From: "Phil Miglioratti" To: Cc: Subject: NPPN - GLOBAL UPDATE - 001227 Date: Wednesday, December 27, 2000 11:42 AM ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| NATIONAL PASTORS' PRAYER NETWORK - U.S. |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| G L O B A L U P D A T E - 001227 Chronicling The Worldwide Prayer Movement ...So That One Day ...We Will Live On A Prayed For Planet! __SEND Your Comment: phil@nppn.org __REGISTER A Pastors' Prayer Group: http://www.nppn.org/ppg/ __ARCHIVED Global Updates: http://www.nppn.org __SUBSCRIBE: subscribe@nppn.org __UNSUBSCRIBE: unsubscribe@nppn.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I N T H I S U P D A T E ...and for our prayers: *HOW ABOUT YOU? ... YOUR PPG ... YOUR NATION ... *GLOBAL PRAYER NETWORK IN 49 COUNTRIES *GLOBAL PRAYER MEETING FROM 4 COLLEGE CAMPUSES *MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM: CHURCHES STARTING TO PRAY - PASTORS IN UNITY *THAILAND: ELEPHANT EVANGELISM *NEW ZEALAND: COMBINED SUNDAY MORNING CELEBRATION *WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE !@*?# *CONGO: PRAYER INITIATIVE WITH 350 LEADERS *MALAYSIA: 250 MINISTRY NETWORKS AT ROUNDTABLE *GLOBAL PERSECUTION: 165,000 WILL DIE FOR CHRIST THIS YEAR *CARIBBEAN: NEW ALLIANCE PARTNERS *FOR PASTORS PRAYING TOGETHER *INDIA: FOR OUR PRAYERS *BABADOS: PASTORS AND INTERCESSORS *ROSARIO, ARGENTINA: 50,000+ *HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA: REACHING GOALS, STREET-BY-STREET, CODE-BY-CODE *THREE WONDER-FILLED STORIES *NIGER: WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS... *NORTHERN IRELAND: PRAY WITH THIS PASTOR FOR PEACE *AFRICA: MINISTERS PRAYER NETWORK ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *HOW ABOUT YOU? ... YOUR PPG ... YOUR NATION ... ...Send us a report on how the Lord is gathering Pastors for prayer in your region or nation. ...Register your Pastors' Prayer Group on our web site, which tracks PPGs across the globe: http://www.nppn.org/ppg/ ___________________________________________>>> *GLOBAL PRAYER NETWORK IN 49 COUNTRIES >From: Marc van der Woude With more than 20,000 members in over 49 countries e-Prayer members pray for missionaries, their prayer requests, world needs, and needs of network members. Raised up "for such a time as this" there is no more important work - for those who may not go - than to give God no rest for those who labor in His fields. The Bible repeatedly exhorts us to prayer. To subscribe or to send prayer requests contact . Source: Brigada Today ___________________________________________>>> *GLOBAL PRAYER MEETING FROM 4 COLLEGE CAMPUSES >From: Jeremy Story Yet even now, declares the Lord, return to me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Joel 2:12 On Saturday, April 7th, 2001 groups of Christians on college and high school campuses across the world will be joined together simultaneously via a live satellite television broadcast. The name of this event is OUTCRY. The focus of OUTCRY is to repent before God from our sins and the sins around us while seeking Him through fasting, prayer, and worship for revival on our campuses and around the globe. OUTCRY will originate from 4 key campuses across the world. However, thousands will participate in this historic event by downlinking it in a large group. It is important that a large part of the Body of Christ is represented. Various key global Christian leaders, campus ministry leaders, and students will be facilitating the prayer during OUTCRY. Several key worship bands from across the world will be also facilitating worship. There is no charge to receive the broadcast. Many different Christian denominations and collegiate and high school ministries will be participating. OUTCRY is not focused on any one particular ministry or denomination as the sole focus will be on God. Please visit the website http://www.outcrynow.org for more information on OUTCRY and to find out how any person, group, or campus can easily participate in OUTCRY. You can also email campusrenewal@xc.org with questions. Please visit the website first as it will answer most of your questions. Also, please forward this email on to others you know. Jeremy Story, President, Campus Renewal Ministries ___________________________________________>>> *MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM: CHURCHES STARTING TO PRAY - PASTORS IN UNITY >From: "Martin Swan" Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ. I send you all greetings from the United Kingdom. We are so excited here in Rochdale near Manchester, England, for we now believe that we are starting to see the Lord move in power in our area. The church fellowships are starting to meet to pray and the Pastors and leaders are coming together in unity. We would like many of you to visit our website on revival at: www.preaching.co.uk/rochdale see heading on this page under 'beginnings' and rejoice with us all. Also send us your stories and testimonies so that we can encourage our people as to what the Lord is doing world-wide. Last night myself and another pastor were invited to speak on an Islamic radio station about the uniqueness of Jesus. Surrounded by hundreds of Muslims we were led by the Spirit to tell the truth in love about our