As the recovery from my back surgery this summer continues to progress, I have dedicated the past month to writing. But the slower pace than usual has afforded me the opportunity to take in some of the Olympics, and I too have cheered on many athletes in, at times, stunning victories. The world has turned toward China as we watched slack-jawed the opening ceremonies unfold in a spectacular display of China's artistry, talent, culture, and sheer population. Slews of reporters from the local to national level have descended on the country filing daily reports for the media consumers back home on the food, the history, and even the state of religious freedom in this vast land. An article in my hometown paper, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, reported the printing of 3.1 million Bibles in China last year. This number has grown since 1988 when they printed 505,000. That they were printing Bibles in 1988 at all would come as a surprise to many as much of the West is still aware of the restrictions placed on religious faith there.

I had the privilege to visit China in 2005 along with our Executive Director of RZIM in Singapore, LT Jeyachandran, and some of you may recall my reports from that trip. As LT and I dialogued and listened to students from Beijing University, business men and women, the Beijing International Christian Fellowship, and orphanage workers caring for children with severe disabilities, my heart was burdened for China, and I sensed the openness to the Gospel was distinct though perhaps time-critical. I returned home from that trip with a vision for China, and for the last nearly three years RZIM has developed a plan for ministry in that land. Based in Hong Kong, RZIM is now a registered charity. We have assigned a Regional Director who will be living in Hong Kong and will continue to connect with key leaders and visionaries in the Chinese Church to discuss potential strategies. In the beginning, the RZIM team will teach basic apologetics, yet as time continues more specific plans and areas of instruction will be developed to more effectively equip and empower the Chinese Christians to evangelize China and the surrounding countries. We are thrilled at this potential for the further growth of the Gospel, and upon returning to my travels, I look forward to some of my first meetings being in China.

So as you enjoy the last week of cheering on the remarkable men and women who represent their countries with such commitment may I ask you to take a few minutes to pray for the people of this vast country and for the work that RZIM has begun for the glory of God. We thank you, our friends, as you stand alongside us in this work with your prayers and support. We are so thankful to the Lord for you. May you be blessed by the reports of the team below and the work that is done for the Lord and made possible by all you do.

Engaging Today's Culture with RZIM:

• Understanding Islam-September 27, 2008
  
  The Islamic and Western cultures are colliding, and questions about this often controversial topic are becoming more and more prevalent in the media, politics, education, and our communities. What are we to think, and how can we address this issue? Join special guest speakers from RZIM's SWAD initiative-Joshua Lingel, Jay Smith, and Sasan Tavassoli-to get a better picture of Islam and its relationship to the Christian faith. This special event is being held at The Bridge Church on Saturday, September 27, 2008, from 9am-4pm. Please visit our website for more information and to register.

• Online Resources: Web Videos and Suggested Reading
  
  We have recently updated our "Watch" page on our website! View clips featuring Ravi Zacharias discussing some of today's most relevant questions at recent university Q&A sessions and open forums. Ravi Zacharias answers questions such as, "Why the Bible?" "Is Western culture deteriorating?" and more here. Also, if you are looking for encouraging resources that advance your faith and help you share the hope and beauty of the Gospel, explore our updated "Recommended Reading" page here.

• Web-Only Specials!
  
  From August 21 to September 18 we are offering a Web-only product special: buy any two Foundation of Apologetic Curriculum DVDs and receive 25% off your entire order! This is an exciting opportunity to stock up on our Curriculum series and get a discount on other RZIM products! Click here to see the DVDs in our Web store and order now. Please click here to view a clip from Volume 1.

Where in the World is RZIM? Highlights from across the globe...

United States

Ravi Zacharias
Thank you for your prayers and support during Ravi's recuperation this summer. He continues to recover well and is taking the month of August to write. You can read his latest update on our website by visiting this link.

Alison Thomas has completed her six-week speaking tour around the world. She traveled to various cities, including Istanbul, Tartous, Aljoun, Amman, Chennai, Hyderabad, Visag, Mumbai, and Pokfulam. In Turkey, she spoke on the topic of "Apologetics and the Popular Culture" to an audience of young adults. In Syria and Jordan, she spoke to teens in summer camp settings on foundational faith issues. In India, she addressed two high school chapel audiences, a seminary of young adults, and parents and youth leaders on how to train youth in apologetics. In Hong Kong, she met with church leaders to plan events for the near future, as the ministry will soon begin to expand in that region.

