February 18, 2010
by John M. Lindner, D.Miss.
A young Myanmar missionary's trip to the Naga Hills in the far North of his country turned out to be far more strenuous and challenging than he expected. You will groan with him sympathetically as he tells of the endurance the long journey in the rain required, and you will gasp in amazement at the hunger for God of these simple people living in the jungle.

February 1, 2010
by John M. Lindner, D.Miss.

I have just finished reading two amazing books: Look What God Is Doing by Dick Eastman, International President of Every Home for Christ, and Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson. The former tells amazing stories of decades worth of peddling gospel booklets house to house all over the world. The second tells about a man who got lost descending from a failed attempt to climb K2, wandered into a Balti village, and pledged to build them a school. You won't believe what this led to.

February 1, 2010
by John M. Lindner, D.Miss.

Here is an update on what’s happening with me and the newsletter.

December 31, 2009

By Vishal Arora

Hindu terrorist comes to faith in Christ while in jail and repents of bombing a Catholic Church in Nepal. I thought this would be a good note to leave 2009 on. It is written by my personal friend, Vishal Arora and is republished with permission of Compass Direct News. I have placed additional remarks in [brackets].— John Lindner

December 29, 2009
by John M. Lindner, D.Miss.

The People’s Republic of China seems very proud of its accomplishments in the last couple of years, but their human rights record remains abysmal. They hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics and in October celebrated 60 years of Communist rule, but they continue to imprison Christian pastors, close down churches and in some instances physically destroy their properties, and apparently abducted and imprisoned civil rights attorney Gao Zhisheng. Here's a brief end-of-the-year refresher course on Chinese human relations, and on the way they treat Christians in particular.

November 19, 2009
by John M. Lindner, D.Miss.
Recently two stories have come to me highlighting the revivals that have occurred among China’s people. These stores are published in public venues, and you may have already read one or both of them. Even so, I felt compelled to share them with you. I have also added a section on Chinese Bible schools at the end, as well as several incidents of the continued saga of ongoing persecution.

November 18, 2009
Elam Ministries News Release

Maryam and Marzieh were released from their Iranian prison at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 18, 2009. Read More. 

October 29, 2009
by John Lindner, D.Miss.

An estimated 200 million Christians on the African continent do not have Bibles, according to Steven Loots of Harvesters International Ministries based in South Africa. Bibles for Believers is attempting to supply 225,000 Bibles to help meet the need in their areas of ministry, and has distributed 75,000 Bibles over the last 15 months.

The following testimony of South African missionary worker Herbie Venter shows how faithfulness to the Lord, despite exhaustion from hard work and long hours, still blossoms fruit for God’s kingdom, as they distributed 8,300 Bibles in a week. It has been edited for fluency and clarity.

October 8, 2009
by John M. Lindner, D.Miss.

I am not on an anti-Islam tear, but there are a number of Islamic issues that are flying at my face right now, and I need to share them with you. I want to give you a follow-up to the Islam on Capitol Hill event, share a special update on Rifqa Bary, and clue you in to a sinister move at the U.N. to place Christians under Islamic dominion. I will take these in reverse order. But first, less than 24 hours ago I received this report about Maryam and Marzieh in Iran.

September 21, 2009
by John M. Lindner, D.Miss.

Here are three urgent messages you need to know about Islam in America, including how you can pray for terrorists by name, and about the big Islamic prayer meeting on the steps of the U.S. capitol this Friday. But first an update on Maryam and Marzeih in Iran. 

September 11, 2009
by John M. Lindner, D.Miss.

This message is dedicated to the victims of 9/11 and their families. I share two items related to Islam that should be of interest to you, and a third item for prayer that is not necessarily related to Islam. This information won't make you happy, but it will tell you what you need to know. 

September 10, 2009
by John M. Lindner, D.Miss.

Two weeks ago I interviewed Dr. William Johnson, President of Building Indigenous Missions. His ministry has planted over 3,000 churches in Muslim-dominated Pakistan. Most of these are house churches, but an impressive 150 have their own buildings. Read how he accomplished this amazing feat and how he plans to fulfill his vision of planting 50,000 house churches.

