News + Blog - Partners International

Update from Bamako, Mali

Mon, 07 May 2012 19:27:31 +0000

News From the Field by Amber Holloway, Communications Manager

Our partner Pastor Mohamed Ibrahim-Yattara provides an update on the situation in Mali.

These past two weeks have been very busy with meeting, moving, and counseling the refugees. Last week, Pastor Alhousseiny made it safely to Segou. He is expected to arrive soon to the camp with his wife and child. Thank you for your prayers.

We had several meetings on how to mobilize and energize the crisis commission to serve the refugees in a better way. On April 30, we had a general assembly of all the leaders to pray and discuss issues pertaining to our respective ministries.

On Monday afternoon we were able to move all the refugees staying in the guesthouse to a new site. The new site is free. We have now six sites for the refugees. Four are rented houses, and two are free. We have 235 people with us.

On Tuesday afternoon, we had a worship service at the new site. We praised God for His goodness and provision. Many were sick with malaria, but by God’s grace they are all improving.

Pray for the situation within the country. On the night of April 30 to May 1, around 6:30 p.m., we were in shock when we heard the sound of automatic and heavy weapons. The Red Berets, the former presidential guard, took up arms to attack the garrison town of Kati, Bamako International Airport, and the headquarters of the state television station. These three places were occupied and controlled by the Green Berets in favor of the military junta. It caused widespread panic in the city. I was caught in the most dangerous traffic of my life. I was just coming from the worship service at the new site. But by God’s grace we made it safely home.

Heavy fighting continued almost all night by the sporadic firing of heavy machinery and automatic weapons which could be heard crackling several miles around. We were reminded of the events and attacks in Gao and Timbuktu. People are asked to be careful and cautious. Please pray for our country. After we have fled our homes and land, we realize again more profoundly that the safer place is in God’s hands.

On Wednesday noon, the guard of the Evangelical Baptist Mission station, Moussa, was promoted to glory. Please pray for Moussa’s family. He leaves behind a widow and young child.

My family and I are doing well. We were told this week that the rebels visited our house two times. My neighbor is moving today what he can from my house. The crisis is growing. What worries us the most is that Al Qaeda fighters are now indoctrinating many young people and have opened military training camps. They are doing the same in Timbuktu. According to our contacts, Christian homes and offices are targeted in all our cities. Please continue to pray.

Aid the refugees in Bamako today

Pray With Us Today on the National Day of Prayer

Thu, 03 May 2012 17:36:26 +0000

News From the Field by Amber Holloway, Communications Manager

Today is the National Day of Prayer - a day to mobilize personal and corporate prayer in America. On this special day, we can't help but thank God for His blessing and mercy on our nation. It is a privilege that we can join together in public prayer, but not everyone around the world has this freedom.

Our brothers and sisters in Christ in many parts of the world are facing overwhelming restrictions, harassment, and persecution for their faith in Christ. In fact, right now believers in Mali are being forced from their homes by Islamic militants. Christians in Iran are being arrested and jailed. Just this week, we learned of six Muslim-background believers in Jordan who were brutally beaten for their faith in Jesus Christ.

Pray that we will continue to have the freedom to follow Christ without fear. And pray that God would give us hearts that burn to share the Good News both here and throughout the world.

As you pray today for our own country, would you also join us in praying for the world? Pray with us:

• For religious freedom to be protected throughout the world.

• For unity within the Christian Church across the world.

• For the persecuted Church to remain faithful to the Lord.

• For American believers to be wise and generous stewards of God's resources.

Thank you for being a partner with us and for being a blessing to the nations.

"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations" (Psalm 67:1).

Join our prayer efforts all year long:

• Subscribe to our RSS Prayer Feed with daily prayer requests from around the world.

• Follow our Partners International blog with ways you can pray for national Christians serving in the hard places.

• Have a prayer request? Our staff prays together every week. Send your request to prayer@partnersintl.org and we will be happy to pray for you.

