Day: April 15, 2020

1. USA: Former Missionary Kids on “The Good Road”
2. CHINA: Signs of Revival Stirring Again
3. EUROPE: Ministry Doubles After Lockdown
4. INDIA: Lockdown Triggers Biggest Migration Since Partition
5. IRAN: Digital Church Unites Christians

Up for some armchair travel? Join two “philanthropologists” with cameras who explore courage and kindness around the world. The Good Road is a new series from a couple of grown-up missionary kids now airing on PBS in the US.

Source: Baptist News Global, April 6, 2020

A new television series [which premiered] April 6 on PBS promises to introduce viewers to some of the most innovative acts of courage and kindness around the planet.

“The Good Road” is a journey led by philanthropists and adventurers Earl Bridges and Craig Martin who seek out and celebrate individuals whose creative compassion shines in all manner of desperate situations.

A backdrop to the series is their life-long friendship. They first met as students of at the International School of Bangkok.

Their new show was three years in the making and evokes a travel-and-adventure format with its remote, exotic, and sometimes dangerous locations.

» See full story and The Good Road website to learn more, or just watch the season trailer. Note that the series is designed to appeal to secular audiences and avoids evangelical messaging.

Source: Asia Harvest, April 2020

Many people are asking, “Where is God?” during the current crisis. Friends, he is where he always is—ruling over the universe and working his perfect will and plan of salvation, as time marches forward to the end of the present age.

In recent months, house church leaders across China have reported a new openness to the gospel since the virus appeared, and even though meetings are not allowed and the Communist Party has shut down many Christian websites and social media platforms, many thousands of people have placed their trust in the Lord anyway. This week, [one of] our contacts in China wrote:

“More people are realizing that money and possessions will not save them, and many churches have been started through telephone and website evangelism, which has been very effective! Church planting has been going on, and just last week, in a five-day period, we distributed almost 40,000 Bibles to new believers! The more difficult the environment, the more opportunities we have for ministry. Now it is very effective to share the Word of God with non-Christians in China.”

» Full story also includes a look back at China’s pneumonic plague of 1911 (with 100% death rate: 43,942 infections and 43,942 deaths).

» See also Chinese Christians Defy Orders to Shut Down Online Services, Evangelism (Open Doors).

Source: Pioneers USA, April 14, 2020

After their country went into lockdown, a family in Europe saw ministry opportunities more than double. Twice as many kids come to youth group when it’s online. Turns out the youth find it easier to invite friends digitally, rather than in person.

An English conversation group used to meet weekly in person but now meets twice a week by video. “The topics are getting much deeper and more spiritually focused as the current circumstances are causing many to contemplate hope and security,” they add.

In addition, this family reports more conversations with local believers now considering their part in bringing the gospel message and hope of Jesus to the others. And this is not the only place that’s happening. “On the global level, the church has come together digitally on a massive scale to pray and seek God in the midst of the pandemic. We genuinely believe that God is opening the eyes of the world to see its need for a Savior. Jesus. He is the source of all hope and security!”

» Full story describes various ways global ministry is continuing despite lockdowns and closed borders.

» The mobilization team from Pioneers is hosting a virtual prayer event Monday, April 20, at 7pm EST. Hear from Pioneers workers in different parts of the world and participate in guided prayer.

Source: INcontext Ministries, March 25, 2020

On March 20, hundreds of thousands of Indian migrant workers lost their jobs after India instated a 21-day lockdown to slow the spread of the coronavirus. This loss of employment has caused the workers to embark on journeys home to their villages—some as far as 650 kilometers—on foot, as all public transportation has been suspended. There are approximately 100 million informal workers in India living and working in large cities to support their families living in remote villages.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi seemed to be taken by surprise at the mass exodus from the cities and has said that the Indian government will provide rent money and food for those affected, but that declaration hasn’t slowed the number of people fleeing the cities—many with no food, medicine, or other necessary resources.

From a Christian perspective, India has a Christian population of around 28 million, making up just over two percent of the total population. Indian church leaders have been working with local government leaders to provide more aid to their communities. Local churches have also been raising funds to deliver food and medicine in areas where the government aid has not been enough. However, this service has financially stretched churches since congregations are not able to gather physically to give their monetary offerings.

» Read full story with prayer points. As you probably heard, India has now extended the lockdown another three weeks, though some exceptions have been expanded (BBC).

» See also Prayer Emphasis for Sikhs, Prepare to Pray: April 12-16 and grab the free downloadable prayer guide (IMB).

» Read how churches in Russia and the former Soviet states are responding to the COVID-19 crisis with prayer and giving (Slavic Gospel Association).

Source: Mission Network News, April 13, 2020

A digital church in Iran provides fellowship, teaching, training, and counseling for Christians isolated from each other during Iran’s ongoing health crisis.

[Last Sunday] churches around the world met digitally to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. A worldwide coronavirus outbreak has closed many church buildings, forcing Christians to move their services online.

But Heart4Iran launched a virtual church back in October 2019, Heart4Iran’s Mike Ansari says. “The conditions in Iran do not afford us the healthy and thriving church model that that we are used to in the West. [Most] of the Iranian believers are coming from [an] Islamic background. These are converts. They are isolated believers.” Heart4Iran calls their digital fellowship Mohabat Virtual Church.

Mohabat’s virtual church connects Iranian believers around the country into one family, Ansari says. “So, the very first virtual church that we launched for Iran in the region, we had roughly 1,000 people participate. And one individual… from Afghanistan gave his heart to Christ. This is telling us that there’s a huge demand, especially with a younger audience.”

» Full story. Heart4Iran is a network of 100+ministries working together to reach the Christians of Iran through media and broadcasting.

» From the US, read Ten Pieces of Good News We Are Hearing from Churches During the Pandemic (Thom Rainer). See also Using this Window of Opportunity and check out the tools there to get you started (Mobile Ministry Forum).