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NATIONAL PASTORS’
PRAYER NETWORK
- U.S.
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G L O B A L U P D A T E - 04/09/2000
...So
That One Day
...We
Will Live On A Prayed For Planet!
I N T H I S
U P D A T E
...and
for our prayers:
*LOG-ON...SIGN-IN...LINK-UP
*ZIMBABWE,
AFRICA: PRAYER ADVOCACY
*GUATEMALA:
420 PROFESS FAITH
*INTERNATIONAL
PRAYER REPORTS
http://www.xs4all.nl/~mvdwoude
*UK &
US: TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES
*LATIN
AMERICA: BAPTIST WORSHIP CONGRESS
*HINDRACES TO PRAYER
*LOG-ON...SIGN-IN...LINK-UP
Our NPPN PPG
Directory is growing...slowly.
An
international directory of PPGs will, in itself, encourage many other pastors
to take the simple step of praying with other pastors in their community.
Will we
see a correlation between nations with the highest number of PPGs and a
national spiritual awakening?
Who
should sing-in? PPG Leaders, as well as those who network PPGs throughout a
city or a region. If you have a ministry that resources pastors with prayer
materials...so...
If you
are in, or know of, a Pastors’ Prayer Group, please register at:
_________________________________________>>>
*ZIMBABWE,
AFRICA: PRAYER ADVOCACY
>From: “D.Ray
Davis” <drdavis@samara.co.zw>
My wife
and I serve in Zimbabwe. My primary
assignment for the International Mission Board, SBC is prayer advocacy for our
region. I want to say something
concerning the AIDS epidemic. Words
cannot describe the situation in Africa.
But, I will try.
Last
week I had some US volunteers here and we stopped by a graveyard. It was full of hundreds of graves. They were covered with high grass and the grave
markers were simple tin, wood, plastic and such. There were literally hundreds maybe thousands. The earliest grave I found was 1998! A major
part of the graves were for children between birth and 3 years. The vast
majority of the rest were for young adults from 40 years down. There are grave diggers
digging round the clock. While we stood
there two funerals were in progress and folks were arriving for a third. I went the next day and found that about 15
new graves for children had been dug.
The same for adults. Anytime you
visit this graveyard outside Harare, Zimbabwe you are able to witness a
funeral. This is the story all across
Southern Africa!
D. Ray
Davis, Southern Africa Support Team
SAR
website: http://www.imb.org/Southern-Africa
2001
Pray!: http://www.2001pray.org/
_________________________________________>>>
*GUATEMALA:
420 PROFESS FAITH
>From:
“Crosswalk.com” <editor@crosswalk.com>
...Evangelical
Christians are changing Guatemala, a professed atheist told a group of visiting
U.S. ministers. Evangelicals “are the best workers, make up the strongest
families, save money, and contribute the most to the well-being of their
country,” the man, a journalist, told members of the Houston-based ministry
Global Vision (http://www.g-v.org). ...The American ministers were returning
from a three-night evangelistic outreach to Coatepeque in February, Global
Vision said. Evangelist Haje Andraus preached to more than 4,000 people, and
420 professed faith in Christ, the ministry said. Andraus also spoke at pastors’
seminars, businessmen’s luncheons, and women’s meetings, where 60 people became
Christians.
...Global
Vision holds seminars on evangelism, prayer, discipleship, leadership, and
church-planting at the invitation of local church leaders.
_________________________________________>>>
*INTERNATIONAL
PRAYER REPORTS
http://www.xs4all.nl/~mvdwoude
>From:
Marc van der Woude <MarcvanderWoude@XC.Org>
Joel-News-International
is an e-mail bulletin offering news reports on prayer and church growth from
all over the world. It aims at leaders, intercessors and other Christians with
a heart for prayer and vision for revival. The reports are meant to encourage,
challenge and inform.
In
the April 3, 2000 edition:
JN313-1.
Watchmen’s Call: German cities take lead in national prayer
JN313-2.
24-7 youth prayer initiative is ‘snowball out of control’
JN313-3.
Prayer for Russia: Putin, Praise and Planting of new churches
JN313-4.
Prayer and revival news from Europe
Norway *
UK * Germany * Italy * Switzerland * Latvia * Romania
You can
subscribe directly by sending an empty e-mail to:
subscribe-joel-news-international@xc.org
Joel-News-International
is published every week in English. The bulletin covers more than 100 reliable
prayer and revival sources all over the world.
