----------------------------------------------------------------------- Missions Insider Report by Christian Aid December 11, 2002 Vol. 3 No. 49 Visit our website at http://www.christianaid.org ----------------------------------------------------------------------- John Lindner, Editor ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. China: Bible Schools Have Good Effect 2. India: Gospel Changes Stony Hearts 3. India: Dowry System Prevails 4. Liberia: Leader Tells of Ministry in War-Weary Land 5. Testimony: Missionary Values God Over Goods 6. Photo of the Week: Nepali Family Note: It is the policy of Missions Insider to refrain from mentioning names that could make the subjects targets of anti-Christian activity. Names can be mentioned of ministries conducting work commended by authorities or located in more secure areas. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. China: Bible Schools Have Good Effect A Christian leader in China who built a Bible school with Christian Aid's help in 1994 tells of the continuing influence of the school both among trainees and in the community. In 1994 Christian Aid provided funds to start a Bible school in a province that must remain unnamed for security reasons. The school and church hall--built in a remarkable 52 days--has become a model for others to follow. Using that school as an example, trainees went out and started 30 other Bible training centers. Over the past seven years, thousands of Christians have been trained for leadership, meeting the needs of over 6000 churches in that province, according to the leader. "The influence of the Bible schools is truly amazing," he said. He mentioned four areas of influence: 1.The number and impact of cults and false teaching has markedly decreased. 2.The relationship between the unregistered "underground" churches and those officially registered with the government is improving. 3.The spiritual lives of believers are maturing and their righteous deeds speak loudly on their behalf. In some cases, local Communist authorities are concluding that Christianity is not so bad, after all, and are actually encouraging the Christians to build more Bible schools. 4.Established Bible schools are upgrading their level of teaching and are sending out teachers to train disciples in other places. The leader said that though they are "still facing much pressure and many hardships and difficulties," their hearts are stirred and encouraged by the support and prayers of Christians overseas. "All the achievements mentioned above are the convincing evidences that as God so loves the world, He loves China and the Chinese, also. We pray that [our province] will soon become a revival and evangelistic center of China witnessing and glorifying God's name and fulfilling the Lord's Great Commission," he said. Christian Aid first helped fund the establishment of three Bible training centers in 1993 and now has supported 83 Bible institutes. For more information contact and put MI-349 900-CBI on the subject line. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. India: Gospel Changes Stony Hearts A recent evangelistic crusade in North India touched stony hearts and brought 103 souls to the feet of the Savior. "The Lord visited his people with healings and miracles as proof of the truth of the gospel," the mission leader told Christian Aid in late November. "Sinners, praying with tears, were forgiven. The lost were found and the sick healed. Mockers and those once bitterly opposed to the gospel now give testimonies to Christ's saving grace. Young and old were jumping in the joy of the Holy Spirit, clapping their hands and rejoicing, praying without ceasing. Many backsliders returned to the Lord. "The gospel crusade broke down the stony hearts of the people bringing them to the Savior," the leader continued. "Christians made deeper commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who only knew a form of churchianity found hope, and non-Christians found life in Christ." The group has now planted congregations in six villages, though at least three of them lack meeting halls. In the ministry's first outreach to a certain village, three families of non-Christian background came forward to commit their lives to Christ and were baptized. The new believers gather regularly for worship, and some of their unbelieving neighbors even meet with them. The ministry works in remote areas unreachable by public transit. Often they have to catch rides on trucks or go by bullock cart. Getting there takes a lot of time that could otherwise be spent in actual ministry. The leader said that bicycles would help 20 missionaries, whereas six missionaries actually need motorcycles. The leader said that beyond those making decisions for Christ, a number of young people came forward and offered their lives for Christian service. To learn more, write and put MI-349 640-OMM on the subject line. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Native missionaries brave "dangerous places" to bring the gospel to "unreached" people in mountains, cities, jungles and "closed" lands. You can support your own missionary by sending $50 per month and receive the name, photo and biographical sketch of the one you support, plus a description of the indigenous mission with which he/she serves. Call (434)977-5650 or contact today. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Liberia: Leader Tells of Ministry in War-Weary Land A mission in Liberia is making remarkable headway despite hardships in a land ravaged by 10 years of civil war. James Cuffee, who came to the Lord in 1978, began Christ Evangelical Fellowship Ministries in 1983. During those 19 years he has succeeded in planting one church per year, with a total of 2873 baptized believers. Four of the churches are in the Monrovia area; the rest are in rural counties. The ministry also assists 67 orphans and operates two primary schools and one junior high school. But this success comes at the expense of tedious, laborious service. On a recent evangelistic outing, for example, the hired driver refused to take the rented vehicle beyond a certain point. So Cuffee and his companions got out and walked seven hours to reach their destination where they baptized 71 new believers. Cuffee and his 12 fellow missionaries preach the gospel to many still steeped in witchcraft and idol worship. During a recent