In this edition:
View the email edition or scroll down to read articles below.
We’re taking a break from publishing News Briefs for the month of March. We need the time to do some work behind the scenes: to evaluate our list of sources, look for those we’ve lost track of and might want to re-engage, and probably add some new ones.
But we could also use your help! If you have some input, could you hit reply on this email?
1. What are your favorite sources for news related to:
a. International events?
b. Ministry stories and strategies?
c. Issues affecting the global church?
2. What topics or content types would you like to see in News Briefs?
3. Is there anything you’d like to see less of in News Briefs?
4. Is there a specific source you’d like to see us put on our source list? (e.g., a missionary blog or newsletter, ministry website and publication, or other source that publishes mission-related news)
Note, we’re not planning to start writing our own news briefs from scratch; you can expect to see stories previously published elsewhere. We also expect to continue our policy of only reprinting stories from sources that have given us blanket permission to use their content rather than borrowing more freely from those who might not welcome it. We will, though, continue to include links to a variety of sources.
Much thanks!
Marti Wade & Pat Noble
Source: Global Gates and Missio Nexus
People of many nations have landed on the shores of North America looking for refuge, community, a new home and hope. These diaspora people groups have settled in urban areas often creating sub-communities within larger cities. There are many mission agencies and churches that are engaged with direct ministry. But there is still a significant need for engagement for these people to be reached with the gospel and find true, lasting, and eternal hope.
God has brought the nations to us; will we be faithful in taking his gospel to them?
Download a “misssiographic” for New York City and a new one for Toronto. Look for data visualizations about three more cities in months to come.
Note: Looks like the New York City metro area is home to more than four million unreached people, 20% of the city’s population (roughly equal to its entire population in 1900!) Global Gates says at least 20% of the Toronto population is also unreached.
Source: Mission Network News, February 11, 2021
Wycliffe Associates, an international organization that empowers mother-tongue Bible translators and partners with local churches in the advancement of Bible translation, saw the completion of more Bible translations in 2020 than in any other single year.
“Instead of slowing down because of COVID-19, for some national Bible translators, translation has actually accelerated,” says Tim Neu, Interim President and CEO of Wycliffe Associates.
New Testament translations were completed in 141 languages, and 8 languages now have completed translations of the Old Testament.
“I’ve been humbled to see how believers in difficult areas, some in places of intense persecution and real danger, have been absolutely unwavering in their dedication to the cause,” says Neu.
As we previously reported, 2020 saw big gains in digital scripture access. See also What’s A Heart Language? (The Seed Company) and a fun, four-minute video, How Many Languages Are There? (Tom Scott).
Source: Praying for Indonesia, February 3, 2021
A West Sumatra high school punished Christian students for refusing to wear a hijab during online classes. Parental outcry led to a ruling of unacceptable religious intolerance from the Education and Culture minister, and an apology from the high school.
Praise God this incident for the firm action by the Education Minister. Pray that this results in addressing general intolerance of Christians and other minorities.
Published on Facebook. The intersection of dress codes and online schooling got us thinking. But it also spurred a legal ruling: See Indonesia Bans Forced Religious Attire in Schools (BBC) and a longer article from Al Jazeera.
Also from Indonesia: Some missionaries are looking for 1,000 daily prayer partners to intercede for the people group they hope to reach. See Pray for the Banjar. There are too many similar efforts for us to curate them all, but if you have a vested interest in a specific group, look/ask around to see if there’s a prayer campaign you might want to join.
Source: Christian Aid Mission, February 11, 2021
A 19-year-old man in one area had engaged in [occult] practices for years, with sorcerers sending him to church services to carry out spiritual attacks—casting secret spells or invoking demons as he disrupted worship, a local ministry leader said.
“Once he came to our church to attack as usual, but he was caught by the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word during our evening service,” the leader said. “He never went back to the dark world. He became a member of our church and is following a discipleship course in order to be baptized.”
The leader learned that the young man had been born in a rural area to destitute parents who could not afford to send him to school. An aunt who practiced a blend of Islam and witchcraft had offered to take him to a city to live with her on the false premise that she would educate him. Actually she sought to initiate him into the occult; she dedicated him to serve Satan, the leader said.
The full story acknowledges that neither witchcraft nor Islam are common in the impoverished country, where most identify as Christians, but this district is a bit different. We can pray for the three new churches there.
Please also pray for Haiti, facing a constitutional crisis (Miami Herald).
