MISSIONARY NEWS FEATURE #10

United Kingdom – Channel Islands & Isle of Man:

Challenge for Prayer:

The growing ethnic-minority populations form a significant part of UK urban life. Some cities have large minority populations; in some areas, specific ethnic-minority communities form the largest single group. Active Christians number a higher proportion of some communities – such as African Caribbean, African and East Asian – than in the indigenous population. Others come from countries where the gospel is little known and entry of missionaries.

 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland:

Challenge for Prayer:

Britain’s contribution to world evangelization and the Protestant missions’ movement in the last 220 years is unique, but interest is waning as the Church weakens. Fewer’ than one in six Protestant churches has missionaries serving on the field. Widespread misconceptions are that the job is largely completed or that efforts should be concentrated on Britain’s needs

(For more info, do click onto this link – https://www.operationworld.org/dec06#prayer & https://www.operationworld.org/dec05#prayer to read for further news by Operation World Prayer News, 6th & 5th Dec 2020)

Boko Haram kills at least 110 civilians in this year’s 'most violent direct' attack:

Boko Haram is one of the world’s deadliest terrorist groups as it has engaged in its insurgency in northeast Nigeria and the Lake Chad region for over a decade. The group has killed and abducted thousands of people over the years.

(For more info, do click the link – https://www.christianpost.com/news/boko-haram-kills-110-civilians-in-nigeria-violent-attack.html to read for further news by Anugrah Kumar – Christian Post Contributor Follow, from Christian Post, 1st DEC 2020)

USA:

After a year-long campaign and a tense election week, preliminary results say former vice president Joe Biden is President-elect of the United States. If election results stand, Senator Kamala Harris will be the first female, first black, and first South Asian vice president in U.S. history. (For more info, do click onto this link – https://www.mnnonline.org/news/joe-biden-elected-as-46th-president-of-the-united-states/ to read for further news by Kevin Zeller– from Mission News Network, 10th NOV 2020)

Sudan:

After a two-day meeting, Christian and Muslim leaders in Sudan signed an agreement promoting peace and religious freedom. It’s the first of its kind and a significant step forward. (For more info, do click onto this link – https://www.mnnonline.org/news/recent-agreement-moves-sudan-closer-to-religious-freedom/ to read for further news by Katey Hearth – from Mission News Network, 9th NOV 2020)

Israel:

A Byzantine church said to have built around the location where Jesus referred to Simon Peter as “the rock” was discovered in a nature reserve in northern Israel. (For more info, do click the link – https://www.christianpost.com/news/church-built-where-jesus-called-peter-the-rock-found-in-israel.html to read for further news by Michael Gryboski – Contributor Follow from Christian Post, 30th October 2020)

Thailand:

Conditions are ripe for another military takeover in Thailand. According to the Thai Enquirer, there have been 13 coups since the start of the 20th century. Today, any conflict between pro-democracy demonstrators and monarchy supporters could give the military an excuse to take control.

(For more info, do click onto this link – https://www.mnnonline.org/news/thai-christians-rise-above-political-unrest/ to read for further news by Katey Hearth – from Mission News Network, 28th Oct 2020)

China:

Relations between the United States and China have taken a hit this year, often fueled by rhetoric from U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump has blamed China for the COVID-19 pandemic, often calling it the “China virus.” In addition, a trade war has been ongoing between the two countries since 2018.

(For more info, do click onto this link – https://www.mnnonline.org/news/us-china-squabbles-obscure-chinese-christians/  to read for further news by Kevin Zeller – from Mission News etwork, 23rd Oct 2020)

Egypt:

Egyptian Christians continue to face persecution, and the pressure highlights the need to pray for those suffering. Oppression has worsened with the pandemic, with believers suffering from everything from unemployment to lack of medical care. Persecution can even become violent. On October 5, Coptic Christians were attacked after an incident at a wedding. Tom Doyle of Uncharted Ministries says incidents like these are tragically normal.

