Orphan Outreach urgently needs interns

India (MNN) ― Just ten days away from the application deadline, Orphan Outreach urgently needs six interns to spend July in India.

If you feel like you're experiencing déjà-vu, it's because this very internship has been featured at Mission Network News before--and pretty recently. But since word has been out about the Orphan Outreach trips, all the slots for positions in Russia have filled up while the six for India have gone completely untouched.

"This is one of our most stable programs, but it's one that a lot of people have a little fear about," says Tiffany Taylor with Orphan Outreach. "We hear about people going to Russia all the time, but India is a place that people aren't as comfortable imagining going to. I would just ask those people that are being nudged by God to consider India that they'd be open to that. The people that go to India are just blown away by what God is doing in the lives of the people there."

The six college students or young professionals that end up in India will get to have a significant, relational impact on the lives of kids in the nation. "They would literally be with the children every day, working with these children, building relationships, sharing the love of the Lord," says Taylor.

All this effort is poured into some of the neediest kids. "One of the reasons many of them are orphans is because AIDS has affected their families and themselves. So truly it's on the frontline of getting the Gospel to people in desperate need."

As a bonus for interns, adds Taylor, "They will also learn a lot about the culture of India and be exposed to the people and Christians in India."

Interns will be helping the staff of Orphan Outreach in India and bringing the Good News to children as they serve, but they will also be taking away invaluable experience. This internship has changed the life course of some past interns and has transformed the way others interact on a daily basis.

You won't get the experience if you don't sign up, though, and the deadline for application is fast approaching.

"Our deadline for internship applications is January 15, so we just urge people to go online. You can read a lot more information about the trips, about past students who have been, about the opportunity to go and serve in India."

Internships last from June 30 to July 22 in 2012, and cost about $2,400 without airfare. Orphan Outreach will help you raise support.Learn more about all the logistics when you head to orphanoutreach.org. 

Russian churches hope to reach 50,000 for Christ

MNN's Greg Yoder handing out
 Christmas gifts in Russia. (file photo)

Russia (MNN) ― Christians are partnering together to reach kids with the Gospel. The interesting thing is: these believers may not ever meet each other. Why? They're separated by thousands of miles. Today, Christians in the West will be helping Christians in the former Soviet Union reach kids with hope -- Project Hope Christmas boxes.

Board Member with Russian Ministries Wayne Shepherd, "A lot of these kids are orphans, and many of them are street children. These children are identified by local churches in the former Soviet Union. They want to reach out and minister to these kids."

When asked how many kids Russian Ministries hopes to help, Shepherd says, "It's almost unlimited. There are thousands of kids who are in need right now, and I think we're hoping to do 50,000 or more if we can. It depends on what the churches can do and what we can equip them to do."

While you may not be able to go to the region and help, you can empower the church with $25. "We're providing the funds so that the churches can purchase what they feel -- they're so close to these kids. They minister to these kids. They know what they need. They can purchase what goes into these boxes. And, of course, a children's Bible is the one thing that's going into every box."

The gift of a Bible doesn't end at the child. "Children love having their own copy of the Bible or children's New Testament. They also take it home,and mom and dad are exposed as well. This is a tangible way to help."

While Christmas is 10 days away, you actually have even more time for Project Hope because Russian Christmas is celebrated on December 7. "It does give us an extra couple of weeks to get our act together and make these boxes possible for these kids. So, any gift given now through Christmas and beyond will help a great deal for Project Hope."

Russian Ministries is also doing something new this year, with Shepherd's help. "Part of my contribution this year was to put together a radio special with Sergey Rakhuba, President of Russian Ministries, and get the word out about Project Hope. Many radio stations are actually donating their time to provide this radio special so their listeners can learn about Project Hope, and I hope many more will in the next several days."

If you'd like additional information or would like to help, click here. 

Fire sweeps a government-run orphanage in Honduras

Honduras (BOC/MNN) ― In Honduras, government-run orphanages tend to face similar challenges: they are typically overcrowded, under-staffed, and under-funded. 

