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(North Korea)–We begin today in North Korea, where the food situation, combined with international isolation, appears to be getting worse. Humanitarian rights are losing value, particularly those of believers. The country now tops Open Doors’[1] World Watch list. Open Doors’ Jeff Taylor describes what’s happening behind North Korea’s walls. “It’s one of those things where you just take bits and pieces of information and piece it together. You begin to see a picture that good things are happening in North Korea, that there is a church still there, that it hasn’t been wiped out. But, occasionally, we’ll hear of executions taking place of Christians, because those reports will come out. ” Taylor adds that while traditional evangelistic work is almost impossible inside North Korea, it continues. “We estimate there could be anywhere from 100-thousand to a half million believers in North Korea. They hold the key to the future of that country. We do need to pray that they’ll be bold in their faith. We need to pray practically, that they’ll have food, because it’s a very difficult situation there.”

(Central Asia)–Next, an evangelical ministry is trying to break the chains of Islam in Central Asia this summer. Bible Mission International’s[2] Mark Reimschisel says they’re hoping to reach out to 20-thousand young people through Christian summer camp. “What we try to do as an organization is to provide funds for children that don’t come from Christian families. So, a lot of those children that we’ll have in our camps will be going home to Muslim parents, some that are just plain atheistic, and we just count this as a great opportunity to reach millennium kids for Jesus.” Reimschisel says a 25-dollar gift will allow a camper to hear the Gospel and change lives. “When we’re talking about reach kids in this part of the world it’s very strategic to impact the society. Most of their parents are not followers of Islam, they’re just doing it because that’s what their tradition says and they don’t really know what that means. A lot of them do want to know about God.”

(Indonesia)–An Indonesian province plans a legal challenge to a recently passed education bill. Part of the bill stipulates that all students may receive instruction in their own faith in Jakarta. That means that Christian schools will have to provide teachers for classes in Islam. Christian groups and some secular Muslim organizations oppose the bill saying the state should not interfere in religious matters in private schools. Please pray for missionary teachers as they await the outcome to the challenge.

(Africa)–Meanwhile, Christians are needed for Great Commission work on the continent of Africa. That’s the message from the President of CB International[3] Hanz Finzel, who recently completed a month long trek across the continent. He says new missionaries are heading elsewhere. “The 10/40 Window’s been real popular, of course Asia and the whole Chinese world. You know, back when I was a missionary is was Eastern Europe. In some ways Africa is the forgotten continent. So, we’re really praying that God will just raise up a new army of people who are burned to go to Africa because the needs are so great.” Finzel says CBI is doing more than evangelism and church planting. They’re helping physically. “You’ve probably heard the statement; ‘I can’t hear what you’re telling me because my belly is screaming so loud with hunger.’ If you look at what the Lord Jesus did as He walked the earth, He spent more time touching people than talking to people.”

(Madagascar)–And, nearly 600-thousand Books of Hope[4] were distributed to children and young people in Madagascar. Book of Hope recently received a supportive letter from the Director of the National Office of Private Education. This has already helped open the door for the Book of Hope in the local private schools. When students receive Books of Hope around the world, local churches grow. This is also happening in Madagascar as more and more children and their families commit their lives to Christ.

[1] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=ODM [2] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=BMN [3] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=CBI [4] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=BOH ———————————————————————

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