Brazilian Christians pastor 83 “river churches” along the Amazon. Workers from Liberdale PAZ Church travel by boat ( http://www.religiontoday.com/Archive/NewsSummary/view.cgi?file=19990616.brf. html) up and down tributaries of the mammoth river, preaching the gospel and helping pastors, according to Project Amazon, an Illinois-based ministry. It trains nationals to take the message of Christ to tribal people living in the region.

Workers carry sound and video equipment and generators to hold services. They play music to attract people, then set up projectors to show the Jesus film, PAZ said. The workers say the tools are crucial to telling people about the gospel, PAZ’s Jeff and Becky Hrubik said. “They don’t complain about not having cold water, eating fish for every meal, or visiting and [teaching] by kerosene lamps,” she said.

News from ReligionToday is Copyrighted by Crosswalk.com

___________________________________________>>>

*YUGOSLAVIA: PRAYER INITIATIVE

>From: Joel News <MarcvanderWoude@XC.Org>

The Serbian Evangelical Alliance announced a new prayer initiative for Serbia and Montenegro (Yugoslavia) to be held this month under the title ‘Hope for Yugoslavia’. Let us join in and pray for the people in Yugoslavia, the authorities and the Church. For peaceful and fair elections on September 24, that hopelessness will make way for new hope in Jesus Christ.

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*KAZAKHSTANL PRAYER CENTRE

>From: Joel News <MarcvanderWoude@XC.Org>

Following the success of Silk Road 2000, Kazakhstan Prayer Center has taken the initiative to promote prayer nationally and internationally for Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Aimee Hennen <upgrade@nursat.kz> reports: “As the intercessory ministry grows here, we will offer testimonies, news, and prayer requests from this region of the world. The Holy Spirit is moving in Kazakhstan and Central Asia and now is the time to pray and to bless what God is doing!”

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*UK: SIR DAVID FROST TO HOST ALPHA COURSE ON TV

>From: Assistcomm@cs.com

--->NPPNote: This is more than a news report; it should prompt a prayer from each of us - for overwhelming success in reaching the unchurched in the United Kingdom! May many trace their salvation to the watching of one of these programs.

Sir David Frost, the British talk show host, has signed a contract to present the Alpha Course on national television in the UK, reports Alpha News.

Sir David, one of the best-known television presenters in the world, said that he was “fascinated” by the success of the course and was thoroughly looking forward to being involved in the project. “When I was approached about this series, I was naturally and instinctively interested in it,” he said. The series, which is provisionally entitled The Alpha Challenge, will consist of ten one-hour programs to be broadcast early next year. It is one of the largest religious projects to be undertaken by national television in recent years.

Filming of the summer Alpha course at Holy Trinity Brompton, London, where the course began, has already begun. The cameras are following a single group of 12 people as they go through the course. Sir David will interview the group at the end to see if their attitude towards the Christian faith has changed as a result of the course. He said, “I am going to present the whole series but I will be particularly active and involved in the last one.

“What I am looking forward to doing is talking to the 10 or so people [the guests in the group] at the end of the course to learn how they have responded to it.”

Sir David, whose father was a Methodist minister and who has been fascinated by Billy Graham’s life and ministry for many years, was approached earlier this year to take on the project. He said, “I think it is terrific that ITV is prepared to do something like this and I think viewers who are interested will really be able to gain something from the series. “It reflects my interests and concerns and I am fascinated by it [Alpha] in terms of the statistics and the extraordinary figures.”

A JPEG picture of Sir David Frost is available on request from Mark

Elsdon-Dew at e-mail: Mark.Elsdon-Dew@htb.org.uk

Source: ASSIST Communications, P.O. Box 2126 , Garden Grove, CA

92842-2126, USA

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*PRAYER ASSEMBLIES CONVENED IN JERUSALEM

>From: USAPRAY@aol.com

>Date: Wed, Sep 27, 2000

Prayer leaders from Intercessors for America, Israel, and fifteen other nations have convened for a week of intercession in Jerusalem. Various other international prayer tours and convocations are also gathering over the course of the next three weeks - a period which includes Israel’s national day of fasting and repentance, Yom Kippur and the Feast of Tabernacles. You are invited to unite in concerted prayer and fasting for Israel and the Middle East at this time.

