Global village
Migrants as evangelists
Closed borders and other pandemic restrictions on travel, along with reduced need of migrant workers in some places, have temporarily reduced the number of migrants and refugees in many parts of the world. But the situation is like a receding tide before an oncoming tsunami due to the ongoing worsening of many already shattered economies and political battles for scarce resources.
A May 2021 essay at www. Lausanne.org calls for new strategies that empower and incorporate believers in these migrant populations to spread the gospel where traditional mission strategies might no longer be effective. Many migrants are from groups of people who are “least reached” with the gospel.
Authors Harvey Thiessen (of Operation Mobilization) and Alena Popova call churches in the developed world (often considered “receiving countries”) to empower newly arrived believers. These might not think of themselves as “commissioned kingdom workers,” but could be empowered to do so as many are “a single WhatsApp call away from home.” WWW. LAUSANNE.ORG
Malaysia relents on “Allah”
Thirteen years ago Christian artist Jill Ireland used the word Allah for God in her work, and the Malaysian government confiscated all her CDs. After a legal challenge that lasted all those years, a Malaysian court finally ruled in March that its government wrongly infringed her rights.
The Malay word Allah is used by Christians and Muslims, and many faith traditions, but a Malaysian law had stated only Muslims could use it. No other Muslim-majority nation enforces such a restriction. The word Allah itself shares the same linguistic origin as El, one of the Hebrew names for God.
The World Evangelical Alliance secretary general Thomas Schirrmacher said the decision is “a step in the right direction towards affirming religious freedom for all Malaysians.” WWW.WORLDEA.ORG
Ukraine and Russia border tensions
After months of tension between Ukraine and Russia, during which Russia sent 10,000 troops for war games near the border, Russia pulled troops away from the area.
Although tensions might be lessened, evangelical Christians on both sides are still prioritizing peace efforts. Secretary general of the Russian Evangelical Alliance Vitaly Vlasenko calls for “friendly relations between the peoples of our countries to be restored,” for peace and “diplomatic settlement” of sources of conflict. “I pray for the wisdom of politicians from both sides.”
In Ukraine evangelical journalist Ruslan Kukharchuk observed how “During the last two weeks almost all Ukrainian Evangelicals have issued a public call to pray and fast for peace in our land. Prayer events really intensified in April.”
Evangelical leaders from both sides call for “attempts to establish horizontal ties between the peoples of Russia and Ukraine, between Christian churches and missions. God has no nationality. We are all citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven.” WWW.WORLDEA.ORG
Call for peace in Colombia
Christian groups sent a letter May 18 to urge Colombian president Iván Duque Marquéz to stop the spiral of violence in the country.
“We echo local faith voices who have been raising the alert about violations to human life, rights and dignity . . . contrary to Jesus’ commandment for us to love one another,” reads the letter.
Signatories included The World Council of Churches, ACT Alliance, Lutheran World Federation, World Communion of Reformed Churches, Anglican Communion, World Methodist Council, Latin American Episcopal Council and World Association for Christian Communication. WWW.OIKOUMENE.ORG
“The World Evangelical Alliance expresses its deep concern over escalating violence in the Holy Land, and calls upon all sides to exercise restraint and cease retaliatory actions . . . . We call upon all powers . . . within the region to use their influence for lasting peace.” —www.WorldEA.org (May 20, 2021)