Muslim clerics want evangelistic work restricted in Algeria

Algeria (MNN) — Disconcerting news is coming from Algeria and Afghanistan.

Glenn Penner of Voice of the Martyrs’ Canada says Islamic scholars there are calling for a crackdown on Christians. “This head of the Islamic Association is claiming that a convert gets paid over seven thousand dollars if they become a Christian. So all you have to do is start spreading these lies around enough, and the government might say, “We probably should do something about this.’”

Penner believes the Islamists are spreading misinformation to stir nationalist sympathies. As to whether this will curb evangelism, he says, “They take what is a very innocent act and give it serious implications. For those who are in the ministering in that country, both nationals and expatriates, certainly they’re going to be looked at with more scrutiny and suspicion. We need to be praying for them that they’ll continue to operate with integrity and yet continue to operate fearlessly as they try to win men and women to Christ.”

* Pray that those to whom they reach out will see Christ in them.

* Pray that Roshan will be able to reach out to his persecutors.

source:
Greg Yoder, Executive Director
Mission Network News

Mission Network News is dedicated to keeping Christians informed about missions and evangelism around the world. Our goal is to help you become engaged in missions through praying more effectively, giving or going to the field short or long term.

Arabs work toward resolving Lebanon crisis; Christian radio broadcasts hope

Lebanon (MNN)–Anti-government demonstrations in Beirut enter their fourth week, with a concerted effort toward resolving the crisis.

Boiled down, Lebanon’s complex political crisis began after Prime Minister Fuad Saniora rejected a demand for a national unity government. Hezbollah wants Cabinet veto power for itself and its allies.

In response to the denial, six Hezbollah supporters/ministers resigned from the Cabinet sparking demonstrations in downtown Beirut since Dec. 1 to try to pressure the prime minister into quitting.

The people are wading through the Advent season with a growing sense of impending civil war. Words of Hope’s Lee DeYoung says they’re countering with the message of hope. “There continues to be operation of Words of Hope’s Arabic ministry inside of Lebanon. Thus far, there has been no direct impact from recent events, including the assassination, and now the demonstrations.”

DeYoung says despite the unrest and bombings, their staff has been unharmed. Overall, the Christian community stepped forward and reached out to the Muslims during the crisis. “We can hope that those seeds planted will bear fruit in the future. Meanwhile, broadcast operations and ministry continue inside of Lebanon even amidst the current pressures and activities, which certainly do raise some concerns about what may take place in the future.”

Words of Hope broadcasts Christian radio in Arabic and Farsi throughout the Middle East. DeYoung sums his vision up this way: “We think that the interest in radio programs and other forms of outreach, although these are times of great pressure, there is great risk, but also there is a growing hunger.”

Arabic Bible with MP3

Arabic Bible & Audio

The Arabic Bible Book of Life is a Modern Standard Arabic translation of the Bible. Arab theologians and linguists began working on the translation in 1973 and the New Testament was published 1982, the full Bible following in 1988. Over the years the Book of Life has evolved from a translation of the printed Bible to a ministry aiming at communicating the Bible in various media to diverse audiences.

Click below to read the Bible in Arabic, or to listen to various MP3 portions of the Bible

http://www.ibs.org/bibles/arabic/index.php