__________
NATIONAL
PASTORS'
PRAYER
NETWORK
G L O B A L U P D A T E -
020321
Chronicling The Worldwide
Prayer Movement
...So That One Day
...We Will Live On A Prayed For Planet!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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(1 book + 1 workbook) = $24.99 You save $9 (26%)
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___________________________________________>>>
>From: Ben Jennings <Ben.Jennings@ccci.org>
NIGERIA, Africa: One network among the PrayWORLD 1800 is NEMA - Nigeria
Evangelical Missions Association, with 75 member agencies and churches, and over
3000 Nigerian missionaries serving in 31 countries. Timothy O. Olonade,
Executive Secretary.
SUDAN, Africa: Gathered pastors recently received a fresh spiritual
breakthrough in prayer for their nation. Great joyful praise grew out of their
momentous meeting. John Robb, chairman of the International Prayer Council, was
a leading participant.
COLOMBIA, S.A. Marcy MacMillan in the city of Cali translated the PW2
Calendar and distributed it to 25 churches around the country.
AUSTRALIA. "We have distributed close to 100,000 copies of the prayer
guides through the mail, 85,000 through Koorong (??) and 15,000 in response to
requests from churches and individuals. Pass this invitation on to as many
people as you can." Bill Hodgson, Campus Crusade National Director.
"In Melbourne, Australia, we have 40 days of Prayer and Fasting
entitled, 'Transforming Melbourne' 13 Feb to 24 Mar. It is great how God is
stirring up His people to pray." Rob Isaachsen, Melbourne Pastors Network.
INDIA. "I have received your e-mail and I am following your guidance and
suggestions about Lenten season. I am conducting Lent prayers daily in our
area. Samuel John Babu Vardhanapu
USA United News and Information Company (UNI News) recently interviewed
Ben Jennings concerning PrayWORLD! 2002 for public release. Several medical
students prayed to receive Christ at Harvard University during a recent campus
outreach. The university Chaplain also invited Tony Campolo to conduct a
five-day series of evangelical messages in April. The Stanford University
Chaplain has granted a room on campus for 24-hour daily prayer, and has invited
evangelical students to lead in Chapel public prayers.
Be encouraged in your prayer vigil. And let us pray for growing momentum during
the final 10 days of PrayWORLD! 2000.
Fasting continues to be a major contributor to prayer in PrayWORLD! Fasting
should not be observed as an end in itself. Fasting is a means for
intensifying, clarifying, and positioning our praying in a place of urgent
priority for our needy world. Galatians 6:9,10, I Corinthians 15:58.
Ben Jennings, Coordinator
___________________________________________>>>
2. AFRICA:
FERTILE FOR CHURCH PLANTING
>From: Friday Fax <FridayFax@DawnEurope.net>
"Today, Africa is possibly the most fertile ground for the gospel and thus for
church planting," according to church planting researchers Ngwiza Mnkandla
(Zimbabwe), Kuraj Chitima (Botswana) and Danie Vermeulen (South Africa) during a
Dawn movement strategy conference in Colorado Springs, USA. In 1900, there were
around 1.6 million Evangelical Christians in Africa - around 1.5% of the
population. Today, that number has grown to some 116 million, or 14.8% of the
population.
Vermeulen pastored traditional churches for years, trying various methods to
make more disciples and increase local church membership. "I eventually
discovered that planting new churches is the most effective method of making
disciples," he says. His church planted 38 others, with a total membership of
6,000. In Africa today, new churches and church networks are springing up
everywhere.
"Africa's church is like a shallow river: a mile wide, but only an inch deep," a
quote attributed to English theologian John Stott, is no longer true, according
to the African leaders. "Africa's spirituality and passion are impressive, and
it depends on how we define depth," says Ngwiza Mnkandla. "The moment we copy
Western models of church and leadership, we lose ourselves. When we accept our
inheritance from God with dignity, the depth grows, and we see all sorts of
indigenous breakthroughs." Christian leaders such as Dion Roberts in Abidjan
lead churches with an attendance of 200,000. The Nairobi Lighthouse Church,
founded by Don Matheny, has trained its members so well that literally everyone
is able to lead people interested in Christianity to Jesus. The same day,
pastors visit the new believers, often leading the whole family to Jesus and
planting a house cell. The church has an attendance of around 6,000.