Lord. After the broadcast the Muslim presenter was very touched and wants to contact us later to seek more from the Bible. Praise God for this. Wherever you are be assured of our prayers and may our good Lord bless you all at this wonderful time. Pastor Martin Swan, Trinity Methodist Church Heywood, Rochdale, England ___________________________________________>>> *THAILAND: ELEPHANT EVANGELISM >From: "Ross Mackin" Thank God for the 2 Cambodian Baptist missionaries who have been working in Surin for the last month or 2. One has returned to Cambodia and the other is staying on to help with the elephant festival evangelism this week. The local church (Supamit church) has been very supportive of them. They often went out with us to do evangelism, church planting, and surveying. Please pray for elephant round up fair evangelism. Supamit church has an exhibit or booth there. Pray that many will come in and show interest in the gospel by asking questions. Pray for strength and endurance for workers as the exhibits stay open until about midnight. Pray for at least 200 response cards sent to us as a result of passing out 20,000 tracts. Pray that this will result in starting new churches and new members for existing churches. For His Glory, Ross Mackin --->NPPNote: Contact Ross for additional prayer requests focused on church planting in northeast Thailand at: mackin@udon.loxinfo.co.th ___________________________________________>>> *NEW ZEALAND: COMBINED SUNDAY MORNING CELEBRATION >From: Dean Comerford Just thought I'd let you know one of the exciting things that has happened in Invercargill, New Zealand as a result of pastor's praying together. On October 29, over half of the congregations in Invercargill (a city of 60,000) closed their Sunday morning services to join together in a combined service at the newly built Invercargill Stadium. 1800 people from 29 congregations attended the service, which used drama, performed music and a message to focus on relationships. Some of the churches that did not close were still supportive, but felt that it was too big a step to close services. We have held combined services for many years, but normally on a Sunday evening, not in prime time Sunday morning. It has taken over 7 years of praying and working together to get to this point, but it was absolutely worth it, with everybody asking when we can do it again. We are planning to do it again in October 2001, and possibly increase it to two times per year in 2002. We already have a number of churches who did not join this year saying they will definitely be considering it next time. Invercargill is the southern-most city in the region that is furthest from Jerusalem, therefore we definitely say that God's Church is alive and well at the ends of the earth. Massive Blessings, Dean Comerford Ministry Leader - Future Church Ministries, Invercargill, New Zealand ___________________________________________>>> *WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE !@*?# >From: "Crosswalk.com" ...Christians in India are toning down their language. The Evangelical Fellowship of India issued a statement urging Christian leaders not to use "spiritual battle" language, Compass Direct News (see link #6 below) reported. They hope to prevent Hindu fundamentalist groups from taking advantage of inflammatory words to portray Christians as traitors. ...Churches and missions were cautioned against using military metaphors, saying it is "unloving, inappropriate and counter-productive." The statement refers to Christian jargon and "warfare vocabulary" used in letters, reports, songs, prayers and material on the Internet. It also said churches and missions outside India that use inappropriate mission language not only offend people of other faiths, but bring harm to Christians in India. ...Persecution of Christians is increasing in Orissa State, according to Compass. Richard Howell of the EFI said that persecution was increasing in the eastern Indian state, and civil servants, magistrates and district commissioners were not protecting Christians. Howell said the government was not responding to their pleas, and that culprits were not being punished. 6: http://www.compassdirect.org/ News from ReligionToday is Copyrighted by Crosswalk.com ___________________________________________>>> *CONGO: PRAYER INITIATIVE WITH 350+ LEADERS >From: John_Robb@wvi.org This is a report on the Democratic Republic of Congo prayer initiative with 350-400 Christian leaders, held Nov 29-Dec 1, with an international team of facilitators: Dear Friends, our team has just crossed back across the border from the first day of the initiative. Approximately 400 leaders from five provinces and every conceivable denomination and many of the ethnic groups presently at war with each other have gathered. Our focus today was "Reaching for Reconciliation and Healing Wounded Hearts". Our Rwandan team member led us in a session of letting God bring healing to those who have been wounded by witnessing atrocities, losing their homes and livelihoods and family members in the conflicts of recent years and present. As often happens, I feel led to confess the sins of the white race against Africans. This was the case today. You could hear the surprised