News headlines for December 3rd 2002

(Kenya) — We begin today’s newscast in Kenya where evangelical ministries are responding to the recent terrorist attacks in that nation. Tom Dudenhofer of Audio Scripture Ministries[1] of Holland, Michigan says he expects conditions to get worse. “There is an element of unsure ness about the ability of things to remain stable when it comes to the safety of missionaries, the protection of property and things like that. I don’t believe it’s specifically directed to the terrorist situation. I think it has more to do with the disintegration of law and order.” Dudenhofer says Audio Scripture ministries has been affected by that. “Our facilities over there were robbed. Our security guards were drugged. The robbers made entrance with a latter over a fence and then cut a hole in a roof – made off with all of the electronic equipment from our recording studios, stole a car.” [2]

(Africa) — Next, the African continent is in the midst of a food crisis unlike any other. The lack of moisture is to blame in part, but a labor shortage brought on by HIV/AIDS is also to blame. Farms and businesses can’t produce enough food. Baptist World Aid, the relief arm of Baptist World Alliance[3] , is helping provide food in the short term. BWA’s Paul Montecute describes the situation. “People at the moment are being forced to scramble in the earth for roots to feed their children, or plucking leaves from the trees, or even eating the maze while it was still green before it had time to ripen and go to harvest. So, it’s in those kinds of situations that we’re there, trying to support our Baptist brothers and sisters in the way they care for those who are most in need.” Montecute says empowering local Christians is the best way to lead people to Christ. “Our Baptist pastors are there on the spot and (we’re) working through them. They’re the people who know their people. They know the neighborhoods best. They know where the care is needed, whether it be the provision of food for the stomach, or spiritual help.”

(Africa) — Millions of people around the world commemorated World AIDS day over the weekend. Compassion International[4] , a Christian organization that’s dedicated to the long term holistic development of children living in poverty, also remembered the day by reminding people that millions of children are victims, too. Compassion is training volunteers at more than 500 local churches in Africa. These churches are working with more than 100-thousand children affected by the disease. Pray that many will turn to Christ as a result.

(Ghana) — Meanwhile, Operation Mobilization[5] is holding special meetings to encourage pastors in their work in Ghana, West Africa. The conference is called “Champions of Faith” and is being held on one of OM’s ships docked in Tema. The onboard program is encouraging church leaders to persevere. The conference features testimonies by crewmembers and special teaching, which is in high demand. Pray that this conference will encourage many pastors to be bold in evangelism.

(USA) — And finally, is helping Christians in the United States share their faith more effectively. EvangeCube uses a folding cube with pictures to help share the Gospel message. EvangeCube’s Nathan Sheets says they’re goal is to encourage laypeople to do evangelistic work at home. Sheets says they do that through training seminars. “We focus on what is the Gospel? What is evangelism? What is prayer and evangelism? And then, going through the logistics of how to work through the EvangeCube. And, then the most important part about training seminar is actually the third hour which is taking Christians out and doing evangelism.” Sheets believes these seminars will have international implications. “Over the next ten years we pray that God uses us to go into 100 countries and each country go into 1,000 churches, and in each church, train 100 Christians which results in personal one-on-one evangelism.”

[1] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=ASM [2]

http://www.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/ramhurl?f=/mnn/interviews/12-03-02TomDudenh ofer.rm [3] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=BWA [4] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=COMP [5] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=OMI ———————————————————————

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