(For more info, do click onto this link – https://www.mnnonline.org/news/mbb-global-prayer-day-supporting-muslim-background-believers-in-egypt-and-beyond/to read for further news by Rachel Pfeiffer – from Mission News Network, 23rd Oct 2020)

Yali tribe that once killed missionaries is now sharing the Gospel, celebrating gift of 2,500 Bibles:

In 1968, the Yali tribe of Papua New Guinea that practiced witchcraft and cannibalism killed two missionaries. Today, they hunger for the Word of God. (For more info, do click the link – https://www.christianpost.com/news/former-cannibal-tribe-receives-bibles-in-their-own-language.html to read for further news by Jackson Elliott – Contributor Follow from Christian Post, 13th October 2020)

Iraq:

To be born into a Muslim family in Iraq is to be Muslim. Stepping out of that structure can lead to denouncement, persecution, and even death. (For more info, do click onto this link – https://www.mnnonline.org/news/the-power-of-whole-muslim-families-coming-to-faith-in-jesus/ to read for further news by Lyndsey Koh, 24th Sept 2020 – from Mission News Network)

Austria:

Challenges for Prayer:

The Lutheran and Reformed Churches have been in decline for decades. A year which passes without numerical decrease is seen as a victory; Formalism and tradition have little attraction for the younger generation. There are a number of Bible-believing pastors, but nominalism is as common as in the Catholic Church.

(For more info, do click onto this link – https://www.operationworld.org/feb26#prayer to read for further news by Operation World Prayer News, 26th Feb 2020)

Africa – Rwanda:

Challenge for Prayer

Rwanda’s longer-term future must eventually move past the events of the 1990s. A development programme called Vision 2020 intends to transform Rwanda’s economy, infrastructure and values.

(For more info, do click onto these links – https://www.operationworld.org/oct17#prayer to read for further news by Operation World Prayer News, 17th Oct 2019)

Russia:

Challenge for Prayer:

The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) survived Communism and remains the one major symbol of Russian identity. It regards itself as the preserver of Christian civilization handed down from Rome and Byzantium. Its liturgy and teachings continue to mould Russian culture. The number of openly professing Orthodox increased from 30 million in 1985 to 87 million in 2010 (up to 100 million in some sources)

Challenge for Prayer:

The current religious climate of Russia is mixed, both spiritually open and closed at the same time. Orthodoxy is culturally strong yet spiritually weak in the lives of most of its followers.

(For more info, do click onto this link – https://www.operationworld.org/oct16#prayer & https://www.operationworld.org/oct15#prayer to read for further news by Operation World Prayer News, 16th & 15th Oct 2019)

Zimbabwe:

Challenges for Prayer:

Young people have watched idealistic visions fade to empty slogans and oppressive misrule. They constitute a huge swathe of the population, but have little reason to hope for improvement to their difficult lot.

(For more info, do click onto these links – https://www.operationworld.org/dec24#prayer & https://www.operationworld.org/dec25#prayer to read for further news by Operation World Prayer News, 24th & 25th Dec 2012)

Virgin Islands of the USA:

Challenges for Prayer:

Specific outreach is needed for the many tourists, the Hispanic immigrants, the Rastafarians and those involved in the morally questionable aspects of island life.

Wallis & Futuna Islands:

Challenges for Prayer:

Christian resources are scarce. The Bible was recently completed in Futunan, but Wallisian/Uvean only has portions. (For more info, do click onto this link – https://www.operationworld.org/dec20#prayer to read for further news by Operation World Prayer News, 20th Dec 2012)

Vietnam:

Challenges for Prayer

The rapid growth of evangelicals – ninefold growth from 1975-2010 – is cause for praise, but it also generates some challenges of its own. Some of these threaten to undermine and divide much of what has been accomplished. The country is increasingly opening up as economic progress continues. Most of the population was born after the Vietnam War and are more interested in capital gain and the outside world than Communist propaganda. They are proving responsive to the gospel – for reasons good and bad.

 (For more info, do click onto this link – https://www.operationworld.org/dec19#prayer & https://www.operationworld.org/dec18#prayer to read for further news by Operation World Prayer News, 19th & 18th Dec 2012)