reaction of the participants who had never heard us proud whites confess any wrongdoing even though the Belgians, French, British and Americans have manipulated and misused this nation so badly leaving deep, unhealed wounds of bitterness and ethnic suspicion and hate. If you want a vivid, heartwrenching account of this, read King Leopold's Ghostwhich recounts the way half the population (about 10 million perished during the Belgian colonial occupation). The American CIA and multinational companies also deserve a big share of blame for the state this nation is in. After we drove back across the border this afternoon (for mandatory security reasons), we received the call from the conference site that the Holy Spirit is moving among the participants powerfully and they are confessing the sins of their own ethnic groups and church denominations to one another. Praise God for the way He is answering your prayers and ours! We have also discovered that there is another simultaneous prayer effort happening in the western part of the country, obviously orchestrated by the Lord because He aims to bring healing to this fractured society. Please pray for a deep, unhindered work of the Holy Spirit, with real brokenness in all our hearts. Pray we as a team and local organizers will hear the voice of the Lord step by step and carry out His strategy. Finally, pray that a ceasefire will occur with a peace agreement being agreed to by the many factions of combatants in the present civil war. It is beyond human solution. Warmest greetings and deepest thanks from Congo and Burundi, John Robb, WorldVision ---------- >Date: Thu, Nov 30, 2000, 10:38 PM Yesterday was clearly a breakthrough day. There was such deep and prolonged repentance and reconciliation that we lost control of the program! Ethnic and church divisions were brought out openly with great humility, brokenness and weeping. The Holy Spirit accepted our invitation and came flooding in with great power and conviction on all of us. It was like a dam breaking and the waters pouring over. Back in Burundi later in the day, a local leader and I led people across the country over the radio in prayer for reconciliation and the peace process in this country. A brave woman deeply marked by a machete scar described witnessing the brutal murder of her husband and five of her seven children and how she has forgiven the murderers through the love and power Christ has brought into her life. We wept in amazement as she spoke. Please pray with us for the: 1. Establishment of a united prayer network and effective follow-on planning by the leaders that this move of prayer, repentance and reconciliation will spread outward from Uvira and eastern Congo to other parts of the country and region (There also Burundians and Rwandans taking part). 2. Rededication of the people and land to the Lord as we celebrate communion together and proclaim His new covenant for Congo. 3. Commissioning of the 400+ church leaders to continue to "stand in the gap" long after we are gone. 4. Continued protection over all of us and our families with safe travel back to our homes. 5. Anointing of the Spirit on our time with 100+ Burundian leaders coming to meet with our team on Saturday and 300 Kenyans in Nairobi on Sunday. Jesus Christ is the healer of nations and we are seeing His work! Thanks for continuing to stand with us, John ___________________________________________>>> *MALAYSIA: 250 MINISTRY NETWORKS AT ROUNDTABLE >From: John_Robb@wvi.org Great Commission Roundtable- over 250 ministry networks have been invited to send their leaders for the first global GCR consultation in Malaysia. Pray that these busy leaders will make this a major priority and register to attend by the December 10 deadline. Response has so far been slow. ___________________________________________>>> *GLOBAL PERSECUTION: 165,000 WILL DIE FOR CHRIST THIS YEAR >From: Assistcomm@cs.com >By Dan Wooding --->PrayerPoints: India, Greece, Israel/Palestine, Sudan, China Some 165,000 Christians will die for their faith in Jesus this year. That is the view of religious statistician David B. Barrett in his new book "Today's Martyrs." Since the crucifixion of Jesus more than 43 million Christians have been killed for their faith. This estimate is part of documentation published by the German news agency IDEA. This information has come from the World Evangelical Fellowship based in Wheaton, IL, and contained in their latest publication, WEF Defender -- Update on Persecution. The WEF Defender reports that German missiologist Prof. Thomas Schirrmacher writes that no other religious community has been persecuted as hard as Christians. Persecution is on the rise due to the expansion of Islamic and Hindu extremism as well as the appearance of new dictatorships in Africa. "There is no telling how many Christians are being tortured, harassed or oppressed," states Schirrmacher. Also that a persecution index provided by Open Doors with Brother Andrew lists 28 countries with strong or even massive persecution. In another 23 countries Christians suffer discrimination and in some regions severe harassment. The WEF Defender then talks about some of the hot spots for persecution around the world. They started with