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Persecution continues in India, but the church is growing India (MNN) — We begin today in India where 2003 saw an increase in the amount of persecution against Christians. Hindu militants targeted evangelists and those listening, including the 300 million Dalits who rejected the Hindu faith. HBI Global Partners[1] helps train national Christians to take the message of the Gospel to the streets of India. HBI’s Doctor Bobby Gupta. “While we see this persecution and we see this pressure that is mounting on us from this Hindu activist movement. On the other end of the spectrum we’re seeing the church seeing the light, taking responsibility. We see great opportunity that is immerging to fulfill the Great Commission in our land.” Gupta fears tribal resurgence, and HBI must be ready for it. “There’s going to be a raise of people that are saying we want independence for ourselves. I think that every state the HBI can be in today and in the next five years will establish a presence of Jesus Christ when those tribal resurgence arises.” Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5503

Unreached tribe now reached with the Gospel Rep. of Congo (MNN) — Meanwhile, a few short months ago they were unreached by any outsiders. Now, the Babangu (bah-BAHNG-gu) people are now reached with the Gospel. Hope Builders International[2] supported the mission of Dwald (de-VALT) VandenBerg and Roffin (RAH-fihn), a Congolese Pastor, into the northern jungles of the Republic of Congo. HBI’s Johan Gous (hohs) says VandenBerg reports the chief of the tribe was the first to come to Christ. “This meant that the door to the Babangu people opened up to us very widely. The chief sent out runners to the other villages telling them that he was sending Dwald and Roffin with them and that they needed to listen to this story that was being told.” Speaking in a dialect understood by the Babangu, 200 people turned to Christ. Gous says.. “Of those they have taken 30 that they are discipling and they are spending a lot of time with, teaching them.” HBI is raising money to help VandenBerg. He mortgaged his home in order to fund the trip. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5504 [3]

Urbana ’03 could impact millions world-wide. USA (MNN) — As tens of thousands meet for Urbana 2003, millions more could be impacted around the world. We take a glimpse of a new program to develop church partnerships. Evangelism will only succeed when churches and missions work together. Shannon Marion is an Associate Regional Secretary for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship[4] , sponsor of the event, and with 11-hundred pastors and church leaders attending Urbana, it’s a golden opportunity to encourage an improved working partnership. “We know as a college ministry if our students are not involved in churches, we’re all wet. We want to equip them and train them to reach out on their campus for four years or two years if they’re at a community school. But they’ve got to be active in churches in college and after churches.” Marion says they’ll use special breakout sessions for pastors and church leaders to introduce them to the ways the two can work together in a coordinated effort to lead others to Christ. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5505

Church leaders in Nicaragua beg for ministry to begin Next, in Nicaragua the desperate cry for the gospel is being heard. The Bible League plans to begin discipleship, church growth, and church planter training in response to an urgent plea from the president of the largest evangelical denomination in the country. Using their proven “Project Philip” program the Bible League plans to start their ministry in early 2004. The Bible League has started projects in Latin America, including Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Haiti, Ecuador, and Venezuela. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5502

Fines paid, prisoners get a wonderful Christmas gift And finally, a number of detainees in Jamaica had a merry Christmas this year. Food for the Poor[5] paid outstanding fines so the non-violent prisoners could spend Christmas with family this year. For those still behind bars, they provided prayer, food and gifts. Together with the Salvation Army, Food for the Poor also provided a complete Christmas meal for up to one-thousand street people in downtown Kingston. All this was an effort to share Christ’s love in a practical way. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5501

[1] http://www.gospelcom.net/media/group.php?agencyAb=HGP [2] http://www.gospelcom.net/media/group.php?agencyAb=HBI [3]

http://www.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/ramhurl?f=/mnn/interviews/12-26-03JohanGous.rm [4] http://www.gospelcom.net/media/group.php?agencyAb=ICF [5] http://www.gospelcom.net/media/group.php?agencyAb=FFP

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