Mission Network News

U.S. missionaries John and Wanda Casias were murdered in Monterrey on Tuesday.

Mexico (MNN) -- Violence in Mexico has claimed the lives of a U.S. missionary couple. Yesterday, John (76) and Wanda (67) Casias were remembered for their service to Christ in the Baptist church they founded.

Wanda was discovered in their home by their son on Tuesday evening, who noticed their car and some electronics were missing. His father was found dead in an outbuilding on the property. Both had electrical cords tied around their necks.

Violence has escalated in Mexico, forcing many missionaries to rethink their deployment. John Herrin served with The Mission Society in Monterrey until recently. "When we first moved to Monterrey over three years ago, it was one of the safest cities in Latin America, not just Mexico. And in a very brief time, the city just changed literally overnight. There's a sense of tension in the air, a sense of fear in the city."

Herrin says the increase in violence forced them to make some decisions about staying in Mexico. "When driver's training began to include how to respond to a shoot out and how to drop to the floor-board of the car, we realized we weren't sure our kids should be involved in this." This helped them make their decision to leave Monterrey.

Many American missionaries are leaving Mexico, Herrin says, and the church has had a great deal of uncertainty. "A lot of funding began to drop off, and the church began saying, 'What are we going to do?' Then, the violence began to hit, again the church said, 'What are we going to do?'"

Herrin says the Holy Spirit is empowering people. "The church there is stepping up. They are developing their own plan. They're going out, and they're reaching out. And they're doing things that they haven't done before because they haven't had to."

That may be the silver lining in all of this, says Herrin. "We're now [being reminded] that God is doing it. It's not me doing it. It's not those missionaries over there. This really is the continuation of God's church."

Herrin says he still goes back to Monterrey once a month for ministry. Pray for his safety as he travels in and out of Mexico. He says, "The easy thing [to do] is to give up and walk away. The thing that God calls us to is to be faithful. If God calls us to it, we need to be about it, and God will be with us. He'll carry us through it and over it."

In the meantime, pray for all missionaries working in Mexico. Pray especially for the Casias family, their church family in Mexico, and their supporters in Texas.

Mexico (MNN) -- Early this week, police in northern Mexico announced the capture of a Zeta drug lord responsible for some 75 deaths. In a separate case this week, 119 other suspects were also charged for drug trafficking (among other things), according to the Law Enforcement Examiner.

With all of these arrests in hand, is the drug war actually being won?

Todd Szalkowski with E3 Partners (E3) just returned from Reynosa, Mexico and says the violence may actually be getting worse.

"[In Reynosa], I heard stories of the increased violence across Mexico in places where we hadn't seen it before: Veracruz, Mexico City, Guadalajara. Places that had not been impacted the way that the border had been impacted had seen some of the atrocious, gang-style executions that had occurred along the border now happening in these cities," says Szalkowski.

As evidence of the increased hostility elsewhere, Szalkowski adds, "Women of the church in Reynosa had been invited to a conference in Guadalajara and were afraid to go. These women live in one of the most dangerous cities on earth and were afraid to go to Guadalajara for a women's conference."

The violence is affecting believers' day-to-day lives in a number of ways. Although innocent bystanders are not affected as much, says Szalkowski, nearly every family, it seems, has some ties to drug cartels.

"Just about every family has someone who is impacted directly by drug cartels. Either they're in a cartel in some form or fashion, or a lookout, or being forced to be a lookout. It's just so widespread," explains Szalkowski.

This makes E3's ministry difficult. For one thing, people are disappearing.

"We'll see people disappear, and we're not sure whether or not they've disappeared because they have been executed, or whether they flee simply to try to hide from the influences they no longer want to be a part of," notes Szalkowski.

As if that's not bad enough, the violence makes it hard for E3 to track their own ministry work. E3 knows the only way to end the violence in Mexico is for people to grasp the Gospel. The ministry has planted several "I Am Second" groups--essentially small home churches--across Mexico. The groups naturally duplicate themselves, but Szalkowski says they still only know of a few dozen groups in existence; there are probably more.

"What we're finding is that some people are actually afraid to report to us that groups have been started and to give us names and locations of those groups, for fear of being targeted."

Prayer is a must in this situation. Pray for boldness as Christians attempt to share their faith. Pray that they would feel God's presence. Pray that Christians would not be targeted but would be seen as peace-bearers. Pray that Mexico would turn to Christ in this time of turmoil.

E3 continues to train leaders in Mexico, especially within "I Am Second" groups. To help cover the costs of training, give to the Mexico Border Project.

USA (MNN) -- A meeting held this past Tuesday may have sealed a campus ministry's fate at Vanderbilt University.

In late 2010, Vanderbilt changed a school policy to include a stricter anti-discrimination code. Essentially, the school's idea was that any student should be able to lead any group. If they're prohibited from doing so, it's discrimination.

It seems like a good policy in theory. But for groups like InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, it could mean the end of official ministry at Vanderbilt.

"For InterVarsity specifically, because our constitution says that leaders of InterVarsity chapters have to be Christians and practice their Christian walk, we would be sent off campus because of that," explains InterVarsity's Andrew Ginsberg.

