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HONOR -
What Love Looks Like
By Fawn Parish
Renew Books
--->NPPNote: Worth getting even if you only read the chapter on honoring
cities!
-Fawn, Why did you write this book?
I was about to speak at a National Day of Prayer gathering when I heard
God's usual off-the-topic-whisper "I want to restore the word honor to My
people." I knew very little about honor at the time and was desperately hoping
God wasn't suggesting I change subjects, as I was scheduled to speak immediately
and it was a large crowd. Fortunately, God was just getting my attention to ask
Him about something I knew so little about. I wrote the book out of my inquiry
on how God views Honor, and what makes it a life altering, dynamic spiritual
force.
-What effect did writing it have on you?
Obviously I am more careful about honoring others. My husband proudly says.
"She wrote the book on HONOR." So my reputation predicts my behavior (most of
the time). God is often very creative in how He calls me to live the book.
-Who would be most interested in this book?
Leaders tend to be the most impacted by this book. George Otis Jr. said it
changed his life. Alice Patterson of PRAY TEXAS said she wept through one of the
chapters. One church in D.C. has offered several classes in the book. It has
questions at the end of each chapter so it lends itself to small study groups.
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They can order directly from us by calling toll free 888-8HONOR9 or emailing
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I N T H I S U P D A T E ... and for our prayers
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* SPECIAL REPORT
MOBILIZING PASTORS IN LIBERIA
1. GLOBAL PASTORS'
NETWORK FOR CHURCH-GROWTH
2. GLOBAL FACE OF THE CHURCH IS CHANGING
3. EGYPT: CANCELLATION ... REVIVAL ... CHURCHES
4. PHILIPPINES: A NEW SEASON
5. UKRAINE, ORISSA, MYANMA, HAITI: GOD AT WORK
6. 40/70 WINDOW PRAYER CALENDAR
7. BIRATNAGAR, NEPAL:
PASTORS TRAINED IN HINDU KINGDOM
8. NIGERIA: 4 MILLION PEOPLE
9. BRINGING MUSLIMS TO CHRIST
10. ZIMBABWE: CHURCH
LEADERS MEET WITH PRESIDENT
11. HUNGARY: INTERNET 'CONGREGATION'
OPENS FOR PRAYERS
12. SOUTH AFRICA + SUDAN:
PRAYER INITIATIVES
13. HUNGARY: PRAYER BEST WEAPON
14. NIGERIA,
TANZANIA, CAMBODIA
15. HOW ABOUT YOUR NATION?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* SPECIAL REPORT
MOBILIZING PASTORS IN LIBERIA
>From: ISRAEL NEWBERRY
sraelnewberry@yahoo.com
I write to give you development of the mobilization process in Liberia
concerning the pastors prayer network.
As I write you now, there is an on going crusade which began on December 26 and
shall go on through December 30, 2001 ending with an unity service. The Lord is
doing a great thing here in Liberia with this coalition of pastors. We have
become an unifying force to reckon with.
I shall feed you with information as it relates to the number of
churches/ministries that are involved and the cooperation of the pastors of
these
churches/ministries and what happened during and after the crusade and the unity
service. The information shall include the list of the pastors.
Pray along with us as go through this process, Pastor Israel S. Newberry, I
Senior Pastor, Living Word Dunamis Church
--->NPPNote: It is my hope
and prayer that 2002 will see the rise of Pastors' Prayer Networks in many
nations ... so that, we may network the networks into a Global Network of NPPNs.
Will you join me in this prayer? Will you let me know who to contact in various
countries; those already pursuing this vision? We have much to learn from one
another plus much encouragement to share!
___________________________________________>>>
1. GLOBAL PASTORS' NETWORK FOR CHURCH-GROWTH
>From: charisma@strang.com
>By Andy Butcher
Scores of leading church and ministry leaders are backing a major initiative
that aims to create a global pastors' network that will enable a church-growth
explosion. The effort is to be launched at a conference in Orlando, Fla., next
month expected to draw 5,000 pastors from across the United States and overseas.
The three-day Beyond All Limits (BAL) meeting will be addressed by a host of
internationally known leaders who are endorsing the ambitious Global Pastors
Network (GPN) dreamed up by Cutting Edge International (CEI) and Campus Crusade
for Christ (CCC).
The proceedings are to be broadcast live to thousands via cable and satellite,
and will also be transmitted over the Internet -- where a GPN Web site will
archive the sessions along with teaching material from other organizations and
ministries. The materials will be available free, by subscription and through
scholarships to pastors in the developing world. In addition, the GPN site will
host regular live teaching sessions.
"The pastor is the gatekeeper of the local church, and as he grows his church
grows -- if you fill the pulpit, God fills the building," said CEI president and
BAL coordinator James O. Davis. "We want a global technological presence to
connect every pastor in the world. It will create a learning environment to give
an unseasoned pastor the resources he needs for pastoring in the 21st century."
CCC founder Bill Bright said that pastors were the key to revival and world
evangelization. "Without godly, Spirit-filled visionary pastors, we will never
be able to reach our planet for Christ. Godly pastors serve as His change agents
in every community."
