World-Wide Turmoil Sets the Stage
A MESSAGE FOR NGO’s – MISSIONARIES and their SENDING CHURCHES- WORLDWIDE
from Security Consulting Investigations, LLC (SCI) your first choice in protection, planning, and training…
Obama Policies in Middle East Face Uphill Battle
Military progress, according to senior US military commanders, is measurable but fragile. Financial assistance has done little to develop a sustained commitment on the part of Pakistan’s security forces to confronting extremist elements at home. |
| Former commercial center of Aleppo Syria Dec 2nd (Courtesy LIGNET) |
Reports of Weaponized Chemical Warheads in Syria May be Ruse to Get Asylum for Assad
According to the Langley Intelligence Gathering Network New reports yesterday that the Syrian military has weaponized chemical weapons could indicate an effort by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to increase his leverage for the terms of his departure from power, possibly to convince Western states to facilitate an asylum deal.The movement of chemical weapons has prepared them for either aerosol dispersal from aircraft or in bombs. Sources however are skeptical that Syria is actually weaponizing chemical weapons these same sources believe Washington may be fabricating the reports in order to move international opinion toward allowing asylum by Assad to Venezuela, Cuba or Ecuador.
Exiled-Palestinian leader Meshaal Returns to Gaza as Hero
The former target of Mossad’s assassination attempt in the late 1990’s has returned to a hero’s welcome. After gaining international attention with Egypt’s President (of the Muslim Brotherhood) and having brokered a cease fire to the Israeli – Pillars of Defense I November, his return sets the stage for the Palestinian statehood as being pushed by the U.N. This also sets the stage for further trouble with Israel.Muslim Brotherhood’s Power Grab Angers Egyptian Crowds
Egyptian protesters demonstrate outside of the presidential palace in Cairo on December 4, 2012 against President Mohammed Morsi’s decree widening his powers and a draft constitution approved by his Islamist supporters. About 100,000 encircled the presidential palace after riot police failed to keep them at bay with tear gas.China Aims to Dominate Asia with New Aircraft Carrier
December 4, 2012Many Western analysts have been quick to dismiss China’s new aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, saying it will never match U.S. naval capabilities. Many of those same analysts, however, were taken by surprise last week when the Chinese Navy landed and launched an indigenously produced J-15 fighter jet on the ship’s flight deck. It was a major breakthrough for the Chinese, and a big step forward in China’s drive to become a naval power. For the rest of Asia, it was a chilling sign of China’s growing aggression.
Iran: Military Experts Stationed in North Korea
Japan’s Kyodo News agency reported yesterday that four experts from Iran’s Ministry of Defense have been in North Korea since late October . . . the Iranians are working with North Korean counterparts at a military base near the Chinese border . . . the nature of that collaboration is unknown but North Korea has been the source of most Iranian missile technology...there have been such reports in the past... the Iranian missile experts may be in the country in connection with North Korea’s plan to test a long-range missile this month.
N. Korea Ignores Warnings, Prepares Rocket Launch
North Korea appears to be moving ahead with preparations to launch a long-range rocket, despite international condemnation.South Korean media quoted government officials saying Tuesday that North Korea is preparing the second and third stages of its launch vehicle at the Tongchang-ri facility.
Pyongyang says it plans to launch the three-stage rocket between December 10 and 22. It says the launch is aimed at placing a satellite into orbit.
Its neighbors and much of the rest of the world have warned against the launch, saying it is really a disguised missile test banned under U.N. sanctions.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Tuesday he is “seriously concerned” about the launch, saying it would raise tension in the region. Ban called on Pyongyang to reconsider its decision and halt all activities related to its ballistic missile program.
North Korea’s main ally China also added increasing diplomatic pressure, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei warning Pyongyang to “act prudently” and not take steps to escalate the situation.
Seoul’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Cho Tai-young said he hopes China will keep the pressure on North Korea.
“Especially with regard to the Korean peninsula issue, China is a nation that is very closely involved,” he noted. “In that matter we look forward to China playing an active role in maintaining and improving the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula.”
Diplomats from South Korea, Japan and the United States are preparing to meet in Washington this week to discuss the launch, which is scheduled to take place roughly around the one-year anniversary of the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.
Ramifications for world-wide NGO’s, mission and faith ministries
The worlds that have faced missionaries from the first century to now have never been ones waiting with open arms to receive Christ’s emissaries. Paul and the other Apostles faced great hardship and all but one faced execution. John, the only one to die of old-age lived for many years in exile on the Isle of Patmos. British missionaries endured deadly encounters with African tribes and tribal groups across India and Pakistan; Spanish missionaries sought to bring the message to South American tribes and faced death even as hundreds of years later the same was true for, North American missionaries venturing south of the Equator. In our own United States’ wilderness areas missionaries faced death in areas which were home to groups we called ‘Red Men” and even the hardened civilizations of America’s ‘old West’ of the United States were often extremely harsh on westward moving missionaries seeking to build churches. Missionaries in Asia, even before Lottie Moon’s trek into China, fought disease and hardship as well as severe treatment by locals.The news accounts described here seek to express the idea of the vast difficulties modern day NGO workers and missionaries face even when not having to deal with issues of widespread violence and hatred. Today’s NGOs and missionaries face issues not unlike those from centuries before. They go into areas that can be relatively calm and modern or face some of the same dangers as those from before that are relatively unchanged. SCI has continued to develop training for security consciousness and developed methods for contingency planning and risk assessment to help team members be as prepared as possible for all events. For those ‘nay-sayers’ out there that believe that everything is in God’s providence; we point to Nehemiah who took stock of the threats around him then took steps to keep the security level high so as not to impede his God-given mission.
Conclusion: The world has begun its spiral toward Christ bringing time to His own conclusion. These are exciting times to be serving in ministry. We stand at the doorstep of the Rapture, the Tribulation and Christ’s Millennial Kingdom. Is there a better time to be sharing God’s Word and when a people are so and we have so many tools with which to share it!
If your mission group, agency, or NGO is working in a high risk area, talk to the specialists at SCI. Let us help you help.
Call and ask for Dr. Ross L. Riggs, Director
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