Vermeulen estimates that the growth potential of the Christian churches is
greater in the next 10 years than in the past, for the following reasons: - the
growth in recent years occurred almost completely without a strategic component,
and was often the result of large evangelistic campaigns. The result of
including a strategic component can be seen in Zimbabwe, where churches
cooperated in a national project to plant 10,000 new fellowships; -
technological progress makes it easier to reach previously remote areas; - the
African church is rapidly gaining a missionary mindset, and financing and
sending out an ever increasing number of missionaries; - the openness for the
gospel continues to grow. Poverty leads to personal crises which cause people to
seek God, but the main force is AIDS, which has become Africa's number one
problem - 71% of people infected with AIDS live in Africa. Governments have no
answer, and people facing death are increasingly turning to God. Islam and
animistic religions are obviously unable to help, so pastors are increasingly
turning funerals into evangelistic outreaches, calling people to Christ.
"I recently saw 2,000 Muslims decide to follow Jesus," says Vermeulen. "We
arrived in a Muslim village to show the Jesus film. There was not a single
Christian family in the village. Our projection screen was too small, and the
largest white wall in the village was that of the mosque. We asked the Imam, who
granted us permission to show the Jesus film there. That evening, hundreds saw
the film, and the Imam was the first to respond to the call to follow Jesus. So
many were set free during the ensuing prayer for deliverance from demonic powers
that most of the villagers decided to follow the Imam's example. In 5 days,
2,000 Muslims became Christians, and 5 churches were planted to help the people
in their newfound faith."
Danie Vermeulen, previously a pastor in South Africa and now strategy advisor
for church planting movements, reports of a church planter in Malawi who has
planted 30 churches among the Yao, a predominantly Muslim tribe, in the last 30
years. Most of the churches were the result of 'power encounters' such as
healing or deliverance from demonic powers. Vermeulen sat next to the church
planter in a seminar in South Africa, during which the speaker emphasized the
importance of good theological and Missiological training for church planting,
claiming "it is impossible to plant churches among Muslims without understanding
semantics!" The church planter leaned across to Danie, asking "what is
semantics?" Danie's answer: "A little devil." "That's what it sounds like,"
replied the church planter, relieved.
Source: Danie Vermeulen, DAWN Africa, e-mail dcav@attglobal.net
To subscribe to the Friday Fax, send a message with the subject: subscribe
English to fridayfax@dawneurope.net.
___________________________________________>>>
3. TOKYO:
FASTING AND PRAYER
>From: "Japan CCC Prayer Ministry" <jcccpray@yahoo.co.jp>
Dear Pastor Phil,
Thank you for your tremendous effort in coordinating the NPPN! I am neither a
pastor nor a resident of the US (but I am a citizen). My official title is
National Prayer Coordinator for Japan Campus Crusade for Christ.
--->NPPNote: The NPPN-US hopes to be a catalyst for a Global Network of NPPNs.
Our web site says, “Not for Pastors only!” - It should also read, “Not for U.S.
Only!”
You asked for a report, and I will only briefly mention our 4th annual three-day
fasting and prayer meeting in Tokyo (Jan. 21-23). The meeting is put together by
a committee of pastors from various denominations and representatives from some
other Christian organizations like ourselves, the Gideons, etc. The sessions
start at 9:00 a.m. and go to 9:00 p.m. Although the sessions are open to all
Christians, the daytime hours are attended predominately by pastors and church
staff. In the past nearly 100 Tokyo pastors attended all or part of the daytime
meetings. The evening sessions generally have more of the lay people who've come
back early from work, and past attendance has ranged from 200-900. We would like
to encourage all pastors and missionaries in Tokyo to attend, and we would
greatly appreciate the prayers of our brothers and sisters in the United States.