Of growing concern is the fact that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak no longer has a majority government. Israel’s Parliament, the Knesset, is in recess but is considering calling a special session to pass a bill forbidding the Prime Minister to sign any agreement or “final status” document dividing Jerusalem without the approval of majority representatives in the Knesset. The recent proposal to turn control of the Temple Mount over to the United Nations Security Council and to United Nations troops is also a grave matter needing targeted intercession.

Pray also for the containing of “West Nile Fever” in Israel. Thirteen people have died and 161 have been hospitalized. The Israeli Health Ministry declared the disease an epidemic last Wednesday.

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*GUATEMALA: WORLD CONGRESS ON REVIVAL

>From: “Iglesia El Shaddai” <elshaddai@guate.net>

WORLD CONGRESS REVIVAL 2000

GUATEMALA, OCTOBER 24 - 29

Are you ready for an experience that will transform you, your city and your nation? The Lord will bring his anointing of revival to this congress to advance church growth in the 21^st century. You have a date with the Lord in October !

The atmosphere here is ready to explode with expectation of what the lord will do as many people from all over the world are registering for this congress. Each day there will be preachings, workshops and networking conducted by more than 60 world-class speakers from Guatemala and other countries.

CONGRESO MUNDIAL AVIAVAMIENTO 2000

GUATEMALA ,OCTOBRE 24 - 29

Esta usted listo para una experiencia transformadora, que le cambiará a usted, cambiará su ciudad y cambiará su nación. El señor trae su unción de avivamiento a este congreso para avanzar en el crecimiento de la iglesia en el siglo xx1. Usted tiene una cita con Dios en Octubre en Guatemala. No pierda esta oportunidad.

La atmósfera aquí esta lista para explotar con esperanza de lo que Dios va a hacer, ya que mucha gente de todo el mundo están registrándose para este congreso. Cada día va a haber predicas, talleres, mesas redondas para formar redes de interés común que serán conducidas por mas de 60 líderes nacionales e internacionales.

WORLD CONGRESS REVIVAL 2000

El Shaddai Ministries: elshaddai@guate.net

Visit us at: <http://www.elshaddai.net> and register

Tel.: 011 (502) 337-4777 / Fax: 011 (502) 337-0316

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*RIO de JANEIRO, BRAZIL: 30,000 - 1,800 - 570 >From: “Crosswalk.com” <newsletters@crosswalk.com> ...Friendship evangelism drew 30,000 people to rallies in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Peruvian evangelist Alejandro Bullon preached Sept. 13-16 in Praca de Apoteose, a downtown square, according to news reports.

...Christians invited their non-Christian friends to the rallies, called “Celebration 2000 -- It’s Time to See Jesus.” Many people who live in big cities are sad, lonely, and full of fear, Bullon said. “We have seen, tested, and confirmed that the best means to reach a human being today is through another human being. It is friends who bring friends to Jesus.”

...About 1,800 people asked for gospel materials and 570 became Christians and were baptized into the faith, according to the ministry.

...News from ReligionToday is Copyrighted by Crosswalk.com

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*URBANA 2000: 19,000 STUDENTS FOR GLOBAL MISSIONS

>From: “Crosswalk.com” <newsletters@crosswalk.com>

At a time when some Christians are backing off from evangelism, 19,000 young people are expected to attend Urbana 2000 (http://www.urbana.org/_today.cfm), a conference for students interested in global missions. It is scheduled for Dec. 27-31 on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Nine thousand young people from the United States, Canada, and around the world already have registered, organizers said.

Students at Urbana 2000 will spend time seeking God’s will for their lives as they worship, pray, study Scripture, listen to speakers, talk with missionaries and development workers, and collect information from 350 missions, seminary, and graduate school exhibits.

The Urbana Student Missions Conference began after World War II, when a group of students gathered in Toronto, Canada. The most recent conference, in 1996, attracted 18,000 students. It is sponsored by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

News from ReligionToday is Copyrighted by Crosswalk.com

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*WORLD ZOROASTRIAN CONGRESS - AN HOUR AWAY

>From: Mert Hershberger <mertaka@everybody.org>

The World Zoroastrian Congress is set for December 27- January 1. The Parsee authorities have been planning this Congress for the last six years. The focus of this Congress is Parsee children and youth. Parsee authorities have been reportedly concerned at the increasing inclination of Parsee youth towards Christianity. The leaders are said to believe that if they were to adequately train Parsee children in ways of Zoroastrianism, and deeply ground them in that religion, they would not stray towards Christianity when they are older. The Parsee Congress is taking place on almost the same dates of the Urbana (Christian) conference. Moreover, the Parsee Headquarters are only about an hour from the site of the Urbana conference. Could it be that the Lord might have arranged for the Christian Urbana youth congress to take place on the same dates as the Parsee Zoroastrian Congress to counter the efforts of the Parsees for their children? Please pray diligently and fast weekly for Parsee children and youth.