It's been a long battle between Vanderbilt administration and InterVarsity staff (read more here) which culminated in a meeting this past Tuesday night.

"Vanderbilt had a Town Hall meeting that we hoped would be a good sharing of ideas. It turned out not quite to be that way," says Ginsberg. "The administration made their case and heard questions, but there wasn't a free sharing. It seems like the decision has been made."

Technically, the decision of whether or not InterVarsity will be allowed to remain an official campus group will be made in the next couple of months. But Ginsberg seems fairly certain the verdict will be against them.

It's a sad matter, and one that threatens religious liberties. But InterVarsity's response has been one of faith. "This isn't a surprise to the Lord," notes Ginsberg.

InterVarsity is acutely aware that their response to this matter could be a testimony of Christ in and of itself.

"It's a really great opportunity to be salt and light. People are watching us. So how can we love students well? How can we love administration well? What does fighting look like in the Kingdom?"

InterVarsity is fighting for their rights currently but will roll with the punches, so to speak.

"If it comes to the point of them removing us from campus, well, Jesus doesn't leave the campus," says Ginsberg.

InterVarsity students will still be on the campus. Christians will still be on the campus. And InterVarsity can even continue to run off campus, just not as an official university group. The Lord will undoubtedly still work.

Currently, InterVarsity is praying for a change of heart in the Vanderbilt administration. Join them in prayer, and keep yourself updated on the situation here.

Sweden (MNN) -- Growth is a good problem to have, right?

Growing pains, while not fun, mean something good on the other side of transition. That's precisely the process that The Evangelical Alliance Mission in Sweden is reporting.  

Founded in 1993, New Life Church in Stockholm now represents more than 50 different nationalities from all corners of the world, from Albania to Zambia.

As a result, they're looking for a space with more room to grow. They recently put together a down payment for a new building. 

Working hand-in-hand with InterAct, a Swedish church and mission movement, TEAM missionaries are seeing churches grow that bring the whole Gospel to the whole person in Sweden. Their strategy: to transform lives and multiply churches through relational, holistic evangelism and by mentoring young leaders to reach their peers.

The ministry team uses music, art, and social caring to reach children, youth, and those who have been marginalized by their society. It's a catalyst used by the community of Jesus Christ to love and serve the people in Sweden.

This approach has met with success, and people are responding. Please pray for the congregation as they renovate a warehouse, allocating space for the activities of the church while continuing ministry at the present location through the end of February. 

Pray that this intense period will draw the church together and reveal how they can serve the community better.

USA (LPEA/MNN) -- There's a saying that goes, "The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world."

It speaks to the influence of a mother through her children. If that mother is a godly woman, the influence will be godly. What if God were to call an army of wives, sisters, and mothers to engage in intense, purposeful prayer?

Seven years ago, Solid Rock, one of Portland, Oregon's largest churches, hosted a group of women to hold vigil before the Lord all night.

They brought hope for people they love who need Jesus, messy relationships they cannot fix, co-workers who are cold to the Gospel, teenagers taking terrible risks, with a great burden to see hearts rescued by the Redeemer.

The idea caught on, and more and more venues began opening up to accommodate the participants who prayed through a theme simultaneously.    

Last February, 110 women met at the Luis Palau Association headquarters to pray all night long. "The night was a rare experience--intense, intimate, and powerful," said Wendy Palau, who planned the event at LPA. "The time spent with our Lord revitalized my life in a way few events can."

It was so well received that LPA is hosting its second annual Women's Night in Prayer on February 24-25 at their facilities in Beaverton, Oregon. The Palau team hopes to maximize the power of prayer by providing new resources and extending the impact of intercessory prayer in 2012.

"Prayer is an integral part of everything we do--from festivals to staff meetings," said LPA President Kevin Palau. "We're entering our busiest season of ministry yet, and we know that we need to consult and petition the Lord for His guidance and blessing in everything we do. That's what this initiative is about."

Alongside several Portland-area churches, plans are underway for a satellite prayer event in Sacramento, CA, where the Palau team will host a festival this June. Churches in Haiti, Jamaica, Australia, and more will also be mobilized to pray on the night of the event and beyond.

As the event draws closer, there will be more links and tools for participants to access which will enable people across the country to participate.

India (MNN) -- A self-styled Sharia Court is doing its best to silence the Gospel in India. The panel of Muslim clerics expelled three pastors from Kashmir state over allegations of forcible conversions.

However, the row created by the situation has believers raising the alarm. In mid-January, Muslim clerics issued a fatwa against them for "luring the Valley's Muslims to Christianity."

David Bast with Words  of Hope says, first, "The Sharia court is not an official institution. It's not a government court. This is simply a group of Muslim clerics who set themselves up and say, 'We will dictate what happens because Kashmir is Muslim.'" 

Second, the current crisis was sparked by video, posted in October 2011, of a pastor baptizing Kashmiri Muslim youth. There were calls to kill the pastor and to burn down churches and schools in the Valley.

Within hours of the warning, the pastor was arrested. The panel also accused two other Christian workers of being accomplices. As a result, says Bast, "Active ministry has ceased for the moment, as far as we know, and the Christians who were involved in that have had to flee for their lives."

