News headlines for November 11th 2002

(Ivory Coast)–We begin today in the Ivory Coast as mission leaders plan for future ministry in a country threatened by civil war. Evangelical Baptist Missions'[1] Paul Jackson is asking people to pray for peace talks that appear to be breaking down. “We don’t want those to break down and we trust that politically and militarily that they’ll be able to get on top of this. The Ivory Coast has been one of the most stable countries in west Africa for many years, but over the last several years this has begun to break down. I think for the peace for the country itself that would allow the country to return.” Jackson is talking about the International Christian Academy where nearly 200 students and staff were evacuated a few weeks ago. “Right now, the campus is being occupied by the French army and that’s a good thing. That is protecting the campus at this point. The plans are for the school to reopen hopefully in the fall of 2003, although there are not guarantees about that.” Jackson says in the meantime financial assistance is needed to help these missionaries who left everything behind.

(China)–Next, Trans World Radio’s[2] exciting new broadcast to China offers a Christian response to ‘scientific atheism’. They have begun airing a series of broadcasts to China in Mandarin, entitled Truth in the Test Tube. The program, which was launched October 26, deals with apologetics. It also interviews Christians who are respected professionals in the hard sciences. The hope is that once listeners are satisfied that what is being said is indeed true, they accept God’s forgiveness through Christ.

(USA)–The Southern Baptist International Mission Board[3] is continue to invest heavily in foreign mission fields around the world. IMB trustees recently adopted a more than 290 million dollar budget for 2003. They also appointed 95 new missionaries, which is the second largest group of long term workers ever appointed in a single service. While the 2003 budget is the largest ever, it limits the number of new missionaries to 150, which could restrict the flow of new missionaries to the field.

(Estonia)–Elsewhere, the hope of the Gospel is penetrating the haze of materialism in a former Soviet state. Jose Zayas, working in partnership with the Luis Palau Evangelistic Association[4] , says they just wrapped up evangelistic meetings last month in Estonia. “After Communism fell, people turned to God. But, in the last seven-ten years, they really turned to things. But now, they found an emptiness, so we were able to have meetings for all sorts of groups, ladies groups, business professional leaders, students who are in the schools, sharing the hope of Christ that goes beyond things.” Zayas explains that their work is helping the body of Christ in Estonia. “We’ve been working with local churches. They’re already working on the follow-up as of now. There’s lots of student groups in schools being formed to follow-up on the students who responded. So, pray for the work of the local church, they have so many people who’ve responded, and pray that God uses them to connect them with a local body.”

(Greece)–And, in 1975, AMG International[5] opened the doors to a new hospital in Thessalonica. AMG hoped to establish a medical center in northern Greece that would offer a successful combination of modern medical treatment and a spiritual approach to the sick. AMG’s Paul Jenks says over the last 27 years, reputation and testimony have grown. “We have a hospital called St. Luke’s hospital. It’s a modern 220-bed facility well-known for the open-heart surgeries that are done there. We’re in the

process of expanding that facility as well.” Jenks says growing their hospital will open doors for more outreach, and they’re asking for prayer. “Pray for our leaders there. On top of their already busy schedules, they’re finding that just more and more contacts are coming, and so they need the Lord’s wisdom of how to set their priorities and accomplish the things that have already been placed before them.”

[1] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=EBM [2] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=TWR [3] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=IMB [4] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=LPEA [5] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=AMG