CHINA: OFFICIALS APOLOGIZE AND RETURN ITEMS TO HOUSE CHURCH
Chinese officials buckled under international pressure and reportedly apologized and returned all items that had been confiscated from two house churches on April 29.

The Public Security Bureau (PBS) told the two house church pastors that international pressure and the fear of negative impact on foreign investment in the area have caused them to return the items, according to China Aid Association (CAA), whose report on the situation has been credited for sparking the pressure.

“This is certainly a welcome first step in the right direction,” said Bob Fu, president of CAA, in a statement. The who house churches were raided separately by the Kunshan Municipal Public Security Bureau on April 29 when the officials declared their meetings “illegal assemblies” and confiscated their notebook computers, projectors, DVD players, stereos, microphones, Bibles, and other items. They also took the church offering boxes. (Source: The Christian Post)

TURKEY: A LETTER TO THE GLOBAL CHURCH FROM THE PROTESTANT CHURCH OF SMYRNA (excerpt)
April 24, 2007 | Dear friends, this past week has been filled with much sorrow. Many of you have heard by now of our devastating loss here in an event that took place in Malatya, a Turkish province 300 miles northeast of Antioch, the city where believers were first called Christians (Acts 11:26).

On Wednesday morning, April 18, 2007, 46 year old German Christian and father of three, Tilmann Geske, prepared to go to his office, kissing his wife goodbye and taking a moment to hug his son and give him the priceless memory, “Goodbye, son. I love you.”

Tilmann rented an office space from Zirve Publishing. Zirve was also the location of the Malatya Evangelist Church office. A ministry of the church, Zirve prints and distributes Christian literature to Malatya and nearby cities in Eastern Turkey. In another area of town, 35 year old Pastor Necati Aydin, father of two, said goodbye to his wife, leaving for the office as well. They had a morning Bible Study and prayer meeting that some other believers in town would also be attending. Ugur Yuksel likewise made his way to the Bible study.

None of these three men knew that what awaited them at the Bible study was the ultimate testing and application of their faith, which would conclude with their entrance into glory to receive their crown of righteousness from Christ and honor from all the saints awaiting them in the Lord’s presence.

On the other side of town, ten young men all under 20 years old put into place final arrangements for their ultimate act of faith, living out their love for Allah and hatred of infidels who they felt undermined Islam…

Full text of this letter may be read here. (Source: ASSIST News Service)

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Are you familiar with the U.S. Center for World Mission?
"The U.S. Center for World Mission (USCWM) is a community dedicated to making the glory of God fully known, and to bringing all the people groups on the earth to worship and obey God (as revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ). The USCWM produces and publishes resources to motivate and equip Christ's body to join Him in His Biblical purpose to "bless all the families of the earth" (Genesis 12:1-3). The USCWM also engages in a variety of activities toward ensuring, as soon as possible, that each distinct people group is 'reached'—that a viable movement is established to evangelize and disciple each people group.

"Churches and prospective missionaries face many obstacles to effective involvement in reaching unreached peoples. Mission agencies and field missionaries face another set of obstacles. By gathering, applying and publishing insights in each of these realms, the U.S. Center for World Mission advances shared solutions to common hindrances in the mission effort." (from www.uscmw.com)

We encourage you to spend some time on the USCWM website. Among many great features is the fact that they've organized their wealth of information for the use of specific audiences. In the left sidebar you'll find a field that says, "Special info for..." with a drop down menu that lists Mission Leaders, Missionaries, Pastors, Mission Committees, etc. This website is a great place to go for mission resources or to find answers to mission-related questions.

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African Friends and Money Matters: Observations from Africa
by David Maranz; 2001 SIL International
Reviewed by David Korb

At first blush it might appear that only those planning to work in Africa should read this book. This is not the case. While this book is primarily about cultural differences between Africa and the West when it comes to money matters, I think it can also serve as a template for crossing cultures both locally and globally, alerting the reader to areas in which cultural differences may cause confusion or conflict. 

Maranz’s insights and reflections are based on over 20 years living in various African countries. In this book he discusses issues such as the way generosity is culturally defined, how disputes are settled, how businesses are managed, and how debts are repaid.

For example, Maranz notes that in many African countries, saving money for the future is not a value. Instead, the expectation is that money beyond that needed to meet present material needs will be shared with extended family members. The idea is that you are making an investment for the future by sharing your excess with a friend or family member in need because doing so ensures reciprocal treatment when you may have a need in the future. While Westerners readily share knowledge, Africans readily share their space and things while holding on to or guarding their knowledge.

In this same vein, Africans prefer to be without money or means so they can easily refuse to grant a loan. Once a loan is granted, it is the responsibility of the person who loaned the money to remind the debtor of his responsibilities. Also, while westerners seek to live in increasingly spacious homes, African live in small spaces shared by extended family members.

These are just a few of the examples given in this book which provide great insight into the differences between Western culture and the African mindset, but also highlight areas of potential difference between other cultures as well.

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