News headlines for February 25th 2003

(India)–We begin today in India where another missionary has been beaten for sharing his faith. Gospel For Asia’s[1] John Beers says the incident happened in north-east India to one of their film teams. Beers says villagers were open to the story of Jesus, but an extremist group didn’t like it. “They began to beat the team. They grabbed the leader, a young man named Titus. They grabbed him by the scarf (and) began to strangle him. (They) beat him, punched him, kicked him until he fell unconscious. But, by God’s grace one of the villagers who was a Christian took him to his house and tried to take care of him.” Titus was able to escape a second beating and is recovering. According to Beers, this violence is common against Christians and prayer is needed. “These are brothers. They’re flesh and blood just like us. And, they have fears and they have difficulties and they have struggles, but by God’s grace they’ve made the commitment to continue to go forward. In fact, some of our leaders in a meeting, they said, if it means martyrdom it’s okay we’re going to go. And so, they’re continuing to go forward even in the midst of the threat.”

(Uzbekistan)–Elsewhere, recent reports indicate several Central Asian governments were coming down hard on believers. However, Educational Services International’s[2] Jennifer Teske says they were spared from a government crackdown in which the Uzbek government threatened to expel Christian groups. “The government sent out a notice that they were going to evaluate everyone’s work there, and they were hinting that they were going to throw everyone out. The American government actually intervened on behalf of a lot of these Christian groups, and for now, we’re still there, and hopefully that will continue, but we’ll have to see what happens.” Teske says while teaching skills to the Uzbek people is one part of their mission, there is another part. “They want to get to know you, they want to know what makes you tick, and so, they will spend time with you and it’s a real time of fellowship. So, as you grow closer to these people then the door is opened for you to share that what makes you tick is the love of Christ.”

(Congo–Kinshasa)–Civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo isn’t stopping the spread of the Gospel. Sammy Tippit Ministries[3] was in this war torn, rebel held, region to hold Gospel meetings last week. According to Tippit an estimated 35-thousand people attended the meeting the first evening at a stadium in Kisangani. Nearly six-thousand people responded to the Gospel that evening. Tippit says they weren’t prepared for such of move of God. Pray that these new believers will grow in their faith.

(Lesotho)–Next, Lesotho (leh-soo-too) is among a group of six African countries faced with the monumental challenges of food shortage, disease and drought. The United Nations calls the plight of the people a ‘humanitarian crisis’ and is asking for more help. Mission Aviation Fellowship’s[4] Jon Lewis says while some areas are difficult to fly supplies into, this south African nation is a different story. “The one place where we are doing quite a bit at the moment is in the country of Lesotho, which is right in South Africa. We have a very extensive program there because it’s very mountainous.” Lewis explains their work makes sure mission groups have supplies in the region, which, in turn, helps them meet spiritual needs. “They are beginning to feel the effects of the drought in that particular area. I heard reports of us starting to take not only food supplies, but also, continuing to do the medical work in that area too, through the “Flying Doctors” program.”

(USA)–And finally, Campus Crusade officials are asking people to pray for their founder Bill Bright. It appears as though his pulmonary fibrosis of the lung is taking its toll on the man who founded Campus 52 years ago. There is no known cure. According to Bright’s wife, Vonette, they’re seeking help from Hospice care after his last visit to the hospital over the weekend. Bright was diagnosed with the disease in 2000, just after he resigned as Campus Crusade’s President.

[1] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=GFA [2] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=ESI [3] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=STM [4] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=MAF ———————————————————————

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