Buckner International has been providing humanitarian aid to one such home, Nueva Esperanza, since beginning work in the city of San Pedro Sula in 2006. 

However, the ministry is stepping up its response after a fire 10 days ago forced the evacuation of all 150 children. Local papers reported the cause of the fire as electrical.

  

All of the children, ranging in age from infants to 14 years old, escaped the flames safely.  Most were relocated to another government orphanage nearby, but overcrowding at the orphanage causes concern, said Yaneth Contreras, director of Buckner Honduras.

"Buckner staff in San Pedro Sula visited the orphanage to see the children and assess the needs," she said. "At this time, the government is planning to move the children to private orphanages in San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa. We will be helping with transportation of aid to the children at the private homes until repairs can be made on the building."

Contreras said Buckner will also be providing financial support to repair the building's electrical and air conditioning system and is seeking donations to help their efforts.

   

The relationship between Buckner and Nueva Esperanza has been building over the last five years. Aside from the aid the ministry sends, they send Gospel mission teams regularly to help meet other needs at the orphanage.

     

Buckner also runs a transitional housing program for children aging out of orphan care. Residents are enrolled in an academic, vocational, or rehabilitation program. Services include case management, room and board, education, job training, tutoring and mentoring.

Buckner International is a global faith-based ministry that seeks to make life better for orphans, vulnerable children, and families. To learn more, visit www.buckner.org.

Medical ministry team adds compassion to their repertoire

Uganda (MNN) ― Uganda's health sector has felt the ravages of a slowed economy. Government health facilities have fallen into disrepair, supplies for government clinics are in shortage, and staffing is far below what are considered optimum levels.

For those who get medical training, jobs are plentiful elsewhere, leading to "brain drain" of Uganda's brightest health care workers.

A typical stay at a hospital can take place in a room with little more than a bed. Unless friends or relatives come by with food, the patient doesn't eat. These conditions prompted a team from Every Child Ministries to inject the situation with a little help, hope, and love.

ECM's Lorella Rouster explains, "There have been times when our staff has paid to have somebody come and stay with a person because they didn't have anybody to stay with them and to provide for their basic needs."

More recently, they've taken to visiting the women and children in a public hospital in Gulu. "Many people in northern Uganda are virtually alone. They're alone in the sense that they're not with their original family", explains Rouster. "They're not with people, always, who really deeply care for them. That's just part of the devastation that's been left by this long 20-year war with the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army)."

A visit, prayer and practical help go a long way to physical and spiritual health. "These visits help people to know that they've not  been forgotten and to feel that they're significant, that they're loved, and that they're valued."

As a result, relationships built up, which led to more. "In the last month, we've seen six people come to Christ through this ministry. We're looking forward to many more as they [the team] share the message of salvation in the hospital ward."

Rouster says more and more of their staff are keeping their eyes open for opportunities to share the message of salvation in every aspect of their work. Because of the compassion, doors open more readily.

For the team that's doing the hospital visitation, for as many times as there is celebration and new life, the work can be draining and disappointing. "Pray that our staff would not get discouraged by seeing death close up, and by seeing the difficulties and the problems that people face. They might focus on the hope that they can bring in Christ."

Click here for more details on ECM's work.

Radio for kids an increasing need in Africa

Mission Network News: "Ghana (MNN) ― In the Western world, radio is hardly the most popular technological medium. With the invention of televisions, smart phones, iPads, and internet, people wishing to get discipleship outside of the church have an abundance of options open to them."

Read more...

Classes grind to halt for floods

India (MNN) ― The monsoon season is at the peak of its climb in India, and with it comes heavy rains and flooding. Beggars' Valley in Hyderabad of southern India is no exception.

India's Children reported last week that St. Mark's Grammar School, an elementary school supported by them in Beggars' Valley, is dealing with flooding. St. Mark's Grammar School is especially threatened because of their location.

St. Mark's Grammar School is situated between two inclines and in a run-down condition as it is. When the heavy rains come, teachers must grab anything damageable and usher the children up the hill to escape the inevitable flooding.