For more information, please see our web page at:
http://www.japanccc.org/english/pray/pevents.html
--->NPPNote: Never too late
to pray “forward,” asking God to bring forth fruit from the seeds His Spirit
planted during an already completed event...
We are also hoping that through these annual meetings we will be able to
encourage pastors to cross denominational boundaries and begin meeting together
for frequent prayer with others in their areas. Please pray for us to have
wisdom in making a plan for this, and for the pastors to be motivated to meet
even with their already full schedules.
Thank you again for your wonderful service to our Lord Jesus, and to us, your
brothers!
In His joy, Kevin Grip, National Prayer Coordinator, Japan Campus Crusade for
Christ
___________________________________________>>>
>From: "Mert Hershberger" <mertaka@everybody.org>
I received a wonderful resource: the CD-ROM Operation China with people group
profiles of hundreds of China's unreached peoples (see
http://www.gmi.org/operationchina.htm ). Along with the CD, they sent
a newsletter with the following major answers to prayer in the past decade + of
Christian mission. The article was contributed by Patrick Johnstone, co-author
of the book and CD-ROM Operation World (see
http://www.gmi.org/owcd.htm ).
Both CD's are available for order from GMI (Global Mapping International).
Here are the top 7 major answers to prayer from the past decade:
1. The 1990's have proved to be the decade of the most massive growth of
evangelical believers of any in history.
2. The AD2000 and Beyond Movement was the most effective, focused, global
network for world evangelization that has ever existed. It straddled the decade
of the 1990's and was catalytic in helping define how many peoples are still
without a church planting movement, in synergising the activities of Christian
bodies, in launching numerous local, national, and regional initiatives and in
linking many key media agencies in cooperative programs.
3. The collapse of the Iron Curtain and ending of the USSR meant the demise of
its anti-Christian ideology and an opening for unprecedented mission advances
(not all good!) into hitherto unreached countries of Central Asia. Brother
Andrew's challenge in 1983/4 for a seven year prayer warfare campaign to tear
down the Iron Curtain was achieved -- to the astonishment of a largely
unbelieving Church.
4. In the 90's we say the firstfruits of a harvest of followers of the Lord
Jesus from among Muslim peoples. A movement of thousands to Christ is emerging
among the North African Kabyle, Central Asian Turkic peoples, Jordanians, some
Indonesian peoples, Bangladeshis, Bosnians, and among Afghan and Iranian
refugees. In 1991 Brother Andrew issued a further call for a 10 year prayer
effort to open up the Islamic world to the Gospel. It is likely that the
September 11, 2001 Twin Towers tragedy may prove to be a key "kairos" moment for
the distraught and divided Muslim world to open up for alternatives to their
present belief system.
5. The world watched the continued growth of the Church in China from the
paltry 4 million in 1949 to 90+ million in 2000 despite increasing persecution
in the late 1990's. The emergence of a truly indigenous expression of
Christianity in China is one of the major factors in global Christianity in the
21st century.
6. The largely undocumented and astonishing growth of the Church in India was
incredible. Official census figures (2.34% Christian in 1991) are heavily
disguised to minimize Christian size and growth. The true figure, both from our
denominational data and from well-authenticated anecdotal sources, would
indicate well over twice this number already, and this may be only the
beginning. In direct response to the new political power of extremist
movements, the Dalits (untouchables) have begun a movement to renounce Hinduism
and embrace Buddhism or other religions. This could lead to immense church
growth in India if handled wisely by Christian bodies and leaders.
7. There was a significant impact of media on changing the worldview and even
faith of millions during the 1990s. Of special mention is the Jesus film and
video, SAT7 TV broadcasting to the Arab World, radio into China and India, and
the explosion of the internet in the use of the Internet for evangelism and
discipling.
