Source: Pioneers USA, January 14, 2016 After living in Albania for several years, Andrew and Alecia moved to Greece to make disciples among Albanians who have immigrated there. They recently partnered with local believers to plant an Albanian-speaking fellowship at the foot of Mars Hill in Athens, just steps from where Paul preached the gospel 2,000 years ago. » Watch video (or click image below).
In This Issue:
Greetings,
By now you have probably heard that Saeed Abedini has been freed. After more than three years in Iran he will soon be home with his wife and children.
You may know that another Christian brother, Michael Riddering, has “gone home” this week as well, but his wife is mourning. Will you rejoice with me that the Ridderings gave up leasing yachts in South Florida to serve the poor and sick in West Africa? I have a new hero in Mike. His story is not likely to inspire more workers in hard places, but it inspires me to live more purposefully and trust God to lead me, anywhere. Read on.
Rejoice in the Lord… always!
Pat
Mike Riddering, 45, from Florida had been working as a missionary in Burkina Faso since 2011. (Mike Riddering/Facebook, via World Watch Monitor)
Source: Mission Network News, January 20, 2016
Burkina Faso ends three days of national mourning today.
The president said security would be stepped up in the capital and the country’s borders after Islamic militants killed at least 28 people last week.
Six of those who died were from Canada, on a mission trip, while a seventh was a U.S. missionary. According to Brietbart and World Watch Monitor, the seventh victim was 45-year-old Michael Riddering, a native of Florida. He was in Ouagadougou with Pastor Valentin, his Burkinabe associate, to pick up a team of missionaries visiting from a church in Florida. They were early, so they stopped by the Cappuccino Cafe to wait.
Not long after they arrived, [al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb] launched the attack, beginning with the café. Valentin called [Riddering’s wife] Amy to ask her to pray urgently, but the line went dead before he finished what he was saying. Valentin was eventually found and rescued by security forces. Mike was found in a morgue 24 hours later.
In the days following her husband’s death, the community the Ridderings served has come around Amy and are mourning with her. She posted on her Facebook page her struggle to come to grips with what happened, her love for Mike, and her hope in Christ. That came through yesterday, when amid her grief she posted this: “One of our ladies as the Women’s Center gave birth two days ago. She wanted me to name her child. Her name is Chantal Relwende. ‘Relwende’ … means ‘Lean on God.’”
» Read full story and see also Burkina Faso Dead Include Seven Mission Workers (World Watch Monitor) and note that on the same day as this attack, an Australian doctor and his wife were kidnapped in Ouagadougou. Please keep Ken and Jocelyn Elliot in your prayers.
» Readers might also be interested in an article from Florida’s Sun Sentinel newspaper honoring Michael Riddering and learning about the ministry with which he served, Sheltering Wings.
Source: Iran Alive Ministries, January 1, 2016
Farhad, a volunteer evangelist for Iran Alive’s online ministry, did not know at first what to think when he sensed the Holy Spirit guiding him to pick up a prostitute. All he knew is that he needed to obey and that he had help waiting at home.
“I picked up one of the prostitutes waiting for clients and took her to my home. When we got there, she prepared to take off her clothes. I quickly stopped her and explained I wanted nothing to do with her physically. I said, “Please sit here behind the computer with me and listen to what they say in this chat room.”
“She became very upset and thought I would not pay her. I told her not to worry, and that I would pay her what I had promised. She agreed and sat down.
“The chat room was Iran Alive’s Church7 online service conducted every Friday night. As we were listening, the pastor said, ‘The Lord is saying that those of you who think there is no hope left, you who think addiction is the answer to your pain, you who think being a prostitute is the only way to make money, there is hope for you.’ This caught the woman’s attention. Then the pastor said, ‘God is able to open new doors in your life. God is waiting for you.’”
Source: Cry Out Now, January 2016
2015 could rightly be described as the “year of displacement.”
“Lord, would you use the terrible situations refugees are facing all across the region and into Europe to bring many thousands to yourself, and would you revive the church through your work among them? Lord, we pray in 2016 for peace and a beginning of a return back for many.”
» Read full story and see the UN data source.
Source: Open Doors, January 2016
The Open Doors World Watch List highlights the 50 countries where it is most difficult to live as a Christian. These are the places where followers of Christ must keep their beliefs hidden and where living the gospel means facing beatings, imprisonment, discrimination, and abuse.