Stuart McAllister enjoyed a brief travel hiatus before going to Camp of the Woods in Speculator, New York, this week. Stuart always looks forward to these meetings each year and will be speaking every day on various apologetic topics.

United Kingdom

Michael Ramsden ministered at New Wine alongside John Lennox and Amy Orr-Ewing. The early reports indicated the attendance for the conference was the highest it has ever been (3,500-4,000). The entire team received a tremendous response! After Michael's second talk he stayed in the prayer/counseling area until 12:15 a.m. as people wanted to talk to him about both apologetic and personal issues. His conversational apologetics seminar was standing room only to the point that there were more people sitting outside the tent than inside. Eventually, the organizers had to detach the side walls of the seminar tent to fit everyone inside!

Michael is now preparing for his trip to the United States at the beginning of October where he will be speaking at the University of California at Berkeley and Stanford University with Os Guinness. You can view our Events calendar (LINK HERE) to find out more information about the UC Berkeley public open forum.

John Lennox recently concluded his debate with Christopher Hitchens; the event officially began the weeklong Edinburgh International Festival. This is one of the largest cultural festivals in Europe and the debate attracted a largely secular crowd.

Simon Wenham, of RZIM's EU office, attended and provided this report:

"The event was held in Usher Hall, one of Edinburgh's largest indoor venues, and the organizers estimated that there were around 1,400 people attending the debate. The motion to be discussed was: "The New Europe Should Prefer the New Atheism" and the debate was between Christopher Hitchens (social commentator and author of God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything) and John Lennox (Professor of Mathematics at Oxford University and author of God's Undertaker: Has Science Buried God?). An initial show of hands was taken at the start of the debate so that they were able to see what standpoint members of the audience already held, in order to compare what change there might be as a result of the debate. This vote showed that the audience was quite evenly split (with perhaps a very slight advantage to those opposing the motion), and there was a good proportion (perhaps 20%) of people who were undecided.

The format of the debate was fifteen minutes for opening statements, with Hitchens going first, followed by five minutes each for rebuttals. There was then thirty minutes of questions from the floor followed by a five-minute concluding remark from each of the speakers, with Lennox going first this time. The debate was moderated expertly by James Naughtie, a well-known Radio 4 presenter.

The final result was that Lennox won the debate with a small, but discernible shift in favor of his viewpoint from the previously undecided camp. To his credit, Hitchens even conceded that there were more in favor of John. Overall, it was an incredible event. Christopher Hitchens has expressed an interest in repeating the debate in the US, so this may be another debate to look forward to."

Thank you once again on behalf of John Lennox to all of you who have supported him and prayed for him during this time.

Amy and Frog Orr-Ewing had a remarkable time at Clan Gathering in Scotland and at New Wine. Amy writes, "Speaking to 6000 in Scotland was a real joy. The Lord did some wonderful things during the ministry time and one well-known speaker encouraged me by commenting, 'That was the best talk I have ever heard on John's Gospel!' At New Wine, Frog and I spoke to 2,300 every day for a week. We had an extraordinary time. Many were converted, some were healed (dramatically!), and the feedback from the ministry was overwhelming."

India

Rev. Arun Andrews addressed some of the issues raised by the problem of pain at St. Mark's Cathedral in Bangalore on August 8 and 9. Arun spoke twice and answered questions from the audience. For Arun, the time reflected a special intimacy with the Lord and the strength of the prayers of the whole RZIM team in India and beyond.

On August 1, Neil Vimalkumar met with Christian leaders from the National Institute of Technology, Kakatiya Medical College, and various other similar institutions. The response was so overwhelming that the hall could not accommodate the crowd. Neil gave a powerful and colorful presentation, which included a three-point challenge of orthodoxy, orthopathy, and orthopraxy, and a lively discussion was held after the message.

While Alison Thomas was on the Indian leg of her journey she and Neil spoke on the topic "At Home in the Universe" at Timpany and Bethany, two premier schools in Vizag, on August 4. They gave a presentation on the grandeur of creation and the importance of taking care of the universe as good stewards. There were altogether about 400 senior kids and some teachers at these forums. The Q&A was engaging and challenging as the young attendees delved deep into issues ranging from God to subatomic physics. It was a fulfilling event as the Gospel was shared during the Q&A.

