News Around The World
PUBLISHED ON 9 JANUARY, 2013
Under-reported disaster still claiming
victims in Africa
|
 Sahel, Africa (MNN) -- The food
crisis of Africa's Sahel region may have been the most under-reported
humanitarian disaster of 2012. It was triggered by a combination of drought,
high food prices, and instability. Jeff Palmer with Baptist Global Response says
today, "The situation has gotten a little bit better in terms of the
rains. They've come, but you're still looking at long delays to get harvests
in and to get food back up to the area. Then you've got isolated areas.
You've got some huge areas that are still critical." At its peak, nearly
19 million were at risk of starvation. "You're probably looking at now
about 12 million people still in critical need of food." Teams are still
responding. What's more, "traditionally these are areas that are not
necessarily friendly to the Gospel. As followers of Christ and as
humanitarian agencies that bring not just physical food but also bring
spiritual food, we can use these ministries to break down the barriers, the
preconceived ideas of who we are."
|
|
|
Worst flood in years hits Sri Lanka
|
 Sri Lanka (MNN) -- Christians are
reaching out to the victims of record flooding in Sri Lanka. More than
400,000 people were affected by the worst flooding in eight years. The
monsoon rains started before the new year, and homes, crops, and livestock
were completely destroyed by flooding and landslides. Gospel for Asia missionaries
were already in place to provide water, food, and temporary shelter. GFA
needs your support to provide this aid, and also to provide hope in Christ.
Find a link at our Web site to get involved.
|
|
|
New trend emerging in global evangelism
|
 USA (MNN) --
"Evangelism tools" used to mean small Bibles and pamphlets. Now
it's smartphone apps and videos. "It's spiritual multiplication using
technology, and it's very exciting," says Tom Cannavino with The JESUS Film Project. He recently met a bus driver
from Kenya who spoke Luo. Using the JESUS Film app, Cannavino shared the
Gospel with the man in his heart language. "He watched the film, but the
exciting part is that he sent the link to the film to friends and relatives here
in the U.S. and then back at his home in Kenya." The app gives access to
over 64,000 outreach videos in thousands of languages. This means tens of
millions of people in closed countries can hear and see the Gospel. "You
can share it on social media, you can e-mail it to someone, or you can
download it for your own use." Learn more about the app and Jesus Film
Media at MissionNetworkNews.org. Most importantly, pray. "It's one thing
to have the technology, but we want to pray that God uses that technology for
His purpose and for His Kingdom."
|
|
|
Using Web sites to spread the Good News
|
 Philippines (MNN) --
Believers in the Philippines are using Web sites to spread the Good News. Wycliffe Bible Translators says a Web-site-making
workshop was held recently in Manila. Participants uploaded cultural songs
and translated Scripture, as well as other language-related documents. Work
that normally would have taken several months to a year was completed in
eight days. Pray that God would soften people's hearts and draw them to
Himself through this technology.
|
|
|
First national TV ad for adoption success
|
 USA (MNN) -- Out of
2.5 million unplanned pregnancies in the U.S. each year, less than 1% choose
adoption. January is Sanctity of Human Life Month, and Marc Andreas with Bethany Christian Services
says they've got something new. "Here in January, we are excited about a
new national TV ad campaign we're running that highlights adoption as an
alternative to abortion." Bethany tested the ad in November, and
hundreds responded. "There was a woman in her thirties with four
children at home: pregnant, ready to have a baby any day with her fifth child
that she just really could not bring into that family. While sitting on the
couch with her 11-year-old son, this commercial came on, and [her son] turned
to her and said, 'You know, Mom, you really should call Bethany.' Her real
plan was just to leave the child at the hospital. She didn't know about
adoption. She didn't know she could choose a family and stay in contact with
that child throughout the child's life. She ended up choosing and placing the
child [with a] pastor and his wife in Florida." Bethany has bulletins
for churches to promote adoption. You can get those at our Web site under
"Featured Links."
|
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment