DHAKA – Imagine it is a rainy Sunday morning. You wake up, you consider the downpour, and you decide that the weather is too bad for anyone to go to church. And you are the pastor! Now imagine that you live in a country like Bangladesh and that it is the monsoon system, which it… Continue reading Monsoons or Showers of Blessings in Bangladesh?
Author: Lou Gutheil
You’ll Be Amazed to Learn Where Most Christians Live
HAMILTON, MA – The estimated total population in the world is between 7.3 and 7.6 billion people. (It’s hard to keep an exact count. The number keeps changing!) It is probably even more difficult to assess how many Christians there are and where they live. First, by the time a count is determined, it has… Continue reading You’ll Be Amazed to Learn Where Most Christians Live
Algerian Christian ‘Free at Last’
ALGIERS – Idir Hamdad is a native Algerian. He was born into and raised in a Muslim home. In 2002, he and his family converted to Christianity which led to harassment from their neighbors. Islam is the state religion in Algeria, so conversion to any other religion is considered apostasy and is punishable by death.… Continue reading Algerian Christian ‘Free at Last’
Reaching the Tolupan
TEGUCIGALPA – With a total area of 43,433 square miles, it would seem that reaching everyone in a country of that size with the Gospel would be fairly easy. But then, the ability to reach people is not always defined by the square mileage in which they live. The Tolupan people, as seen in the… Continue reading Reaching the Tolupan
Christian Aid Agencies Preparing to Help Victims of Japan Floods
HIROSHIMA – The death toll keeps rising by the in Hiroshima Prefecture and seven other prefectures in the south of Japan. More than two million people have been forced to evacuate after record rainfalls have inundated the area. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that 14.3 inches of rain had fallen within a period of two… Continue reading Christian Aid Agencies Preparing to Help Victims of Japan Floods
A Million Bibles for Cuba
HAVANA – Reports indicate that people are coming to Christ in Cuba in numbers rarely seen before. Lest we think that this is happening because of improved relationships between Cuba and the United States, we must remember that ministries from other countries have been working in Cuba for many years. The awakening that is happening… Continue reading A Million Bibles for Cuba
Bibles for the World Partners with AWANA in India
COLORADO SPRINGS – The mission of Bibles For The World is to be a catalyst for individual and cultural change through Christ and the power of His Word. This means sharing the Good News of God’s love in Christ Jesus by ministering to unreached peoples, to the Church, and to Christian leaders in developing nations,… Continue reading Bibles for the World Partners with AWANA in India
Freedom of Religion Endangered by New Law in Laos
VIENTIANE – The constitution of the nation of Laos guarantees its citizens freedom of religion. Specifically, it recognizes their “right and freedom to believe or not to believe in religion.” In addition, Laos is “a state party” to the seven core international human rights treaties under which they are obligated to “respect, protect, and fulfill… Continue reading Freedom of Religion Endangered by New Law in Laos
Obstacles to Achieving ‘Open Defecation Free’ in South Asia
MUMBAI – India Spend recently inteview Naina Lal Kidwai. Kidwai was the former head of HSBC in India, the first woman in India to become the head of a foreign bank in the country. She is the current vice-chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Water. She was instrumental in founding the… Continue reading Obstacles to Achieving ‘Open Defecation Free’ in South Asia
Missionaries ‘Stuck’ in Haiti
PORT AU PRINCE – Haiti is a popular country for short-term missions trips because its needs are great and it is a relatively short distance for small church groups. As the pastor of a church in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, said, “We want to serve the Haitians with compassion and offer real hope.” That pretty well… Continue reading Missionaries ‘Stuck’ in Haiti
New Manual for Faith-Sensitive Approach by FBOs Excludes Proselytizing
GENEVA – The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) have collaborated to publish a new manual of guidelines for a “faith-sensitive approach” by faith-based organizations (FBOs). The 88-page document outlines guidelines by the UN-affiliated Inter-Agency Standing Committee for acceptable approaches for FBOs offering humanitarian responses to people in need around the globe.… Continue reading New Manual for Faith-Sensitive Approach by FBOs Excludes Proselytizing
UK Parliament Considers Call for UN International Day Commemorating Victims & Survivors of Religious Persecution
