News headlines for October 10th 2002

(India)–We begin today’s newscast with another look at a startling new law
in India’s Tamil Nadu State. The Hindu majority is hailing the anti-conversion
ordinance, calling it a move to curb ongoing sectarian violence. However, Bibles
For the World’s[1] disagrees. He shares his concerns. “It will have a tremendous
impact on Bibles For The World, and most every Christian organization. I believe
that this law will be challenged, and I hope it will be defeated because the
people who are going to suffer the most are those who are presently deprived.
I am very deeply concerned that they are not going to have the freedom to choose
what they want.” He adds because the law is vague, it poses its own set of
hazards. He believes Christians will mount a legal challenge to the law. “I
think that all Christians across this nation should pray that, as we begin
to challenge the law, that God will intervene.”

(Afghanistan)–Elsewhere, in the wake of the Taliban’s fall, the adult generation dreams of a future for their daughters. Operation Blessing International’s[2] Jodie Nelson says they’re working to address that now. Since cultural standards are firmly in place, they’re working within strict constraints. “In Afghanistan, girls can’t sit outside in groups; it’s considered ‘unseemly’, once they reach a certain age. Since there aren’t school buildings for girls, a lot of them can’t attend school at all.” Nelson says offering girls an education in a Muslim society like Afghanistan’s is one way to reach out with the hope of the “We’re in the process of building a school there and, once that’s completed, 400 girls will be able to go to school. When someone comes into a dangerous area and they are offering their services freely, through the love of Christ, that’s really sensed. People can tell, and, many, many times, whole families will come to know the Lord.”

(East Asia)–Even though summer 2003 is several months away, an organization that gravitates to the unreached peoples of the world is already preparing for it. Steve Richardson is the Director of Pioneers International Missions. He says they need volunteers. “This coming summer we are praying that God would give us as many as 100 people to go to a very security sensitive area of East Asia and to spend time building relationships, praying, getting to know people, getting a vision for the future for long term possibilities and making an impact on one of the most spiritually needy places in the whole world.” Richardson says Pioneers is all about reaching the most difficult to reach peoples of the world. “Our passion is to see spiritually dark areas of the world come aflame to the light of the Gospel, and to take people that might not envision themselves in missions and actually contribute meaningfully to seeing a church planting movement emerge.”

(Thailand)–We turn next to Thailand, where Far East Broadcasting Company[3] reports an important upcoming date. On October 26th, their team, along with the Tak English language team, will be meeting with listeners in Tak for the first time. Pray for the Holy Spirit’s work in hearts on that day so that it will be a fruitful day for the Church in Tak and lead to new church plants. Please pray for programmers to have wisdom, fresh ideas and a friendly voice as they share the Lord with listeners.

(Ukraine)–And finally, camp ministry was instrumental in seeing hundreds of young people come to Christ in the Ukraine. According to Send International’s[4] Frank Severn over 500 young people came to Christ as a result of these outreaches. Severn says the camps are funded through short-term mission team members who help run the camps. Pray that more teams will be available to assist in this camp ministry next summer and that many more children will come to Christ.

[1] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=BFTW [2] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=OBI [3] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=FEBC [4] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=SEND ———————————————————————

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