The conference and network will address issues from the pastor's personal life,
including finance and family, to preaching and administration. Davis said that
many pastors questioned a few years after graduating from seminary felt that
their training had not prepared them adequately for ministry.
Even if better preparation was available, there were not enough schools and
seminaries in existence to meet the need for new pastors. "In the last seven or
eight years more than 750,000 churches have been started by Campus alone. We
don't have enough leaders to even fill these churches, much less those that will
be started," he said.
Davis said that there had been unprecedented cooperation from denominations,
church leaders and ministries for the conference and network. "The top 100
ministry organizations in the world have already committed their content [to the
network] to make it available worldwide."
Among the scheduled speakers at BAL are evangelist Billy Graham, Southern
Baptist national leader James Merritt, Jack Hayford, Assemblies of God General
Superintendent Thomas Trask, Bishop Charles Blake of the West Angeles Church of
God in Christ, and Promise Keepers (PK) founder Bill McCartney.
McCartney is also leading an effort to mobilize thousands of American churches
to regular prayer for their pastors. PK is launching the campaign at a prayer
rally in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 7 because "pastors are one of the most
attacked and least protected members of God's army."
To subscribe: http://www.strang.com/newsletters.php
and folllow the instructions.
Copyright 2001 Strang Communications Co.
___________________________________________>>>
2. GLOBAL FACE OF THE CHURCH IS CHANGING
>From: Marc van der Woude
MarcvanderWoude@XC.Org
"Many of the rapidly-growing churches in third-world nations are becoming less
and less like the denominational churches in the West," says Dr. Jim Montgomery,
founder of the Dawn movement. Some of his observations:
>From Bible school to mentoring
A growing number of churches meet in houses, huts or even under trees. Their
leaders are often newly-saved Christians, not trained pastors. They have rapidly
grown into their roles through mentoring relationships, not academic training.
For too long, church planters in non-Western nations tried to copy the West.
"Wherever Christians are, there is the church," wrote Wang Ming-dao, a respected
Chinese Christian imprisoned for his faith. We need to understand that.
How mature can young believers be?
The leader of an Argentinean church planting movement said "we must trust the
Holy Spirit that he is able to entrust relatively young believers with mature
tasks." Curtis Sergeant, a church strategist, has developed an excellent model.
Sergeant believes that a strategic mentoring process can help to encourage
almost every Christian to plant a church.
Generation X churches
Recently, the young generation has started taking church into their own hands.
They ignore large parts of traditional church culture and link with youths
around the world who live church in such a way that it works for Generation X.
Many traditional church leaders would deny that these groups and movements are
churches, but the youths bring small groups together, evangelize their
generation and meet informally. For many, that is a huge paradigm shift, but
it's church for young people.
Dare to go out, not just consolidate
When rapid growth occurs, we dare not make the mistake of consolidating just as
large groups of people have reached a Kairos moment and are ready to become
Christians. Consolidation can cost us great opportunities, and the groups are no
longer open to the gospel. We need both: healthy discipleship and consolidation,
but we must be careful to not hinder the fire in its spread.
Philippines: Dawn target reached - 60,000 churches
This year, a great target was reached: in 1974, Christian leaders agreed to work
together until the nation's 5,000 Christian churches became 50,000, aiming for
the year 2000. Research has shown that there are now around 60,000 churches in
the nation, or around one for every 1,250 of the nation's 75 million
inhabitants. A growing number of the new churches meets not in church buildings,
but in houses, classrooms, schools, under trees, in offices or stadia.
Source: http://www.dawnministries.org
Subscribe to Joel-News by sending an empty e-mail to:
subscribe-joel-news-international@xc.org
___________________________________________>>>
3. EGYPT: CANCELLATION ... REVIVAL
... CHURCHES
>From: Friday Fax
FridayFax@DawnEurope.net
Egypt: "Evangelical festival" leads to thousands of conversions
Those who know Egypt will hardly believe the following report which we
recently received from one of the leaders of the Evangelical Alliance. Checks
revealed the report to be accurate: Bayadiya, a medium-sized Egyptian city,
experienced one of the greatest evangelistic breakthroughs in the nation's
history: at least 7,500 people (some sources mention up to 15,000) have decided
to follow Jesus.
Cancellation starts revival
"The idea came during a weekend for church planters, musicians and young
artists: why not hold an 'evangelical celebration' similar to those held over 40
times each year by the Coptic Orthodox church to honor saints? They planned a
large celebration for all Evangelically-oriented groups. The youths were
excited, and immediately started writing songs and sketches," reports one of the
initiators. Bayadiya, a predominantly Christian town near Minyas, was selected
as the venue. 30,000 of Bayadiya's inhabitants are 'Christians', although only
1,000 attend the services in the town's six churches. Five of the six churches
were prepared to cooperate, so prayer and preparations began. Despite initially
granting permission, the police banned the event - one day before it was
supposed to take place! All the tents had to be taken down. The Christians
didn't give up: instead of inviting the people to the celebration, they went to
the people on the street, in the churches and in their homes. They performed the
sketches on the back of a truck which drove around the town, stopping at
strategic spots. Hundreds and thousands of people saw the sketches, heard
"Sunday School", took part in puppet theaters, listened to music groups and even
received prayer in coffee houses.