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*BEJIING TO HANOI TO DELHI, EVEN CHICAGO!

>From: “John E. Neill” <john@prayershield.com>

PRAYER SHIELD has been up & running for a little over six years. This year I have done fewer seminars than any other year. I began to wonder, “God has the season passed? Finances are tight, and feedback has dwindled. Do you still want me to be about this work?”

That day an email came from a Pastor in a underground church in Red China. It came by a secret route, twisting from Beijing to Hanoi to Delhi and Damascus. From Damascus it went to London then Chicago and finally to me.

This pastor told me how much the PRAYER SHIELD had touched him and encouraged him. He had ask God for some small touch by Him and the next day a Chinese Colonel, a member of his underground church, had handed the PRAYER SHIELD to him.

http://www.prayershield.com

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*INDIA: WILL YOU PRAY FOR US?

>From: “PGVARGIS” <PGVINDIA@compuserve.com>

In 1998 we baptised 7600 new believers.

In 1999 we baptised 14560 new believers.

Our target for 2000 - 25000 people baptised.

Will you pray for us?

If you will send an E mail we shall be happy to send you our weekly E mail prayer bulletin.

Would you like to have our missionary challenging book “Cry of India” and or a 10 minute video presentation, “vision one billion souls”?

Write to us with your postal address?

P G Vargis

Indian Evangelical Team

126 Andheri Modh

New Delhi - 110 030

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*REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: PRAYING FOR PEACE

>From: john_robb@wvi.org

Friends, Thanks for your prayers for World Vision’s Day of Prayer around the world. Many in our office thought it was the best day of prayer ever, and I have hear encouraging reports from other offices as well. The Lord is giving us a new hunger to seek Him as an organization!

Here is a brief article describing the situation in Congo. We urgently need

your prayers over the next several weeks for the security situation to

improve so the prayer initiative can safely take place. This could be our

most challenging initiative yet. Thanks much, John

Praying for Peace and Reconciliation in the Democratic Republic of Congo

By John Robb

Civil war has raged over the past two years between government and rebel

forces, each side aided by surrounding governments for control over

territory rich in natural resources. This war has claimed the lives of up

to two million people in eastern Congo. The great majority have died of

starvation and disease in the jungle after fleeing the fighting. Close to

two million civilians in the country have been displaced and are still very

vulnerable. 16 million or one-third of the population are in need of food

aid. At the same time, humanitarian agencies face great obstacles in

bringing relief, impeded as they are by the continued fighting. A World

Food Program spokesperson recently said, “The entire socio-economic fabric

of the country is ruined. Infrastructure is non-existent, areas that used

to produce surplus food are no longer producing any, and the roads have

been destroyed.”*

Local Christian leaders realize that the rampant anarchy, poverty, ethnic hatred, tribalism, looting and killing defies human solution and requires the hand of God to bring deliverance and healing to the nation. In mid-September, they arranged a conference for peace, reconciliation and thanksgiving which was held in the mountains of eastern Congo and was attended by almost 40,000 people from many different tribal groups and denominations. November 29-December 1, the second part of this initiative will bring together 250-300 hand-picked church and prayer leaders from throughout the region to “stand in the gap” for their land. An international team of prayer leaders from other countries will help facilitate this event which is supported by World Vision. Please join in praying for:

1. An end to fighting and the restoration of security so that humanitarian agencies can operate freely to bring aid to those suffering.

2. The withdrawal of all foreign military forces and the reestablishment of a process of negotiation leading to a cease fire and peace.

3. God’s protection with His anointing and guidance on all those who participate in the prayer initiative and especially for the international team as they travel into an unstable, potentially dangerous environment.

