Vernon Brewer, CEO and founder of World Help, a Christian humanitarian organization, discusses the good news stories that took place in 2019. There’s a trite yet true saying about the world’s fascination with negative news stories and headlines: “Good news doesn’t sell.” This saying proved painfully true in 2019 — from conflicts abroad to natural…
Samaritan’s Purse teams have been delivering more than one million gifts filled shoe boxes to children in need in Cambodia, while sharing the true meaning of Christmas. Franklin Graham, CEO and President of Samaritan’s Purse recently joined a team in the country’s capital Phnom Penh to share the good news and these gifts of joy….
COON RAPIDS, MN – When I saw a headline in The Christian Post that 5,000 people from a church in New Jersey would spend December 6 & 7 packing one million meals for an annual Christmas Outreach, I had to reread it. As I was doing my usual fact-checking, I noticed that The Parsippany Patch…
CINCINNATI, OH – Todd and Beth Guckenberger spent the first 15 years after their graduation from college in 1997 living in Monterrey, Mexico, hosting short-term missions teams. Their mission as Back2Back Ministries was to help provide resources for children in institutional orphanages in the Monterrey area. Back2Back is dedicated to coming alongside orphaned children in…
RWANDA – In 1994 during the Rwandan genocide Alex Nsengimana fled for his life and despite surviving, many of his family members were killed. But thanks to the unconditional love he received as an orphan from a number of Christian ministries Alex was able to forgive the man who killed his uncle. Today Alex’s passion…
LOS ANGELES — This past weekend, the Los Angeles Dream Center parking lot transformed into a winter wonderland complete with all the festive trimmings and filled with over 8,000 gifts, a skating rink, snow, Santa Claus, an appearance from Frozen’s Anna and Elsa, inflatables, cookies, hot cocoa and more. The Dream Center was pleased to be able to…
CAMBODIA – Samaritan’s Purse CEO and President Franklin Graham joined local church leaders in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with boys and girls while delivering gift-filled shoeboxes to them at a recent Operation Christmas Child outreach event in Cambodia’s capital. Eight-year-old Votey received a shoebox, making her one of more than 1 million children…
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – During the first two decades of the 21st Century, the lines between humanitarianism and evangelism have become blurred. Much of this can be attributed to the growing inclination toward political correctness, the revelation of the billions of people living in extreme poverty in developing (and industrialized) countries, and the increasing fascination…
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Two young men, life-long friends from Cape Coral Christian School in southwest Florida, took a trip to Haiti with Mission of Hope in 2013. The squalor they witnessed in sprawling tent cities far exceeded their worst expectations. Brett Hagler described it as “crazy.” He and Mike Arietta knew something had to…
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dream Center was excited to offer a way to participate in the nationwide effort of giving back this Giving Tuesday. This year, they’re looking for additional monthly donors to help support their residential programs benefiting homeless families, veterans and those recovering from addiction. With a monthly commitment of $10,…
FRANKLIN, TN – This year, the Hands & Feet Project celebrated its 15th anniversary. The project was born in a most unusual place – the back of a tour bus. Mark Stuart and Max McGinnis, co-founders of the Christian rock group, Audio Adrenaline, had been discussing what the group could do to become the hands…
SYRIA – Samaritan’s Purse is providing emergency relief to Syrian families displaced by Turkey’s recent incursion along the border. The violence has created a humanitarian crisis, displacing more than 100,000 people. Some have crossed the border into northern Iraq while others remain displaced within northeastern Syria. Samaritan’s Purse is meeting the desperate physical needs of…
AMERICA — This November 28th, families will gather together across the entire United States to celebrate Thanksgiving. After consuming a feast of turkey and dressing and an array of dishes fit for a king, fathers and sons will cheer on their favorite NFL teams while grandfathers, intending to watch, fall asleep in an overstuffed recliner….