India. "Following new attacks on Christians by members of Hindu fundamentalist groups, church leaders in India are expressing concern that the Orissa state government is anti-minority," said the report. "The general secretary of the Evangelical Fellowship of India (a WEF member), Richard Howell, said that persecution of Christians was increasing in the eastern Indian state, and civil servants, magistrates and district commissioners were not protecting Christians. "Howell said the government was not responding to their pleas, and that culprits were not being punished. Meanwhile, one Hindu group announced plans to spread a "message of saffron brotherhood" in 500,000 villages throughout India. The campaign has been described as the biggest mass contact exercise in the country to spread the message of 'Hindutva' (Hinduness). Rulers persecute me without cause, but my heart trembles at your word. Ps 119:161.) Surprisingly, Greece was singled out for comment. "The Greek government again attacks Evangelical churches in Thessaloniki," said the report. "In 1997 local police filed a suit against 11 pastors of the Evangelical community of Thessaloniki accusing them that they are operating their churches without the required official 'House of Prayer' license. A court hearing is set for December 12, 2000. Among the Thessaloniki churches charged is the Greek Evangelical Church, a large historical Evangelical church in Thessaloniki; the Apostolic Pentecostal Church, with a history of many decades in the city; and the Biblical Church pastored by Rev. Timothy Antoniadis, a member of the executive committee of Greek Evangelical Alliance (a member of WEF). "Similar accusations have been brought against 14 other evangelical churches and religious minorities since 1997." According to the report, Greece has been condemned for the law numerous times in the courts of Europe. Cases before the European Court of Human Rights confirm the need for the Greek government to grant freedoms to religious minorities. WEF says that if religious freedom in the world is on the decline, as a new report suggests, other basic human freedoms and hopes for extending democracy globally could suffer, according to the study's author. In a story in Newsroom, principle freedoms tend to be interlocked, explained Paul Marshall, general editor of a survey conducted by Freedom House's Center for Religious Freedom. "Without such things as freedom of the press or freedom of speech, for instance, you can't have religious freedom. Definitions overlap." The survey, "Religious Freedom in the World: a Global Report on Freedom and Persecution," ranks 75 countries containing some 90 percent of the world's population on a comparative scale. It concludes that conditions necessary for religious freedom have been deteriorating since the mid-1990s, particularly in populous countries such as India, where Christians are suffering increased persecution at the hands of Hindu nationalists; China, in the wake of its 1999 crackdown on the religious group, Falun Gong; Indonesia, where communal strife between Muslims and Christians has become infused by the more structured presence of "jihad warriors" in some areas; Nigeria, beset by increased rioting and Muslim-Christian conflict over state-level implementation of Islamic law; and Pakistan, where a blasphemy law sentences violators to prison and, in the case of blaspheming the Muslim prophet Muhammad, to death. Yet, according to Marshall, who is a member of the WEF Religious Liberty Commission, it is too soon to tell whether a decline in religious freedom presages the decline of other freedoms in these countries. In fact, even as religious freedom abuses and religious conflicts have escalated, democracy in some cases has been on the upswing. Indonesia held elections last year, for example; Nigeria is in the midst of a democratic transition; and India is a well-established democracy. These countries may have democratic governments, but all else is in tension, said Marshall. "... If religious freedom stays down... (democracy) will come down. Or, put it this way: the measures on religious freedom and democracy will come together -- they will either go up or go down," he said. Countries of Islamic background proved the least free overall, according to the survey, with Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Turkmenistan receiving the lowest possible score. "Religious Freedom in the World" uses a grading scale to organize countries along a continuum. A ranking of 1 to 3 qualifies a country as "free"; a 4 or 5 signifies a country is 'partly free'; and a 6 or 7 gains the recipient an "unfree" status. The WEF Defender then turned to the troubled situation in Israel. "An article in the Jerusalem Post reports that Arab Palestinian Christians-who have had a continual presence in Palestine since the first century-have felt an increased threat from their ethnic Muslim compatriots and are fleeing," said the WEF Defender "The Christian Palestinians traditionally have supported the Palestinian position." Sudan then was featured. "Under intense lobbying from the United States and numerous human rights and religious groups, the United Nations General Assembly on October 10, rejected Sudan's bid