AP

PRO-LIFE BANK OPENING IN NOVEMBER IN THE USA
Evangelist and motivational speaker Nick Vujicic has announced that his new faith-friendly online banking service will finally be opening in November after years of planning. Vujicic got the idea to launch a financial service that’s friendly to pro-lifers after he was suddenly debanked about five years ago because he was supporting the pro-life cause. 
The new project, ProLifeFintech, is an institution that will “honour God first, serve the people who use our fintech** platform, and always choose to support life…All life,” according to its website. The new financial organization’s plan is to give 50 percent of its net profits to Judeo-Christian-aligned nonprofit organizations. 
Vujicic has tetra-amelia syndrome, a disorder that caused him to be born without limbs. Despite facing major challenges, he created his own ministry, Life Without Limbs. As an evangelist, he has reached millions of people across dozens of countries with a gospel message of hope. He has reached many people for Christ here in Australia. [Source: based on CBN News]

LAOS: PREJUDICE AGAINST CHRISTIANS
Two church leaders from southern Laos were reported missing after attending a church event. They had gone to a neighbouring church to visit new believers, where they preached during the service and officiated at the baptism of six new believers. On their way home, police officers stopped them, searched them and their phones and, upon finding pictures of the baptisms, arrested them. Local villagers are suspected of tipping off the police. The two church leaders are now in prison.
Laos, one of Asia’s poorest nations, is under a Communist government that is stuck in the mentality of the Vietnam war era and lives in fear of neighbouring China. [Source: Open Doors]

GAMBIA: SMALL COUNTRY, BIG PROBLEMS
A Christian pastor from the tiny West African country of Gambia reports a wave of anti-Christian persecution. In this impoverished and mainly Muslim country, imams use social media to incite violence against Christians. Three Christian converts from Islam are facing police cases against them, and the pastor’s own family is being attacked by relatives. Yet Muslims continue to turn to Christ, including two imams. [Source: Barnabas Aid]

 AN AWAKENING IN THE MUSLIM WORLD?
“I think what’s happening in Iran  is actually representative of what’s happening in the Islamic world,” said Don Shenk, executive director of The Tide Ministry. “We get responses from listeners who say, you know, now I understand that God loves me. I always thought that God wanted to punish me,” Shenk explained. “And I think there’s an awakening that is taking place across the Muslim world, not just in Iran.” Shenk says Tide Ministry radio broadcasts are even receiving positive responses in Afghanistan where the Taliban pose great danger for those seeking information from secret Christians within the country.
Christianity is also spreading in Yemen, where the Joshua Project reports Christian growth is almost double the global average. Next door, Nettleton sees the Saudi Arabian monarchy becoming a bit more tolerant of Christians and their churches. “Not necessarily welcoming with open arms, obviously. But just the understanding that it could happen, that there could be Christians here,” he explained. “And maybe that’s not the worst thing in the world. That’s such a change from what we would have seen 10 or 15 or 20 years ago.” It’s a move of God’s Spirit bringing change that may eventually transform not only Iran but the entire Middle East.[Source: CBN news]  

INITIATIVES IN NORTH INDIA
Churches and Christian ministries in India are visionary and vigorous in seeking to reach the nation for Christ. One long-established ministry in Delhi has a particular concern for densely populated North India, where Hinduism is strong and the proportion of Christians less than in other parts of India. The work is concerned with reaching the lost, making Christian disciples and strengthening churches. Recent activities gave special attention to expository preaching of the Scriptures, discipling new believers, biblical counselling, equipping workers for remote regions, preparing people for medical services and training people for vocational opportunities from sewing to computer skills. [Source: Delhi Bible Institure]

– compiled by Guido Kettniss