Specifically, the expulsion is costly in terms of outreach. "Our team has experienced directly the results of that ruling because one of those three was heading up the work that we're involved in. The report we're getting from the direct for South Asia where Words of Hope is involved is basically that Christian ministry has shut down in Kashmir."

Bast goes on to say that before this happened, there was one above-ground church in the capital city. Now, there are none. It's unlikely that the situation will improve much. The Sharia court has also called on the government to take over management of missionary schools. There are several media reports indicating the Sharia court wants to introduce Islamic prayer and to allot classes for Islamic studies at these schools.

Jammu/Kashmir is India's only Muslim-majority state; Muslims account for 67% of its population. In the Valley, Muslims are the overwhelming majority constituting 97% of the population.

Bast notes that although there is dispute with Pakistan over the region's identity, "Legally, it's part of India, so it should be governed by the constitution of the state of India which guarantees religious freedom, but that's not happening there right now."

Words of Hope's ministry includes Gospel broadcasts in eight languages to four countries. It is the only region where Words of Hope broadcasts to audiences which are predominantly Hindu (Hindi, Bhojpuri, Dogri, Garhwali, Nepali), Buddhist (Tibetan, Dzongkha) and Muslim (Kashmiri).

Please pray for Words of Hope's continued efforts in South Asia. Bast requests, "Pray for the believers that are still there. They are very much under pressure. They're probably mostly underground. They're being intimidated, so pray that they'll be strengthened, that they'll be courageous, that they'll be able to stand."

Van continues to experience below-freezing temperatures and many inches of snowfall.

Turkey (MNN) -- It's been just more than 100 days since the first earthquake in a three-part series struck Van, Turkey. Each of the three had magnitudes well over 5.0, left hundreds of people dead, and took part in creating a fear that would paralyze a people.

In general, gathering people out of the gelid temperatures in Van since the quakes has gone fairly well. Mark Lewis, the director of EFCA TouchGlobal Crisis Response, says TouchGlobal has managed to house 800 families in 400 double shelters. Most people seem to be off the streets.

Months after the quake, Van has an eerie feeling to it. About half of the city cleared out and has yet to return. Most of the rest stay in shelters with their homes nearby, determined to protect their possessions but terrified to reenter cracked buildings.

Lewis says since the shelters are mostly complete, TouchGlobal partners are moving onto another phase of relief: a mobile soup kitchen. Temperatures are below freezing, and earthquake victims have little left. Christian workers want to be able to offer hot meals to those living in temporary shelters.

But even as hot soup may serve to fill stomachs and "warm the soul," any relief will be fleeting compared to the intense hopelessness surrounding Van.

"Fear is what is driving people right now," explains Lewis. "There's fear of the continued earthquake. There's fear now with thefts. There's fear of the unknown, the future, and the uncertainty."

People relive terrifying memories about family and friends who died in the earthquake. Others hear stories about people who ended up trapped--like one man who was rescued from rubble in the first quake, only to be moved into a hotel which collapsed in the next one, crushing him.

It's a trauma-inducing atmosphere. But Lewis says miraculously, there is hope emerging from the rubble.

"[An evangelist] said he felt that in that context, there was really an unprecedented openness in people," says Lewis. "It's characterized as an emotional crack that has opened that's enabled discussions and relationship to go beyond material things, and to really deal with that element of fear and hopelessness."

"When you're in hopelessness and fear, that's an amazing testimony to hear truth and to experience love, and to receive that in grace, without charge--just because someone else cares about you," adds Lewis. "That's powerfully encouraging."

The Turkish church in Van is excited by God's movement throughout the region and throughout the church itself, which is coming together like never before. Pray for hearts to be open to hearing about hope in Christ. Pray that Christian workers would have the words to say as well as the energy to say them as they continue to provide for victims' physical needs months since the crisis struck.

There are a number of ways you can partner with TouchGlobal's work in Turkey. Click here to read about them.

International (MNN) -- A large proportion of the population in developing countries live on less $2 per day.

The poor spend a large portion of their income on food, housing or medicine, let alone buying something as precious as a Bible.

However, Worldwide Christian Schools is working to change that. Scott Vanderkooy with WWCS says, "Worldwide Christian Schools concentrates on the development of Christ-centered schools in the developing world. But approximately 80% of these children come from homes without a Bible."

Since part of their curriculum uses the Bible as text, owning one seems to be fairly high on the priority list. For sponsored students who attend the schools, though, the reality is their families simply can't afford to buy one. Vanderkooy says, "We started the 'My Own Bible' campaign, or MOB, to raise money for Bibles that are bought by each school locally and then are distributed to the students' families."

What started as an experiment in Africa has now grown to an international project that has taken on a life of its own. "We spend a lot of time as Christian school people trying to integrate faith in all of life in these developing world families," says Vanderkooy. "It's difficult to do that if those families don't have a Bible of their own in their home that they can refer to." 

Presenting need and action in small doses makes this project one that is easy for everyone not only to grasp, but also to participate in. For example, Vanderkooy says, "Grand Rapids Christian Middle School completed a 15-day campaign. They called it 'Join the MOB' and raised enough money for 520 Bibles for schools in Uganda, the DR, Guatemala and India."

