Exloring Life Eternal

SIA: MEDIA AND EVANGELISM VIGNETTES
from: link:www.lausanne.org:Lausanne Council on World Evangelism
- February 2006

By Wing Tai Leung

In Indonesia, Christian artists present shadow plays using cow
skin to make vivid characters to communicate the gospel. They
also paint tapestries to tell biblical stories and themes in
non-linear forms. This type of folk media is very portable and
can be featured in the market, home, or other places. Folk media
is very effective with rural Asians or those who have strong
cultural ties.

Television as a mass medium is quite effective in promoting social
profiles for Christian life stories. A Christian group called
Shower of Blessings documents life stories of people who face
crises and are converted to Christianity. These television docu-
dramas are shown in Asia and North American Chinese communities.

Full story here (http://www.lausanneworldpulse.com/worldreports/222).

NOTE: Dr. Wing Tai Leung is general secretary of Breakthrough
(http://www.breakthrough.org.hk) and youth ministry coordinator
of Chinese Coordination Center for World Evangelization (http://www.cccowe.org) (CCCOWE).
He convened the 2004 Forum for World Evangelization Issue Group 19 on Media and Technology.
This group produced a 65-page paper available as a PDF; click here:
(http://community.gospelcom.net/lcwe/assets/LOP48IG19.pdf).

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This & the previous entry are from Missions Catalyst published by the Caleb Project.

Visit our web site at www.missionscatalyst.org or our current
web site at www.calebproject.org.

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/charity/index.html

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.htm
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/

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Thanks for the help in this regard.

The particular picture that I am after is a photo of the black stone in the Kabah. Could you email me any photos you have of this. I would like to include it in a DVD that we are editing this Wed and Thurs. Can you also tell me the source of the picture so that I can reference it properly.

Also, please send me all the material that you mentioned. I would be very interested. My address is ...

Your brother in Christ
S.G., in Australia

<+>< + ><+>
- Photos found & sent in time via email. PTL!! Only by His grace!!

- Still have to send the DVD, CD-ROM with more info.

Monday, August 29, 2005

Praise:
Praise the Lord for the innovative media projects being developed cooperatively by several mission agencies that have a significant presence in the Arabian Peninsula. These projects are designed with AP Arab Muslims in mind and could be very strategic tools in finding those that are hungry for God.

Pray:
Please pray for the work among interested young men in this country who are meeting regularly. May the leaders be clearly guided by the One who knows their hearts.

Pray for the tentmakers that are trying to set-up a business platform in the Gulf Countries of the Arabian Peninsula. They have not had adequate capital investment and are unable to begin. The company could be a visa and employment base for many tentmakers in the region once established.

We are excited to hear what some of our fellow tentmakers learned at a missions training conference to equip workers active in the Arab Muslim world. As we live in the power of the Holy Spirit in the barren lands of the Arabian Peninsula, many times the Lord uses the training received at these conferences to reach the heart of searching Muslims.

Pray for the national Muslim young man studying at the government university in his home city. He formerly studied in North America. He is keen to talk about religion with his instructors and is open to listen to the Good News of Jesus.

Pray for a Christian company in the interior of our country. Its future is uncertain. Pray with us for God to raise up new workers to provide leadership to the company. Pray that funds can be raised to keep this strategic witness open in this key town.

Testimony:
‘Michael’ was raised in a home where education was everyone’s top priority and Islam was a close second. Everything else was a distant third. Michael’s mother and father were important people in the largest city in their country. They were well known in government and society circles. While Michael was bright, he did not achieve the high academic standards that his parents pushed him toward. He did well – mostly A’s, good scores on his University entrance exams, but it wasn’t enough. He breezed through university and landed a good job with a growing international company in his country. While he was successful from the world’s eyes, he failed to satisfy his parent’s desires. He felt like he could never satisfy their high standard.

Michael projected his feelings of unacceptance from his parents onto Allah. Of course he could never measure up to the high standard set in the Qu’ran. In fact, he felt like he was a grand failure in comparison to the high standard recorded by Mohamed in the Qu’ran, just like he was a failure in matters that were important to his parents.

One day, he met a young lady from his country. She was of his nationality but of a Christian background. He was attracted to her outside beauty only to discover that her inner beauty – her quality of character – was even greater. He was curious to know how she could be so good. He found out that she had less a than perfect home setting – parental conflict was a major theme in the family. Yet, she was so confident of God’s acceptance of her. She told him that Jesus died for her, and now lives in her. This took a long time to unpack in order for Michael to understand, but over time, he did understand. Despite the tremendous disapproval he would face from his parents and his extended family and even the larger community of his country, the shame and disgrace he would bring his family – he gave his life to Jesus after many months of long discussions and much reading. He now experiences great peace even amidst the turmoil of living as an unaccepted son in a neighboring country. His prayer is that his whole family would come to know the acceptance of God through Jesus for all those who surrender their lives to him.

<>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Praying Thru the Arabian Peninsula
www.pray-ap.info
USA #: 800-376-5876 (Eastern Time)
Encouraging & equipping believers & churches everywhere to pray through the heart of the Muslim world so that church planting movements will spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula and beyond for the Lord's glory.

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