Egypt: Breaking the Fear Barrier!

Source: Debbie Meroff, OM News, August 18, 2013

A lot more is happening in Egypt these days than is apparent on our nightly news. A Christian worker on the ground in Cairo, whom we will call John Nyalls to protect his security, reports a groundswell of excitement among the Christian population who are involved in reaching Muslims. He declares, “One year of Morsi’s government has done more to advance Christianity in Egypt than all the decades before it.”

Media attention to Muslim Brotherhood demonstrations gives the impression that this group is much bigger than it actually is. John estimates that only about one-half to one percent of the population are avid pro-Brotherhood and up to five percent may be ultra-conservative Islamists. But after Morsi failed in his promise to represent all the people rather than the Islamist faction and [passed] an Islamist-favored constitution, the vast majority of Egyptians made it clear they’d had enough.

So unpopular is the Muslim Brotherhood these days, observes John, that many shopkeepers are refusing to serve men with long beards (the usual Brotherhood trademark), and taxi drivers are refusing to pick them up. Some Muslims have shaved off their beards in self-defense.

Christians – especially young people from the churches – have become proactive, handing out thousands of copies of Bibles, New Testaments, [copies] of the JESUS Film, and other material. Very few Arabic Bibles are refused. Believers add that they’ve even observed some covered Muslim women, after receiving Bibles, lift the book to their lips in a reverent kiss.

It hasn’t all been easy for the Christian population, however. Ultra-conservative Muslims have retaliated against what they called Christian support for Morsi’s removal. A number of attacks have been launched against churches and Christians, particularly those who live in Brotherhood strongholds.

“Now,” says John, “the wolf – the Brotherhood – is no longer pretending to be a sheep. Members are now unbridled in going after churches and Christians. And this is turning more moderate Muslims against them.”

He pointed out the astonishing fact that tens of thousands of Bibles are being downloaded each month in the Muslim world. The website aljazeera.net published an interview with Ahmad Al Qataan, an important Islamic cleric, who said that every year six million Muslims convert to Christianity. Unfortunately, most disillusioned Muslims will turn to atheism rather than Christianity unless more people seize the day. John reports that Christian Egyptians who have been reaching out are coming across a significant enough number of atheists; they are feeling the need for specific training on how to reach them.

» Full story here.

Missions Catalyst 8.28.13 – World News Briefs

In This Issue: From all the world into all the world

For additional news stories, follow us on Twitter.

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!

Pat

Pat Noble has been the “news sleuth” for Missions Catalyst since 2004. In addition to churning out the news, she is working to create a SWARM (Serving World A Regional Mobilizers) in Northern New York using the NorthernChristian.org website. You can connect with her at www.whatsoeverthings.com.

 

 

CHILE: Motivation for Missions

OM Chile photo

Source: OM News, August 16, 2013

Rob Minderhoud, a worker with OM Chile involved in church mobilization, recently had the opportunity to go on a two-week trip to promote OM Chile and share about missions in the north of the country.

“Together with the leader of another missionary organization, we traveled more than 4,000 kilometers visiting numerous of churches, youth groups, radio stations, and taking advantage of all the opportunities God put in our path,” he shared. “We stayed two to four days in every place, and by God’s grace we were able to contact and get to know many pastors and people interested in missions, resulting in several church invitations to provide them with mission training.”

Chile is a “Christian” country, with about 15 per cent of the 17 million inhabitants being evangelical Christians. Chileans are passionate about their faith in Jesus, and OM sees huge potential to send Chileans into missions.

“Many churches still lack vision and knowledge regarding missions,” said Rob. “But it is great to see how God is opening doors and is working in the hearts and minds of many Chilean believers.”

During the trip, God also faithfully provided food and places to stay. “We experienced a lot of love through Chilean brothers and sisters,” Rob said. “Some people told me they had been praying for a long time for a missionary organization to come and visit their church and share about missions.”

» Read full story. See also Mixed Languages, Cultures, and Experiences, about Chileans and foreigners being trained in missions together. (Photo above is from that story.)

HONDURAS: Paying It Forward

Source: Email from Don Rumbaugh, serving in Honduras

Three Honduran medical students have been working in an under-served rural area of Honduras and will be participating in a clinical internship in Africa in March 2014.

The students’ school expenses are paid for by an initiative called “Honduras to the World” (sponsored by the Christian and Missionary Alliance’s Marketplace Ministries). Upon graduation from medical school, the students will “pay forward” this sponsorship by living and working among unreached and/or unengaged people groups in Africa.

Resources for “Honduras to the World” come from the repayment of micro-enterprise loans given to Honduran businessmen and women. Once the businesspeople repay their “Honduras to the World” loans, this money is then used to train and send Hondurans to “unengaged” lands, i.e., those without established churches.

“Honduras to the World” teachers and doctors have been and will be engaging the world’s unengaged with Jesus’ love, joy, and truth.

» Watch this short interview with Don Rumbaugh as he explains how God is changing Honduras from a mission field to a mission force.

» See also another story from Honduras, Ben’s Kidnapping and the Power of Prayer. Be encouraged by Ben’s story and pray for missing Ukrainian leader, Julia, who disappeared July 4.

GUATEMALA: Jesus Is Lord of this Country

Source: The Christian Post, August 26, 2013

The President of Guatemala, Otto Perez Molina, declared Jesus Christ as the Lord of the country last week during their first national prayer breakfast.

Leaders from government, economic, religious, and indigenous backgrounds gathered in Guatemala City to pray for their nation’s peace and to have God as the center of the universe.

“Today we name Christ as Lord of Guatemala and we declare in his name that each of our generations will be generations that will live in a prosperous Guatemala,” said Molina, according to Hispanic news outlet, AcontercerCristiano.net.

