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(Iraq)–We begin today in Iraq where the death toll continues to climb after a number of American troops and Iraqi citizens have been killed recently in the country. Open Doors Ministries'[1] Jerry Dykstra says the situation remains tense for believers in Iraq. “Right now there is a lot of really strange things going on there, people being killed, a dangerous place to be. A lot of them are hold up in their homes.” But Dykstra says the roughly 500-thousand Christians see this uncertain time as an opportunity to demonstrate their faith. And they are pleading for prayers. “Pray for a wise administration, those that are in charge of rebuilding Iraq. Safety for our visiting Christians who are there encouraging the Iraq Christians. Pray that the Iraq Christians will see hope and not be depressed.” Dykstra says believers in Iraq are concerned that the future government will be inclined to maintain persecution against them as it was under Saddam. Open Doors continues’ to provide Christian literature and training for Iraqi believers.

(Russia)–Elsewhere, the Baptist World Alliance[2] reports that a series of attacks leveled at a Baptist church in Russia came to a head last week when arsonists broke into the church and set it on fire. The President of the Russian Baptist Union says this details a pattern of harassment by “ultra-nationalists and atheists” in their city. Pray for this difficult situation, for the protection of the believers and their testimony there and for God to provide the funds needed for reconstruction.

(Venezuela)–A recall referendum against the Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, could be held in August, according to a deal to be signed by the government and opposition Thursday. The turmoil surrounding Chavez’ administration has hurt the country, but at the same time helped churches over the last year. Latin America Mission’s[3] Ken MacHarg explains how crisis has turned to ministry. “A pastoral couple who teach at the Evangelical Seminary of Caracas had been praying for their neighborhood for years, but had been unable to get to know the residents. LAM missionary Laura Smith says that when the different neighborhoods began to plan for civil defense in case of violence, they attended a neighborhood meeting. When the leaders discovered that they were pastors, they were put in charge of visiting people and helping with crisis counseling. The leaders even provided the couple with a list of people who needed special help. Now they have open doors to share the Gospel as they minister to their neighbors. For Mission Network News, I’m Ken MacHarg.”

(International)–Next, the Barna Research Group study of the church over the last year reveals that while religious activity is on the rise, personal involvement in practical faith remains mainly unchanged. American Missionary Fellowship’s[4] Lee Iseley says that describes their most difficult dilemma in outreach. “Our greatest challenge, really, is in terms of recruitment, finding people who are willing to commit themselves to the task of fulltime evangelism. As we find the need growing in America, we find our need for people in America to reach America, to be our number one challenge.” Iseley says once that challenge is met, there is another to be met through prayer and vision. “Pray for open doors of opportunity, that there would be the opportunity in various communities to go in and establish Bible learning communities, and secondly, for personnel to be going through those open doors and reaching people for Christ.”

(International)–And, Operation Mobilization[5] is officially launching a campaign to replace one of its ships. Of the two to be replaced, one is a converted ferry christened nearly 40 years ago. The cost to replace the ship is estimated at 18-million dollars. Since 1971, OM ships have touched 30 million people in 140 countries, distributing tens of millions of Christian and educational books and spreading the good news through outreach teams and onboard presentations.

[1] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=ODM [2] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=BWA [3] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=LAM [4] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=AMF [5] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=OMI ———————————————————————

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