Jebala in Morocco
The word Jbala comes from Moroccan Arabic Jbel, which
means mountain. Thus Jbala means mountain people. A man or boy is
called a Jebli while a woman or a girl is called a Jebliya. They
traditionally have lived in or near the Rif mountains in northern
Morocco. The Jebala favor pointed-toed leather slippers, and reed hats
are traditional. Their musicians sometimes perform Sufi trance music.Ministry Obstacles Access to these people is limited. Pray for creative ways for Christians to minister to them. Outreach Ideas Gospel radio is very helpful in this region that is difficult for outsiders to access. Pray for the followers of Christ Pray for the few followers of Christ to cling strongly to Jesus and not be discouraged as they face trials. Pray they will learn to speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Pray for the entire people group Pray the Jebala community will be able to care adequately for their families, and for good schools for their children. Scripture Focus 'Again he says, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people." And again, "Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, And let all the peoples praise Him." Romans 15:10-11 |
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Sabtu, 30 Januari 2016
Jebala in Morocco
Spotlight: Supporting Those Affected By Clergy Abuse
Spotlight: Supporting Those Affected By Clergy Abuse
By Brian Nixon, Special to ASSIST News Service
ALBUQUERUQE, NEW MEXICO (ANS – January 28, 2016) -- In the new Hollywood movie, Spotlight,
the story is told of how journalist of the Boston community took on the
Roman Catholic Church over the issue of sex abuse. The priest at the
center of the abuse was John J. Geoghan.
According to the Boston Globe,
the “church allowed abuse by priest for years.” Writer Matt Carrol and
Michael Rezendes, state, “By 2002, more than 130 people had come forward
claiming that former priest, John J. Geoghan, allegedly fondled or
raped them [1].”
This
is all-too-common and disturbing news; something any denomination or
group of godly clergy never want to hear coming from it’s ranks. But
it’s the truth. It happens. And hopefully the truth will set the church
free, finding healing, help, and hope for both the victims and the
perpetrators of abuse. Justice and judgment need to be enforced, but so,
too, does love and longsuffering—extending support and spiritual
sustenance to those affected by clergy abuse.
I recently participated in a Spotlight
type event in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A few months back I was
approached by a friend who told me his story of being raped by a priest
in New Mexico at the age of 12. I was horrified by what I heard. As
clergy, my heart broke, and my sense of justice was ignited. We talked,
prayed, and I listened.
And
this past week, at a local chapter of SNAP (Survivors Network of those
Abused by Priests—[2]), my friend was able to briefly share his story,
the first time he did it publically since the occurrence over 40 years
ago. The details are too disturbing to tell. All I can say is that by
the end of his speech, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. He went from
John Doe (his designation in a plaintiff) to the person he is, stating
his full name—John Lund (he allowed me to use his name in this article).
He was free. And I was privileged to hear his cry of liberty. And along
with three other people who shared at the same event, a consensus of
courage was displayed in acts of collective consolation among the
victims.
John
said he had no ill will against godly clergy, or a particular
denomination (he as since found peace with God, coming into a vital
relationship with Christ). But he was speaking out for the future:
possible children who may be abused and for people who’ve yet found the
resolution to share their story. He was speaking on behalf of the
voiceless. His bottom line message was that clergy abuse must stop and
the victims must find help and hope.
In
addition to the victims, a psychologist (who shared stories, comparing
the abuse to the holocaust) and a former Roman Catholic Church lawyer,
Fr. Thomas Doyle, spoke. Mr. Doyle explained the history of abuse in the
Church (going back to the early 1st Century) and how high up in the
Roman Catholic Church the knowledge of the abuse went (yes, to the
Pope). Doyle was one who wrote the report that was handed to individuals
high in rank in the Vatican [3]. Both presentations were penetrating
and insightful in their analysis of what occurred within the Roman
Catholic Church, offering the survivor’s wisdom taken from SNAP:
acknowledge your courage and know that you are not alone.
On the SNAP table there were three handouts for the people to take: An Information Sheet of Abuse in New Mexico, a Statue of Limitations, and the Science of Suppression. All the information was helpful, but it was the Science of Suppression
information that has valuable information for people beyond the New
Mexico State lines. I give the information because it is important for
people—particularly in the church—to see.
