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(North Korea)–We begin today with a look at what’s at stake in the upcoming multi-lateral talks with North Korea. Aside from the nuclear arms deadlock, Open Doors’[1] Jerry Dykstra says there is another looming issue needing address. North Korea has catapulted to the top of list as the worst persecutor of Christians. Dykstra urges prayer. “My concern is, with all the emphasis on the nuclear weapons program, that human rights is going to take a back seat in these talks. We really have got to pray that human rights is brought up at these meetings, and that religious freedom, and the persecution of Christians also is brought up.” Of the church in North Korea, Dykstra says it is alive. “Ministry is being accomplished. Open Doors is active in those areas. I can’t really say a lot of the things that we do there, because they’re obviously, secretive. But Bibles are getting to some of those believers. I think a lot of the prayer is to be concentrated on keeping our brothers and sisters faithful against tremendous opposition.”

(India)–Meanwhile, India’s illiterate population hovers between 70 and 80-percent, one of the highest in the world. As a result, millions have limited access to the Gospel. That’s why Audio Scripture Ministries’[2] Tom Dudenhoffer is excited for their newest venture into Southern India. “We have a partner in place, in India, that’s worked with us for a number of years. They feel that it’s going to be more effective to begin to place recordings of Scripture into individual, illiterate families in the villages.” Dudenhoffer says the anti-conversion laws in several Indian States are a matter of concern. However: “In order for the evangelists to place the cassette tapes and players in the homes, we go through a registration process where people indicate an interest and a willingness to have the Scripture cassettes in their homes, and then they pay a minimal registration fee, so that they can’t be accused of being manipulated or coerced into following Jesus.”

(International)–Theirs is a mission that has stood for over a century. CAM International[3] works to produce and empower committed followers of Jesus Christ in Spanish-speaking areas to reach the world. CAM’s Aaron Sandoval describes their newest tool that blows the possibilities for church growth wide open. “All these new mediums and all these new technologies allow us to take advantage of those resources and be able to spread them across Latin America in ways we never thought possible before. It’s bringing people together and it’s giving us ability to reach areas that we never considered reaching before just because it was logistically impossible.” Sandoval says they hope that this project encourages church leaders who are isolated and need encouragement. “People can pray for these materials that they might really have the impact that we’re hoping they’ll have. People can pray for some of the believers who are accessing these materials because they are in areas where they do not have access to other Christian materials.”

(Lithuania)–Next, The Bridge International[4] reports that a missionary team hopes to move their base of operations to Lithuania. The husband and wife team hopes to continue work in counseling through the Lithuanian Family Centers there. They are now offering their services, based on biblical principles to staff workers, volunteers and new patients referred by the Family Centers. The team expressed a desire to live where they minister, and have set sights on a move as early as 2005.

(USA)–And, the new school year is around the corner, but thousands of children do not have needed supplies. For many, the need interferes with their education. Operation Blessing International[5] helps American children through the Back-To-School Project (BTS). Internationally, they give poor students meals so they can focus on learning, as well as school fees or supplies. The price tag to help an at-risk student prepare for school: 25-dollars. OBI shows Christ’s love by meeting physical and spiritual needs in this manner.

[1] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=ODM [2] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=ASM [3] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=CAM [4] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=TBI [5] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=OBI ———————————————————————

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