UPDATE: S. & H. (Kyrgyzstan)

November 17, 2009:

Dear Prayer Partners,

It’s been nearly 2 weeks since we’ve back and just now we are starting to feel a little bit more readjusted to life here. It’s taken a bit longer this time around to get back into the flow of things. But everyone has been very understanding and is making sure that we are cared for. Thanks for your prayers over these past few weeks. They have meant so much to us.

UPDATE: B. & H. (Indonesia)

Update received November 24, 2009 …

Due to the extremely sensitive nature of their work, the verbatim-entirety of the latest update email from B. & H. has been removed from this site.

Please continue to lift them & their young children up.  As well, please continue to lift up their work.  A good deal of translation has been completed and is starting to be disseminated, so may communication flow smoothly and may a good & powerful impact be made.

UPDATE: D. & J. (China)

November 23, 2009:

Dear praying friends,

Thanks for your prayers.  The Lord has shown much favor and has been answering our prayers.  The 7 visas on Nov 20^th were all approved.  The US embassy visa officer first asked to see if there were those who didn’t speak English and when they said “yes”, he spoke in fluent Mandarin starting with calling one of our guys “[  ]”(brother G.).  The Lord arranged a Christian, an American born in Taiwan who served in an overseas Chinese church to be the US visa officer to interview our group.  The officer was knowledgeable of the house church movement and even knew about Shouwang Church.

URGENT UPDATES from D. & J. (China)

Friends, the word “saga” applies here, but not in the facetious, over-wrought sense in which we so often use it.  This is serious stuff.  Please read D.’s chronology, from the top and scroll down, and keep our millions-upon-millions of brothers and sisters in your fervent, faithful prayers, in anticipation of the free worship we’ll share together in Heaven.

In case it seems like it’s just “we Christians” who care about the Church in China, read here for perspective from the Wall Street Journal …

“At the End of Slavery” (UPDATED)

NHF’s “At the End of Slavery” viewing event has been postponed until later in the winter season.  Stay tuned for details.

IJM’s “Weekend to End Slavery” is still on, so check out their website for information about how to speak up to abolish modern-day slavery, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer.

*****

International Justice Mission (IJM) is sponsoring the Weekend to End Slavery on November 14-15.

The Weekend to End Slavery is a 2-day united effort across this country to educate communities about modern-day slavery, and mobilize to end modern-day slavery in our lifetime.  The Weekend to End Slavery will involve learning about modern-day slavery & injustice, sharing the message of hope that abolition is possible, and advocating with members of Congress to use their power to end slavery.

• Saturday, Nov. 14th, 6.30p: dinner & viewing of “At the End of Slavery” (IJM-produced film about modern-day slavery, shot on-location in Philippines, India, Cambodia and the United States).  Includes a live-webcast address from Gary Haugen, President & CEO of IJM.
• Sunday, Nov. 15th, 2.30p: afternoon Worship with a special brief presentation by newhope4justice, NHF’s own mobilization to pursue God’s heart for justice in our community.

For more information about modern-day slavery and the film, “At the End of Slavery,” click here.

For more information about International Justice Mission, click here.

Update: NH4J Readings

NH4J (NewHope4Justice) had a wonderful first meeting — eating, talking, questioning, mulling and praying together over issues of global and local poverty and justice.  The readings that Kim F. prepared for us were interesting, troubling, moving and inspiring, all at once.  We’re excited to keep moving through the book “Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger,” Scripture passages in Isaiah and Amos, and other special readings which Kim F. selects for us.

As always, everyone is welcome to drop in at any time to eat and chat with us.  Please feel free to contact Kim F. for more information about our book and further readings.  Come join us for our next meeting:

• This Thursday, November 12th, 7.00p @ Cathy C.’s home
• Topic: “The Affluent Minority: Idols & Injustice”
• Readings: Rich Christians…, Chapter 2; Isaiah 1-2; Amos 2
• Further Readings: please contact Kim F. for relevant PDFs & summaries

Postscript: “We’re All In This Together”

Last night, about 12 brothers & sisters from NHF attended the one-night-only movie event hosted by Hillsong United, “We’re All In This Together.”  The documentary was preceded by 30 minutes of interviews with and performances of new songs by Hillsong United.  The North-American screening of this film, chronicling Hillsong United’s observations from their recent world tour, was also the official launch of The I-Heart Revolution, a movement to look outside ourselves and to the needs of others, so that local initiatives can be transformed into a collaborative global impact. 

We were mightily humbled, moved, wounded, inspired and blessed by “We’re All In This Together.”  We are both eager to listen for God’s continuing guidance, and ready to move in obedience to battle poverty & injustice both near and abroad, for His Name and unto His glory.  Some key quotes and links can be found after the jump …