The floodwaters get 4-5 feet high and bring all classes to a halt until the water level goes back down. It can be especially unnerving as rats take over the school during the watery invasion, and often children returning have to deal with these rodents.

India's Children says it is "a scary moment for the teachers and children in St. Mark's Grammar School."
From June to September, the monsoon season is a dangerous period of the year for people in India. Hundreds are killed annually by the rushing floods that take people off-guard.

However, despite poor conditions and dangerous location during flood season, many have no other choice since St. Mark's Grammar School is the only education for the impoverished children of Beggar's Valley.

In addition to getting an invaluable education, students at the school also are taught about Christ and the hope He gives. India's Children supports their ministry and comes alongside them to give these children not only hope for a better future circumstantially, but also spiritually.

As earlier reported, there are still as many as 70 children in Beggar's Valley waiting to be able to attend St. Mark's Grammar School and get a shot at a life away from the slums. There is a pastor who has volunteered to drive the children to and from the school every day, but they have no means of transportation.

India's Children would love to be able to see more children return to the school once the flooding subsides, but they are in need of funding for van rental that will cost $10,000.

Please pray for the funding to be provided so that more children can attend St. Mark's Grammar School with the rest of the students. Pray for the Lord's protection over the students during this flood season, and pray that classes can remain in session as much as possible.

If you would like to donate toward a van for the children of St. Mark's Grammar School, click here.

Team reaches drug addicts and kids, while also learning from them

Russia (MNN) ― After just two days of convening in Russia, a team set out to reach drug addicts and kids in Siberia.

The Operation Mobilizationteam spent two days at a conference at the OM Russia base in Novosibirsk. A team of Russian, and then the entire group of Americans, Poles and an Uzbek set off on a five-hour drive to the neighboring towns of Karasuk and Bagan, in the heart of Siberia.

Their task was to run a children's program in each town and to encourage the small local churches in whatever way they could. But the trip was far more than just an encouragement to those being served.
\
One Polish team member was able to glean ideas for better reaching out to drug addicts in his own community. "My church is just starting to work with drug addicts in Poland, and we don't have much experience yet," explained the team member. "I was so encouraged by the testimonies of the young men in that centre who had come to God and had been set free from drugs."

"It is staggering to reflect on how their lives have changed--from drug addicts to helping on a Christian children's program," added a U.S. team member after watching former addicts reach kids in children's ministries. "Only God could do that."

Others were transformed by the kids camps. "Before we left, I had some doubts about the effectiveness of these children's camps: what could we hope to achieve with these children in just three days?" noted one Russian teammate.

 "But after chatting with some of the boys, they showed me how they had remembered lessons and Bible verses from previous programs run by OM Russia. I'm sure that when they face difficult situations in their lives, these children will remember the truths we've told them."

Drug addicts and kids were all reached with the Gospel message throughout the short trip, but the encouragement that they brought to the team members provided insight for the team members, as well. Pray that change would ensue in the
hearts of all reached through this trip.

To learn more about Operation Mobilization, visit www.om.org. 

Kids at Risk of Going Blind Rescued Through Education

Kids at the Bridge of Hope
 centers are taught about
 how to prevent blindness.

South Asia (MNN) ― Imagine waking up and finding that your whole world is dark. Not because the sun hasn't come up yet, but because you are suddenly blind. You will never watch the brilliant colors of a sunset. You will never see the faces of family members.

What if you knew there was a way it could have been prevented?

Bible college students withGospel for Asia (GFA) recently responded to the crisis of blindness in children of developing countries. Educational rallies were held at GFA's Bridge of Hopechildren centers across South Asia.

Blindness has claimed the eyesight of 12 million children worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. 19 million children are deemed visually impaired.

90 percent of these cases are in developing countries. Many cases of blindness could have been stopped by simple education on the needed vitamins and prevention techniques.

A key vitamin necessary for eyesight is vitamin A. Vitamin A is found in foods such as spinach, eggs, cantaloupes, milk and carrots (looks like the eye doctors were right.)