In the evening, Alison and Neil spoke to Christian professionals on the topic Beyond Opinion: Living out the Faith and on August 5, the book was introduced in Hyderabad with the managing director of Operation Mobilization Books, India, as the special guest. Neil spoke on "New Atheism and Its Challenges" while Alison read a section from her chapter in the book. They both ministered to many people after the meeting. The Gideon's International Ministry in India organized their 3rd Central State Annual Convention in Ahmedabad and invited Prakash Yesudian as the Bible hour speaker. He addressed the convention three times on the subject of "Enlarge Your Tents" from Isaiah 54. Participants commented that they had never before understood the meaning of the text, though they had heard many sermons on it in the past. Almost all the participants responded to the public invitation to enlarge their borders of ministry. Prakash is getting ready travel to his native town to preach at the 150th anniversary of the church there.

After his recent talk on the existence of God, Balajied Lang Nongrum was approached by a man who has a Ph.D. in folk religion and is not a Christian. He told Balajied that his arguments for the existence of God were very persuasive and he wanted to discuss the topic further. The team is constantly encouraged by such times of ministry and open discussion one-on-one with attendees. Continue to pray for the team and praise God for all the open doors of ministry.

Canada

Rachel Tulloch began the month speaking at a Christian Youth Worldview and Leadership camp. It was well-attended and the campers asked lots of intriguing question and participated well in all the activities. The camp was a wonderful time for campers to explore in-depth apologetics and Christian life topics. Rachel had opportunities to interact personally with many campers. She then spoke to the young adult group at The Bridge Church on the subject of truth. The evening went very well. The room was set up café style and there was about an hour reserved for Q & A after the talk. There were some probing questions posed and lively discussion followed. The leaders are interested in developing this into a periodic event.

Please continue to pray for Rachel as she speaks and continues her post-graduate work.

Singapore

I'Ching Thomas conducted an apologetics training session at City Community Church in Melaka, Malaysia, during the first week of August. She then spoke on worldview studies at Evangel Baptist Church on August 3.

L.T. Jeyachandran has been in India during much of August and maintained a full schedule. He spoke alongside Prakash Rao, Deepak Nelson, and Akshay Rajkumar at a Fingerprints seminar at Delhi Bible Fellowship and at an open forum organized by the Delhi Bible Fellowship at St. Stephen's College and the Delhi Bible Fellowship.

He ministered with Cyril, Balajied, and Tejdor at the Truth@Life workshop on apologetics in Shillong and also spoke at the Indian Institute of Technology in Guwahati and North-Eastern Hill University in Shillong.

Please pray for him as he concludes his month of meetings and times of ministry.

Middle East

D.K. enthusiastically summarized the times of ministry the ME team shared with Alison: "We arrived at Ejeltun, along with Alison, to participate in the youth camp for the Jordanians. Alison addressed the topics of pop culture, media, and the New Age. She spoke for three days, five lectures in total. I personally was surprised at the responses the kids showed. On the last day one of the kids asked, 'Why did God create so many religions? Is it to confuse us?' Now please bear in mind that this child is only twelve years old and he is the type that can't keep a seat warm. Alison said, 'God did not create those religions, for He announced Himself to mankind, and man created those religions.' Then she asked the kid, 'But do you know why God allowed it?' And she handed the microphone to him; he took it and said, 'Because God gave us the freedom.' I was impressed and I started to clap, and everyone shared my enthusiasm."

"After the camp, a meeting was held for the youth leaders in all Amman. Representatives from various churches attended. Alison addressed the importance for all youth leaders to equip themselves with apologetics. The initial plan was a meeting for two hours, but after three and a half hours she had to be literally pulled away for another engagement. We continue to plan for the future and look forward to what the Lord will do in this part of the world. Thank you for your prayers. Please continue to lift us up."

China

Grace Lee hosted Alison Thomas this month. They conducted several local meetings and greatly enjoyed the fellowship and time of ministry together. Please continue to keep Grace Lee in your prayers.

Please know that we are here to serve you in any way that we can. Feel free to contact us by phone at (770) 449-6766 or via our website, www.rzim.org.

God bless you,

Ravi Zacharias
President
Ravi Zacharias International Ministries
4725 Peachtree Corners Circle, Ste 250
Norcross, GA 30092
770.449.6766