Welcome to The Aussie Outpost Wider Church Prayer Letter for January 2003. With the new year comes some changes for the wider church prayer letter.
Firstly, I am hoping to up the number of issues from once a month to twice a month. The reason for this is that I would like to bring more information to your attention than I have in recent times. I have been getting a lot more information to pass on, yet with seemingly little room to include it all in a monthly prayer letter. So hopefully the increase in the number of issues will allow for more information and prayer points to be passed on, as well as suggestions in how people can assist the various brethren mentioned in some of the reports, etc. This I hope to begin with the February issue.
Secondly, the prayer letter will become an online prayer letter for the foreseeable future. I simply cannot sustain a hard copy version of the prayer letter at the moment (maybe at some time in the future I will be able to). However, I'll be attempting to come up with a format that will allow people to print a copy or two (or more) in order to pass them on to others if they would like. This way the circulation will not necessarily fall, but will have the potential to reach further afield. So this I will be working on over the space of the next month or so.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria appears to be the latest of the former Communist countries seeking to restrain Evangelical churches. The government is currently seeking to legislate a new law that is designed to protect the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Non-Orthodox churches will then be required to gain Bulgarian Court approval in order to exist and operate within the country.
Bogota, Colombia - Stan and Bev Lines
There has been an interesting development in Bogota through the ministry of the library for pastors meetings held each month. Eight people from a charismatic church have been attending church as a result of the library ministry. PLease pray for both the eight new attenders and the church.
115 students have enrolled at the Christian School this year. The high school has been discontinued at this time.
Grace Reformed Baptist Church, Oregon, USA - 'DJ' Dickey
Young Jason Weller's (12 years old) Cleft Palate correction surgery is scheduled for January 15. This will involve placing marrow from his hip into his jaw. The 'plan B' approach will be to sew his tongue into the place to be repaired, where it will need to remain for some time. Clearly 'plan A' is the preferred option. Please pray concerning this operation, for Jason and his family.
Nigeria
In the wake of the Miss World Contest that was taken elsewhere, some 100 people were left dead in the riots that followed. You may remember that these were sparked by a newspaper article that offended Muslims in that country. The trouble that followed was soon turned toward Christians in the Islamic majority country. Some 4 to 10 churches were damaged or destroyed by fire.
India - The Deutsch Family
Three months have been spent in the country of Mauritius, were a lot of opposition was found from the direction of Arminians. However, a house church was planted and it is now the only Reformed church in the country. The first service was held on December 1.
Lebanon
During November 2002, a female US missionary was shot dead while working at a Christian run clinic in Sidon. It is believed to have been carried out by militants loyal to Osama Bin Laden and Al-Queda.
Kosovo
It is reported that some 110 Serb Christian sites have been damaged or destroyed since June 1999. These attacks have been carried out by Muslims, many of whom were victims of the Serb-led ethnic cleansing attempt during the war. It is not clear how many of these sites are actually Christian or Roman Catholic in nature.
Cuba
An issue to be prayed about in regard to Cuba is the fact that public evangelism is illegal.
Papua New Guinea - Colin and Diane Lord
The Lords' were scheduled to arrive in Papua New Guinea for missionary service on January 3rd. A praise point as they begin their ministry there is that they now have 100% of their needed monthly support. If you would like to assist Colin and Diane in their PNG ministry, contributions can be sent to:
Colin and Diane Lord - care of:
Wycliffe Bible Translaters
PO Box 628200
Orlando, Florida, 32862-8200There are some 5 million people in Papua New Guinea, with some 1 000 different people groups. About 90% of the population claims to be Christian, yet there is so much moral and social unrest, with much heretical teaching.
Pray that Christians will become grounded in the truth and that they will completely break with their past tribal religious traditions. Pray also for missionaries who will faithfully preach the truth.
Uzbekistan
A Baptist Christian was recently sent to jail for 10 days in Uzbekistan because he held an illegal unregistered church meeting in his home. Please pray for this man and our brethren in this country.
South Africa - Einfeldts'
Both Rene and Sonia have their passports and visas for South Africa.
In a praise point concerning the South African work, both Neo and Shane at the Bethesda village, have become Christians with a desire to learn more. Please pray for these two believers as they begin their walk. Remember also the many other orphan children who continue in an unsaved state.
Constantia Park, South Africa - Martin and Elsabe Holdt
There will be three conferences held during January. One will be in Cape Town and two will be in Johannesburg. Geoff Thomas and Malcom Watts from England will be preaching.
Paraguay
Paraguay is a country that is roughly 85% Roman Catholic. Some 5% are Evangelicals, but these are mainly foreigners. Some 6 million people live in the country. Please pray for missionaries to be raised up and to be sent to this desperate country.
Vietnam
It is believed that three Christian were recently executed in Vietnam. Vietnam had been seeking to eliminate Christianity before the close of 2002. This of course has not happened, but the government is continuing its crackdown on Christians. Some 1 000 people have fled to Cambodia, with more than 350 churches destroyed and some 50 pastors having disappeared. For more information, visit:
http://www.hrw.org/reports/2002/vietnam.html
Peru
Of the 28 million people living in Peru, some 70% are thought to be Roman Catholic and 10% Evangelical. There is freedom of religion in Peru, yet there is a great need for trained pastors and consistent Christianity. Please pray for Peru.
Kiel, Germany - Independent Baptist Church of Kiel - Rex and Leslie Slate
There are now some 19 or 20 people attending the Friday evening English speaking Bible Study at the church. Numbers have been slowly growing at it.
A number of the children at the Friday afternoon children's club have professed to be saved recently. One of these children, Ronya, has been completely changed from a disruptive child to one who is keen to get all the kids to listen She is only 8. She has been actively witnessing to her family, including a mother that thinks Christianity is rubbish. Please pray for Ronya and her family.
Attendances have also been increasing at the usual church services. Svetlana has continued to attend the services.
Ivory Coast
The war is continuing in Ivory Coast, with the number of rebel groups now growing. One group is being aided by Liberian troops. Even French troops have been caught up in the civil war. The missionary school at Bouake is being used by the French as their headquarters. The French appear to be openly supporting the government, while Bouake is solidly behind the rebels. Obviously this places the missionary school in some danger.
VISIT US ONLINE
Please visit The Aussie Reformed Baptist Outpost online at:
http://particularbaptist.com/index.htmlThe Outpost Wider Church Awareness Site can be found at:
http://particularbaptist.com/wider/widerindex.htmlFor email contact and further information regarding aid to the various ministries mentioned in the prayer letter, Kevin can be contacted at:
nrbcpastorkev@yahoo.com.auIf you are of Reformed Baptist persuasion and would like to add news of your church or work, or add requests for prayer to this prayer letter, please contact Kevin on the above Email address.
For 'snail mail,' write to 'The Aussie Reformed Baptist Outpost, 27 Middle Street, Cardiff South, NSW, Australia, 2285.
We thank all sources of information that have made this prayer letter possible and ask the church at large to commit to praying for one another. Brethren, please pray for us.
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