Bodies of the deceased are carefully washed, then wrapped in preparation – not for burial, but for burning. Dozens each day are ceremonially prepared, then consumed by the flames of the local outdoor crematorium fires. Belief in countless incarnations offers hope to attending mourners that their loved ones will transition to a different place and a better life. As a Christian observer, one can only mourn – not only for the tragic symbolism of the unquenched flames, but also the biblical truth that reminds us that “it is appointed for men once to die, and after that comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
AustinSuch scenes as this and multiple others jolt one’s senses to the reality of hundreds of millions who live in a hopeless existence apart from our saving Christ. South Carolina Baptists have many years of experience in national and cultural environments similar to the one described above. These experiences have prepared us for even greater participation in such environments in the future. The stark reality of countless millions entering into an eternity without Christ, and the lack of the knowledge of our gospel of hope, serve to burden us to do whatever it takes to proclaim our Lord’s great news.
Having recently returned from a vision trip to this part of the planet, our vision teams share a collective burden to heighten our emphasis on partnerships to India and in assisting in strategically organizing interested churches in such timely efforts. The needs are vast, yet South Carolina Baptists have not shied away from daunting challenges or adverse conditions before. Our vision teams’ dream involves recruiting, organizing, training, and resourcing hundreds of teams from our churches over the next several years to effectively impact this subcontinent for Christ. I urge you to prayerfully seek the Father’s will regarding your church’s involvement if you are not already committed to another strategic international work.
Japan
We continue to carefully monitor the situation in Japan. Eddie Pettit, from Camp McCall and a member of the SCBC staff, just returned from a scouting/ministry trip to the “Land of the Rising Sun,” which recently suffered a catastrophic tsunami. What he saw and heard regarding the plight of the Japanese people is heart-rending. We anticipate the need for small teams to begin serving in Japan in the near future, but right now the Japanese people are desperately in need of our concerted prayers. Baptist churches there are diligently ministering and are also gearing up for a protracted relief effort. Currently there are reports of the dead numbering 13,000, with an additional 17,000 missing. To put this in perspective, America was devastated by the loss of almost 4,000 killed on 9/11/2001. Japan now faces a possible loss of 30,000 people or more, compounded by the ongoing issue of serious radiation leaks at its nuclear power facilities.
Late-breaking news
Not only are we seeing urgent needs in Japan and impressive developments in India, but also our office recently received a request for a strategic partnership assisting churches in Egypt in the area of leadership development. With Egypt’s recent and dramatic political changes, it seems that, at a minimum, God is providing South Carolina Baptists with a window of opportunity for ministry there. Several Egyptian churches are urgently requesting assistance in the area of pastoral training. With all the repression and persecution experienced by Egyptian Christians (a church was bombed, resulting in the loss of several lives during Christmas), this is a historic opportunity for South Carolina Baptists to assist our brothers and sisters in this very troubled part of the world.
Please continue to faithfully pray that we will discern God’s mind on how to address these urgent needs and that God will raise up laborers for these recently opened harvest fields. Pray that we will continue to seek to take the whole gospel to the whole world that all might be whole.
– Austin is executive director-treasurer of the South Carolina Baptist Convention.