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(Zambia)–Zambia tops our news today. The country shares a border with war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola, making it a natural haven from the fierce fighting consuming its neighbors. IN Network’s[1] Rody Rodeheaver explains that’s also the training ground for the Zambian Agricultural Crafts and Theological Studies Institute. “One of the things that we’ve attempted to do is to take our students at the ZACTS Institute and train them to go into this refugee camp, and they hold services in a number of those ‘villages’ that are inside that refugee camp, and are sharing the Gospel and bringing hope.” Rodeheaver says the scale of tragedy is immense, urging believers to act on the needs. “I think this camp has over a million people. They’re being overwhelmed with both the medical problems as well as just the feeding and bringing the food supplies into these people.”

(Congo)–Meanwhile, time is short to help reach an unreached people group in the Congo. Hope Builders International[2] is raising 18-thousand dollars to help Evangelical Rural Mission infiltrate a tribal group that’s never seen an outsider, let alone heard the Gospel. ERM’s DeWalt (De Valt) Vandenberg. “Our first objective is obviously to befriend them. The second thing is that we will be able to stay with them. We hear they have a lot of medical problems. And then, obviously, by staying with them in the village we are trusting the Lord that the Lord will open their hearts for the Gospel.” They have until August to raise the money needed. Vandenberg says this could help a whole people group come to Christ. “We will take the converts and trust that one of them will be able to take us further up into the northern jungles, going deeper and deeper, until we’ve reached the most northern parts of the Congo.” [3]

(Haiti)–Tithing is up in the dozen Haitian churches partnering with FARMS International.[4] The Family Life Outreach program helps believers practice biblical stewardship. 94 families are involved with small enterprises and 43 families are involved in raising animals. These things are taking place in an economy where many people struggle to earn a daily living. Church leaders are seeing poor families become self-reliant through hard work and generous giving to their churches.

(USA)–Next, a ministry reaching out to teens across North America is asking people to pray for their camping ministry. Young Life[5] hosts Christian camps in 25 different locations in the U-S and Canada. Young Life’s Terry Swensen. “The absolute centerpiece of Young Life camping is sharing the Gospel to unchurched kids. That’s what the whole week is about. Every day there is a club meeting. It’s typically about an hour long. And, that is, of course, as part of a really exciting day.” According to Swensen their camping ministry is a bit different because they don’t send kids to camp. “We take kids to camp. And that means, kids are coming with a leader who has developed a relationship with them throughout the school year and who will be with them when they get home. so that they will be involved with a Bible study and discipleship opportunities after camp.”

(Ukraine)–And, Bible Mission International[6] reports success from a mission team working in Ukraine. During the recent trip, the team held 19 evangelistic services. In that area, there are only a few Christians and many empty churches. The missionaries ask prayer now, specifically for the summer camp for the children in this region. Through the contacts with the children and their families, churches are planted and ministry takes root in areas that desperately need the hope of the Gospel.

[1] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=INN [2] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=HBI [3]

http://www.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/ramhurl?f=/mnn/interviews/07-08-03DeWaltVandenberg.rm [4] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=FARMS [5] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=YLF [6] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=BMN ———————————————————————

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