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(Vietnam)–We begin today with a look at the Vietnam Human Rights Act. Currently in Congress, it prohibits any increase in non-humanitarian assistance until Hanoi make progress regarding its treatment of political and religious prisoners. However, International Needs Network’s[1] Rody Rodeheaver says although Vietnam’s official stance includes freedom of religion, “As you get outside of the metropolitan areas and into the rural areas, it just does not exist. There’s a tremendous amount of persecution. In fact, we’re concerned because there’s a sense that that persecution is growing. We’ve received reports from our people there that pastors just disappear.” Rodeheaver says their work continues, in spite of the reports of heavy oppression. “We have been working through the support of village evangelists and church planters in that country. We have over 40 village evangelists in the country.”

(Asia)–Meanwhile, many people in Asia are just waiting to hear the Gospel. That’s the word from Ron Pritz with OC International[2] . OCI is working side-by-side with national church leaders into help grow the church. Pritz says because it’s already very ‘religious’, the Gospel message is tolerated. “There’s a wide open door to work in those communities. Generally speaking, we find openness to the Gospel. We find people turning to Christ and tremendous church explosion in some of these countries today.” While short term workers have increased recently, long term commitments haven’t. “To go for the, what we call, the incarnational ministry, where you actually go into a country long enough to incarnate, to learn the language, to learn the culture, to come along side the people, to get into their homes and become friends. It’s more difficult to find people will to invest that kind of time in kingdom work.

(Ghana)–According to the latest African Economic Report, Ghana is moving slowly, but surely, toward economic and democratic development. Oasis International’s[3] Nancy Hudson explains they were approached by both church and government officials in Ghana and asked to help. “One of the things that they have a great need for is management skills. One of the things that they recognize is that they have not had the access to management training in their government. Because of that, they’ve come to us and asked us to do some leadership training.” A leadership training seminar is slated for August 16th in Ghana. Hudson says this opportunity also opened another door for the Gospel. “We told them, ‘well, the only way that we know how to teach about management is using God’s word, and the Bible, as our text. They said, ‘That’s great. We accept that.” Hudson says they’re also planning a ministry extension soon. Oasis will build a vocation center next to their training center in Ghana in the near future. Please pray.

(USA)–Meanwhile, a Christian organization is using shoes to reach souls with the Gospel. Here’s Life Inner City[4] is raising money to buy shoes for the needy in 60 inner-city neighborhoods across the United States. The program is called ‘Heart & Soul’. By providing shoes to these needy children it shows them their loved. And, according to Here’s Life officials, it can lead children all the way to the cross of Christ. They hope to help almost two-thousand children through their program this year.

(International)–And finally, an organization that’s been ministering the Gospel for 65-years has a new president. Robert Cole of Sydney, Australia has been appointed the Bible League’s[5] new president. Cole replaces Dennis Mulder who resigned last year. He will provide leadership to the organization, which has 175 staffed offices in 49 countries. Last year, through those offices, the Bible League was able to provide 21 million Scriptures for evangelism and discipleship worldwide. Cole assumes his duties immediately.

[1] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=INN [2] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=OCI [3] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=OIM [4] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=HLIC [5] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=BLG ———————————————————————

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