Is China ready to send out missionaries?
The past decade has seen a groundswell of passion among Christians in China to pursue cross-cultural ministry. A corresponding wave of activity among outside organizations and churches has aimed at equipping China's church for this task. Much of this activity has focused on training individual workers and establishing the ‘highway’ by which they might make their way to countries neighbouring China and beyond. A closer look at the current movement suggests that, while these efforts are an important part of the overall equation, there are other, perhaps more fundamental, pieces that need to be put in place in order for a sustained sending effort to emerge. The growth of mature sending movement will take time. Some have suggested that internships with international agencies may be a wise intermediate step for equipping the future leaders of this movement.
Alpha in Kenya sees huge growth thanks to Compassion partnership
More than 15,000 Kenyan young people have undertaken the Alpha course, thanks to a unique partnership between Alpha and Compassion International. Compassion, which engages in anti-poverty and educational programmes through child sponsorship, partners with local evangelical churches in 26 countries around the world. It aims to offer children and young people a ‘holistic’ curriculum which includes their physical, spiritual, socio-emotional and intellectual development. Alpha's evangelistic programme, founded at Holy Trinity Brompton and based on talks on Christian basics and small group discussions over a meal, has been widely used in the UK and elsewhere. A Compassion report on its partnership with Alpha in Kenya says the Alpha Youth course helps young people address doubts about their faith in a supportive setting. Compassion Kenya Director, Joel Macharia, says: ‘It attempts to answer the questions and to resolve the conflicts between individual beliefs and sound biblical teachings that the individual takes personal responsibility for his or her beliefs and feelings.’
Global: Campaign to end violence against children
UNICEF are once again drawing our attention to children in danger and renewing their call for an end to violence against children. Across the globe millions of children are in danger. Too many childhoods are broken by the trauma of violence. These children’s stories are hard to tell or listen to – so often we don’t. The violence feeds on our silence, allowing the suffering of children to continue and grow. UNICEF want 2015 to be the year of change and are calling on all UK political party leaders to commit to supporting a new global target to end violence against children everywhere. In September world leaders will agree new global goals that will guide the development of our planet for the next 15 years. UNICEF wants these goals to include a robust target to end violence against children, so that this becomes a priority for all countries.
India: Children missing
Children who go missing in India are exploited and abused for various purposes - exported as camel jockeys in the Gulf countries or victims of body organ trade and even grotesque cannibalism as reported at Nithari village in Noida. There are large numbers of children running away from homes after dropping out of school or facing difficulties at home. They run to the glamorous big cities where they are exploited and employed in tea stalls, brothels, begging, etc. These children come from poorer families who do not have access to police services or whose reports are not taken seriously. When a child goes missing in India no offence is seen to be committed. Police generate awareness through the media and the police headquarters of each state has a missing person bureau, but nevertheless trafficking is the fastest growing means by which people are enslaved. Stop the Traffic reports it as the fastest growing international crime. See also:
