While governments like Australia close their borders, and the U.S. closes its mind to climate change, Christians are to love our neighbours by linking these justice issues together. The two are not unrelated – climate change can be a driver of significant migration.
Monthly Archives: December 2017
Big Hearted Gifts
In September, Baptist World Aid launched its beautiful new range of Big Hearted Gifts.
“These gorgeous gifts are an amazing way for you to share your passion for ending poverty with the people you love most,” said Baptist World Aid representative, Samara Linehan.
Each Big Hearted Gift represents a donation to real, life-changing activities that are supported by Baptist World Aid and will help bring an end to poverty for good.
There are gifts to grow incomes – like fish farming and bee keeping. There are gifts that promote health – like hand soap and safe birth. There are even gifts to strengthen communities – like child friendly spaces.
“So, as you can see,” says Mrs Linehan, “every time you choose a Big Hearted Gift, you’re actually giving a loved one something that transforms the lives of children, families, and communities in desperate need.”
Manpura, her husband, and their three children were helpless to do anything but watch, as their world was reduced to rubble by a landslide in Nepal.
That they managed to escape with their lives was a miracle. Sadly, they lost everything else.
“In just a matter of moments,” remembers Manpura, “everything was swept away in front of our very eyes… our house, cattle, crops, cattle-shed, food, clothing – everything.”
With no food, farmable land, or belongings to speak of, Manpura and her family were plunged into dire poverty. They next five years were spent in constant hunger.
But when Baptist World Aid’s Christian Partner in the field began working in their community, Manupura received a wonderful gift – access to clean water. This little change had big consequences!
Iran: fastest growing church in the world
Fiona Baird of NewHope Baptist talks about her work with Elam Ministries
I grew up attending NewHope Baptist Church in Blackburn North. In 2015, I moved to London with a two-year visa and a job as a primary school teacher. During that time, I had a change of direction, leaving teaching to serve with Elam Ministries, whose mission is to strengthen and expand the church in Iran and beyond. I worked in Elam’s UK office for almost 18 months before returning to Melbourne earlier this year.
I now have the privilege of serving as Elam’s Regional Director for Australia; sharing the story of Iran’s courageous church, and engaging the Australian Christian community with what God is doing in the heart of the Muslim world.
The story of Iran’s church in the last few decades is really remarkable:
Persecution threatened to wipe out Iran’s tiny church. Instead, the church in Iran has become the fastest growing in the world, and it is influencing the region for Christ.
Disillusionment with the Islamic regime has led to a remarkable openness to the Gospel across every sector of society in Iran. In 1979, just prior to Iran’s Islamic Revolution, there were an estimated 500 Christians from a Muslim background in Iran. Today, there are hundreds of thousands – some estimate over one million.
Iran’s government is deeply hostile toward the Gospel spreading, so the risk of facing persecution for converting to Christianity is high. Nevertheless, such is the openness of the Iranian people that wherever there is a witness to the Gospel, individuals, families and even whole communities are coming to Christ. In this context of unprecedented spiritual hunger, the Gospel is having a profound, transformational impact on the people of Iran.
We see evidence of this openness amongst Iranians here in Australia too. NewHope is home to a Persian-speaking community with Sunday services and a variety of weekly ministries led by Pastor Sam Farbod.
“Having our Persian brothers and sisters as part of our NewHope community has been one of the most impactful developments at NewHope in recent years. We have learnt so much from them. Their journey here has been far from straightforward and it is humbling and inspiring to see their hunger to know and serve Jesus more. It is a privilege to be part of this larger move of God across the world, and we're glad to support Fiona, and Elam, as they seek to increase the impact of the gospel in the Iran region.” Danny Hunt, Associate Pastor
At Elam, we are determined not to let this season of openness pass without having done everything possible to strengthen this rapidly growing church. Our ministry priorities are:
• TRAIN leaders for fruitful and effective ministry in the Iran region.
• EQUIP the Iranian church with Bibles and resources for evangelism and discipleship.
• SEND the Gospel through trained evangelists, church-planters, satellite TV and internet ministries.
