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(India)–We begin today in Sri Lanka where there’s a proposed anti-conversion bill. A recent court ruling undermines the strength of the country’s constitutional provision for freedom of religion. Similar bills in India created tensions between Christians and radical Hindus, leading up to an increase in persecution. However, BCM International’s[1] Afro-Asian Director, Doctor Vararuchi Dalavai (VAR-ra-ROO-chee DAHL-uh-vye) says this is won’t change much. “Persecution is a common thing in this part of the world, especially in Asia. So, we don’t definitely highlight it unless it’s [the reports are] asked for, because we are born in persecution, we are ministering in persecution, and the day will come we will go as martyrs in the persecution. So, we don’t highlight it.” BCM’s President, Doctor Bob Evans says their recent missionary conference served to encourage the evangelists. “It’s a combination of training–training our pastors in how to do more effective ministry, but also talking about the real mission of the church in this century.”

(India)–Meanwhile, anti-Christian sentiment rises with the growing Hindu nationalist movement in northern India. Gospel For Asia’s[2] KP Yohanon describes the obstacles believers face in areas like Himachal Pradesh State. “Just the other day, what we have is our leader there reporting that one of our students in our Bible school, went for outreach, and he was beaten up and abused without any mercy, and they destroyed his tracts, his booklets, and threatened to kill him if he ever came back to that place again. This is something that continues to increase and all we can do is to pray and continue to encourage our brothers which we do. We send them out saying that ‘you know, what Jesus promised is persecution and opposition. Be courageous and be willing to lay down their life for the Lord.” GFA has established 36 Churches and 80 mission stations in Himachal Pradesh. Pray for those involved in outreach through this area.

(USA)–While the lights were going out around the United States in the largest blackout ever, Christians were using it as a ministry tool. According to the Baptist Press[3] , Baptists in New York City handed out icy pops with the Gospel to people on the street. In Cleveland, the Parma Baptist Church regained power within two hours and opened its doors for Cleveland-area residents who are without air conditioning in their homes. Pray that seeds of the Gospel will grow in the days ahead

(USA)–Next, the high school dropout rate continues to climb on many Native American reservations. Leon Matthews with “The Lakota Training and Leadership Institute” in South Dakota, works at bringing in Christians to help his people make a better life for themselves. “We want to help develop our people and we believe that it’s through Jesus Christ that dignity can be restored and through the dignity of Jesus we can hope to build our community on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.” Half of the reservation is under the age of eighteen and there’s a seventy-percent high school dropout rate among that group. Matthews says they are working with several Worldwide Christian Schools[4] to develop an after-school-program. The goal: “Use the literacy programs as well as mentorship and discipleship to encourage youth to finish High School and we’re excited that we can try to build the kingdom of God through this effort.”

(USA)–And finally, a United States based revival ministry is praising God for allowing them to make progress on their National Ministry Center. During Revival Week at Life Action Revival Ministries[5] in Michigan recently, the Lord move in the hearts of staff and ministry support to provide the balance of funding needed to complete the first phase of the project. Construction should restart soon and they hope to be able to move into the main floor some time in 2004.

[1] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=BCM [2] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=GFA [3] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=IMB [4] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=WWCS [5] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=LARM ———————————————————————

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