Month: June 2024

1. International: World Refugee Day 2024
2. USA: Somali Man Urges American Christians to Do More Evangelism
3. Madagascar: Drafts of a New Translation Lead to New Churches
4. Türkiye: Expulsion of Foreign Christians Upheld by Courts
5. USA: A Former Satanist Shares Her Remarkable Journey to Christ

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Source: USA for UNHCR, no date

By the end of 2023, more than 114 million people were forcibly displaced globally—a record number propelled by the war in Ukraine and other conflicts around the world. For millions of refugees who are forcibly displaced each year due to conflict, violence and persecution, fleeing is the first step in a long and difficult journey to finding safety.

With a record number of people forced to flee their homes, the international community must work together to give refugees more hope and more opportunities while they are away from home. The most effective way to support refugees is by including them in the communities where they have found safety—this means ensuring they can apply for jobs, enroll in schools and access services like housing and healthcare. Inclusion paves the way for long-term solutions for refugees and displaced people, allowing them to thrive in a new country or preparing them for a safe return to their home countries.

On World Refugee Day [June 20], let’s commit to including refugees in our schools, workplaces, healthcare systems and beyond.

Learn more and explore data and resources from the UNHCR. According to a June 5 press release, more than 2.9 million refugees will need resettlement in the coming year, a 20 percent increase. People displaced from Syria, Afghanistan, and Sudan lead the list.

See also Pray for Refugees (INcontext) and Refugee Highway Partnership.

Source: Christian Post, June 12, 2024

Osman Jama of the group Mission to North America’s Refugee and Immigrant Ministry was one of two speakers at a seminar held [June 11] at the Presbyterian Church in America’s 51st General Assembly.

The seminar featured Jama talking about his Islamic upbringing and how he came to Christ in 2007 while living in Minnesota.

In an interview with The Christian Post, Jama explained that while Christians in America “really do well studying,” they must be more active in evangelizing nonbelievers.

“We take our personal discipleship and personal growth very seriously, but we are also commissioned to go make disciples of all the nations, and in that, we are called not just to study but to go,” said Jama.

“The go part is also important. I think we do a really good job of sending others, but my personal belief is that everyone is called to evangelism, there are just different talents and callings. Some are called to the Middle East, some are called to Europe, but others are called to be here, to do evangelism with their neighbors, and to go across the street as much as across the country or across the continent.”

See the full story with links and pictures.

Readers might be interested in an analysis of trends in American Christianity from Trevin Wax, 3 Waves That Have Shaped Evangelical Churches (and a 4th on the Way); published by The Gospel Coalition or this look African-American mission history, Juneteenth and the Great Commission (ChurchLeaders.com).

Source: Wycliffe Bible Translators, June 7, 2024

[SIL Associate Area Director] Serge Razafinjatoniary talks about the impact that Bible translation work has had on the Tsimihety community in Madagascar. After local churches in the area received drafts of the Bible and dispersed them into the community for testing, something incredible and unexpected happened: 17 new churches were formed!

He tells the story in a short video, also below (1.5 minutes). See also a related story we shared in our May 15 news briefs, A Miracle in Madagascar. What would it take for those of us with more Scripture access to regain some of the enthusiasm of those receiving it for the first time?

Source: International Christian Concern, June 14, 2024

Türkiye’s highest court, the Constitutional Court, recently ruled that the government’s expulsion of nine foreign Christian leaders based on secret service reports does not violate their freedom of religion. Six of the court’s 13 judges dissented.

Although the nine believers had legally obtained residency permits, their perceived missionary activities prompted Türkiye’s Directorate of Immigration Management to apply N-82 codes against the Christians. The codes designate foreigners as “risks to national security” and prevent them from obtaining prior authorization to enter Türkiye.

The decision is the latest development that points to Türkiye’s efforts to curb the growth of Christianity within its boundaries. An estimated 8,000 Protestant Christians make up more than 170 communities throughout Türkiye. For years, Christians in Türkiye have endured persecution, including forced deportations.

The full story includes a response from ICC.

In other news from ICC, see Iraqi Court Commands Christian Mother and Daughters to Convert to Islam and 11 Christians Detained under India’s Anti-Conversion Laws Released.

Source: Crosswalk, June 17, 2024

A former Satanist and self-proclaimed witch is opening up about her conversion to Christianity, saying she bought a Bible at a low moment in her life to disprove God but ended up embracing Christ and getting baptized. KM Tepe shared her testimony with author and Biola University apologetics professor Sean McDowell during an episode of The Sean McDowell Show, saying she began dabbling in the occult in college after growing up in a Christian home.   

