http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/s04110013.htm
ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 2126, Garden Grove, CA 92842-2126 USA
E-mail: danjuma1@aol.com, Web Site: www.assistnews.net
Thursday, November 4, 2004
U.S. MISSIONARY SLAIN IN LATVIA
Prayer called for missionaries around the world
By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries
RIGA, LATVIA (ANS) -- Following the savage murder of a missionary in Riga, Latvia, the Rev. Gregg W. Anderson of 70x7(Seventy-Times-Seven) Evangelistic Ministry has called on all Christians and churches to pray for missionaries all around the world this Sunday, November 7.
The American missionary, who has not yet been named by the authorities, was discovered murdered in his apartment on Monday, November 1.
A police spokeswoman said the 49-year-old missionary was found with a knife plunged in his chest and what appeared to be strangulation marks around his throat. He wasn't immediately identified. Investigators found the victim's apartment in disarray and suspect he may have been robbed.
The missionary had been living in Latvia over two years.
Gregg Anderson, who has been making trips to the Soviet bloc nations for over a decade said that he had never experienced any problems while in Latvia as he ministers inside prisons.
“I am shocked and puzzled at this atrocious crime,” he told ANS. “I am asking the Christian community to pray during worship services this Sunday and especially for this man’s friends and his family.”
Dan Wooding is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS). Wooding is the co-host of the weekly radio show, "Window on the World" and was, for ten years a commentator, on the UPI Radio Network in Washington, DC. Wooding is the author of some 42 books, the latest of which is his autobiography, "From Tabloid to Truth", which is published by Theatron Books. To order a copy, go to www.fromtabloidtotruth.com.
danjuma1@aol.com.
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http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/s04110015.htm
ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 2126, Garden Grove, CA 92842-2126 USA
E-mail: danjuma1@aol.com, Web Site: www.assistnews.net
Thursday, November 4, 2004
MENNONITE MISSIONARY GAGGED, BOUND AND THREATENED WITH DEATH
By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
TURKEY (ANS) -- A Mennonite missionary in Turkey was gagged and bound earlier this week by three men posing as “spiritual seekers” wanting to know more about questions of faith.
According to a report received at the US office of Turkish World Outreach in Grand Junction, Colorado on Nov 4, from friends at Rosedale Mennonite Missions based in Irwin, Ohio, Bob Stauffer from RMM received a call from Wilbur and Shirley Miller at 1:00 PM November 2, saying Wilbur was in a meeting with three young men (about seventeen years old) who posed as seekers in spiritual things through the fellowship’s web site. This was the second or third time he met with them.
“After the study they blindfolded Wilbur, gagged him and tied him up. They pulled a gun and knife and said they were going to ‘finish him off.’ They claimed to be Muslims who were given orders from al-Qaida. Wilbur believes he was tied up for an hour-and-a-half to two hours,” said Mim Musser, Director of Human Resources for RMM.
“During that time they either made a call, or pretended to make a call, in which they said they had finished him off and that they (the young men) would be in Russia tomorrow. They ransacked his office as well filling his brief case and a suitcase. Wilbur had a substantial amount of cash in the office, but at this point we don’t know what all they took with them,” Musser said.
“The young men said they have been watching Wilbur’s house, that it is a problem if he stays in town, he needs to leave right away, and he was not to return to his office. They left the office with him and at some point freed him to go home.
“Wilbur is glad to be back with his family!” said Musser.
The Millers were due to meet with the fellowship leaders tonight to make tentative plans and will likely leave for Cyprus tomorrow for a reprieve. RMM will continue to process next steps with them, Musser said.
“Our God is in control and we trust Him! We need an army of intercessors to stand with us in prayer,” Musser said.
“Praise God that Wilbur’s life was spared. Pray for continued protection and peace for the Miller family, wisdom for the Millers and RMM as we process next steps. Pray for the rest of team in Turkey as well as the believers.”
This morning Wilbur Miller and another worker went to survey the damages at the office, said Musser.
“They also reported the incident to the American Embassy and the police. They are pleased to know that the police are taking the report seriously. The American Embassy has also been very caring and sensitive to their needs.The Millers trip to Cyprus has temporarily been delayed to work on these details.
“The Miller family is doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances. They have been encouraged by the fellowship and others on the team. Your prayers are also carrying them,” Musser added.
RMM administrators, Mim Musser and Paul Kurtz, are to flying to Turkey tomorrow morning to spend several days with the Millers and the rest of the team.
WAYS TO PRAY FOR THE MILLERS
**Continue to pray for peace, rest, and protection for the Miller family, the team, and the fellowship. Pray that God will work through the police department in seeing that justice is done.
**Pray for protection and wisdom for Mim and Paul as they travel and meet with the Millers. Pray that they would be an encouragement to them and to the RMM team. Ask God to very clearly show what the next steps should be.
**Pray that what Satan intended for evil would turn out for good. Ask for salvation for these three young men.
Musser concluded: “This morning as several of us shared a phone conversation with Wilbur we were touched by his shepherd’s heart for people in the fellowship as well as his care for his wife and sons. It reminds me of another shepherd who left his home and gave his life for the sheep. Our confidence remains in Him, the Good Shepherd.”
Rosedale Mennonite Missions, at its website (http://www.rosedalemennonitemissions.org/)
Says the mission “seeks to stimulate and facilitate Biblical, Spiritual Missions vision and action with local congregations to launch believers in Christ-centered ministries of evangelism, service, and discipleship both at home and abroad.”
There are both short-term and long-term service opportunities available.
For more information, contact:
Mim Musser
Director of Human Resources
mim@rmmoffice.org
Rosedale Mennonite Missions
9920 Rosedale Milford Center Rd
Irwin OH 43029-9537
Phone: (740) 857-1366 • Fax: (740) 857-1605
** Michael Ireland is an international British freelance journalist. A former reporter with a London newspaper, Michael is the Chief Correspondent for ASSIST News Service of Garden Grove, CA. Michael immigrated to the United States in 1982 and became a US citizen in Sept., 1995. He is married with two children. Michael has also been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station.
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