The actual results are as follows:

• The 5th grade raised $527.75 or enough for 105 student Bibles
• The 6th grade raised $550.75 or enough for 110 student Bibles
• The 7th grade raised $800 or enough for 160 student Bibles
• The 8th grade raised $621.75 or enough for 124 student Bibles

The goal of this fund is to provide every child in a partner school with a Bible. Because of the strong start to 2012, Vanderkooy adds, "We would love to raise enough money for 20,000 Bibles to be distributed this year. Every $5 will buy a Bible for a family in the developing world that doesn't have one."

The benefits of the My Own Bible Fund will extend beyond simply handing out Bibles. "It's a very simple thing for the teacher to do is to encourage the reading of the Bible, and not only with the students, but there's a lot of parent/teacher interaction as well. These schools are schools that are really integral to the entire community."

$5 buys a Bible for a child. Churches and schools are encouraged to join in the fundraising effort. Check our Featured Links section for details.

MNN's Greg Yoder talks about the matching grant. You can help!

USA (MNN) -- For more than 20 years, Mission Network News has been doing something no other organization is doing. The ministry is producing news and information -- but in a way that is unique. The news and information they're producing is about evangelism around the world. Because of a matching grant, MNN is poised to share this information to even more people worldwide, but they need you to help them.

When MNN was founded in 1991, it was primarily a radio program about missionaries. Broadcasting on about 250 stations in the United States, MNN began airing mission news featuring news about dozens of missions agencies. In 1995, MNN started focusing on news around the world and how current events were impacting missions work. MNN quickly grew to more than 1,000 radio outlets. Then, in 1996, MNN started its first Web site. That opened the door for inspiring Christians to join God's service literally around the world.

Today, their Web site is the distribution point for radio stations in more than 30 countries. The Web site is translated into Spanish so Christians who speak that language can also understand how they can pray more effectively, give more intelligently, or go more confidently. MNNonline.org is also helping link the next generation of Christians to needs around the world through social media Web sites like Facebook and Twitter.

However, their current Web site is nearly six years old. "It's hard to believe it's been that long," says Greg Yoder, the anchor and executive director of Mission Network News. "That Web, which was state-of-the-art then, has served us well. But now it's limiting what we can do for the cause of Christ," Yoder adds.

That's why they're raising $15,000 to help build a new Web site. A generous donor is providing a $7,500 matching grant to encourage people to help with this project. "If people give their best gift, this friend will match it dollar-for-dollar. Isn't that great?" Yoder asks with a laugh.

MNN's Web site is visited by Christians in more than 160 countries. It's designed to distribute radio feeds to radio stations internationally, deliver daily/weekly e-mail updates to almost 10,000 people world-wide in English and Spanish, recruit Christians to go on short-term mission trips, and call Christians to pray. Each day the ministry is reaching more than 2.5 million people. However, MNN is currently being limited by what they can do, especially on their Web site.

According to Yoder, "Our current Web site is designed to release four or five stories a day. That's it. To force it to do any more requires a redesign, and more importantly -- reprogramming. We'd like to be able to release news as it happens, but our current site isn't designed that way. It's designed to imitate our radio broadcast." While Yoder says that was good in 2006, it's not good for 2012 where people want compelling information about God's work now -- when it happens.

According to Yoder, $15,000 is a lot of money, but "we're not just talking about changing the 'pretty pictures' on the home page," says Yoder. "We're talking about reprogramming the entire backbone of the Web site which will allow nearly automatic Web site publishing, create iPhone, Android and other smart phone apps, allow easy creation of custom Web site pages, allow for more interaction with our Fan/Friend pages on Facebook and much, much, more."

For Mission Network News, the goal isn't to grow just to grow. "The goal is to encourage as many Christians as possible to understand that God has called them to do something for Him-- especially young people," says Yoder. "We know Christians want to do something for Christ, but they may not know where to begin. That's the role of MNN."

If you'd like to help fund this new Web site redesign, go to MissionNetworkNews.org/donate/special. When you give, you'll receive a Mission Network News mouse pad, specially designed for people who are on the go.

Watch a video from MNN's Greg Yoder by clicking here.

Africa Director Rae Burnett took this photo of a Kanuri woman who just heard the gospel for the first time from indigenous missionaries.

Nigeria (MNN) -- Five more people are dead as Boko Haram continues its spread of terror across northern Nigeria. Churches have been attacked, Christians murdered, and now even Muslims are being targeted. Mostly those who are trying to protect Christians, or are sympathetic to them.

The most recent attack came when the Boko Haram Islamic Sect on Monday night invaded the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, barracks as well as a police station in Maiduguri, Borno State, killing five people including a soldier, two policemen and two civilians.

It's a quest to force the region into Sharia law

Africa Director for Christian Aid Mission Rae Burnett says missionaries they're supporting are reaching the unreached in these areas, but she's concerned that openness will end. "The fear is that the villagers will get word of this and be afraid to allow the Christian missionaries in. They've seen and appreciated the love of the Christians to be helpful to them. If Boko Haram gets word of it, they'll chase them out."

