Beyond the Wall —Nine months later, tsunami survivors still need help – and hope News — For whom will you pray? … Your missionaries say thanks Resources — Voices of the Faithful hits No. 1 Speaking of missions —Missions by the Book: A light to the nations … Quotable: Your gifts are making a difference … Illustration: Showing God’s love speaks volumes Forward to a friend

Beyond the Wall

Tsunami response

Laddu (left) and his family, like thousands of other Sri Lankans who lost everything in the Dec. 26 tsunami, wait in temporary wooden structures until they can rebuild. Southern Baptists are helping rebuild homes with aid funds donated by churches during the last nine months.

Nine months later, tsunami survivors still need help – and hope
The tsunami that roared ashore last Dec. 26 invaded the lives of millions of South Asians – stealing loved ones, scarring hearts, destroying homes and communities. Nine months later, the television cameras are gone, but the hurt isn’t.

Find out what had happened since writer “Goldie Frances” visited Sri Lanka soon after the tsunami.

Meet a few of the hundreds of Southern Baptist volunteers who’ve helped tsunami victims.

Southern Baptists have helped design a tsunami-ready house for Sri Lanka. Learn more about it.

In her journal of an earlier trip to Sri Lanka, “Goldie Frances” told Nishan’s story.

See what she learned when she visited him again.

News

That all peoples may know Him

Missionary “Marty Hunter” and a local Christian leader train other Indians to share their faith and teach others to do the same. Please pray for Hunter and the Lingayats of India during the Week of Prayer for International Missions.

For whom will you pray?
“Marty Hunter” is one of eight strategy-coordinator missionaries you’re asked to pray for during the 2005 Week of Prayer for International Missions, Dec. 4-11.

Find out who the others are and how you can pray for their people group.

Don’t miss the photos you can use to create your own e-letters, bulletin board and PowerPoints for the Week of Prayer. 

Your missionaries say thanks
They want to tell you how your gifts and prayers make a difference. Find a new note each weekday.

Tell us how you share them with your church.

Read about a couple who fled New Orleans with three days’ worth of clothes, a few photo albums and two pet chinchillas – and were appointed as missionaries Sept. 13.

Quotable: More powerful than a thousand Category 5 hurricanes

“We’re sending out a force … that’s more powerful than a thousand Category 5 hurricanes.” – IMB trustee chairman Tom Hatley when the International Mission Board appointed new missionaries in a Gulf Coast city just east of the region battered days earlier by Hurricane Katrina

Read more about the new missionaries.

In their own words: Listen to the testimonies of some of these new missionaries.

West Africa: A formidable challenge

In West Africa …

– Almost 40 percent of the people claim to be Christians, but they are primarily limited to a few major people groups.

– 75 percent of the Unreached People Groups have a population of 15,000 or less.

– The region is tops in missionary resignations and rounds out the bottom of missionary appointments.

After a recent trip in the regions, IMB President Jerry Rankin said this: “Every region of the world has its unique challenges, but few have to embrace such a sacrificial lifestyle and live in the midst of suffering and chronic needs as those in West Africa.”

See what other formidable challenge they face.

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Resources

Voices of the Faithful hits No. 1
No. 1 – That’s where Voices of the Faithful landed in the “Christian Retailing” Top 100 for July 16-31, just as churches were beginning to make plans to use the book for a yearlong “Lift Up Your Voice” call to prayer.

Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Colonial Heights, Va., for example, has decided to use the book as part of its prayer meetings for the year 2006, starting in January. Pastor Jeff Ginn said the church will read through the book during the week and then discuss it during Wednesday night prayer meetings.

Read more about what Lift Up Your Voice can do for missionaries – and for your church.

Speaking of missions

Missions by the Book: A light to the nations
“I will also make You a light of the nations so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth” – Isaiah 49:6b, NASB.

Quotable: Your gifts are making a difference
 “I’m seeing a change in demeanor as the people move in their houses. It makes a significant difference. They’re smiling a little bit – and they’re decorating.” – “Riley Delk,” who has overseen the construction of several houses provided for tsunami survivors by Southern Baptist aid 

Illustration: Showing God’s love speaks volumes
Visiting a home in Sir Lanka, Southern Baptist volunteer Debbie Russell saw little apparent damage and few needs – or so it first appeared. As one of his sisters went to the kitchen to prepare tea and mangoes for the volunteers, the man of the house shared how the tsunami stole their parents, who lived closer to the ocean.

His sister emerged from the kitchen. “Do you think (the tsunami) will come again?” she asked. “I’m afraid. My mother and father are dead, and I am sad. I don’t like to stay here. Every day I am crying.”  

The woman invited Russell to see the rest of the house. When they were alone, Russell offered to pray for her. She readily agreed, saying another American woman had told her about Jesus before the tsunami. Then, Russell reported: “She kind of lowered her voice and said, ‘Get me a Bible, so I can read it – in Sinhalese, not English.’” Russell gave her the Bible the next day. Since then, other Christians have learned the sisters and their brother have been reading the Bible.

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