*
Victims of childhood sexual abuse often do not make the connection
between the acts of sexual abuse when he or she is a child, and the
emotional and psychological harm caused by the abuse.Victims often
employ psychological coping devices shielding them form the realization
of harm. Some of these coping devices include:
1)
Repression: Victims of childhood sexual abuse may repress the severity
of the trauma, the intensity of the emotions related to the trauma, or
what they were damaged by the sexual abuse.
2)
Intellectualization: Victims keep themselves from awareness by
explaining aw the fact that they have been harmed. That person may
intellectualize they are not really harmed because it was a priest that
did it or because no one knows about it.
3)
Disassociation: Victims in a severe state of distress feel as if they
were out of their body and the childhood rape happened to someone else.
4) Denial: The victim may refuse to accept the childhood rape happened. To them, it was either a flawed memory or imagination.
*
Most experts in forensic psychology support that a reasonable victim of
childhood sexual abuse would not be able to understand the extent of
the harm they have suffered without professionals help.
*
Although the sex abuse survivor may be aware of what happened with the
abuse, and that they have a life problem, the connection between the two
almost always requires professional help to process and understand, and
begin to heal.
*
Many years may pass where coping strategies suffice, until a triggering
event breaks down those survival strategies, and the adult victim has
to suddenly manage the symptoms of their childhood sexual abuse. Often
those symptoms can be overpowering and debilitating, and help is needed.
I
was corresponding with some friends after the event. One of my friends
pointed out that clergy abuse is a form of internal persecution of God’s
people, an irony of sorts. We in the church are called to care,
protect, and lead other members in our body, to shower them with love,
compassion, and truth. But in the case of abuse, clergy are caught in
opposite actions, showing cruelty and cunning deception. My friend
stated, “The irony of abuse within the confines of a church which
condemns persecution is persecuting its own flock.”
In
a day and age when the persecution of Christians is on the rise around
the world, who would of imagined that some in the church are as guilty
as those who don’t believe, peddling persecution in the form of
parishioner abuse, causing untold pain to God’s people.
Now
that’s food for thought. But just as importantly, fodder for action: to
stop the persecution of God’s people—wherever it may be found.
Photo captions: 1) Fr. Thomas Doyle. 2) Spotlight – the movie. 3) SNAP logo. 4) Brian Nixon.
About
the writer: Brian Nixon is a writer, musician, and minister. He's a
graduate of California State University, Stanislaus (BA) and is a Fellow
at Oxford Graduate School (D.Phil.). To learn more, click here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Nixon.
Note: If you would like to help support the ASSIST News Service, please go to www.assistnews.net and
click on the DONATE button to make your tax-deductible gift (in the
US), which will help us continue to bring you these important stories.
If you prefer a check, please make it out to ASSIST and mail it to: PO
Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609, USA. Thank you.
** You may republish this and any of our ANS stories with attribution to the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net)
Holocaust – the heart of the problem
Holocaust – the heart of the problem
By Charles Gardner, Special to the ASSIST News Service
DONCASTER, UK (ANS – January 28, 2016)
-- As UK Christians remember the Holocaust, marked on January 27 as the
day in 1945 when Auschwitz [the Nazi German concentration and
extermination camp], was liberated, they have been reminded that it was
spawned by godlessness and the rejection of faith.
Steven
Jaffe, a member of the UK’s Jewish Board of Deputies, was addressing a
largely Christian audience at a church in Sheffield, Yorkshire.
Pointing
out that hatred of Jews and loathing for Israel could not be explained
in rational terms, he said the exodus from Egypt was immediately
followed by the battle with Amalek, who had no reason to attack Israel.
There was no territorial dispute or history of conflict, for example.
And they attacked the sick and elderly – those who were most vulnerable.
(Deuteronomy 25.17-18)
“The
conflict with Amalek is not over,” he said. Amalek denied God and his
power in the same way the Nazis did, and the latter mirrored their lack
of mercy.
He
recalled that Britain’s former Chief Rabbi, Lord Sachs, was once asked
where God was during the Holocaust, to which he is said to have replied:
“Where was man?”
