NewsBytes - May 2009

CONTENTS

1. BOAT MISSION TO GREENLAND
2. UPDATE ON ZIMBABWE CRISIS
3. BURUNDI’S BORN-AGAIN PRESIDENT
4. CHRISTIANS PROTEST SOUTH AFRICA’S “SEXPO”
5. HELPING TO TRAIN PASTORS IN AFRICA, SOUTH AMERICA
6. TALIBAN THREATENS PAKISTAN CHRISTIANS
7. WORKING FOR RECONCILIATION BETWEEN ARABS & JEWS
8. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM VIOLATIONS IN CENTRAL ASIA
9. MICRO-FINANCING THROUGH CAMBODIA’S CHURCH
10. MASSIVE CHRISTIAN CELBRATION IN VIETNAM
11. HOPE FESTIVAL, URUGUAY
12. CUBAN PASTOR FACING TRIAL
13. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC MISSION BEHIND BARS
14. SOUL MATES
15. ARABIC CHRISTIAN TV PUSHES WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN MIDDLE EAST
16. JESUS FILM CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF MINISTRY
17. IN FACT: WORLD LITERACY
18. RESOURCES:
    * Videos about children at risk * Clips to inform about Arabian Peninsula * Shapevine website resources * Student Volunteer Movement website

1. BOAT MISSION TO GREENLAND

Greenland has been hard-going when it comes to mission, with over 2 million inhospitable square miles largely covered by ice and an inhospitable spiritual climate. With no roads between villages, travel is only possible by air or sea. In 1977, Christians from the Faroe Islands started a summer boat ministry, which has become more consistent in the last six years. In 2008 a larger boat, the Juvel (Jewel) II, was purchased at auction in Denmark, a former coastguard cutter appropriate for Greenland’s rugged conditions. The up-to 20 volunteer crew will spend 2-5 days at each of the tiny communities of the west coast this June through September, holding programmes and distributing Bibles, shoes and clothing. Alcoholism is a widespread problem, resulting in much suffering especially among children. However, crew members have begun seeing much fruit in the last 3 years. “The people know who we are,” states one. “Please pray for safety, and for more Greenlandic people to participate, as few Faroese speak the language.” [OM Field Report]

2. UPDATE ON ZIMBABWE CRISIS

Christian groups continue to provide desperately needed relief to suffering families as Zimbabwe’s unemployment rate rises to 94 percent, and inflation has rocketed to the highest in the world at 500 billion percent. Prices have doubled every 24 hours. Last month the country’s new national unity government announced a 100-day plan to bring Zimbabwe out of its downward spiral, focusing on the country’s economy, security, infrastructure, social services, and interests and rights. However, the challenges are staggering. The only goods available in shops are priced in foreign currency not available to ordinary citizens. Over 2,000 have died of cholera and hospitals are hamstrung by a lack of medicines, water and electricity. Schools cannot function for lack of teachers and supplies. Southern Baptists are among those who have responded on several fronts, distributing food and providing school supplies. [BAPTIST PRESS/MISC REPORTS, 17 April ‘09]

3. BURUNDI’S BORN-AGAIN PRESIDENT

President of Burundi, Pierre Nkurunziza, said he was converted in 1997 after receiving a Bible from a rural minister. "I started reading the Bible from beginning to end. When I finished, I got saved. That's it." Nkurunziza's father, a former Member of Parliament, was massacred by Tutsis in 1972, and he later lost 5 of his siblings during the war. In 1994, while he was was teaching at a university in Burundi, Tutsis came onto the campus and began killing Hutus. He escaped with some of his students and lived in the bush for the next 10 years. Now Nkurunziza is taking the lead in health care and building free primary schools in his country, part of an effort to bring reconciliation and development in a nation where some 300,000 people died during a 12-year civil war between the minority Tutsis and the majority Hutus. [JOEL NEWS, 31 March ‘09]

4. CHRISTIANS PROTEST SOUTH AFRICA’S “SEXPO”

On 15 May, Africa Christian Action and other pro-family groups plan to protest and pray outside a Cape Town Convention Center “Sexpo” that showcases erotic toys, pole dancing and pornography. The Sexpo is billed as the largest event of its kind in the world, last year drawing over 35,000 visitors. Protest spokespersons said they will be reminding customers that porn degrades, objectifies and exploits women; they will also engage in evangelism and literature distribution. Protests have already been made about the negative impact, especially on small children, of the sexually explicit billboards advertising the event in the city. The Sexpo is planned for Johannesburg in October. [CHRISTIAN NEWSWIRE, 4 May’09]

