NEWS-BYTES - Indonesia & various Media
BOMBING IN INDONESIA MAY HAVE TARGETED CHRISTIANS == A marketplace bomb blast in Palu, Indonesia, killed 8 people and injured 56 others on New Year's Eve. Authorities say two shrapnel bombs were placed in key areas meant to target a specific group of people. The bomb exploded in a marketplace in a Christian area as residents were buying pork for their festive meals. Pork is offensive to Muslims, and the bombing of what locals call a "Christian market" where the meat is sold may point to Islamic terrorists. Indonesian authorities have widely condemned the attack, and there have been a series of arrests. The bombing is the latest in a string of violent incidents over the past two years, echoing conflict between Muslims and Christians from 1998 to 2001 that claimed more than 1,000 lives. A peace accord was signed in December 2001, but sporadic attacks have continued ever since, with Christians forming the overwhelming majority of victims. [COMPASS, 6 Jan.'06]
A YEAR AFTER THE TSUNAMI == One year after the Dec.26 '04 tsunami that took over 200,000 lives, agencies in Indonesia say that rebuilding will take over a decade, and healing more than a generation. However, many ministries in hard-hit areas report that God has opened doors where once they were closed. In India and Sri Lanka many churches have grown as a direct result of the practical love shown by believers. World Vision was named as the top provider of emergency aid in Indonesia, according to a recent study done by Fritz Institute. World Vision was also one of the top aid providers in India. The study showed that the recipients of aid considered international relief organizations to be superior to government and local relief groups. [MNN Dec.22-30'05]
3.3 MILLION COMPLETED BIBLE STUDIES == Amid earthquakes, droughts, famines, hurricanes and civil wars, people around the world last year responded to the Bible League's outreach in record numbers. More than 3.3 million of the ministry's Bible studies were completed during 2005, and many of these people received their own copies of God's Word as a result. In Southeast Asia alone more than 1 million Bible studies were completed, a 34% increase from 2004. These totals reflect the dedication of the ministry's staff and volunteers in more than 50 countries, said Mike Southworth, executive vice president of ministries. "It's through these incredible people and their local churches that the ministry of the Bible League is extended to others living in some of the remotest parts of the earth." [BIBLE LEAGUE Jan.'06]
NEW MISSION FEATURE FILM == "End of the Spear" is being released in U.S. theatres this January, telling the story of Nate Saint and four other missionaries who were slain 50 years ago by the Waodani tribe (previously called Aucas) in the eastern rainforests of Ecuador. CEO Mart Green formed Every Tribe Entertainment, the company that produced the film, after hearing the story of Nate Saint's son, Steve. Every Tribe is devoted to creating "motion picture experiences that affirm life and inspire hope for a broad international audience through true stories presented in highest quality on film." Every Tribe's affiliated Bearing Fruit Communications has produced Beyond the Gates of Splendor, a documentary of the same events that is being marketed to churches and other Christian audiences. [Townhall.com]
RESOURCES:
Ebay recently launched `Ebay for Charities', a scheme whereby anyone can
auction something and give a percentage of the proceeds to charity. See
http://pages.ebay.co.uk/community/chari
MK CONNECTIONS:
Websites of interest to Missionary Kids and Third Culture Kids:
http://www.mknet.org
http://www.mkplanet.com
http://www.mkministries.com/index.h
http://www.tckworld.com
MISSION FINDER: A US-based service offering free personal assistance for
finding worldwide mission projects: Vocational, medical, short term,
orphanages. Classified lists of sending agencies, mission resources, travel tips, insurance, and more. Website: http://www.mfinder.org Email: finder@mfinder.org
BUDDHISM: Valuable training tools and resources for Christian ministry to Buddhists. Access vital maps, charts, testimonies, and short vignettes on historic missionaries to the Buddhist world. http://www.sonrisecenter.org/
****************************************
NEWS BYTES is compiled monthly by Debbie Meroff of OM News & Information
[OMNI] in London, England. Material may be freely copied and circulated.
Items do not necessarily reflect OM position and questions should be
directed to the original news source. Html version can be found on
www.om.org. Please do not hit "reply" to this email as subscriptions are
automated. For a free e-mail subscription send a message to:
newsbytes-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
A YEAR AFTER THE TSUNAMI == One year after the Dec.26 '04 tsunami that took over 200,000 lives, agencies in Indonesia say that rebuilding will take over a decade, and healing more than a generation. However, many ministries in hard-hit areas report that God has opened doors where once they were closed. In India and Sri Lanka many churches have grown as a direct result of the practical love shown by believers. World Vision was named as the top provider of emergency aid in Indonesia, according to a recent study done by Fritz Institute. World Vision was also one of the top aid providers in India. The study showed that the recipients of aid considered international relief organizations to be superior to government and local relief groups. [MNN Dec.22-30'05]
3.3 MILLION COMPLETED BIBLE STUDIES == Amid earthquakes, droughts, famines, hurricanes and civil wars, people around the world last year responded to the Bible League's outreach in record numbers. More than 3.3 million of the ministry's Bible studies were completed during 2005, and many of these people received their own copies of God's Word as a result. In Southeast Asia alone more than 1 million Bible studies were completed, a 34% increase from 2004. These totals reflect the dedication of the ministry's staff and volunteers in more than 50 countries, said Mike Southworth, executive vice president of ministries. "It's through these incredible people and their local churches that the ministry of the Bible League is extended to others living in some of the remotest parts of the earth." [BIBLE LEAGUE Jan.'06]
NEW MISSION FEATURE FILM == "End of the Spear" is being released in U.S. theatres this January, telling the story of Nate Saint and four other missionaries who were slain 50 years ago by the Waodani tribe (previously called Aucas) in the eastern rainforests of Ecuador. CEO Mart Green formed Every Tribe Entertainment, the company that produced the film, after hearing the story of Nate Saint's son, Steve. Every Tribe is devoted to creating "motion picture experiences that affirm life and inspire hope for a broad international audience through true stories presented in highest quality on film." Every Tribe's affiliated Bearing Fruit Communications has produced Beyond the Gates of Splendor, a documentary of the same events that is being marketed to churches and other Christian audiences. [Townhall.com]
RESOURCES:
Ebay recently launched `Ebay for Charities', a scheme whereby anyone can
auction something and give a percentage of the proceeds to charity. See
http://pages.ebay.co.uk/community/chari
MK CONNECTIONS:
Websites of interest to Missionary Kids and Third Culture Kids:
http://www.mknet.org
http://www.mkplanet.com
http://www.mkministries.com/index.h
http://www.tckworld.com
MISSION FINDER: A US-based service offering free personal assistance for
finding worldwide mission projects: Vocational, medical, short term,
orphanages. Classified lists of sending agencies, mission resources, travel tips, insurance, and more. Website: http://www.mfinder.org Email: finder@mfinder.org
BUDDHISM: Valuable training tools and resources for Christian ministry to Buddhists. Access vital maps, charts, testimonies, and short vignettes on historic missionaries to the Buddhist world. http://www.sonrisecenter.org/
****************************************
NEWS BYTES is compiled monthly by Debbie Meroff of OM News & Information
[OMNI] in London, England. Material may be freely copied and circulated.
Items do not necessarily reflect OM position and questions should be
directed to the original news source. Html version can be found on
www.om.org. Please do not hit "reply" to this email as subscriptions are
automated. For a free e-mail subscription send a message to:
newsbytes-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
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