Day: March 18, 2015

In This Issue: Gains and gaps for the world’s women

• INDIA: Hope and Healing for Abandoned Girls
• WORLD: Gains and Gaps for the World’s Women
• IRAQ: Thirty Days of Prayer for ISIS
• NIGER: Addressing Fear with Faith
• CENTRAL EUROPE: Church Plant Starts with Pimps and Prostitutes

Greetings,

My sleuthing this week yielded tons of news about women. This could be because March 8th was International Women’s Day and March is Women’s History Month in the US.

My task is to pick what might be relevant for you as you think about the task of “making disciples of all nations.” Some of these stories and statistics don’t have an obvious relation to spreading the Good News but may be noteworthy for us as we strategize for the future.

May the Spirit inspire new ideas and maybe nudge some to do a new thing as we face the challenges ahead!

Blessings,

Pat

 

Source: various, via Pat Noble

Concerned about issues affecting the world’s women? Take a look at these stories in the news, coming from a variety of sources and perspectives.

Four stories about women pushing the boundaries:

For India’s Widows, a Riot of Color, an Act of Liberation (NPR)
Iranian Women Are Taking to Facebook to Protest against Compulsory Hijabs (VICE News)
Meet the Surfing Girls of Iran and read about the skateboarding school for girls in Afghanistan (MessyNessy)

Three stories about women in politics and government:

Ultra-Orthodox Women Enter Israel’s Election Race to Anger and Protest (VICE News)
Afghanistan: Don’t Leave Women Out of Peace Talks (Human Rights Watch)
Bagdad’s First Female Mayor Takes Office (Muftah)

Two stories about women in dangerous places:

Protecting Women and Children in the Line of Fire (Institute for Security Studies; will tell you the MOST dangerous place to be a woman)
One Woman’s Dream (Women Without Borders). This is an amazing story, and Women Without Borders, which covers human rights for girls and women worldwide, includes others that might interest you.

Finally, some global analysis; check out this interactive map that is full of information on the “gains and gaps” of progress for women over the last 20 years (No Ceilings).

Source: Email from Praying Through the Arabian Peninsula, March 2015

PTAP would ask that we would pray for those suffering under the hand of ISIS and also pray for ISIS to be convicted of sin. Our continued battle is not with flesh and blood but against the spiritual forces that cause people to act with such evil. Download a 30-day prayer guide to pray for this situation. ISIS is affecting Syria and Iraq, but also the whole world. So please pray and seek his face during these times.

» Read full story, and also check out the new Pray for ISIS Members website.

» Also watch Freeing the Slave Women of ISIS (Journeyman Pictures) and read another story you might find this interesting, Calgary Imam Creates Fatwa against ISIS (Global News).

Source: Mission Network News, March 13, 2015

Persecuted Christians in the West African country of Niger are “very upbeat” despite recent attacks in their country.

“We’ve only lost things,” they told IMB strategy leader, Greg Dorsey. “We’ve not lost the church, just some buildings.”

Dorsey expressed gratitude that recent violence at the hands of angry Muslims was targeted at buildings, not people.

“There is a sense that this is the time for the church, that…what was meant for evil, God intends for good,” he continued. Instead of seeking retaliation or revenge, even believers who lost their homes and possessions are confident that God is good and Jesus is still Lord.

“It was also encouraging to see that at least one public statement has been made by a representative of the evangelical churches in Niamey, where they publicly stated on radio and television that they forgave those who did all the damage and the burnings. That was pretty powerful.”

The attacks appeared to be well-planned and coordinated, as small mobs ransacked and burned more than 50 structures all over Niamey in less than four hours. Both missionaries and national believers found marks on their gates, indicating their homes were potential targets.

But stories abound of members of the Muslim community who warned their Christian friends and neighbors of impending danger, protected their homes while they were in hiding, and offered them shelter—all indications there was limited support for the group perpetuating the violence. Dorsey said some Christians feel their Muslim neighbors were ashamed of what was done in the name of Islam.

» Read full story.

» More good news from MNN: New Khmer Translation Opens Doors for Gospel.

Source: Godreports, March 4, 2015

One day about two years ago, a lady who had heard of Maria’s ministry through her sister invited her to come and start a church in her village. “I did not know what type of people would come,” Maria remembers. “Some of the people we started to have were a few pimps and prostitutes.”

But Maria was not shocked. In fact, she had come in contact with a pimp in this village before. For a while, Maria had led a Bible study at his house, and he had asked her to pray for his business—but when she discovered what it was, she instead prayed for God to change his business. After a lot of arguments and prayers, he agreed to change jobs as long as he could earn enough money to provide for his family. Maria helped him secure a loan to start a livestock project and he is now happily employed in honest labor.

Since Maria had witnessed the change in this man’s life, she wasn’t shocked when she found out who made up her new congregation. “I just looked at them as normal people, people with messed-up lives—as almost all people have.”

Maria knew that most of her parishioners were men and women with no work and no education who got involved in this type of business because it was the easiest way to find money for their families and feed their children.

» Read full story.