LONDON – British MP (Member of Parliament), Fiona Bruce tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM 1478) on 03 July 2018 proposing that the UK develop better mechanisms for tracking incidents of religious persecution and that it develop “strategic action plans” to prevent the escalation of those incidents into “mass atrocities.” Further, the motion calls upon… Continue reading UK Parliament Considers Call for UN International Day Commemorating Victims & Survivors of Religious Persecution
America’s Unheralded National Missionary: Francis Scott Key
Hardly an American alive does not know something about Francis Scott Key. Most know him as the writer of our national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner. Many may know that he wrote in while stranded on a ship in Baltimore harbor during the night-long attack on Fort McHenry, following which “our flag was still there!” Some… Continue reading America’s Unheralded National Missionary: Francis Scott Key
En-Gedi – A Place of Refuge for Neglected Children in Kenya
KENYA – Margaret Njuguna is a native of Kenya. She was fortunate to have received training that qualified her to work at the Kenyan and Ugandan offices of World Renew, the global relief ministry of the Christian Reformed Church. When she made it clear that she wanted to do “something more,” a co-worker urged her… Continue reading En-Gedi – A Place of Refuge for Neglected Children in Kenya
Chief Minister to Seek Repeal of State Anti-Conversion Law in Arunachal Pradesh
ITANAGAR, ARUNACHAL PRADESH – Pema Khandu, the BJP Chief Minister of India’s northeastern-most state, Arunachal Pradesh, announced on 28 June 2018 that he would move to repeal the state’s Freedom of Religion Act of 1978 when parliament enters into its next session. It is the Freedom of Religion act that contains the ban against “conversion… Continue reading Chief Minister to Seek Repeal of State Anti-Conversion Law in Arunachal Pradesh
Operation Good Neighbor
JERUSALEM – The Jerusalem Post summed up the relationship between Israel and Syria saying “Jerusalem and Damascus have never had diplomatic relations and have been officially at war since Israel was established in 1948. In 1967 Israel took control of the 1,200 square kilometers of the Golan Heights from Syria during the Six Day War… Continue reading Operation Good Neighbor
Blind Iraqi Refugee Has Memorized 87 Bible Chapters
AMMAN – Leading the Way, the ministry founded by Dr. Michael Youssef, has been partnering with ministries to Iraqi refugees in Jordan. Leading the Way is supplying local pastors with Navigator audio bibles pre-loaded with an Arabic New Testament as well as dual language Arabic and English Leading the Way sermons. One local pastor said,… Continue reading Blind Iraqi Refugee Has Memorized 87 Bible Chapters
8 Important Facts from the International Day for the Unreached
COLORADO SPRINGS – You can almost hear his feet as they crunch the pebbles on the dirty street as he passes a man selling a birdcage to a customer. You can almost feel the quiet despair as they go about their daily routine of existence. What is missing in this picture is any appearance of… Continue reading 8 Important Facts from the International Day for the Unreached
National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast Honors Luis Palau with Esperanza Advocacy Award
WASHINGTON DC – Internationally-known evangelist Luis Palau is currently undergoing treatment for Stage 4 lung cancer. His ongoing treatment prevented him from attending the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast this week in Washington, D.C. Palau was honored at the event with the 2018 Esperanza Advocacy Award. This was the 16th annual National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast sponsored… Continue reading National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast Honors Luis Palau with Esperanza Advocacy Award
Go Ye Into All the World from Sierra Leone
FREETOWN – Pastor Alvin Smith arrived in Freetown, Sierra Leone in 1989 with a vision to evangelize and to build a local church ministry under the auspices of The Door World Outreach based in Tucson, Arizona. The West African nation was so poor at that time, it was ranked the second-poorest in the world. He… Continue reading Go Ye Into All the World from Sierra Leone
South Korea Bans Voice of the Martyrs’ Bibles in Balloons
SEOUL – One of the chief ministries of Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) is getting Bibles to nations where the Word of God is restricted. The ministry uses innovative means to place Bibles into the hands of people – in their own language – who would otherwise live their lives without ever reading the Good… Continue reading South Korea Bans Voice of the Martyrs’ Bibles in Balloons
Will the Taj Mahal Disappear?