to win a seat on the Security Council. Sudan's loss is a victory for activists who have lobbied to make the treatment of Christians and non-Muslims in Sudan's 17-year civil war a higher priority. Sudan has been denounced for condoning the enslavement of non-Muslims in the south, bombing of schools, hospitals and humanitarian relief workers, and the forced conversion of Christians and animists to Islam," said the WEF Defender. The WEF Defender reported then on China, saying, "The Chinese government is continuing its crackdown on house-churches. In this latest incidence, reported on Sept 18 in the New York Times, 60 security troops were sent to re-arrest 81 year-old Bishop Zeng Jingmu of Jiangxi Province. In early 1998, as President Clinton prepared to visit China, American officials sought Bishop Zeng's early release from a labor camp, where he had been sent in 1995 for holding unauthorized religious services. As Jesus prayed for those who nailed him to the tree, we pray for the captors and jailers of persecuted believers. May they hear and believer. "China's Three Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM)-- the organization controlling the Protestant church on behalf of the Communist Party --celebrated its 50th anniversary in September in belligerent tones. TSPM Chairman Luo Guanzong stated, 'Since 1840 right up until 1949, imperialism had made use of Christianity and the missionaries to serve its aggression, and it has never stopped. In the 1950s, Chinese Christians through the TSPM for the first time stood up and with their new political standpoint, unmasked the connection between the Western missionary movement and imperialist aggression in China.' The TSPM is regarded by an increasing number of Chinese Christians as corrupt and spiritually bankrupt. Guide our speech Father so that we may always speak your truth in love, so that all the nations will hear of your love." As we come to the end of the year 2000, remember the families of the 165,000 who will die for their faith and don't forget to pray "without ceasing" for those in the Persecuted. Note: This is just a part of the WEF Defender report. For more information, phone Kathi Graham, Editor, at WEF at (630) 668 0440. Dan Wooding is an award-winning journalist now living in Southern California with his wife, Norma. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times): http://www.rwcc.com/assist.htm ** You may use this story with proper attribution. ASSIST Communications, P.O. Box 2126, Garden Grove, CA 92842, USA To be added to this list, send a message to: assistcomm@cs.com ___________________________________________>>> *CARIBBEAN: NEW ALLIANCE PARTNERS >From: Dieugrand Jacques New Alliance Prayer Partners is a new movement founded by an Haitian Pastor by the name of Dieugand Jacques in Boynton Beach Florida. Rev Jacques is the senior Pastor of The New Haitian Alliance Church of Boynton Beach since April 1995. He is a church Planter ( Founder of 3 churches and 2 evangelical movements) , a man with vision to unite together in Florida Pastors of different nations and denominations jut to pray. Three months ago, he was led by the Lord to found the New Alliance Prayer Partners that he has been praying for over a year. Haitians, Bahamaans, Americans, 1 Porto Rican, 1 Jamaican Pastors are part of this movement. His goal is to have all the pastors together. Pastor Jacques also stands the movement to be a key representative office for other Evangelical movements that Floridians and other nations in the Carabean do not know about yet. He speaks about 7 languages and he can transform messages, communicating to people all around for the extent of the Gospel of Jesus-Christ. "My vision is fill the emptiness between Haitian brothers divided among themselves. They also have this spirit of division and rejection that they have to be in their own for other groups will not work together with them. I believe it is a demonic spirit and a stronghold against God's people and this should be broken down. I have learned that there are no mountains that can stand against us when we pray and the Lord put in my heart this desire to unite Pastors in prayer." Pray that the Lord will get leaders of all groups involved, to forget about their positions, ages, creeds and personalities but to focus on the work that jesus entrust to us all. Thank you for the privilege of working together, Jacques ___________________________________________>>> *FOR PASTORS PRAYING TOGETHER >From: outreaching@aol.com I have written a book entitled Elders at the Gate. It may be helpful in motivating pastors and Christian leaders to pray together. The book explains what it means for Elders to be at the gates. It defines who a Christian Elder is, the functions of City Elders, how to set up Christian Elders in cities, Gates in the bible and their spiritual significance etc. It is available in USA through Eleanor Guz, 1st Assembly of God, 1500 International Spdway Blvd Deland, Fl. 32724. It costs $5 per copy (add $2 for shipment). Thanks, Rev. Mosy U. Madugba ___________________________________________>>> *INDIA: FOR OUR PRAYERS >From: "mathew" Dear NPPN Leader, Warm greetings from NLCCA - India. I am delighted to write a summary of NLCCA ministry