WILLS POINT, TX – The ongoing case of the Asia Bibi trial in Pakistan has drawn attention to the imminent danger of blasphemy laws, particularly for Christians. Missions Box News decided to investigate blasphemy laws around the world. Although this article may not contain everything you want to know about it, we think you will… Continue reading Everything You Wanted to Know About Blasphemy Laws – But Were Afraid to Ask
Results for "World Missions"
Asia Bibi Acquitted but Still Facing Execution
ISLAMABAD – Christians around the world rejoiced when the Supreme Court of Pakistan announced last week that it had acquitted Asia Bibi of the charges of blasphemy for which she had been held on death row since 2010. Although the court issued an order to do so, she has yet to be released. As expected,… Continue reading Asia Bibi Acquitted but Still Facing Execution
UN Report – Malnutrition in Asia and Pacific Unresolved
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… Continue reading UN Report – Malnutrition in Asia and Pacific Unresolved
Faithful Under Pressure
When God sent us into the world, He never promised it would be easy – just that He’d be with us. – Marine Chaplain, Daniel Robinson QUANTICO – That may be one of the most important lessons that U.S. Marine Chaplain Daniel Robinson has to teach the trainees during Officer Candidate School at Quantico, Virginia.… Continue reading Faithful Under Pressure
President-elect to Move Brazil’s Israeli Embassy to Jerusalem
SÃO PAULO – Four days following his election, Brazil’s President-elect, Jair Bolsonaro confirmed that he will keep his campaign promise to relocate the country’s embassy in Israel from its current location in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. As previously stated during our campaign, we intend to transfer the Brazilian Embassy from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem. Israel is… Continue reading President-elect to Move Brazil’s Israeli Embassy to Jerusalem
Evangelical Leaders Meet with Arab Officials
RIYADH – Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed a delegation of American Evangelical Christian leaders in the capital city today, November 1, 2018. The visit, arranged by Dr. Mike Evans, founder of the Friends of Zion Museum in Jerusalem, has been months in the making. The American delegation, which is visiting leaders throughout… Continue reading Evangelical Leaders Meet with Arab Officials
International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church November 4, 2018
Missions Box News invites you to join tens of thousands of Christians on Sunday, November 4th, in prayer for our brothers and sisters around the world who are persecuted and are suffering because of their faith in Jesus Christ. It’s not likely that most who read this have ever faced persecution. Yet, persecution of Christians… Continue reading International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church November 4, 2018
Oman Recognizes Statehood of Israel
BAHRAIN – Oman’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, issued a statement at a security summit recognizing the statehood of Israel this week following a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman. Israel is a state present in the region, and we all understand this . .… Continue reading Oman Recognizes Statehood of Israel
Asia Bibi Acquitted of Blasphemy
ISLAMABAD – 31 October 2018 – The prayers of tens of thousands of Christians for the release of Asia Bibi were answered today when Pakistan’s Supreme Court handed down her acquittal. She has been on Pakistan’s death row for nearly a decade. The Christian woman had been sentenced to death under Pakistan’s strict anti-blasphemy laws.… Continue reading Asia Bibi Acquitted of Blasphemy
The Mission Society Highlights Plight of Refugees – And the Struggles to Practice Compassion of Christ
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… Continue reading The Mission Society Highlights Plight of Refugees – And the Struggles to Practice Compassion of Christ
Billy Graham Center Receives $1,000,000 from Lily Endowment
The Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College has established itself as a world hub for training in evangelism. Last week, Executive Director Ed Stetzer announced that the center had received a $1 million grant from the Lily Endowment to help fund and further the advancement of the center’s Church Evangelism Initiative. The mission of the… Continue reading Billy Graham Center Receives $1,000,000 from Lily Endowment
Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy 40th Anniversary – October 26, 2018
On October 26, 1978, the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy sponsored a conference in the Marriott Hotel at Chicago’s O’Hare airport. Over 300 distinguished evangelical Christian leaders representing 38 denominations gathered to draft a statement on the inerrancy of Scripture. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of that historic document. The statement… Continue reading Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy 40th Anniversary – October 26, 2018
Can Being a Good Samaritan Be Bad?
Norbert Valley is an evangelical pastor in a small town in Switzerland. He and his congregation were stunned when their worship service was interrupted by two policemen in February. They escorted the pastor to the police station for questioning. His crime? Offering occasional food and shelter to a homeless man. The problem was that the… Continue reading Can Being a Good Samaritan Be Bad?
