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A government shakeup triggers persecution in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka (MNN)–We begin today in Sri Lanka where a peace process is on hold following a tumultuous shake-up of the government. The instability prompted bloody protest, creating a wave of displaced people. It also had another unexpected effect. IN-Network’s[1] Rody Rodeheaver. “When the government becomes kind of focused on itself, and there’s a lot of in-fighting, which is going on right now, what happens is then these groups see this as an opportunity because the government is preoccupied with their own stuff, so they begin to accelerate their aggressive and anti-Christian behavior.” Rodeheaver says they’ve felt the impact. “There is less freedom to just go out and do evangelism. It makes us a little more tentative, we have to be a little more careful on how we approach some things.” The reports of attacks on believers by Buddhist militants have spiked over the last two weeks. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5358 [2]

Buddhist militants in Sri Lanka attack three evangelical churches. Sri Lanka (MNN)–Elsewhere, Sri Lankan churches continue to face pressure from Buddhist militants, so says a report from Voice of the Martyrs[3] . In three incidents spanning late October to mid-November, believers were attacked while in worship services. In at least two of the cases, Buddhist monks led the attacks on the churches and demanded that the church stop all Christian activity in the area. Please pray for those involved in evangelistic work in Sri Lanka that they will not be intimidated. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5355

Help is available for Zambia orphans Zambia (MNN)–The United States recently agreed to provide funding to assist the people of Zambia. The money will be used to help fight HIV/AIDS, improve entrepreneurs, as well as expand education and health care. Robert Bland, director of Teen Missions International[4] says they have been sending teams to that area and specifically targeting the children whose parents have died of AIDS. Bland says we try to help them grow food for themselves and we have sent a ton and a half of packages of vegetable seeds that we help those children grow their own gardens. The other thing, practically none of them are in school. We make their uniforms and pay their fees. The mission has also had an opportunity to run campus for the kids in which they are able to share the Gospel. In one of the very first camps we ran with just 33 kids, 26 of them made first time decisions for Christ so we are trying to reach out to them and not just only social work but a great tool for evanelism. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5357

Boxes of food open evangelistic doors USA (MNN) — Meanwhile, boxes of food is showing Christ’s love to poor families in the United States. Here’s Life Inner City’s[5] Ted Gandy says it’s called, ‘A Box of Love Outreach.’ Gandy describes the program. “It’s providing a ‘box of love’, which is a large food filled box brimming with holiday classic food, you know, the turkey, the ham, stuffing, potatoes, canned vegetables, those types of things. And, giving through many different churches across the country in poor communities and giving (these boxes) to those in need.” The end goal is to lead people to Christ and Gandy says they need financial help to make it happen. “We want to be sure to give glory to God and to share with a needy person that they too can have a relationship (with God). So, in the box is some Gospel pieces. Sometimes there’s even a Jesus video. The sponsorship of a box is $36.71.” Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5354 [6]

Vietnamese believers eagerly await new Bibles. Vietnam (MNN)–And, the World Bible Translation Center[7] is in the final stages of the printing and distribution of 20,000 of the Vietnamese New Testament in Vietnam. The primarily Buddhist country has a population of 80 million and is home to an estimated one million professed Christians. Ask God to bless and multiply the Center’s efforts to get the Word out in Vietnam. The New Testaments will be distributed at WBTC’s discretion among registered churches all over the country. A source in Vietnam reports nearly 800 registered churches are meeting there. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5356

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

http://www.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/ramhurl?f=/mnn/interviews/11-17-02rodyrodeheaver.rm [3] http://www.gospelcom.net/media/group.php?agencyAb=VOM [4] http://www.gospelcom.net/media/group.php?agencyAb=TMI [5] http://www.gospelcom.net/media/group.php?agencyAb=HLIC [6]

http://www.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/ramhurl?f=/mnn/interviews/11-17-03TedGandy.rm [7] http://www.gospelcom.net/media/group.php?agencyAb=WBTC

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