News headlines for October 21st 2002

(Kenya)–Topping the news, both the Zimbabwe and Kenyan education systems are in crisis. Subsidized teachers are in a whole scale revolt against the government. In a society where education is a way out of poverty, their strike comes right before crucial national exams. Worldwide Christian Schools'[1] Dale Dieleman says this is having an impact on their work. “It’s a very serious issue. It’s an issue that effects not only government, but also Christians because many of those Christian schools have to depend on the government subsidies for teacher salaries.” Dieleman says the difference between secular teachers and Christian ones is the message of the Gospel. “These teachers are rather dedicated people, at least the ones in the schools that we know of; I think it’s their faith that brings them to the classroom everyday. So, I would just continue to pray for the administrators and teachers on the local level. Pray for the students, that somehow this situation will be alleviated.”

(India)–Next, an anti-conversion law in Tamil Nadu State is raising alarm among the evangelical community. Due to the religious implications, members of India’s lowest caste and the Muslim population are joining Christian protests. The Bible League’s[2] Jay Kumar says because it came ‘out of the blue’, the ordinance’s passage is suspect. “There are a lot of local nationalist Hindu parties, that just jump on board, once one of their leaders says ‘jump’. They say, ‘how high?’-But, in my opinion, I know there’s some speculation that this ordinance is kind of like a smoke screen.” Kumar believes the real issue is a water shortage, but thinks the law is aimed at diffusing tensions. Yet, there is an unintended side effect. “The plus side is that a lot of these pastors who previously did not meet together, and who were just kind of doing their own thing, are now meeting together and praying together. They’re saying, ‘This is against us; it’s no longer against me and my ministry.'”

(USA)–College and Universities are in full swing around the United States, providing opportunities for college ministries to share Christ with new students. InterVarsity Christian Fellowship’s[3] Phil Evans says this is a key time of year for evangelism. “New students, especially freshman are very open to new ideas. They’ve left home. They’re investigating and exploring new things. So, if they can be introduced to Christians they are more likely to investigate the claims of Christ. And, so there’s an openness in the fall that you might not get in the second semester or in the spring time.” Evans hopes the number of small group Bible studies grows over last year’s numbers because he says they’re effective. “Last year, InterVarsity had more than 4,000 small group Bible studies all over the country. And approximately half of them were designed for non-Christian students and we saw almost 2,000 students come to meet Jesus Christ.” Evan is asking Christians to pray for many campus missionaries who lack sufficient support.

(China)–Meanwhile, heresy and false teaching are huge concerns for Christians in China. Christian workers say various cults are infiltrating the church, and because theological training is lacking, my believers are led astray. The Bridge International[4] is trying to change that by sponsoring 40 full time evangelists in 12 minority ethnic groups. They would like to do more. 40-dollars a month can help train more of these leaders. Pray that Christians in the west will help with this incredible need.

(USA)–And, with Halloween less than ten days away, the American Tract Society[5] is reminding people that the day can be used to teach children about evangelical opportunities. ATS has partnered with a number of local Christian bookstores to provide “Halloween Rescue Kits”. The kits include candy, stickers and a tract that shares the Gospel message. Mark Brown, with the ATS, says the children can hand them out as they go door-to-door, or pass them out from their own homes.

[1] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=WWCS [2] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=BLG [3] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=ICF [4] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=TBI [5] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=ATS ———————————————————————

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