Vive la revolution?
This month: spiritual hunger in secular France, the Bishop of Egypt on the future after revolution, behind the scenes with church workers in war-torn DR Congo and Sri Lanka and insights into reconcilation in Israel-Palestine. Produced and presented by Mike Stranks.
Audiomission podcast: May 2011
[ Format: mp3 | File size: 18.8MB | Length: 20m34s]
When a food programme in a squatter area in Manila recently closed its doors, staff at Jigsaw Kids Ministries felt they needed to stand in the gap for the hundreds of starving children.
“But it seemed such a big undertaking,” said mission partner Tim Lee, founder of Jigsaw, which already provides food for hundreds of children in Manila.
“Trusting fully in God,” Tim said that within a few weeks, he and the Jigsaw staff bought the necessary equipment and put people in place to provide hot meals for local children ages 0-16. In the first week, more than 200 children showed up needing food.
Tim says, “At present, we are serving three hot, nutritious meals a week. We are seeing God’s miracle of the five loaves and two fishes daily. Jigsaw rarely has sufficient funds in advance to cover its food budget, yet each week God provides enough from gifts that are given.”
Jigsaw was started six years ago, with Tim and his wife Kate buying plates of rice for 12
children. Today Jigsaw operates four centres for street children. In addition to food, Jigsaw provides shelter, education and love for more than 1,700 children.
A new church, a new school and 10 new mission partners (pictured) have been established in recent months in India, thanks to CMS partners Noel and Yashoda Kotian.
The church, on the outskirts of Bangalore, is still small, but already a handful of people from non-Christian backgrounds have decided to follow Jesus. In Mysore, the new school for dozens of poor students has two teachers and “the children have done well in their studies” according to Noel, who directs the Christian Education of Evangelical Fellowship of India (CEEFI).
“At the end of last year, we trained ten young people in Mumbai to do cross cultural missionary work. One young man was sent near Pune to do evangelism and church planting,” Noel said.
CEEFI works all over India, helping hundreds of thousands of people grow in Christ through training and resources published in over 20 languages.
People with HIV and AIDS in Nepal are getting much-needed, practical help from Christians, thanks to CMS co-mission partner Bhibin Shakya, director of Grace Community Services (GCS).
“After being infected by my husband with HIV, nobody would help me,” said one woman helped by GCS. “I thought my life was over, but GCS gave me sewing training and helped me tackle my problems and stand on my own two feet. I have also accepted Jesus as my saviour.”
In addition to counselling and skills training, GCS raises awareness through educating Christians. About 50 church leaders participated in a recent GCS seminar in Dhading, which focused on how and why Christians should help those who are HIV+, who often face harsh discrimination. Bhibin and his team also spoke on the massive problem of human trafficking.
Similar events were held throughout the year at other churches.
One pastor remarked that his “eyes had been opened”, adding, “Most of the time I share the gospel but never realised that we should also think about social issues such as girls trafficking, HIV/AIDS and family counselling.”
On World AIDS Day (pictured), Bhibin and his team took to the streets to rally against discrimination towards people living with HIV/AIDS. “Our slogan was ‘God loves all equally,’” he said.
This month we re-launch our Audiomission podcast as a monthly 20-minute programme, produced and presented by Mike Stranks.
This month: rescued Chilean miner Jose Henriquez, environmental activist James Pender, community development worker Christine Salaman, Bible translation in South America and take up a sponsored challenge with CMS.
[ Format: mp3 | File size: 16MB | Length: 20 mins ]
Some of the most marginalised people in India – the transgender community – are hearing for the first time that God loves them, thanks to CMS co-mission partner Dr Lalita Edwards.
Known already for her ministry amongst women trapped in the sex trade, Dr Lalita (pictured) has earned the trust of many people in the red-light area of Pune, including several eunuchs.
One of them is B, who ran away from an abusive home at age 8 and entered the sex industry as a teenager.
“It is often the only option available, as hijras are considered the lowest of the low in society and face constant discrimination and rejection,” explained Dr Lalita.
During a bout of harassment on a train, B met a pastor who offered prayer and a listening ear. After meeting with the pastor and attending his church several times, B began following Jesus.
According to Dr Lalita, this kind of care is rare, as until recently, many churches have been resistant to allowing believing eunuchs to worship in their congregations. B was referred to Dr Lalita, who offered friendship and continued to share God’s love. B has left the sex industry and is ministering to other transgender people.
“We must work to change the perceptions of the church and of hijras, who believe the abusive things they have heard about themselves. I want those who come to the Lord to have a strong biblical foundation and vocational skills that will get them out of prostitution,” said Dr Lalita.
Rejected and feared by many, India's transgender community holds a complex place in society. Stephen Edison, CMS country correspondent in India, gives an insight into the transgender community there. Co-mission partner Lalita Edwards is working to bring love and respect among this community in the Pune area.
Listen: Tough life for transgender in India
Produced and presented by Jenny Rawden. Thirty young prisoners in Thailand have become followers of Jesus, after a visit by CMS mission partner John Robinson to their prison in Korat, three hours north of Bangkok.
John said: “I spoke about hope and God’s grace as well as sharing my story and 30 young people made a commitment to Christ. I was moved to tears as some of them may never leave prison but are free in Christ.”
It is often hard to gain entry into Thai prisons but John’s book, Nobody’s Child, has opened the door for him. Translated into eight languages, including Thai, Nobody’s Child tells the story of John’s difficult childhood and his introduction to Jesus.
In 2008 John and his wife Gillian and their three children were invited by a Thailand prison ministry to do long-term mission work with prisoners, as well as working on the
streets. The family has been in Thailand since January 2010.
Jane Shaw has been the only woman priest in the Church of Pakistan as well as a healthcare specialist helping with hospital management. She's been in buildings shaken by terrorist bombs and tells of the incredible witness of a Christian hospital on the edge of the feared tribal area of Waziristan.
Listen: Pakistan's only woman priest
[ Format: mp3 | Length: 5m10s | File size: 4.72MB ]
Produced and presented by Jenny Rawden.
