND PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES: A Plea for Official Recognition of Evangelical Churches

Source: World Evangelical Alliance, March 19, 2014

On March 10-14, 2014, Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe, Secretary General of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), participated in the third “Christ at the Checkpoint” conference hosted by Bethlehem Bible College in Bethlehem, where he spoke about the importance of peace building. He also met with Israeli and Palestinian government representatives, urging them to grant official recognition to evangelical churches.

“While Christians in both Israel and Palestine have the freedom of worship there are still some significant injustices that need corrective action,” said Dr. Tunnicliffe in his speech on Thursday evening. “Evangelical Christians have dwelled in this land for many years and yet their churches do not have official recognition by the State. It is beyond time, that this recognition should be granted.”

Unlike the established traditional denominations, evangelical churches currently do not enjoy some of the basic rights related to marriage, burial, and other religious issues.

“I call upon the government of Israel and the Palestinian Authorities to grant this recognition,” Dr. Tunnicliffe continued, and stated: “This is not only a call for justice and democracy but it will also create a more stable context. Evangelical Christians in this region make a contribution to building a prosperous and thriving community. Treating them as third class citizens does not empower them to reach such a shared goal or even remain in the land.”

» Read full story. Watch Dr. Tunnicliffe’s opening remarks at the Christ at the Checkpoint conference (YouTube).

WORLD: Pray for April Elections

Source: WIN Reporter, April 2014

Elections can indeed change the course of nations. Pray for fair elections, free from rigging and manipulation. Ask the Lord to raise up men and women who will serve with integrity, righteousness, and justice so corruption and graft can be put to an end. Pray that the Lord appoints those of his choosing to fulfill his purposes.

Afghanistan: April 5 election for President
India: April 7 start of elections for Lok Sabha (People’s Assembly)
Indonesia: April 9 election for House of Representatives
Guinea-Bissau: April 13 election for People’s National Assembly and president
Algeria: April 17 election for President
Iraq: April 30 election for Council of Representatives

“He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” Daniel 2:21

ARABIAN PENINSULA: Sheiks Import Bibles

Source: OM News, March 21, 2014

Greg Kernaghan, a writer for OM International, traveled through the Arabian Peninsula in November 2013. He discovered authentic hospitality, passionately committed Christians and a sense of good things to come. He observed and listened to the hearts of Christian workers who have invested decades in understanding and loving their Arab neighbors.

Greg wrote a series of articles from the perspective of the OM workers in the Middle East, their story and their dreams, in their own words, fastidiously avoiding using real names and places so that the story itself may be told widely.

» The most recent story, Sheiks Legally Import Bibles, tells the story of a group of Muslim leaders struggling with and coming to the conclusion that people in their country should have the opportunity to read the Gospels. Don’t miss it!

Missions Catalyst World News Briefs

In this issue: Holiday celebrations and bringing a message from the king

Greetings!

I’ve never been good at traditions; ask my kids. Even birthdays were celebrated without much gusto. But ever since Thanksgivukkah I’ve been thinking more about how to leverage holidays for cross-cultural outreach. And I couldn’t help but notice the abundance of festivals this week.

I write on St. Patrick’s Day. A friend in India proposes that March 17, 2014 may set the world record for most inebriated folk, as Holi and St. Patrick’s Day fall on the same day! I’m thinking about a good friend hosting a Nowruz party for her Iranian friends, tomorrow. I’m also recruiting for an Easter outreach to international students. And earlier today I was meditating, during this Lenten season (a new tradition for me), about the story of Purim.

Then there are the holidays that almost every culture celebrates in some way, but with dates that are all over the calendar. Did you know that in the Middle East, Mother’s Day is March 21st (vernal equinox)? You have two days to write and send an e-card to the “mom” of the host family who fed you so well on that short-term trip! (If you haven’t done a mission trip to the Middle East, consider it!)

Celebrating new life, light, and our Savior King with you,
Pat

Quotable

“One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.” Romans 14:5-7

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