In This Issue: Protesting the Apostasy Law, Revival in Haiti, and More
- WORLD: Protesting the Apostasy Law
- HAITI: 40,000 Profess Faith in Christ
- ERITREA: Christian Dies in Prison Camp
- PAPUA NEW GUINEA: A Miracle in Amomonta
- INDIA: Child Traffickers Posing as Missionaries
- BURKINA FASO: New Church Begins
Missions Catalyst is a free, weekly electronic digest of mission news and resources designed to inspire and equip Christians worldwide for global ministry. Use it to fuel your prayers, find tips and opportunities, and stay in touch with how God is building his kingdom all over the world. Please forward it freely!
World News Briefs, edited by Pat Noble, are published twice a month.
WORLD: Protesting the Apostasy Law
Source: email to Pat Noble, February 2010
Free to Worship – Set My People Free to Worship Me, an annual worldwide protest against the apostasy law in the Muslim world, will be held on Saturday, April 3, 2010, with demonstrations in New York, London, Cairo, Khartoum, Juba, Berlin, Melbourne, and in a number of other cities around the world at 12:00 noon (local time). You can join a protest or organize your own in your hometown or in a nearby city.
Even though there were not many known Muslim converts to Christianity in Islamic countries 20 years ago, there are now open communities of apostates in almost every dominantly Muslim country. For example, conservative estimates suggest that there are at least 70,000 Muslim-background Christians in Algeria alone. Therefore, as the number of Muslim-background Christians grow, apostasy is fast becoming a large scale global issue.
This is due to the fact that Islam is a one-way street. You are allowed to convert to Islam but you are not allowed to convert from Islam. However, things are beginning to change as Muslims desire the freedom of religion without fear, harassment, and violence. Will you uphold the oppressed?
Sign the online petition.
For brochures, posters, or more information, send an email here.
HAITI: 40,000 Profess Faith in Christ
Source: Baptist Press, February 25, 2010
A reported 40,127 Haitians have made professions of faith in Jesus Christ since a major earthquake hit the impoverished nation in January, according to pastors and directors of missions within the Confraternite Missionaire Baptiste d’Haiti (CMBH).
“Haiti is ripe for a spiritual movement from God,” said Craig Culbreth, director of the Florida Baptist Convention’s partnership missions department, which coordinates the work of the CMBH.
During a Feb. 16-17 citywide holiday observance in Cap Haitien, Haiti’s second largest city, Culbreth saw “thousands upon thousands filling the streets where people are seeking God and asking him to spare them from what happened in Port-au-Prince. For me, it was a New Testament expression of what it looks like when the Spirit of God shows up. I have never seen anything like it.”
Many conversions took place during the three days of prayer and fasting called for by the Haitian government Feb. 12-14, Culbreth said.
>> Full story.
ERITREA: Christian Dies in Prison Camp
Source: Worthy News, February 21, 2010
Hana Hagos Asgedom, 41, a member of the evangelical Asabe Rhema Church, died January 24, Christian rights investigators confirmed.
Hana had reportedly been detained at Wi’a Military Camp for three years following her arrest in 2007. She was moved to the Alla Military Camp when the Wi’a camp was dismantled seven months ago, according to Christians familiar with her situation.
On arrival at the new camp, Hana was offered a final opportunity to renounce her faith, said Voice Of the Martyrs Canada (VOMC), a major advocacy group investigating the plight of reportedly persecuted Christians.
“When she refused, she was placed in solitary confinement. Shortly before her death, she reportedly endured beatings with an iron rod for refusing to “make the chief commander in the camp a cup of coffee.” Local Christians reportedly said the order was in reality a sexual advance.
She was then returned to her cell where she endured further punishment and eventually passed away, VOMC explained.
>> Full story.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA: A Miracle in Amomonta
Source: IN Network, Global Update, February 16, 2010
Two men who were imprisoned for murdering Christians in the church in Amomonta Village in the Papua New Guinea Highlands, broke out of prison on January 8th.
They made their way back to the village where they tried to mobilize the local village people to once and for all rid the village of the church, as well as Pastor Manuko, Pastor Tony (church planters) and six others who had been working tirelessly to keep the church going.
Manuko shares that, “because of the many prayers from you all (I.N. prayer partners in New Zealand) God performed a miracle by turning all the village, young and old, who came to us that day to say sorry.”
The community is now wanting them to build a church and are donating the construction materials. The two men were recaptured and Pastor Manuko is spending time with them sharing about the Lord.
>> Source.
INDIA: Child Traffickers Posing as Missionaries
Source: The Christian Post, February 14, 2010
Northeast India has a high concentration of Christians, but there are fears that this fact is being exploited by criminals disguising themselves as missionaries and evangelists in order to traffic children.
Last month, over 70 such malnourished children from Manipur, Nagaland, and other northeastern states were rescued from a home at Kuzhithurai in Kanyakumari district.
Families, particularly in Manipur, are reportedly sending their children off into the hands of traffickers who promise to give them an education or employment, as highlighted recently by The Times of India.
There have been reports of children dying in suspicious circumstances and of others being molested and abused.
>> Full story.
BURKINA FASO: New Church Begins
Source: Acacia Partnership Trust, February 12, 2010
A new cell church is starting in Fulani village “Y,” where we have been visiting and sharing the message of Christ for many years! They would listen respectfully to the good news of Christ, but generally showed no inclination to follow for themselves.
Eventually one man, “M,” gave his life to Christ. As the only believer in his village, it was not easy for him, and it was a 40km walk to Gorom-Gorom to come to church. Sadly, after a few years, M died. We have kept up contact with his family, helping them when we can.
Now a Christian teacher has been posted to Y, and his pastor, Pascal, has been going to visit. Together, they have seen a small group come together to follow the teaching of Christ, and the first person who decided to convert was M’s son!
Please pray for Pascal and the teacher, and the small group in Y as they seek to follow the path of Jesus together.
On Sale from Caleb Resources
Mobilization T-shirts are now on sale for $4.99 each – while quantities last!
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I really enjoy this “news in a nutshell.” I know there are thousands of things for which I could be praying, and I get overwhelmed sometimes. This, and another weekly I receive, help me a lot in that area. I also like your articles from time to time from the “sender’s” and “mobilizer’s” standpoint. Good ideas and information! Thanks a lot! Beverly Dinnel, Wauneta, Nebraska
Thanks Beverly. I understand that overwhelming feeling. It is a challenge to pick only 12 news briefs each month. Thanks for letting us know that the Missions Catalyst helps you. God bless you as you pray. 🙂