News headlines for January 17th 2003

(Iraq)–Topping the news, as the potential war with Iraq grows, and forces mobilize, there are estimates that if fighting breaks out, the refugee population could total six million. In response, International Aid[1] is readying their response to refugee camps in Jordan. I-A’s Myles Fish. “The products and services that we’re going to try to provide will be healthcare related. We’re sending a whole healthcare clinic, we’ll be sending pharmaceuticals, personal hygiene items, a water treatment plant. That will be leaving here in spring lake when we begin to see the flow of refugees leaving Iraq.” Fish believes the refugees will come to know at least one thing about Christians. “What you’ll know about is the local indigenous church through whom we are sending the aid. It’s our hope that by giving these local indigenous churches the means for ministering to the refugees, that they then will have an opportunity to both demonstrate and proclaim the Gospel message.”

(Uzbekistan)–Meanwhile, an evangelical pastor will be in court this weekend in the predominately Muslim country of Uzbekistan. Bible Mission International’s[2] Paul Hagelgamns says Pastor Nikoly pastors a church just outside of Tashkent. Hagelgamns says he’s charged with operating a church without government registration. He says there’s more to it than that. “One of the problems is that they have converted Uzbek people. (The) official language in Uzbekistan it is (the) Uzbek language (and) you can not preach the Gospel in that language. You can preach (the) Gospel only in (the) Russian language. It is illegal that Muslims (covert) to Christianity.” Pastor Nikoly could face fines and up to one year in jail. Hagelgamns says this won’t affect their work. “We will continue doing. We will continue growing and God will open other doors and by (the) grace of God and by His faithfulness we’d like to reach these nations for Christ and it will be done.”

(USA)– Evangelism Explosion[3] is at the head of a movement reaching kids with the Gospel. Evangelism Explosion’s Karen Gushta works with ‘Kids’ EE’, specifically geared to train youth leaders, who in turn, teach the kids. “We see that we should be talking about a 4/14 window. The opportunity is there to reach kids at this time when they are very open to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord. So, we want to train and equip children to be reaching their peers, their friends, their brothers and sisters and others with the Gospel.” Gushta says the program is growing, and asks people to pray for the team leaders. “Kids’ EE is now in 35 countries; it’s on every continent. We’re just having such a great response overseas. Right now, we do have a clinic that’s just about to start in Zambia. One of our field representatives has already trained 73 children’s leaders and pastors in eastern Africa.”

(USA)–And, Here’s Life Inner City[4] is readying almost 7,000 homeless care kits, which help express God’s love to those in need. 16 Here’s Life cities are participating in the project with more than 100 inner city churches actively involved this winter. Here’s Life’s Ted Gandy. “When some Christians caregivers get out there in the areas where the homeless congregate, there are just some incredibly tender moments of someone going up to that person and demonstrating Matthew 25; ‘I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes, and you clothed me.'” Gandy says workers often share their faith. “The fact that they’re giving them hats, gloves, scarves socks, a blanket, toiletries-all these things, immediately, up front, say, ‘ we really care for you; we love you’, and then they can launch into explaining why they’re motivated and how God loves that individual.”

[1] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=IAI [2] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=BMN [3] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=EEI [4] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=HLIC ———————————————————————

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