So much has happened in our world as a direct result of prayer. Can you imagine
what can happen during the next decade if God's people never give up?" --
Patrick Johnstone
Brothers and Sisters, will you join me in praying?
Mert Hershberger, 4211 Lynn Drive, El Dorado, AR 71730
(870) 862-1649 -- mertaka@everybody.org
Proclaiming the Whole Christ to the whole person of every person of every people
in all languages of all lands with a focus on the least loved and the least
reached.
___________________________________________>>>
>From: "Bob Tolliver" <lifeunlimited@myexcel.com>
>From: David Schimp <mailto:drschimp@msn.com>
FYI - for anyone interested in praying for the Buddhist world nations.
Lisa Schimp
----- Original Message -----
>From: barnabasproj
Church leaders and international intercessors called for one billion hours of
prayer focused on the Buddhist world [nations]. At a meeting in Manila,
Philippines, on 22nd and 23rd September, 2001, leaders from several nations in
Asia sensed that God was asking them to call the Global Prayer Movements and
Christians around the world to an unprecedented prayer initiative for the
world's one billion Buddhists.
Information about Buddhist World nations is being updated and will be posted on
various websites. A Daily Prayer Guide, which will be available for translation
into any language, is being prepared. If 20 million Christians spend an average
of one hour a week throughout the coming year praying for the Buddhist world
nations, the target will be exceeded!
Encouragement was taken from Sri Lanka, where 50,000 Christians are to have a
week of prayer from 28th October to 3rd November and will be asked to
participate in this global call. In India, churches will be joining in a
round-the-clock prayer chain every day of 2002. This is the time to ignite a
global prayer thrust for the one billion Buddhists of the world.
Visit <http://www.billionhours.org>
to log your commitment to pray and for further information, web links, and news
items.
Join <billionhours@yahoogroups.com>
to receive regular prayer and praise updates to encourage you in prayer.
- - - - - - - - -
>From: "Asian Research and Development, Inc." <asianrd@hotmail.com>
Dear Phil:
Thank you for the wonderful NPPN newsletters I have been receiving. I wanted to
share with you and your subscribers a call to prayer on behalf of one billion
Buddhists, one of the five unreached megaspheres--probably the least-noticed or
targeted. Prayer can make a difference! So please join the global Body of Christ
throughout this year in this unprecedented prayer thrust to mobilize one billion
hours of prayer on behalf of the Buddhist world! The Call to prayer and a press
released is included. Visit <www.billionhours.org> for further information and
to register commitments to pray. Groups and individuals are invited to
participate. Prayer helps are available through the website.
In His love and service, Liz Adleta
Asian Research & Development, Inc., P. O. Box 64457
Virginia Beach, VA 23467-4457
Office Phone: (903)663-8787 Office Fax: (903) 663-8788
A call to the Body of Christ for one billion hours of prayer
for one billion Buddhists of the world.
These are unquestionably troubling times. In the wake of heightened global
insecurity, inter-civilizational conflicts and economic uncertainties, what is
the position of those who follow Christ? Clearly our confidence does not rest
with the fluctuations of currencies or with the unpredictability of fallen human
institutions, governments, the mass media or other instruments of our society.
We are united in a call to bless the peoples and nations of the world in
unprecedented ways, to pray and intercede for the transformation and salvation
of all peoples.
As an international body of intercessors, we firmly acknowledge that God loves
all the people of the Buddhist world, lavishly and without respect of persons.
If this is God’s posture, it will be ours as Christ-followers as well.
This is a call to raise one billion hours of fervent prayer and intercession by
Christians globally for the Buddhists of the world. This may be accomplished by
individuals, families, blocks, cells, or congregational groups.
Our prayer is for:
1.
Their spiritual enlightenment and salvation;
2. Them to
experience the fullest revelation of Creator God and his love for them;
3. Their nations
to prosper and to know genuine peace;
4. Justice and
truth to prevail in their societies, governments, institutions, and families;
5. Freedom from
every physical, social, psychological, and spiritual oppression;
6. Renewal within
churches in spiritual, moral and ethical practices;
7. Servant
leadership in the churches which empowers believers for community witness and
ministry.
