February is the month we honor both love and, in the United States, the legacy of great leaders on President's Day. It is appropriate at this time to be reminded of the leadership of Jesus as he commanded us in John 13:34 to "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." As my colleague LT Jeyachandran wrote in his most recent Slice of Infinity, there can be no real Christian apologetic without first a community of love and relationships. As the team travels tirelessly around the world sharing the gospel through evangelistic messages, apologetic trainings, one on one discipleship, and through the work of Wellspring-our apologetics with a touch-we share the love of God and the beauty of the gospel with a skeptical world. And it is you, the community of our friends, who make this possible.

As I enjoy the second month of my four-month sabbatical I have broken from my study and rest for meetings in the Philippines. Grace Lee, who directs our work in Hong Kong, will give you a full report. It is thrilling to see the work already being accomplished there in such a short time. I pray once more that you will be blessed to read the reports below from the team and see once again the fruit of your own labor as you have given and sacrificed in order to stand with us. Thank you again for your commitment and partnership with this ministry as together we show love to a hurting world.

Engaging Today's Culture with RZIM:

• Apologetics Study Bible
  
  Real Questions. Straight Answers. Stronger Faith. The Apologetics Study Bible will help you better understand and articulate your beliefs. More than one-hundred key questions and articles placed throughout the volume about faith and science prompt a rewarding study experience at every reading. Highlights of this new edition of God's Word include the full text of the popular Holman Christian Standard Bible® translation, a two-color page layout, an introduction to each Bible book focusing on its inherent elements of apologetics, and profiles of historic Christian apologists from Justin Martyr to C. S. Lewis. Also featured are valuable contributions from apologists such as Ravi Zacharias, Chuck Colson, Norm Geisler, Josh McDowell, Albert Mohler, and J. P. Moreland. Please visit this link for more information or to order now.
• Ravi Zacharias has a new book!
  
  Ravi Zacharias and his team of leading apologists and Christian teachers, including Alister McGrath and John Lennox, have written Beyond Opinion: Living the Faith We Defend. This book addresses topics present in the very future of worldwide Christianity--from the process of spiritual transformation to the challenges posed by militant atheism and a resurgent Islam. Destined to become a classic, Beyond Opinion is a touchstone that will affect Christians around the world. Click here to order this book now.
• The RZIM Foundations of Apologetics Curriculum is now available! Designed to introduce a comprehensive range of apologetic arguments and strategies, and featuring lectures by RZIM's team of apologists, this rigorous curriculum will help students become adept at recognizing the many worldviews influencing our culture and equipped to challenge the assumptions of these worldviews. The first volumes by Michael Ramsden, Stuart McAllister, Alister McGrath, and Ravi Zacharias tackle the subjects An Introduction to Apologetics, Truth and Reality, The Existence of God, and Establishing a Worldview. Each study is available individually, allowing you to craft your own experience according to your needs and interests. Complete with an in-depth workbook, you will find the studies foster not only knowledge but also cultivate the skills to communicate that knowledge in a way that is winsome and effective. These first four volumes are now available here.

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

Stuart McAllister spoke at a "Conversations That Count Seminar" at Parkwood Baptist Church in Gastonia, North Carolina, from February 15-16. The theme was "Unchanging Truth in an Ever-Changing World." Joe Boot joined Stuart for this conference. On Tuesday, February 19, Stuart spoke at the Georgia Tech Veritas Forum Week on "The Role of Reason, Rationality, and the Mind of Apologetics."

John Njoroge returned to Atlanta from Kenya recently. He wrote, "I had the privilege of speaking at a church in the town of Maai Mahiu in Kenya on January 6 and 13. It was wonderful to see people come to the Lord for the first time or to recommit their lives to Christ. There was a lot of tension in Kenya due to the post-election violence, and some in the congregation had either lost loved ones or their homes. How comforting to know that we serve a God whose power and presence extends even beyond the grave. Outside the good news of the gospel, I would have had nothing to say under such circumstances." Please pray for the people of Kenya and RZIM's impact in Africa through John.

Michael Ramsden and Amy Orr-Ewing spoke at The Zacharias Training from January 28-February 3. They were very pleased that Stuart McAllister joined them for the incredible weekend of training and growth for the students.

On February 22-23 Amy will be in Edinburgh, Scotland, speaking at a "Women Walking with God" Women's Bible Conference followed by a speaking engagement at St Paul's and St George's church in Edinburgh on February 24.

At the beginning of February, Michael spoke at three lunchtime meetings at the Oxford University Christian Mission. These events went well and several of the OCCA students got involved with the mission. From February 17-22 Michael will be in Reading where he is leading the University Mission. He took nine OCCA students with him and they will be giving talks and testimonies and getting as involved as possible.

Pray for Michael's and Amy's continued health and strength during this winter season packed full with many events and meetings.

Neil Vimalkumar spoke at an Open Forum at Vizag on the topic, "Only Time Will Tell: Finding Security in a World of Uncertainties" on February 2 followed by a meeting at the International School on "Biology and Belief." He also attended a good meeting at Timpany School, Vizag, where he spoke on creation and evolution. About 300 students and teachers attended and many participated in a lively and engaging Q&A session. Neil was excited to report, "The Director is open to our doing other topics for them and also in some of their other schools."

