MORE AID NEEDED FOR
SOUTH SUDAN
South Sudan, the country that gained
independence from Sudan in 2011, is
facing dire food shortages according
to a recent United Nations report.
Nearly 2. 8 million people, a quarter of
the country’s population, face food
insecurity after the past three years
of civil war. Three UN agencies stated
that “at least 40,000 people are on the
brink of catastrophe.”
“The dry season is going to cause
even more hardship for people who
are already struggling to get by,” says
Barbara Macdonald, international
programs director at the Canadian
Foodgrains Bank. “It’s important to do
what we can.”
Fighting has displaced more than
two million people. Although warring
factions signed a peace deal last
August, both sides have repeatedly
accused each other of violations. Many
militias continue to fight.
The Christian organizations that
make up the Canadian Foodgrains Bank
are providing more than $4.5 million in
food aid to affected areas and calling on
Canadians to remember the people of
South Sudan. – W W W. FOODGRAINSBANK.CA
FORGIVENESS FOR A
BROKEN REGION
Evangelical groups in Lebanon rallied
to host an outreach conference on
forgiveness and mercy. Participants
included 57 churches, ministries and
Christian schools led by the Free
Evangelical Association of Lebanon
(FEAL). Together they distributed more
than 40,000 pamphlets that shared
testimonies and promoted the event.
“With the current Syrian crisis there
are thousands of people who are
getting to hear the Word of God for the
first time,” says Kevin McKay, president
of Partners International Canada, a
ministry partner of FEAL. “Forgiveness
is countercultural and leaves a lasting
impression on all who hear it.”
The conference was standing
room only, with more than 1,500
Christians and Muslims attending daily.
Organizers also had 2,500 requests
for a DVD package they produced that
shares testimonies from local believers.
– WWW.PARTNERSINTERNATIONAL.CA
REIGNITING UNITY
A group of New Zealand churches joined
forces to form the National Dialogue for
Christian Unity. The new group currently
includes the country’s Anglican, Roman
Catholic and Methodist churches,
but they hope to inspire broader
collaboration and Christian unity.
“Since the conference of churches was
abandoned, nearly a decade has passed,”
says Prince Devanandan, mission and
ecumenical director of the Methodist
Church of New Zealand. “The churches
that are committed to Christian unity
have continued their dialogue to reach
this historical moment.”
The inaugural meeting was held
February 25 in Wellington, New
Zealand. –W WW.OIKOUMENE.ORG
STANDING WITH THE
PERSECUTED
The Christian Association of Nigeria
(CAN), along with Open Doors
International, released a report
detailing the persecution and violence
against Christians in the country’s
north. The association also committed
to working together to revive
churches in northern Nigeria, which
have been relentlessly targeted by
Boko Haram militants.
“This is the first time we’re going
public to sign a declaration which gives
the true picture of the persecution
Christians are going through in this
country,” said Musa Asake, general
secretary of CAN.
The declaration calls on government
to end the violence and for the
UN Human Rights Commission to
investigate. CAN churches committed
to providing aid to northern churches.
They also emphasized the need to
rely less on outside help and embody
Christian virtues of forgiveness and
perseverance.
CAN member denominations
include nearly half the population
of Nigeria, spanning Catholic and
Protestant denominations.
– WWW.WORLDWATCHMONITOR.ORG
CRAIG MACARTNEY
“The surprising thing
is prayer is
something
you learn,
just like
you learn
to play an
instrument
or drive a
car. I don’t
think people
really look at
it like that.
They think
prayer either
works or it
doesn’t, but
the disciples
said to Jesus,
‘Teach us to
pray.’”
—John Eldredge,
American author
Pastor Francisco, a Peruvian missionary, prays with a group of Quechuan children
in the Andes of Peru. He works with Churches of Ayacucho, a church-planting and
evangelism ministry that has seen many youth become committed Christians.
Canadian partner: Intercede International ( www.intercedeinternational.ca)
Craig Macartney is a freelance writer in
Ottawa. See www.faithtoday.ca/GlobalVillage.
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