AGRA, UTTAR PRADESH – The Taj Mahal has long been synonymous with India. It has been the nation’s number one tourist attraction, attracting millions of visitors and generating an average of $4 million USD revenue per year for the government. It is now possible that the site may lose its international status as the spirit… Continue reading Will the Taj Mahal Disappear?
Pew Research Center Releases Latest Report on Global Religious Restrictions
WASHINGTON DC – The Pew Research Center has released its comprehensive annual report on religious restrictions around the globe. The report compares restrictions in 2016 with previous years across two distinct categories: government-imposed restrictions and societal hostilities. More than a quarter (28%) of the 198 countries included in the research were identified as having either… Continue reading Pew Research Center Releases Latest Report on Global Religious Restrictions
UNHCR Report Reveals Startling Facts About Global Refugee Crisis
GENEVA – “Wars, other violence, and persecution drove worldwide forced displacement to a new high in 2017 for the fifth year in a row, according to UNHCR’s annual Global Trends report, released on 19 June 2018. The report showed that 68.5 million people were displaced as of the end of 2017. Overwhelmingly it is developing… Continue reading UNHCR Report Reveals Startling Facts About Global Refugee Crisis
Israel Facing Water Crisis but Willing to Share
JERUSALEM – Drought and water shortages are plaguing nations all around the world. Blame it on whatever you choose, the need to provide adequate amounts of clean, sweet, potable water must be addressed before the local and regional water crises become a global, life-threatening crisis. Israel faces a potential crisis as the Sea of Galilee,… Continue reading Israel Facing Water Crisis but Willing to Share
GAFCON 2018 Proclaiming Christ Faithfully to the Nations
JERUSALEM – On the tenth anniversary of the first GAFCON (Global Anglican Future Conference), nearly 2,000 attendees met in Jerusalem, the site of the original GAFCON. The theme of the conference was “Proclaiming Christ Faithfully to the Nations.” GAFCON works to guard and proclaim the unchanging, transforming Gospel through biblically faithful preaching and teaching which… Continue reading GAFCON 2018 Proclaiming Christ Faithfully to the Nations
Business as Usual for Believers Eastern Church on International Widows Day
WILLS POINT, Texas – The United Nations has set aside June 23rd of each year as International Widows Day “as an opportunity for action towards achieving full rights and recognition for widows. According to the UN, “It has been estimated that there are some 258 million widows around the world, with over 115 million of… Continue reading Business as Usual for Believers Eastern Church on International Widows Day
Widows Receive Aid from Believer’s Eastern Church in Senua Village
SENAU, ARUNACHAL PRADESH – Members of the Believer’s Eastern Church in Senua reached out to help about 30 widows living in the village on International Widows Day, What the church did was quite unusual, at least for westerners, yet deeply appreciated by the recipients. The Senua BEC regularly looks after the needs of widows with… Continue reading Widows Receive Aid from Believer’s Eastern Church in Senua Village
India Cautiously Optimistic About Rare and Dangerous Nipah Virus Outbreak
NEW DELHI – One month ago today, the state of Kerala reported an outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus. This is the third outbreak of the virus in India since the beginning of the century. Seventeen people have died as a result of the recent outbreak. Although there is no known cure for Nipah, the… Continue reading India Cautiously Optimistic About Rare and Dangerous Nipah Virus Outbreak
Turkey’s President Warns of War Between the Cross and the Crescent
ANKARA – Turkish President Recep Erdoğan said this week that the decision of the Austrian government’s closure of seven mosques and expulsion of 60 Muslim imams may lead to war “between the cross and the crescent.” Erdoğan would have the world believe that Austria’s actions threaten world peace because its actions were “Islamophobic, racist, and… Continue reading Turkey’s President Warns of War Between the Cross and the Crescent
Understanding the Refugee Crisis on World Refugee Day
