World: 500 mark in audio Bible translations
This month marks an exciting landmark in the world of audio Bible translation. ‘We have got to our 500th language that we have recorded,’ explains Bill Lohr with Faith Comes By Hearing (FCBH). ‘About 4.6 billion people speak those languages in the world today.’ Beyond the fact that now billions of people, literate or not, could potentially access the Scriptures, the 500 mark has special meaning for FCBH. ‘The reason that's significant for us is that it puts us a quarter way to our goal, which is in 2016, we want to have 2,000 languages recorded. That will effectively be about 97 percent of the world's population.’ That is truly FCBH's heartbeat and passion: to provide every person, regardless of literacy or location, with the opportunity to access Scripture in their heart language. FCBH now has over 50 recording teams in 27 countries working on new translations to meet their 2,000 language goal by 2016. Praise: God that faith comes from hearing the word. (Ro.10:17)
Russia: New Baptist Churches being planted
The Baptists utilize effectively the freedom of worship in the country. Mass evangelism and distribution of tracts aren’t efficient any longer and new methods have to be implemented, reports the press centre of Russian Union of Evangelical Christian-Baptists. Baptists in Russia trace their history to 1867. There are now about 80 000 Baptists who worship in 1,750 local churches. Revd Alexey Smirnov, the president of the Baptist Union in Russia says: ‘The number of Baptist churches in Russia is growing and the most important task of the Union is to train leaders as well as keep the unity. The work with youth and children is particularly vital as it had not been possible during the era of communist regime.’ Revd Ruvim Voloshin, the vice-president of Baptist Union responsible for missionary ministry stresses that about 200 new Baptist congregations are currently being planted all over the vast territory of Russia. Praise: God for the growth of His church and the planting of new congregations. (Ac.5:42)
Russia: New Baptist Churches being planted
The Baptists utilize effectively the freedom of worship in the country. Mass evangelism and distribution of tracts aren’t efficient any longer and new methods have to be implemented, reports the press centre of Russian Union of Evangelical Christian-Baptists. Baptists in Russia trace their history to 1867. There are now about 80 000 Baptists who worship in 1,750 local churches. Revd Alexey Smirnov, the president of the Baptist Union in Russia says: ‘The number of Baptist churches in Russia is growing and the most important task of the Union is to train leaders as well as keep the unity. The work with youth and children is particularly vital as it had not been possible during the era of communist regime.’ Revd Ruvim Voloshin, the vice-president of Baptist Union responsible for missionary ministry stresses that about 200 new Baptist congregations are currently being planted all over the vast territory of Russia. Praise: God for the growth of His church and the planting of new congregations. (Ac.5:42)
Bangladesh: Rebel group prevents Christmas Worship
One of the two main political parties of the indigenous people in Bangladesh’s south-eastern hill tracts prevented Christians from celebrating Christmas, sources said. The United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF), which has demanded that Christian converts return to Buddhism, threatened tribal Christians of at least seven churches in Khagrachari district, some 300 kilometers (180 miles) southeast of the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka. A source requesting anonymity said that a local leader of the UPDF, a regional party seeking autonomy, warned Christians not to hold a Christmas gathering. ‘Members of the Kalapani Bethlehem Church could not celebrate Christmas this year,’ the source said. ‘UPDF members threatened them, saying ‘You cannot play the harmonium, drums and sing here. You cannot even worship silently’. Christian elders told the UPDF leader by telephone that they had arranged food for around 100 people, and the UPDF members allowed them only to eat their rice and curry. Pray: as further attacks occur on Churches gathering, that God would protect His saints and open the doors for worship. (Ps.20:6) More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/bangladesh/30238/