Nepalese Believers Anticipate New Religious Restrictions

Wed, 02 May 2012 20:58:11 +0000

News From the Field by Amber Holloway, Communications Manager

Last June, believers in Nepal began growing concerned regarding a new draft law (Article 160) that would restrict freedom of religion in the country. The law, entitled the “Offense Against Religions Act,” would make it illegal to do anything which might be construed as influencing someone to change their religion. Despite the concerns raised with the government at that time and over the intervening months, this draft law has been submitted to a committee which is tasked with finalizing the wording, then it will be submitted to parliament for approval.

“Apparently the wording of the draft clause is unchanged from last June, despite the concerns that have been raised with regard to this with the government,” reported one church leader. “Article 160 is a clear breach of basic human rights and undermines both Nepal as a secular state and the progress made on freedom of religion.” Please join us in prayer for this critical issue.

Muslim-Background Believers Attacked in Jordan

Wed, 02 May 2012 20:53:35 +0000

News From the Field by Amber Holloway, Communications Manager

Ten days ago, a group of six Muslim-background believers were on their way to a house church meeting in northern Jordan. As they were driving, another car began following them and crashed into their vehicle. When the cars stopped, a group of Muslim fundamentalists got out of the car armed with iron bars. They brutally beat the believers and fled the scene. When the police arrived, an ambulance took the injured to the hospital.

One of the men has fractures in his neck. Two others have fractured limbs and bruises. One of them had such serious leg injuries that for a time doctors thought it may require amputation. Praise God, it did not, but he will require multiple surgeries. One other believer had fractures in his arm and feet.

Among the believers who were beaten was a married couple. The husband is still under treatment for a skull fracture, however his wife passed away three days after the attack due to her severe injuries.

Please pray for these brothers and sisters in Christ, that God would heal them physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Some of those who were injured do not have insurance and were forced to leave the hospital despite needing surgery. Our partner in the region is caring for them and their families. Please pray for God’s provision, healing, and comfort.

Pray for Syria

Tue, 01 May 2012 15:17:41 +0000

News From the Field by Amber Holloway, Communications Manager

The nation of Syria has been overcome by violence since last spring when government forces cracked down on demonstrators protesting the regime of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. Sparked by the protests seen in other nations in the Middle East and North Africa, protestors began speaking out against al-Assad whose family has ruled the nation of Syria for more than four decades. Since the conflict began, the United Nations estimates that at least 9,000 people have been killed. Both sides accepted a peace plan laid out by the United Nations on April 12, however the violence has continued unabated.

Our partner Raja al Umam requests prayer for their church planters in Syria. It is very dangerous in many areas. They report that some villages have been completely destroyed, even villages with mixed populations of Sunni, Shiite, and Kurdish people. A number of believers have been killed. In some areas there is no electricity or access to medical care. Prices are increasing dramatically, sometimes tripling in cost, especially the main food staples.

Raja al Umam asks for your special prayer for one of their Kurdish church planters. He has lost many brothers in Christ and friends in the violence. Pray for wisdom and that he will be able to comfort others. God has been using him powerfully to serve the people, but he is at risk because of his ministry. Pray that God will protect him and restore peace to the nation.

Churches Destroyed, Tension Rising in Sudan

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:35:11 +0000

News From the Field by Amber Holloway, Communications Manager

After the nation of Sudan split into two countries, Sudan and South Sudan, last July, many wondered what would happen to the Christians in the Muslim-majority North. With so many Christians returning to South Sudan, where Christianity is much more accepted, the remnant of believers in the North knew they could be facing a rapidly declining situation. Sadly, those predictions seem to be coming true.

The Sudanese government has extended the deadline for ethnic Southerners to obtain a new passport and visa to May 9. However, many roads and flights to South Sudan have been closed, hampering their ability to obtain the new documents. To add to the difficulty, the Sudanese government declared it was in a state of war with South Sudan. This has put many South Sudanese in a precarious position, trapped in an unwelcoming land with uncertain legal status.

On the religious front, anti-Christian sentiment has been growing. We reported last week that our partner Africa Inland Church-Sudan received a letter from the Ministry of Planning and Urban Development that demanded the church “destroy” two of its churches in the Khartoum area within 72 hours or they would be demolished. As of right now, AIC’s churches are still standing, but no one knows yet what will happen next. Over the weekend, another denomination's church was set on fire by Islamic fundamentalists. Three other worship halls were destroyed as well.

