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Christians help in earthquake ravaged Iran Iran (MNN) — We begin today in Iran where nearly 30-thousand bodies have already be recovered the worst earthquake in more than a decade. Christian Reformed World Relief Committee’s[1] Executive Director Andy Ryskamp says his organization is already getting involved. He says they’ll be working with the local church. “We’re familiar with the Middle East organizations that are into the house church network to really respond in a way that’s coming along side those communities to show them what Christian care really is. This is an opportunity to witness to them in a powerful way.” Ryskamp says 100-dollars can go a long way in helping as 80-percent of the buildings in Bam were destroyed. “The homes are made of adobe brick with flat roofs. So, $100 would go a long ways in a country like Iran toward helping the community put together the monies that would rebuild the homes.” Go CRWRC-dot-org to help. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5512 [2]

Urbana ’03 moves teens hearts for missions USA (MNN) — Students are hearing the need for missions during the world’s largest teen missions conference taking place this week. Students from 120 countries are seeing their view of missions challenged at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship’s[3] Urbana ’03. Terra from Canada says her view of missions has changed. “I felt God reigniting my hope because I became rather cynical that most Christian young people aren’t very serious or committed about world missions, and I was inspired because I saw 20,000 people who didn’t seem to be faking it.” Abram from Illinois feels God moving at the convention. “Just ways in which to live a life more for Christ in this world in order to be a culture changing generation.” The 19,000 in attendance will be hearing more on how to impact the world as Islam continues to advance both on their college campus and abroad. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5515

Good news and bad news hits Mission India Meanwhile, Christians interested in teaching Children’s Bible Clubs in India are coming forward in large numbers. The numbers are overwhelming A HREF=”/media/group.php?agencyAb=MNI”> Mission India of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Mission India’s John DeVries. “This past season we’ve trained 70,000 Children’s Bible Club teachers in (a) two year training program. That’s the real good news. The bad news is we had to turn away 215,000 more.” The lack of funds prevented them from purchasing enough materials. DeVries says this is happening despite the increasing amounts of persecution against Christians. “It seems like the higher the risk of persecution the high the demand grows. We’ve never seen anything like this. The tighter it gets and the rougher it gets the more volunteers come out of the woodwork.” A 30-dollar gift can train one teacher. Each teacher reaches an average of 15 to 30 children. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5516 [4]

Jesus speaks Makonde. Mozambique (MNN)–Next, Mission Aviation Fellowship[5] was instrumental in getting missionaries into Nampula, Mozambique to translate the Gospel. The team worked on translating the JESUS Film into Makonde. MAF also transported the team and script into a small, isolated town for the recording and premier of the film. Astonished, the people watched the Gospel come to life, listening to Jesus speak to them in their own heart language. Pray that the people respond. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5513

2003 proves busy for a revival ministry. And, 2003 was a good year for Life Action Revival Ministries[6] . They expanded to four complete crusade teams this year, along with the launch of a student ministry to reach campus workers. A record number participated in Summer Family Camps, and pastors took advantage of “The Lodge” leadership retreat ministry. These opportunities come fresh challenges, including the cost to maintain them. The work is timely, as 2004 marks a century since the last widespread work of God in the United States. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5514

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

http://www.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/ramhurl?f=/mnn/interviews/12-30-03AndyRyskamp.rm [3] http://www.gospelcom.net/media/group.php?agencyAb=ICF [4]

http://www.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/ramhurl?f=/mnn/interviews/12-30-03JohnDeVries.rm [5] http://www.gospelcom.net/media/group.php?agencyAb=MAF [6] http://www.gospelcom.net/media/group.php?agencyAb=LARM

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