Around the World: Gifts for Honduran children, an art show by Kenya’s street kids and more quick takes
Around the World is our monthly rundown of news briefs,…
Around the World, February 2021
Featured image (above): In the town of Ibung, on the northern island of Luzon in the Philippines, a newly planted congregation sings hymns. The church plant is an outreach of the Bangar Church of Christ, which meets about 11 miles south of Ibung. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, church members have focused on planting small congregations that can meet in homes or outdoors. Another congregation, the Villaverde Church of Christ, launched recently, said John Dionio Jr., a minister and director of the Philippine Bible College of Bangar. The college recently distributed relief to victims of Typhoon Ulysses.
CAMEROON
WOTUTU — “Last year was characterized with lots of difficulties, trials and frustrations,” said Gregory Elangwe, minister for the Wotutu Church of Christ in this West African nation.
But Elangwe, director of the Bear Valley Bible Institute of Cameroon – Wotutu, said he was thrilled to begin the new year by welcoming 20 new students to the institute, which is associated with Denver-based Bear Valley. For two years the students will train to “preach the serving message,” Elangwe said.
“It was another joyous moment in Wotutu to welcome the sixth batch of students that will pass under our watchful eyes,” he said. “Please keep them in your fervent prayers as the task ahead of them is great.”
HAITI
One of four baptisms in Grand Bassin.
Grand Bassin — “In spite of all the challenges of this crazy year, God is still reaching lost souls with the power of the gospel.”
That’s an excerpt of a recent report from the Center for Biblical Training, a ministry in Cap Haitien supported by Churches of Christ.
Four students from the center traveled to the village of Grand Bassin, where student Jocelyn Jean Bien Aime planted an Église du Christ (Church of Christ) a few years ago.
The students spent a week teaching classes on New Testament Christianity, door-knocking and preaching. “They faced some local opposition and stormy weather, but the community turned out to hear them,” the ministry reported.
Four people were baptized.
HUNGARY
BUDAPEST — A Church of Christ in this Central European capital is bringing much-needed “Good News” to its community.
That’s the name of a 24-hour internet radio station operated by church members who read scriptures, play Christian music, broadcast Bible lessons and share reports of good news happening around the world.
“With so many people dying of the COVID-19 virus, people are thinking about eternity and desiring to find answers to the most important questions of life and death,” missionary Curry Montague said in a recent Partners in Progress newsletter, “and we are there around the clock.” More than 100 regular listeners tune in to the church’s Sunday worship.
INDIA
PALAKOL — Christians in India are suffering from COVID-19 and persecution by militant Hindus, said a minister named Elijah in this southern Indian town. His full name is withheld for security reasons.
Recently, a wooden chariot that belongs to a Hindu temple caught fire. Days later, four statues of lions were stolen from the temple.
Muslims and Christians were blamed for these acts, Elijah said, and days of “rallies, road rage and persecutions” followed.
In addition “we have lost six of our church members to COVID,” the minister said. “We are currently praying for better situations and conditions.”
SIERRA LEONE
BO — Joseph Kaipumoh delivers food and good news to the hungry in this West African nation.
The minister, who works with the World English Institute ministry, recruits students for the program’s correspondence courses and follows up with those who wish to be baptized. For those who cannot read, he translates the ministry’s Bible lessons into the local language.
“He has baptized numerous WEI students in ponds, lakes, rivers and irrigation canals,” the ministry reported in a recent newsletter. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, Joseph and local Christians have distributed bags of food to hungry villagers who are facing starvation.”