*Agence France-Presse (AFP), October 6, 2000

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*BULLETIN ON REVIVAL: THE SHANTUNG REVIVAL

>From: “Francois Carr” <revival@yebo.co.za>

The prime principle of awakening grace and the subsequent forgiveness of sins are perfectly illustrated in one of God*s unfathomable works in Shantung Province, Northeast China, in 1927. This great awakening had its birth in turmoil. The Baptist missionaries, along with those of other groups, were under pressure from the deep unrest caused by the marching armies of Sun Yat-sen led by Marshall Chaeng Kai-Shek. A pitched battle with the old feudal warlords raged in full fury. When the so-called “Rape of Nanking” took place, an alarmed American government called the twenty-four Baptist missionaries from Shantung to the seaport city of Chefoo.

They congregated in a very small mission compound with only two houses. There God accomplished one of His unusual acts of grace. It all started quite simply. The missionaries decided they should pray together for an hour each morning. Concerned for the Chinese believers they had left on the field, they desperately wanted them to stand true to Christ during the upheaval. They were also concerned for their own well-being. So they started to intercede, believing our theme text that those who “seek his face and pray” will surely experience God’s grace.

God honoured their prayer commitment with His gracious presence. The first day they prayed for an hour, the second day for two hours. Soon they were praying till noon, not so much for the Chinese believers, but for themselves. The burden for an awakening among their own group soon all but overwhelmed them. Then Miss Marie Monson, an evangelical Lutheran missionary from Norway, joined the prayer band and began to share what God had done in her life. Through the challenge of Miss Monson, along with fervent prayer, the first fruits of revival burst forth. It proved to be the early harbinger of a general awakening.

After the political crisis subsided, the missionaries journeyed back to their fields. As soon as they arrived at their stations, a refreshing revival deluge rained down everywhere. A new day for China arrived. The work received God’s awakening touch.

Venerable Shantung missionary Dr. W. B. Glass, after his retirement, would come to my small student pastorate in Ft. Worth, Texas. He would share with our congregation the glories of those revival days. We thrilled to hear him tell how the Chinese churches of Shantung filled as converts came to Christ by the hundreds and thousands. The Shantung seminary, where Dr. Glass had served as a professor during the revival, overflowed with new students. Before the awakening there had been only two men preparing for the ministry, now the seminary was hill to overflowing. The revival broadened and deepened until the entire nation finally felt the impact of the awakening. Dr. Glass helped stoke the fire for revival in my heart and put a prayer in all of us for God to do once again what He had done for those missionaries in 1927. Surely we all cry out for a fresh awakening! And we must be willing to let God be God and do it His way with whom He pleases, whether we understand it or not. And there are times, in fact, when God in His own sovereign way initiates a revival in the face of even reluctant servants, as we see in the case of Jonah.

(Taken from the book, Eight Keys to Biblical Revival by Dr Lewis Drummond)

http://www.revivalcsa.co.za>

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*LAOS: PERSECUTION HAVING OPPOSITE EFFECT

...BECAUSE OF HOW THEY PRAY?

>From: “Crosswalk.com” <newsletters@crosswalk.com>

Despite persecution—and in some cases because of it—

Christians in Laos have more than doubled, from about 32,000 in 1997 to 80,000 or more today, according to a well-informed observer. Some estimates put the total much higher.

The government reportedly identifies Christianity as “the number one enemy of the state.” It accuses Christians of undermining Laotian culture, national unity—and the traditional dominance of Buddhism, which reinforces existing social power structures. Laotian sources have reported a new government drive, called “The Program,” that aims to eliminate Christianity in Laos by the end of this year and close all Christian places of worship in the countryside.

Some believers renounce their faith under pressure, but the crackdown often backfires:

“The local people say, ‘There must be something to this if the government is taking such a strong stand against it. It must be right,’” the observer stated. As for Christians themselves, “We’ve seen people grow stronger in the midst of persecution. Once they’ve been refined by it, their faith is just so strong.”

Some jailed believers were released in June, but up to 100 remain in custody, according to reports—and that may just be the “tip of the iceberg,” the source said. In rural areas, “there could be a couple of hundred or even more.”

Most Laotians practice Buddhism or animism. Christians remain a fraction of the population—but an expanding one. About 15,000 Christians lived in the country when the communists gained power in 1975, and many fled the country or went into hiding. The church began to expand again in 1990 as revival reportedly swept the countryside.