During the meeting, leaders were also encouraged to implement principles and values within their businesses, universities, and neighborhoods. In addition, speakers including Manuel Espina, president of Guatemala Prospera – an organization that trains national business leaders on how to foster developmental change within their community – asked leaders to embrace prayer as the sole method by which their country can succeed.

» Read full story.

SOMALIA: Internet Provides Gospel Access

Source: St. Francis Magazine, August 2013

As Christians, we confess that all human history takes place under God’s sovereign control, including the advance of the gospel and the growth of Christ’s church.

Seemingly unrelated or random events are actually orchestrated within God’s eternal plan. The impact of gospel communication to the Somali people via the Internet is a case in point.

Somali involvement with the Internet extends back to its early days. In 1997, journalist and author Michael Maren estimated that Somalis posted more messages on the Internet than all other African nationalities combined. A conservative global estimate of Somalis with Internet access would be 3,000,000. The vast majority of Somalis in the Diaspora use the Internet daily to stay in contact with their relatives in the Horn of Africa.

Somali was one of only 11 African languages recognized by Google in 2006. At present, there are well over 300 Somali-language websites. A BBC report said, “Facebook has taken off in Somalia since Islamist militants al Shabab fled the city several months ago, loosening social restrictions and making the streets safer. New accounts have grown by 50% in the past six months, and there are now more Facebook users than estimated Internet users in Somalia, thanks to mobile phones and computer sharing.”

» Read full story.

» See also an article recently posted by Joshua Project, Using Facebook to Reach an Unreached People.

NORTH AFRICA: Returning with a Message

Source: Arab World Media, August 15, 2013

About fifty years ago “Rasuul” had a vision in which he saw a dirty and beaten man with ragged clothes standing next to a woman. The woman told him, “Follow this man.” Rasuul was indignant. How could he follow this man? He was unclean and not worthy of following. He didn’t understand. But he recalled the words of the Qur’an – that if you don’t understand something, you should ask the “people of the book.”

So, when he came across an Italian missionary, he asked for a copy of the Tawrat (first five books of the Bible). While he was still averse to reading the gospels, he read the Tawrat and believed it was true.

Rasuul decided to settle in a neighboring country. His outlook on religion had changed. While he simply said he believed in the first five books of the Bible, he gave all of his children the freedom to choose their religion [and] most of his children chose faith in Christ.

One day, when they gathered together as a family, Rasuul’s daughter read Isaiah 53. As she read, Rasuul’s eyes lit up as he exclaimed, “This man is the man in my vision! Who is he?” His daughter told him it was Jesus. From that day, the animosity towards the gospels and Jesus fell away, and Rasuul followed Christ.

Three years ago, Rasuul passed away, but before he died he called his children together and asked them to do something. “Our people must know the truth about Jesus,” he said. “Please go and tell them about the decision I made, and the truth about Jesus.”

Now, we hear that at least one of Rasuul’s children is making plans to return to his homeland and share the good news with this people group. Praise God for this opportunity and pray that many would be amazed as they learn of Rasuul’s faith in Christ.

» Full story.

 

 

NEPAL: 100 Days of Prayer

Source: Boudha Prayer, August 2013

In the Northwest corner of Kathmandu, Nepal, lies one of the most sacred places in the whole Tibetan Buddhist world: Boudha stupa, or Boudhanath, a place of worship for both Buddhists and Hindus. The surrounding area is home for thousands of Tibetans, exiles as well as tribal people from the Himalayan areas. Every year thousands more come to Boudha on pilgrimage – Buddhist prayer there is unceasing.

Now we are calling Christians all over the world to join in on focused prayer for Boudha and the Tibetans there. In 2013 we are setting aside 100 days of prayer. Between September 1st and December 9th we invite individuals and churches to pray with us for this area. Boudha is an important Tibetan crossroads and we believe that a movement of God in Boudha will affect the whole of the Tibetan Buddhist world.

» Email Boudha100 for more details and information about how you can pray personally, with a group, or on a prayer journey.

» See also this collection of images and an article about the holy site on a Buddhist travel site (Kechara).

Missions Catalyst 8.14.13 – World News Briefs

In This Issue: Three stories from Africa

For additional news stories, follow us on Twitter.

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!

Pat

Pat Noble has been the “news sleuth” for Missions Catalyst since 2004. In addition to churning out the news, she is working to create a SWARM (Serving World A Regional Mobilizers) in Northern New York using the NorthernChristian.org website. You can connect with her at www.whatsoeverthings.com.

 

 

GHANA: Partners Train Christian Broadcasters from across Africa

Ghana TrainingSource: ASSIST News, August 7, 2013

Across the continent of Africa, 215 Christian radio producers are going home to 15 countries with new tools and skills to share the gospel. HCJB Global joined with Moody Radio in a four-day Global Partners Project radio training intensive in Ghana, West Africa, for seminars, hands-on practice, and spiritual enrichment.

Classes were offered in leadership, fundraising, production, interviewing, on-air presentation, web integration, emerging technology, video production, and social media.

“[Participants] shared their ideas with one another and planned real steps of action to take upon returning home. There was a strong spiritual aspect as well. We paused during the teaching for a prayer of thanksgiving that God is in control, despite the obstacles,” said Jon Fugler [of] HCJB Global.

This conference exceeded our expectations in an amazing way,” said Stephen Asare, project coordinator for Moody Radio. “Originally we had room for 150 attendees but were able to accommodate 215. There is a great hunger for training in Africa.”

» Read full story from ASSIST News. See also HCJB’s encouraging report, Cross-cultural Barriers Overcome at Radio Training Conference in Ghana.

» Another Africa story: The Amazing, Surprising Africa-driven Future of the Earth, in Nine Charts (Washington Post).