ISLAMABAD – News agencies out of Pakistan reported today that a petition has been filed in the Supreme Court requesting the imposition of Sharia Law as the governing law in Pakistan. Meanwhile, 500 senior Muslim leaders signed the Islamabad Declaration which denounces Islamic terrorism, violence committed in the name of religion, and fatwas issued by…
HENAN PROVINCE – On November 30, 2018, Chinese communist authorities ordered a church in Henan Province to remove its display of the first commandment of the Ten Commandments. The directive came during a regular inspection of a church affiliated with the government-approved Three-Self church movement. Freedom of religion in China has been a consistent and…
Missions Box News recently published a report about GFA-supported pastors and missionaries who had visited an orphanage in which all 28 boys have lost their parents to AIDS and are themselves infected with the dread disease. The pastors and missionaries undertook this effort to assist and encourage the boys and educate them about the HIV…
WILLS POINT – If you sang “Silent Night” with at church or with your family on Christmas Eve, you probably did not realize that your rendition was specially timed. Christmas Eve 2018 marks the 200th anniversary of the first presentation of “Stille Nacht.” The words were originally penned as a poem in 1816 by Joseph…
HAMPTON, VA — International Cooperating Ministries (ICM) in Hampton recently approved its 8,000th building project to assist Christians in difficult areas. With a vision to establish a healthy church within walking distance of everyone in the world, the 33-year-old charity is currently operating in 91 countries. The 8,000th church project will provide hope for one of Egypt’s…
Gospel for Asia Spotlights Special Report on the 70th Anniversary of the Declaration of Human RightsWILLS POINT, Texas—To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948, Gospel for Asia (GFA) is spotlighting its special report “Seeking Justice and Defending Human Rights Wherever Poverty and Oppression Exist.”…
Orlando, Florida, USA — Church leaders from more than 600 language groups around the world have asked Wycliffe Associates for the technology and training to start translating the Bible using a translation method known as MAST (Mobilized Assistance Supporting Translation). “They have the commitment to proclaim Christ, even in the most dangerous areas,” said Bruce…
The global children’s ministry will hire a national ministry director to lead the mission to reach 2,500 churches by 2023STREAMWOOD, Ill — Awana, a non-profit ministry and the global leader in child discipleship, today announced a new ministry to reach the fastest growing demographic in American Christianity through U.S. Hispanic churches. According to Pew Forum…
WILLS POINT, TEXAS – World Toilet Day was November 19, and the chances that you celebrated the day are probably quite slim. Neither is it likely that you even discussed the matter at the dinner table that day or three days later on Thanksgiving—even though having functioning toilets is something that the Western world should…
WILLS POINT, TEXAS – Gospel for Asia (GFA) has been a leader in ministering to “the least of these”—the millions of people living in abject poverty in Asia—for nearly 40 years. Dr. K.P. Yohannan‘s, Gospel for Asia (GFA) founder, ground-breaking book Revolution in World Missions accurately foretold the need for a dramatic change of methodology…
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until [these] calamities have passed by. KERALA – When we hear the words typhoon, cyclone, or hurricane our first reaction is a heightened awareness of potential danger….
SINGAPORE – Maintenance of religious harmony. It sounds wonderful. An idea that promotes people getting along together. True freedom of religion. But the artwork of legislative ambiguity is misleading in many countries, such as Malaysia and Singapore, the city-state at the southern end of Malaysia. Two men and two women, residents of Finland, were detained…
WARRENTON, MO — The international ministry Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) is using models built of LEGO bricks as a tool to build community relationships with families while teaching children the Word of God. The CEF workers partner with local church volunteers by providing the popular building blocks, figures and instructions so the children can create…
AGOURA HILLS, CA “What good is it if we only trust the Lord when we understand His ways? That only guarantees a life filled with doubts” – Joni Eareckson Tada Joni Eareckson Tada has been an inspiration to millions of Christians around the world for over 51 years. At the age of 17, Joni suffered…
CONROE, Texas — The 2018 International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church was observed by tens of millions of Christians worldwide on Sunday, November 4th. Now many of those believers are seeking tangible ways to help their brothers & sisters in Christ and local churches & ministries which are embedded in areas where persecution…
John Allen Chau remembered for commitment to sharing the gospel with those who have never heard KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, U.S.A. — Leaders, members and friends of All Nations (www.allnations.us), an international Christian missions training and sending organization, are mourning the reported death of one of its missionaries, 27-year-old John Allen Chau of Vancouver, Wash., U.S.A….
