News headlines for April 3rd 2003

(Iraq)–We begin today’s newscast in Iraq as coalition forces continue their quest to sack the regime of Saddam Hussein. As those efforts continue, President of Open Doors USA,[1] Terry Madison, says this war is providing the push Iraqi believers needed to reach out with encouragement. “To reach out not only to each other, but to show their Muslim neighbors what it means to be authentically Christian and to reach out with love and compassion and to stand along side them when they have needs that Christians can address and help. And, that seems to be what’s happening.” Open Doors has been working in Iraq for years providing Bibles and training. Madison says that work will change. “Once the immediate practical needs of our brothers and sisters there are made batter know to us than they are right now we are prepared to use our networks to see that food and medicine and clothing and sort of the basics of life are sped to the body of Christ there.”

(Iraq)–Meanwhile, as bombs continue to rain down on Iraq, Christian organizations are preparing to go into the country to help with physical needs. President of Food for the Hungry[2] Ben Homan hopes they’ll be able to help 100-thousand Iraqis once hostilities settle down. Food for the Hungry will be working with the Jordanian based churches to provide food, medical care, blankets, shoes and school supplies all in the name of Christ. Funding is needed to help get these needed supplies into the region.

(USA)–A chaplain in the U-S Armed Forces says he’s never seen so much Bible reading in his 25 years of service. That’s the word from Alvin Moore in response to what’s taking place in Iraq. The International Bible Society[3] is providing “desert camouflage” Bibles and New Testaments to troops in Iraq. Moore says many of the soldiers are requesting the Bibles and consider it essential equipment. Pray that God’s word will touch the hearts of these troops and that many will turn to Him.

(Papua New Guinea)–Next, with the increased potential for anti-Western violence as a result of the military action in Iraq, missionaries are planning for emergencies. New Tribes Mission’s[4] Steve and Tibbi Westcott work with contingency planning in Papua New Guinea. “It’s made us more aware of the need to keep close tabs on what’s going on in the country. I would have to say that the gospel continues to go out from strength to strength in Papua New Guinea, but just need to be more aware of what’s going on in the country, as far as law and order.” Westcott says because the tribal work is challenging, there are many prayer needs. “Seeing the goal at the end, which is to present the Gospel to these people in their own heart language…I guess perseverance would be a major one, just relationships with the people, the cultural issues that come up that we don’t totally understand…just ask God for wisdom to know how to deal with those.” The Westcotts are staying at D&D Missionary Homes[5] in Florida while in the United States.

(China)–And, the hope of the Gospel continues spreading like wildfire through China’s countryside. So much so, the government is taking notice. China Partner’s[6] Erik Burklin. “A government official, (he works with religious affairs), even told me that out of the five main religions that are officially recognized by the government in Jiangxi province, Christianity has the most followers, and this more than Buddhists have.” As a result of church growth, Burklin says an overwhelming need for trained Christian leaders presents itself. “We are currently heavily involved with a Bible school construction project in Nanchang. This provincial Bible school has over 40 students who are currently attending, and when the school is completed, it will be able to house 160 students. The first phase of the construction project is due to be completed before the start of the fall semester this September.”

[1] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=ODM [2] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=FFH [3] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=IBS [4] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=NTM [5] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=DAD [6] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=CPM ———————————————————————

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