Missions Catalyst

The Church is growing in Algeria, though facing opposition. Stories from Christian Aid via Mission Network News, below. (Image from Omar-DZ/Flikr)

1. ALGERIA: Secularization, an Unexpected Friend to the Gospel
2. CHINA: Plea for Prayer as Persecution Increases
3. UGANDA: Refugee Stories You Won’t Hear on the News
4. MYANMAR: An Open Door for the Gospel
5. TURKEY: Andrew Brunson May Face a Life Sentence

Source: Mission Network News, March 15, 2018

The church in Algeria has been growing, but [as] Christian Aid Mission’s David Bogosian shares, “Many who become Christian don’t go directly from Islam to Christianity. They go from Islam to agnosticism to atheism and then to Christianity. So, a huge number of people that are coming into the church have first been secularized. The trend of secularization happening in the Muslim world is probably the fastest growing demographic, ideological, religious demographic change in history.”

This is going on all over the Arab world in places like Iran, Turkey, and Libya… any place that’s experienced or has been affected by radical Islam or Islamic extremists. And between the Arab Springs and the continued Islamic violence against other Muslims in the name of a common god, a lot of people have begun deconstructing their beliefs. They’re questioning their faiths and the ideas which have served as foundations for their lives.

“And that’s actually the first step into the arms of loving God,” Bogosian explains. “As odd as that might sound, you know, to go in that direction. It’s actually something that God is using to bring people to himself.”

» Read full story. Another from the same sources reports opposition: Churches Closed in Algeria, Symptom of Uptick in Persecution.

Source: Asia Harvest, March 2018

In the past 18 months, the situation for Christians in China has dramatically worsened. At the start, we hesitated to publicly share new information from China for a few reasons. Some of the news we have received from church leaders is so dire that most believers around the world simply wouldn’t believe it if we told them. We also wanted to make sure these things were not part of a short-term crackdown, as over the years we have seen numerous seasons of persecution come and go in China.

However, we believe it is now time to present the known facts, to help people understand what our fellow believers are experiencing right now.

Few Christians around the world imagined that China would ever return to its intense anti-Christian persecutions like during Mao’s rule, but things are lining up for a brutal and prolonged period of struggle for Christians in China. In many ways, because of new technology, believers face an even greater challenge than during the dark days of the Cultural Revolution.

» Full story includes analysis, prayer points, and links to other sources on the topic.

» Watch the five-minute video, In Your Face: China’s All-Seeing State (BBC) or listen to a podcast interview, China Just Made Life Way Harder for Christians (Christianity Today).

Source: International Mission Board, March 16, 2018

I work with refugees in Africa, and it’s not at all what I thought it would be. I expected it to be about meeting needs and helping people, sort of a one-way transfer of blessing and Christian encouragement. On some level, maybe I thought I would be overwhelmed by the plight of Christian refugees grappling with the goodness or existence of God in what is understandably difficult circumstances for faith.

I wasn’t prepared to be inspired by their faith every time I went into the camps. The believers living in these very humble settings are truly focused on the eternal things. They are planting churches, helping others, and sharing their faith. They are expanding God’s kingdom in the refugee camps. I feel privileged to work alongside them.

You can learn about the various refugee crises in Africa from nearly every world news organization. But there are many stories you won’t read in the news—stories of God’s faithfulness to Christian refugees and their faithfulness to him.

» Read the stories of three refugees, and be sure to watch the powerful video at the top about Sudanese refugees training leaders and planting churches in a massive Ugandan refugee settlement.

» See also: Did You Know South Korea is One of the Biggest “Exporters” of the Gospel in the World? (CBN).

Source: God Reports, March 13, 2018

Since Burma achieved independence from the British in 1948, the country now called Myanmar has been embroiled in civil war, as various ethnic groups have waged bitter battles against the military-led government.

Yet behind the disturbing headlines, God is on the move, as confirmed by interviews with pastors at a recent conference organized by Global Disciples in Myanmar.

“In the last three years, God has opened the door wide to the gospel in Myanmar. But we don’t know how long it will be open,” says one of the organizers of the conference.

He has been involved in street ministry since he was in his teens and is currently overseeing an effort to plant churches among unreached people groups throughout South Asia. “We want to nurture what is growing and multiplying,” he says. “Not just addition, but multiplication.”

Pastor Imo is one of the pastors multiplying the church by going to tribal groups in southern Myanmar that have never heard the name of Jesus. “By the grace of God we went from village to village and many accepted Jesus as their Savior. We went to some places not reachable by boat or motorbike. So we went on foot,” he reports.

» Full story reports on miraculous healings and ministry to the drug-addicted. You might also be interested in more stories from Myanmar from Global Disciples.

Source: Mission Network News, March 19, 2018

Last week, American Pastor Andrew Brunson was given a new indictment in Turkish court. This time he was charged with “leadership in a terrorist organization.” Prosecutors are seeking a possible life sentence. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) condemns the indictment and calls on the US government to deal with the issue.

According to USCIRF, Brunson’s charges have been brought based on so-called secret evidence and a secret witness. However, the charges seem baseless.

David Curry of Open Doors USA reminds us that BrunsoAn served as a pastor in Turkey for more than two decades before his arrest. He’s been in prison since October of 2016.

In this situation, Curry says that prayer is really the very best (and perhaps only) action we can take. And as you pray for Brunson—for his release, courage, and perseverance—Curry says to remember others who are also facing persecution for their faith:

“The thing to remember is when we hear about an American pastor who is held prisoner somewhere, whether it’s in North Korea or in Turkey, there are many, many, many other pastors who are in prison or Christians who are in prison for their faith around the world. This is just one, it’s public knowledge here in America because he is an American citizen. But we don’t pray for him because he is an American citizen, we pray for him because he’s a follower of Jesus, in my mind. He’s a citizen first of the Kingdom, and so we support our brother or sister in the Lord.”

» Read full story. Note that March 13 reports that prosecutors had submitted an official indictment demanding life imprisonment were premature, though evidently an indictment was drafted.

According to his daughter Jacqueline, early this month Brunson wrote the following: “Let it be clear, I am in prison not for anything I have done wrong, but because of who I am—a Christian pastor. I desperately miss my wife and children. Yet, I believe this to be true, it is an honor to suffer for Jesus Christ, as many have before me. My deepest thanks to all those around the world who are standing with and praying for me.”