In a Mexican resort city, Christians care for homeless ‘angels’
COZUMEL, Mexico — Scott Eller steered a rented Nissan March…
Around the World: Washing toys, Brazil’s new normal, ‘Houses for Healing’ and more quick takes
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Around the World is our monthly rundown of news briefs, links and quotes from Churches of Christ all over the globe. Got an idea for this column? Email Erik Tryggestad at [email protected].
Featured image (above): Bunnies, teddy bears and blankets get special attention during “toy washing day” at Nikhain Children’s Home in eastern Siberia. Orphan’s Lifeline International, a ministry supported by Churches of Christ, has provided monthly care for the home’s 150 children, ages 7 to 17, since 2001. “Over the years that aid has changed from basic and critical needs for survival to … aid that lends to sustainability through the raising of animals for protein and agriculture as well,” said Greg Timmons, the nonprofit’s president.
Related: In a Mexican resort city, Christians care for homeless ‘angels’
BRAZIL
NATAL — “As in the United States, things have changed in Brazil,” Randy Short said. “Some people did not return to in-person worship services. Many new opportunities for evangelization and teaching online have presented themselves.”
That’s why the theme of this year’s Elicamp (a Portuguese abbreviation for “Encounters of leaders from the field”) focused on “Work in the Congregation in this New Normal,” said Short, president of a ministry training school in Recife, Brazil. Helder Sales, a graduate of the school who works with the Natal Church of Christ, coordinated the event along with Ricardo Sobral.
A total of 107 men — representing 38 churches in 14 of Brazil’s 26 states — participated.
ISRAEL
JERUSALEM — Netivyah, a ministry for Jewish followers of Jesus, offers “Houses for Healing” to the hurting — regardless of faith or ethnicity.
The nonprofit provides small, furnished apartments near the Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital at no charge to people who travel to Jerusalem for medical treatment.
Related: Sunday worship in Jesus’ hometown
“We serve Israelis, refugees (from Ukraine and other countries) and Arabs from across the Middle East” and their families, Netivyah members said in a recent newsletter.
Joseph Shulam, Netivyah’s founder, receives support from Churches of Christ. To support the Houses for Healing initiative, see netivyah.org/h4h/.
The Church of Christ in Kwali, Nigeria.
NIGERIA
KWALI — A Church of Christ meets on wooden benches in this West African village, about 40 miles southwest of Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.
“It’s amazing seeing faithfulness in action as these brethren sat under the sun to hear the Gospel being taught and preached,” said Prince Ugbe, director of the Darrell Memorial Bible Institute in Obudu. He visited the church recently and worshiped with seven adults and three children.
On social media, Ugbe asked for 20 volunteers “to help this young church erect a small shade to cover them away from the sun and rain.”
SERBIA
BELGRADE — “I’ve never seen young people in Belgrade with tears in their eyes,” said Drasko Djenovic, a journalist and church member in this Central European capital.
After two mass shootings in two days left 17 people dead and 21 injured in Serbia, “even non-Bible believers agree that this is a consequence of sin and separation from God,” Djenovic said. He and Dragan Kocic, minister for the Kacarevo Church of Christ, have counseled people “in need of pastoral care.”
