China’s power to bless can rattle nerves

Everyone knows China is becoming an economic powerhouse, both in Asia and abroad. Cheap Chinese exports are wiping out local industry in countries all over Asia. ASEAN trade surpluses with China are declining, and Vietnam has devalued its currency by 5% to keep itself competitive with China (New York Times). China, trying to cool tempers, [...]

Missionary mappers may have to redraw India

Whether one agrees with his methods or not, no one can deny that K. Chandrasekhar Rao has apparently been successful. Rao swore to starve if India did not carve a new state out of Andhra Pradesh, with his city of Hyderabad as its capital. Rao claimed the local region of Telangana was being denied their [...]

Numbers of Muslims increasing in Latin America

Brazil is seeing a boom in the Muslim population, which has grown from a few hundred thousand in 1990 to 1.5 million now, out of a total population of 190 million. Mosques, financed by Arab countries, are being built across the country.
Because Muslims led the rebellions against slavery, conversions are strongest amongst Afro-Brazilians, but they [...]

Interfaith tensions rising in Europe

Turks remembering their lost empire: Sociologists are noting a new trend in “Ottomania,” in which Turks are looking back with longing for the glory years of Turkish rule as a result of their frustration with the European Union, which is leaning against accepting Turkey as a member. As a result all things Ottoman have [...]

Vulnerabilities Journal: severe drought in East Africa, more

Each month we keep an eye on 11 major issues and here link to articles on major events in each category. These are global ‘vulnerabilities’ that can cause significant challenges or opportunities for the church and missions.
General
1. Wars & Rumors of Wars

Russia: We’ll Nuke ‘Aggressors’ First
DR Congo: Massacres continue at hands of armed groups [...]

Refugees, Nomads, IDPs, Migrants Journal: July 21

GLOBAL: Refugees in the spotlight – IRINnews.org…. Countries with more than 1 million IDPs include: Columbia, 3m; Iraq 2.6m, Pakistan 2.5m, Sudan 2m, DRC 1.5m, Congo 1.3m, Uganda 1.2m. Countries hosting more than 1 million refugees (from other countries): Pakistan 1.8m, Syria 1.1m, Iran 0.9m, Germany 0.6m, Jordan 0.5m, Chad 0.3m, Tanzania 0.3m, Kenya 0.3m [...]

Trends Journal: July 5, 2009

Twitter, Facebook and other social networking tools have been a factor in election campaigns around the world. Now it’s Iran’s turn: Supporters of Mir Hossein Mousavi, the main opponent of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, are went online to organize for the elections in Iran. (Wired.com) Unfortunately this new trend seems to have very little impact [...]

How to: unearth trends in France

As promised, here is the analysis of France. This European nation is significantly different from Afghanistan, and holds many opportunities for the Gospel despite our common perception of France as a Godless nation.

Jesus in China

PBS’s Frontline will be doing a show called “Jesus In China”
next week, around June 24 and 25. The show will focus on the growth of
the Christian Church in China.
You can presently see what time/station it will be on in your area. The church in China is
growing faster than in any other country, in any [...]

Uncovering trends in Afghanistan

I wrote yesterday about how to calculate growth trends. Our topic today is how to interpret growth trends for a country. Remember the four variables of growth:
* Natural – births minus deaths plus immigrants minus emigrants.
* Conversion – converts to a religion minus defectors
* Total – Natural plus Conversion
* Growth Rate – how fast a [...]