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(Vietnam)–We begin today’s newscast in Vietnam where reports confirm long-standing worries over religious liberty. Evidence shows new converts face discrimination and government surveillance. Yet, in this atmosphere, a new outreach thrives. Educational Services International’s[1] Stephanie Tebow explains through teaching, deeper questions are addressed. “Our students begin to question and ask, ‘why are you a Christian?’ and, ‘I see the difference between your life and mine; I want to know more about this Jesus Christ that you have in your life’…depending on where they live, depends on really, what happens next.” Tebow, referring to the persecution of believers. She urges prayer. “Pray for our people, that will be given greater access, there will be less suspicion, that our efforts to witness a lifestyle and to stand with and partner with other Christians, would grow.”

(China)–Meanwhile, reports indicate the number of Bibles printed in China is on the decline – a 20-percent decrease over the last three years. That’s the word from Open Doors[2] , an organization ministering to the persecuted church. Open Doors plans to deliver two-point-two million Bibles to China. Officials say this is no time to cut production as there’s been an incredible increase in the number of converts in China. The Unite Bible Societies report that 40-percent of all Christians still don’t have their own Bibles.

(Albania)–Thousands of people gave their hearts to Christ in Albania recently. The Luis Palau Evangelistic Association’s[3] Next Generation Alliance sent evangelists into the region. Spokesman Tim Robnett says evangelistic meetings focused on politicians, prison inmates, teachers and others. “We had a saturation evangelism ministry in seven different cities. They held almost 100 events. This went on for about 10 days. Over 4,000 people making decisions for Christ.” According to Robnett the small Albanian evangelical church desperately needs your prayers. “If there’s 8,000 Christians and 4,000 new Christians, just the follow up itself has to be enormous — just the number of people that need to be contacted, because we do always institute a process of follow-up. But, often, just the energy and the time demands to get it done is always challenging.”

(USA)–Elsewhere, colorful illustrations and easy-to-understand passages from the Bible lead children on an adventure in discovering God’s character. International Bible Society’s[4] Lisa Anderson describes the creativity behind their newest release, “God’s Great Love”. “What’s unique about “God’s Great Love” is that we’re using the actual Biblical text. A lot of times, with children’s books, they’re recreations of the story. But, there’s such inherent power in the word of God, that we’re committed to using the Bible text itself.” Anderson explains what IBS hopes to see from the release of this book. “It tells the meta-narrative of the entire Bible and that gives children a framework of the whole story of God and His expression of love through the Old Testament through the New Testament. We’re just hoping that it’ll give kids kind of a place to put everything else that they learn about the Bible as they grow up.”

(USA)–And finally, elementary students are helping to stimulate funding for missionary outreach with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. About 100 Southern Baptist[5] missionary candidates are on hold because of the lack of funding. Students at the Missionary Learning Center say if all 16-million Southern Baptists gave one dollar the need would be met, so they’re collecting money and challenging others to do the same. Pray that many adults will catch the vision.

[1] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=ESI [2] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=ODM [3] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=LPEA [4] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=IBS [5] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=IMB ———————————————————————

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