Compassionate Ministries December 2011 Living Mission: Global Melting Pot "The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved. “ Jeremiah 8:20 (NIV)

(Slide 2) “Every tribe: every tongue; every nation” Revelation 5:9 Global Melting Pot Act Justly (Amos 5:34)

(Slide 3) “Old Testament Hebrew words for justice and righteousness are practically synonymous and are often interchangeable” (Slide 4) Everyone is a foreigner somewhere. (Slide 5 Global Melting Pot 1. To help people understand that mission—ministry to those in another culture—is a specialized skill requiring not only language school but also special education in the values, behaviors, and traditions of other cultures (Slide 6) While Nazarenes in the state of Manipur, India, celebrated the 100th anniversary of the arrival the gospel to their community, 5-10 community members entered the North East India District Center, poured gasoline on the furniture and literature and set the building on fire. (Slide 7) The Church of the Nazarene's North East India District was formed in 2007, and covers seven states, including Manipur, which has a population of more than 2 million. (Slide 8) The group had previously threatened the district leaders so, as a precaution, important documents had been removed earlier and were saved, he added. Fortunately, most of the JESUS Film equipment was being used in the field, thereby avoiding its loss.

1 The church community has strongly condemned the act of the members who did this. Some of those who had silently supported came out boldly against them to condemn their various agendas and acts even before this fire incident. “ (Slide 9) "They came and forced the watchmen to give the keys and poured petrol on all the furniture and literature in the office and set it on fire," said Sunil Dandge, the India Field strategy coordinator. "It was a very mindless act.” No one was reported injured in the January attack, but approximately $8,500 (U.S.) worth of JESUS Film and other equipment, including a typewriter and a block-making machine, were destroyed. (Slide 10) The group had previously threatened the district leaders so, as a precaution, important documents had been removed earlier and were saved, he added. Fortunately, most of the JESUS Film equipment was being used in the field, thereby avoiding its loss. The church community has strongly condemned the act of the members who did this. Some of those who had silently supported came out boldly against them to condemn their various agendas and acts even before this fire incident. “ (Slide 11) A block-making machine was destroyed (Slide 12) According to local custom, the district could not file a police report until it sought redress from the community leaders, who agreed to make the attackers repay the district for its losses and to restrain them from future violence. Originally, the district intended to seek reparations from the community leaders who would in turn hold the attackers responsible. However, district leadership decided against it, as the formal complaint process would require locking up the church until the case was closed. (Slide 13) Young people gather to clean up the fire-ravaged North East India District Center (Slide 14) Nazarenes across the North East India District have come together in great support of the district and its leadership, Dandge reported. Other denominations have also gathered in support, as well as community leaders, who classified this type of action as shameful. People have developed a renewed burden for the Lord and His church," Kim said. "All who truly love God and the church have come forward with donations and contributions in cash and labor. Those churches at a further distance have sent their donations. So it is really encouraging to see the work progressing faster than expected.” (Slide 15) The Gospel first arrived in Manipur in the 19th century with Western missionaries, primarily Baptists, according to information on Wikipedia. The Church of the Nazarene first began work in Manipur in 1995. Today there are more than 30 churches and 2000 members. Pray: -for the encouragement of believers in the district, -for a recovery of its losses, -that God would work in this situation for His glory, redemption for those who meant the attack for evil.

2 (Slide 16) Discussion Questions

1. We can all think of times in our lives when we’ve been afraid of people or groups different from us and the groups with which we identify. Let’s put ourselves, for a few moments, in the shoes of those who attacked the district center in India. What kinds of might they— and others in similar situations—be experiencing that would bring them to engage in such acts of violence and destruction? 2. The testimony of Nazarenes there is that despite the attack, the church has grown. How can churches help quell and build bridges to those who feel threatened by their presence (Slide 17) Global Melting Pot 2. Xenophobia—fear of foreigners and strangers—and to engage people with stories of how xenophobia affects mission and what processes are necessary to combat this problem. This is a theological issue and a matter of the heart. (Slide 18)

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3 (Slide 21) There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6 (NIV) (Slide 22) This world is not my home Like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we are…“heirs with him of the same promise”…We are…“looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God”…We are…“longing for a better country—a heavenly one.” Hebrews 11:9a, 10, 16a (Slide 23) Homophily vs. Xenophobia: Homophily refers to love of people and things that are very much like oneself. Opposites, it turns out, don’t attract as often or as strongly as similarities do. Evidence for homophily is overwhelming almost anywhere you look. Most neighborhoods are uniform in housing quality, population demographics and other factors, both because similar people choose similar houses and because neighborhood covenants prevent variation. (Slide 24) Homophily is confusing and self-contradictory until you understand that most people believe in and care about themselves and people who are very much like them. This whole issue needs to be seen in the context of scripture. James his short epistle said, “My brothers, as believers in the glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothing, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing the fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but to the poor man, “You stand there” or “sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” James 2:1-4 (Slide 25) Jesus’ Invitation “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

