Colombia: American Christians spread Gospel to FARC guerrillas
For more than 40 years, Colombia has been terrorized by kidnappings and murders resulting from power struggles between drug lords, revolutionaries and paramilitary groups. But in the midst of the chaos, brave Christians in Colombia are risking their lives to spread the gospel. Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) is committed to helping them. One of VOM’s partners in Colombia is a pilot named Russell. VOM helped Russell purchase an airplane, and today that plane flies over FARC-controlled areas of Colombia dropping small packages attached to parachutes. The packages, which float down into FARC camps and villages, each contain a selection of Christian books as well as a solar-powered Galcom radio pre-tuned to a Christian station. Before the parachutes are dropped, the radio is turned on so that even if the parachute catches in a tree, someone will hear the radio and climb up to retrieve it. More than 14,000 parachutes made by American Christians recently left the distribution centre headed for Colombia. They have already received more than 62,000 parachutes.
Praise: God for this initiative and pray that each package will bring new life. (Lk.2:10)
Nepal: Sabres bring Gospel to Himalayas
A mission team will be going to Nepal next month with Sabres. No, not light-sabres as in Star Wars. A Vision Beyond Borders (VBB) mission team will be bringing solar powered mp3 players called ‘Sabres’ to people in Nepal. These Sabres play the Bible on audio. The mission team will be taking the Sabres to remote villages high in the Himalayan Mountains. Many of these people have never even heard about Christ. Furthermore, Nepal has an adult literacy rate of 56% according to UNESCO. With so many people who can’t read, getting the chance to hear the Bible is invaluable. There are 153 dialects in Nepal, and VBB has contacts working to translate God’s Word into every single dialect. VBB’s mission team are currently seeking more funds to bring more Sabres to Nepal.
Praise: God as they bring God’s Word to these remote peoples. Pray for their travels and for safety. (Pr.1:33)
More: http://www.mnnonline.org/article/18132
Nepal: Sabres bring Gospel to Himalayas
A mission team will be going to Nepal next month with Sabres. No, not light-sabres as in Star Wars. A Vision Beyond Borders (VBB) mission team will be bringing solar powered mp3 players called ‘Sabres’ to people in Nepal. These Sabres play the Bible on audio. The mission team will be taking the Sabres to remote villages high in the Himalayan Mountains. Many of these people have never even heard about Christ. Furthermore, Nepal has an adult literacy rate of 56% according to UNESCO. With so many people who can’t read, getting the chance to hear the Bible is invaluable. There are 153 dialects in Nepal, and VBB has contacts working to translate God’s Word into every single dialect. VBB’s mission team are currently seeking more funds to bring more Sabres to Nepal.
Praise: God as they bring God’s Word to these remote peoples. Pray for their travels and for safety. (Pr.1:33)
More: http://www.mnnonline.org/article/18132
British culture 'increasingly pornified'
British culture is ‘increasingly pornified’ and is damaging young people, Shadow Health Minister Diane Abbott is to warn in a speech later. She believes that the rise of sexual bullying and ‘sexting’ - where people send sexually explicit text messages - is a result of hyper-sexualisation. A ‘revolution in sex education' to help tackle the problem is needed, she says. She will urge a ‘national conversation’ between parents and children about sex, porn and technology. There have been increasing concerns over the commercialisation and sexualisation of children, the ease with which pornography can be accessed through the internet and the way in which young people use text messages and emails to exchange sexually explicit images. In 2011, the head of the Mothers' Union, Reg Bailey, carried out an independent review for the Government looking at the pressures on children to grow up too quickly. It found that nine out of every 10 UK parents said children were having to grow up too early.
Pray: against the changes in our culture that are increasingly distorting the minds of the young. (Jn.17:15)
Religious leaders meeting in Geneva advocate for peace
In an inter-religious service organised by the Vatican, the World Council of Churches (WCC) General Secretary, the Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, stressed the importance of ‘expressions for peace and the mutual respect for the dignity of the other. He said praying together, we remind each other that God’s gift of life is given to all of creation and that justice and peace are God’s will for everyone'. The service was held on 21 January 2013 at the chapel of the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, where the WCC has its offices. Coordinated by the Holy See, the service was a follow up to the World Day of Peace, celebrated by Roman Catholic Church on 1 January around the world. The service took place during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, celebrated from 18 to 25 January 2013.
