Blythswood, Mission Partners of Castle Street, Missions

Blythswood Update – May 19th 2021

by Robert MacNaughton

Daniel Centre

Cipri may now need a pacemaker for his heart.  Ioan has found work pushing trolleys at a local supermarket.

The Centre has an ongoing task of monitoring and assessing their performance with the young residents and most of the load falls on their resident social worker Danny.  It is unlikely that the other social worker Zencu, currently on maternity leave will return to work any time soon.

The demolition work on the depot has run into a major problem in getting asbestos removed.

A lot of Balazs’ time 15 is currently taken up by answering questions from the successful candidates for the Kenya project.  They trust that the Hungarian government will provide funding for the Kenyans graduating from the high school they support to proceed to university.

Talita Kum

Schools have re-opened in Jimboliya so Talita Kum can return to its original afternoon programme.  Adi is currently working on a project to start kindergarten work in the extra space available in the TK2 building.

Barnabas, Mission Partners of Castle Street, Missions

Barnabas Update – May 19th 2021

by Robert MacNaughton

Terrorists kill four Christian farmers in Indonesia

Barnabas Fund, 17 May 2021

Islamist terrorists from the East Indonesia Mujahideen have killed four Christian farmers in Central Sulawesi province where they were working in a coffee plantation on 11 May and were attacked by five men wielding swords. 

According to a police spokesman for Central Sulawesi, the attack was reported by a fifth farmer who escaped.  Farmers from the village had informed police that wounds to their necks were noticed on two of the victims. There were unconfirmed reports that one had been beheaded.

The farmers recognised one of the perpetrators as being a member of East Indonesia Mujahideen.  University of Indonesia intelligence analyst Stanislaus Riyanta said that East Indonesia Mujahideen comprises ten members.  The Mujahideen leader Ali Kalora, who has affirmed allegiance to Islamic State, is being hunted by police.

“They are increasingly pressed because they are hunted by the task force team, police and military personnel, so they killed the local people,” Riyanta explained.

The group is thought to have been set up in 2012. East Indonesia Mujahideen’s operations are confined largely to Central Sulawesi province.

Home to the world’s largest Muslim population, Indonesia has seen a rise in hard-line Islamic ideology in recent years.

Jacksons, Mission Partners of Castle Street, Missions

Jacksons Update – May 19th 2021

by Robert MacNaughton

Fraser is now in his new office but can’t work late as he usual (until 6pm) as the building’s alarm is faulty.  The NetACT AGM was successful but he would love partner colleges to make more use of NetAct support.

Dawn finally got her new visa, granted until the expiry of her current passport in September 2022.

Zebulun Church wants to start “investing in the youth” by offering music lessons on Saturdays. Pray that youngsters will be led to God as well as music-making.

Edwin and Marius should be released soon, aware of how they intend to behave outside prison and how their desire to serve and live lives pleasing to God, will be greatly tested by the temptations and stresses of life outside.  Pray that the men will learn from our current lessons on anger and take to heart and practise how to deal with it.  

James leaves Glasgow this week having finished his degree in English literature.  Dawn’s parents are helping him move and providing a bed until his Masters course begins.  Ruth is continuing her degree course in Glasgow.

Blythswood, Mission Partners of Castle Street, Missions

Blythswood Update – May 5th 2021

by Robert MacNaughton

Daniel Centre

André and Gaby are working well, Cipri is still having his ups-and-downs.  New resident Damian is working now and in good form, having acquired a puppy for himself – a mixed blessing for the other residents.

All of the residents have had their first vaccination, and most of them their second.  Alex the ex-night-watchman is settling to his new administration responsibility.

The demolition work on the depot has been frustrated by the fact that no landfill sites in the area meet EU specifications and the rubble cannot be removed for the time being.

The Hungarian government’s Volunteer League have now selected the 15 final candidates for 2 training sessions for the Kenya project.

Talita Kum

There is no update at the moment on Adi’s situation with the future of Talita Kum.

Barnabas, Mission Partners of Castle Street, Missions

Barnabas Update – May 5th 2021

by Robert MacNaughton

Jihadists seek out and kill two Nigerian Christians

Barnabas Fund, 30 April 2021

At least two Christians were sought out and killed by jihadists who invaded a town in Nigeria’s northern Yobe State on 23 April.  Around 2,000 residents of Geidam fled their homes after members of Islamic State West Africa Province took control of the town, looting and burning stores.

“Everybody is running away because the insurgents have started killing people who are Christians and those with Western education,” said a resident.

“So far they have killed two Christians and two Muslim school teachers. They went to their homes and slaughtered them,” said another local.

One of the murdered Christians was a member of the Evangelical Church Winning All. The church secretary said they were struggling to recover his body for burial. “Our members at Geidam are now displaced,” he said. “We need your prayers.”

The death toll from the attack was unknown at the time of writing; however, at least eleven residents died when a projectile hit two adjoining homes, killing all occupants, as the jihadists fought to take over the local army base.

The jihadists dropped leaflets around the town, calling for the establishment of an Islamic state. “We are fighting unbelievers; Christians and any other person or group going against the teaching of Islam even if they are Muslims,” the leaflets stated.

Jacksons, Mission Partners of Castle Street, Missions

Jacksons Update – May 5th 2021

by Robert MacNaughton

Fraser was able to format the latest book for the NetACT portal very easily. He is now setting up two conferences. The NetACT AGM will be online only on the 5th and 6th May.  On 23rd to 25th June, there will be a hybrid conference (online and face-to-face) to improve online teaching practices.  GIVE THANKS!!! He should have his new laptop tomorrow morning at the latest! Thank you for your prayers. 

An inmate, in Drakenstein Medium A for about 20 years after a savage murder, has been different for years since he surrendered to Jesus.  The Restorative Justice course caused many issues to resurface which he wants to make right and he dearly wants to video chat with his parents who have moved to England.  Pray that a way would be found.