which we are doing in India for your prayers and participation. By His grace the ministry of NLCCA is fully committed to win India for Jesus Christ. Through a multi-faceted ministry of formal and informal training, evangelistic outreach, church planting, medical missions, literature publication and distribution and varied social upliftment projects, we strive to obey the Great Commission to Go preach and make disciples. Recognizing the need, reaching out to people and responding from the heart has become the life style of NLCCA to demonstrate the love of God. We would appreciate your prayers and participation in this ministry. Kindly feel free to write to me if you need any further details regarding me or the ministry in India. Anticipating your positive and prayerful response. With personal regards and prayers. Sincerely yours in Christ, Rev. Dr. K. Sam Mathews, President NEW LIFE COMPASSION CENTER ASSOCIATION Door No. 17- 8, Dairy Farm P.O. Visakhapatnam 530 040. Andhra Pradesh INDIA. Phone: 91-891-543486; Fax: 91-891-543180 ___________________________________________>>> *BABADOS: PASTORS AND INTERCESSORS >From: Crosswalk.com ...Christians held a stirring all-night prayer vigil on the island of Barbados Nov. 29-30. Pastors and "hundreds and hundreds of intercessors" from many denominations came from all over the 166-square-mile Caribbean island by car, bus, bicycle, and on foot to Garfield Sobers Gymnasium in Bridgetown, according to Gerry Seale, president of the Barbados Evangelical Association. The island had been drenched by torrential rains for days and was under a flood watch, but that did not stop those who came to pray. ..."Through the night to 5 a.m. the next morning they prayed, they wept -- at times deeply -- they sang, they worshiped, they danced, they rejoiced," Seale said. People confessed their sins, prayed fervently, and "sought the face of God for revival in their homeland," he said. ...As morning broke on Nov. 30, the 34th anniversary of Barbados' independence from Great Britain, "they made their way home satisfied that they had 'prayed through' and God would answer. It was awesome," Seale said. ...News from ReligionToday is Copyrighted by Crosswalk.com ___________________________________________>>> *ROSARIO, ARGENTINA: 50,000+ >From: Crosswalk.com ...Luis Palau's "festival" style of evangelism works in South America, too. "Festival 2000 with Luis Palau" drew crowds of 50,000 and 80,000 people Nov. 17-18 for two days of music and preaching in a park next to the National Monument to the Flag in Rosario, Argentina, according to his ministry. ...About 2,000 spiritual counselors scattered throughout the crowd both nights and distributed 4,500 books to people who indicated they had made a commitment to Jesus Christ, the ministry reported. "Salvation has been let loose over Rosario," said Juan Herrera, a pastor and vice president of the festival's organizing executive committee. The spiritual breakthrough was particularly welcome in the Rosario, which has the nation's highest unemployment rate and where "social tension is the order of the day," festival director Carlos Barbieri said. ...Palau's ministry is drawing double and triple the attendance "from when we used a more traditional approach," said Kevin Palau, executive vice president. Festivals have been held this year in Portland and Tucson, and are planned in 2001 in Connecticut, Springfield, Mass., Syracuse, N.Y., Boise, Idaho, and Santa Cruz, Calif. ...News from ReligionToday is Copyrighted by Crosswalk.com ___________________________________________>>> *HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA: REACHING GOALS, STREET-BY-STREET, CODE-BY-CODE >From: " Sam Abraham" Greetings from Himalayas in the blessed name of Jesus. I am regularly receiving the National Pastors' Prayer Network news bulletin. I appreciate all the effort you are putting to establish His kingdom. Here with I am enclosing news from Himalayas. Himachal Pradesh: The Apple land of India, the abode of god, the land of snow is a virtual paradise a tourist’s dream and delight. It is situated in the north west corner of India, right in the lap of the Himalayan ranges. It is India’s 14th largest state in area and 17th in Population. It is one of the most beautiful state of the country where landscaping knows no bounds. Its geographical diversity ranges from green meadows and pastures to the stark grandeur of the Himalayas. Area: 55,673 sq.km Population: 6 Million est. Principle Languages: Hindi, Phari No. Of Villages: 19,388 No. Of Blocks: 69 Districts: 12 Capital: Shimla People Group: 115 The spiritual aspect of this state is poor. This state is known as the darkest state of India with 0.09% of Christian. The history says in the middle of 1855 Hyde missionaries worked in this region for 20 years. But the outcome was very few. They worked here until 1898. They built Moravian church and graveyard. Later they had to leave the country. Now the Church building turned into a Tibetan Monastery and the graveyard changed into a potato field. Many missionaries worked in this state for centuries, but the fruit was very little. Still this state remains as the least evangelized state. Open your eyes and look at the field! They are ripe