Another revival began in mid-1997 in an unexpected place: among the oppressed Khmu people of Laos.

“The Khmu are the second-largest people group in Laos (at about 20 percent of the population), but historically they have been slaves to the more powerful peoples of the region,” said the observer. History, he added, also predicted they would fall away from their new faith when challenged.

“But this time they were very responsive and filled with boldness once they got the gospel. In one area, they took (the message) to the governor of their province. They just began to share the gospel with everyone, especially with other Khmu.”

Christian literature, gospel cassettes and gospel radio-listener groups have rapidly increased the spread of the gospel—despite numerous arrests of people caught listening to Christian radio broadcasts. Hundreds of house-church leaders have been trained and now are taking the initiative to train others. In each of several areas, more than 3,000 people—including entire villages—decided to follow Christ within a single year.

What can outside Christians do to help? Appeals to the government to respect believers’ right to worship may help, the observer said. “If the Lord leads people to do that, they need to be obedient and do it,” he said. But he stressed that the opposition is refining and purifying the church.

“We see this persecution as natural,” he reflected. “We’re not praying that the government will change. We’re just praying that they (Christians) would have moments during this persecution when they can have fellowship with other believers, maybe in jail. Pray for God to give them an extra measure of His grace during this time.”

(BP) photos posted in the BP Photo Library at www.sbcbaptistpress.org. Photo titles: SEEKING LIGHT, BUDDHIST DOMINANCE, and WILL SHE HEAR?.

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*THE QIANG: PRAYERWALKING

>From: mertaka@everybody.org

>From: <qiang@allcost.com>

“Pray for the Prayerwalking team that will be traveling in Qiang areas the next couple of weeks. Pray that they will be given power and wisdom as they pray. Pray that they will be outfitted with indestructible armor to withstand any schemes of the evil one. Pray that God would make a way for the His word to be translated into whatever form is needed in the different Qiang areas.”

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*UK: 24/7 PRAYER VIRUS

>From: Marc van der Woude <MarcvanderWoude@XC.Org>

>By Adriaan van der Hoeven

The 24-7 prayer virus is affecting more and more young Christians all over the globe. The prayer movement, born at the end of 1999 in the UK, and described as ‘a non-stop prayer across the nations for a generation lost in space’, has brought exciting news from all over the globe, according to the 24-7 September newsletter.

“Once again it’s been an amazing month where God has blown our little brains, widened our horizons and taught us a lot,” 24-7 leader Pete Greig says. Greig says no-one could have predicted what has happened since he and a small church in Chicester started a prayer chain for young people.

Last summer around 3,000 young people used the 24-7 prayer tent at Message2000, the ‘crazy mass-mission’ to Manchester. The numbers are amazing, but don’t make the biggest impression on the 24-7 leadership. “In many ways the stories we like best are the small, personal ones. Like this youth worker from the remote Shetland Isles north of Scotland who came in the tent burnt out, discouraged, and on the verge of giving up, and left saying that he couldn’t wait to get back to the Shetlands.”

But there is no doubt the ‘24-7 buzz’ is out there, according to the fast way the vision has reached the corners of the earth.

Canada is now one of the biggest 24-7 nations, the publication said. “About three weeks ago no fewer than 37 churches in Canada signed up for 24-7 at a conference. Overnight, Canada became the 2^nd biggest 24-7 nation! We are discussing the possibility of linking all the Canadian rooms together to pray non-stop for a year in that nation alone. That would be truly historic for Canada.”

The amazing effort in Canada can be defeated soon in China, where the four largest House Church networks, representing about 100 million believers, have published the vision of 24-7 in their underground magazine ‘The Way’. Knowing that there are about a million church planting evangelists in China of whom 80% are under the age of 25 and 90% are women, the impact of the prayer movement can be enormous in China.

“One of the things that encouraged the youth worker from Shetland as he returned home,” Greig continues, “was the knowledge that he would be able to stay connected with us, despite his isolated mission-field, via the worldwide web. There’s nothing ‘virtual’ about the way we pray or about our sense of community and calling. The web site <www.24-7prayer.com> is an actual God-given medium for connecting with one another in real fellowship around the world.”

At the website <www.24-7prayer.com> a list of churches who are praying, answers to prayers, the vision of the movement, resources for prayer and reports are published.

