News From The Nations

News From the Nations We curate missions-related news items from around the world.

Reading these stories can fuel our prayers for the unreached and provided a backdrop for our conversations with the Lord about where He would have us focus our missions efforts.

We encourage you to read these articles with your eyes open to God's work and an expectant heart, listening for His direction.

Image courtesy of Saiba Rahman. Used by permission.

How Digital Communication Facilitated a Wiccan’s Conversion to Christ

By Frank Johnson on October 8, 2019 0

FROM RICH TATUM:
How Digital Communication Facilitated a Wiccan’s Conversion to Christ
The Sharpe Logs represent the fascinating story of Kathi Sharpe — a practicing pagan witch (a Wiccan) who converted to Christ and was discipled through digital conversations with Rich Tatum, a then web project manager with Christianity Today International. These “logs” are just that — records of 53 different online conversations Kathi and Rich had through email and instant messenger over a period of almost an entire year. Although the logs are almost twenty years old at the time of this writing, they still provide tremendous insight into how God can work through digital means to bring people to Himself and raise them up to maturity in the faith. Click the button below to read the rest of the story!

Visit the Sharpe Logs to read the story of How Digital Communication Facilitated a Wiccan’s Conversion to Christ

Photo courtesy of John Schnobrich. Used by permission.

The Evangelical Church is Growing in Ireland

By Frank Johnson on October 6, 2019 0

FROM THE GOSPEL COALITION:
The Evangelical Church is Growing in Ireland
According to an article written by Jonny Grant and Patti Richter for The Gospel Coalition entitled Reaching Ireland for Christ — Again, only about 0.5 percent of the Republic of Ireland’s population is evangelical and it is the least evangelized country in Europe. At the same time, there have been signs of progress in the wake of the Catholic charismatic renewal in the 1970’s an an influx of missionaries from the United States and Northern Ireland in the 1980’s. Those factors contributed to the establishment and growth of gospel-centered churches scattered throughout the Republic of Ireland. Today there are over 240 evangelical churches with an average attendance of about 80 people. And now, Irish evangelicals are catching a vision to plant churches where Christ is not yet known and to support Christian workers in other countries. Click the button below to read the rest of the story!

Visit the Gospel Coalition Website to read this story entitled Reaching Ireland for Christ — Again

Photo courtesy of Sean Griffin. Used by permission.

Proclaiming the Message of Jesus in a Preacher’s Graveyard

By Frank Johnson on October 5, 2019 0

FROM THE GOSPEL COALITION:
Proclaiming the Message of Jesus in a Preacher’s Graveyard
In a March 2017 article entitled Europe’s Most Godless Country May Surprise You, Gunnar Gunnarsson tells the story of how he and his wife, Svava Maria, began planting a church in downtown Reykjavík, Iceland — a place a former minister told him was a “preacher’s graveyard.” The church Gunnar and his wife planted — Loftstofan Baptist Church — has an overarching vision to plant reproducing churches throughout Iceland. Click the button below to read the rest of the story!

Visit the Gospel Coalition Website to read this story entitled Europe’s Most Godless Country May Surprise You

Photo courtesy of Yuri Loginov. Used by permission.

Teaching the Bible to Animists

By Frank Johnson on October 4, 2019 0

FROM OMF INTERNATIONAL:
Teaching the Bible to Animists
Hans Bär, a missionary with OMF International, has been involved in evangelism and leadership training among the Karen people in Thailand for over twenty-five years. The Karen people have an animistic background and worldview and that affects how they understand teaching from the Bible. In a December 2018 article on OMF International’s website, entitled Teaching God’s Word to a People from an Animistic Background, Bär identifies several implications of an animistic worldview for Bible teaching. Click the button below to read the rest of the story!

Visit the OMF International Website to read this story entitled Teaching God’s Word to a People from an Animistic Background

Photo courtesy of Max Pixel. Public domain.

An Animist Becomes a Follower of Christ

By Frank Johnson on October 4, 2019 0

FROM GOD REPORTS:
An Animist Becomes a Follower of Christ
An article entitled The Animist Shaken to the Core by God’s Truth tells the story of Anton Egamankon, an animist who gave his life to Christ approximately thirteen years ago. “That is who I was — Anton Egamankon, of the Coconut clan, ground owner and new husband, spirit-worshipper and survivor … I heard four months of teaching from God’s Word in my heart-language and my world changed … I realized that I was actually Anton Egamankon, child of Adam, a sinner, unclean, and deserving of death … I believed in Jesus’ work and my identity changed once again. I was now Anton Egamankon, child of the high Creator God, the undeserving sinner who had received one-sided grace and mercy … now I live with a different purpose … I am Anton Egamankon. Follower of Christ.” Click the button below to read the rest of the story!

Visit the God Reports Website to read this story entitled The animist shaken to the core by God’s truth

Photo courtesy of Trevor Cole. Used by permission.

Leaving the Hindu Priesthood for Christ

By Frank Johnson on October 1, 2019 0

FROM PREMIER CHRISTIANITY:
Leaving the Hindu Priesthood for Christ
Rahil Patel spent six years in India — away from his home and family in London — undergoing intensive training to become a Hindu priest. Outwardly, he was a model student and priest. But inwardly, his heart was unsettled and restless. Through the influence of a children’s Bible he found in a bookstore and later when a group of believers welcomed him in their midst on a Sunday morning, he said “Yes” to Jesus. “I went back to my hotel room and secretly in my heart gave my life to Jesus. It was then that I realised how he had been questioning, guiding and attracting me. He had been there throughout my life, knocking on the door.” Click the button below to read the rest of the story!

Visit the Premier Christianity Website to read this story entitled From Hindu priest to peace-filled Christian

Photo courtesy of Rajesh Balouria. Used by permission.

Buddhist Woman Freed From Anxiety

By Frank Johnson on October 1, 2019 0

FROM TEAM:
Buddhist Woman Freed From Anxiety
In an article entitled A Shelf Full of Gods — and No Hope, Brianna Langley tells the story of Machiko — a Japanese woman who suffered from depression and a severe social anxiety disorder known as hikikomori. Through a variety of God-ordained encounters, this Buddhist woman was drawn to a group of believers and after several months of observing the life of her new friends and being immersed into their expression of Christian community, Machiko converted to Christ. And she was set free from her depression and social anxiety! Click the button below to read the rest of the story!

Visit the TEAM Website to read this story entitled A Shelf Full of Gods — and No Hope

Photo courtesy of Jeff Juit. Used by permission.

From Life Under ISIS to Faith in Jesus

By Frank Johnson on September 29, 2019 0

FROM NBC NEWS:
From Life Under ISIS to Faith in Jesus
Four-and-a-half years ago, Kurdish People’s Protection Units along with Free Syrian Army reinforcements, Peshmerga of the Kurdistan Regional Government, and American and US-allied Arab airstrikes, liberated the Syrian city of Kobani after approximately four months of ISIS control. Although four months may seem like a relatively short time, the brutality of ISIS has led some Muslim residents of Kobani to question their faith. Click the button below to read the story of how a Church of the Brethren congregation in Kobani is leading people to Christ!

Visit the NBC News Website to read this story entitled Life under ISIS led these Muslims to Christianity

Photo of Kurdish refugee camp in Turkey across the border from Kobani, Syria courtesy of Voice of America News. Public domain.