News headlines for December 9th 2002

(Indonesia)–We begin today in Indonesia where police were not ruling out a link between a spate of recent bombings. Authorities believe the terrorist acts are the latest attempt to destabilize Indonesia. Christian Aid Mission’s[1] John Lindner says they’re seeing some developments that may become a concern for their workers. “We have been concerned about the terrorist activity of radical Muslims in Indonesia for quite some time. It hit our shores a year ago, so we can expect more of this.” As to how this plays a role in their work throughout Indonesia, Linder urges prayer: “They are targeting Christians specifically, and more recently, those who are associated with so-called western countries such as U-S and Australia. A document was recently uncovered that was an instruction manual on how to do jihad [holy war] in Indonesia.”

(India)–Meanwhile, police in India are getting in the way of thousand of Dalits rejecting Hinduism. 10-thousand of India’s so called “untouchables” were expected to gather for a mass conversion last week in Tamil Nadu State, but authorities harassed and beat some participants. Because of centuries of oppression, the Dalits are rejecting Hinduism and joining Buddhism and Christianity to free them of the caste system. Some Hindu leaders accuse evangelical Christians of bribing the poor to become Christians. Many Christians say new laws to prevent conversion compromise the right to religious freedom.

(Spain)–Spain has always been known as a graveyard for missionaries and resistant to the Gospel. But, missionaries are now reporting that the time may be at hand for a revival in that European country. Latin America Mission’s[2] Ken MacHarg reports: “Spain is living a key moment according to LAM missionary Dayana Elasmar who has worked with church planting in the Extremadura region. But, she warns that church growth is slow. An average large church has between 50 and 100 members and, she says, U.S. supporters of missionaries in Spain must not be impatient when churches do not grow as fast as they do in Latin America. Christians report that only 650 towns in Spain have evangelical churches, leaving 7,000 towns and cities without an evangelical witness. Dayana says that Christians must be alert to God’s voice and able to move with God in each area of the country. For Mission Network News, I’m Ken MacHarg. “

(Kenya)–Next, a semi-desert region and isolation mark the territory of SIM’s[3] Mike Batterman and his wife. The couple is reaching out to the Daasanach (DAH-sen-AHSH) people near the Ethiopian border in Kenya. In an agricultural community such as this, ministry is a challenge, and yet, there have been successes like these. “We trained 22 people to use hand-wound cassette recorders and trained them in the “Firm Foundations” and then they went out to the villages and family groups and taught them.” Batterman shares his perspective of the importance of prayer in their ministry. “We have seen that prayer has made a great impact; and, without prayer, I don’t think a lot of these things would be happening. We want to encouraged those people who have taken the time to pray, or maybe, are frustrated to really pray, because it does make a difference. If there is anything we could ask for, it would be that.” SIM teams work to evangelize the unreached, minister to human need, disciple believers into churches, and equip churches to fulfill Christ’s Commission.

(USA)–And, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship[4] announces Jeanette Yep as the new Vice President of InterVarsity and Director of Multiethnic Ministries. She will assume the position as of March 1, 2003. In the 25 years she’s been on staff, she is known for encouraging multi-ethnicity and biblical reconciliation. The fellowship works in colleges and universities witnessing to communities of students and faculty who follow Jesus as Savior and Lord.

[1] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=CAID [2] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=LAM [3] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=SIM [4] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=ICF ———————————————————————

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