News Release
Dated: Dec-30-2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Connie Wragge, Ministry Team Leader & President
+1 610-793-2389 - Office
YEAR-LONG PRAYER REQUEST CONCLUDES WITH STORY IN CHRISTIANITY TODAY MAGAZINE
"The Soul Hunters of Central Asia" Set to Appear in February 2006 Issue
Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, USA - Cardiff, Wales, UK - Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India - With gratitude to God and overwhelming joy, PhotoMission's founding members announce a huge answer to prayer that has led to a major news story on the history and spiritual passion of Christ's followers living in Nagaland, India. God first revealed a need to raise public awareness for this part of His Kingdom when a team of Christian photographers traveled to northeast India late in 2004. The seed for the idea He planted took root when the photographers returned to their homes and asked other believers on the PhotoMission prayer support team to join with them in prayer. In the first quarter of 2005, the idea for a story grew again when a Christian leader from India met with the editorial staff at Christianity Today magazine.
"One of the many things that impressed us about Christ's followers in Nagaland is that while many of them live without opportunities for fellowship beyond the geographical boundaries of their state, they have a faith that is remarkable in its depth and commitment. The faith of the Nagas is incredibly strong considering the remoteness of the region and the many spiritual challenges they face," explains Connie Wragge, ministry leader.
"When we left on the missions trip a year ago, each one of us thought it was going to be special," observes Ian Homer. "Yet we could never have imagined that God would work the way He has to bring encouragement to these people by having their story of faith told to such a massive audience."
In October, PhotoMission's photographers learned that the article in Christianity Today was going forward. In November, the PhotoMission family was asked to uphold Manpreet Singh in prayer as he traveled to Nagaland to report on the century-long transformation Christ has made in the lives of the people living there. Then in December with the draft of the story written, there came a need to visually support the content with photography.
"PhotoMission was a godsend to the editorial team at Christianity Today in helping us take our readers into Nagaland. We hope that this article and photo essay will put Nagaland into Christian hearts and move Christians to pray, give, and go into God's mission. We are grateful to PhotoMission for their commitment to excellence and partnership," said Timothy C. Morgan, deputy managing editor, Christianity Today.
In 2006, Christianity Today celebrates its 50th anniversary. Evangelist Billy Graham founded the magazine in 1956 as a free publication mailed to about 200,000 American pastors. Today, Christianity Today International publishes 11 magazines and provides many other resources for churches worldwide. In its printed format, Christianity Today is read by 375,000 people, while each month www.christianitytoday.com receives 1,000,000 unique visitors. The story, "The Soul Hunters Of Central Asia," will appear on the website after January 25, 2006.
"In my country, Christians are a small minority," states Ghani Zaman, PhotoMission's founding member from India. "It is going to be great to watch the impact this story makes for the cause of Christ."