News headlines for April 15th 2003

(Zimbabwe) — Headlining today’s news, while international attention has been on the Arab world, famine and hunger are plaguing much of Africa. Bible Pathway Ministries[1] is focusing on Zimbabwe. Because Zimbabwe’s government is accused of corruption in the aid distribution effort, many countries in the west have stopped shipments. Pastor Alphus says this has caused other problems. “We have Libya coming into Zimbabwe, giving us gasoline and oil in exchange for land. And, that of course comes with strings attached. Mosques and Islamic schools (are) being erected. The government is shifting its attention now from what was a church environment, focusing on this Islamic inflow.” Pastor Alphus is raising money to help with both physical and spiritual hunger. “With $15 you can feed a family for a week and place the Word of God in their hands. (With) the food parcels that we’re distributing to our needy people, we actually give out Bible Pathway materials – those are reading studies – when we hand out food parcels.” [2]

(Malawi) — The city of Blantyre is set in the mountains of Malawi. The people are warm and friendly…but there is a sense of urgency for those involved in evangelistic work. As in most of Malawi, there is a race going on. Muslim influence is growing ever stronger throughout the country. With elections slated for next spring, the urgency to reach people with the Gospel grows. Scrivin Kamanga is with Trans World Radio[3] Malawi. He says their station serves multiple purposes. “We expose things that are happening in the community…things that people are crying about and cannot be heard We give them a voice, so they can be heard.” TWR Malawi is still in the pioneering stages of development and challenge. However, Kamanga believes the staff is called to spread the Gospel via radio. For him, the charge came while he was a teenager. “I had a mission. When an opening came up in trans world radio, I said, ‘ well, this is something I had been crying to do. That’s how I came here, because I love the Lord and I want to serve God through radio communication.”

(Indonesia) — While anti-Christian sentiment is common in Indonesia a Christian radio rally in that predominately Muslim country ran without a hitch. That’s the word from Jim Bowman, the president of Far East Brodcasting Company[4] . Bowman says the rally was held in Kalimantan. “To our surprise 3,000 people showed up for this one. Towards the end of the conference, of course, they give an invitation, I guess you’d call it to people, an opportunity for them to express their interest to become Christians, and they were amazed that 300 people at this particular one did. I guess they didn’t have faith because they didn’t have enough counselors ready for all of these people.” Bowman says there is a message for Muslims on Christian radio. “Muslims do trust and do listen to Christian advice because the Gospel, more than most religions and belief systems in the world, has a lot to say about love and healing relationships and this is such a need in the world in every family regardless of culture and regardless of religion.” Pray that more of these radio rallies will be equally as successful in Indonesia.

(Nepal) — Meanwhile, a Gospel For Asia[5] imprisoned missionary may soon be released on bail. Manja Tamang has served several years of a 20-year prison sentence for a crime he did not commit. Gospel For Asia says they recently got word that due to court restructuring in Nepal, he may soon be released on bail. His appeal hearing is rescheduled for later this month and GFA members are hoping he will be able to return to his wife and two children soon.

(USA) — And, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship[6] will again be on the Campus of Rutgers University. The organization filed a federal law suit last fall after Rutgers suspended them from campus after the university decided the organization’s constitution violated the school anti-discrimination policy. The organization wanted the right to name like-minded Christians as its leaders. The suit was dropped after an agreement was reached between the two parties. InterVarsity has operated at Rutgers for more than 50 years.

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

http://www.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/ramhurl?f=/mnn/interviews/04-15-03PastorAlp hus.rm [3] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=TWR [4] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=FEBC [5] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=GFA [6] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=ICF ———————————————————————

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