TEHRAN, Iran (BP) – A female Christian convert who worked with Saeed Abedini planting house churches years ago in Iran is on a hunger strike and near death in the harsh Evin prison in Tehran, Iran, the freed pastor told Baptist Press. Nasim Naghash Zargaran, also known as Maryam, was one of the first persons who converted to Christianity under Abedini's counsel [16 years ago], he told BP, and shortly after Abedini's 2012 imprisonment was arrested because of her vigilant evangelism. … [Read more...]
Crossover efforts aimed at Hispanic communities in St. Louis in June
ST. LOUIS (BP) – Already a hub of ethnic outreach, Tower Grove Baptist Church in central St. Louis will extend the Gospel to a nearby Hispanic community during Crossover. Tower Grove Baptist Church A yearly evangelistic outreach, Crossover precedes the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in the host city. It will peak on Saturday, June 12, as local Baptists and volunteers from across the country conduct block parties and other community events throughout the metro St. Louis … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptists partner in Italy
VENETO, Italy – From the moment he arrived in Belluno, Italy, Jeremy Sells soaked in everything he saw and heard. And this province with a population of nearly 200,000 people had plenty to take in, since it is located in the Alps of northern Italy and in a country that has Christian monuments dating back hundreds—if not more than 1,000—years. But nothing prepared Sells, pastor of First Baptist Church, Scott City, for a meeting he and his mission team had with a local evangelical pastor. … [Read more...]
Churches likely to fear refugees
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — When it comes to helping refugees, Protestant churches and their pastors are often separated by faith and fear, according to a new survey from LifeWay Research. Most pastors say Christians should lend a hand to refugees and foreigners, and believe caring for refugees is a privilege. But pastors say their churches are twice as likely to fear refugees as they are to help them. “Pastors believe Scripture tells Christians to care for refugees and foreigners,” said Ed … [Read more...]
Prayerwalking: Reaching a city on foot
INDONESIA (BP) – It started with a map and a book. The map laid out the sprawling city in which International Mission Board worker Howard Brackey* lives. The book challenged Howard to put feet to his prayers for the city. The book hit close to home. In “That None Should Perish: How to Reach Entire Cities for Christ Through Prayer Evangelism,” author Ed Silvoso described undertaking the task of prayerwalking a large South American city. As Howard read the book, he thought about his … [Read more...]
Glasses ministy helps Mexico hear – and see – gospel
CHIAPAS, Mexico – At 98 years old, Domingo Lopez had never laid eyes on a foreigner. But, thanks to Concord Baptist Church in Jefferson City, when he finally did meet them at one of four eyeglasses clinics in the southern state of Chiapas, he could see them clearly. Lopez was one of hundreds ministered to through an eyeglasses clinic put on by Concord, the latest of 19 such mission trips over the past six years that began when Larry Merry was part of a medical missions trip and realized he … [Read more...]
In Indonesia, opportunities for healing abound
INDONESIA (BP) – It wasn’t tropical tourism that first brought Rosemary Brackey* to Indonesia more than a decade ago. It was her desire to offer healing hands to the country after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami killed an estimated 170,000 Indonesians alone. At the time, Rosemary was a telemetry nurse, monitoring patients’ vital signs for Liberty Hospital in a Kansas City suburb. She and her husband Howard* had felt called to global missions but were waiting for the Lord’s timing. Nearly 88 … [Read more...]
Doctor works to open eyes to gospel
LESOTHO (BP) – “We really need an ophthalmologist, one who specializes in disease of the eyes in children.” The request by missionary Teresa Flora was hard for pediatric ophthalmologist Dave Klink to ignore, since he had been praying about how the Lord might want him to serve. Klink, who is also a neuro-ophthalmologist and served for 28 years with the U.S. Navy, listened as Teresa spoke by Skype with a small group at River Oak Church in Chesapeake, Va., who were interested in an … [Read more...]
BREAKING: SAEED ABEDINI, IMPRISONED PASTOR, FREED
WASHINGTON -- Saeed Abedini, the Christian missionary who has been imprisoned for his faith in Iran since July 2012, was among four Americans released from prison today by Iranian authorities, according to multiple news reports. Abedini, 35, was arrested nearly four years ago while attempting to establish orphanages in Iran. His capture made headlines as his wife, Naghmeh, traveled the world in attempts to secure her husband's freedom. She first gained attention among Southern Baptists … [Read more...]
Persecution fails to thwart gospel inroads
CENTRAL ASIA (BP) – Christian aid worker Gary Warrior* was sitting on the floor in a Central Asian village with a congregation of about 20 people several years ago, getting ready to share about “the cost of discipleship.” Someone made the suggestion to go around the room and share their testimonies. One woman simply said, “Oh, I’m just very blessed and I’m so thankful to be here.” Her friend elbowed her: “Explain to him your testimony, tell him what’s happening in your life with God.” But … [Read more...]
Iranian pastor Fathi freed from prison
TEHRAN, Iran (BP) -- Iranian pastor Farshid Fathi has been freed after five years imprisonment in Tehran because of charges linked to his Christian faith, Middle East Concern announced Dec. 22, estimating nearly 100 Christians remain imprisoned there. "We are so thankful to the Lord for his protection over Farshid while in prison," Middle East Concern said in a press release. "It is our hope that the Gospel will continue to spread throughout Iran." Fathi was released Dec. 21 from … [Read more...]
Obama’s claims on Islam evaluated
WASHINGTON (BP) – In an address on a “new phase” in America’s war on terror, President Obama said committing acts of violence in the name of Allah represents a perversion of Islam. Presenting a televised speech from the Oval Office for just the second time in his presidency, according to the Associated Press, Obama called Muslims “to speak out against ... those interpretations of Islam that are incompatible with the values of religious tolerance, mutual respect and human dignity.” He … [Read more...]
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