It’s that time of the year when Americans celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, so let’s slow down, take a breath, and consider what Thanksgiving means. Let’s start with what it is not. It is not ‘Turkey Day.’ Nor is it about going over the river and through the wood to grandmother’s house for pumpkin pie. Nor…
WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) Special Report – Discussing the impact of education on the eradication of extreme poverty. When considering the issues of poverty and lack of education, an old saying comes to mind: “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” Poverty and low education are each self-perpetuating: Those born into…
LONDON – The Thomson Reuters Foundation presented its annual Stop Slavery Award to a company that has been previously criticized for partnering with offshore suppliers who employed underage workers and used employment tactics that fall under the definition of slavery and human trafficking. The award was presented to tech giant Apple, not because of the…
JOSE C. PAZ, Argentina — Over the past 40 years, God has used the Luis Palau Association in a special way to bless the nation of Argentina. From the historic evangelistic festival in Buenos Aires in 2008 to similar festivals and outreaches in nearly every province and major city in the nation, millions have heard the…
![Manual scavenging refers to the practice of manually cleaning, carrying, disposing or handling in any manner, human excreta from dry latrines and sewers. It often involves using the most basic of tools such as buckets, brooms, and baskets . . . Manual scavengers are amongst the poorest and most disadvantaged [people].](https://missionsbox.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/The-Scandal-of-Manual-Scavengers-230x300.jpg)
DELHI – If “manual scavenging” sounds like it might be a fun game like a scavenger hunt, think again. Manual scavenging is a scandalous practice prevalent in South Asia even though it is illegal. According to the United Nations in India, Manual scavenging refers to the practice of manually cleaning, carrying, disposing or handling in…
UNANDERRA, Australia, Nov. 15, 2018 — Launched in 1999, and now celebrated in more than 70 countries worldwide, International Men’s Day is going from strength to strength. The theme for IMD 2018 is “Positive Male Role Models.” Warwick Marsh from Australia and coordinator for www.internationalmensday.com said, “Our mission this year is to highlight the positive value men bring…
The 410 Bridge is in Alpharetta, Georgia, a few miles north of Atlanta. However, if you were to look at a map of the area, you might be surprised to find that you can’t find a highway number 410. No highway, no bridge, right? Wrong. There is a 410 Bridge. Not a physical bridge leading…
Global focus brings attention to Gospel for Asia’s efforts to improve health and well-being by helping provide simple essentials, sanitation facilitiesWILLS POINT, Texas — Ribbon-cutting ceremonies typically mark the opening of a grand new building, but in Asia they can even celebrate a more modest, but life-changing construction—of a simple outhouse. The enthusiastically attended formal…
Despite claims by some that radio broadcasting is dying, it remains at heart of FEBC’s pioneering ministry, even as it uses new-tech pathways to share the gospel LA MIRADA, Calif. – As it marks 70 years of proclaiming the gospel to some of the farthest corners of the world, FEBC (Far East Broadcasting Company), the…
WILLS POINT, TEXAS – There is nothing scary about the bricks in Will Point, Texas. The main street has been lined with them since the 1920s. But every year, as it nears Halloween, the brick streets turn into a small community event called BOO on the Bricks, where children—and adults—can dress, get candy and learn…
MYRTLE BEACH – From time to time we need to be reminded that putting our faith into action is just as important at home as it is in distant lands. I saw the love of God in action in the wake of the Hurricane Florence disaster after it left families in parts of the coastal…
gosNEW YORK – The Asian and Pacific regions are home to more than 50 percent of the world’s undernourished children. According to a new report issued this week by four separate United Nations agencies, the two regions will suffer “colossal human loss” if the countries there “do not recommit themselves to ending all forms of…
Issue of ‘Unfinished’ Magazine Describes On-the-Ground Outreach NORCROSS, Ga. – As the refugee crisis continues to grow, The Mission Society’s magazine ‘Unfinished’ 2016 issue took an in-depth look at the situation’s complexities, examining the issues facing Christians who feel called to help but have misgivings about the process. In the summer edition of The Mission…
The southern Indian state of Kerala was hit with severe rainstorms in August 2018, resulting in devastating floods. Thousands were driven from their homes. Hundreds lost their lives. Since the beginning, charities and NGOs have been at the forefront, running flood relief camps, donating resources, and raising money. The return to normalcy is still ongoing….
