Faith Today - May/June 2016

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.