Unfortunately, the developing world is hit the hardest with blindness because kids in poverty often don't have access to these foods with vitamin A. Malnourishment increases the risk that a child will one day go blind.

Part of Gospel for Asia's crusade against blindness is to provide vitamin A drops to the children at Bridge of Hope centers. These drops are taken by mouth and substitute when the needed food with vitamin A is not available.

On top of giving these vitamin A drops to the kids at Bridge of Hope, Bible college students also went out into the village communities to administer vitamin A drops to the elderly. Conditions such as cataracts and myopia put the older generations of a community at high risk to blindness.

Free informative literature was also handed out to further teach people on the causes and prevention of blindness.

This outreach ministry of eyesight education is just one program brought to the children at Bridge of Hope and their community. Bridge of Hope centers exist to educate kids and share the love of Christ.

Children who are enrolled in a Bridge of Hope center learn Bible verses, hear Bible stories and are taught songs that share the Gospel message.

By bringing in a ministry that helps prevent blindness in kids, these Bible college students paved the way for kids at Bridge of Hope to grow seeing the world around them and hopefully come to see the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

See GFA's slide show here.

Why So Long for Famine Declaration?

Two Somali regions were declaring
 to be in famine last Wednesday, but
 malnutrition rates are far beyond
 that point

Somalia (MNN) ― Famine is a deadly killer. It is declared only when malnutrition in the population shoots over the level of 30% and 2 children per every 10,000 die each day. Declaring a famine draws more attention for aid and relief to the people in crisis.

But when the UN finally declared famine in two areas of Somalia last Wednesday, July 20, malnutrition was at 55% and 6 children per every 10,000 were dying every day.

And this wasn't the only delayed reaction seen.

Earlier, the Somali terrorist organization Al-Shabab lifted the humanitarian aid ban on July 6 when they saw the situation was at critical levels. The UN didn't drop their first aid containers to Somalia until July 17.

"It's been a 1 to 2-year process [for Somalia] to get where they are now," says Jeff Palmer with Baptist Global Response. "Now it's just reached critical levels and the media are here, of course, and major news networks are just beginning to pick up."

But for Baptist Global Response, their mission was not so delayed as governmental responses. Palmer states, "This is not a new thing. We're already in there. We've been there. We're going to be there for long term. It is critical now, so I am glad that they did declare [famine]."

When asked why the UN waited so long to declare famine, Palmer comments, "There could be a number of reasons: Donor fatigue right now...and the problems of working in Somalia with some of the sanctions and things that are there. I'm not sure what all those are."

Baptist Global Response currently has four teams in the general area of the Horn of Africa. They focus most of their work on the nearly 800,000 refugees fleeing Somalia and starvation.

BGR also have some covert work with partners directly in Somalia, but there are many barriers that make their efforts there difficult. The sheer overwhelming numbers of people still in need, the armed violence of war, and UN sanctions against the country are just a few of the obstacles to their ministry.

Food relief is the focus of most BGR programs. But as the rainy season comes in October, they will also work to get products such as seed and livestock back to the people.

BGR staff are praying that the rains will indeed come and that the people will make it through January and February before harvest time.

Along with meeting their extreme needs physically, Baptist Global Response always pairs their efforts with the encouraging message of the Gospel.

"Anytime people go through cataclysmic things within their life...they question: ‘Why is God doing this?'" says Palmer. "We try to give them a message and comfort of hope in God and a positive witness, making sure that we meet their needs because we want to help people where they're hurting."

So far, Baptist Global Response has been able to give a quarter of a million dollars worth of relief to the people in the Horn of Africa. Palmer says, "It's a drop in the bucket, but we're hoping to be able to do drops where they count the most in some of these critical areas that are falling between the cracks."

Please pray for those still suffering from starvation that they might get the relief needed. Pray also that Baptist Global Response efforts would grow with increased funding so they may advance their relief ministry along with the Gospel.

If you would like to donate to their relief efforts, click here.

Child Development Centers Damaged

Burkina Faso (MNN) ― A storm that recently hit Burkina Faso capital Ouagadougou damaged three child development centers assisted by Compassion International.