Even
as I write, Iran is boasting of a nuclear deal that “has provided an
historic opportunity to… face threats posed by the Zionist entity”1. It
is well to recall that the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin
al-Husseini, collaborated with Hitler, thus setting the stage for
today’s jihad against Israel2. And yet, bizarrely, former Iranian
president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and current Palestinian leader Mahmoud
Abbas have both publicly denied that the Holocaust ever took place.3
Against
such a dark background, however, there is plenty of encouragement. The
Sheffield gathering heard much about the heroic acts of so-called
“righteous Gentiles” like 
Sir
Nicholas Winton, who rescued 669 children from Czechoslovakia in 1938.
Generations of people – almost 7,000 of some of the world’s greatest
doctors, lawyers, teachers and inventors – owe their lives to the act of
one man’s efforts to help Jewish children escape the Nazis.
Sir
Nicholas Winton, who rescued 669 children from Czechoslovakia in 1938.
Generations of people – almost 7,000 of some of the world’s greatest
doctors, lawyers, teachers and inventors – owe their lives to the act of
one man’s efforts to help Jewish children escape the Nazis.
And
Steven Jaffe himself, through the launch last year in the neighboring
city of Leeds of the Shalom Declaration, committing to pray for the
peace of Jerusalem and fight against anti-Semitism, is sending out a
clear message of Christian support for Britain’s Jewish community.
“There isn’t a corner of the British Isles that the Shalom Declaration
has not been signed,” he said.
Making
nonsense of campaigns to boycott Israel, he pointed out that one in six
of the drugs and medicine dispensed through Britain’s famous health
service have either been manufactured or developed in Israel.
And
on the faith front, we were told that “there are more Jews learning the
Torah4 today in Israel that at any time in our history”.
All
of which is preparing them well for the great event we are perhaps soon
to witness when Jesus reveals himself on a grand scale to his brothers
in the flesh.
Though many Jews quite understandably have a problem with this, especially with the Holocaust in mind, the key is forgiveness.
British
television viewers were treated to a remarkable Channel 4 documentary,
The girl who forgave the Nazis, recounting the story of how Hungarian
Jew Eva Kor, now 81, a former inmate of Auschwitz, has publicly forgiven
94-year-old Oskar Groenig, the death camp’s former accountant, who was
recently sentenced to four years in jail for his part in the Nazi’s evil
scheme.
Eva
and her twin sister Miriam were experimented on by the infamous Dr.
Josef Mengele, but survived the camp, though Miriam died in 1993
possibly through the effects of the experiments. Eva said: “It’s time to
forgive, but not forget… I believe that forgiveness is such a powerful
thing... and I want everybody to help me sow these seeds of peace
throughout the world.”
This
takes amazing courage. But it’s worth remembering that Jesus, our
Messiah, made the first move when he prayed, as he died in agony on a
cross in Jerusalem: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what
they are doing.” (Luke 23.34)
When Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, he had already long since forgiven them for acting treacherously against him.
“Praise
the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all
your sins and heals all your diseases…” (Psalm 103.2-3)
“Seek the Lord while he may be found…for he will freely pardon.” (Isaiah 55.6-7)
1Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Beirut last week
2David Soakell, Christian Friends of Israel’s Watching Over Zion newsletter, January 21
3Ibid
4The section of the Bible specifically relating to the Law of Moses
Photo
captions: 1) A Jewish prisoner being shot after getting off the train
at Auschwitz. 2) Target of Persecution: Orthodox Jews outside the Old
City walls of Jerusalem. (Picture: Martin Hall). 3) Sir Nicholas Winton,
with one of the children he rescued. (https://carolynquinn.wordpress.com)
4) Happy Reunion: John Fieldsend, one of the children rescued by Sir
Nicholas Winton (right). John was subsequently brought up by foster
parents in Sheffield and became a successful vicar, now with three
children of his own and seven grandchildren. In his absence from the
Sheffield event on another engagement, his amazing story was read out by
Charles Gardner, author of this article. 5) Ultimate Forgiveness:
Golgotha (the Place of the Skull) thought by many to have been the
location of Jesus' crucifixion, during which he prayed: “Father, forgive
them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Picture: Charles
Gardner). 6) Charles Gardner with his wife, Linda.
