AP

1.2 MILLION AFRICAN METHODISTS LEAVE UMC
1.2 Million African Methodists leave the United Methodist Church (UMC) over allowance of LGBT Clergy, Same-Sex Weddings. The UMC lost more than 1 million members in a single day last week when the Ivory Coast (Africa) branch voted to leave the denomination due to its new liberal stance on sexuality and gender, one month after UMC delegates voted during the General Conference in the U.S. to remove the denomination’s bans on LGBT clergy and same-sex weddings.
An English translation of the Ivory Coast branch declaration said the UMC denomination had distanced “itself from the Holy Scriptures” and “was no longer suitable” for the Cote d’Ivoire Conference. Prior to the withdrawal, the United Methodist Church had approximately 10 million members in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the United States. Other branches in Africa could follow. In Zimbabwe, protesters gathered outside the church’s headquarters last week to oppose the denomination’s new stance on sexuality.
Roughly one-fourth of the United Methodist churches in the U.S. left the denomination in recent years. Many of them are joining the Global Methodist Church, a new denomination launched in May of last year by conservative Methodists. The Global Methodist Church’s Book Of Doctrines And Discipline defines marriage as the union of one man, one woman. On sexuality and gender, the book says, “While affirming a scriptural view of sexuality and gender, we welcome all to experience the redemptive grace of Jesus and are committed to being a safe place of refuge, hospitality, and healing for any who may have experienced brokenness in their sexual lives (Genesis 1:27, Genesis 2:24, 1 Corinthians 6:9-20).” [Source: Crosswalk (USA)]

CHRISTIAN AID TO STARVING PEOPLE IN AFRICAN COUNTRIES
The U.N. World Food Programme is rallying support to bring aid to drought-stricken Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia. The three countries were declared a drought disaster after the El Niño weather reduced rainfall by 20% this year. There is also unrest in Malwai where extremist groups are martyring Christians for their faith. Jason Woolford, president of Mission Cry says the country needs more than just rain and peace.
That’s why Mission Cry is preparing to send Malawi a shipping container full of Bibles and Christian resources. The mission’s leader in Malawi (who can’t be named for security) told Mission Network News many times Christians are being hurt or killed for the God they can’t read about because they can’t afford a Bible. Malawi is a landlocked country, and it costs nearly double the usual amount to send a shipping container. Mission Cry has sent Christian resources to more than 175 countries worldwide. [Source: Mission Network News]

WORK IS STILL NEEDED IN WORLDWIDE BIBLE TRANSLATION
A lot of work is still needed in worldwide Bible translation. A fifth of the world still lacks access to the Bible in their first language. Around 1.5 billion people speaking over 6,000 languages are yet to have seen a Bible written in their most familiar tongue, according to a Christian Today report.

25,000 FLOOD STREETS OF PARIS TO MARCH FOR JESUS
Praise, prayer, and the Word of God filled the streets of Paris this weekend as more than 25,000 people participated in the March For Jesus in France. “If we want to touch the world, there is one condition: it is to love each other as Christ loved us,” said Pastor Jean Luc Trachsel who delivered a message near the Eiffel Tower. The massive gathering of believers across Paris on May 25th reportedly broke record participation when attendees gathered together to “bear witness publicly and in unity” about their faith in Jesus Christ.
According to the “March For Jesus France” website, the first such march took place in Paris in 1991 and was later organized in smaller cities. But this year’s march in Paris broke its record with more than 25,000 participants, according to French authorities. Participation in the four other cities reached the thousands. “If God does this in France, He can and will do it throughout Europe and in the nations of the world. It is harvest time and revival has begun,” said Trachsel. “In the midst of chaos, wars, opposition, and even persecution, the Glory of God arises as we arise to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a demonstration of power.” [Source: CBN news

RE-ELECTED PRIME MINISTER HAS DONE MUCH TO PROTECT CHRISTIANS
Bangladesh has re-elected its Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina Wazed (aged 76). It is her fourth consecutive term in office and fifth term overall. Sheikh Hasina has done much to protect the rights of Christians and other non-Muslim minorities in Bangladesh. She has affirmed the equality of all Bangladeshi citizens and her government has paid for the restoration of 84 churches and part funded another 643 church building projects. Pray that these policies will be continued during her new term in office and for an end to the political unrest and violence that plagued the country in the run-up to the election. [Source:Barnabas Aid]

– compiled by Guido Kettniss