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Christians fear for their safety in Sri Lanka. India (MNN) — Headlining today’s news, Christians are facing attacks, anti-Christian legislation and vandalism in Sri Lanka. Gospel For Asia’s[1] KP Yohannan says the attacks have been on the increase for the last 12 months. Yohannan says three GFA churches have been attacked. Yohannan says Christians aren’t only facing trouble on the street, but from the government. “They are really seeking to pass the anti-conversion law. The thing about the Sri Lankan Buddhism, this is not the Buddhism of peace and non-violence. This is the sect of Buddhism that is having a deep coloring of Hindu fundamentalism. Some of our missionaries have been beaten.” Yohannan says there is a positive reason for the attacks. “Without any doubt in any of these communities the number of people coming to Christ has created this new wave of persecution.” Pray that believers will go on sharing their faith. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5616

A church leaders’ conference in India serves as encouragement. India (MNN)–We turn now to neighboring India, where, in spite of a growing Hindu nationalist movement, a large group of church leaders gathered. Mission India’s[2] Don Chapman met with mission leaders in Hyderabad for a “Transformation Congress” this month. He explains the purpose of the conference was “…to bring together partners for encouragement so they could see other organizations from all across India, from every state in India, so they can see how they are using some of Mission India’s programs to facilitate their church planting efforts in the regions they are from.” Chapman says encouragement is key to continuing ministry, due to the press of discrimination. “That’s a reality, but at the same time, the whole issue of persecution was addressed by a number of the national speakers, encouraging the mission leaders and church leaders there to remain courageous in spite of the difficult days that have happened, and will continue to grow, we believe into the future.” Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5614

A fire in a slum provides believers with an opportunity in Jamaica. Jamaica (MNN)–More than 100 people, over half of them children, were left homeless January 21 after a huge fire burnt at least 30 homes in a tenement yard at Rose Hall Lane in Kingston, Jamaica. Food for the Poor[3] will be providing emergency housing. The agency operates its own warehouse distribution site in Kingston. From there, they’ve been able to provide missionaries, priests and believers with supplies that become a tool for evangelistic ministry. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5613

Used literature needed for overseas work USA (MNN) — Next, Do you have more Bibles, books or other Christian literature than you know what to do with? A HREF=”/media/group.php?agencyAb=CRI”> Christian Resources International would like to put it to good use. CRI’s Executive Director Mark Campo says they collect and distribute this material and distribute it to missionaries and foreign nationals who are in the field. Why is used literature effective? “We’re dealing with folks who literally have nothing. We get letters all the time from foreign national pastors who are teaching their whole church out of a little tiny Gideon’s New Testament. They have no other theological materials to work from.” Campo says even English materials are effective. “If you live in a third world country and you want to improve your station in life, it’s pretty critical that you learn a trade language. Typically, missionaries invite people into their homes and say, ‘we’ll teach you English.’ And, of course the materials that they’re using is from CRI. Call our resource line to find out how to help. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5615 [4]

The New Testament released in India has the potential to reach millions. India (MNN)–And, the International Bible Society (IBS) expects demand to grow for its Braj New Testament. At its launch late last year, more than one-thousand copies of the Scriptures were given out in two days. The New Testament has the potential to reach 15 million Braj speakers with God’s Word in their contemporary language. Braj is the mother tongue of Krishna, worshipped by the Hindus. The release and dedication ceremony took place in the birthplace of the Hare Krishna movement that began in the early ’70s. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5612

[1] http://www.gospelcom.net/media/group.php?agencyAb=GFA [2] http://www.gospelcom.net/media/group.php?agencyAb=MNI [3] http://www.gospelcom.net/media/group.php?agencyAb=FFP [4]

http://www.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/ramhurl?f=/mnn/interviews/01-27-04MarkCampo.rm [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