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(Bangladesh)–Monsoon flooding in east Asia headlines today’s news. It’s believed to be the worst flooding in 100 year. World Help’s[1] Eric Vess says flooding was bad 10 years ago when 70-million people in Bangladesh, Nepal and India were displaced. He says this year could be worse. Vess says World Help is focusing on Bangladesh. “Our partners in Bangladesh have identified over 35,000 families that are in immediate need of survival packets. They consist of rice, molasses, cooking oil, salt, matches and in some cases kerosene. This will actually help a family survive through the situation.” 100-dollars can provide relief to an entire family. Vess says this is a great evangelistic opportunity. “This does open the door naturally to evangelism down the road. Not right at first. At the beginning we meet their physical needs. Later, when they say, ‘why are you doing this? Why are you helping us?’ then the door is open for an honest sharing of the Gospel.”

(Middle East)–Next, an Arabic New Testament translation is poised to go into the Middle East. This move was heralded by 100,000 scripture portions already in the area. The World Bible Translation Center[2] has plans to prayerfully spread at least 250,000 copies of its Arabic New Testament across the Middle East and Northern Africa over the next three years. The Center’s Roger Massey says there’s only one major obstacle standing in their way. “The translation is ready. It’s done and it’s at a printer in the Middle East. We’re just launching projects to raise funding to get the printing started. We can print a New Testament for $1.50—and that’s to print and distribute.” Massey explains their plans for launching the translation begin in Egypt, because of the vibrancy of the church body there. “Pray that God will begin to open the ears and hearts in the Middle East to the message of Jesus that translated in an easy-to-read, very modern Arabic.”

(Cambodia)–In a new spirit of harmony and cooperation, five Cambodian evangelical missionary organizations have formed a coalition dedicated to spreading the gospel and raising up new missionaries. Christian Aid Mission[3] reports church leaders believe that in order to win Cambodia for Christ, they need better training and books printed in the predominant language of Cambodia. Christian leaders are also developing radio and TV ministries, and plan to train 23 evangelical leaders and send them back as missionaries.

(USA)–We turn next to ministry in Singapore. The island republic is a well-developed, bustling, economic success story. However, Patrick Delaney, a church planter with Baptist World Mission, says because of the diversity, there is much to be done in the work of Christ. “We started a church and now are in the process of transitioning by training a national whose been called into the ministry. We’re hoping to turn the work over to a national in about two and a half years’ time from now.” Delaney describes their biggest challenge as the struggle for the heart. He says many are caught in the grip of a vise made up of religion and wealth. “Those two sides of that vise squeeze the heart and soul of an individual making that heart less and less open to the truth and the light of the message of the Gospel.” The Delaneys are staying at D&D Missionary Homes[4] in Florida while on furlough in the States. They return to Singapore in January 2004.

(Russia)–And finally, Men for Missions[5] .

[1] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=WHP [2] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=WBTC [3] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=CAID [4] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=DAD [5] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=MFM ———————————————————————

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