About
the writer: Charles Gardner is a veteran Cape Town-born British
journalist working on plans to launch a new UK national newspaper
reporting and interpreting the news from a biblical perspective. With
his South African forebears having had close links with the legendary
devotional writer Andrew Murray, Charles is similarly determined to make
an impact for Christ with his pen and has worked in the newspaper
industry for more than 41 years. Part-Jewish, he is married to Linda,
who takes the Christian message around many schools in the Yorkshire
town of Doncaster. Charles has four children and eight grandchildren.
Charles can be reached by phone on +44 (0) 1302 832987, or by e-mail at chazgardner@btinternet.com . He is the is author of Peace in Jerusalem, available from http://olivepresspublisher.com.
** You may republish this or any of our ANS stories with attribution to the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net).
Berber, Rifi in Morocco
Berber, Rifi in Morocco
The word "Rif" is an Arabic word meaning "the edge of
cultivated area." The Northern Shilha of Algeria and Morocco, known as
the "Rif Berbers," are numerous tribes of tough and hardened people
eking out an existence on the harsh, uninviting slopes of the Rif
Mountains. The Berbers are indigenous to north Africa west of the Nile
river, with the densest concentration in Morocco.Ministry Obstacles Morocco is quite difficult to enter for Christian workers. Creative approaches are needed. Outreach Ideas The Jesus film, God's Story video, and Gospel radio are available in the language of the Rif Berbers. Pray for workers. Pray for the followers of Christ The Lord is building his church among the Berbers. Pray the believers will be properly taught the Scriptures, that they will fully comprehend the Gospel of grace, and become mature and settled in the faith. Pray for the entire people group Pray the Lord will reveal himself in ways appropriate to the Berbers, perhaps including dreams and visions. Pray the Berbers be given hearts to seek him. Scripture Focus "And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations." Mark 13:10 |
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GPN - 01/29/2016
Dear Dave and church,
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Connecting for Change -- Prayer-Care-Share: Orality and Divine Appointments
Connecting for Change -- Prayer-Care-Share: Orality and Divine Appointments
By Jerry Wiles, President Emeritus, Living Water International, Special to ASSIST News Service
HOUSTON, TX (ANS – Jan. 29, 2016)
-- What are you believing God to do in and through you today? One of my
mentors used to ask me that question years ago. Think about the things
you are expecting the Lord to do in your life on a daily basis.
Expectation, anticipation and trusting in the Lord are important in
determining what is happening in our lives. Praying, asking God,
believing and trusting Him are vital to living a life that is pleasing
Him.
Of
course, we know from Scripture that “Without faith, it is impossible to
please Him.” God delights in answering our Spirit-inspired prayers.
However, sometimes we are just not asking Him for the right things.
Years
ago, I began to pray more specifically that the Lord would direct my
paths to people who need Him and would be open to the gospel -- praying
also that I would be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and obedient to His
prompting. I have found that when I am consistent in doing so, the Lord
is faithful to answer my prayers. The Lord does not always answer our
prayers in the ways that we might expect; He often has something
different and better in mind than what we ask Him for.
A
friend of mine told me about his experience of being the guest in
someone’s home and answering a phone call. The person on the other end
of the call said, “I must have the wrong number.” My friend responded by
saying something like, “Wait a minute, maybe the Lord had you call this
number for some special reason. Have you been thinking more about the
Lord lately?” Well, that short encounter resulted in my friend being
able to share the gospel and have prayer with that individual over the
phone. Hearing of my friend’s experience prompted me to think
differently about receiving phone calls that are wrong numbers or
marketing and solicitation calls.
The Power of Questions
“Have
you been thinking more about the Lord lately?” “Have you given much
thought to your need for the Lord?” “Would you be interested in knowing
how you can have a more personal, intimate relationship with God?” These
are just a few of the kind of questions that almost anyone can ask.
Asking people how we can pray for them is also a wonderful way of
engaging in meaningful conversations. (Very few people are offended by
your asking how you can pray for them). Any variation of those questions
can open opportunities for sharing our testimonies and the message of
Jesus.