crusade, three young men heard the gospel and willingly brought their fetishes to be burned to ashes. "We've been worshiping these things since childhood," they said. "Sometimes we sacrificed animals and even offered human blood to increase our power. Now we have the true power in Jesus Christ." The civil war (1989-1997) was followed by several years of continued rebel activity after Charles Taylor, leader of the original rebel movement, assumed the presidency in 1997. "At present, war is raging in the North and Northwest of our country," Cuffee wrote in late November. "Many persons have been killed, property looted and destroyed by this senseless war, which has displaced over one million people in rural Montserrado, Bong and Margibi Counties. "The economic situation is deplorable. At present almost 90% of our people are jobless. The government cannot pay its workers. Some of our church members that work for the government have not been paid in six to eight months and depend on assistance from friends and the church. Tears are still running from the eyes of our people." Amid the poverty and strife Cuffee was able to conduct a two-day workshop attended by 57 missionaries and local church workers. Another workshop was scheduled by faith for December 11, and another crusade in a rural area before Christmas, though he is trusting the Lord to provide funds to pay for both of these. To learn more about this ministry, or how you can help, write and put MI-349 532-CEFM. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. India: Dowry System Prevails The India Missions Association recently circulated the results of a survey on the prevalence of the dowry system in India. The survey was conducted by the All-India Democratic Women's Association, which met at a two-day national workshop in New Delhi September 1-2. Before the survey was taken, the dowry system was thought to be a problem only in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh states, but the survey showed it was practiced in all states. The responses to 9000 questionnaires confirmed the worst fears--that almost all crimes against women, including female feticide and infanticide were linked to the practice of dowry. The sample population comprised upper, middle and lower castes, but most of the sampling was among families with monthly incomes of up to US$103. An AIDWA activist from Haryana said, "A family from any sector of society is obliged to spend at least $2,075 on their daughter's wedding." Legislation prohibiting dowry was first passed in 1961 and amended in the early 1980's to include a fine and imprisonment for offenders. However, the social mindset is such that the law has little effect and the reality for unmarried Indian women does not appear to have changed. The AIDWA conference passed resolutions calling upon all citizens to act for the abolition of dowry, launching a national campaign to abolish both the caste system and the dowry practice, and encouraging own-choice and non-dowry marriages. Edited from IMA News, 12-6-02. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Testimony: Missionary Values God Over Goods A mission leader headquartered in Kathmandu writes the following: Missionary Y. brings his eight-year-old son all the way to Kathmandu for medical treatment for tuberculosis once every three months. That's a two-day walk through the mountains and then a five-hour bus ride. On his last visit I asked him what he wanted for himself and his family. "Just pray for me and my family to know God deeper and to be faithful so that our children will follow in our footsteps," he said. "Finances are a problem, but they are not the most important thing." Yet this man, who comes to Kathmandu even in the winter with no jacket or shoes, counts God more than his own needs. He champions informal education and Bible training for believers, and has started a school for 18 children in his church building. So far, he has been paying the salary of the schoolteacher out of his own missionary living allowance. To learn more about missionaries in Nepal, write and put MI-349 702-ECF on the subject line. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. Photo of the Week: Nepali Family http://www.christianaid.org/pow/pow-3-49.asp This Nepali family sits on the front porch of their house in the mountains. They recently accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior through the witness of a native Nepali missionary. Christian Aid supports 27 mission agencies in Nepal with over a thousand missionaries on the field. Each can be supported for about $50 per month. To learn more, write and put MI-349 702-ECF on the subject line. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Mission Statement: Missions Insider is a free weekly email report from Christian Aid Mission, your link to the world of indigenous missions. We seek to establish a witness for our Lord in every tribe and nation (Matthew 24:14) by supporting highly effective native missionary ministries based in poorer countries overseas, or where believers are persecuted. Christian Aid has contact with more than 6000 indigenous ministries that have a total of 300,000 missionaries on the field or ready to go when support is available. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Permission to Republish The content of Missions Insider is Copyright 2002. You have permission to share this newsletter with any evangelical Christian whom you think would be interested in reading it. Permission is granted to reproduce articles in whole or in part on websites, e-mail networks or print media as long as the stories are faithfully replicated and credit is given to Missions Insider at http://www.christianaid.org. Please send notices of publication to . Thank you. ------------------------------ Contact Us ----------------------------- Check us out on the web at: http://www.christianaid.org/. Christian Aid can be reached by phone at 434-977-5650, or by writing Christian Aid at P.O. Box 9037, Charlottesville, VA 22906. In Canada, visit http:/http://www.christianaid.ca or write to . ----------------------------------------------------------------------- To subscribe to Missions Insider Report, or to view archives, visit http://www.christianaid.org/insider.htm. Christian Aid's Privacy Statement: http://www.christianaid.org/privacy.htm
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