(Slide 26) Discussion Questions: 1. Given the story of God’s people and the testimony of the Bible regarding God’s heart for aliens and strangers, how do you think the church should address situations in which our neighbors, even our enemies, experience injustice because they are foreigners in some way? 2. In what concrete ways can we as Christians show love to these people? (Slide 27) Global Melting Pot 3. To understand that this is not simply an issue for those from the West; there are many examples of Nazarene missionaries and Christians from other parts of the world who must also confront this issue

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(Slide 29) Since Jesus laid down His life, 43 million Christians have become martyrs. Right now 200 million people face persecution for believing in Jesus and 60% of those people are children, according to Christians in Crisis International Ministry, a prayer advocacy ministry for persecuted believers. (Slide 30) In the past 100 years (during the 20th Century) 26,000,000 Christians were killed for their faith (martyred). This is more than the combined total of all previous centuries. It does not count the untold numbers who were persecuted in other ways, imprisoned, tortured, and even enslaved. The church is experiencing phenomenal growth in the areas where it is under most duress.

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(Slide 32) A major area of intense persecution today is in the "10/40 Window" where 97 percent of the world’s least evangelized people live. This rectangular area extends from West Africa across Asia, between the 10th and 40th parallels north of the equator. There are 1.6 billion Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists living in this window and in some countries the Church has almost been eliminated as a result of Islamic oppression. The Christian population there is less than 2 percent, a small but precious minority. (Slide 33) Today, Christians are the most persecuted believers in the world. Millions suffer from discrimination or are persecuted because of their faith - be it in the Muslim world, in totalitarian countries or in areas dominated by violence. Often considered as second-class citizens, Christians are denied the elementary freedoms which they could claim. The World Watch List indicates the countries ranked according to the degree of persecution of Christians. Below is the most recent update. It contains the top 51 countries. (See the following list).

6 (Slide 34) Countries in alphabetical order where persecution exists—World Watch Degree of Severity List—# in parentheses 1. Afghanistan - (3) 19. Indonesia (48) 36. Qatar (17) 2. Algeria-(22) 20. Iran (2) 37. Russia (50) 3. Azerbaijan-(24) 21. Iraq (8) 38. Saudi Arabia (4) 4. Bahrain- (45) 22. Jordan (40) 39. Somalia (5) 5. Bangladesh-(47) 23. Kuwait (28) 40. Sri Lanka (49) 6. Belarus-(42) 24. Kyrgyzstan (46) 41. Sudan (35) 7. Bhutan-(14) 25. Laos (10) 42. Syria (38) 8. Brunei-(29) 26. Libya (25) 43. Tajikistan (33) 9. Burma (Myanmar) (27) 27. Malaysia (50) 44. Tunisia (37) 10. Chechnya-(20) 28. Maldives (6) 45. Turkey (30) 11. China (16) 29. Mauritania (13) 46. Turkmenistan (15) 12. Comoros (21) 30. Morocco (31) 47. United Arab Emirates 13. Cuba (41) 31. Nigeria (23) (34) 14. Djibouti (39) 32. North Korea (1) 48. Uzbekistan (9) 15. Egypt (19) 33. Oman (26) 49. Vietnam (18) 16. Eritrea (12) 34. Pakistan (11) 50. Yemen (7) 17. Ethiopia (43) 35. Palestinian Territories 51. Zanzibar Islands (36) 18. India (32) (44) (Slide 35) Help for Persecuted Christians NCM Projects ACM1832 ncm.org Dangers exist for certain people who choose to follow Christ in the Middle East. Families are physically threatened or ostracized, properties and businesses are destroyed, and people are arrested with mounting legal bills. As more and more people respond to the good news of Christ, there is a need to protect and support them when troubles arise. A gift to this fund will help relocate families, provide small business loans, provide general assistance and pay legal fees for people in the Middle East who are persecuted for their faith in Christ. Nazarene Compassionate Ministries ACM1832 Checks can be marked "ACM1832" and mailed to: Region: Global Treasury Services Eurasia PO Box 843116 Location: Kansas City, MO 64184 Middle East Need: $8,000.00

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