Category: News Briefs

Source: The Missions Podcast, September 1, 2019

Between 1-2 million people have been taking to the streets in Hong Kong—even singing Christian hymns—in peaceful protest over a new extradition law representing China’s continued aim to tighten its fist and squelch political and religious liberties in the semi-autonomous region. What can believers learn from this complex situation?

In this special episode, [host] Alex Kocman and Scott Dunford—a former missionary in Asia—discuss the situation on the ground, the history, and implications for believers seeking to boldly engage the surrounding culture both on the mission field and at home.

» Listen to the podcast (46 minutes long). The Missions Podcast comes from a Baptist ministry, ABWE International.

1. NEPAL: Foreign Christians Arrested
2. SOUTH KOREA: Ministry to Yemeni Refugees
3. ALGERIA: Christian Leaders Call for Freedom of Worship
4. TURKEY: Disappearing Christian Leadership
5. ZIMBABWE: To the Whole World

Source: Morning Star News, August 8, 2019

A Christian from South Korea arrested in Nepal on charges of “attempting to convert” was released on bail on [August 7], sources said.

Cho Yusang, a 73-year-old evangelical Christian, posted bail of 150,000 Nepalese rupees (US$1,330) after being arrested on July 23. His health deteriorated after he was incarcerated, and he had been hospitalized, said Tanka Subedi, chair of the Religious Liberty Forum Nepal (RLFN).

The charge of “attempting to convert” under the Nepal Penal Code of 2017 calls for as much five years in jail and/or a fine of up to 50,000 Nepalese Rupees (US$445), according to Subedi.

B.P. Khanal, national coordinator of Nepal for the International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief, told Morning Star News that after arresting Cho from his lakeside lodging, police raided his room and confiscated some Bibles and Christian literature.

Khanal, who is responsible for inter-faith relations for the Nepal Christian Society, said possession of a Bible and Christian literature is not evidence of a crime.

“In this case the law is discriminatory, because it is not an offense to have Bibles in your room,” Khanal told Morning Star News. “The recovery of some Bibles and Christian literature from Yusang’s personal belongings is projeced as an offense and as a crime Yusang committed. Anybody can have a Bible—it is not a drug or an explosive. Carrying a Bible should not be a criminal offense.”

» Full story includes more details and context. Khanal asks foreigners visiting Nepal to refrain from actions that will land them in legal trouble, but commit themselves to equip the local Church to share the gospel.

» For less-sympathetic local coverage of this event, see Three Foreign Tourists Arrested for Proselytizing (myRepublica). The two other foreigners mentioned are Jehovah’s Witnesses from Japan.

Source: Anglican Frontier Missions, August 12, 2019

Jesus never raised a sword against anyone!

If that statement sounds unremarkable to you, consider how it might strike a Muslim fleeing war in his native land. It’s the message that Rev. Dr. Duane Miller, took to Korea to train Koreans to witness to Yemenis.

About 3 million Yemenis have fled the war ravaging their country. Many of them have found their way to Indonesia, another Muslim-majority nation that admits Yemenis with no visa requirement. For some of those, Indonesia has proved a jumping-off point for South Korea and its bustling economy.

The refugees among them, Miller told his Korean hosts, are living in turmoil. Many of them have lost loved ones to the violence back home. In such troubled times, far more than in tranquil ones, people tend to re-examine big questions and foundational beliefs.

One of Islam’s abiding teachings, set out in the Quran, is that Muslims are the best people in the world.

The Yemenis who have fled know that Muslims have been killing Muslims in Syrian and Afghanistan. They know too well the same has happened in their own country. They can hardly avoid a searing question: If we are so bent on slaughtering each other, can we be the best people in the world?

» Read full story.

Source: Barnabas Fund, August 19, 2019

Christian leaders called on the authorities in Algeria to guarantee freedom of worship following the closure on August 6 of a second church in Boudjima city, Tizi Ouzou province.

Officials sealed the church on the instructions of the provincial governor, Mohamed Djemaâ. It was also on his orders that another church in the town was sealed on May 27.

The World Evangelical Alliance called for the churches to be reopened and said it “deeply regretted” the latest action, which brought the number of forced church closures in Algeria to at least five since the beginning of 2018. “Many more churches are threatened with closure, amid denial of formal registration and recognition by authorities,” it added.

Committees of officials started regularly visiting churches in late 2017, with the declared aim of checking safety, but they also asked about permits to operate as churches, obtained from the National Commission for Non-Muslim Worship. However, despite numerous requests from some churches it has been reported that the commission has never issued a permit.

» Read full story or As Church Worships, Police in Algeria Arrive to Seal Building, describing the same events (Christian Headlines).

» See also an article about the early Church in North Africa. We can be encouraged by what God has done there (Pioneers USA).

Source: International Christian Concern, August 15, 2019

A melody is slowly quieting in Turkey. For centuries, the soft chanting of psalms flowed across churches flooded with worshipers. They knelt in prayer, their petitions floating like the incense which enveloped them. Candles were lit as they exited, a reminder of Christ’s light to the world. This is the country where the New Testament church came to life.

