After a closer look it was possible to notice that these people looked similar to some young children in the church few years ago. They were not really strangers! They were the same little children of 9 and 10 years but recently grown to extra-ordinary stature. They were the same obedient children who attended Sunday school classes until last year. But this year they could not fit to any group inside the church. So they were playing outside aimlessly.

What can we do to help these mid-teenagers to get into a meaningful fellowship on a church day? This was the concern in the mind of the most Nepalese pastors, as it is a global concern too. The question was unanswered for us until Shaping for Service in November 2011, at Mahabalipuram, India gave some help when Dhruba Nepal, the National Director of Scripture Union Nepal met with Clayton Fergie, the Scripture Union International Youth Ministry Coordinator. The answer was: Teens’ Teachers Training, especially for those who serve teens from 14 to 18 of age. Recruiting the workers was crucial so the date was fixed for Clayton to help in training from 2-4 April 2012 at Training Unit of Anandaban Leprosy Hospital, Lalitpur, Nepal. Very selective candidates of qualified trainees, twelve volunteers and one SU staff, attended to take part in the training.

‘Our Story in the Overall story of God Depicted in the Bible’, ‘Big Issues Teens Facing Today’, ‘The Way Teens Learn’ and ‘Preparing Lessons for Teens’ were some of the topics covered in the training. Some lesson plans produced in practical sessions on preparing lessons which will be produced in a booklet form to be used in camps in the future. So as well as training leaders, this event has resulted in some new and original vernacular resources for children’s ministry in Nepal in the future.

The training turned the participants inside out. Their eyes were opened to see the tremendous responsibility handed over to them by those who blazed the trail for Christ on the mountains and in the valleys of Nepal during the past sixty years (especially under the fiery furnace of Panchayat Regime from 1960 to 1990). They found the baton of the gospel in their hands and committed themselves to run with it until some other group take over. One of the participants, Ms. Rebecca Tamang, who is a high school teacher by profession and also Sunday school teacher in her church, wrote, “I often don’t want to have any responsibility… but now I have leant that God has already entrusted me that baton … I must hold the baton firmly and run towards the goal…” Another participant, Mr. Nirajan Thapa, who is also a teacher by profession shared, “…these few days, I could learn how to deal and address the problems of teens.” A teenager herself, Ms. Deena wrote, “After coming to this training center, I feel myself that I am becoming more strong in the Lord Jesus Christ.”

This training event is a milestone in the history of SU Nepal that shows we care not only to the little children but also to the older children and youth. We have developed a strong conviction that we need to recruit workers for the Lord’s field all the more. We pray this and we do this!

With much joy,

Dhruba Nepal

National Director, SU Nepal

JOINT STATEMENT
We express grave concern over the increasing incidents of attacks on Christians and destruction of church property in Sudan. We condemn the destruction on 21st April of the Sudan Evangelical Presbyterian Church Bible School and burning of its books including
Bibles. It is worrying to note that the incident, which took place in Gerief West in Khartoum, happened while policemen stood by but did nothing. We have also learned with disbelief that on Monday 23rd April security forces took over the premises of the
Sudan Council of Churches (SCC) and Sudan Aid in Nyala, Darfur. We call for the immediate withdrawal of security officials from the SCC office and for the release of the vehicles and bikes that the security forces confiscated.

We regret to note that, despite the rhetoric about freedom of religion and protection of minorities by the government of Sudan, threats and discrimination against Christians in Khartoum and its environs are increasing with time. Mobs like the one that burned down
the Bible School are marauding in parts of Khartoum and causing mayhem with impunity. They seem to have been encouraged by the inflammatory speeches of government leaders in Khartoum.

We salute the courage of Christians who gathered in the compound of the Presbyterian Evangelical Church on 22nd April to encourage one another; and we welcome the solidarity expressed by Muslims, women’s groups, and some politicians who joined the gathering.

We call on the Government of the Republic of Sudan to move with speed and apprehend those responsible for attacking Christians and burning down church property, and bring them to book. Unless and until such actions are dealt with decisively and early enough, true security and the protection of Christians in Sudan will be greatly compromised.

We call on the international community to put pressure on the government of Sudan to respect the freedom of religion and protect Christians and all other religious minorities in Sudan.

We call on Christians around the world to pray for their fellow Christians in Sudan who are going through very difficult times and are not able to practice their faith in freedom.
For: World Council of Churches

Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit

WCC General Secretary

Geneva 24 April 2012

For: All Africa Conference of Churches

Rev. Dr André Karamaga

AACC General Secretary

Nairobi 24 April 2012

“pray for the people who may be affected by the Tsunami this afternoon in Sumatra. Sri Lanka is also on alert- very specially the Eastern, Southern and South Western coastal areas. Its 4 pm. There’s an alert warning in the capital Colombo city western coast areas.Offices have closed early and train services on the coastal line is suspended. A bit of a tension in the city of Colombo as people living 2 km radius from the coast are advised to evacuate by a private TV channel. The state news alert has just sent in a tsunami warning and for people on the coastal belt to be on alert. The SUSA regional office and the RD’s residence is about a km from the coast! Please uphold the situation in your prayers and also very specially for the people directly hit surrounding Sumatra Island.
The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble.He cares for those who trust in Him. Nahum 1:7.”

