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Blog/RSS Directory |
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Mission Network News
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News Worth Listening To
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Despite persecution, evangelism training programs see growth explosion, new problems
India (MNN) -- It can take up to two years to train a church planter in India. Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Mission India's Dave Stravers says the spiritual climate is that ready. "It can be quite embarrassing because we don't have the resources to train everyone who wants to receive help from us. We actually have almost 4,000 church planters on the waiting list, waiting for our training. So that's the number one need--the training. Then, we of course provide them with materials, so they need some Scriptures," and the ministry furnishes a bicycle to increase mobility. Through this approach, many have responded to the Gospel. That has brought its own set of problems to church planters. "Often, their lives will be threatened; they'll get beaten up; they'll be warned to leave: 'Don't come back here again or we'll kill you.' This is quite a common form of intimidation, and the high success of the church planters is really attributed to the work of Jesus and the Holy Spirit in India."
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India's monsoon flooding provides growth opportunities for ministry
India (MNN) -- Next, monsoon flooding is a regular occurrence in parts of India. For Audio Scripture Ministries' partner, the World Cassette Outreach of India, a particularly bad flood several years ago in Bangalore revealed a problem: "The old house that was originally on the property is below-grade and every time the monsoons come, it floods to one degree or another. That building desperately needs to be torn down. It's not a huge building, but we're going to build on top of it." That's ASM's Tom Dudenhofer. He says they're about a third of the way toward their financial goal for a new facility. The headquarters plays a vital role in bringing the Gospel to those in India who can't read. For them, it's becoming a race for space. "Even though there is persecution, the country is very open right now. We believe it's really imperative to be able to put up a building that would allow our partners to train regional directors for Audio Scripture Ministry. Right now, the facilities simply do not exist."
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Rising food costs won't stop Christmas in Haiti
Haiti (MNN) -- The rising cost of food in Haiti is devastating to residents who can barely afford a cup of rice. However, Eva DeHart with For Haiti with Love says no matter how bad things get, their Christmas party will be held because it's a glimmer of hope. "If we were to stop that celebration of Jesus' birthday, they would interpret that that we were giving up. It is also our outward indication to them that God is still there and God is still providing, and we still have faith that everything is going to be okay." DeHart says that's why Christmas in August needs to happen. It's the fundraiser that makes the Christmas Day party in Haiti possible. "They pay $25 for the dinner. That is used for gifts that we don't receive, given to us and also for the cargo money to get everything down there, and for the things that we buy on the local market."
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Clean water saves lives
Sierra Leone (MNN) -- And, surface water floods the open wells of many villages with garbage and filth during Sierra Leone's rainy season. This year, Living Water International is rehabilitating over 100 wells in Sierra Leone, which UNICEF calls one of the worst places in the world to be a child. Children often catch fatal diseases like cholera and diarrhea from the contaminated water. Pray that LWI will be able to provide clean water for many villages and introduce the residents to the living water of Christ.
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Hope for victims of leprosy
India (MNN) -- And, three million people still suffer from leprosy in India. AMG International provides life-changing cataract surgery and multi-drug therapy for these people, as well as introducing them to the Gospel. They worship God joyfully in Sunday services at the Valley of Love, where training and employment prepare them to re-enter society. If leprosy is caught in the early stages, multi-drug therapy can cure it. For $10 you can provide one month of multi-drug therapy for a victim of leprosy.
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