NEW YORK CITY – Wednesday, 20 June 2018, is World Refugee Day. The day is especially important because there is, as most people know, a global refugee crisis. The crisis is compounded by the emotional and political conflict regarding the status of refugees. More about that in a minute. First, here are some facts about… Continue reading Understanding the Refugee Crisis on World Refugee Day
Nigeria – Conquering Polio, Playing in World Cup, But Coming Apart at the Seams
ABUJA – The country of Nigeria is an enigma. While, on the one hand, the Nigerian Minister of Health announced today that the country’s efforts to eliminate polio within its borders “are beginning to yield results, considering the fact that we have spent 18 months without a case of poliovirus,” the country stands at the… Continue reading Nigeria – Conquering Polio, Playing in World Cup, But Coming Apart at the Seams
Indian Man Walks India to Raise Awareness of World Blood Donor Day
NEW DELHI – June 14th is the World Health Organization’s (WHO) annual World Blood Donor Day. The day is observed by all WHO member states and “serves to thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood and to raise awareness of the need for regular blood donations to ensure the quality, safety… Continue reading Indian Man Walks India to Raise Awareness of World Blood Donor Day
Mission Eurasia Using Unique World Cup Outreach in Russia
MOSCOW – The 2018 FIFA World Cup soccer competition began today in Russia with the home team winning its and the tournament’s opening match before a crowd of 78,011 avid fans. The tournament will include 32 national teams competing in a total of 64 matches in 12 different cities, including Volgograd, Kaliningrad, Sochi, and Saint… Continue reading Mission Eurasia Using Unique World Cup Outreach in Russia
Gospel for Asia Issues Special Report on Remarkable Fathers
by Lou Gutheil, Gospel for Asia (GFA) guest writer “You fathers–if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not!” (Luke 11:11-12 NLT) One of His disciples had asked Jesus to teach them how to… Continue reading Gospel for Asia Issues Special Report on Remarkable Fathers
9 Things Christians Need to Know About Korea
SEOUL – North and South Korea have made a lot of headlines in the past year, including North Korea’s ballistic missile tests and nuclear potential, South Korea’s hosting of the Winter Olympics, and the historic meeting between North Korea’s Kim Jung Un and U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore. While the complete denuclearization of North… Continue reading 9 Things Christians Need to Know About Korea
Modern-Day Daniel Freed from North Korean Prison
WASHINGTON – Lovers of freedom around the globe rejoiced to hear the news on 10 May 2018 that three Americans held prisoner in North Korea had been returned to the U.S. When the men and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived at Joint Base Andrews at 2:00 a.m., President Trump was on hand to greet… Continue reading Modern-Day Daniel Freed from North Korean Prison
Need for Aid Increasing in Myanmar
YANGON – Life goes on as normal for Christians and Muslims in Myanmar, just as life goes on as normal for Christians and Muslims in America. Normal is the operative word because what is normal for them is at the extreme opposite of what normal is for us. We often refer to normal as “the… Continue reading Need for Aid Increasing in Myanmar
World Day Against Child Labor Statistics
GENEVA – June 12, 2018, is World Day Against Child Labor. The annual event is sponsored by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and is intended to “direct attention to the plight of child laborers with the hope of one day being able to end all forms of child labor that may exist in the world… Continue reading World Day Against Child Labor Statistics
Millions of Brazilians March for Jesus
SÃO PAULO – Established in 1993, São Paulo’s March for Jesus is among the biggest religious events in Brazil, the country with the world’s second-largest Christian population after the United States. Each year, for 26 years, hundreds of thousands of people have gathered together in the streets of São Paulo to worship the Lord and… Continue reading Millions of Brazilians March for Jesus
GFA World Canadian Staff Joins Hamilton Ontario’s Team Up to Clean Up
HAMILTON, ONTARIO – The name Tim Horton is almost synonymous with Canada. For most Americans who are familiar with the name, it is a national chain of doughnut shops. But Tim Horton was a real person. Horton was a first-team All-Star three times in his 24-year career in the National Hockey League. In 2017, he… Continue reading GFA World Canadian Staff Joins Hamilton Ontario’s Team Up to Clean Up
