A California-based apologist who oversees a conference that has about 3,000 regular attendees recently addressed the reasons for why churches might object to apologetics ministries. 

“I’ve had to convince a lot of pastors that showing up for an apologetics class, having an apologetics series for their student ministry is an incredibly valuable thing,” said Dena Davidson, campus life director of Thrive School who oversees the Thrive Apologetics Conference at Bayside Church.

“I do think there are a lot of pastors out there who are maybe a little bit jaded about, ‘Ah, apologetics doesn’t work. No one becomes a Christian because their questions get answered.’ And so I have had to face a little bit of that, for sure.”

Davidson was interviewed by Mikel Del Rosario of Dallas Theological Seminary on an episode of “The Table” podcast. She explained that she at her own church, she has been met with support for her ministry.

“I actually work in a church where it was our senior pastor who knew that we needed to have an apologetics presence on our campuses. And so he was the one who actually approached me and said, “Hey. I have this vision to do an apologetics conference. You’re doing something with apologetics. Can you run it?’” recalled Davidson.

“And I had no idea what I was saying yes to. I just thought that was so cool that my senior pastor was A, talking to me, and B, asking me to put on something that I love so much for the rest of the church.”

While she “did not have to convince that senior pastor that this ministry was valuable,” she has met some resistance from other churches. She cited two big reasons for churches resisting apologetics ministry, the first being a bad experience.

“I listen to their story about they may have seen someone use apologetics to try to argue people into the kingdom, or people use apologetics to actually tear people down,” she explained.

“After listening to their story, I just, in love, present a different option. And I say, ‘That sounds like really bad apologetics. But just because someone has done apologetics poorly doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it. It means that we need to do it better.’”

The second reason churches might be hesitant to do apologetics, according to Davidson, was that “it’s a lot of work.”

SOURCE: Christian Post, Michael Gryboski

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Hindu extremists in India brutally beat a Christian leader before running their motorcycles over him while mocking his faith as he lay semi-conscious in Sehore, Madhya Pradesh state, according to a pastor.

Shortly after dropping his 5-year-old son off at school that morning, Isaac Paulose, 48, was beaten by 10 Hindu nationalists armed with bamboo rods and a thick metal chain with a heavy lock on it. The attackers then ran their five motorcycles over him, fracturing one of his ribs, Uttar Kumar Deep, pastor of Grace Fellowship Church of CEA (Christian Evangelistic Assemblies), Sehore told Morning Star News.

According to Deep, Paulose was in his car when a Hindu nationalist on a motorcycle stopped him and told him to get out.

“Unaware of his intentions and without a slightest of suspicion, Isaac stepped out,” Deep said. “Suddenly others joined the biker, and all of them began to beat Isaac with bamboo logs and a chain. The moment he stepped out of his car, the others joined in, and they began to beat him.”

“Accusing him of ‘converting people,’ they beat him with bamboo logs and a thick metal chain with a lock attached to its end. They scorned and ridiculed him, daring him to continue to convert people.”

The assailants threatened to kill the pastor before leaving and mocked his faith, Deep said.

“When he lay on the ground half-dead, they drove their bikes, five in number, one after another over him, injuring him further and breaking his rib,” he said. “They scorned and taunted him, asking him to call on the name of Jesus. They also threatened to kill him if he continues to ‘convert’ people.”

The assailants fled only after passers-by noticed and came to Paulose’s aid. The Christian leader was rushed to a hospital where he underwent two surgeries on his left hand, which sustained multiple fractures.

“He has received two stitches at the back of his head, and one stitch on his forehead,” Isaac said. “One of his ribs is fractured, for which the doctors said that nothing can be done and that he will need to take a lot of rest for the rib to heal by itself.”

SOURCE: Christian Post, Leah MarieAnn Klett

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North Dakota’s a long way from Wuhan, China. But our friend Wes has been seeing more and more customers wearing masks in the local Walmart. He says he’s going to start telling them “to calm down.” Thinking of how fear can spook the stock market, he commented, “Then I’m going to thank them for destroying my 401(k).”

Okay, not a recommended response to the coronavirus crisis. But it’s definitely a reflection of the increasing fear a lot of folks are feeling right now. And the stunning impact this virus is having all over the world.

Major cities shut down. Powerhouse economies like China’s slowing to a crawl. Wholesale international travel cancellations. Wall Street in freefall. Medical supply shortages. Major events cancelled.

And that’s just a few weeks into the threat! Increasingly, there are huge questions about supply line interruptions in everything from manufacturing to medication. And how America’s thriving economy could be affected. And elections. And transportation. And, of course, avoiding the virus’ growing tentacles.

Pandemic, some are calling it. But beyond any medical pandemic is another pandemic. Fear. On social media, on TV – even in a North Dakota store.

But the anxiety thing is bigger even than the coronavirus scare. I just returned from meetings with leaders of major Christian mission organizations; people with their finger on the pulse of people and places around the world.  And the recurring observation was, “The nations are being shaken.” From the Hong Kong crisis to riots in India to resurgent anti-Semitism to political upheaval in countries around the globe. And now the ominous cloud of coronavirus hanging over millions of us.