5. HELPING TO TRAIN PASTORS IN AFRICA, SOUTH AMERICA

In Uganda, Africa, few pastors are well-educated in biblical studies, and typically lack the resources for training. Many don’t even own a concordance, either in their own language or English. AMG International holds conferences to provide church leaders with skills to lead their congregations, and also provides a basic library for the pastors that includes concordances and Bible handbooks. In South America, a training ministry of HCJB Global and Leadership Resources Intl. called Apoyo [“support”] has held pastoral training, evangelistic or discipleship events and all-church conferences for more than 3,000 pastoral leaders and church members in Peru, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Cuba, Chile and Argentina in 2008. Apoyo also completed 3-year Training National Trainers (TNT) cycles for groups of about a dozen church workers in 6 countries last year. [MNN/HCJB GLOBAL, 20 April ‘09]

6. TALIBAN THREATENS PAKISTAN CHRISTIANS

Christians in Karachi, Pakistan, took to the streets to protest the killing of 3 believers by over 100 Taliban militants with machine guns. Three churches were also burned down along with dozens of Christian-owned shops. The attack on the Christian colony occurred April 21st after believers tried to remove Islamic graffiti on their church which demanded they convert to Islam or pay a Sharia tax as non-Muslim minorities. Witnesses reported that the Taliban dragged Christians from their homes, threatened and intimidated them. Christians who have already been forced to flee other Taliban-controlled areas because of the minority tax now say they face discrimination at relief camps. Pakistan Christian Congress Chief Dr. Nazir Bhatti says there are over 500,000 Christians in the North West Frontier Province who are facing hardships and abuse. Humanitarian agency Church World Service is attending to basic needs by providing water, food, shelter and sanitation to the displaced. [CHRISTIAN POST, 26 April & 12 May, CHURCH OF ENGLAND NEWSPAPER, 8 May’09]

7. WORKING FOR RECONCILIATION BETWEEN ARABS & JEWS

The number of Christians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories has dwindled to around 5,000 at the most, compared with a population of around 2.4 million in the West Bank alone (excluding Israeli settlers). Under intense pressure from all sides, many Christian families are leaving for a better life abroad when they get the chance. Bethlehem has also experienced a dramatic exodus. At the same time, Jews who have converted to Christ but continue to follow some traditional practices, numbering about 15,000 in Israel, are also experiencing intolerance and discrimination. Laws that protect minorities differ from the actual treatment they receive. Musalaha is a Christian organisation dedicated to implementing God’s plan for both Arabs and Jews. One key strategy is to take groups of Palestinian and Israeli youth to the desert or Galilee, where they have a chance to relate. The good news is that some are opening up to reconciliation. [RELEASE, May‘09]

8. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM VIOLATIONS IN CENTRAL ASIA

Tajikistan’s president has signed a repressive new religion law which violates the country’s Constitution and international human rights obligations, according to news agency Forum 18. A parliament member believes the law will restrict both Muslims and non-Muslims, imposing new limitations on registration and ruling that all published or imported religious literature must be approved by the government. Meanwhile, violations of the religious freedom endorsed by Kazakhstan’s constitution are also taking place. The Council of Baptist Churches is still being prosecuted and fined for holding unregistered worship services, with property confiscated for non-payment. [RELEASE, May’09 & CHRISTIAN SOLIDARITY WORLDWIDE]

9. MICRO-FINANCING THROUGH CAMBODIA’S CHURCH

The FARMS International self-sufficiency programme, which provides micro-financing and lessons in technical skills through local churches in Cambodia, plans to launch this May. Christians are especially excited about the project as they will be the ones to get it going. As other Cambodians see the progress believers are making toward financial stability, they will hopefully come to the church for help. The Church in Cambodia is growing quickly, especially amongst young people; this may spur the growth further. [MISSION NETWORK NEWS, 14 April ‘09]

10. MASSIVE CHRISTIAN CELBRATION IN VIETNAM

In a breakthrough move, Vietnamese authorities granted rare permission to unregistered house church groups to hold a large, public Easter-related service on April 21st. More than 15,000 people gathered at Ho Chi Minh’s Tao Dan Stadium to worship God, proclaim Christ and experience an unusual sense of large-scale Christian unity. Unregistered groups holding an event that includes worship and evangelism outside a church building violates Vietnam’s restrictive religion laws, and the celebration (in which 1,200 people indicated they had decided to follow Christ) did not happen without struggles. Authorities demanded the removal of one of the organisers and did not grant permission until just 3 hours before the event was to begin, even though organisers had requested permission several months in advance. [COMPASS DIRECT NEWS, 23 April ‘09]

11. HOPE FESTIVAL, URUGUAY

South America’s most secular nation, Uruguay, hosted the first Franklin Graham evangelistic festival of 2009 in March. According to the CIA World Factbook, the country is 17.2% atheist or agnostic. 700 local churches helped organise the Festival of Hope event in Montevideo on March 19-21, drawing an unprecedented 71,000 people. Churches will aid in following up the over-8,000 who made decisions to accept Christ into their lives. A children’s day attracted 25,000, with another 4,000+ kids and parents wanting to follow Jesus. [BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOC., 23 March’09]