No Compassion-assisted children have been harmed and none of their homes suffered storm damage either, according to reports.

A storm of heavy rains and wind nonetheless caused severe damage to Ad Cité de Saaba Child Development Center (BF-123), Kogly Kamba Child Development Center (BF-354), and Kaar Paala Sector 30 Child Development Center (BF-355).

Each center has roughly 200 children registered.

The main office of center BF-123 was flooded when part of the roof was damaged and three rooms were destroyed by the heavy rains.

The roof of Center BF-354 was destroyed, causing damage to computer equipment, clothing and food that is available to the Compassion-assisted children. Also, part of a wall for the church building collapsed.

Despite the damage, Center BF-354 has continued regular activities.

As for Compassion-assisted center BF-355, the roof of a room was destroyed as well as a hallway. The roof of the center's office is also leaking.

BF-355 has also decided to continue its regular activities.

Compassion International asks that you please pray for the staff of these centers as they clean up and survey the damage. Pray that work would indeed be able to continue unhindered, so that children would be able to receive the Gospel message unhindered. Pray for the children and their families as well.

Compassion International will contact you if your sponsored child has been affected. Check for more updates on this situation here. 

Food donations help feed orphans in more ways than one

Kids on the streets of Peru are often
 malnourished, and many die.
 Buckner International's food
 donations seek to fight this crisis.
 (Photo courtesy of Buckner
 International)

Peru (MNN) ― Malnutrition is a leading killer in Peru, especially among children living on the streets or in impoverished homes.Buckner International recently stepped up with the help of generous donors to fight the malnutrition crisis.

Donations provided Buckner International with the means to send two food shipments to Peru. These shipments together were valued at $93,049. The two food shipments were able to feed 15,100 orphaned children, youth and adults. Many of these food donations were given directly through orphanages.

Buckner International exists to carry out their commitment to God by ministering to orphans in their distress as Christ commands. They are Christ-centered in everything they do, from humanitarian aid services to counseling programs. Their hope is to minister Christ's love and tell of His saving grace to those at-risk.

In Peru, children are some of the most at-risk. The situations children face are multi-layered with many obstacles. One is child labor, with more than 2 million children having to enter into the work force. Because of this, nearly 9% of children in Peru are an average of three years behind on their education.

Also, between 35%-45% of the population is below the poverty line, living on less than $2 a day. Such poverty forces children and orphans to the streets where 10,000 die each year just in the capital of Lima alone.

On top of extreme poverty and child labor, sex trafficking is also an issue for children in Peru. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child estimates that there are 500,000 child victims of sexual violence and trafficking in Peru.

With everything children in Peru have to face, the situation can often seem hopeless. But the hope of Christ can change all that. And bringing the hope of Christ is exactly why Buckner International is involved there.

Buckner International became involved in Peru back in 2005 when the government asked them to establish foster care and transitional services in the country. Since then, they have had several programs established in Peru to minister to children, orphans, and families.

Bringing food donations down to Peru is just one of the ways Buckner International is able to minister. By showing kids that they are not forgotten, they are able to tell them about the God who loves them and knows them by name.

But this ministry could not have been done without the fantastic support of generous donors. Buckner International can always use more support as they advance their ministry to follow Christ's call. Please pray for their ministry to the needy kids in Peru and that the Gospel message would feed their souls as their bodies are fed. If you would like to make a donation to their ministry, you can click here.

Backpacks Bring Hope to Haitian Kids

Kids in Haiti need good schooling.
 But in order to get good schooling,
 they need good backpacks and
 supplies.

Haiti (MNN) ― For kids in Haiti, a backpack is more just a fashion statement. A backpack means they can finally go to school. A backpack means they have a way to carry literally all their belongings. A backpack means they have hope.

Orphan Outreach is launching Mission Backpack to bring donated backpacks and the Gospel to the children in Haiti. Backpacks will also be distributed to local kids in Florida and in the Navajo Nation of Arizona. They are partnering with Moody Radio Florida, Moody Radio South Florida and WAY radio for this evangelistic outreach.