OPIOID CRISIS: AACC to Provide Free Crisis Training For Mental Health Professionals and Lay Counselors November 1 in Charlotte, NC
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… Continue reading OPIOID CRISIS: AACC to Provide Free Crisis Training For Mental Health Professionals and Lay Counselors November 1 in Charlotte, NC
Facing Famine Crisis in Yemen
SANAA, Yemen – In yet another of the seemingly endless reports of human suffering around the globe, Mark Lowcock, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, told the United Nations Yemen is in imminent danger of country-wide famine. Over 14 million Yemeni people who already have barely enough food to survive are about… Continue reading Facing Famine Crisis in Yemen
Hope for Asia in the War on Drugs
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… Continue reading Hope for Asia in the War on Drugs
Christian Care Ministry Celebrates 25 Years of Ministry with Day of Sharing
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… Continue reading Christian Care Ministry Celebrates 25 Years of Ministry with Day of Sharing
Pastor Pretends to be Homeless Man Outside His Own Church to See What Congregation Would Do
Illinois megachurch Pastor James MacDonald recently disguised himself as a bearded homeless man and camped outside of two Harvest Bible Chapel campuses before Sunday services to see how congregants would react. MacDonald, the founder of the seven-campus Chicagoland area congregation whose “Walk in the Word” radio and television programs are seen by millions worldwide, posted… Continue reading Pastor Pretends to be Homeless Man Outside His Own Church to See What Congregation Would Do
Weekly Water Watch: Wood-to-Energy Deployed Water
One WEDEW unit can produce 2,000 liters of water per day Welcome to the first of a regular series of news articles to be published by Missions Box News (MBN) on the subject of clean, safe-to-drink water and clean water scarcity worldwide. It is part of a metamorphosis at Missions Box News to raise awareness on… Continue reading Weekly Water Watch: Wood-to-Energy Deployed Water
Eye on Israel: Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem
Is the Israel/ Hamas problem our problem?By and large, it is reasonable to say that many Americans – and, perhaps, many Christians – do not stay abreast of news in Israel. Whether that is a result of a preoccupation with our own personal concerns, the American political scene, or any other number or equally legitimate… Continue reading Eye on Israel: Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem
When People Encounter Jesus, Everything Changes
ORLANDO – “When people encounter Jesus, everything changes” is a theme of The Jesus Film Project. The project began with the release of the two-hour movie in 1979 and the vision to reach everyone everywhere for Jesus Christ with the film and the Gospel message translated into their own heart languages. In the initial days… Continue reading When People Encounter Jesus, Everything Changes
Beware of the MAID – Juvenile Euthanasia May Be Coming to a Hospital Near You
TORONTO – If you are hospitalized in Toronto, where this writer once lived, calling for the MAID means something entirely different that summoning a woman with a mop and a bucket. MAID is the new euphemism for euthanasia. It stands for “Medical Assistance in Dying.” A working group at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children published… Continue reading Beware of the MAID – Juvenile Euthanasia May Be Coming to a Hospital Near You
Through Community Schooling Programs, Gospel for Asia Helps Offer Fresh Hope to Young Girls, Victims of Gender-based Prejudice
Global Focus Shines a Light on Group’s Efforts to Equip Girls for a Brighter Future WILLS POINT, Texas — This year’s focus of the United Nations’ annual International Day of the Girl Child, emphasizing the need for better educational opportunities for girls under the theme “With Her: A Skilled Girl Force,” brings a spotlight to… Continue reading Through Community Schooling Programs, Gospel for Asia Helps Offer Fresh Hope to Young Girls, Victims of Gender-based Prejudice
Australia: Can a Christian Govern Without Compromise?
CANBERRA – Can a Christian govern without compromise? The question has been asked many times and in many different circumstances. Perhaps the election of a Liberal majority in the Australian Parliament offers the best answer yet as Scott Morrison, an unabashed Pentecostal and the leader of the Liberal Party has become the country’s new prime… Continue reading Australia: Can a Christian Govern Without Compromise?