Pray: for the Church to be effective in bringing peace as it seeks God with its prayers. (Ps.29:11)
Religious leaders meeting in Geneva advocate for peace
In an inter-religious service organised by the Vatican, the World Council of Churches (WCC) General Secretary, the Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, stressed the importance of ‘expressions for peace and the mutual respect for the dignity of the other. He said praying together, we remind each other that God’s gift of life is given to all of creation and that justice and peace are God’s will for everyone'. The service was held on 21 January 2013 at the chapel of the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, where the WCC has its offices. Coordinated by the Holy See, the service was a follow up to the World Day of Peace, celebrated by Roman Catholic Church on 1 January around the world. The service took place during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, celebrated from 18 to 25 January 2013.
Pray: for the Church to be effective in bringing peace as it seeks God with its prayers. (Ps.29:11)
Serbian churches have been targeted in Kosovo
Serbian Orthodox Christians in Kosovo struggle with a ‘sharp rise’ in threats and vandalism against their churches and other religious sites, human rights investigators told BosNewsLife on Tuesday. During the past month Orthodox Christmas assailants attacked a monastery, set on fire a chapel and wooden crosses, and destroyed over 100 Orthodox tombstones, reported Belgrade-based Balkan rights group Centar 9. The clashes are linked to anger within Kosovo's mainly Muslim Albanian population about the removal of a memorial to fallen fighters in neighbouring Serbia. Thousands of ethnic Albanians protested after some 200 masked Serbian police officers backed by armoured personnel carriers removed the monument last Sunday in the town of Presevo. It bore the names of 27 ethnic Albanian fighters killed during the 2000 conflict in the Presevo Valley, a spill-over from the 1999 war in Kosovo, Serbia's former province.
Pray: that Christians and Muslims will be able to put aside their differences and learn to live together in peace. (Eph.4:3)
Serbian churches have been targeted in Kosovo
Serbian Orthodox Christians in Kosovo struggle with a ‘sharp rise’ in threats and vandalism against their churches and other religious sites, human rights investigators told BosNewsLife on Tuesday. During the past month Orthodox Christmas assailants attacked a monastery, set on fire a chapel and wooden crosses, and destroyed over 100 Orthodox tombstones, reported Belgrade-based Balkan rights group Centar 9. The clashes are linked to anger within Kosovo's mainly Muslim Albanian population about the removal of a memorial to fallen fighters in neighbouring Serbia. Thousands of ethnic Albanians protested after some 200 masked Serbian police officers backed by armoured personnel carriers removed the monument last Sunday in the town of Presevo. It bore the names of 27 ethnic Albanian fighters killed during the 2000 conflict in the Presevo Valley, a spill-over from the 1999 war in Kosovo, Serbia's former province.
Pray: that Christians and Muslims will be able to put aside their differences and learn to live together in peace. (Eph.4:3)
NIGERIA: Boko Haram militants suspected of deadly attacks
Suspected Islamists have been blamed for the deaths of at least 23 people in separate attacks in north-eastern Nigeria. Witnesses say gunmen apparently targeted hunters selling bush meat in Damboa on Monday, killing 18 people. Strict Muslims are forbidden to eat this type of bush meat. Another five people died on Tuesday when a group of men playing draughts was attacked in Kano. The militant group Boko Haram, which is fighting to create an Islamic state, has staged many attacks in Nigeria. Boko Haram has been blamed for the deaths of some 1,400 people in central and northern Nigeria since 2010. Last year alone, the group was linked to more than 600 deaths. Meanwhile, reports have emerged of a deadly attack in Kano, the main city in northern Nigeria. Gunmen riding on motorbikes opened fire on people playing an outdoor board game, police and witnesses say. Gambling is also strictly forbidden under Islamic law.
Pray: against the evil influence that fanatics like Boko Haram have in the communities. (Ps.37:9)
Saudi Arabia: Leader calls for interfaith dialogue
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia called for a dialogue among monotheistic religions on Monday, marking a 'first' for the ultra-conservative Muslim kingdom. ‘I ask representatives of all the monotheistic religions to meet with their brothers in faith. If God wills it, we will then meet with our brothers from other religions, including those of the Torah and the Gospel to come up with ways to safeguard humanity.’ Abdullah said the country’s top clerics have given him approval to pursue his idea and that he plans to get the opinion of Muslim leaders from other countries. The Saudi king also intends to address the United Nations on the subject. He said ‘We have lost sincerity, morals, fidelity and attachment to our religions and to humanity, the disintegration of the family and the rise of atheism in the world – a frightening phenomenon that all religions must confront and vanquish’
Pray: that this initiative will be the first step to reducing tensions as well as opening previously ‘closed’ countries to the gospel. (Mat.24:14)
More: http://www.christianpost.com/news/saudi-arabia-leader-calls-for-interfaith-dialogue-31665/