Some
time ago I also received a phone call from a young man which turned out
to be a wrong number. After realizing that, I said to him, “Wait a
minute, maybe the Lord had you call my number for some special reason.
Have you been thinking much about your need for the Lord?” He was
shocked and surprised and said, “Who is this, what do you mean?” Well it
turned out that the young man had just had an argument with his
girlfriend and the last words she said to him were, “Your problem is
that you need the Lord.” That encounter resulted in the young man
wanting to know more. I shared some with him on the phone and suggested
that we meet at the church I was attending at the time. He eventually
came to faith in Christ and I was able to connect him with other young
people in the church.
Many
people have received the Lord and become followers of Jesus as a result
of phone conversations. Many have responded to the Lord through hearing
the gospel by radio, television, recordings, internet and other
technological media. Personal encounters, however, seem to be the most
common and effective, but it’s important to realize the unlimited and
creative ways that the Lord can use any of us to point others to Jesus.
Creative Communication
We can seldom predict when or where we might have a divine appointment. However, if we remain in an attitude of prayer and are alert to opportunities to care, we can trust that the Lord will direct us to those with whom we can share.
We all live in a mission field, made up of family, neighbors,
co-workers and friends. One other category we should be aware of is “all
others” -- the many connections that we can have with people in those
random traffic patterns on a daily basis.
One
of the benefits that people experience after attending a Living Water
International Orality Training event is recognizing the effectiveness of
simply asking questions and telling stories. One question that can open
a conversation to tell a story is, “Would you like to hear a story that
will help you better deal with the problems, pressures and difficulties
in life?” Then, we can recount the story of, “Jesus Calming the Storm”
from Mark chapter 4. When someone hears that story, they can consider
how we all face storms in life. Who do we go to during those times? How
can God intervene to meet our needs? What can we learn from that story
about how God cares for us? Does He have the power and ability to bring
calmness during our storms of life. So many important lessons can come
from one short story.
The Power of Simplicity
When
we learn a set of stories, having the Word of God hidden in our hearts,
we can be more prepared to tell the Good News of Jesus almost anytime
and almost anywhere. I have experienced this and have heard many stories
from others of the power of using the simple orality principles and
methods in communicating the gospel and making disciples. These
principles work in our own relational network and in everyday
encounters, but they are also cross-cultural, international and
reproducible to the ends of the earth and among all people groups around
the world.
It
would be important to keep in mind that as containers of Deity, indwelt
by the Holy Spirit and realizing the power of the spoken Word, we can
all be instruments of God’s divine activity and intervention. He is no
respecter of persons and is willing to use each of us to advance His
Kingdom. When we, as followers of Jesus, are faithful to pray, care and share,
we can fully expect to experience Divine appointments and His
intervention. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we
can anticipate or imagine.
For more information on Living Water International, the Orality Movement, or Orality Training opportunities, visit – www.water.cc/orality.
Photo
captions:1) Orality methodologies, anytime, anywhere. 2) This is a true
Story from the Word of God. 3) Orality principles are amazingly
effective and reproducible with children. 4) Jerry Wiles.
About
the writer: Jerry Wiles is President Emeritus of Living Water
International and serves on the advisory council and leadership team of
the International Orality Network. He can be reached at: jerrywiles@water.cc
Note:
If you would like to help support the ASSIST News Service, please go to
www.assistnews.net and click on the DONATE button to make you
tax-deductible gift (in the US), which will help us continue to bring
you these important stories. We need your help at this important time to
invest in this unique service. Also, tell your friends about us.
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Female Swiss missionary kidnapped by suspected jihadists twice
Female Swiss missionary kidnapped by suspected jihadists twice
By Mark Ellis and Anthony Gutierrez, Special to the ASSIST News Service
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (ANS - January 29, 2016)
-- Muslim extremists allegedly kidnapped Beatrice Stockly, a missionary
from Switzerland in Mali, for the second time in the last four years.
Stockly
was snatched from her home near Timbuktu Jan. 8 by armed men in pickup
trucks. Though no group has claimed responsibility, it is believed that
the perpetrators are one of the militant Islamic groups that operate in
the region.