One way to achieve this goal: If a minimum of 20 million Christians worldwide,
burdened for and loving their Buddhist neighbors, will commit to intercede one
hour each week—or just 10 minutes each day—for the duration of one year, we will
have raised over one billion hours of intercession.
This is an unprecedented call for a mighty blessing of God on Buddhists, so that
they will experience all the justice and goodness of his kingdom.
For more information, leads to tools and guides, as well as posting information
for commitments toward this end, see www.billionhours.org.
--->NPPNote: NPPN members are
encouraged to focus their prayers on a Christ-awakeing among Pastors that leads
to revival in their congregations and transformation in heir nations!
___________________________________________>>>
>From: "Alexey Koptyaev" <inchrist@atnet.ru>
Good day! This letter write to you pastor of Church "Life in Christ" from
Arkhangelsk city (North of Russia)- Skavidis Elena.
We have a very important question about evangelism in our city.
We are believe, our Lord want receive repentance from all people, but this doing
of men possible through pray. Most of people in our city (and in all country)
never pray. They are not understand how this to do.
Our Church answer on this question - we are start print a tract "Pray line". In
this, have a examples of pray to the God on the many daily questions. In the and
of all tracts have a pray to repenting. We are print this every month and
distribute in post boxes (free, people not pay).
But now we are have a problem to the continue this project. We are haven't a
money. All our money we pay to the lease hall to the Sunday service. After
Christmas this price is very up.
We are cover 4 region in our city (around 50 000 people). Our church take other
questions to prepare a tracts (make a breadboard, formatted a copies, distribute
in post boxes) on himself.
If you want help us - please, write.
God bless you! Pastor - Skavidis Elena.
--->NPPNote: Please pray these brothers and sisters will receive the
financial assistance they need to continue the work God has given them to do
(Colossians 4:17).
___________________________________________>>>
>From: "ANS Story" <ANS_Story@sheperd.com>
>By: Noel T. Tarrazona
ZAMBOANGA CITY, PHILIPPINES (ANS) -- Close to 200 local and foreign journalists
are now in Zamboanga City and Basilan Province to cover the joint RP-US military
exercise which aims to end once and for all the terrorism problem in the
Philippines.
As the Southern Philippines becoming the center of international media attention
because of possible US combat operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG),
erstwhile President of the Alliance World Fellowship (AWF) and now president of
the Ebenezer Bible College and Seminary (first Bible school in the Philippines
is calling members of the Christian and Missionary Alliance worldwide to pray
for the peace and order situation of the Southern Philippines.
Dr. Benjamin de Jesus who was once the president of the Christian and Missionary
Alliance Churches of the Philippines (CAMACOP) issued the call that Mindanao be
a part of prayers because anything can happen with the presence of US troops.
"With the present situation in the Southern Philippines, we need prayer more
than anything else," De Jesus said.
Close to 200 US troops are now deployed in this City and Basilan Province to
work hand in hand with Philippine troops to rescue American missionary couple
Martin and Gracia Burnham and Filipino nurse Ediborah Yap who are still under
the capture of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) for almost a year now.
The ASG is believed to have links with al-Qa'ida, a network that is believed to
be responsible in the terrorist attack in New York City in September 11 last
year.
De Jesus said that the arrival of US forces is beneficial to the City but our
authorities should not do things in a rush; we have to be very careful in our
moves.
"We favor the arrival of US forces but we should continue to pray for wisdom and
discernment and let us not do things in the spirit of hatred," De Jesus said.
