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(Liberia)–We begin today in Liberia, where President Charles Taylor has evidently agreed to an asylum deal. Under his legacy of war, a humanitarian crisis birthed. World Vision’s[1] Eleanor Monbiot describes the air of resignation. “People do not believe that Charles Taylor will go quite so easily. They have been calling on an international stabilization force to come in for 18 months. They feel quite abandoned by the international community. But, they do have amazing resilience, and if calm is brought to the city and to the country, they will very quickly be able to restore their livelihoods.” Monbiot says their teams are working hard to meet the mounting physical needs in Liberia, but not to the detriment of spiritual need. “World Vision believes that in everything that we do, we witness to Christ. So, if we are giving out food, by our very actions we are witnesses. In emergency response, sometimes, it is not possible to actually do physical Christian witness work. But, we do work alongside churches.”

(Belarus)–Next, a new agreement between the Orthodox church and the government is making evangelism difficult in Belarus. Russian Ministries[2] is concerned because the agreement is designed to fight against what the government calls “pseudo-religious structures”. Russian Ministries Anita Deyneka says Christians are being fined for evangelistic work. “This is very much a flashback and reminiscent of what was so tragic for Christians there, and I’m sure that’s how it seems to them. When I hear of this happening it brings back so many memories of what it was like in the Soviet Union under the Communists.” Deyneka says despite the problems, the church is growing. She’s asking people to pray. “Pray for wisdom for the on going growth of the church. And, pray for God’s intervention in protecting the religious liberties that are so important for Christians.”

(International)–More people are now able to hear and see the story of Christ than ever before. The JESUS Film Project officials say the film has been translated into 800 language, while the audio is now available in 16 languages. To date, the JESUS Film has been heard and seen by five-point-five billion people and more than 188-million people indicated decisions for Christ. The JESUS Film is being shown in 102 countries by more than 27-hundred film teams and more than 15-hundred denominations and mission agencies.

(China)–Meanwhile, Sammy Tippit Ministries[4] asks prayer for the recording of an evangelistic meeting in a Chinese context which will take place in August. This marks the beginning of their outreach into China. Pray for people to take the messages into the country. Pray too, for leaders within the church that will be able to disciple so many who are coming to Christ. Sammy Tippit Ministries hopes their tools will help continued growth in the church.

(Chile)–And finally, a 30 year missionary veteran to Chile sees training nationals has her top priority in the years ahead. Wilma Cross is with Youth with a Mission. Cross says teaching Christians how to reach out in mercy is a big need in Chile, especially in light of the economic problems. “What I call our school is a mercy school, a mercy, discipleship training school, which is for anyone for anyone who has a heart to reach out to those who are in some kind of great distress.” Cross, who is staying at D & D Missionary Homes[5] in Florida, says training Chileans could help in international missions. “A Chilean person is not somebody that’s taboo in an Arab country. And so, where you and I are as north Americans can not go, a Chilean can go and fit in and not have all the cultural baggage that is against us.”

[1] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=WVI [2] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=RMI [3] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=JFP [4] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=STM [5] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=DAD ———————————————————————

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