August 27, 2009
by John M. Lindner, D.Miss.

While Christians in India were remembering the violence that burned 300 villages in Orissa a year ago, Christians in several villages in Pakistan were caught in a new wave of anti-Christian sentiment, burning nearly 200 homes and leaving at least 10 dead--all over false rumors that Christians had desecrated the Qur'an. [Read More.]

August 10, 2009
by John M. Lindner, D.Miss.

Maryam and Marzieh were first arrested and imprisoned on March 5 on charges of “taking part in illegal gatherings" and “acting against state security.” They have been in Evin Prison ever since. In a  trial yesterday, Sunday, August 9, they were told to recant their faith. They answered strongly, though the fate that could await them is unthinkable in its brutality. [Read More]

August 4, 2009

By John M. Lindner, D.Miss.

The state of Bihar in India has long been called "the graveyard of missionaries." Here is the profile of one Indian missionary who endured hardship, overcame opposition, and has planted hundreds of churches in this tough territory.

July 24, 2009
by John M. Lindner, D.Miss.
I’d rather tell you success stories, but it’s also wise to realize how the devil is on the loose and is working. As I reviewed my news sources wondering what to share with you this week, I came across the following. Be enlightened and pray. 

July 16, 2009
by John M. Lindner, D.Miss.

Many churches and mission agencies are attempting to partner with indigenous mission groups, but the process often reveals pitfalls for which neither partner is prepared to handle, sometimes resulting in broken relatioinships and loss of trust. Here is a group of mission agencies who are sharing "best practices" as a means to avoiding these problems. It's recent conference used the sailboat-powerboat metaphor to show how to minimize problems in cross-cultural missionary partnerships. [Read More]

June 30, 2009
by Vishal Arora

In this Compass Direct report, my good friend, Vishal Arora, says that the newly reelected government of India recently refused to grant visas to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. “Probably India missed a chance to come clean on its track records on human rights and religious freedom,” says a Christian Indian observer. Seasoned Christian journalist Vishal Arora details some of the problems that remain.

June 11, 2009
by John M. Lindner, D.Miss.
First India restored a secular party to power. This last week liberalism won in Lebanon. The press is alive with news of opposition to Ahmadinejad in Iran, and Indonesia’s presidential elections will take place in July. Also, Ukraine has some tough decisions to make. Is something blowing in the wind?

May 14, 2009
By John M. Lindner, D.Miss.

India held national and state elections during April, and the results have excited Christians. Here’s why.

May 7, 2009
by John M. Lindner, D.Miss.
A young Christian minister in Myanmar (Burma) recently held a School of Worship for Burmese young people. He tells of their hunger for the Lord and their enthusiastic response to the faith--and of a near tragic crash ending to his trip.

April 22, 2009
by John M. Lindner, D.Miss.

I am continually amazed at the toughness of Indian missionaries, and what God does through them, despite their hardship, persecution, and relative lack of funding, equipment and technology.

April 9, 2009
by John M. Lindner
Overseas Students Mission is looking for foreign missionaries here in America--those who already know the language and customs of mission-field countries, including those closed to Americans. It hopes to tap an under-exercised source of new mission personnel: foreign students in America.

April 2, 2009
by John M. Lindner, D.Miss.
P.G. Vargis tells how he began ministry among primitive tribal people in 1982 in the state that saw such awful violence last year. And he tells why he wants to go back.

After failing twice at suicide, he met Jesus. Now he’s preaching the gospel along the Old Silk Road. He doesn’t shout or draw attention to himself, because God is working quietly with him. The results are just what you would expect from an all-loving, all-powerful God.  

January 30, 2009

Early last year WCM informed you of violence following the elections in Kenya. All of us also are aware of the collapsing economy in Zimbabwe under the failed leadership of President Robert Mugabe. Here is an update on both of these situations, courtesy of Christian Aid.

January 13, 2009