Joel News also publishes news from its own network in Europe. Editorial team:
Marc van der Woude (publisher), Branko Bjelajac (editor), Adriaan van der
Hoeven (editor). Subscribers are encouraged to send in news reports themselves.
These reports can be directed to: MarcvanderWoude@xc.org
* Although the reports in Joel-News-International are selected with care, the
publisher cannot be held responsible for any incorrectness in these reports.
Visions, opinions and prophetic insights are on the account of the authors
themselves. Joel-News-International is not a discussion platform for theological
matters. The bulletin is interdenominational. We intend to report what the Holy
Spirit is doing today in different places in the world.
·
All
reports from Joel-News-International may be forwarded or published, unless
stated otherwise. The addition © means that the report or article is under copyright.
For publication you will need permission from the author or publisher.
·
Joel-News-International
is free, but a financial contribution to cover the expenses is welcome.
Donations make it possible to continue publishing this bulletin. Please make
your cheques payable to Marc van der Woude, Postbank account number 4406455 in
Utrecht, the Netherlands.
·
More
information on prayer and revival (articles, archives, faqs, links) is
available on the Joel News pages: http://www.xs4all.nl/~mvdwoude
_________________________________________>>>
*UK &
US: TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES
>From: “Best,
Paula” <PBest@interdev.org>
Interested
in finding ways to better connect to the global partnership movement? Here is an opportunity to get involved. Interdev is launching a new partnership
education seminar designed for church and
organizational leaders interested in a better understanding of the
principles driving evangelism/church planting partnerships.
The
first “Kingdom Connections: Transforming Your Ministry Through Partnership,”
will be held in both in England and the US. The North American “Kingdom
Connections” will be held in Atlanta, June 6- 9, 2000, and is being co-sponsored
by Evangelical Fellowship of Mission Agencies (EFMA), the Interdenominational
Fellowship of Mission Agencies (IFMA), Advancing Churches in Missions
Commitment (ACMC) and World Evangelical Fellowship (WEF). Paul McKaughan,
President of EFMA, will be giving the keynote address. For brochure and full
registration information on the North American event, please contact Paula Best
at <Interdev-US@xc.org> or call 425-775-8330.
The
dates for the UK are 30 May - 2 June 2000, and is being co-sponsored by Evangelical
Alliance, UK, and the Evangelical Missions Association (EMA). Stanley Davies, President of the EMA, will
be giving the keynote address. For
brochure and full registration information for the England event, please contact
Jan Durston at <Interdev-UK@xc.org>. There is a limit to the number of people allowed
on these courses so early application and registration is crucial.
ALSO. .
.later in the year, Interdev is planning to hold additional
“Kingdom
Connection” events and one of their Partnership Facilitator
Training
courses in North America. For information on these please contact
_________________________________________>>>
*LATIN
AMERICA: BAPTIST WORSHIP CONGRESS
>From: “Crosswalk.com”
<editor@crosswalk.com>
>By
Wendy Ryan
NITEROI,
Brazil (BP)--More than 2,000 pastors, musicians, theologians and laypeople from
18 countries packed First Baptist Church, Niteroi, Brazil, for a first-ever
Latin American Baptist congress on worship, March 15-18.
The
meeting included worship filled with vibrant praise and searching questions on
worship styles, including content and music.
Also,
the congress provided the setting for a reconciliation between two Brazilian
Baptist bodies that formerly had been divided over their differing worship
styles.
The
congress was sponsored by the Baptist World Alliance’s study and research
division and the Union of Baptists in Latin America.
When the
congress concluded, “The Niteroi Declaration on Worship” adopted by the
participants asked Latin American Baptist churches to center their worship “upon
God and His glory” and music leaders to constantly seek for “true Christian
worship.”
Each
day, three different styles of worship were modeled— traditional, contemporary
and renewal/charismatic. Various aspects of worship were addressed in afternoon
workshops. Each evening service was a blend of classical, gospel and
contemporary songs, liturgical dance, Latin American indigenous music and preaching.
Nilson
Fanini, BWA president and pastor of the host church, set a theme in the opening
address that was repeated daily. “Nothing can be done without Jesus in the
center,” he said.
“We do
not worship traditions or styles, we worship Almighty God,” said Tony Cupit,
director of the BWA study and research division, who urged the participants “not
to demonize the way others worship.”
“We may
not embrace each style,” Cupit said, “but let there be no worship wars. Let us
celebrate that God by his Spirit has given others insights on worship.”