Source: Joel News

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*200,000 NEW MISSIONARIES

>From: Marc van der Woude <MarcvanderWoude@XC.Org>

‘Acts 13 Breakthrough’ is a vision and a strategy to raise up and send 200,000 new mission workers from churches around the world to go to the harvest fields of the world. This is in obedience to the command of the Lord Jesus Christ to “Go and make disciples of all nations”. It is inspired by the example of the Antioch Church in Acts 13:1-5. They obeyed the leading of the Holy Spirit to “set apart” two workers, “Barnabas and Paul for the work to which I have called them”. The impact of ACTS 13 is “these who have turned the world upside down have come here too”, Acts 17:6.

Luis Bush, the International Director of the AD 2000 and Beyond Movement says that ACTS 13 “is a breakthrough concept. It captures the essence of the heart of Jesus when He said ‘Pray to the Lord of the harvest to thrust out labourers into the harvest field.’ It provides a handle for every local church in every region of the world to contribute to God’s initiative of our time. Ask how you can be involved.”

Why do we need 200,000 new missionaries? The need for more workers comes from every nation and every missionary fellowship. There are about 2,000 people groups, representing hundreds of millions of people, where the church barely exists or does not exist at all. Many of these are in the part of the world known as the 10/40 Window.

What kind of missionary force are we talking about? Most often a missionary is a person who leaves his or her own culture to bring the Gospel to the people of another culture. This may even be within his or her own country, which is the case with thousands of missionaries in India. Such persons may be “tentmakers” or full time workers in a missionary supporting role. George Verwer, Network Chairman and International Director of Operation Mobilisation, believes with all his heart that “the same Holy Spirit as in Acts 13 wants to send out workers now.”

Where do you go to find these 100,000 churches to send out 200,000 workers? Well, the following list will show that it is well within the capacity of the churches around the world. Some churches may have to join hands with other churches to send one worker while others by themselves may be able to send twenty workers.

Number of churches needed to send 200,000 mission workers:

Great Britain 5,000

Western Europe 4,800

Eastern Europe 5,000

Scandinavia & Finland 1,200

Mexico & Central America 5,000

South America 10,000

Canada 5,000

United States 25,000

Caribbean 1,000

South Africa 5,000

Rest of Africa 5,000

Indian Subcontinent 15,000

South Korea 5,000

Australia 2,000

New Zealand 1,000

East Asia Pacific 4,000

Rest of the World 1,000

Total 200,000

The Key to achieving the vision is you. The local church with a vision for the global harvest is God’s most potent means of bringing His good news to the ends of the earth. No church is too small, too large, too rich or too poor to be involved.

Here are some steps you can take to make ACTS 13 Breakthrough a reality in your church.

1. Wait on God in prayer.

2. Discuss a faith Goal for future workers.

3. Make the hard decision to do something specific.

4. Read key mission materials like “Serving as Senders” or “Operation World”.

5. Interview those who are praying or open to going.

6. Start a programme to raise the finance for this forward thrust.

7. Start ongoing training for those going and sending.

8. Contact sending agencies for advice and help.

9. Hold a missions conference.

10. Send! Romans 10:13-15.

The time to respond is now. May God raise up a mighty army of Mission Senders, Mission Mobilisers and Missionaries from the Church in Western Europe!

Please contact us for more information; for free books and leaflets to help you in your mission vision; and to be on our mailing list.

Chacko Thomas, Network Co-ordinator

http://www.ad2000.org/re00816.htm

Source: AD2000 and Beyond Movement

- - -

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.

To subscribe send an empty e-mail to:

subscribe-joel-news-international@xc.org

___________________________________________>>>

*ALLAHAD, INDIA: MAHA KUMBH MELA PRAYER INITIATIVE

>From: “victor choudhrie” <victor34@vsnl.com>

>From: Alex Abraham <agapeldh@usa.net>

Greetings in the precious Name of Jesus! We want to take this opportunity to share with you about a very special prayer initiative coming up in January and February. As you know, the Hindu world boasts over 700 MILLION people, 95% of whom reside in India! Our hearts have been deeply burdened for this massive group of precious but perishing people, who have been created in God’s image, but have no saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus. From the 5^th of January through the 28^th of February, 2001, the enormous MAHA KUMBH MELA festival will once again take place in Allahabad. During these weeks, 45 MILLION PILGRIMS are expected to descend upon Allahabad at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati Rivers. These devoted pilgrims will dip in the cold, muddy waters in search of blessing, protection and even salvation from their sins!

