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Deadly sectarian violence hits Nigeria. Nigeria (MNN)–We begin today in Nigeria, where a wave of deadly sectarian violence is ravaging Plateau state. Fresh skirmishes erupted after Muslims opened fire on a church just three weeks ago, killing nearly 50 believers. Open Doors'[1] Jerry Dykstra believes it’s indirectly related to the threat of enforced Islamic law. “12 of the 36 Nigerian States have implemented full Sharia law, and, of course, that’s very disturbing. We know that over the last five years, around 10-thousand people have died as a direct result of Sharia-related clashes.” As to the effect of Sharia implementation on evangelistic work, Dykstra explains, “Open Doors is upholding pastors there, training pastors, and so forth and conducting seminars. Nigeria right now is just a powder keg and we need to lift up those Christians in that area.” Open Doors continues helping train Christian pastors and church leaders, assist with literacy training and economic relief, and deliver Bibles in Nigeria. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5773

Hindu extremists try to re-convert Indian Christians India (MNN) — Meanwhile, Christians around the world are being asked to pray for tribal believers in India as radical Hindus are attempting to re-convert them back to Hinduism. These Hindu radicals are the same people that the media in India are calling, “Christian-hating fanatics.” According to the World Evangelical Alliance, radical Hindu groups are targeting 400-thousand tribal Christians with clothing, food and in some cases offering an education to re-claim Hinduism as their faith. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5774

Churches are needed to help special needs children USA (MNN) — There are thousands, perhaps even millions of special needs children in the United States. Children that have been abandoned, neglected or orphaned through some kind of tragedy. These little ones are drawing the attention of Bethany Christian Services[2] ‘ Kimberly Offutt is heading up their “Partners in Prayer” program. “It’s a recruitment effort. It is the responsibility of the church, the body of Christ, to save this generation of lost children. So, ‘Partners in Prayer’ is actually all about the churches getting more involved in prayer and recruitment for children that are in foster care or who need adoptive homes.” Once Christians know about the need, they get involved, adopting children, and ultimately share Christ with these special needs children. “I don’t necessary mean that they’re handicapped. It’s just the simple fact that (they’re) older than five, if you’re African American, you’re special needs. If you’re part of a sibling group, you’re special needs.” “Partners In Prayer” hopes to expand into other states. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5772 [3]

A pastoral training session ends in healing for Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso (MNN)–Next, one aspect of the Frontline Shepherds’ Conference is healing. Global Advance Ministries'[4] Marc Rylander gives this account of what happened to a group of pastors at the Burkina Faso meetings. “These men started boarding this bus from different backgrounds and different denominations, all Christian denominations, mind you, and when they got on this bus, it was literal silence. These men had not spoken to each other. It was as if they were enemies because they just happened to be from different denominational backgrounds.” Rylander says aside from teaching there was, more importantly, healing in the evangelical community. “For three days, they attended our Frontline Shepherd’s Conference and they had to interact, they had to minister together, and in the midst of that, God was doing a unique thing, so unique that when they got on the bus to return to their villages, these men hugged, they prayed, they worshipped together out loud, for the two or three hours that it took to get back to their village.” Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5771

Teams move into the evangelistic training season. International (MNN)–And, the Evangelical Free Church Mission[5] has a special outreach program geared to the 20-somethings. It’s called ‘Take 12’, and is a one-year church planting internship for college grads. The project is a designed cross-cultural ministry study meant to serve the indigenous church. Pray for Take 12 interns who are just arriving overseas and beginning language study. Pray for their adjustment to a new language and culture and that they would be a blessing to the missionaries and national churches. Full Story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5770

[1] http://mnn.gospelcom.net/media/group.php?agencyAb=ODM [2] http://mnn.gospelcom.net/media/group.php?agencyAb=BCS [3]

http://www.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/ramhurl?f=/mnn/interviews/03-10-04KimberlyOffutt.rm [4] http://mnn.gospelcom.net/media/group.php?agencyAb=GAM [5] http://mnn.gospelcom.net/media/group.php?agencyAb=EFCA

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