News headlines for February 21st 2003

(Iraq)–We begin today with a look at the impending showdown between the United States and Iraq. The footprint of hostilities is falling heavy on believers who are living in the Middle East. Open Doors'[1] founder Brother Andrew expresses his concerns about the church’s continued work in the event of war. “There are Christians there. We work there regularly; we have big Bible exhibitions in Iraq, and all that would come to a standstill if war breaks out and it will make it worse for the surrounding countries where there are far less Christians and where there’s far less democracy than in Iraq.” Brother Andrew describes the need of the Iraqi church as a call to action. “Why shouldn’t we, as Christians, exert our influence in reaching out to the Christians by going there, finding out ‘what can we do?’ We may not be able to stop an outbreak of war, but at least we can go there, make friends and say, ‘I’ll pray for you’ and ‘Let’s see how we can support each other’.”

(Thailand)–Elsewhere, the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Asia is at the brink of being turned around, so say health experts. In spite of that news, nearly 30-thousand people die annually of AIDS in Thailand. The response now is helping family members meet their own needs and adjust to the loss of loved ones. World Concern[2] supports numerous relief and development programs in Thailand, both directly and through partnering agencies with the end goal of sharing Christ’s love in word and deed with the poorest of families worldwide.

(Russia)–Former prisoners in Russian are now having a huge impact on evangelism and church planting. Slavic Gospel Association’s[3] Michael Johnson says Sasha, the son of a Ukrainian pastor, is one example. He turned away from his upbringing and ended up in prison. “Through the ministry of a local Baptist church he got saved and he developed a tremendous passion for evangelism. Once he got out he connected with SGA and was trained in one of our seminaries that we sponsor, and he was eventually sent out into Siberia. He now is the senior pastor in a growing church.” Johnson says this story is repeated all across Russia, but the challenge facing church growth and evangelism is as well. “There are many pastors and church planters that are being graduated out of the Bible institutes and seminaries over there, but they simply don’t have the resources to be sent out into many of the unreached areas. And, these are areas where people are waiting to hear the Gospel.” 150 to 300-dollars a month can support a single outreach.

(USA)–Next, the Missions Resource Center sponsored by International Aid[4] continues to provide much needed assistance to missionaries home from the field. Jan Wells helps out in the store, serving over five thousand missionaries last year. “Many times they’re just overwhelmed with gratefulness. And we tell them that this is what God has provided for them. And many times we see tears.” The store provides books, Bibles, medical and health supplies as well as clothing for all members of the family. Wells says it’s an answer to many missionaries’ prayers. “Many times they tell us they’ve prayed specifically that they could find items that their family needs or things they are going to need for their ministry taking back overseas, and they’re just overwhelmed.” The store works on a nominal fee and is open year round to missionaries on furlough.

(Philippines)–And, the Evangelical Free Church[5] in the Philippines is involved in a number of schooling projects. Through their community development arm, they are working with churches in Manila to open study centers where they are helping poor children to be in a location where it is conducive to study. All of these programs need books, but local funds are lacking. Children in North America can help the children in The Philippines–many of whom do not come from Christian homes.

[1] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=ODM [2] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=WCI [3] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=SGA [4] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=IAI [5] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=EFCA