Around The World, December 2020
FEATURED IMAGE: The Kingdom of Lesotho, a mountainous nation enclaved inside South Africa, has endured three years of drought and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, a Church of Christ in the capital, Maseru, reports several recent baptisms, including the two women praying in this photo, said minister Andreas Adontsi. Social media posts with photos of the baptisms yielded comments of “Jehova a bokoe,” “Blessed be Jehovah” in the Sotho language.
ARGENTINA
BUENOS AIRES — Oscar and Francia Alvarez are making the most of this South American capital’s lockdown by using their teaching and videography skills to reach souls.
Unable to return to the Baxter Institute in Honduras, where they are fourth-year ministry students, the couple has launched a video series and women’s ministry called Hijas de Luz (Daughters of Light). Francia delivers inspirational messages that her husband films and edits.
“Summer, autumn, winter or spring, on the path of life God accompanies us in all seasons,” Francia said in a recent video. “Live and enjoy each one of them.” Find the series at facebook.com/Hijas.deLuz.
AUSTRALIA
SYDNEY — In a three-chapter book of 73 verses, the prophet Joel describes his vision of a plague of locusts ravaging the land.
The Old Testament book was an appropriate topic, perhaps, for the annual Bible Bowl hosted by Southwest Church of Christ in Sydney. Another plague, COVID-19, forced this year’s event online. Seven churches participated.
“All in all, the event was fun and engaging, and everyone had a chance to compete,” said Bible Bowl committee member Emma-Jean Bargholz, a member of the Eastside Church of Christ in Sydney.
The winners: a team from a Church of Christ in Australia’s capital, Canberra.
LITHUANIA
VILNIUS — A Church of Christ in this northern European capital endured two weeks of lockdown after a member tested positive for COVID-19, said minister Juozas Puodziukaitis. The member recovered and no other church members became ill. The church has resumed socially distanced worship.
“Some people don’t come to meetings for fear of getting sick; some teens are forbidden by their parents to go,” Puodziukaitis said. “The worship is broadcast live online. Young people gather for Youth Nights. The pandemic has constrained our work but has in no way diminished our faith.”
NICARAGUA
MANAGUA — COVID-19 has claimed the lives of at least four members of the Nueva Libia Church of Christ, said Pedro Batres, one of three elders of the 250-member church.
Congregations across the Central American capital report cases of the virus. Some host worship services entirely online while others practice social distancing.
The Nueva Libia church has moved to three Sunday services to accomodate as many members as possible, Batres said. The Church of Christ in Falls Church, Va., supports the work.
