People Group Focus - The Malay of Malaysia

In the midst of exotic, tropical beauty of Malaysia lives a people who are almost 100 percent Muslims and who have little to no access to the Gospel. The Malay are a gentle people, committed to industriousness and modernity, but entrenched in centuries-old Islamic traditions. Although a strong evangelical church is growing, most new members are Chinese or Indians living in Malaysia, not the Malay people." Read more about the Malay and the challenge to take the gospel to them.

Map of Malaysia

More Malay people group info

Prayer Points

• Pray for a massive movement to Christ among the Malay of South East Asia.
• Ask the Lord of the harvest to send more long term workers to this abundant harvest field.
• Pray that Chinese and Indian Christians would rise above their fears to reach out to their Malay neighbors.
• Pray for open hearts among the Malays to the truth about Jesus Christ.
• Pray that the Malay would know that eternal life is a free gift from God. It is not something they must earn.
• Pray that God will soon be praised by multitudes of Malays worshipping before His throne.

Mission Projects

Youth:

More youth mission projects

College/Seminary:

*Southeast Asia & Oceania

More college/seminary projects

Changing Email?

If your email address will change this summer, let us know!  Reply to this email and let us know your new email address so you can continue to receive thE-TASK during the summer.

Response for Iraq

"We must respond with a cup of cold water in Christ's name and we must let the Iraqi people see Jesus in us so plainly that they will never thirst again. Even after the war is over, the Iraqi people will not know real peace unless they have God's peace within their hearts."

-John Brady, who directs Southern Baptist work through the International Mission Board in the Middle East and Northern Africa

Read more about Iraq.                     Iraq/Mercy Me video   56k   175k   300k

Ways you can respond

.Pray - search CompassionNet for the latest prayer requests from Iraq.

.Give to help provide the water projects, blankets, tents and other help needed by Iraqis.

.Go as a volunteer to help meet needs in Iraq. Most needed: medical and dental workers, construction workers, agricultural and livestock workers, logistics workers, fish farm experts. For information, call the Iraqi Response Desk at the International Mission Board at (800) 999-3113. ext. 1641.

Day of prayer and fasting for world evangelization

June 8, 2003

Focus on China: A most precious gift

The first time the young Chinese woman held a Bible in her hands, she trembled with excitement. Looking into the eyes of the giver, she timidly asked, "When do I have to give this back to you?" The Christian friend replied, "This is yours. You don't have to give it back." Tears rolled down her cheeks as she realized that she had her very own copy of the most precious book of all. (From IMB Preachables 2/28/03)

Order the FREE DVD for the 2003 Day of Prayer and Fasting by ordering online or by emailing resource.center@imb.org.  Ask for DVD-CHINA.

(Starting July 1 the DVD will cost $10).

Persecuted Church: India

Adam* is a young Christian in rural India. In his Hindu village, people were antagonistic to the gospel. One day, Adam's older brother and wife became the first believers in the village. Although Adam was not willing to follow, he observed the changed lives of his brother and sister-in-law. They began to share the gospel with other villagers, but no one would listen to them. Then the beatings began.

Every time the Hindus beat Adam's brother, someone in the crowd became a believer. Eventually, Adam himself believed in Christ and began suffering the same persecution as his brother. One day the villagers surrounded Adam, his brother and the small group of new Christians. In rage they had prepared a huge pot of boiling water and were preparing to cook the Christians alive. Then one of the Hindus calmed the mob and said, "If we do this even more will become Christians," so they agreed to just beat the believers.

As a result, others were added to the family of Christ. They now have a church of more than 35 families in that village.

*Not his real name.

Comic Relief: Frequent-Flier Programs

By Dave Barry

Frequent flier programs, wherein each time you take a commercial flight, you earn a certain number of miles, plus bonus miles if you actually reach your intended destination within your lifetime. After you've accumulated enough miles, you can redeem them for another flight, unless you have the intelligence of a turnip, in which case you'll remain in your recreation room, where it's safe.

Adapted from Dave Barry's Only Travel Guide You Will Every Need (New York: Fawcett Columbine), 1991, p. 37.

Bible Study: Hole in One!

By Mary Alice Hughes with Felicity Burrow

Eph. 5:15-17

Raising money for student missions has never been as fun as it was last month when I "had" to play golf for the cause. It's a rough job, but someone had to do it and I grudgingly (ahem) volunteered my services for the good of all student missionaries. My tournament partner, Mary Alice Hughes, won the longest drive contest (she even beat the guys!), but I managed to hit a really good shot on one hole. Because of that one shot, I discovered a deep theological bent in Mary Alice. Read her thoughts about the tournament and the relationship between golf and God.