Strong reaction to 'weak sermon'
Thousands of people - conservative estimates speak of 7,500, some up to
15,000 - of all age groups, and including visitors from the surrounding
villages, experienced a spiritual rebirth, according to the report. A gang
leader gave his life to Jesus after seeing the Jesus film, and led six others of
his gang to the Lord. A number of people experienced physical healing, to which
they testified on video; many were freed from demons, and whole houses and
streets decided to follow Jesus. Young people saw how God performed miracles
through them, and how hundreds of Christians an non-Christians reacted to the
supposedly weak sermons. Several criminals and even murderers were deeply
touched, and repented in tears. "It was as in the early days of the church,"
says one of the organizers.
Harvest strategy: plant new churches
Fifty leading members of Bayadiya's churches are have their hands full with
continuing the revival. 25 new "Street meetings" (fellowships) meet every week,
some with up to four parallel meetings. Many people have asked to be allowed to
start Christian meetings in houses. The followup work is centered on planting
churches; some 80 of which are planned in the coming months. A public Christian
festival is planned to be held every two months. The 350 Christians who took
part in the celebration are totally changed, having experienced a paradigm
change in their ministry, and returned to their churches refreshed in spirit.
Source: 5 of 6 churches in Bayadiya, personally known to the Friday Fax editor.
(Names and addresses withheld.)
To subscribe to the Friday Fax, send a message with the subject: subscribe
English to fridayfax@dawneurope.net
___________________________________________>>>
4. PHILIPPINES: A NEW SEASON
>From: jonathan ian arinsol
juvylan@yahoo.com
A new season has come to the Philippines: A season of hunger for change. Almost
every sector of society is looking for this change. From rallies to a
revolution; from the young to the old; in the streets up to the mountains;
almost all are seeking for change.
It can also be seen as a season for the young. This generation, which form the
biggest part of our population, desire to be part of this change. They want to
be the catalyst for change. We saw this in the recent EDSA revolution, where the
majority of those who went to the streets were from the youth sector.
Can this be the season where God is the one preparing to bring a real change? In
the Old Testament, when the nation of Israel faces a major turning point, God
calls for a time for the whole nation to fast and pray.
Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly. Gather the
people, sanctify the assembly, assemble the old men, gather the children and
those that suck the breast; let the bridegroom go forth from his chamber, and
the bride out of her closet. (Joel 2:15-16 ASV)
A coming together of two generations…
Although the youth plays an important role in this “solemn assembly”, their
presence will not be enough. It will not be complete without the presence of the
“elders.”
There has never been a generation in our country that is in need of “fathering”
as in this one. Statistics show that 1 out of 3 kids experience abuse, mostly
sexual. Most sexual abusers are close relatives and the first on the list are
fathers. One out of 6 pregnancies end up in induced abortion. These are those
reported and recorded in hospitals alone. These plus the exodus of Overseas
Filipino Workers, which% are male workers, most of which are fathers, are
turning us into a “fatherless” nation.
Could it be a season for Malachi 4:6?
And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the
children to their fathers; lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
(Malachi 4:6 ASV)
Please join us in agreement that God would mightily pour out His presence on
NOV. 30, 2001 at Luneta park where Jesus Revolution Now will be held! its a
solemn assembly of Christian young people and their parents, youth leaders and
concerned adults to fast and pray for repentance and revival in our nation.
Jesus Revolution Now! seeks to summon a massive gathering of young people and
parents in Luneta Park, Manila, a historical gathering place.
--->NPPNote: Pray that the
work begun by the Holy Spirit at this gathering continues today and will bear
much fruit in the future!
___________________________________________>>>
5. UKRAINE, ORISSA, MYANMA, HAITI:
GOD AT WORK
>From: Missions Insider
insider@christianaid.org
>At http://www.christianaid.org
Ukraine: Evangelical Churches Multiply
Churches are multiplying in Ukraine, according to Slavik Radchuk, Christian
Aid's field scout for Ukraine and ex-Soviet lands. In a call to Missions Insider
editor John Lindner, November 11, Radchuk said that the number of evangelical
churches in Ukraine in the last ten years had multiplied about six-fold.
He said that in 1990, census figures showed the Ukrainian Orthodox churches
claiming 90% of the population; all other religions together composed the
remaining 10%.
Now, Radchuk says, government church registration figures show Protestants
holding 60% of the churches, with Orthodox churches down to 20% and all other
religions numbering 20%.
"These are government figures," Radchuk said, "published in the Ukrainian
press."
Radchuk said that in the last 20 months evangelical Ukrainian church planters
had started 75 congregations. Radchuk had set a goal late last year of raising
funds to help construct buildings for all of them by the end of this year.
"Praise God, so far we have been able to finish 67 churches," he said. "The
average cost is $5000 each. We have only eight more to go to finish our goal."
Local congregations provide labor and contribute what they can while
contributions from abroad ensure the completion of the average building. For
more information write to insider@christianaid.org and mention MI246 368-BCU on
the subject line.
Orissa: Hundreds Seek - and Find!