Up until just recently Boko Haram had been focusing on terror in major cities. But, that's changing, says Burnett. "Some of the villages in the north

This would destroy the work Christian Aid Mission has been able to do. It's already affected some of their partners. "Several of the missionaries have had to leave their fields because of the threats. Of course, these Boko Haram people have relatives everywhere. And if one of them is in one of these villages, then it can cause these missionaries trouble."

Christian Aid Mission supports national Christians who are focused on reaching the unreached. Burnett says, "Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa, and there are many, many areas that have not been reached with the Gospel. The ministry that we have, primarily, helped has been so successful."

Burnett says, "They came into being to reach one particular tribe, and they've grown. Now they're reaching 14 tribes. Most of them are in the north, which has been extremely closed to the Gospel."

Christian Aid Mission supports Nigerian believers who have a plan to reach the unreached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Your financial support can help keep them work in these areas while the doors are still olpen. Click here to help Nigerian missionaries.

Niger (MNN) -- Clashes continue in northeast Nigeria, the part of the country with the greatest Boko Haram activity.

Boko Haram is an Islamism sect with ties to al Qaeda. The group's name in Hausa means "Western education is sinful."

David Bast with Words of Hope doesn't doubt the flare up of trouble in the neighboring country, but he says there's something else to consider. "I think it's important to note that there's some question about Boko Haram. It's always possible for ordinary criminals or thugs to use that in order to cover their activities, so it's very difficult for us to know what's going on, on the ground."

Either way, the atmosphere across the North remains tense among Christians in Nigeria. Bast says while their Niger team is not being directly affected by the persecution, there's reason to be wary. "The tribal and linguistic group straddles that border--they're Hausa speakers, and something like 40 to 50 million."  

Words of Hope's French programs are trying to influence the region for good. Given that radio is the most important means of mass communication, it's one of the best ways to share crucial information.   

An overwhelming majority of the population has ownership or at least access to radios within their household and listens to radio faithfully. From the survey results, the respondents' favorite radio programs discuss news and religion. That's another plus. The Words of Hope team is producing daily radio programs in Hausa. Bast says, "They're on 30 radio stations throughout the country. They're very positive in the way they present the good news about Jesus. One of the things that they report is that their programming has made it easier for evangelists from the church to enter the villages."

Although Niger is majority Muslim country, the history with Christians has been peaceful. Radio capitalizes on that relationship to introduce Christ. "The Muslim population of the villages has already heard from the church, in effect, through the radio. They like the programs, and so they're willing to give a hearing to the evangelists that come in. It's kind of clearing away misconceptions and maybe popular prejudice."

Over the last five years, the number of listeners has grown exponentially because of what the ministry addresses. As a result, they've heard from missionaries and pastors who say the Muslim community is listening. There are several imams who listen to the programs and appreciate them.

As the situation continues to deteriorate in nearby Nigeria, the Words of Hope program director says despite the uncertainty of the time they're living in, "'We have a great duty which consists in loving our Muslim brothers despite the fact that some of them kill innocents every day. It's also the love that brought Jesus to the cross. We must redouble our efforts to bring the Gospel of peace, restoration, and forgiveness wherever it should be.'"

North Korea (ODM/MNN) -- North Korea has announced it will release an unspecified number of prisoners starting today.

The amnesty is in commemorative honor of deceased leaders Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il, who would have been turning 100 and 70, respectively, this year.

Open Doors, USA reports that it is not unusual for North Korea to release prisoners for a leader's birthday, but general amnesties used to be granted twice a year until 2005. After that, only occasionally have prisoners been released before they have served their sentences.

It is still unclear as to how many prisoners will be released, but it's certain that only "re-educated" prisoners will be granted amnesty--prisoners who have been in a re-education camp for several years and have performed well in their tasks and in the mandatory ideology classes.

Christian prisoners will almost certainly not be released. People in political labor camps will never be released because they are labeled as "incurable." Those camps are full of politically-active people, refugees who are suspected to have been in contact with South Koreans, and ideological opponents such as Christians.

The prisoner release in North Korea is a bittersweet event. It's good news for those who will leave, but prisoners make up the bulk of North Korea's labor force. Therefore, as prisoners are released, others will need to be arrested to fill their spots. It would not be the first time that the police are ordered to increase the number of arrests. Those arrested could easily include Christians.

These prison camps have been described as torturous.

"I was in a small camp, not for my Christian activities, but because I was arrested in China," one young Christian told Open Doors. "Every day someone died, and I was forced to take the person outside the camp and bury him or her."

Another Christian spent several years in the most infamous camp, Yodok, a place he describes as "a living mass grave. The whole system made me desperate. I saw people dying of hunger and sickness. I saw executions. But one day we had to assemble in a big hall, and it was made known that in honor of the birthday of one of the leaders, a few prisoners would be released for good behavior. At that moment, I made the decision that I would be a model prisoner and I would survive this. I knew that I would have to stay at least three to five years in Yodok in order to be considered for release. I determined not to make any mistakes."

More than 1% of the total North Korean population wakes up in a prison or labor camp each day. The number of Christians in the political camps is estimated at 40,000 to 70,000.