Expert HHS Officials And Addiction Treatment Providers to Give Practical Training For Combating the Opioid CrisisForest, Va. — Featuring the participation of the Department of Health and Human Services, the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) is offering a FREE specialized training in opioid crisis response for mental health leaders, pastors, coaches, lay helpers, concerned…
KOLKATA – The International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) released a 138-page report on October 21, 2018, entitled, “Taking stock: A decade of drug policy.” The report used data supplied by the United Nations compiled to evaluate its progress of its 2009 Political Declaration and Plan of Action on Drugs. The news on drugs is not…
MELBOURNE, FL — In celebration of 25 years of service, Christian Care Ministry, which offers the popular Medi-Share health care sharing program, held its first-ever Day of Sharing, a nationwide initiative to motivate and mobilize people to share their time, talent and treasure to serve others. The event, held Oct. 6, saw Christian Care Ministry…
Eugene Peterson, a man many pastors called their pastor, left his legacy here on earth and entered in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on October 22, 2018. Peterson was born in 1932 in Washington State and was raised in Montana. He attended Seattle Pacific University, New York Theological Seminary, and Johns…
Gospel for Asia (GFA World) is a nonprofit founded in 1979 committed to serving “the least of these” in Asia. GFA supports national field workers who in turn bring the love of Christ to those living in rural and under-served areas. Whether it’s providing the opportunity for a brighter future for a child in Asia…
FOREST, Va. — Since mid-April, Nicaragua has been embroiled in a civil conflict that has left hundreds dead, thousands wounded and countless missing. But the unrest hasn’t stopped World Help from launching relief efforts to help the people of Nicaragua. Working with local partners, the Christian humanitarian organization aims to provide food supplies and medical…
Soap-and-Water Lessons Bring Health and Help to Some of Asia’s Struggling Poor WILLS POINT, Texas — A simple bar of soap is making a big difference in the lives of people in impoverished communities across Asia. Distributed by Gospel for Asia-supported (GFA) workers, it is the centerpiece of a hygiene awareness drive that improves the…
IZMIR, Turkey (RNS) — A Turkish court has freed the Rev. Andrew Brunson, an American missionary who had been the subject of a diplomatic standoff between the United States and Turkey. Brunson had been under house arrest after being accused of terrorism and conspiring against the Turkish government. The Pastor, who denies all charges against…
ABKHAZIA – SOAR International Ministries is holding special camps for handicapped kids in Abkhazia. Raise your hand if you know where Abkhazia is? Anyone? Anyone? Okay. Let’s try this. Raise your hand if you have ever even heard of Abkhazia. Anyone? Anyone? Abkhazia is a small, independent state on the eastern shore of the Black…
Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor Naitik organized a blood donation camp on April 12, 2018. The believers in his congregation were excited for this opportunity to bless those in need of blood and to show the love of Christ in a practical way. So when the Nepalese Red Cross heard that a pastor was trying…
FOREST, Va. — Christian humanitarian organization World Help has activated its crisis response program to provide relief to victims of Indonesia’s deadly earthquake and tsunami. This past weekend, the Southeast Asian island nation was rocked by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake, which triggered a massive tsunami that swept over the city of Palu. The twin disaster has left at…
SIKSA, Pakistan – The World Health Organization estimates that more than a third of the people in Pakistan lack access to safe drinking water. It is a problem all too common for countries in South Asia and the 10/40 window. The village of Siksa is an example of how things change when clean water becomes…
YANGON – Myanmar, formerly Burma, may best be described a line from Rogers and Hammerstein’s “The King and I” in which the king exclaims, “It’s a puzzlement.” In a recent article, we related the story of a Christian pastor in a small village in the Chin state in northwest Myanmar. The gist of the story…
Kerala, India, now faces continued tragedy as water wells across the state appear to be drying up. According to the latest news from the flood-affected state, reported by the Times of India “A series of issues including soaring mercury levels, unprecedented dip in water level of rivers, sudden drying up of wells, and depletion of…
Congregations across country replicate Denton Bible Church’s Community Garden — nation’s largest — growing fruits and vegetables for the homeless and hungry DENTON, Texas — As fall harvest season approaches, a green-fingered Texas church is teaching other congregations how to be fruitful—literally—just as the Bible says. Churches across the country are replicating Denton Bible Church’s…
KINSHASA – When last Missions Box News reported on the reemergence of the Ebola virus on August 20th, the estimated number of deaths over the previous 10 days had risen from “at least 20” to 55. Yesterday, September 17th, UNICEF issued their latest Ebola Situation Report indicating that the death toll has reached 97. As…
DELHI – Celebrations were held across India today to honor Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 68th birthday. PM Modi is the MP (Member of Parliament) for Varanasi. His party’s election in 2016 was the first majority party election in India since 1984. He is India’s 14th Prime Minister. Monday, September 17th, actually began an entire week…
As interest spikes in youth programs this fall, Trail Life USA leader challenges PC thinking BELTON, S.C.— With interest in enrollment in extra-curricular programs spiking nationwide as children return to school, Trail Life USA (www.traillifeusa.com) has released a special e-book outlining the unique learning and development needs of young males. Political correctness is failing America’s boys, according…
NEW DELHI – The Swachh Bharat Mission has been receiving kudos from media outlets for being “The world’s biggest toilet-building spree” in the UN-affiliated global effort to eliminate open defecation. There is little debate over the progress that has been made in India. More than 80 million household toilets have been constructed since 2014 as…
HOKKAIDO – While the monsoon and flooding in the Kerala state of India have received their share of attention in recent weeks, Japan has suffered a string of natural disasters, one following another, all summer long. The latest crisis is the damage done by a 6.7 magnitude earthquake that hit the island of Hokkaido early…