A ministry operating in India's eastern-shore Orissa State reports good success
by offering "Seekers Conferences." The ministry, which must remain unnamed in
this bulletin, conducted such a conference in a certain village, and all 84
adults who attended expressed their desire to follow Christ. The seed had been
sown through literature distribution months earlier. A second Seekers Conference
is scheduled in the same village in January.
Through this same method, the ministry established a small congregation in
another town in 1998. Though starting with a handful of believers, their number
has now grown to 800 members in three congregations--though none of them have
buildings and meet under large palm leaf arbors held up by poles.
The ministry, assisted by Christian Aid, has planted 90 churches and has 86
gospel workers on the field. To learn more, write to
insider@christianaid.org and
put MI246 640OFU on the subject line.
Myanmar: An Incredible Missionary Journey
Native missionaries of Myanmar (Burma) recently took the gospel to the far
reaches of their country in an endurance run that might qualify them for the
"iron man missionary of the year" award. The purpose of the eight-day trip was
to dedicate a newly built chapel in a remote village. Herbert, the leader of the
27-person missionary team, told Christian Aid of the week-long journey:
First of all we took a train as far as we could. We got off the train and walked
to the next village where we enjoyed sweet fellowship with local believers. The
next day we hitched a ride on a truck, arriving in a village in time to witness
the wedding of a church elder. After the wedding, some of the local people
joined us as we got back on the truck and went to a distant village, where we
stopped for the night.
The next day we set off hiking through the jungle. There was no trail, but local
friends guided us. The terrain was very hilly, and we arrived at a village by
nightfall. After a simple meal and a brief time of worship, we fell asleep
exhausted on the dirt floor of local huts.
We awoke to face another day of the same. The first half of the day we walked
downhill to a valley, and the rest of the day we trudged continually uphill. We
finally reached the destination village at the top of a high mountain after four
days of rugged travel.
The next day, we dedicated the wood and bamboo hut as that village's first
Christian meeting hall. The congregation held a celebration feast for which a
buffalo and a pig were killed. The congregation consisted of 13 families; the
other 122 families in the village were animists or worshipers of evil spirits. A
worship service in the newly dedicated building that evening drew a huge crowd
of curious villagers, and many stood outside listening to the gospel for the
first time.
The next day, we trekked on to an even more remote village. We walked up and
down hills for hours until we came to a sheer stone cliff that had to be scaled.
One of the team members had such cramps in her legs that she couldn't go on.
Four men took turns lugging her up the cliff on their backs. The village was so
isolated that neither government representatives nor medical doctors had ever
visited it.
We took a "short cut" back to the train station--walking three days through the
jungle, sleeping out in the open two nights because we passed no villages. The
only water we had was what we carried with us.
It is a big challenge to reach the many unreached villages and people in this
region. Yet working with the power of the Lord Jesus Christ and support from
partners with Christian Aid, we press on with joy.
Christian Aid supports 10 indigenous mission groups in Myanmar that have a total
of 739 missionaries on the field. For more information contact
insider@christianaid.org and
put MI246 715MGO on the subject line.
"The only medicine they have here is prayer,"
said missionary Herbert in Myanmar (Burma)
after riding by train, truck, trekking through the jungles and over the
mountains four days, and then climbing a cliff to reach a village no doctor or
government official had ever visited.
Haiti: Hungry for the Word
Missionaries who received in-depth training from Living Word Ministries in Haiti
are now planting churches in areas where there's never been an evangelical
church.
"This is what missions is all about--training others to work for the Lord," said
Patrick Lataillade, the director of Living Word Ministries.
Now church planters who have been trained are teaching others. Brother Joel was
under the leadership of Brother Gary, the church planter in Mayette. "Gary
taught him how to do verse-by-verse teaching, and other details of leadership,"
Patrick said. "Now Joel is planting a church in a previously unreached
village--and the church has already started! Someone in that place has donated a
small plot of land for the church building. This is encouraging to see the
village folk giving for the work of the Lord."
While an evangelistic team was passing through a village on their way to
another, the people stopped them and asked, "Are we not worthy of the gospel
also?"
So the evangelistic team visited there on a Thursday, and by Sunday the new
believers already had a banana leaf structure up to start the first service.
"They are hungry for the Word," Patrick said. That was four months ago and the
church there is thriving.
For more information write to
insider@christianaid.org and put MI246 120LWM in the subject line.
- - - - -
To subscribe to Missions Insider Report, or to view archives, visit
http://www.christianaid.org/insider.htm
The content of Missions Insider is Copyright 200
___________________________________________>>>
6. 40/70 WINDOW PRAYER CALENDAR
>From: "Achim Blackstein"
blackstein@netprayers.de
Prayer profiles for each nation are available at:
Individual online profiles
http://www.globalharvest.org/observatory
Downloadable pdf files
http://www.globalharvest.org/news
31-Day Prayer Calendar Email Version
Send a blank email to
subscribe-4070prayer@strategicprayer.net
Prayer Calendar Plain Text
Send an e-mail to lyris@xc.org with only
this command in the body of your
mail: get joel-news-international 4070-window-prayer-calendar
Source:
http://www.globalharvestministries.org
Netprayers - WebPrayerGuide! (C) Copyright 2001
___________________________________________>>>
7. BIRATNAGAR, NEPAL: PASTORS TRAINED
IN HINDU KINGDOM
>From: PaulTOPIC@aol.com
The Spirit of God is moving in marvelous ways among His people in Eastern Nepal.