North Korea is ranked the #1 persecutor of Christians by the Open Doors 2012 World Watch List of the 50 worst persecutors of believers. It was the 10th straight time North Korea has been ranked No. 1.

Pray for Christians during this amnesty. Pray that believers might be released and be safe from arrests. Pray that no matter what happens, the Gospel will not be silenced in North Korea.

International (MNN) -- The world has changed dramatically in the last 60 years.

At that time, missiologist Patrick Johnstone put together the first Operation World. It's a compendium that documents the state of Christianity around the world and has provided helpful insight for Christians to pray for the nations.

With his understanding of the changes in evangelism over the last half century, Johnstone spoke this week at Global Advance on the future of the global Church, trends and resourcing challenges.

Very few organizations are training leaders in some of the most difficult areas of the world. The focus of Global Advance team has always been to challenge Christian leaders to use their influence to advance the Gospel. For some, this means planting churches, going as a missionary to a foreign land; for others, it means using business as the stimulus for evangelism and the spread of God's work.

What's more, Johnstone noted the shift of Christianity with which Global Advance has kept pace. He identified the trend as a move away from a Western-centric Christianity toward a Southern and Eastern Christianity.

It's well noted that in Southeast Asia, Christianity is growing at a staggering rate. Despite rising resistance and persecution, these new believers are also starting to take responsibility for the Great Commission. There are more churches being planted in this region of the world than ever before.

Good news, certainly, but it also presents a unique challenge. Young Christians are working to plant and multiply churches, reproducing new churches ahead of Bible training. Over 90% of them have no formal instruction and will never have the opportunity to get that kind of education.

That's why this month and next, Global Advance's team will answer that need. They're sending training teams to India with 4 separate events in 4 different states. In May, they'll return to Southeast Asia for training events in several more restricted access nations.

Several thousand leaders will be trained in Southeast Asia over the next few months -- reinforcing what God is already doing. Pray for wisdom for those involved in the training events. Pray that the new church leaders will understand the material and be able to implement it as they begin their ministries.

Seth Olsen (right) with a Lifewater worker in Uganda.

Uganda (MNN) -- While most professional American football players were either gearing up for the Super Bowl or winding down from the end of a long season, one was giving back.

Seth Olsen of the Indianapolis Colts just returned from an eight-day voyage in Africa. Olsen traveled to Uganda to explore the work of Lifewater International.

It was an overall eye opening experience for Olsen, who gained a wealth of knowledge about Lifewater as an organization, as well as the severity of the water crisis.

"Before I went, I thought I had a good idea of what life was like," reflects Olsen. "Really you just don't know ‘til you go. I was just so moved by what I saw."

Olsen says the reality of the water crisis in Uganda was unnerving. "The statistics say between 800 million and one billion people lack access to safe water," comments Olsen.

Olsen knew those facts going in. But seeing poverty firsthand made him staunchly aware of how blessed he and the developed world are by having their simplest--but most important--need constantly met.

"There are so many needs around the globe and in these rural communities, in these areas of extreme poverty. But the most basic--and I think was really solidified for me as the number one need for those communities--is water," says Olsen. "It all starts with water."

It does start with water, and Lifewater International is also able to include much more than earthly water in their work, says Olsen. He was impressed by the way the organization truly lived out their mission statement in their love for Christ and others.

"There are a lot of water organizations out there that provide clean water. But [Lifewater] also addresses safe sanitation and hygiene education, and they introduce stories of Jesus through that curriculum," notes Olsen.

The Gospel message was driven home with a showing of the "JESUS" film during Olsen's stay in Uganda. Lifewater was able to reach 50,000 Ugandans that night with one film and one life-changing message.

Back in the United States, Olsen will keep spreading awareness about the water crisis and about Lifewater's commitment to defeating it while proclaiming the Good News. He plans to keep using his professional football platform for the sake of the Lord's work.

Olsen kept a blog while in Uganda, and you can learn more about his trip. Just head to sethrolsen.wordpress.com. Learn more about Lifewater International here.

Christian World Outreach needs support to save AIDS orphans in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe (MNN) -- Children in Zimbabwe may have to go without an education and could go hungry if a ministry doesn't receive the funding they need.

Christian World Outreach works in the region providing for the needs of AIDS orphans in the region. CWO's Greg Yoder says his ministry tries to give the kids everything they need. "We do whatever we can helping them go to school, feeding them, clothing them, giving them blankets -- whatever the needs are -- and we do that by supporting the communities and the families who have taken these AIDS orphans in."

According to Yoder, CWO doesn't have an orphanage, which is why they're working through families. "They want to help the children, they just need the support to do that."

Currently Christian World Outreach is helping 500 children, but Yoder says they don't have the funding. "We're out there beating the bushes trying to find funds so we can support all of them. Currently, we have been able to receive the funds to get them all back in school. But, we're still working on supplementing them with food and other things need."

If they don't get the funding they need they may have to cut back. "We've had those discussions and [they're] hard discussions to have, but at this point we're going to have to cut back."

Yoder says it costs about $40 a month to sponsor a child.

