Fraser’s new laptop should be with him now.  Pray for his managing his time, currently having 10 open projects on his desk.  Things are falling into place for attending and leading workshops at the Theological Education Association conference in Pretoria in June.

Thank God for the men in Maximum and Medium A who attend Dawn’s Bible studies. It’s a privilege to facilitate sessions in which such men feel able to be vulnerable and ask questions about topics that worry them.

In Maximum Bible study we’re looking at anger. Pray that the men would recognise the symptoms of growing anger and choose to react in a godly way.

When asked what changes knowing Jesus has made, Theswin, once an angry and violent number gang man, said, “Being able to love my enemies.” Shortly after giving his life to Jesus, a man told him he was the one who’d shot him outside when he nearly died.  Theswin immediately wanted to inflict harm on him but then a huge sense of peace flowed over him. He told the man he now followed Jesus and, whatever his past deeds, he had to love and forgive him. They became close friends until the other man was released and shot dead. Theswin’s family and friends no longer recognise him as the person he was before meeting Jesus and agree that his reaction to his enemy was miraculous.

Ashley and Dawn have visited another drug support group to offer them their Restoration programme. Many of the support group work during the day.  Ashley and Dawn are prepared to try a mixed group.

Our church leadership now must take a final decision on action over a situation in our congregation.  Pray wisdom for the leaders and our response to their decision.

Barnabas Aid, April 3^rd, 2024

On Easter Sunday morning (31 March 2024), a trailer full of Bibles was set alight outside a church in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. Please pray for the congregation of Global Vision Bible Church, that the Lord will give them strength and comfort following the incident.

According to the church’s pastor Greg Locke, “At 6:00am our security cameras caught a man dropping off a trailer in the middle of the intersection and blocking the road into our church. He then got out and set fire to an entire trailer full of Bibles right in front of our church”.

The identity of the perpetrator is currently unknown. Police are investigating the matter, and although they cannot provide any further details at this time, they have confirmed that the fire was set “intentionally”.

This is unfortunately just the latest incident in a rising trend against Christians and churches in the United States. In 2023 alone there were at least 436 attacks on churches – more than double the number reported in 2022. These included 315 instances of vandalism, 75 instances of arson, 10 gun-related incidents, 20 bomb threats and 37 other incidents. This was the second consecutive year where the number of reported incidents was more than twice as many as the previous year, and marks an 800% increase in the number of acts of hostility against churches since 2018.

Such acts serve as a reminder that Western society is not immune to Christian persecution. Jesus warns us that the world will hate us (John 15:18-20).

Steadfast Global, 12^th April 2024

India:

A Christian couple have been released on bail pending an appeal against a 2-year prison sentence imposed under anti-conversion law in Madhya Pradesh. Pastor Ramesh Ahirwar (41) and his wife Sakshi (41) were tried and convicted on 11 March following a false allegation that they had pressured a Hindu woman to convert to Christianity. While giving evidence at the trial, the woman in question denied that she had been pressurised or offered any inducement to convert.   

Pakistan:

The father of a young Christian man who was shot and killed in the Sialkot district of Punjab province last November, has reported that he and his family have been threatened with death unless they withdraw the complaint made against the man accused of killing their son. Noor Ul Qamar reported that on 18 March, six armed men led by the father of the alleged killer, entered their home, and made the threat.

Myanmar:

A prominent community and religious leader in Kachin state was killed on 18 March in what has been described as a targeted attack. Nammye Hkun Jaw Li (47) was working in his computer shop in Mogaung township when three armed men entered and shot him three times. As well as being an active advocate against military activities in his home state, Nammye Hkun Jaw Li previously held roles within the Kachin Baptist Convention. He is survived by his wife and three children.

Daniel Centre

Balazs will now release Roxana on Thursday at the end of her 45-day trial period, the other staff members agreeing that she does not have the right chemistry for the position.  Sergiu, the night warden, has been very distressed about his mother who has mental issues, went missing at the weekend, and was found 150 miles away at a railway station by the police.

The sale of their Cluj depot has not completed and Balazs has still to finish his report for Christian Aid on his work with the Ukrainians in Romania.

He and his wife Agnes spent 4 days with Blythswood CEO Jeremy Ross and his wife Fiona visiting the Cornerstone Project in Navi Mumbai in India which provides afterschool care for the children of prostitutes. They also visited a fledgling church there in the slums.

Balazs will visit Serbia next week with Jeremy, Finlay and Alan Lawson who are all trustees for Blythswood’s work in that country.  Balazs would like Blythswood to sponsor the Theological Faculty there which prepares young Roma Pentecostals for ministry to their own people. 

 Talita Kum

Adi is in good form and does not want to give up teaching the TK1 children himself, so they are currently well-staffed.  The Blythswood shops are also doing well in Jimboliya in support of the Talita Kum projects.  Adi is apparently well-skilled at handling the inspectors who periodically visit charity shops and look for reasons to fine them.

We’re thankful that Fraser is much better and now has a way forward to correct an almighty mess a college made trying to upload catalogue data to a new library system. His laptop is still just about hanging together. Pray that he and the other NetAct leaders can replace it very soon as his computer is threatening to die at any moment.

Thank God for the enthusiasm and desire to learn and change that Dawn encounters during the prison Bible studies. Pray for the men as they encourage others to come and meet Jesus and as they face up to the difficult changes they must make in their own lives and attitudes.

Ashley is making enquiries in the next area regarding the community/gang restoration course. Pray his message and our offer will be well received, that opposing forces will be negated and that God will lead us to a receptive place. Pray against the darkness and violence seeping through many aspects of life in many community areas.

Pray for the men hanging around the streets who are sort of interested but weren’t brave enough to sign up to face themselves and change.

Ruth hit her head on a marble counter on Friday and has been suffering from concussion ever since.  Thank God she’s in a place where medical care is readily available and has friends who are helping take care of her.