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News headlines for April 1st 2003

(Central African Republic)–We begin today in the Central African Republic where another coup has crippled missions outreach in that beleaguered country. General Francois Bozize (boy-ZEE-zay) took over the country in what’s described as a ‘bloodless coup’. EFCA International Missions'[1] Tom Cairns says their workers left the country when it became unstable, and as a result, their work suffered. “Pillaging began and there was a tremendous loss of commercial properties and the various missions all losing major amounts of property. There’s literally nothing left for the missionaries to go back to.” Cairns says they’ve ruled out returning to their Fulani ministry before the fall, but there is hope. “As Bozize is taking power, he seems to be respected by a lot of people. There’s a lot of hope right now that maybe this will be a stable government. Unfortunately, it was not an elected government, and so many of the countries are all very unhappy about the fact that it was a coup against an elected government.”

(Asia)–Elsewhere, Christians are growing more concerned about the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS. That’s the disease that’s claimed the lives of 55 people worldwide in parts of Southeast Asia and especially in Hong Kong, the site of the 14th Baptist Youth World Conference July 16th through the 20th. The Baptist World Alliance[2] says they don’t intend to cancel the event, but postponement is a possibility. A final decision will be made on or before April 30th. Christians are being asked to pray.

(India)–Gujarat State’s high court’s dismissal of a petition challenging the new anti-conversion law means the governor will still approve it. The bill passed through the legislature March 26th , amidst growing controversy. Global Advance’s[3] David Shibley says their Frontline Shepherds’ conference was timely. “All the more, because of anti-Western feeling, it’s important for us to lift up the hands of national pastors and church leaders. Currently, there are four states in India that have passed anti-conversion laws. Nevertheless, church planting continues, almost unabated.” Shibley says what’s happened since the meetings is amazing. “Already, there are 80 churches in process of being planted as a result of the Frontline Shepherds’ conference. This is almost unprecedented, the speed with which these new churches are being planted. I think there’s a refreshing new commitment on the part of Indian pastors as a result of the growing hostility against the church.”

(India)–Next, a serious water crisis is likely in 19 Indian states due to a lack of rainfall in the last three to four years. Living Water International’s[4] Jonathon Wiles says the problem is worse for the national church. “We’re not just dealing with a complete lack of clean, safe drinking water, we’re dealing with unequal access to the safe drinking water that’s there. What I mean by that is, because of the social structure in most of rural India, people who become Christians are typically outcast from society.” Wiles says in areas openly hostile to the Gospel, the church has to be more careful about ministry. However, Living Water found a way to help. “We have been drilling wells in Orissa in areas where there’s not already a church in hopes of opening the doors in that area for the Gospel because the people in the area who don’t have the water want to know why people are coming in and giving them water, so that opens the doors for local believers and the people who are working with Living Water to be able to share the Gospel a little bit more openly.”

(USA)–And finally, Life Action Revival Ministries[5] is thanking God for His provision. Ministry leaders recently outlined their burden to develop a team designed specifically to take the message of revival to small churches in North America. Back in February, Life Action announced that they would be launching the team in the fall of 2003 and began praying for the finances and personnel. Those prayers have been answered as God has provided the funding to begin, and recruiting for the team is also going well.

[1] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=EFCA [2] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=BWA [3] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=GAM [4] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=LWI [5] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=LARM ———————————————————————

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