**Noel Tarrazona, 26 and based in Zamboanga City Philippines, completed his
bachelor's degree in Journalism at Ateneo University and his master's studies at
Western Mindanao State University. Noel is also a freelance reporter in the
Southern Philippines. He can be reached at pearltar@mailcity.com <http://www.assist-ministries.com/ready2publish/pearltar@mailcity.com>
** You may use this story with proper attribution.
**To be added to this list, please send an e-mail message to Dan Wooding at
assistcomm@cs.com.
___________________________________________>>>
>From: Altaf Naseem [mailto:miracles@wol.net.pk]
Killing of Christians during the worship services continues after Bahawalpur,
where 17 were martyred, just a few months back.
On Sunday morning, March 17th the Moslem terrorist, threw 6 grenades on
worshippers, in a church service in Islamabad , the capital, of Pakistan. The
church is just blocks away from American embassy. 6 are martyred, among them 2
Americans while 42 are injured, some critically. My friend's wife seriously
injured, is just shown on TV
Kindly pray for us, as we stand next in the line of martyrdom.
Blessings. Yours "On Gun Point" - Altaf
___________________________________________>>>
>From: BroStreet@aol.com
Thank you for your overwhelming response to our call to make February a month of
prayer for our people in Suriname. I can assure you that your faithfulness will
be greatly rewarded by our Lord. Indeed our harvest field here is great and as
you can imagine the workers are few, but we will continue to pray to the Lord of
the harvest to raise up workers. Won't we? Already there is every indication
that the Lord is responding to your prayers. Few days ago we had a meeting with
some evangelism groups such as Evangelism Explosion, Campus Crusade, Amsterdam
2000 etc. The conclusion was that we will work together to plan and participate
in a national evangelism awareness week in the very near future. We believe
that we need to evangelize broadly in order to make disciples which will
facilitate a Church Planting Movement among our people here in Suriname.
Again thank you so much for praying. This helps our team to endure the daily
challenges of ministry, Courtney and the Street People
___________________________________________>>>
>From: Marc van der Woude <MarcvanderWoude@XC.Org>
1990-2000: 120 million growth
Evangelicals have grown in number from 300 million in 1990 to around 420 million
in 2000. That is 4.7% growth per year - the fastest-growing major religious
movement in the world. Even excluding biological growth, that means an average
of 6 million new believers in Evangelical churches each year. The figure of 420
million includes around 17 million Evangelicals in the Roman Catholic and
Orthodox churches.
There are a number of estimates of the number of 'daily conversions' ranging
from 25,000 to 160,000 per day:
'Decisions' per day / per year / integrated in %
25,000 9.125 m 60%
50,000 18.25 m 33%
80,000 29.2 m 20%
160,000 58.4 m 10% (approx.)
These statistics show that either the integration ability of existing churches
is way too low for the number of new believers, and that new churches must be
planted, or that we must work on new ways to integrate more people who 'make a
decision for Christ'.
Some 40% of the Evangelicals are no longer part of a Western denomination or
organization. These independent churches have tried to 'de-Westernize'
Christianity, even though many of them were founded by the pioneering work of
Western missionaries. 80% of all Evangelicals are the result of Protestant
missionary work over the past 200 years.
According to the study, the least-reached nations in the world are Somalia with
67,314 inhabitants per Evangelical believer, Tunisia (28,192:1) and Yemen
(14,374:1). In Kenya and the USA, the relationship is 2:1. In a 'global village'
of 12 Evangelical Christians, two would be from North America, two Latin
Americans, three Africans, three Asians, 1 European and one from Oceania. Europe
brings up the rear with 2.4% Evangelicals.