for harvest. In John 4: 35. Jesus instructed his disciples to discern the readiness of the harvest. In Mathew 9: 37-38, He assessed the harvest force and found them to be incredibly few. Today, Jesus has left this task to His Church. He expects us to keep an account of the harvest yield (the Church) and it's progress in reaping the spiritual harvest in the field - our state of Himachal Pradesh. In order to fill the state with the living churches Himachal outreach Network launched in 1996. This demands every Christian living in this land to have passion for church planting and evangelism like never before. In 1997 we set some goals for the Himachal outreach Network: A Church for every District by 1997 A Church for every Block by 1999 A church for every pincodes by the year 2000 and beyond A Church for every people group by 2005 Today when we look to the harvest field and force survey report we have enough reason to say PRAISE THE LORD because He is enabling us to see this goal being fulfilled in front of our eyes. In the end of 1997 our district level goal achieved. In the end of 1999 all the blocks have also been adopted for church planting by various churches. It is true that we have not yet been able to see lively churches in all these places, but the people of God have embraced the vision and we are closer to the vision being fulfilled. We are approaching the end of this millennium and God’s spirit is moving mightily all over the world. The state of Himachal has also receiving this tremendous outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit. The Body of Christ here is beginning to grow among us like never before. Yet there are much more to do in prayer, preaching and making disciples. Many more mountains are yet to be possessed. As you see the unreached pincodes in each district and as you pray and intercede for the state of HP, May the dear Lord guide you to make bold plans to build His Church. We need to see people coming forward to adopt one or more the remaining people group, pincodes for Church planting. It is our hope that you will utilize this report for your daily prayer. Set aside at least 10 minutes each day to stand in the gap for Himachal. Unite in prayer with God’s people of diverse ethnic and involve others in this prayer wave. Allow the Holy Spirit to inspire you to pray. As you set the pace, the fire of revival will not be far behind. So open your eyes and look at the field! They are ripe for harvest. Yours for the sake of the Gospel, Rev. Sam Abraham Voice Of Himachal, Post Box –4, Palampur.P.O, Himachal Pradesh, India 176061 Tel /Fax.91-1894-32511, E-mal: sam.ahp@usa.net ___________________________________________>>> *THREE WONDER-FILLED STORIES >From: Friday Fax Asia: "You are God's representative" A team of Christians was travelling by bus through an area inhabited by the Shan Wa, a mostly unreached people group in China and Myanmar. During a stop for repairs, a group came down from the mountains carrying a sick woman, and went directly to one of the Christians, saying "You are God's representative; pray for us." The Christians were astonished, because they had not mentioned who they were. Source: Advance Philippines: "Eat what they give you" (Luke 10:7) Some Christians travelled to a remote island in the Philippines with no Christian inhabitants. They expected to be refused permission to land, and were very surprised to be welcomed. After speaking about basic medical provision, installing a water pump and toilet and telling some Biblical stories, they rejoiced that thirty people decided to follow Christ. One of the new believers told them "Our children always run away when strangers come, but on the day you arrived, they all ran to welcome you! And do you remember the family which invited you for a meal? They poisoned your food, but none of you died. You did not even become ill! We knew that God must be with you!" Source: Mark Kelly, Advance. See also www.brigada.org Germany: Praying Kids Birgit Janke works with the Freie Christliche Jugendgemeinschaft's childrens' ministry in Ludenscheid. "We're finding many children with a strong desire for God's presence and power, from 5- to 9-year-old refugee children, through children from socially disadvantaged groups to kids we meet on the playgrounds." And they repeatedly experience that presence and power. Here are some examples: "9-year-old Fidane loves Jesus, but comes from a Moslem family. Her mother was suffering from serious circulatory problems, so Fidane prayed for her. The symptoms disappeared completely. During a prayer time, 8-year-old Pessiana had a prophetic word for an apprentice - an answer from God, which the woman had been seeking for some time. 5-year-old Anja came to Christ during an outreach in a playground. She began to cry - not because she wanted an ice-cream or a new toy, but for people who she knows who do not know Jesus, and whom she wants to meet in heaven. Another girl regularly comes to Christian meetings. On her way through the town centre, she was surrounded by a group of children who insulted her and spat at her. When they finally left her alone, her first thought was that we should love our enemies. She forgave them in a short, quiet prayer, and her shame and anger disappeared." Source: FCJG 'Unser Weg', Kids' Centre, fax (+49) 2351 20423 To subscribe to The Friday Fax, send a message with the subject subscribe English to: fridayfax@dawneurope.net ___________________________________________>>> *NIGER: WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS... >From: "Crosswalk.com" ...The power of prayer moved bureaucratic mountains in Niger. When customs officials seized 16 cases of religious books destined to be given to pastors at a conference, missionaries for Charlotte, N.C.