Amy Norton with Orphan Outreach says, "We have found, in all of our work internationally, that children have to have a backpack to go to school just like they do [in the U.S.]. And they need school supplies to be able to put in it. [In] so many countries, if they do not have a backpack, they can't go to school."

The children in Haiti are no exception. Mission Backpack is working with World Harvest Missions established in Haiti to distribute donated backpacks. Norton says, "[World Harvest Missions] was so grateful to have the backpacks this past year--after we did the drive in Florida--for the children."

In the wake of tragedy, hope is hard to come by, especially for the kids in Haiti. "Things are desperate there," Norton explains. "People thought that things were so bad after the [earthquake]. But it's gotten so much worse that so many children are suffering from sickness and illness and have no place to sleep, and no parents."

The hope of the Gospel can change lives. While providing backpacks to the needy kids in Haiti, Orphan Outreach is also opening doors for the message of Christ. Backpacks will be equipped with hygiene kits, a Bible, and a stuffed bear from Family Christian Stores.

The team distributing the backpacks, as well as the staff with World Harvest Missions, keeps the focus on Christ as they minister to kids in Haiti. "All of their ministry is done with an evangelical focus as well as humanitarian aid and assistance. So the Gospel message is definitely shared with each backpack that is delivered," says Norton.

There are collections going on both in Texas and Florida. Texas drive sites are already collecting between now and July 31; Florida sites will be collecting between July 25 and August 14. They have an overall goal to have 3,500 backpacks donated by the end of the drives.

You don't have to directly donate a backpack to a collection center in order to get involved. You can go online to the Orphan Outreach Web site and purchase a backpack to donate. The cost of providing one fully equipped backpack is $20.

All backpacks will be collected by the end of August and sent down by container with a team from Florida Baptist Children's Home. The kids in Haiti will get their donated backpacks and supplies by the start of school in the Fall.

Please pray for successful backpack drives for Orphan Outreach. Pray also for the kids in Haiti who will be hearing the Gospel message as they receive their supplies. Pray that God's love would change the hearts of these kids and draw many into His kingdom.

BCM Reaches The Whole Family

USA (MNN) ― The Bible Club Movement started in 1936 as a way to reach boys and girls for Jesus Christ through Bible clubs. They did that by teaching children the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation.

Now known as Bible Centered Ministries International, the ministry has grown, says BCM's President and CEO Marty Windle. "Now, we not only work with children, but we also work with adults and youth around the world. We are scattered globally. You could actually say that the sun really never sets on BCM International Ministries."

While the focus is on teaching God's Word, they focus on indigenous outreach. Windle says, "Probably 95% of our over 700 missionaries are people who minister in the country they were born in, so we don't have to deal as much, with cross-cultural and language issues."

Another area that makes BCM unique is "the amount of volunteers that we have," says Windle. "While we have 700 missionaries, I would estimate that volunteers that leverage the ministry of those missionaries is somewhere in the neighborhood of 6,000 to 7,000 volunteers around the world."

BCM is heavily involved in the 10/40 window, the area of the world where the least reached people groups are located. They're also focusing on the 4/14 window, the age group who are most likely to turn to Christ. Missiologists say 80% of those who come to Christ do so between the ages of 4 and 14.

Windle says reaching this demographic is key to church planting. "When you reach the children and show tenderness to the children, then you have a segue into hearts and the lives of adults. Using that approach of reaching children, then we move to the next step to church planting and strengthening the church as God leads us."

According to Windle, BCM is working in more than 50 countries on five continents. A few of them include creative access or limited access nations.

The curriculum they've created has "been published in 25 different languages in Sunday schools, in Bible club ministries, in a variety of different approaches -- not just with children -- but also with small group Bible studies in retirement homes."

While growth is taking place, BCM is facing challenges -- personnel. "The older generation of missionaries is fast approaching retirement, and that curve of attrition has to be counteracted with a new wave of people who catch the vision of reaching men and women and boys and girls for Jesus Christ," says Windle.

If you feel God calling you into ministry or you'd like more information about BCM, click here.