Christian World Outreach is also trying to build a camp/conference center in Harare to help these young people. This facility would be used, "For times when we can take the children outside of the home and the community and just do some Bible teaching and ministering to them."

The conference center will also be used for their monthly pastor's training conference.

If you'd like to help Christian World Outreach, click here.

Bangladesh (MNN) -- Bangladesh is used to certain kinds of natural disasters: flooding and cyclones.

One kind of natural disaster they are not prepared for: a cold wave. Unusually cold weather has struck south Asia, with dozens of people reported to have died in Bangladesh and India as a result.

There are three distinct seasons in Bangladesh: a hot, humid summer from March to June; a cool, rainy monsoon season from June to October; and a cool, dry winter from October to March. In general, maximum summer temperatures range between 30°C and 40°C (86 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit). April is the warmest month in most parts of the country. January is the coldest month, when the average temperature for most of the country is about 10°C (50 degrees F).

Compassion International Communications director Kathy Redmond says although news is scarce about the situation, "We have about 2,000 families that are really suffering through this right now. Compassion is providing blankets for people, and of course, they can go to the church project."  

Nearly every walk of life has disrupted. Poor people in the northern region of the country are the worst affected, Redmond adds. Families from 22 Compassion projects were affected by the cold weather. "These are people who are used to living in a tropical region, who have mud huts with dirt floors and corrugated roofs. They don't have a lot of insulation from that cold. They don't really have a heat source. They have never NEEDED a heat source."

Unable to buy warm clothes, poor people are struggling to ward off cold bite at night. Compassion teams are responding, says Redmond. "The country office is distributing the blankets, working with them and our partner churches at our Child Development Centers. People can go there and get whatever they need."

There are widespread reports of people wrapping themselves with gunny and plastic bags, torn cloth, mosquito nets, etc. Coping with the cold and damp reveals who is the most vulnerable. "This is really directly a poverty issue. When you have such cold temperatures and you don't know how to survive it...you don't have the tools to survive it."

As a result, there has been a reported wave of cold-related diseases like bronchial asthma, pneumonia, coughing, and Rota viral diarrhea as children and the elderly are hit hardest. In addition, there are concerns about how the unusual turn in weather will affect the crops in the region. 

In the event of food shortages or medical needs, because of the testimony of the believers working with Compassion, "They [people in the community] see the church as a place where they can go and get their needs met," explains Redmond. And with that comes the Gospel. "The Gospel talks about loving your neighbor, loving your brother, putting other people above yourself. I think that's something that really resonates with people who haven't heard it."  

It's a hope they've not had before, but "people are being able to see us as the hands and feet of Christ, and they are being able to see the church as the body of Christ." Please pray for God's protection of those who are not accustomed to the cold temperatures and for His care of those suffering illness.

USA (MNN) -- The Gospel has offended enough people that InterVarsity Christian Fellowship has been threatened with suspension from another college campus.

Over this past school year, Vanderbilt University leadership decided to place on provisional status InterVarsity's Graduate Christian Fellowship and three other campus Christian groups for non-compliance with Vanderbilt's anti-discrimination policy.

The anti-discrimination policy, as it currently stands, would prohibit a Christian organization from using any religious criteria when selecting leaders. InterVarsity believes such a policy not only flies in the face of common sense, but is contrary to the spirit of the Freedom of Religion protections in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Senior Vice President and Director of Collegiate Ministries for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA Jim Lundgren has sent a letter to InterVarsity's Vanderbilt University chapter alumni and others asking for prayer in support of religious freedom at Vanderbilt.

"We love the university environment, and we welcome all students and faculty into our chapter activities at Vanderbilt," Lundgren said in the letter. "However, it is essential that InterVarsity student leaders be committed Christians who understand their faith as they seek to lead their peers. No organization of any kind can survive without leaders committed to its basic beliefs."

Lundgren is asking for prayers that Vanderbilt will change its position and allow religious organizations to choose leaders who believe in the principles and beliefs of those organizations.

A Town Hall meeting will be held on the Vanderbilt campus on tonight. University officials will explain how the anti-discrimination policy will be applied to student groups at that time.

For more background on the Vanderbilt situation, click here where you can check out statements by Vanderbilt's leadership, a response from an InterVarsity Campus Staff Member at Vanderbilt, and an open letter to Vanderbilt Chancellor Nicholas Zeppos from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.

(Photo by Ashley Campbell)

USA (MNN) -- 2012 marks 200 years since the state of Louisiana was admitted into the United States. It follows that 2012 is also the 200th anniversary of the Louisiana Baptist Convention.

The conference for this year's Convention--currently made up of 1,600 churches and 600,000 members--gave way to a decision that 2012 would be a year of revival.

"Over 30,000 people prayed and fasted for this conference that God would move among the leaders--the Christian leaders and Baptist leaders there in Louisiana--to send revival," explains evangelist Sammy Tippit, who just returned from the conference.

The conference served as a launching pad for several revival-inspiring events, which will hopefully allow the passion felt at the conference to continue on throughout the year.

"It's not just a one-time conference," confirms Tippit. "They're dedicating everything they do this whole year to seeking God--every meeting with young people, with children, with adults--every kind of meeting they will have will be centered around calling for and trusting God to send a great spiritual awakening."

