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Christian television viewer ship is up as unrest in the Middle East increases. Middle East (MNN) — As President Bush blasts Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat for being a roadblock to peace, many in the region are looking for spiritual answers to their questions. Sat-7[1] is a Christian satellite television network in the Middle East and North Africa. Sat-7’s Ron Ensminger says the unrest isn’t decreasing the number of viewers. “Our viewer ship actually continues to increase. The number of calls, the number of e-mails, the number of letters that are coming in is increasing significantly. The numbers of satellites that are installed has gone from 100-million to 115-million. As the population grows, so grows the population of satellite dishes.” According to Ensminger, that only makes the need for funding even more urgent. “Point-two percent of all missions giving in the United States goes to the Middle East, and we’re talking about a population group of 460-million people. So, there’s a huge disparity in the giving. If we’re interested in Muslim evangelism, we need to be thinking about re-appropriation of missions giving.” Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5148

At least one Christian group continues work in Iraq despite threats. Iraq (MNN) — Next, at least one organization continues to work in Iraq, despite threats by Saddam Hussein loyalists against foreign workers. World Relief’s Clive Calver says his organization is working without interruption because they’re in a unique situation. “The real work is being done by the Iraqi churches. And, they’ve been joined by the Jordanian churches. We’ve brought the churches from Jordan in because they’ve got the language, they’ve got the culture. So, you’ve got the Jordanian and Iraqi Christians working side-by-side with the resources from the American churches to actually impact their community for Jesus.” Calver says Iraqi Christians sense the danger of a fundamentalist Islamic government, so they have a plan. “Let us pray for our people. Let us go and transform our communities. What we will do is rebuild the schools, provide for displaced people, help the chronically poor and the chronically sick. What they’re really needing is our help to resource them as they transform their communities. They don’t need us to do it because it would be too dangerous for us.” Call 1-800-535-LIFE to help. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5150

Tribal believers in Venezuela face a new threat to them spiritually. Venezuela (MNN) — Guerrilla violence in South America is forcing missionaries out of the jungle and into big cities. A HREF=”/media/group.php?agencyAb=NTM”>New Tribes Mission’s Merrill Dyck is one such missionary, who works with the Pume (poo-MAY) people in Venezuela. He worked in the jungle for 25 years before being forced out. “We were in a very dangerous area, close to the Colombian border where the guerrillas were kidnapping people and causing grief. The warnings came in thick and strong. We suddenly packed up real fast. 10-days later the guerrillas hit the station.” Pume church leaders travel to the city for discipleship, but Dyck says there’s a new threat to their work. “There’s an anthropologist in there who’s fighting hard to stop Christianity among the Pume. And, what they’re trying to do basically is poison the Pume and get them back into the old ways, the ancestral teachings, and give up everything that has to do with Scriptures.” Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5151

Children are flocking to underground churches in China. China (MNN) — Meanwhile, children are packing Sunday schools in house churches in China wanting to learn about Jesus, but there’s a problem. Most churches have very little if any Sunday school material to help teach them. Open Doors[2] is stepping forward to help, by providing Sunday school curriculum for churches all across China. Funding is needed to meet the demand. But, since it’s illegal to share the Gospel with children, prayer is needed. The material is in considered contraband. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5152

The Gospel message found in a backpack in the United States. USA (MNN) — Inner-city children in the United States are being reached with the Gospel through backpack giveaways. Here’s Life Inner City is communicating love to needy children by providing them with back-to-school supplies that include the Gospel message. The “PowerPack” outreach program is a way for staff and volunteers to connect with inner city children and their families. The group has partnered with city churches to provide resources to almost 2,00 children. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5149

[1] http://www.gospelcom.net/media/group.php?agencyAb=SAT7 [2] http://www.gospelcom.net/media/group.php?agencyAb=ODM ———————————————————————

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