News headlines for September 30th 2003

Christian Radio is discipling new believers in China as persecution continues.

China (MNN) — We begin today in China as 170 believers in Henan Province were questioned by police after attending a house church in the region. According to reports, 14 church leaders remain in custody. HCJB World Radio[1] broadcasts programming into China. HCJB World Radio’s Ron Cline says the Chinese take an incredible risk when they come to Christ. “They say ‘yes’ to Jesus at the same time they say ‘yes’ to death. It’s almost as if they agree ‘I will die, but I want to be a Christian.’ And so, we want to encourage them via radio. And, they tell us in China that two things are building the church in China, relationships – Chinese to Chinese, and radio, because it’s teaching them their theology.” Cline tells us how they help Chinese believers through their radio broadcast. “You trying to encourage them and strengthen their faith, that’s all. You try to give them the promises that God has given to them. Make sure they know they understand what those promises are, the guarantees from God for their life. You try to equip them and prepare them for this persecution that will come.” Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5184

Threats of violence continues after verdict in India. Threats and violence continues to hinder the opportunities Christians in India might have to show the love of Christ to their Hindu neighbors. Violence has followed the conviction of a Hindu militant group tied with the deaths of missionary Graham Steward Staines and his sons in 1999. Voice of the Martyrs[2] reports that earlier this month a group of Hindu activists stopped a prayer meeting in Vorivali accusing the group of planning to convert people to Christianity by bribing them with money. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5183

A Christian camp in Spain isn’t able to minister to young people. Spain (MNN) — A camp that was hit hard by an incredible thunderstorm in Spain last month is still in need of help. President of Greater Europe Mission’s[3] Ted Noble says they’ve raised SOME of the 130-thousand dollars needed to repair the damage, but not enough. “In August we had a hail storm that destroyed the camp. We maybe have raised 30-thousand of the 130-thousand dollars need. That is a big issue. It just basically shut down the camp. Until that’s replaced we won’t be able to open the camp again.” Noble says it’s very important for the money to be raised because lives are at stake. “The missionaries are saying the most responsive way they’re finding (people responding to Christ) is through camps. It is the singular thing that we do in Spain, and some may say the singular thing that’s done in Spain, to see people come to Christ.” The money needs to be raised as soon as possible or camp could be in doubt next summer. Pray that many respond to the need. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5185

Successful church planting in Brazil Brazil (MNN) — The people of Brazil are using a successful strategy to reach their fellow countrymen for Christ. White Field’s[4] President Stephen Lonetti recently made a visit to South America and found that the Brazilians have a unique approach to ministry. “When they see a new satellite city develop, which we would call subarb, they immediately go in that new suburb and buy up three lots and they begin evangelism, then start home groups and when the home group becomes large enough they build a church on one of those lots along with the pastors home and then as the church grows they expand that church and use the third lot for parking.” In Lonetti’s visit, he found that unlike many other countries around the world, the Brazilian people had a passion for missions. “But Brazil definitely does and they are becoming a sending nation. So what White Fields is doing is coming alongside and helping national church planters to plant churches in Brazil which will in turn then be the support base for seniding missionaries out into the other countries.” Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5182

A minority group in Turkey is responding to the Gospel, despite opposition. Turkey (MNN) — And finally, despite opposition, Hope Builders International is seeing people come to Christ in Turkey. HBI’s Lance Thollander says 15 people made professions of faith recently during special meetings in a village made up of minorities. Three Christian leaders were taken into police custody, but they were released without being charged as authorities had granted permission to hold the event. Pray for safety and that many more will turn to Christ. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5186

[1] http://www.gospelcom.net/media/group.php?agencyAb=HCJB [2] http://www.gospelcom.net/media/group.php?agencyAb=VOM [3] http://www.gospelcom.net/media/group.php?agencyAb=GEM [4] http://www.gospelcom.net/media/group.php?agencyAb=WFI ———————————————————————