November 2007
The Central, Eastern and
Southern Africa (CESA)
region is larger than the U.S.
Its ethnic diversity spans 21
countries, four territories and
903 people groups. Terrain
ranges from rain forests to
barren deserts to modern
cities and tropical islands.
Emerging democratic gov¬
ernments struggling to put
civil war and poverty behind
them, ignite hope for a better tomorrow. Yet the tradi¬
tional importance of relationships, family and clan often
cause tribalism to rival the push for political unity. Most
of the world's religions exist here; there are Islamic
strongholds along the coast, while a large South Asian
population adheres to Hinduism. In most areas, African
traditional religion rules the way people live through
ancestor worship and witch doctors. Christianity, al¬
though present in some growing and thriving churches,
can also be just a veneer as church attending people
choose not to be born again. Opportunities for evange¬
lism and church planting abound - 231 people groups
exceeding 100,000 each in population are less than two
percent evangelized and 17 of these have no evangelical
witness. However, most of these people groups are either
in remote places or require missionaries to learn at least
two languages to effectively share Christ. With 70 percent
of the world's HIV/AIDS occurring in the region, there
isn't the luxury of time to reach these people. Come join
the race against time to see "Christ the hope of glory,
indwelling every tribe, tongue and nation" in CESA.
Among the gods there is none like You,
О
Lord; Nor are
there any works like Your works. All nations whom You
have made shall come and worship before You,
О
Lord, and
shall glorify Your name. For You are great, and do won¬
drous things; You alone are God (Psalm 86:8-10, NKJV).
HIV AND AIDS IN CESA. Entire families are impacted
by the HIV/AIDS virus in Central, Eastern and Southern
Africa. E's husband came home sick and cannot work now.
One of her children had died recently. A few years earher
she was told that her blood is "dirty" and she now lives in
fear with the burden of caring for her family. Please pray for
the many Es in CESA. Thank God that missionaries and
African Baptist leaders are awakening to the difference they
make in showing the love of Christ to those affected by
HIV/AIDS. In Mozambique, believers teach how to care for
the sick and provide food for their community. Training in
Zambia takes place among the military and police chaplains
in HIV/AIDS education, palliative care and counseling.
Missionaries set up testing and counseling centers, provide
life-lengthening nutritional counseling, train others in coun¬
seling and always share a Gospel message. Pray that
Baptists would continue to communicate the hope of the
Gospel and share the love of Christ, knowing that only God
is able to transform lives and lifestyles.
ECUADOR MESTIZO SIERRA CITIES ( mes-TEE-soh ).
Please pray for a ministry center in Cuenca known as
Ministerios Cristianos C.A.S.A. (Christian Ministries
C.A.S.A.), which was begun recently by national believers
in conjunction with a radio program called "Ministry of
Healing and Freedom in Christ." Those seeking help are
led through studies on true forgiveness, confession,
renouncing sin, choosing truth over deceit and claiming
God's promises for our identity in Christ. The good news is
that many people have learned to struggle through coun¬
seling, take small steps and, at times, make drastic changes
as they begin to walk with Christ.
ISLAM IN CESA. Most Muslims in Central, Eastern and
Southern Africa intertwine Islam with their animistic
beliefs regarding the influence of ancestors in their lives.
Missionaries must address both of these belief systems in
order to clearly present the claims of Christ. In CESA, a few
Muslim-background believers exist, but they struggle to
clearly understand how their new faith impacts genera¬
tions of belief systems. Please pray for these new believers
to grow in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Pray that out of compassion for others these new believers
would boldly share the Good News of Christ. Pray for mis¬
sionaries to clearly present the Gospel and faithfully fol¬
low-up with new behevers.
AMHARA OF ETHIOPIA ( ahm-HAR-ah ). Please pray for
discernment for Bible teachers who work among the
Amhara of Ethiopia. During the summer, more than 1,000
plant cuttings were distributed to the Amhara highland
farmers. The plant has several medicinal qualities, the main
one being a treatment of malaria, a killer among these people.
Bible teaching accompanied the distribution of these plants.