Andrew Brunson Freed after Telling Court, ‘I Love Jesus, I Love Turkey’
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… Continue reading Andrew Brunson Freed after Telling Court, ‘I Love Jesus, I Love Turkey’
American Pastor Imprisoned in Turkey Is Set Free
IZMIR – Pastor Andrew Brunson is on his way home to North Carolina after more than two years either in prison or, more recently, under house arrest in Turkey. The Trump administration has been tightening the screws on the Turkish economy for its part in getting Pastor Brunson released. While the diplomatic efforts of the United… Continue reading American Pastor Imprisoned in Turkey Is Set Free
Opioid Crisis: AACC and HHS Prepare Faith Community To Be ‘Hope Dealers’ at Dallas Christian Counseling Conference
DALLAS — The American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), together with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Center for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives, provided a free specialized training in opioid crisis response Wednesday, called “The Opioid Crisis: Creating an Effective Church and Community Collaboration and Resolution Response,” before the official start of its… Continue reading Opioid Crisis: AACC and HHS Prepare Faith Community To Be ‘Hope Dealers’ at Dallas Christian Counseling Conference
The Erdogan Enigma
NEW YORK – Recep Erdogan is the President of Turkey, one of the most complex nations in the world at the moment. His economy is crumbling, he is responsible for holding a North Carolina pastor in jail on bogus charges of attempting to overthrow the Turkish government, and he has made it clear that he… Continue reading The Erdogan Enigma
Still No Churches in Saudi Arabia, But Small Steps Toward Religious Freedom
Saudi Arabia has made unprecedented strides toward religious tolerance just a year after its young new ruler pledged to bring more moderate Islam to the Sunni kingdom. After a visit to the capital city of Riyadh last week, US officials reported the country has reformed its religious police—once tasked with enforcing shari’ah law on the… Continue reading Still No Churches in Saudi Arabia, But Small Steps Toward Religious Freedom
I’ll Fly Away – Christian Pilot Listens to God Saves 140 from Indonesian Quake
PALU, Indonesia – On Friday, September 28, 2018, Icose Mafella awakened with an unsettling feeling that would not go away. A devout follower of Jesus, he knew that he needed to stay calm so that he could hear the voice of God. 140 fewer people died in the Indonesia earthquake that day because he did.… Continue reading I’ll Fly Away – Christian Pilot Listens to God Saves 140 from Indonesian Quake
Pakistan Expels 18 Foreign Aid Groups
ISLAMABAD – The Interior Ministry of Pakistan has given 18 international foreign aid groups 60 days to shut down their operations and leave the country. All 18 agencies had filed appeals in response to an earlier notice from the IM. The first agency to report the news was ActionAid, a Johannesburg-based, international that aims to… Continue reading Pakistan Expels 18 Foreign Aid Groups
GFA-supported Relief Help Needed More Than Ever as Drought, Earthworm Crises Follow Kerala Flooding
Supplies, encouragement and relief-camp-wedding meal remind flood victims that ‘God has not forgotten you’ WILLS POINT, Texas — With thousands still reeling from the impact of historic flooding, a second major crisis drying up wells and killing helpful earthworms has heightened the need for GFA’s (Gospel for Asia) ongoing relief help in India’s Kerala state.… Continue reading GFA-supported Relief Help Needed More Than Ever as Drought, Earthworm Crises Follow Kerala Flooding
The Shameful Truth About Modern Slavery
WILLS POINT – The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was ratified in 1948, seventy years ago. Article 4 of the Declaration says, “No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.” A large number of people in the United States – perhaps most… Continue reading The Shameful Truth About Modern Slavery
Manipur Woman Wins Prestigious Humanitarian Award
MANIPUR – Manipur native, Binalakshmi Nepram is the 2018 recipient of the prestigious Anna Politkovskaya Award. The award is presented annually by the organization, Reach All Women in WAR (RAW in WAR) to a woman who has stood up to victims in areas of conflict and who have demonstrated “courage and truth-telling in the face… Continue reading Manipur Woman Wins Prestigious Humanitarian Award
Indian Woman Appointed Chief Economist at IMF
WASHINGTON DC – The International Monetary Fund has appointed India-born Gita Gopinath as its next chief economist, replacing Maurice Obstfeld who will be retiring at the end of 2018. Dr. Gopinath was born in Kolkata in 1971. She earned her BA at the University of Delhi, followed by a double Master’s degree in economics from… Continue reading Indian Woman Appointed Chief Economist at IMF
Good News from Sudan!
SUDAN – Good news is getting hard to find. It just doesn’t seem to be sensational enough to make compelling headlines. Missions Box News is seeking to change that by reporting the good news that Christians should know. Some exceptionally good news has come out of Sudan over the last several days. Sudan is currently… Continue reading Good News from Sudan!