308 pastors, Christian leaders & workers and 58 conference coordinators,
voluntary staff and presenters came together to study God's Word and pray at the
Himalayan Pastor & Leaders Conference 2001, East Nepal Regional Conference,
November 11-14, 2001 in Biratnagar, East Nepal.
Reverend Devendra Rai, Conference International Coordinator and missionary with
Action International Ministries, quoted several of the regional church leaders
saying this was the first time that all the senior church leaders from the
various associations in East Nepal have joined together in unity and for a
training conference. The Spirit of unity and expectation was evident throughout
the meetings. Delegates from 16 of the 18 districts in East Nepal attended the
conference!
This Regional Conference fulfills the first outcome goal of the National
Himalayan Pastor & Leaders Conference 2001 held in Kathmandu, last February
2001. After the meetings, the HPLC National Coordinating Committee set a goal to
conduct these conferences in each of the 5 regions of Nepal. The objective of
the regional conferences is to provide practical biblical and ministry training
and materials for Christian leaders and especially for grassroots pastors and
Christian workers. Several at this conference walked and traveled 3 to 5 days
to be able to attend.
Church leaders from most of the estimated 500 churches in Eastern Nepal Region
were able to attend the event. They left experiencing many blessings. Dr.
Wayne Adams' church sent dozens of reading glasses. All those who came
struggling to read their Bibles left rejoicing with new sight! New
relationships were bonded and old acquaintances were revived between brothers
and sisters. They returned to their ministries encouraged and uplifted with a
renewed sense that Christ is indeed building His church in Nepal! For many
Christian leaders this was the first time they experienced staying in a hotel!
Much time was devoted for celebration during the closing ceremonies. All
thanked God for the privilege to spend the equivalent of three solid days in
Bible instruction, prayer, eating great food and fellowship. Pastor N.D.
Thulung and the rest of the Coordinating Committee thanked the presenters on
behalf of all for coming and bringing "good spiritual encouragement and
instruction." HPLC 2001 Eastern Nepal brought pleasure to God . . . pleasure
to His people!
J. Paul Landrey, International Director, TOPIC (Trainers of Pastors
International Coalition)
P. O. Box 965, Elkhorn, NE 68022 USA
Tel/Fax (402) 289-5395 / http://www.trainersofpastors.org/
___________________________________________>>>
8. NIGERIA: 4 MILLION PEOPLE
>From: news@cfanusa.org
More than four million people gathered in Ibadan, Nigeria for the Great Gospel
Crusade. Local civil and religious leaders marveled that everything passed off
without violence or anti-Christian reaction. More than two and a half million
decision cards were completed. Read the exciting details:
http://www.cfan.org/offices/usa/crusades/AFRICA/ibadan1101/ibadan01.htm
___________________________________________>>>
9. BRINGING MUSLIMS TO CHRIST
>From: "inchristsimage.org - Arrow Publications" RiverofLifeMailer@InChristsImage.org
Today, more Muslims have come to Christ in the last decade than the sum of
conversions for the past 15 centuries Just as the Lord focused His attention on
stopping the advance of other totalitarian regimes: Japanese Imperialism, Nazism
and Soviet Communism, so He intends to use this war on terrorism to stop the
advance of Islam. The Holy Spirit is about to truly open Islam for the sake of
the gospel.
God desires, not only to liberate Islamic nations from the bondage of terror,
but specifically to open the mind of Muslims to hear and understand the gospel.
While the Father's purpose with September 11 has many subordinate goals, I
believe the main reason the Lord allowed the terrorist attack was to release
American resolve against terrorism. Yes, as a nation we deeply need repentance,
however the bigger picture is that God desires to use the U.S. and our allies to
open the world of Islam. Thus, as we focus on this war, we are not simply
praying for military victory or vengeance against terrorists; our prayer is
higher, nobler. We are praying for the souls of Muslims to begin to open to the
voice of the living God.
I...felt (a) quiet anger, especially as the days and weeks since 9/11 progressed
and still no apology came from the Islamic world. But something happened to me
while I was recently in the Philippines. The first night of our meetings, just
before I rose to speak, an Islamic Sultan showed up in the conference. You
should understand that there were over 3000 Christian pastors and intercessors
in the regional civic center where we met. This Muslim leader came because
Christians had been praying for him and ministering to him. A sultan is a Muslim
sovereign, usually the ruler or chief leader of a country. This man could trace
his ancestry to Mohammed and was the cultural leader of the Muslims in the
southern island of Mindanao, the second largest of the Philippine islands.
Mindanao is also the hotbed of Islamic terrorism in the Philippines. Local
Christians had been aggressively praying for the Sultan and, as a result, the
Lord supernaturally protected him from a car bomb. Everyone, including the
Sultan, knew it was Jesus Christ that had protected him.
