March 4, 2020 – Missions Catalyst

Tajikistan | Senegal | Japan

TAJIKISTAN: Pastor Released, Writes Letter of Thanks

Source: Open Doors, February 22, 2020

Pastor Bahrom Kholmatov of Tajikistan, imprisoned in 2017 for “extremism,” was released in late 2019. He writes the following.

“Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. [These] have been years of testing of our faith and walking with God, not only for my family, but for many Christian churches in our country. These challenges have taught us to unite more and trust the Lord in difficulties. During my imprisonment, many Christians from all over the world stood in solidarity with us—evidenced by the letters I received with your words of comfort and prayerful support. Many Christians prayed for me and for my family. Your prayers helped us to stand strong, through all these difficulties to grow spiritually and to transform into the nature of our Heavenly Lord! Thank you from all my heart! Glory to God!”

“God has shown himself through many brothers and sisters and also through you. My family and I are very happy for the prayer support and physical care you have provided.

“Early last year, my church was attacked by wicked people and the church building was confiscated by the court. Our church is now gathering inside a 40-ton container. We pray now for a new building for our church. We also ask you to participate in prayer and support us in this.

“God bless you all!!!”

» Read full story.

» You may also want to listen to a recent BBC interview with Pakistani Christian Asia Bibi in which she speaks of her captivity and release.

AFRICA: Reading the Bible for the First Time

Source: Frontiers USA, February 24, 2020

“This is so good that I didn’t go to work today,” said my neighbor Amadou. He held up a copy of the book of Genesis in the language of his people. “I’ve been reading it since I woke up this morning. I can’t put it down!”

Then Amadou continued, “Did you know God created the world in six days? Did you know Adam lived to be 930 years old? Did you know Abraham lied to the king because his wife was so beautiful that he was afraid they would kill him?”

We’ve known Amadou and his wife since we moved to their town three and a half years ago. Up until last summer, he spent most of the year 600 miles in the heart of the Sahara where he drove trucks for a mining company.

Family separation is common among Amadou’s people. Many men like him spend long periods of time away from their families because of work.

But the stress of Amadou’s absence took its toll on his wife and two young daughters. So we prayed earnestly that he would come back and find work close to home. Eventually, the company he worked for shut down, and he’s been home for a year now.

Now they’re together again—a rare thing for poor families like theirs. Amadou and his wife spend every day working to survive and provide for their family. They live on less than US$3 a day and still manage to host many guests and relatives in their small home.

We are in their lives every day, and they are in ours.

Pray that God will richly bless this family on every level and that the Bible will come alive to them.

» Full story with prayer points.

SENEGAL: Scripture for the Wolof

Source: Mission Network News, February 11, 2020

In West Africa, a region plagued by military coups and Islamic terrorism, Senegal stands as a pillar of peace and stability.

Some analysts attribute these traits to the widespread influence of Sufi Islam; Muslims comprise 90 to 95 percent of the country’s population. Among the Wolof people, one of Senegal’s largest ethnic groups, that percentage is even higher.

While these factors support stability, they also challenge gospel growth.

“The literature really is the major way of sharing the gospel individually,” Helen Williams of World Missionary Press says about New Testaments and Scripture booklets in widely-used languages.

“[However], one of the things about Senegal—because it is so closely tied to Islam and the Muslim culture—you have to develop relationships with people before they will trust you to accept something,” she explains.

“Much of it has to do with people not wanting to be seen with a Christian.”

» Read full story and watch the Prayercast video on praying for Muslims of West Africa.

» See also a related story about a Senegalese man from a Muslim background who shares the gospel with his own people.

WORLD: Top Ten Posts about Media Ministry

Source: Mobile Ministry Forum, February 25, 2020

In the last Mobile Ministry Forum post we shared a number of websites you can follow to keep up with the latest in media and ministry. In this post, I want to share the best media and ministry articles and videos I came across in 2019.

JAPAN: Shintoism’s Unlucky Years

Source: OMF International February 2020

In order to understand Shinto better, I [Peter] have been translating a pamphlet I picked up at a Shinto shrine. It is all about “unlucky years.” These years occur throughout a person’s life and need special attention from people of various ages. The worst unlucky years are said to occur for men when they reach 42 and women at 33. The pamphlet encourages readers of this age to have a special cleansing or exorcism-type ceremony at their local shrine.

It also says, “Unlucky years occur at the same time as bodily changes or at points of change in our social environment, and the body can be easily affected. So, it is perhaps important to put the good luck charm (given when cleansing took place at a shrine) on the family Shinto god shelf, to keep protection charms near you, and to pay increased attention to your health.”

I am struck by a number of things:

The importance of ceremonies. Generally speaking, ceremonies make things official and real for Japanese people. If you have a ceremony done, then you have done the right thing at the right time and all will be okay.
The belief in the protection given by charms. We had a Japanese friend who was going through an “unlucky year.” As the pamphlet suggests, she kept a charm in her purse. If we had asked her if she believed in its power to protect, she might well have given a common answer—“I half believe and I half doubt.” The logic often runs: if the charm does not cost much and just might help, why not have it?
The difference between the God of the Bible and the gods of Shinto. The Christian can say to the Lord: “My times are in your hands” (Psalm 31:15) and also fully trust God who “will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore” (Psalm 121:8). Shinto unlucky years really are in stark contrast to the Lord’s mercies that are new every morning.

Will you pray for Japan?

That Japanese people will come to know the God who we can fully trust with our times.
For wisdom for missionaries in Japan in interacting with those for whom having a ceremony is important.
For Japanese Christians will know God’s peace during years that their countrymen believe are unlucky.

» Read full story.

» Get perspective from OMF’s Patrick Fung on the Coronavirus Outbreak Four Ways to Pray.