In
April 2012, Stockly was kidnapped from her home in Abaradjou, a
district of Timbuktu frequented by armed jihadists. Neighboring Burkino
Faso negotiated her release after 10 days. She returned to Switzerland
for a while but ultimately felt called by God to return to Mali, despite
the dangers.
“It’s Timbuktu or nothing,” she said to family, according to a report by the World Watch Monitor (WWM).
Stockly
first moved to Timbuktu in 2000 when she worked for a Swiss church.
More recently she has worked alone, unaffiliated with any church. WWM
reported she led an austere life, selling flowers and handing out
Christian literature. She focused mostly on women and children, talking
to them and sharing about Jesus.
Christians
have suffered persecution in the region from Islamists. In the last
three months, two separate attacks have been staged against Christians. A
brutal assault on a Christian radio station just before Christmas left
25 dead. A month earlier, 22 people were killed at the Radisson Blu
hotel in Bamako.
In
2012, extremists effectively banned the practice of any religion other
than Islam. They desecrated and looted churches. Many Christians fled
the region, but Stockly remained undaunted.
Now she has been kidnapped again.
“We
are shocked to see what happened,” Dr. Mohamed-Ibrahim Yattara,
President of the Baptist Church in Mali, told WWM, speaking about the
spiraling violence and uncertainty. “We are trying to find out what
happened, but for now we don’t have any explanation.”
In
effort to bring security and peace to the region, the Mali government
signed a peace treaty with the main Jihadist group, the Tuareg, in June
2015. But the accord appears to have been fruitless, WWM reported,
noting that security forces and UN peacekeepers have been targeted.
Stockly’s
abduction is believed to be the first against a foreigner since the
kidnapping and killing of two French journalists, Ghislaine Dupont and
Claude Verlon, in the northeastern town of Kidal in November 2013, WWM
reported.
Photo captions: 1) Beatrice Stockly. 2) Mark Ellis.
About the writers: Mark Ellis is senior correspondent for the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net), and also founder of www.GodReports.com,
a website that shares stories, testimonies and videos from the church
around the world. He is also co-host for “Windows on the World” with ANS
founder, Dan Wooding, on the Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network (http://hsbn.tv). Anthony Gutierrez is a student at the Lighthouse Christian Academy in Santa Monica, California.
** You may republish this or any of our ANS stories with attribution to the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net).
Kamis, 28 Januari 2016
GPN - 01/26/2016
Dear Dave,
|
Orthodox Jew found Jeshua-Jesus in Israel, miracles unfolded in his life
Orthodox Jew found Jeshua-Jesus in Israel, miracles unfolded in his life
By Mark Ellis, Special to ASSIST News Service
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (January 21, 2016)
-- He grew up in the former Soviet Union, but at 17 his Jewish family
fled the crumbling communist system and immigrated to Israel.
“When
I first came to Israel, I fell in love with the country,” says Neriyah
Arabov. “The first thing that touched my heart was the amazing sense of
patriotism in everyone that I met,” he told Chosen People Ministries. (A
video attached below also captures highlights of his story, recorded by
One for Israel)
At
first he didn’t fully understand why his family moved to Israel. But as
God’s plan unfolded in his life, he began to see their relocation as
part of God’s plan for “restoring His people.”
In
the former Soviet Union, he was the only Jewish student in his Uzbeki
school. “My name–Neriyah–stuck out starkly amongst the Mashas, Sashas
and Pashas. I was different in many other respects,” he recounts.
“My skin was darker than that of my classmates, and I was not allowed to eat outside my home because our family kept kosher.”
He
rejoiced in one thing after his arrival in Israel, that he “would never
again be called a dirty Jew by my countrymen. I was no longer
persecuted on account of my race and beliefs.”
When
he joined the Israel Defense Forces, his connection to the Israeli
people deepened. After he finished his service and found work at the Tel
Aviv municipality he met a Russian man who shared with him the
surprising news that Jesus is the Messiah of Israel.
“At
that point in my life, I considered myself an orthodox Jew,” he notes.
“I was curious that he seemed to know the Bible better than I did. I was
religious. I would go to synagogue. I wore a kippa, prayed all the
prayers, however, in my heart I didn’t even really believe God existed.
