Persecution at all time high in India

Here is part of a recent article from Mission Network News:

India (MNN) -- Hindu militants have threatened to set the homes of Christians on fire, while in another area of the country evangelists and missionaries were attacked. These are more examples of the increase in persecution against Christians in India.

Voice of the Martyrs' Todd Nettleton says nine years ago India was a peaceful place as it related to violence against Christians. "We thought of it as the world's largest functioning democracy -- a free country -- a place where Christians could worship freely. Last year, 2006, Voice of the Martyrs staff documented more than 200 significant incidents of persecution."

These were serious events where Christians were beaten or even killed because of their faith in Christ. Nettleton says this violence is significant. "That's four times a week, somewhere in India, a Christian is being persecuted for their faith. The persecution has just increased dramatically even in the last 18 months."

To read more, click here to go to the Mission Network News website.

Prisoner Alert

I have added two new links on the right.

The first is Prisoner Alert. Check it often to find out how you can pray and get involved on behalf of those persecuted for their faith in Christ.

The second is Christian Persecution Blog. As the name suggests, it is a blog about the persecuted church.

To Bless All Nations

The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.

"I will make you into a great nation

and I will bless you;

I will make your name great,

and you will be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you,

and whoever curses you I will curse;

and all peoples on earth

will be blessed through you."
(Genesis 12:1-3 NIV)

Where do we first find the concept of “missions” in the Bible? I suspect that many would turn to the Great Commission in Matthew 28. They see missions as primarily (if not exclusively) a New Testament concept. The reality is God has had a plan for the nations from the very beginning.

Genesis 1 starts with God’s plan for mankind as a whole, but it is not long before sin enters the picture and attempts to destroy God’s plan. The next few chapters show the history of the human race, but then the focus narrows in on one person, Abram (later named Abraham).

Genesis 12 records God’s call and promise to Abram. It might appear to a casual reader that God played favorites and excluded the other nations when he chose Abram. Nothing could be farther from the truth! Look at the end of the promise in verse 3: God blesses Abram so that through him all of the nations can be blessed.

God’s plan for the nations was not put on hold during the Old Testament. On the contrary, it was actively at work in spite of the disobedience of the descendants of Abraham. The commission in Matthew 28 was not a sudden or new idea. Rather, it was the continuation and the expansion of a promise made 2,000 years before Jesus’ death and resurrection.

The question is not whether God has a plan for the nations throughout history. The question is whether you are willing to participate in his plan.

Transition

One of our missionary families recently announced that they will be making a significant transition. They will be moving from Japan to Kansas! If you want to learn more about the Hederstedt move back to the states, you can read their update at http://www.hederstedt.org/page7/page7.html.