Lebanon:
SAT-7 opens airwaves to Syrians
Syrian refugees are being encouraged to share their stories from the civil war and ask for prayer on a special programme launched by Christian satellite television station and BMS partner, SAT-7. The live programme is introduced by Syrians from SAT-7’s studios in Lebanon. Since the civil war started, up to two million refugees from Syria have escaped to Lebanon. “We have received hundreds of phone calls from Syrian people,” says executive director Naji Daoud. “Syrians are fed up with political promises. They want to hear that someone is praying for them, someone is giving them a word of hope.”
UK: Church blessed cocktail bar The Cocktail Shack, a beach themed bar, is the newest addition to St Paul’s Church in Westonsuper-Mare. The bar is licensed, has the full support of the church’s council and boasts a welcoming atmosphere. From tweeting portions of the sermon to opening a well-stocked bar, the church is finding new ways to reach non-Christians in the town. The bar is a part of the church’s Alpha programme. (BBC News)
Chad: UNICEF’s unexpected gift A BMS supported hospital in Chad has received a gift of 3,000 mosquito nets from UNICEF. Guinebor II Hospital in the capital N’Djamena was chosen by UNICEF because they are seen as a good source of care and education. In attendance for the delivery in September were Malc and Sue White, who work for BMS at the hospital, and Steve Sanderson, BMS Manager of Mission Partnerships. Malaria season runs from July to November in Chad and in August 2013 there was a sharp increase of malaria cases in the country.
Malaysia: Christian magazine can’t use Allah Three years after protests and the destruction of many churches and mosques, the Malaysian court has overturned the 2010 decision to make it legal for Catholic magazine, Herald, to use ‘Allah’ instead of ‘God’ in their publication. “It is our judgement that there is no infringement of any constitutional rights,” said Apandi Ali, head of the three-judge panel. Despite the ruling, churches in Sadah and Sarawak say they will continue to use ‘Allah’ in their services. Peaceful protests have followed the ruling and Herald plans to appeal the decision. (Al Jazeera)
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WINTER 2014 | Engage
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