Tomas
Mackey, a theology professor at the Baptist seminary in Buenos Aires,
Argentina, laid a theological foundation for worship. “To worship is to be
conscious of God,” Mackey said, “to open our hearts to his voice, do his will,
obey his Word.”
Worship “lifts
up our lives to God and causes us to recognize our dependence on God,” Mackey
continued, describing worship as seeking and finding. “In adoration we seek and
God allows us to find him. This is not just a philosophical thought, it is an experience,”
Mackey said.
Jorge Aguillera,
a professor at the Baptist seminary in Lima, Peru, said the Holy Spirit equips
the church as an instrument of worship. Prayer and praise are essential
ingredients of worship, he said, cautioning against worshiping a particular
form of worship and using personal experiences to translate the Bible.
Roberto
Alves de Souza, president of the Baptist Seminary of Southern Brazil, urged
that more attention be paid to worship in theological seminaries. Seminaries
need to teach a biblical view of worship, he said, noting that God is looking
for worship that embodies spirit and in truth.
Preaching
at the contemporary worship service, pastor Wander Ferreira Gomes of Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil, pointed out that contemporary worship, which is more informal,
“does not exclude Bible.” While the order of worship is important, believers
must not worship the order because the Holy Spirit will sometimes change the
order, Gomes said, describing the service as a vehicle of communication with
the living God.
Rosali
Ramirez, a Guatemala City pastor and president of the Union of Baptists in
Latin America, who spoke at the traditional celebration, said love is “the
foundation of our worship, and that includes love for God and for those he has
created.”
Samuel
Escobar, a professor at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary near Philadelphia
and president of the United Bible Societies, gave an overview of Baptist
worship. All of Baptist worship has been influenced by the worldwide movement
of worship in the Wesleyan, Lutheran and even the Catholic Church, said Escobar,
a native Peruvian.
Escobar
pointed out that the history of hymns evidence the particular renewal emphasis
of the authors. For example, Methodist Charles Wesley wrote hymns that reflected
his powerful conversion experience, while Calvinists emphasized the Psalms since
they were the songs of God and not humans.
Rather
than focus on forms of worship, Escobar said the church needs to find ways to
respond to such modern-day challenges as the great interest in religion that is
not necessarily Christian as well as new religions.
Denton
Lotz, BWA general secretary, said there is a mighty force of the Holy Spirit
moving all over the world, and he reminded the congress that governments cannot
prevent worship. Although many believers do not have the freedom to worship,
they do so anyway, because no human institution can deny the movement of the
Spirit in the life of the church and believers, Lotz said.
Lotz
described two kinds of worship, priestly and prophetic. Priestly worship is praise and worship to
God while prophetic worship speaks the Word of God and brings people to
repentance, Lotz said, noting, “Baptists must bring both celebration and prophesy
together.
“Celebration
without proclamation becomes emotionalism and proclamation without celebration
becomes rationalism,” Lotz said.
One of
the most memorable moments of the congress came in a reconciliation between two
Brazilian BWA member bodies.
Thirty-five
years ago, 14 churches of the Batista Nacionales Churches (National Baptist
Convention) were expelled from the Baptist Convention of Brazil because of
their different worship style influenced greatly by the charismatic movement.
Fanini welcomed the president of the convention, Eneas Tognini, in the very
church where they had been voted out.
The
Batista Nacionales became a BWA member in 1997 and today has 3,000
congregations with 200,000-plus members.
“This is
a historic moment,” said Fausto Aguiar de Vasconcelos, BWA vice president and
pastor of First Baptist Church, Rio de Janeiro, who welcomed Tognini to the
pulpit. “I remember as a boy 14 years old, sitting in the back of this church
with my parents, when the convention expelled Tognini’s group.”
Said
Tognini, “I believe what is happening is a miracle of the Holy Spirit, because
we don’t see it as two conventions, only one, the Brazilian convention.”
The
Baptist Press email service is a cooperative effort between
Baptist
Press and Crosswalk.com. Visit Baptist
Press on the web
at http://www.BaptistPress.org/
For
today’s complete News Summary from ReligionToday,
go to http://religiontoday.crosswalk.com/CurrentNewsSummary/
_________________________________________>>>
*HINDRACES
TO PRAYER
>From: “Jen”
<jen@cfdevotionals.org>
Sometimes
when we pray it is as if our prayers bounce right off the ceiling and go no
place. There are reasons prayers are often hindered. What we have learned is
that sometimes they are sent to the wrong address. Sometimes prayers are sent
forth for people to hear instead of God.