12. CUBAN PASTOR FACING TRIAL

A Cuban state prosecutor has requested 7 years’ imprisonment for Pastor Omar Gude Pérez, on charges of “illicit economic activity and falsification of documents.” Gude’s close associates believe he’s being targeted because of his leadership of a rapidly growing Christian movement. The prosecutor’s petition goes on to accuse the pastor of “counter-revolutionary conduct and attitudes.” He has already spent almost a year in prison without being given a trial on charges of “human trafficking,” which were thrown out last month by a local court citing lack of evidence. The prosecution also states that he is unemployed, despite the fact that Gude has worked as a full-time pastor for the last 20 years. [CSW/ASSIST NEWS, 11 May’09]

13. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC MISSION BEHIND BARS

Since 2007, the U.S.-based MOTE [Missions on the Edge] has developed and supported 13 in-prison churches inside Dominican Republic’s most violent prison, La Victoria. MOTE’s Christ-centred prisoner rehabilitation programme at this Santo Domingo prison was developed by David Walden, who modeled it after a project now successfully operating at La Mesa Prison in Tijuana, one of Mexico’s most brutal and darkest prisons. The programme, which has spiritual, educational, behavioural, and vocational components for teaching life skills, has received enthusiastic approval by the government, and is actively supported by local churches. Once inmates successfully complete the in-house training they are placed in transitional housing to help them become independent and strengthen their walk in Christ. [HCJB/www.mote.ws/, 14 April’09]

14. SOUL MATES

Buckner International (USA) connects caring Christians with some of the world’s 143 million orphans in need through their summer internship program. For 10 years the Buckner Center for Humanitarian Aid has also had a “Shoes for Orphan Souls” ministry that provides shoes to orphaned and poor children. The shoes are delivered by local Christians who also share the Gospel with them. Buckner expects this June to give its 2 millionth pair of new shoes to an at-risk child. Funds come from “SoulMates” drives by participating churches and agencies, plus online giving [MISSION NETWORK NEWS, 1/09 & 15 April’09]

15. ARABIC CHRISTIAN TV PUSHES WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN MIDDLE EAST

On May 5 a Christian satellite television will launch the first of 26 documentaries spotlighting the plight of women in the Middle East as part of a new campaign to improve their status in a patriarchal Arab society. SAT-7 Arabic, a Christian TV service created by and for the people of the Middle East and North Africa, will launch the series, called “And I Am Not ‘Just’ A Woman.’” Through more than two dozen documentaries from Egypt, Lebanon and Morocco, women who are the sole providers for their children, their younger siblings or their parents will be offered a rare chance to tell their stories. Despite the large number of Arab women who are the main bread winner in the family, their society maintains laws that make it difficult for them to fulfill their responsibilities. Women need to fight for legal guardianship of their children in cases of divorce or separation, for the right to an education, and for the right to social security or ownership of property. SAT-7 hopes to change the situation by raising awareness. [CHRISTIAN POST, 1 May’09]

16. JESUS FILM CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF MINISTRY

A film based on the Gospel of Luke has been called by some mission leaders “the most effective evangelistic tool ever invented.” Now translated into over 1,050 languages, a new language is being added every week. It is also available on websites and YouTube to billions of viewers in their own languages, often in places where there is no other Christian presence. Since 1979 the JESUS film has been viewed by several billion people all across the globe, and has resulted in more than 225 million men, women and children indicating decisions to follow Jesus. [INSPIRE MAGAZINE ONLINE]

17. IN FACT:

Using a definition of: "age 15 and over can read and write," the U.S. CIA World Factbook estimated in 2007 that the overall WORLD LITERACY rate was 82%. Male: 87%, Female: 82%. Over two-thirds of the world's 785 million illiterate adults are found in only 8 countries (Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Pakistan). Of all the illiterate adults in the world, two-thirds are women. [CIA WORLD FACT BOOK]

18. RESOURCES

• MISSION SITE: www.Shapevine.com provides missional courses and resources, with videos that highlight stories of how to engage the culture, media-based training, and forums for people to share ideas and stories.
• CHILDREN AT RISK: Compassion International [http://www.compassion.com/child-advocacy/find-your-voice/videos/default.htm] offers 10 excellent short videos about children, poverty, and ministry. “Think Smaller,” made by Viva Network, explains the plight of the world's children and the church's responsibility to reach them. Viva also organises the annual World Weekend of Prayer for Children at Risk (June 6-7 this year). See www.viva.org for more resources.
• ARABIAN PENINSULA: A five-minute overview and a collection of short videos show how workers in the Arabian Peninsula are requesting prayer for their region. Clips are only a minute or less each and are suitable for a missions focus during a service, at a small group, or for a prayer meeting. See: http://www.pray-ap.info/
• STUDENT MISSIONS: Student Volunteer Movement 2 (SVM2) has launched a completely redesigned website [www.svm2.org/] to serve the ongoing development of today's global student mission movement.

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NEWS BYTES is compiled monthly by Debbie Meroff of OM International, based in London, England. Material may be freely copied and forwarded. Items do not necessarily reflect OM’s position and questions should be directed to the original news source. 
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