But today, that light is slowly extinguishing. The gospel’s melody is softening. The Church in Turkey is suffering strangulation—the consequences of which are felt across the globe.

It is all because of one rule that Turkey has established, a rule which restricts Christians’ ability to choose their own leadership. Without leadership, the life of any church slowly fades.

“Because there are not enough local Protestant leaders, the spiritual leadership of some churches is provided by foreign pastors,” said Turkey Alliance of Protestant Churches (TEK).

But Turkey is slowly closing this door. TEK continued, “Some foreign church leaders were deported, were denied entry back into Turkey, and/or faced problems with getting their residence permits renewed. A foreign church leader in Izmir was incarcerated for a long period of time on the grounds of being a member of the FETÖ/PDY terror organization.”

This year, 18 foreign church leaders have had to leave the country. Local church leaders suffer their own challenges.

» Read full story. It includes links to a rather thorough summary of the recent religious liberty situation in Turkey (TEK).

» Check out a brief but interesting article from Mission Network News about a ministry encouraging persecuted Christians by sharing the stories of the early Church. History has a way of repeating itself, after all.

Source: Operation Mobilization, August 14, 2019

Tinashe is passionate about seeing the gospel spread not only in [his country of] Zimbabwe but to the utmost parts of the world.

“Many people in Zimbabwe are inward-focused about themselves and their church,” Tinashe explained. “There has been a lack of discipleship within churches too. Therefore, I am motivating the church to look beyond itself and pray for nations, give, and start discipleship groups.”

“People think that missionaries are white people who come from Europe or America to build mission stations complete with a school and hospital,” said Tinashe. “So, without resources to accomplish the same, [Zimbabweans] think themselves unworthy of the calling.”

“I also used to think missionaries came from Europe and the West,” Tinashe admitted. “However, one day, a missionary came to our church and explained the need for the whole church to take the whole gospel to the whole world.”

From then on, Tinashe’s perspective about missions and missionaries changed, and he desired to correct this misconception by sharing the truth with others. Through their efforts and God’s grace, [Tinashe’s] team has seen God raise local people to go and share the gospel in North Africa and the Middle East and to serve about the OM ship Logos Hope.

» Read full story and another recent story from OM about a Costa Rican recognizing and responding to God’s call to the nations.

In this issue: Millions seeking God on pilgrimage

1. SAUDI ARABIA: Hajj Begins Friday
2. SOUTHEAST ASIA: The Power of Crickets
3. UNITED KINGDOM: Felix Ngole Wins Appeal
4. EGYPT: Presidential Committee Legalizes 127 Churches
5. CENTRAL ASIA: Once He Smuggled Heroin, Now Bibles

Source: Cry Out Now, August 2019

This is a call for Christians to pray for Muslims as they go on the Hajj.

Since the Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, all Muslims are commanded to perform the Hajj at least once in their lifetime if they are able. The Hajj begins on the eighth day of the twelfth month of Dhul Hijjah in the Islamic calendar. During these days, around three million Muslims from all over the world flock to Mecca to perform sacred acts and follow the steps of Muhammad, their prophet. This year, the Hajj will start on August 9 and last for three or more days.

» Short article from Cry Out also compares Muslim and Christian ideas about forgiveness.

More on praying for Muslims on Hajj:

Watch a new four-minute video from Prayercast. It’s simple and sincere. Want more? Sign up for daily prayer emails August 7-14.

Watch or download the international five-minute video, Hajj Prayer 2019 from Praying through the Arabian Peninsula. Informative. You can also download a prayer guide available in multiple languages.

Visit or follow Arab World Media on Twitter or Facebook. They will be posting updates from seekers in Saudi, the current social climate of the country, an insight into the rites of Hajj, and how you can specifically pray for the men and women seeking God.

Read God at the Hajj, by Shane Bennett.

Source: Tearfund, July 26, 2019

Chouma lives with her husband and daughter in a small village on the side of a mountain, near the border between Cambodia and Vietnam.

Chouma became a Christian when a few people from the local church prayed for healing from a sickness she’d had for many years. She was healed instantly and has been attending the church ever since.

However, living as a Christian in this community wasn’t easy. She was verbally abused by her neighbors. On a few occasions, she even had stones thrown at her while she was worshiping.

A few years ago, Tearfund’s local partner started working with churches in the area. Through a series of Bible studies and workshops, they equipped Christians to be agents of positive change in their communities.

The Bible studies sparked something in Chouma. She helped coordinate a number of initiatives in the village, such as a savings group and chicken rearing. [She also] set aside a corner of her house to raise crickets, which are a popular snack in Cambodia. With help from her pastor, Chouma had soon established a profitable cricket farm. Seeing her success, other members of the community started visiting Chouma to learn about the business. Now, 25 families in the village are raising crickets.

But Chouma didn’t stop there. The road to her village had been damaged for a long time—a big problem in such a remote area. Chouma got her church members to pool their resources and buy some cement. The whole community is now united around the road repairs, which are being led by Chouma’s husband.

The village now see the Christians in an entirely different light, and Chouma is hoping that the church will continue to grow.

» Read full story.