Missions Agency Confronts Violence Against Women During International Observance, Nov. 25 WILLS POINT, TX — A staggering one-third of women and girls around the world will suffer physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, missions agency Gospel for Asia (GFA, www.gfa.org) reports, as the organization marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against…
GENEVA – Despite the overwhelmingly good news from the World Health Organization (WHO) that two of the three wild polio virus strains have been eradicated, healthcare workers have been unable to eliminate the disease in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Recent outbreaks of polio in the Philippines is also under investigation. However, the continuing presence of the…
GENEVA — As Turkey pursues its military operation in north-east Syria, the World Council of Churches (WCC) is gravely concerned about the humanitarian impact on the people of the region. It is reported that tens of thousands of civilians are fleeing from the first waves of the Turkish attack, and that hundreds of thousands of…
BARDARASH, Iraq – More than 13,000 Syrian refugees have embarked on harrowing journeys through the conflict zones in their own country to find safety in neighboring Iraq. Their first stop across the border is the Sehela transit centre where Samaritan’s Purse staff has been present to greet them, help serve a meal, and offer them…
AZUSA, CA – What came as a shock to those who heard his announcement made perfect sense to Francis Chan. He revealed at a chapel service at Azusa Pacific University that he and his family plan to move to Asia in February 2020. The pastor, author, and in-demand Christian leader and speaker shared how the…
ANHUI – According to China Aid authorities have destroyed a church in China and detained its pastors. No legal papers ordering the church’s demolition were provided, but officials tore it down on Friday October 18. It could seat more than 3,000 people and was part of the country’s officially-recognized church network. The large building –…
HYDERABAD – The World Health Organization (WHO) made a significant, forward-looking announcement at a global gathering of the 50th Union World Conference on Lung Health in Hyderabad. A leading expert on the subject of tuberculosis told BBC News that a new vaccine, currently in development appears to be “a real game-changer” in providing long-term protection…
JERUSALEM — The Algemeiner, a leading publication in Israel, has unveiled its latest “Jewish 100” (J100) list—an exclusive roster of “the top one hundred individuals who have positively influenced Jewish life this past year.” The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship) is pleased to announce their new President, Mrs. Yael Eckstein, 35, has…
SACRAMENTO, CA — The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC) is launching a series of nationwide campaigns to protect the sanctity of human life, defend religious liberty and advocate for biblical justice. The campaigns, drawn from the NHCLC’s life, religious liberty and biblical justice directives, are a collaborative effort with some of the most influential…
FOREST, VA — World Help, an international, Christian humanitarian aid organization, is responding to the crisis in northeast Syria following the recent Turkish offensive into the country. World Help is providing emergency supplies like clean water, food, blankets and hygiene kits to refugee camps where many are fleeing. Through World Help’s partners and programs, every…
SOUTH ASIA – Pollution is dangerous for everyone living on planet Earth. The editors of the Lancet Medical Journal estimate that pollution causes the premature death of 9 million people every year. That’s three times the number who die from AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined. It is also 15 times the number who die from…
ROME – When the United States Secretary of State speaks, it is usually about political affairs of state. When Mike Pompeo addressed a symposium in Rome on October 2, his message was about increasing global threats to the right of religious freedom. Secretary Pompeo was a featured speaker at a symposium about the work of…
HONG KONG – Speculation about the future of Hong Kong abounded in 1997 when Great Britain handed over its governing authority to mainland China. Anxiety-ridden headlines predicted China would move swiftly to integrate the city under the rule of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). When a one-country, two-systems approach was proposed, the world breathed a…
Donations will be used to fund residential expenses for hundreds of prisoners, human trafficking victims, veterans, and homeless families in 2020. LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dream Center celebrated another year of miracles this past weekend during their annual Night of Dreams on Saturday, September 28. This year’s event included many moments of reflection…
MELBOURNE, FL — Christian Care Ministry (CCM), which offers the popular Medi-Share healthcare sharing ministry, is inviting the entire community to its second annual “Day of Sharing,” a nationwide initiative to motivate and mobilize people to share their time, talent and treasure to serve others Oct. 5. The theme of this year’s event is, “Find…
Noel Yeatts, author, speaker, and the President of World Help, an international, Christian humanitarian organization, discusses the devastation Hurricane Dorian left behind in the Bahamas, the great humanitarian need, and the resilience of the people despite the crisis they have been put through. This past week I was on the ground in the Bahamas helping…
BEIRUT – Lebanon has declared a national “state of economic emergency.” President Michel Aoun told the Lebanese people, “We have to unite our efforts to come out with solutions to the economic crisis that is strangling the dreams and hopes of our people.” One of the leading factors that have driven Lebanon to the edge…
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – A high profile group of US Christian leaders visited Saudi Arabia on the eve of 9/11. During their visit, the delegation issued a statement including why their visit coincided with the 9/11 tragedy. “While it may surprise some that we would choose the week of September 11 to visit the Kingdom,…