The list reports that persecution became more intense in more parts of the world in 2015. While North Korea remains the most difficult place in the world to be a Christian, persecution is growing most rapidly in Africa, especially sub-Saharan Africa. In the Middle East, Islamic State violence in Iraq and Syria has increased the pace of the exodus of the Christian population from the region and is also having a global impact.
Christians living in these countries need the support of their family, the body of Christ, to help them stand firm in their faith.
» View map, facts, faces, country profiles, and more and see the Open Doors January 13 press release.
Source: Frontiers UK, January 8, 2016
Matt leads a team and has an animal feed business in Central Asia. Through this business, local families are trained in how to set up and operate their own small-scale farms. The business helps them get started by providing them with a small investment of livestock and feed.
Matt hired Adem, who had recently become a believer, as the company’s first national employee. Later he became the company’s first distributor. “It’s easier to talk about Jesus now that I am a businessman,” Adem says. “It has opened many doors for me because people respect me. They trust me. I find it is easy to start talking about spiritual things with people because I am already involved in their lives.”
Adem has several new believers he is discipling, teaching, and equipping to obey Jesus’ commands. Through Matt’s mentoring and encouragement, Adem has grown into a spiritually sensitive entrepreneur, constantly looking for new opportunities to grow the business and expand the kingdom.
In this Issue:
This issue features stories and links having to do with ministry to (and through) the world’s women. (UN Photo/Kibae Park)
Greetings!
Have you noticed how analysts love to make lists this time of year? It happens every New Year, but this year has more than ever. Take a look at just a few.
My favorite is a piece from INcontext with five steps to start the New Year and help us keep our focus on the Kingdom of God. They write:
“Just like preconceived notions prevented the religious rulers at the time of Jesus to recognize the Messiah, preconceived notions will prevent modern-day believers to identify the greatest opportunities of our generation. With millions seeking refuge, wars abounding, nations in turmoil, leaders fighting for power, the Muslim world at a cross roads, and the Christian center of gravity shifting to the East, there is no doubt that we now live in the ‘days of opportunities.’ How do we then transform from our religiously preconceived notions and theologies to being Kingdom-minded?”
Great questions to be asking.
This issue also features stories and links having to do with ministry to (and through) the world’s women.
Read on!
Pat
Source: INcontext Ministries, January 1, 2016
[Were] the Islamic State and the terror attacks in Iraq, Syria, and Paris really priority to most people during the past year? Were there dramatic changes in priorities after millions fled to Europe from North Africa? Did the looming economic crisis change perceptions and lifestyles? Apparently not!
There are a number of ways to recap the past year. But how do you really get a twelve-month snapshot of a culture’s zeitgeist? Dr. James Emery White writes as follows:
“I would argue for two words: ‘Google searches.’
“I’m not saying that this will be what historians will mark in 10, much less 100 years, even less what is most significant. But I will say that it may be the clearest window into our current soul.”
» Read full story including several “top 10” lists and find more data on Google Trends.
» See also an interesting infographic and analysis from Esquire and NBC looking at current events through the lens of what makes Americans mad.
Source: IMB Connecting, January 2016
Nan Kirby and her teammate Khorvash quickly hiked through a deep mountain gorge on the way to a remote Central Asian village. The autumn sun sank behind the mountains, leaving them in the dark for the last leg. Alternating between carefully watching the narrow mountainside path and looking up toward the faint glow of village fires in the distant darkness, they finally arrived at their friend Homid’s two-room home.
“You know, my friends,” Homid said, “I have been watching you and other followers of Jesus for over seven years now. You really believe in what your Holy Book says. You are different. You are hopeful. It’s real. I want this Jesus.”
Nan showed a short, evangelistic video on her phone, and Khorvash opened the Scripture and explained the gospel again. “Yes, I believe this,” exclaimed Homid.
As Homid prayed, he asked Jesus to forgive him for his sins and recognized Jesus as the Son of God and his Savior. Nan was in awe, amazed at the Holy Spirit’s work to bring about salvation in the hearts of the men and women in Central Asia.
During the evening meal of bread, yogurt, and tea, Nan asked Homid what he witnessed in Christians that made him realize the truth about Jesus…
» Read the rest of the story, with pictures and links to additional resources about praying for Central Asia.
» Readers might also be interested in the most recent edition of Mission Frontiers, which features a wealth of stories of women engaged in church-planting movements among the unreached.