News headlines for January 3rd 2003

(Suriname)–We begin today’s news in Suriname, a country bordering Brazil. While most ministry in this part of the world is welcomed, Gurudatt (goo-rah-DAHT SHEE-wah-daht) and Nadira Shiwdat say their work carries risk. The Shiwdatts are missionaries to Hindus in Suriname, so far, a people group unreached in that area. “As we enter into the communities of the Hindustani, there is persecution. Once they see that you have made inroads into their community, and that people are being reached for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, when they see that we are laying a good foundation, then they will persecute us.” The Shiwdats are staying at D&D Missionary Homes[1] in Florida while in the States. As they get ready for their work’s next growth phase, Gurudatt says they have identified another need. “Pray that God will send more workers. There is a great need for more missionaries. There is only a handful of missionaries that work among the Hindustani, and only about two or three percent have been evangelized. So, the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.”

(Vietnam)–Next, Voice of the Martyrs[2] reports seven Christians from a Vietnamese hill tribe are going to prison until 2011. A church leader got ten years for an asylum attempt to Cambodia last year. The sentences came after the men were found guilty on multiple charges including “undermining state and Communist Party policy.” Vietnamese authorities are also cracking down on other members of the predominantly Christian tribe. Pray for Christians in Vietnam facing this persecution.

(Guatemala)–It’s a ministry of a work gone full circle in Guatemala. CAM International’s[3] John Lohrenz says they are ready to launch the Old Testament translation in the Cakchiquel (KAH-chuh-keel) language. The cycle is completed since the New Testament involved a team of translators who are associated with the Bible Society that’s now publishing CAM’s work. Lohrenz says every triumph carries its trouble, like what happened after they’d started the translation. “A major orthographic change by the government-about halfway through the project, they decreed a new alphabet to be more inline with the worldwide linguistics practices. So, we encountered a lot of opposition from people who had learned to read under the old alphabet.” Lohrenz asks believers to pray for the launch. “Pray that the people in the churches will really accept and learn to read the new alphabet. That’s still a major factor because they have to make switches in the way that they read. Second, is in actually deciding how many Bibles to print up.”

(Honduras)–Elsewhere, the latest news from the Philippines indicates that Abu Sayyaf militants are targeting foreign and local businessmen and tourists for ransom or murder. International Aid’s[4] Billy Teninty (tenedy) says they’ve launched work in the Philippines despite the troubles being reported there. In fact, Teninty says, “We try to facilitate everything we do through Christian organizations or through the local church. And so, our primary partner there is a Christian non-profit organization. We partner with them both in this training program in medical equipment repair, and in other relief works.” Because the medical work is ministry,Teninty says prayer is an important component. “It’s a new work, so we would ask for prayers just for the Lord’s protection and Lord’s blessing on the work. We’ve got an excellent staff that are there as project coordinators. But, do be praying for us; be praying for the people of the Philippines. There’s a lot going on in the country that people are concerned about.”

(USA)–And, within the next few weeks, Life Action Revival Ministries[5] will decide whether or not to launch a team targeting smaller churches. While they believe God will provide the necessary new team members, they are asking God to confirm this direction by providing the needed finances. Life Action’s purpose is to glorify God through a revival among God’s people, resulting in a spiritual awakening among the lost.

[1] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=DAD [2] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=VOM [3] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=CAM [4] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=IAI [5] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=LARM ———————————————————————

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