Religious change in the 20th Century
(All figures in millions)
Religion 1900 % global pop. 2000 %
Christians 558.1 34.5 1,973 32.5
Moslems 200.1 12.4 1,279 21.1
Atheists 2.9 0.2 938 15.5
Hindus 203 12.5 820 13.5
Buddhists 127.2 7.8 400 6.6
Chinese
Religions 450 2.8 383
6.3
Ethnic
Religions 106.3 6.6 176 2.9
Others 21.4 1.3 95
1.6
Distribution of Evangelicals in 2000
(All figures in millions)
Continent Evangelical pop. Global % % of Continent
Africa 116.1 27.6 14.8
N. America 93.8 22.3 30.3
Latin America 55 13.1 10.6
Europe 17.3 4.1 2.4
Asia 135 32.1 3.6
Pacific 4.8 1.1 15.2
Increase of non-Western missionaries
One of the most dramatic changes is in the sending of missionaries: the number
of missionaries sent out by the 2,900 mission agencies which Johnstone examined
grew from 76,120 in 1990 to 97,732 in 2000. Ten years ago, 91% of all
missionaries were from Western nations; this figure has dropped to 79%. In 1990,
South Korea had sent out 2,032 missionaries; by 2000, the number had grown to
10,646. Brazil sent out 1,080 missionaries in the last 10 years, the Philippines
678. The USA is still the main source of missionaries, sending out 46,000 - a
number which has grown by 6,000 in the last decade.
Europe: mission field number one
The nations which saw the largest drop in missionary numbers between 1990 and
2000 are Zaire (-818), Brazil (-416), Taiwan (-318), Pakistan (-249) and the
Philippines (-240); the nations seeing the greatest increase were Russia
(+1,711), England (+660), India (+535), Ukraine (+524) and Japan (+446). On a
continental level, Europe is currently experiencing the greatest increase in
missionary numbers, having gained over 5,000 in the last 10 years.
Source: Mission Frontiers and Friday Fax
___________________________________________>>>
>From: "Jack Mckee" <Jack.Mckee1@btinternet.com>
For 40 Days, Pastor Jack walked through the streets that surround a 20 foot high
concrete wall between Protestant Shankill and Catholic Falls, and carried a
cross while doing so (Monday 18 February through to Good Friday 29 March,
between 11am and 12 noon each day).
Updates and Route Map are available on our web site.
http://www.newlifeministriesireland.co.uk
I continue to value your prayers.
Every Blessing, Jack
___________________________________________>>>
>From: "CCC Revival News"<russellw@eatel.net>
A spiritual transformation continues in Goiania, Brazil. The city is
experiencing increasing receptivity to the Gospel and evangelicals have grown
from 7% to 45% of the population in the last 7 years. A city delegation asked a
Christian radio show to return to the airwaves. Elisabeth Cornelio had hosted a
daily prayer program with 200,000 listeners, but devaluation of the Brazilian
Real pressured the station owner to charge much higher rates for airtime. The
prayer movement could not afford the increase, so it stopped broadcasting for
three months. During that time the station’s ratings reportedly dropped from
3rd to 17th place among the other stations, and the city’s crime rate rose 40%.
City officials, including the mayor and chief of police, asked Cornelio in May
to restart the broadcasts at the original price. Every month the city updates
the prayer program on the latest criminal trends so its listeners can pray.
Evangelistic efforts are proving fruitful, Christians say. Christian midwives
anoint newborns with oil and dedicate them to God. Others visit supermarkets,
praying for the shoppers. Some Christians rise at 4 a.m. to walk among commuters
on public transportation and pray for them. Mobile prayer teams are starting
churches. Christians go door-to-door offering prayer to those they meet. Every
Saturday, about 150 people reportedly become Christians and a new church is
started most weekends. The prayer also changes the spiritual atmosphere,
increasing people’s openness to the Gospel. One day, several women stood in
front of a bar at which men were drinking. At first, they made jokes, asking us
if we wanted a glass of milk, Cornelio said. The women told them they wanted to
preach the Gospel to them. One man began to sob quietly, and they preached to
the entire bar, Cornelio said. That evening, all 20 men decided to follow Jesus.