His arrival surprised everyone. By way of protocol, the conference hosts invited
him to say a few words; yet, as the Sultan stepped toward the pulpit, no one
knew what to expect. It was apparent that he was trying to be conciliatory, even
seeking to develop some meaningful peace and connection between Christians and
Muslims.
His short greeting expanded to over a half hour. I was supposed to be the main
speaker, but the sermon I had prepared had nothing at all to do with what was
now happening. As the Sultan ended his talk, pastors and intercessors from the
conference came forward and spontaneously asked him for forgiveness for the
things Christians had done in the past against Muslims. Some in the crowd, to be
sure, were upset with what was happening, a few even booing from the rear of the
auditorium. But, up front the Lord was creating a safe environment, a shelter of
love and grace that was free from the fears and bitterness of the recent past.
The time ended with him, as a Muslim leader, also asking for forgiveness for the
sins of Muslims. His confession was neither eloquent nor emotional. He simply
said, "Please forgive us too." But it did something to my heart.
Even though I had been praying for Muslims in earnest for several weeks, I
suddenly realized there was unresolved anger in me toward them. Such resentment
stands as an obstacle for effective prayer. Indeed, Jesus said that, when we
prayed, we were to forgive anyone with whom we had an offense. I honestly had
not realized that I was carrying unforgiveness toward the Muslim world, but I
was.
Now, by the grace of God, I left that bitterness at Christ's cross. When I
spoke, I brought a revised message, adding a fifteen minute segment about the
power of Jesus' blood covenant, which alone guarantees us access to paradise and
forgiveness of sins. I asked anyone who wanted to be forgiven because of
Christ's blood covenant to stand. Everyone stood, including the Islamic Sultan
who had been sitting on the front row. I then led the people in a "repeat after
me" sinner's prayer. I couldn't tell from where I was if the Sultan and his
associates were actually repeating the prayer after me or not, but two days
later, at a different meeting in Manila, Ed Silvoso gave an altar call to over
400 businessmen. Among the 141 businessmen who stood to receive Christ was the
Sultan and two of his guards.
Only God knows if the Sultan truly understood what he was doing. I hope and pray
he did. But this testimony is about how the Lord was opening at least one
Muslim's heart: it started with us, as Christians, finding a genuine place of
forgiveness in our hearts. If I played a small part in helping one man along
the way, it was because, I let go of the offenses that the Muslim world
committed against Americans and the West.
Today a great opportunity is arising in the Islamic world and we must be ready.
There are many things we can begin to do. We can study ways to reach to Muslims;
we can prepare ourselves to go to the mission field. However, if Muslims will
truly hear the gospel, as Christians we must free ourselves from unforgiveness
and pray with a heart without malice.
Lord, forgive me for harboring unforgiveness. Your word says, in prayer, we
are to lift holy hands without malice. Father I ask that You cleanse me of
everything but the compassion and mercy of Your Son. Oh God, use my prayers and
my life, that Muslims would hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In Christ's Image (ICI), 125 Robins Square Dr, Robins, IA 52328
1-888-934-6243 or 1-319-395-7617
http://www.inchristsimage.org
___________________________________________>>>
10. ZIMBABWE: CHURCH LEADERS MEET
WITH PRESIDENT
>From: "Crosswalk.com"
newssummaries@lists.crosswalk.com
>Reply-To: Religion Today Summaries
newssummaries@lists.crosswalk.com
Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) leaders met with that country's president
Dec. 16 to discuss their concerns about escalating violence, proposed electoral
amendments and restrictions on press freedom. The President told the leaders he
would allow observers for the forthcoming elections from local, continental and
world church organizations. He also indicated he was prepared to consider
allowing genuine citizens from outside Zimbabwe to be able to exercise their
vote in those elections.
Although not raised by the leaders themselves in the meeting, the ZCC has been
clear about its position on land. Bishop Bakare, chairman of the visiting
delegation, told the press that the church was in full support of the need for
land distribution, which is long overdue.
The ZCC proposed to the President that they would host a meeting in January 2002
of political leadership across the country, including the Head of State, with
the intention of getting the commitment of all stakeholders to a peaceful, free
and fair election.
To subscribe to Crosswalk, send an email to: < SUBSCRIBE-newssummaries@lists.crosswalk.com
> or go to <
http://www.crosswalk.com/lists
Copyright © 2001 Crosswalk.com, Inc
___________________________________________>>>
11. HUNGARY: INTERNET 'CONGREGATION'
OPENS FOR PRAYERS
>From: "ANS Story"
ANS_Story@sheperd.com
>By: Stefan J. Bos, Eastern Europe Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
Hungary's Internet Church hopes to celebrate Christmas with especially those
who are planning to commit suicide. "It is our understanding that around this
time many people feel lonely and want to kill themselves," said 41-year old
Laszlo Banfi the founder of the Hungary based operation.
Banfi, who is known as "Rev. Laszlo", told ASSIST News Service in Budapest that
his International Christian Internet Church now has up to 4,000 members who
conduct "hundreds of thousands of visits" to the website a month.
He started the project March this year, despite protests from some traditional
church leaders and media outlets. A Catholic church leader has reportedly
threaten to sue him, but so far Rev. Laszlo has not yet received any court
documents.
