December 2010 - The Non-written Word
MP3 players provide an excellent way to give out portions of scripture, and are ideal for those who cannot read, or for people who do not have the Bible in their own language yet. In West Africa these discreet gadgets have been given out loaded with Bible passages recorded in the Soninke language. Pray for these recipients as they hear the Word in their own language, and pray that these little pieces of technology keep on working.
November 2010 - The ReachAcross Annual Conference
A Christian Conference Centre in the East Midlands was the very comfortable venue for the ReachAcross Annual Conference. This was a wonderful opportunity for fellowship with others who have a heart for Christian work among Muslims in the UK and overseas. We were blessed with some fantastic teaching and insight into the Muslim mind, courtesy of our main speaker, a BMB who is now actively engaged in witness and evangelism to Muslims. Updates were given of all our fields covering many of the current projects and all of our personnel. It was not all hard work and no play however, and with good food, and friends both new and familiar, the weekend was enjoyed by all!
October 2010 - Helping Flood Victims
The devastating floods that have covered parts of South Asia have provided two of our workers with a change from their routine ministry. This pair have been involved directly with frontline care - buying and overseeing the distribution of essential supplies, as well as helping run a medical camp for the sick. Some time each week is also spent trying to locate flood-affected villages that are off the beaten track, where little or no assistance has been received. While addressing the physical and emotional needs of these suffering people, there have also been opportunities to address spiritual needs: over the weeks there have been many answers to prayer, as well as New Testaments and booklets distributed. Pray that these two workers will continue to make a real difference in every way, to those they serve.
September 2010 - UK-based Vision Trips
ReachAcross is now starting a programme of Vision Trips and short term internships in the UK. These will be based in Birmingham and will be suitable for individuals and small groups alike. Trips can last anything from a week up to two years. This is a fantastic opportunity to get involved in sharing the Gospel with Muslims, and further your understanding of their culture and religion. All courses will be led by our friendly and experienced staff and will include training coupled with practical evangelism and service in the surrounding Muslim communities.
August 2010 - Ramadan
Ramadan this year begins 11 August and will finish 9 September. During this time of religious zeal there will be many disruptions to the daily routine as business and social planning is re-worked to accommodate the fast. Pray that this will be a time of meaningful conversations, as religion comes to the forefront of people's lives.
July 2010 - Water Pedal Pump Project
In East Africa, water is a major issue and concern for many. In one region, considered one of the hottest places on earth, there is a pedal pump project that has already distributed and successfully installed 14 pumps, with more on the way. As well as providing vital irrigation for crops, the project is a great way of meeting and building relationships with locals and businessmen. Pray that the pumps will continue to bless their recipients and that the project will grow and help more people.
June 2010 - Disabled children project in the Red Sea Region
Some of our members working in an arid mountainous region near the Red Sea have been greatly encouraged that we now have a large team of local social workers being trained to help identify and meet the needs of the disabled in the city. Caring for the disabled is a wonderful way of expessing God's love and compassion for the local people. Pray that the disabled, as well as the local trainees, will all experience and begin to understand God's great love for us as individuals, not only caring for our physical needs, but also wanting to give us new life in Christ.
May 2010 - Work among African students
We praise the Lord for a time of outreach in a town in the western Sahel where around 600 students heard a clear presentation of the Gospel. This was followed up by a Bible study class for around 60 Christian students, with time for discussion and counselling. The church planted by ReachAcross in this town would like more events like this so please pray for the resources to be able to do so.
April 2010 - Christian Book Shops
One of our members has been involved in setting up several Christian bookshops in south Asia. The latest shop opened this month. All the book shops are staffed by local Christians. Please continue to remember in prayer the local Christian man who leads this ministry and the other workers involved as they seek to be 'contact points' in the various bookshops around the country. As a result of such evangelistic efforts one group of Muslim-background believers who meet regularly for fellowship and discipleship has doubled in size in the last year. It is difficult for such believers to meet together openly or to express their new faith publicly. Please also remember them in prayer.
March 2010 - Bible Translation
This month saw the final checking of 1 Samuel completed in the project to translate and publish the Bible in the Soninke language of West Africa. With over three million Soninke people in the region it is imperative that they have the Bible in their own language if the church is to grow in the region. It is reported that there are only 40 believers among this people group. Pray for our members who are involved in this, and other Bible translation projects.
February 2010 - New Believers
It is exciting to hear from ReachAcross members in various locations in the Arabian Peninsula that they are currently meeting with several new believers. One group of Muslim-background believers who meet regularly for fellowship and discipleship has doubled in size in the last year. It is difficult for such believers to meet together openly or to express their new faith publicly. Please remember them in prayer.
January 2010 - Midwives set off for South Asia
Despite closures of several main airports in the UK due to snow, two English ReachAcross midwives and a doctor friend found a window of opportunity to set out to the foothills of the Himalayas in order to serve in a Christian hospital which reaches out to the local Muslim population by providing much needed medical services. Set in a beautiful mountain valley, the hospital is staffed mostly by Christians from elsewhere in this predominantly Muslim country. The locals are all Muslim and are mostly quite poor materially. However, they are aware that it is Christians caring for them and sometimes take the opportunity to ask about our faith, buy a Christian tract, or ask for prayer.
December 2009 - Family prepares to join our team in the Middle East
For one English ReachAcross family, Christmas was made all the more exciting by the fact that in the middle of all the festivities, they were also trying to dispose of nearly all their belongings prior to taking only a few suit cases to their new home in the Arabian Peninsula. The husband and wife will both be involved in learning the local language while also teaching at a language school set up to help the local people learn English. Hundreds of adult students benefit from the school each year. Teaching is an excellent way of building friendships and can often lead to having opportunities to share one's faith.
November 2009 - Unihockey
In what is considered by many to be the hottest country in the world (by average annual temperatures), our unihockey ministry is thriving! The local youth have really taken to this sport in recent years and a league has been established. Two short termers are helping to run the project this year and will hopefully continue until the summer break in 2010. This ministry is based in the Red Sea Region and is an excellent opportunity for any French-speaking young adults to take on as a gap year activity.
October 2009 - ReachAcross Autumn Conference
Our Annual Autumn Conference was held at a Christian conference centre near London. This was a fantastic opportunity for fellowship with others who have a heart for Christian work among Muslims in the UK and overseas. The main guest speaker had over forty years of experience in such work. He spoke with passion and insight into our relationship to the Lord, to our fellow Christians and to the people among whom we minister. There were presentations from recently returned short-term ReachAcross personnel who spoke about their evangelistic and medical ministry in the Middle East, the Red Sea Region and South Asia. All in all a fantastic weekend!