The Baptist Convention feels so passionate about the need for revival in the United States, it is even going as far as to launch the Joseph Willis Institute for Great Awakening Studies, a division of Louisiana College meant to educate a generation about spiritual leaders and movements in U.S. history.

"The way we go forward is remembering the faithfulness of God that we have in our history," says Tippit. Those at the Joseph Willis Institute will do just that. The Institute will launch this year sponsoring symposiums, hosting a repository of historical material, and providing academic instruction regarding past and present revival.

Tippit has spoken on several occasions about the need for revival, and this could be the year. Pray with Tippit at his Web site, and learn more about the Joseph Willis Institute here.

Tanzania (MNN) -- Five years ago, in the Rukwa Valley, there was no hospital. 

The valley, which is 35 miles wide and 135 miles long, is populated by eight distinct groups of 200,000 to 250,000 people.

If there was a medical emergency, it took six hours to drive to the nearest hospital. General statistics showed an average of one doctor per 138 000 people, or more.

HIV/AIDS infection is hovering around 6%. Malnutrition remains a problem, with about one fifth of the population's children underweight, and nearly one in three children whose growth has been stunted due to lack of nutrition. 

It was that, plus a bout with malaria that drove home the need for a medical clinic in the region to Mark Guilzon and his wife, Jodi. Friends with the Rabenolds, a Grace Ministries International team, they began working together toward meeting that need.

It has taken five years of work, finances, planning, building and meeting with officials to make a medical clinic happen, but the Mercy Medical Mission Dispensary has been open for nearly a month now.  It is under the direction of Mark Guilzon, and he and the staff are committed to "making a difference, one life at a time."

Doors officially opened January 4, 2012 in Kapenta, Tanzania. The ultimate goal is to get the clinic running in order to turn it over to the people of the Rukwa Valley.

Please pray for this clinic as they diagnose and treat many patients with malaria, HIV, pregnancy, amoebas, lacerations, and many more physical needs. Not only do they have a desire to meet their physical needs, but they want open doors to meet their patients' spiritual needs as well.

Grace Ministries International has 72 churches in Tanzania.  The team works with local church partners in evangelism, church planting, theological education, and community development.   

The Rabenolds launched a vo-tech school which both educates and equips young Tanzanians in the fields of carpentry and sewing. There is an intense English training program, fish pond, aquaculture work, two tree nurseries with an emphasis on introducing new varieties of trees that impact the Valley's farmers, water projects, weekly dental extraction clinics, and livestock improvement projects.

They also established the only sunflower oil press in the Rukwa Valley. This press enables local farmers to produce their own cooking oil instead of importing it from abroad. All of the above-mentioned projects are to show the love of Christ to their Rukwa neighbors.

New outreach and development are taking place in the Rukwa Valley with a special focus on helping people with clean water projects, agriculture, and evangelizing the fishermen villages on the shores of Lake Rukwa.

South Sudan (MNN) -- Tribal violence particularly in one state in the new country of South Sudan has United Nations officials concerned. However, Christians are moving forward with plans to expand Bible translation facilities there.

Wycliffe Associates, an international organization that involves people in the acceleration of Bible translation efforts, is continuing to assist Bible translators in newly independent South Sudan with logistical, financial, and personnel support.

From 1955 to 1972, and 1983 to 2005 respectively, Sudan was plagued by two lengthy periods of civil conflict in which an estimated 2.5 million people died from starvation and drought, most of whom were civilians. In July 2011, South Sudan gained independence from Sudan, and that has, according to Wycliffe Associates, opened new doors for religious freedom as never before.

"There are more people without the Bible in the Sudan region than in any other area of Africa," says Wycliffe Associates President and CEO, Bruce Smith. He points out that the need for Bible translation projects in all of Sudan is great, with 21 million Sudanese waiting for the Bible to be translated into a language they can understand.

There are 29 languages without any Scripture in South Sudan, representing 20% of the population. Currently, six language projects are underway.

"Our partners on the ground say that without our immediate action, no new translation projects can begin," Smith says.

Wycliffe Associates has been renovating facilities that had been abandoned by Bible translators for security reasons nearly 20 years ago. Upon the Bible translators' return in 2005, they lived in mud huts until housing and office space could be repaired.

Recently, anonymous donors have provided $39,100 for a matching challenge, which means that gifts toward Bible translation in South Sudan will be doubled, up to that amount. The gifts will be used to provide Bible translation facilities and resources for Bible translators.

Bible translation in this region remains one of Wycliffe Associates' top strategic priorities for the coming years.

Wycliffe Associates involves people in accelerating the work of Bible translation through their time, talents, and treasure. Because millions of people around the world are still waiting to read the Scriptures in the language of their heart, Wycliffe Associates is working as quickly as they can to translate every verse of the Bible into every tongue to change every heart. The organization partners with nationals, mother tongue translators, staff, volunteers, and supporters to direct and fund these efforts, as well as provide logistics, networking, and technical support. Through a growing global network, Wycliffe Associates is striving to overcome local limitations of time and resources to achieve the goal of beginning the translation of God's Word in every remaining language that needs it by 2025.