"They have accused me of running an illegal business, but I never ask for money,
because I have been blessed as a successful business men." He is closely working
with United States Rev. Glen E. Howard, the founder of the International Church
of Budapest, which is involved in several evangelical projects.
Troubled past
Although Rev. Laszlo has been preaching the Gospel for 25 years, he had a
troubled past. "As a child I became a gang leader and was involved in robberies,
drugs and anything you can think off," admitted the pastor, the child of
divorced parents.
"It came to the point that my mother wanted to place me in a special home for
difficult children when I was 12. When I found out, I wanted to kill myself, but
I did not know how." During that time he remembered the words of his
grandfather, an Evangelist, who lived in the same home.
"On the 3rd of October in 1972 at noon time I decided to become a Christian,
because I saw no way out of my problems. So I took a little brochure of a
testimony of a young boy and at the end there was a prayer and I went on my
knees and said this prayer. I experienced the touch of God and began to cry as I
received Jesus Christ as my Personal Saviour."
Communist hungry
And apparently not without results. "Since that time my life started to
change dramatically. I even began preaching to other children." His activities
in than Communist Hungary brought him into serious trouble.
"I had a job in a foreign trading company and as a young man was offered in 1982
to work in Kuwait or Lebanon." The director said however there was one problem.
"It is not a problem that you are not a member of the Communist Party and not a
member of the Communist youth movement," Rev. Laszlo quoted his boss as telling
him.
"He told me also that it was not even a problem that I visited Church every
Sunday. "The problem was that I preached to much and prayed to much for people.
He added that when I would keep silence, that he would offer me the job. If not
he told me that I would never receive a good salary and never reach a high
position."
Ministry of God
Rev. Laszlo told the director that he would think about it for three days."
When I came back in his office I told him that I thanked him for appreciating my
work but that I rather choose the Ministry of my God than the position abroad."
My boss said: "Comrade Laszlo, this will mean you will never have a good salary
and that you will have never any position." When Rev. Laszlo walked to the door,
he was was asked to come back. "He said: "Can I tell you something personally?
In your case I would have made the same decision. I was stunned."
But there were difficult times ahead, till nearly 7 years later. "God blessed me
abundantly. In 1988, when Hungary began to open to the Western world, I was
asked to be the foreign trade director of a Canadian company.
Red carpet treatment
One day I had to go to a business meeting with the same company where I was
told not to expect a high position. I was walking on a read velvet, and began to
cry, as I thanked God for giving me the same or even a higher position that I
could have ever received."
Rev. Laszlo, who is married with two children, now works as a consultant and is
leasing several shops. "It provides me the income that is necessary to do Gods
work." He was even able to finance promotion texts on two street cars (trams)
running in down down Budapest. "You have one new message," it says referring to
his Internet Church, and the mobile phone age.
He believes it is important to preach the Gospel in post Communist Hungary,
where even the Government recently expressed concern about the implications of
wild capitalism and the new found freedom.
Confession of sins
"The Internet Church gives people the opportunity to confess their sins to
God. We do not believe they need a Priest to do so, a for instance the Catholic
Church does." Rev. Laszlo gives people the opportunity to send an e-mail with a
time they want to pray. They can call him, and stay anonymous.
"It is something between them and God. I have received many phone calls from
people with marriage problems and other difficulties." Although his website
www.istentisztelet.hu is still in
Hungarian, he soon hopes to expand it to an English language site.
"I feel that there is a need for people to reach us. We are there for people who
can not visit a regular church. It is not our intention to take them away from
their congregations, but rather to encourage them to be a Christian."
The both fluent English and Hungarian speaking pastor said that anyone wishing
to talk to him can reach him December 25 via phone number: (36) 23 330 459
between 21.00 and 24.00 CET or on other days. From Hungary via phone number:
06 23 330 459. E-mail:
tiszteletes@istentisztelet.hu
Additional ANS stories can be found at
www.christianity.com/assistnews
You may use this story with proper attribution.
To be added or deleted from this list, please send an e-mail message to Dan
Wooding at assistcomm@cs.com
___________________________________________>>>
12. SOUTH AFRICA + SUDAN: PRAYER
INITIATIVES
>From: John_Robb@wvi.org
At the World Prayer Advisory Council, now called the International Prayer
Council, we experienced a clear sense of the Lord's leading to press ahead and
to call 200-300 regional and national prayer leaders together for a first event
in South Africa next November. Our purpose will be to connect them for focus on
the global concerns we all share and to plan a possible International Prayer
Assembly in 2004. Please pray for the 10 of us who serve on the new executive
team and for my leadership as the newly appointed chair.
May I also share another concern that is coming up quickly. Perhaps the most
ambitious prayer initiative we have ever planned will happen in Sudan, January
15-26, when hundreds of local leaders will gather in the north and later in the
south to seek the Lord for the healing of their land ravaged by a decades-long
civil war. It will involve our team facilitating segments of the initiative on
both sides of the conflict. Please pray for James, the coordinator of the
northern effort, and Greg the coordinator of the southern one and all the
arrangements that still need to be made by them and their colleagues: for a good
venue in the north (an earlier one fell through); for the right leaders to
attend from diverse denominational and ethnic backgrounds, including women and
youth leaders; for safety in travel for all participants and especially for our
team in a country at war; and for US Senator John Danforth's current efforts to
broker a ceasefire and peace, possibly culminating during January while the
initiative is going on.