Our goal is to mobilize tens of thousands of believers from around the nation and the world to pray for a mighty outpouring of the Spirit of God upon our land, and to see millions of Hindu seekers of God entering the Kingdom of Heaven. We’re now identified with a number of key leaders whose hearts have also been moved to join us in focusing on long term church planting in the state of Uttar Pradesh, using the festival as a focal point. We’re networking, recruiting, sharing the vision, and believing that this 2001 Prayer Initiative will build on what was begun during the last Kumbh Mela initiative held in Haridwar in 1998. We’ve also sought to mobilize the international Body of Christ to pray, and we’re trusting for a much greater harvest and successful church planting efforts, particularly for the Himalayan state of Uttar Pradesh.

A prayer calendar is available in Hindi, English, Marathi, and Tamil. You are welcome to reproduce copies for your own distribution. A short 14 minute video has also been produced to promote prayer We want to work together to see the fulfillment of the Great Commission, to see the Gospel preached to every person in India, and to see the nation discipled!

Would you please consider promoting this prayer initiative with us? Pray with us as we ask the Lord of the Harvest to send forth laborers into this ripe harvest field, that we would witness the fulfillment of God’s promise in Rev. 7:9 that multitudes from every nation, tribe, people and language in India will stand with us before the Throne of the Lamb!!

Yours for the Great Harvest in India, Greg and Debby Wiley:

gdwiley11@cs.com

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*SUDAN: PASTORS USE BIBLES AND BICYCLES

>From: “Crosswalk.com” <newsletters@crosswalk.com>

Pastors in southern Sudan are “pedaling” the gospel, thanks to a gift of 30 new bicycles, the British-based Barnabas Fund (http://www.barnabasfund.org) reports. More than half of the 300,000 people in the Rumbek area of the country are Christian, but civil war in the largely Muslim land has left many of them destitute and seeking spiritual solace, according to Barnabas.

The $4,000 investment in bikes is helping ministers who were having difficulty serving their scattered congregations. Pastors had to walk long distances between their churches because the area has no public transportation and cars are a luxury. Many of the 286 rural congregations (up from 10 in 1983) went without seeing their pastor for months at a time, Barnabas reported. The bikes also help evangelists preach the gospel in villages that have no church.

A similar project in Tanzania gave motorcycles to two evangelists in the Singida region. The two men serve a population of more than 54,000 people, two-thirds of them Muslim, the Barnabas Fund reports. Ministry among Muslims is critical in the area, which is experiencing growing Islamic influence. But over the last eight years, church membership in one part of the eastern coastal African country has grown from 37,000 to 61,000, and many of the new believers came from Muslim backgrounds, according to Barnabas.

News from ReligionToday is Copyrighted by Crosswalk.com

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*PRAY NOVEMBER 6^TH FOR US ELECTIONS

>From: “liveprayer-host” <host@liveprayer.com>

Greetings in christ, we thank you for the nppn ministry and we are praying for increase and growth as you reach out to minister to pastors and leaders by networking,prayer events,strategic training,city evangelistic thrusts,implementation of pastors combined prayer,outreaches,the sharing of resources. God bless each and every one of your effectual endeavors for Christ. We are looking foward to the great response in our efforts to call forth one million prayer soldiers here at Liveprayer.com to commit to pray for revival in these United States of America as we approach the November 7^th 2000 Presidential Elections. Our joined effort to get the word out for those who desire to partner in one fo the largest “CALL TO PRAYER” in the history of many prayer calls. Please shre this with every Pastor, Evangelist, Teacher, Phophet, Apostle, Lay Minister, Parent, Man Woman, Boy, and Girl to open thier hearts and pray November 6^th 2000 and everyday leading up to, and continue after the elections. To sign-up, email:

BKELLER@LIVEPRAYER.COM and type in “ PRAYER”. WE are looking foward for

you to join in this prayer effort and be a true soldier of prayer to take

our children back,our families back, our cities back, our streets back, our

government back, our churches back by sounding a CRY of repentance,

revolution, restoration, renewal and revival. thank you in Christ’s

service Sincerely, Shane Brown

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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