Fish & Faith – Surviving 49 Days Stranded at Sea
INDONESIA – People all over the world have heard the story of Aldi Novel Adilang. Most won’t remember his name. They will remember him only as the Indonesian teenager who was survived being stranded at sea for 49 days in a wooden fishing hut. Most mainstream media has told the story of how the 18-year-old… Continue reading Fish & Faith – Surviving 49 Days Stranded at Sea
Access to Clean Water for Siksa
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… Continue reading Access to Clean Water for Siksa
Insight into Being an Outsider – Christians in Myanmar
RANGOON – Most Western people still know Myanmar as Burma – a country somewhere in South Asia. Situated east of the Bay of Bengal, Myanmar borders Bangladesh, India, China, and Thailand. Myanmar, then Burma, was evangelized in the early 1800s by Adoniram Judson who also completed the first Burmese language Bible. In 1950, there were… Continue reading Insight into Being an Outsider – Christians in Myanmar
Humanitarian Agencies in India Open Grain Banks to Poor
ALLAHABAD – The monsoon and post-monsoon seasons are hard on the poor in India, particularly those who work in the fields. A consortium of over 400 humanitarian aid agencies has come together to help during these difficult times this year. The consortium has established grain banks in over 100 villages across northern India in expectation… Continue reading Humanitarian Agencies in India Open Grain Banks to Poor
SGA Building Bridges in Eastern Ukraine
KIEV – Ukraine (fka “the Ukraine) presents many conundrums. Because of the Russian annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, many measurements and statistics must be listed and compared as “including Crimea” or “not including Crimea” – an issue that remains a point of contention for Ukraine. Although Ukraine is the largest nation located entirely… Continue reading SGA Building Bridges in Eastern Ukraine
India Overtaking China for Largest Population
NEW DELHI – Asia Times may have best summarized recent reports about the continuing population growth in India. “Top demographers feel that within three to five years, India will overtake China as the world’s most populous country.” While the population growth rate has been on the decline in China, India’s population continues to advance at… Continue reading India Overtaking China for Largest Population
Humanitarian Aid Being Hindered in Yemen: Millions of People at Risk
SANA, Yemen – “More than 25 percent of children (1.8 million) are malnourished; 900,000 people in the governorate are desperate for food and 90,000 pregnant women are at enormous risk. Families need everything–food, cash, health care, water, sanitation, emergency supplies, specialized support, and many need shelter. It’s heart-breaking to see so many people who need… Continue reading Humanitarian Aid Being Hindered in Yemen: Millions of People at Risk
The Statement on Social Justice & the Gospel
LOS ANGELES – Last week, more than 3,000 evangelical Christians and churches became signatories along with Dr. John MacArthur to The Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel. The statement grew out of a series of messages by Dr. MacArthur in which he named the growth of “social justice” as a leading threat to the… Continue reading The Statement on Social Justice & the Gospel
How to Pray for Those Affected by Hurricane Florence
This morning [Friday], Hurricane Florence reached the coast of North Carolina as a Category 1 storm, quickly flooding many coastal areas in North Carolina. Photo Source: NASA (with adaptations) Five deaths have been reported due to trees collapsing and other incidents. Thankfully most people had already evacuated and further evacuations and rescues are taking place… Continue reading How to Pray for Those Affected by Hurricane Florence
Former Persecutor Turned to Jesus Radically Changed
IRAN – You may have heard a story like this before. It’s a narrative about a man who devoted his life to persecuting Christians. He would have done anything in his power to eliminate them from the face of the earth. He traveled with orders to find, detain, and bring professing Christians before religious courts… Continue reading Former Persecutor Turned to Jesus Radically Changed
Counting Toilets: Confusing Tasks with Completed Goals, by Gospel for Asia
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… Continue reading Counting Toilets: Confusing Tasks with Completed Goals, by Gospel for Asia
Literacy Training—the Life-transforming Tool That Is Impacting Communities
International Literacy Day underscores how, in helping people learn to read, GFA brings practical help and spiritual hope to many on the fringes of society WILLS POINT, Texas — In many parts of the world, being unable to read isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a potentially deadly handicap that Gospel for Asia (GFA) is working hard to… Continue reading Literacy Training—the Life-transforming Tool That Is Impacting Communities
6.7 Magnitude Earthquake Is Latest Disaster to Hit Japan this Summer
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… Continue reading 6.7 Magnitude Earthquake Is Latest Disaster to Hit Japan this Summer
India Celebrates Teachers’ Day
DELHI – For a great many people around the world, the most influential person in their lives has been a teacher. India celebrates Teachers’ Day every September 5th and has done so since its commencement in 1962. Scholar, philosopher, and teacher, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, suggested that the country establish the annual event. Dr. Radhakrishnan had… Continue reading India Celebrates Teachers’ Day