Besides the anti-Christian feelings among Muslims, Christian leaders are reporting that there is a general disdain for Southerners, sometimes even among the Northern believers.

Sudanese leaders are asking for your prayers for reconciliation among believers and for the Church to stand triumphant in Sudan. Here are a few specific ways you can pray:

· Pray for the protection of the churches.

· Pray for the South Sudanese ministers serving in the North. Pray they will know God’s will regarding whether they should stay in the North or return to the South.

· Pray for God to give wisdom to pastors and Christian leaders on both sides of the border. Pray they will be strong in the Lord and His mighty power.

· Pray for the salvation of the unreached throughout Sudan.

Malian Partner Learns He Was Target for Violence

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:56:55 +0000

News From the Field by Amber Holloway, Communications Manager

Pastor Nouh Ag Infa Yattara reported this week that the situation remains serious in North Mali. In the cities of Kidal, Gao, and Timbuktu, Al Qaeda is enforcing Sharia law and is recruiting and training many young people to join them. A massive exodus is taking place, and those who remain are facing severe hunger.

In Timbuktu, Al Qaeda fighters have taken control of the city and are looting homes and businesses. They are even entering into houses, asking for non-Muslims. Our own Pastor Nouh recently learned that he was a target for violence. “They had my picture and promised a large sum of money to whoever can find me dead or alive for them,” Pastor Nouh said. “Today they stole the doors of all the buildings of the church, and hoisted the flag of Ansar Dine [Islamist Tuareg rebel group] at the church, telling the crowd that they would remove all that is left before the church was burned. They also declared to anyone who would listen that Pastor Noah would die if he were here.”

We are thankful to report that Pastor Nouh and his wife Fati are safe. They are currently in the U.S. for an already-scheduled trip. However, their hearts are burdened for their people. This week, they heard that rebels and Al Qaeda fighters looted the TNT radio station and the newly renovated guesthouse in Timbuktu. They also took everything from the Living Water Project. They looted the church, and stole all the sewing machines of the Timbuktu Women’s Center including the new ones to be distributed to the graduates.

In Bamako, the refugees now number 209 people. Some are staying with families in the city while most are staying together in the building of a Christian NGO. As the number grows, the needs also grow. The biggest need remains housing and food.

In hopes of providing a sense of normalcy for the children among them, the families have worked to enroll them in school. However, the children are quite traumatized. “I had some meetings with the students,” said Pastor Mohamed Ibrahim. “They didn’t seem too focused. I think they need some time to forget all the gun shots, the violence, and the fact that most of their belongings were taken away from them. They really need your prayers and help.”

On Sunday, April 22, the youth of the churches organized a concert to pray for Mali and collect funds for the refugees. “In the midst of sorrow and hardship we can celebrate our Lord and Savior,” said Pastor Mohamed Ibrahim. “We praise God for a good concert of praise. The youth massively responded to the call. They brought clothes, money, and all kinds of items for the refugees. We collected almost $1,500 for the refugees.”

However, immediately after the concert, some police offers came to tell the church leaders to be very careful and avoid big gatherings and crowds. They said some Al Qaeda and Boko Haram fighters have infiltrated the city, and that just yesterday 15 fighters were in Bamako. “We were also told not to let people we don't know visit with people in the camp,” Pastor Mohamed Ibrahim said. “We need to be very careful when we gather.”

On Monday, the pastors and leaders of the churches gathered to pray and brainstorm about what they can do in terms of ministry to the people in Bamako and the displaced. Please pray for them as they make decisions.

Yesterday, a nationwide prayer chain began and will culminate on May 27 as a national day of prayer in a large stadium in Bamako. Please join the believers in Mali to pray for the nation and its future.

“Thank you so much for your prayers and support in Christ,” said Pastor Nouh. “It is like a cup of cold water to someone who is thirsty.”

