News headlines for February 27th 2003

(USA)--Headlining today's news the threat of terrorism is bringing a new type of short-term mission volunteer to the forefront. Global Missions Fellowship's[1] Phil Hamblin. "I think we're taking a little bit of a different person now and not just a person that says, 'hey I want to see the world', but they're bold. They're going with a purpose. They feel like God is really going to use them and you know what, He does. They learn how to share their faith. They come back excited about the ministry. We've seen churches that have been radically changed." Global Missions Fellowship exists to mobilize churches to multiply churches, mostly overseas. Hamblin says they need people to help with some ambitious goals. "We hope to enlist over 2,000 campaigners this year. But, we're asking God to give us the privilege to plant over 500 new churches this year. We have over 100 church planting campaigns planned. Depending on the war situation and the political situations in some of the countries, we'll be able to execute all of the campaigns." [2]

(Cambodia)--Elsewhere, Cambodia's Buddhists are not taking kindly to evangelistic efforts. A recent teachers' protest took place because of a Christian word found in a text. Book of Hope's[3] Ken Huff says they're still working, but it's a race against time. "The major opposition leader who's running for prime ministers' election is in July, also started running on an almost anti-Christian campaign, trying to raise votes by speaking out against Christianity. " Huff says their student translation of the book should be finished in April, but the outreach coincides with getting government permission. All that hinges precariously on the politics, elections and sentiment of the moment, barring prayer. "The Book of Hope distribution would be hampered. We would be able to give it out in the schools and try to get it to the children if the prime minister doesn't say 'yes'. So, we're just praying for favor with the head man, because whatever he says goes, and if he says we can hand it out, then it will become an incredible opportunity to get this book out."

(Hong Kong)--A new law in Hong Kong could threaten the spread of the Gospel and religious freedom. Voice of the Martyrs[4] says since Hong Kong's return to China in 1997, China has taken more control of the government than what was agreed upon. In light of that, the new legislation may target groups in Hong Kong that have ties to groups already outlawed in the mainland. While targeting criminal activity, VOM fears the law's enforcement will eventually include house church movements.

(Greece)--Meanwhile, prostitutes are the focus of a ministry in the country of Greece. Whitney Brown and her husband Alan work as missionaries with United World Mission. Whitney says the main focus is to show the love of Christ. "We mainly do that through walking through the area, praying, going to the bars and talking with the girls who work there. At Christmas and Easter, which are very big holidays in Greece, we are allowed to go into the brothels-taking in gifts for each of the girls - usually with some evangelistic tracts. Or, we did the Jesus Video one year." The ministry is three years old and Whitney says they're just now seeing some results. "Now we actually have some Greece nationals who are helping us and they are leading small Bible studies with some of the women and making some inroads in that direction." The Brown's are staying at D & D Missionary Homes[5] in Florida while on furlough.

(International)--And, an estimated 200 million Christians suffer persecution for their faith today. Open Doors[6] continues to work in 60 countries to help meet the need for Bibles and leadership training, even though the rise of global terrorism has made it more difficult. Last year, they delivered nearly three million Bibles and other literature to persecuted Christians worldwide. The pressure on church leaders is very intense in some countries therefore the mission group finds that leadership training and encouragement is crucial.

[1] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=GMF [2]

http://www.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/ramhurl?f=/mnn/interviews/02-27-03PhilHambl in.rm [3] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=BOH [4] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=VOM [5] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=DAD [6] http://www.gospelcom.net/mnn/media/group.php?agencyAb=ODM