News headlines for March 5th 2003

(Philippines)–Headlining today’s news, another tragedy has hit the world’s missions community in the Philippines. Yesterday, a bomb exploded at the airport in Davao City killing at least 17 people and injuring 100 others — three of the victims were with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board.[1] IMB’s Van Payne. “Bill Hyde, 59, died in surgery from severe head and leg injuries. Barbara Wallis Stevens, 33, was slightly injured and her 10-month-old son, Nathan, also was wounded. Our hearts go out to these families and their coworkers. We are moving quickly to assist the missionaries affected by this tragedy.” Payne says this violence isn’t new. “That’s been going on for decades. These folks were simply going about their lives and were in the wrong place at the wrong time. We’re grieved at the loss of Bill and certainly we’re praying for the Stevens family, but the brunt of this was felt by the Filipino people.” Payne says it doesn’t appear to be an attack against Christians or Americans. [2]

(Philippines)–Meanwhile, the most recent rash of violence in the Philippines isn’t stopping work that’s displaying Christ’s love in word and deed. The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee[3] is just one group who vows to continue. Susan Van Lopik works with the humanitarian group. “We’ve been there in the Philippines for many, many years. And so, we have a lot of programs on the ground. Working with local communities to improve the conditions of the poor people there. We are also involved, especially in Mindanao, in our peace and reconciliation work there – bringing together Muslim and Christian leaders and community members to try to develop communities of peace.” Van Lopik says prayer is essential. “Pray for the leaders of the communities so that they see the value of being peacemakers and peace builders in their community. Also, pray for the work that we are doing in terms of spreading the Gospel.”

(India)– Christian Aid Mission[4] reports that police in a village in northern India recently joined radical Hindus in expelling a native missionary from the area. In the last two years, he established a congregation of more than 40 believers, had another 40 who were being prepared for baptism, and held evangelistic meetings where about 500 people came and heard the Gospel. Hindu radicals went to the missionary’s village, threatened him and took him by force to the police station, accusing him of converting Hindus to Christianity.

(Congo–Kinshasa)–We turn now to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where there’s word that efforts to keep the peace are strained. At the height of the war, relief groups launched programs in the area. However, security issues forced several to a standstill. Africa Inland Mission’s[5] Ted Barnett says their work is going forward. “We have a program going on to bring aid into that situation, distributing emergency supplies, helping build the refugee settlement camps. We’re involved in welfare work, in spiritual care and counseling, and the distribution of Bibles to those who’ve lost theirs.” Barnett says the challenge is spiritual. “Pray for protection and safety for the already displaced populations and for the national church there, the mission and the aid workers that are there, for their safety, for their spiritual insight; for the ability to help in every way that is needed.”

(West Africa)–And, there’s good news coming in from West Africa where the Wolof Scripture recording of the Gospel of John was done in “chant”. Audio Scripture Ministries'[6] teams report early testing shows people in and around Senegal are listening and remembering what they have heard when presented the Gospel in chant form. Since only a third of the population can read, there’s a need for oral communication. Pray for the sensitive nature of work in areas where Islam is part of the culture.

[1] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=IMB [2]

http://www.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/ramhurl?f=/mnn/interviews/03-05-03VanPayne. rm [3] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=CRWRC [4] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=CAID [5] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=AIM [6] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=ASM ———————————————————————

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