Your prayers make all the difference because God is listening and answering.
Thanks so much for standing with us as we move into 2002. Warmly in Christ, John
Robb
___________________________________________>>>
13. HUNGARY: PRAYER BEST WEAPON
>From:"ANS Story" <ANS_Story@sheperd.com>
>By Stefan J. Bos, Eastern Europe Correspondent,
ASSIST News Service
Young Christians from dozens of countries were expected to fill hundreds of
churches and congregations in and around Budapest on Sunday December 29, after
they were urged to give their worries to Christ.
Aware of the global war against terrorism and other conflicts, the founder of
the ecumenical Taizé Community, which organizes the 24th Young Adult European
Meeting till January 1, asked young people to remain committed to the Christian
faith.
"Christ tells us in His Gospel not to let ourselves be overcome by worry," said
Brother Roger in a sermon carried live on Saturday December 28, by Hungary's
national television, MTV 2.
Prayer Best Weapon
Thousands of youngsters gathered in the Budapest Exhibition Centre, the soft
spoken elderly leader suggested that prayer remains the best weapon to overcome
fear.
"The silence in His presence seems like nothing. And yet, when our lips remain
closed, our hearts speak to God and God understands us," he said as some young
people were on their knees to pray.
"The Gospel reminds us that at every moment Christ knocks at our door and awaits
a simple response from us," Brother Roger said.
Clearly tired and stumbling at times, he recalled his long road with Christ,
since founding the Taizé community in 1940.
Surrender Yourself
"For 60 years now, my brothers and I have been trying to understand what
simplicity means," he said. Brother Roger explained he had discovered that "each
person can discover that prayer is a simple reality and therefore accessible to
all."
"Surrender yourself in all simplicity to God. And trust yourself to God and you
will discover that the little bit of faith you have is enough," he said as
youngsters began burning candles.
His message appeared unusual direct for Hungary, a mainly Roman Catholic country
where traditions have played an important role. Prime Minister Viktor Orban
recently suggested that his country was in need of a spiritual revival, after
decades of Communism.
Patriarch Alexis II of Moscow suggested in his message to the meeting that the
young generation must play a crucial role in spreading the faith "of our Lord,
God and Saviour Jesus Christ." Referring to Luke 17:21 he said however that
"young people who are entering the twenty-first century" must make "a conscious
refusal of the temptations of the world."
He urged the youngsters, among them many from former Soviet countries, to "grow
in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." The Patriarch
did not address directly fresh reports about persecution of mainly Protestant
groups in Russia and other former Soviet republics.
However he said that the kingdom of love "asked for by our Saviour" will depend
on what he called "peaceful and benevolent" relations "between different
religions and Christian confessions." Human rights workers have suggested that
Russian authorities are trying to protect the Orthodox Church by banning non
traditional groups.
Taizé can be reached in Budapest till January 1 via e-mail:
media@taize.fr or website
www.taize.fr . Phone: (36) 1 263
7100 or (36) 1 263 7101 obb
___________________________________________>>>
14. NIGERIA, TANZANIA, CAMBODIA
>From: Mark Kelly <mkelly @imb.org>
>In: The Commission, December 2001
No longer welcome
Believers told Bible stories and showed the JESUS film in several villages
of Nigeria among a large unreached people group and were delighted when many
people opened their hearts to Christ. Asked to return the next day, they saw
many more accept Jesus as Savior and Lord. When people pleaded with them to
return a third day, the workers agreed. The next day, however, a new village
headman was waiting when they arrived. Influential leaders of the traditional
religion were upset that so many had come to Christ. They had replaced the old
headman and ordered the new one to tell the workers their Bible stories were no
longer welcome.
Not discouraged
Leaders of a village in Tanzania gave 10 acres of land to a group of new
Christians. When the group began to attract others, however, leaders of a
traditional religion complained. To satisfy them, government officials seized
the land back from the church. The 60 new believers were steadfast in their
faith, however, and moved their meeting place out of town. Now they worship in
the shade of a large tree and pray for land in a new location.
Cause for praise
Millions of Cambodians died at the hands of Khmer Rouge fighters between
1975 and 1990, but the suffering opened many hearts to the message of God's love
and forgiveness in Christ Jesus. Since 1990, God's spirit has moved in Cambodia,
and the 200 believers meeting in 10 or 12 house churches in 1990 have become
100,000 believers in 800 to 1,000 congregations today.
___________________________________________>>>
15. HOW ABOUT YOUR NATION?
___ Send us a report on how Pastors are praying in your region or nation:
phil@nppn.org
___ Put your nation on the map! Register Pastors' Prayer Groups at:
http://www.nppn.org/ppg/
___ Archived Global Updates:
http://www.nppn.org/Global.htm
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--->Unless clearly identified as "Personal To _____" or "Confidential" all
information and comments sent to phil@nppn.org will be considered for use in a
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--->Copyright 2002. However, permission is granted to freely redistribute to
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