A man in Maximum for rape, has repented and turned to Jesus.  His 16-year-old daughter was recently raped. His heart breaks with remorse for what he did, guilt for the lifestyle he abandoned her to, and frustration at not being there for her. Pray he will know how to reach out for her.

Dawn wasn’t able to go to the Bible study at Allandale prison on Friday as Covid19 had been discovered in one of the rooms. With 25-30 men in each room, it is unlikely that there will be only one case. Please pray for them.

A regular from the Drakenstein Bible studies, released on parole late last year, is back in prison after an angry incident with his girlfriend.  Dawn and Hylma have started a new course on the root causes of anger for the men. Pray that it will go deep and be more than theory.

Another man, on parole, said one of his greatest sources of anger was immediately being told “No” when he applied for a job because of his criminal record. Even those really trying to live honestly wonder why they don’t return to crime when they meet such obstacles and can’t support their families with the basics of food and electricity.

Some people are concerned about Dawn’s safety in South African prisons when the aim of having a warden present is not always met. She feels secure with God as her protection.

Blythswood, Mission Partners of Castle Street, Missions

Blythswood Update – April 14th 2021

by Robert MacNaughton

Daniel Centre

André and Gaby are working well, Cipri is now feeling better and ready for a job in a bottle- and jar-making factory.  Silveu is currently subject of a police investigation.  New residents Damian and Ioan are showing more attitude problems and are not so keen on working.

Alix and Julian have been working hard to empty the depot and demolition work has now begun.  The other Alix who had been night-watchman and was taken onto the care staff is struggling with the new burden.

The Hungarian government’s Volunteer League have received 27 applications for the Blythswood-sponsored school in Kenya and there are many extremely good candidates who will have to be whittled down to the final 8 or 10.

4 of Blythswood’s young people are due to take up rent-free accommodation at the end of May and there are already two new lads interested in moving in to the vacated places in the Daniel Centre.

Talita Kum

The Blythswood board remain committed to the TK1 and TK2  and are seriously studying the conversion of the free space there for the TK3 and TK4 project since they already own the building.

Barnabas, Mission Partners of Castle Street, Missions

Barnabas Update – April 14th 2021

by Robert MacNaughton

Pastor released from prison in Laos

Barnabas Fund, 13 April 2021

The pastor of a church in Savannakhet, Laos was released from prison on 9 April, three days after being convicted of “creating disorder” and “disrupting unity”.

Sithon Thippavong was arrested in March 2020 after being accused of conducting church services without permission.

He was finally convicted on 6 April 2021 and sentenced to a year’s imprisonment; but released on the grounds that he had already been detained for a year prior to his conviction.

Thippavong, who was also fined £310, was arrested after refusing to sign a document renouncing his Christian faith.

“We prayed for Pastor Sithon for more than a year now,” said a Christian in Laos. “We’re very excited that he’s alive … but now he’ll be happy to be able to serve God again.”

There are about 150,000 Christians in Laos. Christians are subjected to harassment and violence despite the constitutional guarantee of “the right and freedom to believe or not to believe in religion” and official recognition of Christianity alongside Buddhism, Islam and Baha’i.

In December 2020 seven Lao Christians, evicted for refusing to renounce their faith in Christ, were denied permission to rebuild their demolished homed in Salavan province.

Jacksons, Mission Partners of Castle Street, Missions

Jacksons Update – April 14th 2021

by Robert MacNaughton

Give thanks:

that the Department of Home Affairs has extended the validity of all expired visas (including Dawn’s) until the end of July 2021; that Fraser’s making progress formatting the Portuguese version of the book made available for the NetACT e-library; that Jason came to the Bible study in Maximum today and that Dawn was able to have a good chat with him; for the spiritual maturity of Mbelelo in Medium A. who is hoping for parole in June after 8 years inside but doesn’t regret going to prison because it’s there that he met Jesus, and now determined to be a good father to his 13-year-old daughter and a good son to his alcoholic elderly parents.

Pray for:

Dawn and Ashley’s meeting with the Zebulun church, to discuss the best way forward together; for Dawn’s, wisdom, joy and good health; for Shaniece and Jeremy, a young couple with two small children, regulars on Fridays with a lot of pain in Shaniece’s past, struggling to forgive and rebuild relationships; Dawn working on her very basic ability in Afrikaans (most people are often more comfortable in Afrikaans); the Spirit’s leading as Dawn leads the Bible studies at Allandale prison for the next few weeks; patience and creativity for Fraser as he continues to struggle with his dilapidated laptop.

Blythswood, Mission Partners of Castle Street, Missions

Blythswood Update – April 1st 2021

by Robert MacNaughton

Daniel Centre

André and Gaby are working well, Cipri is now on medication and has been offered a job in a bottle- and jar-making factory.  Silveu’s time at the Centre has been terminated and he is possibly facing charges for theft.  New residents Damian and Ioan are settling well and looking for work.

Damian, Ioan and Alix have all been helping empty the depot to prepare it for demolition to begin next week.

The Hungarian government’s Volunteer League have interviewed 35-40 potential volunteers for the Blythswood-sponsored school in Kenya and will select between 10 and 15 of them on April 10.

4 of Blythswood’s young people, including Alix, have now accepted offers of 2 years of rent-free accommodation, but Balazs suspects some will return to the Daniel Centre as there is no offer of any other kind of care.

 Talita Kum

It is possible afterschool activities, such as TK1 and TK2  will have to close because of the Covid situation but that some of the work originally planned for TK3 and TK4 will now be developed in the current TK2 building, the Blythswood Board having taken the decision to drop the whole TK3 and TK4 project because of the lack of local government support and lack of EU funding.