“In
our conversations, however, I realized that I did not really know the
Bible. I started reading it more in order to prove to my new friend that
he was mistaken about Jesus.
Photo captions: 1) Neriyah Arabov. 2) Mark Ellis.
About the writer: Mark Ellis is senior correspondent for the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net), and also founder of www.GodReports.com,
a website that shares stories and testimonies and videos from the
church around the world. He is also co-host for "Windows on the World"
with ANS Founder, Dan Wooding, which is carried weekly on the Holy
Spirit Broadcasting Network (http://hsbn.tv).
** You may republish this or any of our ANS stories with attribution to the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net).
Gawaria in India
Gawaria in India
The Gawaria consider their ancestry to be from the
three brothers Tapasvi Singh, Lakhi Singh and Bhumi Singh, who ruled at
some point of time near Jodhpur in Rajasthan. They claim equal status
with other nomadic and semi-nomadic communities. Their literacy level is
very low due to poverty and their nomadic lifestyle.Ministry Obstacles The Gawaria speak several languages, as most communities do in India. Evangelistic and church planting strategies need to accommodate this. Outreach Ideas Low literacy rates suggest oral means of communication, using scriptural stories, films, and recordings. Pray for the followers of Christ There may be no believers among the Gawaria today, but pray for those that will soon emerge. Pray they will be properly instructed in the faith, and that God will give them capable pastors to help them mature as believers. Pray for the entire people group Pray for workers to take the Gospel message to each individual in the Gawaria community. Pray the Lord will prepare them to understand, and to believe. Scripture Focus "And you shall be my witnesses, both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." Acts 1:8 |
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Veteran Christian radio man, Richard McIntosh, has gone to his eternal reward
Veteran Christian radio man, Richard McIntosh, has gone to his eternal reward
By Dan Wooding, Founder of the ASSIST News Service
ORANGE COUNTY, CA (ANS – January 23, 2016)
– Seasoned Christian broadcaster, Richard McIntosh, who served as
KWVE’s General Manager in Santa Ana, California, for almost eight years,
went home to be with the Lord earlier this month, after a courageous
battle with pancreatic cancer.
McIntosh, who also managed the KWVE Radio Network (www.kwve.com),
the popular Calvary Chapel group of stations in California and Nevada,
had also been in charge of California-based KSDW-FM and KWTH, K-Frog
Riverside-San Bernardino, WLUM Milwaukee, WRFD Columbus, and KPRZ Los
Angeles.
It
was back in July of 2014 that Richard McIntosh, first discovered that
he was facing the greatest battle of his life. His doctor has confirmed
that he has pancreatic cancer.
“On
the afternoon of July 16th I began to experience abdominal pain. I have
never experienced pain that bad before,” he told me in an interview at
the time. “My wife, Peg, took me to the hospital. The initial diagnosis
was that my gallbladder needed to come out. There is a history of that
in my family so things did not seem out of line.
“The
next morning I was taken to surgery and the doctors discovered that
there was a mass constricting the duct coming from my gallbladder. A
stint was put in to get the gallbladder functioning. The mass was
sampled and it came back positive for cancer. The diagnosis is
pancreatic cancer.
“I am now a cancer patient. My hope and trust are in The Lord.”
Once the news was announced on his Facebook page, there were many messages of support for Richard.
Wayne
Shepherd, a veteran radio broadcaster with over 40 years of experience
as a programming manager and radio host, wrote, “My wife and I both go
back to knowing Richard in college together where we all worked in
radio. We’re praying and pulling for you, Richard!”
Worship
leader, Kathy Wright Gipson, stated, “Prayer is going up for you
Richard – we love you and will continue to believe in a miracle of
healing!”
McIntosh
then posted, “The outpouring of support was a little overwhelming but
so appreciated. The doctors will start me on chemotherapy and I see that
doctor next week to start the process of getting rid of this pancreatic
cancer. Keep praying my friends.”