So many unknowns. So many disturbing possibilities. And, yes, so much fear. Precautions are good. Panic and paralysis aren’t. But that is often where fear takes us.

Back in 1993, on the morning after that first bombing at the World Trade Center, I was on the early morning flight from New York to Cleveland. We were greeted by a gaggle of reporters, one of whom stopped me and asked how people were feeling. Without any time to think about it, only one word came to mind. “Vulnerable. We feel vulnerable.”

I think that’s how many of us are feeling in a world that’s “shaking.” And it’s more than a feeling. We really are vulnerable. Look at what happens when there’s just an extended power outage, for example. And with our pervasive dependency on technology, what happens if there’s a cyber meltdown or attack? It wouldn’t take long to make a list of our many vulnerabilities.

Lots to fear.

SOURCE: Christian Post, Ron Hutchcraft

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The devadasi lifestyle is outlawed in India, but the practice remains in pockets of the country. Devadasis are temple prostitutes dedicated to a particular god or goddess. They perform sexual favors, and much of the money they earn goes to the temple as a religious offering.

Haida was only seven-years-old when she became a devadasi for the goddess Yellamma. Her family worshipped Yellamma, and Haida’s mother pressured her into religious servitude.

At first, Haida was mesmerized by the devadasi dedication rituals and processions for her. But things quickly grew dark as she realized what was expected of her. When Haida tried to run, her mother stopped her and forced her to stay or risk stoking the goddess’s wrath.

Fear kept Haida enslaved in temple prostitution and stole her childhood. She eventually had two daughters by different men. By the time she was a young adult, Haida was working hard labor outside the temple to earn extra income and support her children.

Haida never had an education and couldn’t read or write, so alternative employment was out of the question. She was terrified that her daughters would be pressured to become devadasis as well. In despair, Haida made plans to take her own life.

But God intervened. Haida’s cousin, Raheema, was a Christian and came to visit Haida on the day she planned to end her life. Raheema told Haida the story of Jesus and His love for her. It was the first time Haida felt a glimmer of hope.

Raheema was also attending an Adult Literacy Class with Mission India just down the street. She invited Haida to join her.

Mission India’s Adult Literacy Classes are vital for women like Haida who have only known degradation and disempowerment.

Erik Morsehead with Mission India says, “One of the greatest things about Adult Literacy Classes is that they, for the first time, get to understand their value — their value in their family, their value in their community, their value to themselves, and ultimately and most importantly, the value that God has put upon them.”

SOURCE: Mission Network News, Lyndsey Koh

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Ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8, Global Disciples’ Wendy Nagle explains that women are often a difficult group to connect with when it comes to the Gospel message.

“[Women] may be in household, not out in the marketplace, and we’re looking for unique ways that we can connect with them,” she says. However, through Global Disciples’ ministry, these women are becoming easier to reach. Global Disciples is an organization that mobilizes local churches among the least reached people groups all over the world. Their programs help churches thrive and multiply.

“We have facilitators who work for Global Disciples in their own countries, and those facilitators partner with the program directors that lead church programs throughout more than 57 countries,” Nagle explains. “Those program directors work inside their church to do trainings.”

These trainings include programs in discipleship, small business development, and leadership. This proven approach enables local churches to flourish and grow. The discipleship training in particular helps equip congregation members to effectively share the Gospel with their family, friends, and community.  “Many of those trainings will include the ladies [in the] church,” Nagle says.

She explains this is key to reaching other women in the community. “What we’re hearing more and more is women ministering to women is the perfect outreach strategy for them. Whether they’re ministering in the homes of family members, going to visit relatives, or in some cases domestic workers who are living in households, they’re being effective in reaching the people right inside their four walls.”

SOURCE: Mission Network News, Rachel Pfeiffer

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As the land is torn apart by conflict, the ancient church in Palestine has often been ignored by the West.

Who are we? Why is this happening? And what is our part in the story? These three questions face a beleaguered Christian minority in Palestine, says Yousef Alkhouri of Bethlehem Bible College.

To answer them, the college is offering a new course for this spring semester entitled “Christian Theology and Ideology in Palestine.” AlKhouri says the course is open to the public and is separated into nine topics. The class has averaged 80 people attending per session. “Together, the audience consists of Christians and Muslims, women and men of all ages.”

AlKhouri says we understand theology based on our cultural and historical contexts, and Palestine is no different. He describes the Palestinian theological emphasis this way. “It’s a Christ-centered and Kingdom oriented, contextual theology. It holds firm to belief that God is just and God is loving. And we have seen and witnessed His love to the world through the incarnation of Jesus Christ. It also stands firmly on Jesus’ command to love thy neighbor, Muslim or Jew.”

And this theology flows out of deep wounds Palestinian Christians have suffered since 1948 that have decimated the Palestinian church.

SOURCE: Mission Network News, Kevin Zeller

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