Matthew
6:5-6 And when ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites: for they love to
stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they
may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward. But
thou, when thou prayest, enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut thy
door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret
shall recompense thee.
The
Pharisees prayed for people to hear, but in Scripture we are told to pray in private to God and He will answer us. We
can preach some great sermons while we pray, yet we need to earnestly direct
our petitions to God. Reason number one
for hindered prayer, you sent it to the wrong address.
The
second reason prayer is hindered is because it lacks substance as it is repeated
over and over and over and over and over again. Believe me God can hear.
Matthew
6:7-8 And in praying use not vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do: for they
think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not therefore like
unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask
him.
Psalm
94:9 He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? He that formed the eye, shall
he not see?
Third
reason is some people just do not know how to pray no one ever taught them. OK
a quick lesson on how to pray. Jesus gave us a model prayer to follow.
Matthew
6:9-15 After this manner therefore pray ye. Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on
earth. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also
have forgiven our debtors. And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us
from the evil one.
A- Send it
to the right address - “Our Father...”
B-
Proclaim His Praise- “ Hallowed be thy name...”
C-
Remember He is the King we are the Servant” Your will be done...” D- Petition
the Lord - ask for your needs E- Come to the Lord ready to repent-in humility F-
Ask for protection G- Praise Him thank Him and trust Him to answer.
This
brings us to our fourth reason for hindered prayer -a lack of faith or trust in
God.
James
1:5-6 But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all
liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him as k in
faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea
driven by the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive
anything of the Lord;
A fifth
reason our prayers bounce back unheard is we simply do not ask.
James
4:1-2 Whence come wars and whence come fightings among you? come they not hence,
even of your pleasures that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye
kill, and covet, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war; ye have not, because ye
ask not.
Reason
number 6 to be found in the next verse SELFISH MOTIVES
James
4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may spend it in your
pleasures.
Often
times we do not have a proper perspective on our priorities. We do not seek the
Lord first. Your will be done Father ... We let the lust of our flesh of our
eyes or the pride of life subtly influence us and attach “in a JC name amen” to
the end of our prayer.
Hindrance
Number 7-Independence from God. We have so very much oftentimes that we tend
not to pray for “everything” as we should. With our cupboards full - do we need
to pray for our daily bread today? It is all too easy with abundance to not ask
and act independently from God to try and meet our needs. “I’ll take care of it”
instead of seeking God for His provision and guidance.
Philipians
4:19 And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in
glory in Christ Jesus.
Matthew
6:33 But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things
shall be added unto you.
Kind of
applies to married guys - We need to dwell with our wives in an understanding
way. I heard a very respected man kind of say it like this. Men, you need to die to yourself and enter
into your wife’s world. Your prayers will definitely be hindered if you do not
or are not heeding this scripture in its context.
I Peter
3:7 Ye husbands, in like manner, dwell with your wives according to knowledge,
giving honor unto the woman, as unto the weaker vessel, as being also
joint-heirs of the grace of life; to the end that your prayers be not hindered.
Last of
all, God is no respecter of persons and your sin will definitely inhibit your
prayers.
Isaiah
59:1-2 Behold, Jehovahs hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his
ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you
and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, so that he will not
hear.
We would
like to leave you to think and dwell upon what you have gleaned
from the
Scriptures above with the following verses. It is our prayer that
if you have
blown it that you will confess your sins to God and repent so
that your
petitions will be heard and not hindered and that He may bless
your life
fully. amen
James
5:16-20 Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for
another,
that ye may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth
much in
its working. Elijah was a man of like passions with us, and he
prayed
fervently
that it might not rain; and it rained not on the earth for three
years and
six months. And he prayed again; and the heaven gave rain, and the
earth
brought forth her fruit. My brethren, if any among you err from the truth, and
one convert him let him know, that he who converteth a sinner from the error of
his way shall save a soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins.
In His
Service, Rick & Sandy
Liv4Yeshua@aol.com <mailto:Liv4Yeshua@aol.com>
http://www.cfdevotionals.org <http://www.cfdevotionals.org>
_________________________________________>>>
?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...
Phil
Miglioratti ? National Pastors’ Prayer Network / US
1130
Randville Drive 1D, Palatine, IL 60074
847-991-0153 //
708-848-9139 (fax)
http://www.nppn.org email: phil@nppn.org
http://www.missionamerica.org/prayernetwork.html
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