Give a gift today to help refugee families in Mali

Sudanese Churches Receive Order to 'Destroy' Their Buildings

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:58:46 +0000

News From the Field by Amber Holloway, Communications Manager

Our Horn of Africa Area Director, Mark Bardwell, shared today the need for urgent prayer for Sudan. Would you take a moment today to prayer for these needs?

I just talked to our ministry leaders in the North who said they received two letters today giving them three days to "destroy" two of their largest churches. There was no reason given. Please pray for several partner leaders who plan to leave immediately to appeal this order.

The conflict and rhetoric between the North and South Sudan continues to intensify, which could destabilize the region even more. The situation for people in the Nuba Mountains (South Kordofan State) is worsening and hunger is increasing. Read our July 20 article for more background on the conflict and how you can help.

Partner Clinic is Oasis of Hope for Mothers in Kenya

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:43:46 +0000

News From the Field by Amber Holloway, Communications Manager

In a major trading center in eastern Kenya lives a population of 100,000 people. Due to illiteracy, poor infrastructure, and poverty, the people suffer a wide variety of illnesses, but often do not access health care until their condition becomes very serious. The other medical clinics in the area are not able to meet the needs of the poor who have limited resources to pay for treatment.

In 2008, our partner Mchungaji Kundi Moja (meaning “Shepherd of One Flock”) launched a Christian medical clinic in the area. This clinic offers general consultations, obstetrics, gynecology, cancer screenings, immunizations, and HIV testing, as well as laboratory and pharmacy services. The clinic staff have gone to great lengths to understand the local Muslim culture, their language, and way of life. Because of their compassion and skill, they have been able to build bridges of love to the local community.

Partners is providing support for this important center, while MKM works toward the self-sustainability of the program. Patients are charged affordable fees for their programs and services. The clinic’s mother/child health program is one of the most popular. Mothers pay just $5 for a comprehensive exam and about $3 for follow-up appointments. Home visits are given as well to further build relationships. Despite the prevalence of malaria, pneumonia, and malnutrition, this program has reduced child mortality and improved maternal health in this area. Here are just a few stories of mothers and children who have been blessed:

Nicholas is three years old. Together with his four siblings, he was identified at a MKM feeding program as malnourished. The children were given an appointment card to take to their mother, Betty, inviting her to bring them to the medical center. On the day of their appointment, it was discovered the children were all weak and frail but Nicholas was the sickest. He is three years old but weighed just 19 pounds. (The weight for an average three year old is 33 pounds.) He was admitted to the hospital and given intravenous fluids. Two weeks later, Nicholas had made tremendous improvement. Follow-up is still being done until he fully recovers.

Anne is 32 years old and came to the center with tuberculosis. “When she first visited the hospital, she looked pale and withdrawn,” said one of the medical staff. “I invited her in the office for a chat before she would proceed to seek medical treatment. She told me that she was married and had three children. She said she was on medication for tuberculosis, but because of her sickly appearance and weight loss, the people in her community began to gossip that she had HIV. Even she herself began to believe that she had the virus. The HIV test was done, along with many others, but the test was negative. Even she didn't seem convinced at first. The nurse prescribed medication, vitamins, and also gave her some food rations. Home visits were done and she is doing very well, not only health wise but she is confident and emotionally stable.”

Hamasa is 27 years old. At the age of three, she contracted polio causing her to be disabled. As if that was not enough, at 10 years old she had eye complications leading to blindness. She stopped attending school, as did her younger brother who cared for her. She was later married and had a daughter, Hadija. Her husband is unemployed and looks for petty jobs each day to make ends meet. She came to the medical center seeking medical care and food aid for her baby who was found to be malnourished and underweight. The baby was provided with Unimix to boost her growth. The staff nutritionist is regularly checking on Hamasa and her daughter. Hamasa has had a very difficult life, yet she is very warm and kind.

We thank God that because of supporters like you our partners are able to care for these most needy children and mothers.

Food Aid Urgently Needed for Believers Stranded in Mali

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:32:57 +0000

News From the Field by Amber Holloway, Communications Manager

Christian families fleeing violence in Mali need emergency food and shelter. Please help now.