___________________________________________>>>
>From: Usprayercenter@cs.com
>At: http://www.usprayercenter.org
>With: http://www.prayerbookstore.com
*PHILIPPINES: God is uniting His Church
Eddie and I just returned from Cagayan de Oro (The city of golden friendship),
Mindanao, Philippines where the Lord is uniting His Church. More than 50 pastors
of various denominations, identifying themselves as the Cagayan De Oro
Evangelical Ministers Association (COEMA), came together this week with several
hundred intercessors and church leaders in a first-of-its-kind citywide prayer
conference. Eddie and I (Alice) taught six hours each day, for four days, on
intercession, city-reaching and spiritual warfare/mapping. The pastors in this
city are remarkably united in pastor's cell groups (prayer/fellowship groups)
for the purpose of reaching their city's kingdom potential. God is giving them a
heart for the nations. This beautiful city is moving from being "a mission
field" to becoming "a mission force!"
Source: Alice Smith, U.S. Prayer Center
Go to the following URL for a slide show of the trip:
http://photos.msn.com/viewing/album.aspx?m7A!X9U3q6YzeOp!RYJqTQlI0SBDaTMFnFUrhKkFqbYuc*tgDkLmTgvNBImM2aRg9qYOHIBxuHY9M6gYaEhJkIGlseP*xLXNfCSFCGLJKjk$
*UGANDA: Tape player reaches the people
A missionary in Uganda took hand-cranked audio cassette players to a village of
the Karamojong people group, along with tapes containing Bible stories set to
music in the Karamojong heart language. As he walked back to the village two
weeks later, he heard the tape player going. Everyone in the village had learned
every song. Now villages on the other side of the mountain are requesting the
cassettes and tapes.
Glorify God for the power of the Good News. Pray for the completion of the
Bible stories and for their distribution to the villages. Pray that Holy Spirit
will implant the Word of God in Karamojong hearts through these stories and
songs.
http://www.littlestar.com/karamoja/
*ARGENTINA: Going on with God
In early December, Baptists in Argentina commissioned eight young adults to
serve as international missionaries. Seven are being sent to difficult and
sensitive areas of Asia and Africa. The president of the Argentina Baptist
Convention told the audience at the commissioning service: "We are all products
of missionary efforts, regardless of how many generations back one traces their
Christian heritage. If someone had not sent missionaries, none of us would be
here tonight." In spite of the economic crisis in the country, Argentine
Baptists continue to respond in ever-increasing numbers to the call to
missionary service, and giving to mission's offerings continues to increase.
Thank God for the willingness of these eight Argentine believers to obey
his call to missions. Thank him for the missionaries responsible for your own
faith in Christ. Ask him what he wants you to do to be sure that heritage is
passed along to others who will not hear "unless someone is sent."
http://www.byhisgrace.com/buenosaires
Invite the Smiths to teach in your area at:
http://www.usprayercenter.org/prelreq.html
(c) Copyright 2002, U.S. PRAYER CENTER
___________________________________________>>>
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>From: "Van Mason" <getreal@rockport.heartland.net>
>At: http://www.globalbridegroomfast.com/
Global Bridegroom Fast days for 2002
All day Monday thru Wednesday Midnight on the following days
Feb. 4-6 June 3-5 Oct. 7-9
March 4-6 July 1-3 Nov. 4-6
April 1-3 Aug. 5-7 Dec. 2-8
May 6-8 Sept. 2-4
All day Monday thru Wednesday Midnight on the following
days
Jan. 6-8 May 5-7 Sept. 1-3
Feb. 3-5 June 2-4 Oct. 6-8
March 3-5 July 7-9 Nov. 3-5
April 7-9 Aug. 4-6 Dec. 1-7.
=============================================================
National Pastors' Prayer Network
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Phil Miglioratti ~ Coordinator
Sheila Straka ~ Intercession: sheila@nppn.org
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Adam Shields ~ Tech Support: Updates@nppn.org
Carol Karr ~ Administrative Services
--->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.
--->Copyright 2002. However, permission is granted to freely redistribute to
those who will partner in praying for and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ
with everyone in our nation and beyond.
--->Opinions reflect the views of each author or respondent, not the NPPN or any
other person or organization
=============================================================