Mennonite Brethren Mission and Service International (MBMSI) launched a redesigned website (www.mbmsi.org) this September featuring three main portals: Discover, Go, and Connect. These portals aim to help the more than 3,000 site visitors per month to learn more about mission opportunities and holistic church planting among unevangelized people. In conjunction with the main site redesign, MBMSI launched a companion site (www.mbmsiVideo.com) featuring videos of missionary testimonials, baptisms, interviews, and “stories of transformation.” The site also makes available the Shine On video project, which offers 2-minute videos of life-transforming stories from the world of mission. Updated monthly, the videos can be used by local churches to highlight the work of MBMSI. —MBMSI release
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Adopt a Terrorist for Prayer website encourages Christians to an “effective and unified Christian response to terrorism” by encouraging prayer for men whose commitment to Islam leads them to violence. Participants can post prayers on a terrorist profile or adopt a terrorist for regular prayer. —www.atfp.org
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An Ipsos Reid/World Vision poll reported that while 96 percent of Canadians described the global food crisis as “critical,” only 25 percent were more likely to give to charitable causes this year in response. The poll also reported that seven in 10 Canadians say they don’t need anything for Christmas. One quarter of Canadians with a significant other cannot remember what their sweetheart gave them last Christmas. —World Vision
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MCC has begun emergency response to hurricanes and tropical storms affecting the Caribbean and Gulf Coast area. “The government and the U.N. are struggling to keep up with the demands for help [in Haiti], especially because access is so difficult,” said Mark Epp, MCC’s associate director for Latin America and the Caribbean. The poorest country in the western hemisphere, Haiti is unusually vulnerable to damage from storms because much of its forests have been chopped down and used for fuel, allowing rainwater to easily wash down its mountains and cause massive flooding. Hundreds of deaths have been reported and thousands are without food, shelter, and clean water as a result of a 3-week onslaught of tropical storms. —MCC release
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Abuse: Response and Prevention is a booklet designed by MCC to educate and guide church leaders in navigating the complexities of victims, offenders, and legal issues. Copies are available from MCC offices along with a brochure on the Canadian Correctional Service. —MCC
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TourMagination, a Christian tour company that seeks to build bridges between Mennonites and Christians around the world, is partnering with MEDA and Mennonite World Conference to promote a carbon offset fund to clients. TourMagination will encourage participants registering for its tours to Paraguay 2009 to visit the MEDA website to compensate for their travel impact and will soon make this option available to all clients. —TourMagination
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Christians have fled to the capital of the state of Orissa, India to escape Hindu violence, which reports say state police have done little to control. Attacks on Christians and their property and institutions began in Orissa’s Kandhamal district following the killing of a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council or VHP) leader, Laxmanananda Saraswati, and four of his disciples on Aug. 23. Though Maoists claimed responsibility for the murders, Hindu extremist violence continued to be directed at Christians in the villages. —Compass Direct News
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Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) is making its first foray into the European market with plans to open an office in Germany. Titus Horsch will direct MEDA in Europe and expand the organization’s contribution as an industry leader in economic development by engaging with large European donor agencies. The initiative’s success could mean the creation of a full member-based MEDA organization in Europe integrated with the North American model. —MEDA release
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The Lutheran World Federation is preparing a statement asking forgiveness for 16th-century persecution of Anabaptists. The statement is expected to be ready for the Lutheran World Federation’s assembly in 2010. —Mennonite Weekly Review
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Ontario provincial parliament voted June 12 to add a second prayer or meditation to its opening proceedings to reflect the growing diversity in the province. A rotating list of prayers from different religious traditions will be inserted alongside the Christian prayer. The move was in response to premier Dalton McGuinty’s suggestion the daily reading of the Lord’s Prayer be halted. —Christian Week