Death Penalty Now Mandatory for Apostasy in Mauritania
NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania – On 27 April 2018, The National Assembly of Mauritania passed a law that makes the death penalty mandatory for anyone convicted of “blasphemous speech” and acts deemed “sacrilegious.” Human rights experts from the UN, the African Commission of Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR), and more than 20 NGOs have called upon the… Continue reading Death Penalty Now Mandatory for Apostasy in Mauritania
Bible Translators Caught in Midst of Cameroon Conflicts
YAOUNDÉ – Native Bible translators have found themselves caught up as targets in politically-stirred hostilities in the Republic of Cameroon. Cameroon is located on the west coast of Central Africa and is bordered by Nigeria to the northwest, Chad and the Central African Republic on the east, and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the People’s Republic of… Continue reading Bible Translators Caught in Midst of Cameroon Conflicts
Texas Senator Ted Cruz to Address Capitol Hill Policy Day
WASHINGTON, DC – Texas Senator Ted Cruz heads the lineup of speakers and panelists featured at the Capitol Hill Policy Day at the Capitol Visitor Center on June 5, 2018. The conference, sponsored by International Christian Concern, will focus on “the crisis of violence in Nigeria brought about by both Boko Haram and Fulani militants.”… Continue reading Texas Senator Ted Cruz to Address Capitol Hill Policy Day
[Update] Refugee Crisis in Bidi Bidi – We Just Want to Go Home
This news article is an update to “Insight into the Global Child Refugee Crisis.” UGANDA – The photo preceding this article was taken at the Bidi Bidi Refugee Camp in northwest Uganda. He is breaking rocks into pebbles which he will attempt to sell for a penny in hopes to provide for his family. Bidi… Continue reading [Update] Refugee Crisis in Bidi Bidi – We Just Want to Go Home
Politics and the Global Water Crisis – The Indus River Tributaries
KARACHI – According to Asia Times, “Pakistan is bracing for a grave water crisis because of climate change and India’s tacit ‘control and management policy’ on the flow of water from the Himalaya-Karakorum mountain range into the Indus Valley.” This site has repeatedly reported on the global clean water crisis, including the Day Zero that… Continue reading Politics and the Global Water Crisis – The Indus River Tributaries
MAF Assists World Health Organization to Fight Ebola Outbreak in the DRC
KINSHASA – Missionary Aviation Fellowship (MAF) pilots assisted the World Health Organization (WHO) in the process of identifying a new outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in remote regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The MAF flew a medical team to the Mbandaka region to take test samples of what was rumored to be… Continue reading MAF Assists World Health Organization to Fight Ebola Outbreak in the DRC
Commissioner Brian Peddle Named New General of the Salvation Army
LONDON – Commissioner Brian Peddle was elected as the 21st General of the Salvation Army in a solemn, prayerful occasion at the Army’s international headquarters in London. Peddle succeeds outgoing General André Cox who has held the office since August 2013. Following the announcement of his election, Mr. Peddle proclaimed, “We are overwhelmed to say… Continue reading Commissioner Brian Peddle Named New General of the Salvation Army
Insights into the Global Child Refugee Crisis
WILLS POINT, TX – Most people would agree that life is not easy. I know the homeless lady we took to church this week does. I’m sure those who have lost a job or suffered divorce or the death of a loved one do. Because of our own circumstances, it is difficult for us to… Continue reading Insights into the Global Child Refugee Crisis
Gospel in the Goldfields Celebration
KALGOORLIE, Western Australia – Will Graham has been traveled to and preached the Gospel in Australia several times over the past decade. The Goldfields Celebration at Centennial Park in Kalgoorlie concluded with a three-day evangelistic outreach and concert where Mr. Graham presented the Gospel to those in attendance. Will is the son of Franklin Graham… Continue reading Gospel in the Goldfields Celebration