Displaying items by tag: Praise

Friday, 04 May 2018 11:34

Conflict and the Gospel

Conflict over land used by herdsmen and farmers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is sending thousands into Uganda. Wycliffe Associates in Uganda invited members of DRC people groups to learn Bible translation for their individual tribal dialect. People attending the workshops found that their neighbouring enemies were at the same workshop at the same time - then the Holy Spirit went to work, as they were being equipped to steward God’s Word for their people. The power of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit bring reconciliation. Many DRC tribal groups function without any written language: about 242 languages are spoken. Translators use translation recorders in French, the majority language, and then record the same portion of scripture in their dialect to share with their communities. Pastor David Platt said the greatest social injustice today is the 2 billion people who have never heard of God's redeeming love. Bible translation is addressing that injustice.

Published in Praise Reports
Friday, 27 April 2018 10:19

Royal baby arrives

On 23 April the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to a 8lb 7oz son, the new brother for Prince George and Princess Charlotte and the fifth in line to the throne. May God bless Kate, William, and all of their children with love, peace, happiness and health.

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Friday, 27 April 2018 01:13

The blessing of working together

God does amazing things through his Church, often when different denominations work together in unity. Christians who work in this way find they are blessed. This was shown when Bristol HOPE brought together 1,400 volunteers from 3 to 7 April, to take part in a city-wide mission in 25 communities on 170 community projects, 25 events, and 15 family fun days. It resulted in more than twenty people becoming Christians; they are now being followed up by local Bristol churches. The volunteers included 500 young people from Soul Survivor, serving alongside local churches and organisations to bless the local community, putting Jesus’ love into words and actions.

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Friday, 27 April 2018 01:10

Nepal: sharing the Gospel

Nepal has eight of the ten highest peaks in the world. The Himalayas cross northern Nepal, and rugged terrain makes remote communities extremely difficult to access. Six years ago *A, a Nepali Christian leader, climbed to the top of a peak and in the fading dusk saw lights flickering in villages across the side of the mountain. He realised no-one had shared the Gospel in those areas. Beyond that mountain there’s another, and then another, all the way to Tibet where there are many villages that have no witness to the Gospel, no believers, and no Church. Together with a discipleship mission training programme they shared the news of Jesus Christ in that area. People were receptive, and they prayed for a number of people who were healed. Now there are seven churches in that area, working together to disciple new believers.

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Thursday, 19 April 2018 23:08

Vicar of Baghdad ‘led’ to Alderney

Children at the first Bible holiday club for a long time on Alderney heard the story of Moses from Canon Andrew White, the ‘Vicar of Baghdad’. He said God put the island on his heart while he was in Jerusalem. The next day he met a lady who grew up on Alderney, which he took as confirmation that he should visit. He visited a children’s Bible holiday club run by several churches, and spoke to 26 children. ‘He’s such a humble, inspiring man,’ said Lisa Adams, a home-schooling mum of four, who helped organise the club. While there he prayed at the site of Lager Sylt, one of four Alderney Nazi labour camps for French Jews who died there under a five-year German occupation. ‘I never even knew this tragedy happened on my doorstep,’ he wrote on Facebook. ‘This land still needs repentance, restoration and healing.’

Published in Praise Reports
Thursday, 19 April 2018 23:05

White House Bible study group

In 2010 Capitol Ministries began a Bible study for representatives, which now has almost fifty members. When four of the group were elected to the Senate, they asked for a senators' Bible class, which began in 2015. Two months after Donald Trump took office, the same process led to a group for cabinet members. Trump started appointing to his cabinet all the men who were in the House and Senate bible study, men who were known to be believers. Unlike secular media, Christians noticed that the appointees had something in common - they were strong in Christ. Jeff Sessions (former health secretary), Tom Price, and others then started a cabinet Bible study. For the first time in 100 years, the US Cabinet has a Bible study group.

Published in Praise Reports
Friday, 06 April 2018 11:45

North Korea: missionaries on the border

Missionaries in north-eastern China are still engaged in the dangerous work of spreading the Gospel across the border to North Korea, even though at least ten missionaries and pastors have mysteriously died in recent years. They keep at it because they believe their converts will help change religious practice in the cloistered North, which equates Christianity with US-led Western imperialism. The border missionaries provide their North Korean visitors with room and board, and those escaping with places to hide. In return, they ask them to memorise Christian prayers and covertly share what they've learned when they return home.

Published in Praise Reports
Friday, 06 April 2018 11:43

Yulia Skripal getting stronger

In the midst of a depressing and sometimes frightening diplomatic crisis, with international media and government accusations and statements, the UK police issued a positive statement on 5 April. It was a message from Russian spy Sergei Skripal's daughter Yulia: ‘I woke up over a week ago now, and am glad to say my strength is growing every day.’ She also said she was grateful for the many messages of goodwill and the care she had received. Mr Skripal, 66, remains critically ill but stable.

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Friday, 30 March 2018 00:48

Easter outreach

Across the nations churches proclaim the Easter message this weekend. One example is the ‘Cross His Path’ initiative which distributed 200 crosses for people to find in Sudbury and Great Cornard from 26 to 31 March. Each cross had a Bible verse on one side and on the flipside link details to the ‘Cross His Path’ Facebook page where people could log their finds, receive an Easter message, and leave their own reflections. It also gave details of local Easter services and activities, one of which is a ‘Stations of Sudbury’ walk on Easter Saturday, retelling the story of Jesus’ death through readings and prayers at a variety of locations. It will also give an opportunity to pray for the community. Praise God that the heart of the Christian message is being proclaimed across the UK in a variety of ways. Death is not the end for today’s disciples; there is more to come because of what Christ did for us.

Published in Praise Reports
Friday, 30 March 2018 00:46

Rescued from slavery in India

Impoverished families trafficked from central Indian states are forced to make thousands of clay bricks daily in appalling conditions. Victims don’t speak out due to intimidation. Officials can’t ascertain the truth. Fortunately, one 13-year-old boy told officials how he worked nine hours a day. His courage emboldened others. Teenage girls described carrying heavy stacks of bricks on their heads. A single mother shared the agony of not getting medical care for her sick child. Soon the local authorities had enough information to complete a rescue operation and bring the victims to safety. On 23 March, IJM reported, ‘nearly 150 children, women and men were rescued from bonded labour slavery in a single Indian brick kiln. Years ago, local leaders would not admit slavery still existed, let alone help families in need. Today the families are receiving medical care, food, ID cards, police protection and release certificates that break any bonds to former owners.’

Published in Praise Reports