Since
his passing, his Facebook page has been inundated with messages,
including one from Dale Berg, owner-operator of Smooth 97 The Oasis, an
Internet radio stations in Palm Springs, California, who on January 16th
posted, “It's been a week now. Last Saturday we lost a seasoned
broadcaster, and genuine nice guy. Richard McIntosh passed away. He was
working up until the last on a new project to bring KYMS 106.3 Santa Ana
back. It would've been a very unique station because he was going to
play Contemporary Christian Music from the 70's through 2000. Yes there
is CCM that goes farther back than 2000! Richard will be missed.
Remember his family in prayer during this time.”
Cathi
Parrish, an announcer at KWVE, said, “Our hearts are heavy, and we are
with you in prayer for God's comfort. There are so many memories that I
have with Richard through the years, and it was evident that he did
indeed live by faith.”
Chris
Rohloff from Urbandale, IA, wrote just after his passing, “This weekend
we lost a great broadcaster, and a great man. Richard McIntosh is now
safely in the arms of his Lord, Jesus. I will miss him, just as many
will. Today I will pray for his family, and all those who loved him.
Over the years Richard was a man who spoke words of encouragement into
my life when I needed them most. He was TRULY used by God in my like!
Thank you Richard for being my friend. I hope to honor you by being a
good friend and encourager to all my fellow broadcasters. Miss you
Richard.”
Dave
Rolph, Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Pacific Hills in Aliso Viejo,
California, and a regular broadcaster at KWVE, said on January 10th, “I
miss you already Richard, but I'll see you soon. You were a good man who
I know has now heard ‘well done.’ Give Chuck a hug for me.”
Rolph
was of course, referring to Pastor Chuck Smith, Senior Pastor of
Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, California, and the man God used to launch
the Jesus People Revolution which has since spread around the world.
Smith died in his sleep from a heart attack around 3:00 am on October 3,
2013, at his Southern California home. He had previously waged a long
and courageous battle with lung cancer, even though he had never smoked
during his lifetime.
One
of the people who spent a few hours with Chuck Smith at his home,
shortly before Smith’s passing, was Richard McIntosh. At the time,
McIntosh posted on his Facebook page, “I got to spend some time with
Pastor Chuck Smith this afternoon. We talked KWVE, the church and had a
time of prayer.”
Not
long afterwards, Richard moved on from KWVE to become a broadcast
consultant, but then came this battle with pancreatic cancer. Now he is
free of pain and, I am sure, has already given Pastor Chuck Smith a hug.
Please remember all of his family in prayer at this time.
Photo
captions: 1) Richard pictured with his wife, Peg, at a KWVE event.
(Photo: Dan Wooding). 2) One of the last pictures of Richard on his
Facebook page. 3) Dave Rolph (right) pictured with Richard McIntosh. 4)
One of the last pictures of Pastor Chuck Smith. He is pictured at his
home with Janet Carter and one of Smith’s great grandchildren, with
Richard McIntosh, in the background. 5) Dan Wooding pictured with Chuck
Smith after interviewing him for his Front Page Radio show on KWVE.
About
the writer: Dan Wooding is an award-winning author, broadcaster and
journalist who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, and is
now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has
been married for more than 52 years. They have two sons, Andrew and
Peter, and six grandchildren who all live in the UK. He is the author of
some 45 books and has two TV programs and one radio show in Southern
California, and has reported widely for ANS from various parts of the
world.
** You may republish this or any of our ANS stories with attribution to the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net).
Minyak in China
Minyak in China
The Minyak are part of the Tibetan nationality. They
have been described as a "peaceful, sedentary Tibetan tribe, a most
inoffensive, obliging, happy-go-lucky people." They live quiet lives in
nearly complete isolation from the rest of the world. Almost all Minyak
adhere to Tibetan Buddhism. They observe Tibetan festivals and make
pilgrimages to Tibetan holy sites.Ministry Obstacles The Minyak may fear disturbing community harmony, and desire peace more than truth. Outreach Ideas Workers are needed to carry the Gospel message to the Minyak community. Perhaps Han Chinese believers will shoulder the task. Pray for the followers of Christ Pray for followers of Christ to soon emerge from the Minyak community, that the Lord even now is preparing pastors and teachers for them. Pray for resources to be available to them, as well. Pray for the entire people group Pray for the light of the Gospel of Christ to shine in the Minyak community. Scripture Focus "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'" Isaiah 52:7 |
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