December 17th, 2011

“Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”
(Matthew 2:13)

Dear Friends,

For many centuries Egyptians have been proud that when God’s Son needed refuge He came to their land for shelter and security.

Today, as the bright sunshine of the Arab Spring is being overshadowed by darkening clouds of the Arab Fall, many Christians and moderate Muslims are seeking to flee from Egypt for freedom.

ISLAMIST PARTIES’ GAINS
You will undoubtedly have heard that the Islamists have made significant gains in the recent first round of Parliamentary elections. This was expected but has, nevertheless, discouraged many who made great efforts to vote and somehow hoped that the non-Islamist candidates and parties would have made greater gains. Nonetheless, many believe that the next two rounds of elections will not be as favourable for the Islamists. A host of smaller parties are joining forces to counteract the Islamist takeover.
Many wonder why the Islamist parties have gotten a majority of the votes. There are several possible reasons:

• The recent Egyptian “Revolution” was against the oppression of President Mubarak’s regime, so it is logical that people would want to vote for those who were most oppressed by the former government.

• A more convincing argument is that the Islamists have campaigned on only one issue: restoring Egypt to God’s laws. Since Egyptians are one of the most religious people in the world this platform has tremendous appeal with the masses that trust these leaders to provide them with a decent life and help them get to heaven.

Before you claim that this is naïve, think of how keen Christians in your country are to vote for a Christian candidate!

GOD AT WORK
Rather than focus on the many economic, social, political, cultural and religious problems which Egyptians are struggling with, I want to share with you some remarkable news of unprecedented breakthroughs for the Gospel.

29 years ago my wife, Rebecca, began ministering with an unknown Coptic Priest who was serving the despised and neglected Garbage Collectors of Cairo. On November 11th the largest prayer meeting in the history of the Middle East took place at the Garbage Village’s Cave Church complex with more than 50,000 people from all denominations and all walks of life praying for Egypt. We are hearing dozens of stories of healings and spiritual transformation which took place among those who attended this 12 hour event or even among those who watched it on satellite TV. With all the sanctified imagination she could muster, there is no way that when Rebecca first began ministering with Father Simon could she have imagined such an event taking place. You can see it on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgch-bXGHLI&feature=BFa&list=PLCF7073A8355407F6&lf=plpp_video

 During the fighting which took place in the vicinity of Liberation Square recently, the nearby hospital was damaged. Kasr El Doubara (KDC) Evangelical Church which is also nearby established a “hospital” on its premises which was manned, among others, by Salafist and Muslim Brotherhood doctors and nurses! This was picked up by the media, and when interviewed, these Islamists said how welcome and loved they felt serving in that Church hospital!

 Last night I attended the opening service for a Church around the corner from my home. This is the first time since the 1950s that a Protestant Church has opened in the suburb where I live!

 Last month the Bible Society bought a shop in the Giza district of Cairo (with 7 million inhabitants and 115 Churches) which we are renovating as a Bible bookshop. It will be the first Christian bookshop in Giza.

 Last week we finished rebuilding the roof of the new Bible Society national distribution center (warehouse) and are hoping it will be in operation by the summer.

 As you know, the objective of our “Rebuild Egypt” campaign was “To flood Egypt with God’s Word.” We began with highlighting Biblical values which resonated with the aspirations of the Egyptian youth. As the situation in Egypt has progressed and regressed, we have become increasingly more focused on equipping the church, seeking to encourage and assure people not to fear the future, but to trust in the Lord. You can follow news of this campaign on http://www.rebuild-egypt.org

THE ANTIDOTE TO FEAR
In the opening service of the new church close to us, the pastor preached on the fact that “perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). He went on to explain that true believers should not fear. The best antidote to fear, he said, is love. We do not fear those we love. So the solution is to love those we fear! What a message for Christians in Egypt today!!

With warm greetings,

Yours sincerely,

Ramez
__________________
Ramez Atallah
General Director
The Bible Society of Egypt

Emmanuel Akpo, National Director of Fellowship of Christian Students (SU’s work in Northern Nigeria) sent this request today:

‘Beloved Brethren, keep praying for us in Jos as the City has become like a ghost town due to escalation of religious crisis resulting in huge loss of lives and properties last week. Most people have remained indoors for days now . Many churches around hot spots in the city could not hold services yesterday due to planned attacks by suicide bombers. This new dimension of suicide bombing in the crisis has generated so much tension and fear. There city is filled with soldiers who had betrayed the trust the public had on them due to rampant cases of complicity. We need God’s quick intervention to restore normalcy as most activities have come to a halt. However, FCS family members were not hurt.’

Please pray urgently about this situation.