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Devaluation of U-S dollar hits missions hard. Europe (MNN) — It’s being called a financial crisis in mission circles. The U-S dollar is worth just 75-cents to the Euro, and is only worth about 50-cents in some African countries when you figure in inflation. That’s causing incredible problems for mission organizations. Evangelical Baptist Missions[1] Jim Burdick says most missionaries are sent to the field right at their support level. “Then, if they lose an exchange rate then all of a sudden they start to lose the money to live within that economy. Then what mission agencies have to start doing is looking at ‘do we need to bring our missionaries home, do we have to raise more support, what do we do?'” Burdick says this would be an incredible problem for EBM. “Europe and Africa are our largest fields. That would be a tremendous hit in the Gospel ministry that’s going on for our ministry.” Short-term, Burdick says additional funding is needed. Long term? More nationals need to take an active role in ministry. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5499 [2]

Violence toward Christians as Christmas draws near As Christmas draws closer so do the number of violent acts directed toward Christians. Todd Nettleton with The Voice of the Martyrs, reports on a specific action in Indonesia. Nettleton says that in Poso, Indonesia, six young Christians were outside a church singing Christmas carols when two men on a motorcycle drove by. The man on the back had a pistol and he fired six shots. Two of them were shot, receiving injuries which they will recover from. Even though the government is trying to curb this type of violence, area Muslims have become frustrated with the growing number of Christians. The Muslim people are being reached with the message of the Gospel. They are accepting salvation through Jesus Crist and obviously when you see that happening in any kind of numbers it makes the leadership among the Muslims very nervous. Nettleton asks that we pray not only for protection but that these Christians will continue to be bold in their witness in spite of the violence. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5498

Violence against Christians may increase as Christmas nears International (MNN) — Christmas may mean an increase in violence against Christians. Assist News says police in Indonesia will be stationed at more than 240 churches because of bomb threats. In Italy, security is being increased at some eight-thousand Christian sites because of a high risk of terror attacks. And, in Sri Lanka, Buddhists say a Christians conspiracy may be responsible for the death of a prominent monk while visiting Russia. Even though he suffered a fatal heart attack, tensions have forced churches to postponed Christmas celebrations. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5496

A new animated film could point many kids to Christ USA (MNN) — Meanwhile, it’s called the ‘God Man’. It’s a 5-million dollar 3-D, photo-realistic, animated film on the life of Christ. It’s a project that the A HREF=”/media/group.php?agencyAb=BOH”> Book of Hope prays will have a huge impact on evangelism. Book of Hope’s Rob Hoskins says. “We’re really believing that upon it’s completion as we begin to translate it that it’s really going impact the entire children and youth culture around the world.” Dr. Augustine Pinto owns the largest private school network in the world. Pinto, based in India, says once this film is translated it will have a huge impact on Indian children. “In India, we have about 100-million children who do not go to school. So, they can not read or write, but if they watch this film I think that their lives will be changed and transformed. And, through the children, millions of home could be changed.” The English release will be Easter 2004, with other translations to follow. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5500 [3]

InterVarsity and International Bible Society are teaming up at Urbana ’03 USA (MNN) — And, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship[4] to reach a new generation of college students with the Bible. Today’s New International Version will be provided to nearly 22-thousand attendees at Urbana ’03 this weekend, the world’s largest teen missions event. Urbana’s Director Jim Tebbe says they’re placing a strong emphasis on reaching out with God’s word this year and is encouraging attendees to share their copy with someone they’re ministering to. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5497

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

http://www.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/ramhurl?f=/mnn/interviews/12-24-03JimBurdick.rm [3]

http://www.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/ramhurl?f=/mnn/interviews/12-24-03RobHoskins.rm [4] http://www.gospelcom.net/media/group.php?agencyAb=ICF [5] http://www.gospelcom.net/media/group.php?agencyAb=IBS ——————————————————————— Mission Network News Daily, a service of Cornerstone University of Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. Questions: (800) 284-9361 or

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