The team had a terrific time at a seminar organized for senior leadership in the marketplace in Bangalore on February 9. There were about 30 delegates and Devendranath Chowdary and Neil Vimalkumar highlighted the Christian mission in the marketplace under the theme "The Other Six Days: The Gospel in the Public Arena." The next day Neil preached at the Anna Nagar Methodist Church's Sunday worship service. Quite a few testified to how much the event blessed them. Arun Andrews and Neil Vimalkumar then addressed the theme "Enchantment with Tomorrow" at an RZIM seminar in Chennai on the February 16.

Rev. Arun Andrews spent the first part of February in Abu Dhabi at the Evangelical Community Church. This visit was meant to deepen the ties of fellowship with Christopher and Elizabeth Darla and to build bridges with the pastor of the United Christian Church in Dubai regarding our future ministry. His most interesting appointment this month was on February 16, when he went to do a preliminary studio recording for the forthcoming RZIM Easter Television program. The team wrote saying, "For a brief while he was perplexed about what 'make up' a pastor may have to wear for a television shoot at which he represents a team of respected apologists! He was grateful to find out soon that there is only one product needed made by the Designer of heaven Himself. It is simply called 'Grace.'"

Tejdor Tiewsoh spoke at a doctrinal session to the nursing students of ANM at Ganesh Das Hospital. One of the senior advisors and a staff member later testified how blessed they had been during the event. On February 17, he preached at the Presbyterian Church (English Service) in Shillong.

Prakash Yesudian wrote, "One of my goals for this year was to give time to training more people for evangelism and motivate them to do it practically." Last week the Lord opened the doors for him to give input for evangelism at a second line leaders' conference hosted by Friends Missionary Prayer Band (a leading indigenous missionary movement in India). He led two sessions on "Christian Servant and His/Her Family" and a session on "Christian Servant and Effective Evangelism." The positive response was obvious during the interaction with the 60 participants at the conference. He then was invited to speak on "Evangelism in the Market Place" along with Mr. Chandraseker of Youth for Christ at a church retreat arranged by the men's fellowship of Wesley English Church in Chennai. One hundred and thirty professionals from different walks of life registered for this training program. A participant wrote in saying, "Now we know how to share the gospel with our colleagues in the work place." Prakash was greatly encouraged by the event and so blessed at how the Lord is answering his prayers.

On February 2 Rachel Tulloch traveled to the University of Minnesota to participate in a youth apologetics conference and teach a seminar on "How Can a Loving God Allow So Much Suffering?" Although it was a first-time venture, the conference drew hundreds of youth from the area and even nearby states. It was very exciting to see so many high school and college students so eager to be equipped for sharing their faith! The conference involved both plenary speakers and breakout elective sessions, and many of the students commented on how they wished the weekend had been longer. After this event, Rachel spoke on the reliability of the New Testament at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, on February 8.

The Canadian staff is preparing for their next event on February 24 called "Believing Is Seeing" where Stuart McAllister, Joe Boot, and Rachel Tulloch will be speaking. This is an evening event that seeks to provide Christians with the tools to think through some of the tough questions they face both as they reflect on their own faith and as they are challenged by others.

LT Jeyachandran was invited by Canning Garden Methodist Church in Ipoh, Malaysia, to conduct a seminar on February 16 and to speak at their weekend services on the 17.

I'Ching Thomas gave a session on "Engaging the Chinese Culture for Christ" at Evangel Baptist Church on February 17.

Daniel met with RZIM itinerants, the RZIM Middle East Advisory Board, and other members of the RZIM team during a series of important meetings in the middle of January. They were greatly encouraged by these meetings and the planning being done for the Middle East initiative. After these meetings, violence escalated in the nearby region. Daniel wrote, "I would also ask you all to pray for our church in Beirut as it was severely damaged by a recent bomb. The bomb damaged the new building that was intended for our seminary for classes and accommodations. Many students suffered minor injuries but there were no deaths, for God's providence was watching over them." Many RZIM itinerants will be traveling to the Middle East and meeting with Daniel this coming year to participate in events. Please pray for their safety.

Christopher Darla met with Arun Andrews and Pastor John Folmer of United Christian Church of Dubai (UCCD) and Shibu Mathew in Dubai to discuss ministry opportunities in the region, especially in the U.A.E. UCCD will partner with RZIM to plan for seminars on Christian apologetics. While they were there, they hosted a men's retreat in Abu Dhabi. Around 100 men from more than 15 nationalities heard him preach on discipline, family, and the witness of a godly man. Christopher said, "Many brothers testified that Arun's messages were a great blessing and challenge."

Senem spoke at a group meeting that belongs to New Life Protestant Church of Baku. She was encouraged and moved by their eagerness for the Word of God and active participation during the meeting. Please pray for the translation of new materials to be made and for more events to be able to take place. Senem writes of the hardship faced in Turkey and the region daily, "Because of the lack of unity among local churches, possible events seem like a distant goal. The past experiences of a life without God and the traditionalism of religion are two major barriers for people in committing their lives to Christ. Please pray for the unity of Christians there and the removal of barriers to the gospel. Thank you!"

We are exactly six months out from moving to Hong Kong from Oxford and the Lord is giving us solid ground on which to build. Last week was pivotal for RZIM-Hong Kong. Ravi took eight precious days for the sake of the vision for that region to speak in Palawan, Philippines, for the 10th annual VWAP (Vacation With a Purpose). Most of the participants were familiar with Ravi as an author and a speaker, but hardly had a notion that there is a ministry called RZIM. Grace said, "There could not have been a more opportune vehicle to make this introduction! Ravi's teaching on 'Our Purpose in Worship' tipped off so many good and new beginnings for our China initiative." She is eager to see God's work being done in China.

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,