“We called ourselves a coven,” she said. “It was like four of us, and we did a lot of rituals, spellwork, and tarot cards.”

Eventually, she found a copy of the Satanic Bible and “read through that thing in like a day.”

She joined The Satanic Temple and became a “full-fledged atheistic Satanist,” although “there was a point where I was a practicing witch and a Satanist at the same time.”

“I knew the names of demons. And I would call upon the names of demons.”

Her mom, a Christian, was devastated by her daughter’s turn.

“It was really hard on her because she knew if I would have stayed down that path, she knew what the outcome was,” Tepe said. 

“When I came out as a witch to her, she was like, I want you out of the house. Like, I don’t want anything witchcraft [in the house],” she said. “At that point. I didn’t care because I was a very young adult and just didn’t care about anything.”

The turning point in Tepe’s life came when her mom developed dementia and later died. Her mom’s funeral was a Christian service. 

“I was sitting there as a Satanist at my mom’s funeral,” she said.

She remembers being angry at God and telling Him, “If you love us so much, why would you take my mom the way that you did?” 

“And I bought a Bible. I went to a used bookstore, and I bought a cheap Bible with the intention of reading it and highlighting every evil, malicious thing that God did to humanity,” Tepe said.

But “it backfired,” she said.

Read the full story or watch or listen to the interview (just over an hour long). For a shorter take, you can hear the story on Instagram.

In this edition:

1. India: Results From the World’s Biggest Election
2. North America: Deaf Missions to Release a Feature-Length Jesus Film in ASL
3. France: Digital Responders Needed for Olympic Outreach
4. Ukraine: Evangelicals Targeted by Russian Forces
5. Haiti: $130K+ Raised After a Missionary Couple Killed

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Does it make a difference to know Jesus speaks your language? JESUS: A Deaf Missions Film has debuted to rave reviews and will be released in theaters starting June 20 (Deaf Missions).

Sources: Various

Results of India’s national elections, which stretched over a six-week period, were announced on Tuesday, June 4. By the time you get this edition of News Briefs, commentaries may be showing up in many news sources. See India’s Christians Brace for 2024 Election Results (Christianity Today) and India’s Religious Nationalism (WORLD), among others.

Prime Minister Modi is claiming victory but not in the landslide some expected. As a result, the BJP, which has been in power since 2014, lost outright majority in the parliament for the first time in a decade and will need to secure the support of allies to form a government.

Let’s pray for India and its people, especially those who are part of religious minorities, in the months and years to come.

You might be interested in a new PBS documentary, America’s First Guru. It chronicles the impact of Swami Vivekananda visit to the first Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893. Also watch the testimony of Sandeep, who grew up in India as a devout Hindu Brahmin but left that identity behind to follow Jesus (Cultish Show, YouTube).

Source: Crosswalk, May 23, 2024

Deaf Missions, a ministry dedicated to serving people who are Deaf, is releasing the first-ever feature film presented completely in American Sign Language (ASL). The film, set to release June 20, is directed by Joseph D. Josselyn and stars Gideon Firl, both of whom are Deaf.

“Growing up in a Christian family, I watched many films about Jesus. But I always wondered, what if these movies were in sign language?” Josselyn told The Christian Post through an interpreter. “After joining Deaf Missions in 2006, the idea began to take shape, though it seemed daunting at the time due to the scale of production, technology and funding required.”

“We initially created a film adaptation of the book of Job, which gave us the experience we needed. We felt ready to pursue a larger project,” he added.

JESUS: A Deaf Missions Film will highlight key moments from the life of Jesus, including his miracles, his power and his challenges to the religious leaders of the day amid high tension under Roman rule in Judea.

Read the full story or watch the trailer. Looks great. Deaf audiences gave it rave reviews in pre-release showings (Mission Network News). Only two percent of the 70 million Deaf know and follow Christ. 

You might also be interested in learning about the first dyslexia-friendly Bible (United Bible Society).

Source: SBC International Mission Board, May 28, 2024

[Soon] thousands of people from across the globe will descend on the city that’s home to the Eiffel Tower for the Olympics.

While volunteers are traveling to Paris to serve, people can also minister from their living rooms.  

Digital engagement ministry strategies will extend the reach of the gospel far past the closing torch. Through chatting with a digital responder, not only will spectators hear the gospel, they’ll have the opportunity to connect with a Christian in their home country.

Read the full story for interesting details about how the strategy will use specially designed trading pins popular at such events. Maybe you or someone you know would like to join the digital response team?