-based SIM (see link below) knew they faced serious obstacles. The officials placed a hefty tax on the books, making it virtually impossible to get them in time to distribute at the conference, the ministry said. ...The only thing left to do was pray for a miracle, the missionaries said, and they asked God to make a way for the books to be released. When they visited the customs office for a "last-ditch effort" to negotiate for the books, an official pulled one of the books from a carton, read a letter explaining that they were for 300 pastors, and promptly ordered the missionaries to take the books away. "You can bet we did some rejoicing in the truck on the way back," missionary Jim Knowlton said. ...Another prayer was answered. Three and a half tons of books were stuck in neighboring Benin because of a transportation strike. Emboldened by the way God answered their first prayer, the missionaries again asked God for help, the ministry said. The container reached the Niger border and was waived through almost immediately by the same customs officials. "Normally it takes days, even weeks, to clear a container," Connie Knowlton said. ...http://www.sim.org ...News from ReligionToday is Copyrighted by Crosswalk.com ___________________________________________>>> *NORTHERN IRELAND: PRAY WITH THIS PASTOR FOR PEACE >From: newlife How suddenly peace can be shattered and peoples lives destroyed! No sooner had I sent out Christmas Greetings when news reached us that a man had been shot dead approximately a half mile from our home. The man was a Protestant taxi driver. Unfortunately the way things are in our Country a person is always labelled by their "Religion." So for those who drive for taxi companies, they are either Protestant taxi drivers or Catholic taxi drivers! Please don't tell me this is crazy! I know it is. In fact this is indicative of life in Northern Ireland. The man in his thirties only started taxiing on Friday night. Last night, Tuesday, he responded to a call to pick up a fare. When he arrived at the pick up point at 11.30pm he was shot dead by a waiting gunman. Retaliation by Protestant terrorists was swift. Today they shot dead a Catholic workman, who came from outside Belfast, but was working within this area. Two men now lie dead, one a Protestant and one a Catholic. Two families are totally devastated just a few weeks prior to Christmas. A third man is fighting for his life in hospital. He is a Catholic taxi driver who was shot several times as he sat in his taxi. The shooting took place along the route that I always take to church. So those who have been with me in Belfast have actually travelled that route. Once again Northern Ireland is holding its breath. Please pray with me for the families of those tragically killed, and for the man in hospital, that he will pull through. Love and prayers from Northern Ireland, Jack Pastor Jack McKee, New Life Ministries Ireland http://www.newlifeministries.co.uk ___________________________________________>>> *AFRICA: MINISTERS PRAYER NETWORK >From: OUTREACHNG@aol.com Twenty seven countries have signified their readiness to attend what promises to be the first 3rd millennium conference with the highest participation by 27 countries in entire African continent. Key Christian leaders from around the world who understand the prophetic season in which Africa is are very keen about this conference. Heads of the fastest growing indigenous ministries and churches like Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God will be in attendance. It is called 'AFRICA 2001'- the 5th International Prayer and Leadership Conference of Ministers Prayer Network (Africa). Prayer requests: 1. Open heavens 2. Visas for all intending to attend 3. Fund for individuals to purchase their flight tickets Funds for the organisers to put on the ground logistics in place 5. Safety for all travelling Thanks, Rev. Mosy U. Madugba International Co-ordinator ============================================================= Phil Miglioratti ~ National Pastors' Prayer Network / US 1130 Randville Drive 1D, Palatine, IL 60074 847-991-0153 // 708-293-0444(fax) http://www.nppn.org email: phil@nppn.org http://www.missionamerica.org/prayernetwork.html Register your PPG: http://www.nppn.org/ppg/ subscribe@nppn.org unsubscribe@nppn.org Sheila Straka ~ Intercession Chuck Straka ~ Web Master Adam Shields ~ Tech Support --->Unless clearly identified as "Personal To _____" or "Confidential" all information and comments sent to phil@nppn.org will be considered for use in a future NPPN Update. --->Send all Email attachments as "text" (rather than in a specific program). --->Copyright 2000. 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