LOS ANGELES — This month, the Los Angeles Dream Center is celebrating a significant milestone. Founder Matthew Barnett, his wife Caroline and their entire team of staff and volunteers are commemorating 25 years of service to the people of Los Angeles. The 25th anniversary celebration beginning on Thursday, September 26 will include many events, but…
GENEVA – Nearly a million Rohingya are interred at refugee camps in Bangladesh, having fled their homes to escape persecution in their native Myanmar. Tensions have been rising over the past several months and have reached a point where remaining in Bangladesh may become as dangerous as of being back in Myanmar. The UN Office…
STOCKHOLM – Access to clean drinking water is an existential problem that must be overcome in developing countries. It is almost always a companion of poverty and disregard for women. Safe Water Network India (SWNI) has implemented a pilot project that borders on genius. If someone who solves a problem is a hero, those who…
CANBERRA – The global water crisis continues to spread almost indiscriminately from continent to continent and nation to nation. Australia heads into the Southern Hemisphere summer with populated portions already reeling from a “serious” to “severe” water crisis as a result of 32 months of drought. WaterNSW (New South Wales) has experienced extreme low inflows…
Samaritan’s Purse has opened an emergency field hospital in Freeport in the Bahamas to provide vital medical help to those impacted by hurricane Dorian. They received more than 90 patients on their first full day of operation (Sept. 10). Distributions of emergency items (shelter plastic, water filters, and more) continue in the Abacos. Their DC-8…
BEIJING – For more than two years, Missions Box News has brought our readers reports of the Chinese Communist Party’s widespread campaign to clamp down on Christianity in mainland China. The big news out of China in January 2019 was not tariffs and trade wars. The CCP demanded that the first of the 10 commandments…
BAHAMAS — Samaritan’s Purse has established a base of operations in Marsh Harbour—working to bring emergency shelter material, clean water, and critical supplies to families who lost everything. Marsh Harbour, a small town of fewer than 10,000 people in the Abaco Islands of the Bahamas, hit international news as Category 5 Hurricane Dorian made landfall there…
WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) was founded in 1998. The mission of the USCIRF is “To elevate and promote international religious freedom as a norm and practice.” During the past year, the USCIRF has issued four factsheets that summarize four types of laws used internationally to prevent the…
TASHKENT – The spotlight of the global water crisis is currently shining on the countries of Central Asia, particularly Uzbekistan. In “Water: A Time Bomb in Central Asia,” Aqua Doc emphasized that, “Agricultural water use in Central Asian countries is of vital importance, especially for Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. These countries employ inefficient irrigation methods….
WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia has released a new special report entitled “Literacy: One of the Great Miracle Cures.” Subtitled, “Resolving the Limitations Illiteracy Places on the Human Spirit,” noted author Karen Mains explains that illiteracy is a multi-faceted . . . problem that results in [fewer] job opportunities and low income, often…
Welsh councillors in the UK have defended their freedom to conduct prayers before meetings in the face of opposition from those labelling it ‘discriminatory’. Councillor Paul Penlington called on Denbighshire Council in North Wales in the UK, to conduct prayers away from the council chamber, and has received the support of the National Secular Society….
BAHAMAS — Samaritan’s Purse made its first airlift of the Emergency Field Hospital to the Bahamas on September 5, at the request of the World Health Organization and the government of the Bahamas. Multiple flights will follow. A team of 16 staff members, including doctors and nurses, was on the flight to help set up…
BAHAMAS — Samaritan’s Purse is airlifting the Emergency Field Hospital to the Bahamas today, September 5, 2019, at the request of the World Health Organization and the government of the Bahamas. A team of 16 staff members, including doctors and nurses, will be on the flight to help set up the mobile hospital. The 40-bed…
KAMPALA, UGANDA – Last September, her world was turned upside down when her husband passed away. The 54-year-old mother of eight children was now a widow with a family to support. Searching for hope, she placed her faith in Jesus Christ when the pastor of a small church shared the Bible with her. Joy returned…
FOREST, VA — World Help, an international Christian humanitarian aid organization, has activated its crisis response program to provide aid to victims of Hurricane Dorian. Hurricane Dorian slammed into the Bahamas this Labor Day weekend as a devastating Category 5 storm. The destruction was unprecedented, and the flooding some of the worst the island nation…
toiletNEW DELHI – The widespread practice of open defecation in the developing countries in Asia and Africa has long been a focus of Missions Box News, numerous FBOs, NGOs, and the United Nations. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for 2030 include bringing the entire world to that status of being Open Defecation Free (ODF)….
Matthew Barnett, co-founder of the Los Angeles Dream Center and senior pastor of Angelus Temple, discusses the ways to end homelessness, that it is not an impossible dream to do so. It’s hard to believe that homelessness still rises to a crisis level in so many places across the U.S. And it pains me to…
BUCHAREST – Twenty kilometers outside of Bucharest, in the locality of Balotesti, is a place where young ladies find help to rebuild their lives and to live free from drugs. The center for girls “House of Joy” functions under the umbrella of Teen Challenge Romania. The need to provide a home just for girls became…
NEW YORK – August 22, 2019, marked the first International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief sponsored by the United Nations. Missions Box News first became aware of the proposed special day in July 2018 when members of the British parliament were called to consider supporting a proposal…