For more information about Elam and how you can pray for Iran please visit www.elam.com or contact Fiona by email: australia@elam.com
Big Hearted Gifts
In September, Baptist World Aid launched its beautiful new range of Big Hearted Gifts.
“These gorgeous gifts are an amazing way for you to share your passion for ending poverty with the people you love most,” said Baptist World Aid representative, Samara Linehan.
Each Big Hearted Gift represents a donation to real, life-changing activities that are supported by Baptist World Aid and will help bring an end to poverty for good.
There are gifts to grow incomes – like fish farming and bee keeping. There are gifts that promote health – like hand soap and safe birth. There are even gifts to strengthen communities – like child friendly spaces.
“So, as you can see,” says Mrs Linehan, “every time you choose a Big Hearted Gift, you’re actually giving a loved one something that transforms the lives of children, families, and communities in desperate need.”
Manpura, her husband, and their three children were helpless to do anything but watch, as their world was reduced to rubble by a landslide in Nepal.
That they managed to escape with their lives was a miracle. Sadly, they lost everything else.
“In just a matter of moments,” remembers Manpura, “everything was swept away in front of our very eyes… our house, cattle, crops, cattle-shed, food, clothing – everything.”
With no food, farmable land, or belongings to speak of, Manpura and her family were plunged into dire poverty. They next five years were spent in constant hunger.
But when Baptist World Aid’s Christian Partner in the field began working in their community, Manupura received a wonderful gift – access to clean water. This little change had big consequences!
Source: BUV News
Iran: fastest growing church in the world
Fiona Baird of NewHope Baptist talks about her work with Elam Ministries
I grew up attending NewHope Baptist Church in Blackburn North. In 2015, I moved to London with a two-year visa and a job as a primary school teacher. During that time, I had a change of direction, leaving teaching to serve with Elam Ministries, whose mission is to strengthen and expand the church in Iran and beyond. I worked in Elam’s UK office for almost 18 months before returning to Melbourne earlier this year.
I now have the privilege of serving as Elam’s Regional Director for Australia; sharing the story of Iran’s courageous church, and engaging the Australian Christian community with what God is doing in the heart of the Muslim world.
The story of Iran’s church in the last few decades is really remarkable:
Persecution threatened to wipe out Iran’s tiny church. Instead, the church in Iran has become the fastest growing in the world, and it is influencing the region for Christ.
Disillusionment with the Islamic regime has led to a remarkable openness to the Gospel across every sector of society in Iran. In 1979, just prior to Iran’s Islamic Revolution, there were an estimated 500 Christians from a Muslim background in Iran. Today, there are hundreds of thousands – some estimate over one million.
Iran’s government is deeply hostile toward the Gospel spreading, so the risk of facing persecution for converting to Christianity is high. Nevertheless, such is the openness of the Iranian people that wherever there is a witness to the Gospel, individuals, families and even whole communities are coming to Christ. In this context of unprecedented spiritual hunger, the Gospel is having a profound, transformational impact on the people of Iran.
We see evidence of this openness amongst Iranians here in Australia too. NewHope is home to a Persian-speaking community with Sunday services and a variety of weekly ministries led by Pastor Sam Farbod.
“Having our Persian brothers and sisters as part of our NewHope community has been one of the most impactful developments at NewHope in recent years. We have learnt so much from them. Their journey here has been far from straightforward and it is humbling and inspiring to see their hunger to know and serve Jesus more. It is a privilege to be part of this larger move of God across the world, and we're glad to support Fiona, and Elam, as they seek to increase the impact of the gospel in the Iran region.” Danny Hunt, Associate Pastor
At Elam, we are determined not to let this season of openness pass without having done everything possible to strengthen this rapidly growing church. Our ministry priorities are:
• TRAIN leaders for fruitful and effective ministry in the Iran region.
• EQUIP the Iranian church with Bibles and resources for evangelism and discipleship.
• SEND the Gospel through trained evangelists, church-planters, satellite TV and internet ministries.
For more information about Elam and how you can pray for Iran please visit www.elam.com or contact Fiona by email: australia@elam.com
Source: BUV News
Ep 93: What happens when we die?
Do we die and rot, or is there hope? A conversation sure to get you thinking.