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JOEL-NEWS-INTERNATIONAL-414 * 16 OCTOBER 2002 * WWW.JOELNEWS.ORG

IN THIS EDITION:

JN414-1. TYPICALLY GOD: Simple people plant simple churches
JN414-2. PRAYER FOCUS: Buddhist beachhead in Europe (2)
JN414-3. NEWS BRIEF: Pentecostal churches grow fastest
JN414-4. RESOURCE: Export of Buddhism to the Western world
JN414-5. RESOURCE: Forty trends back to simplicity

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QUOTE - "The more you pray the more you want to pray, and the less you pray the less you want to pray." (Leonard Ravenhill)
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JN414-1. TYPICALLY GOD: Simple people plant simple churches

What do welders, taxi drivers, bakers, restaurant owners, artists, fishermen, students, lawyers and housemaids have in common in Guayaquil, Ecuador? "People from all of these walks of life plant churches," reports 'Commission' magazine. "It was easy to describe church growth in Guayaquil until July 2000," says Manuel Sosa, an IMB missionary: "In the preceding 40 years, one new church was planted each year." IMB, the world's largest missions agency with a staff of over 5,000, were looking for a new approach, because they wanted to see more people coming to Christ.

The group of missionaries prayed and discovered that a number of members of existing churches would very much like to plant new churches, but did not know how to start. Angel and Nancy Pincay were among them. "We'd been interested in doing that for 8 years, but nobody showed us how," remembers Nancy, a spice merchant who visits the small suburban shops every day, supplying them with spices. "In our church, we were always told to bring new people to the services. But that can be quite a distance, and the people think they won't fit in the church. We decided to start a house church with six interested people, who were all later saved. So far, we have baptised ten, and another five want to be baptised soon. House churches are starting in three places in the area."

"Our desire is to reach every neighbourhood in the city," says Carlos Pérez, student and church-planter in Guayaquil, "so we developed the 'La Iglesia en Tu Casa' programme ('The Church in Your House'). House churches give people the opportunity to experience a Christian church in familiar surroundings." "We developed a training programme, which we publicised via radio. Over 30 men and women attended a simple 34-lesson course starting in July 2000. Every student should start their first church after four weeks," says Ed Ridge, a member of the mission team. "That is a precondition, so that every participant can put what they learn into practice. After only one year, 75 new churches have been started, with more each week. It's like popcorn: every week, new house churches start without us even knowing about it. They're popping up like mushrooms..."

LINK: http://www.house2house.tv

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JN414-2. PRAYER FOCUS: Buddhist beachhead in Europe (2)

In our last edition we requested prayer for the Kalachakra for World Peace, a key initiation rite into Tibetan Buddhism that the Dalai Lama is performing in Graz, Austria, this week, October 11-23. According to church leaders in Austria and Germany the Dalai Lama wants to make Graz the pillar of a bridge for Buddhism into the Western world.

Christians in Graz are on the alert and are holding several strategic prayer and worship meetings. Franz Lippi, one of the pastors and prayer leaders in Graz writes:

"This weekend the Holy Spirit pointed me to a strategy to implement in this battle. It is a strategy the Lord gave to Joshua in conquering the city of Ai (Joshua 8). The Dalai Lama has assembled many of his key lamas in Graz in order to establish a big Buddhist altar in an for Europe. The basic Ai strategy was that Joshua took a certain smaller portion of his army aside, engaged the army of Ai in a main battle and while the engagement still went on, a certain portion of his army went into the city of Ai, took it and set the houses on fire."

"Now what I believe the Holy Spirit was pointing out to me is this: While we are engaging with the spirits and strongholds presently operating behind the Dalai Lama in Graz, we need to have reinforcements from the global prayer army in each of their regional areas of the world. If possible set aside a specific small portion of battle-hardened intercessors under the leadership of local, on the scene, Eph. 4 ministries. This small prayer army should target their prayers at local Buddhist temples (especially the main national Buddhist temples), setting their houses on fire in the Spirit (and in the Spirit ONLY). In doing so we will together cut off the spirit power supply for the lamas that have assembled in Graz to perform the Kalachakra. They will have 'confusion and distractions' come as like in the attack on Ai."

"I sense this prayer strategy against Buddhist temples and spirits should start on Friday October 18th. This is the day that the preparation ends and the initiation begins and should continue until the end of the initiation on Wednesday October 23rd. I feel that this timing will effectivly shut off any abiblity for them to regroup. I ask that you take this strategy before the Lord and seek Him for a witnness in the Spirit. We want to walk in biblical unity with the Body of Christ to see God's purposes fulfilled in these days, not just here in Graz, but around the world. As the Lord speaks to you, please respond to <lippi.franz@crossnet.at> so we are aware of those who are standing with us in this battle."

Source: Joel News

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JN414-3. NEWS BRIEF: Pentecostal churches grow fastest

A recent study reveals that the Pentecostal churches in the USA are among the fastest-growing, with a growth rate in double figures between 1990 and 2000. A New York Times article about 'Religious Congregations and Membership: 2000' shows the Assemblies of God to be the nation's third-fastest growing denomination, with 18.5% annual growth, having gained 2.6 million new members since the previous study in 1990. The research also showed that 'conservative Protestants' were generally growing in number, whereas 'moderate' and 'liberal' Protestant churches are losing members. The more liberal the church, the faster it is shrinking.

Source: New York Times

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JN414-4. RESOURCE: Export of Buddhism to the Western world

Helene Bos, a Dutch researcher, compiled an in-depth report on the spiritual dynamics behind the visits of the Dalai Lama, which is part of a strategy to export Tibetan Buddhism all over the world. By rituals like the Kalachakra in Graz high-ranking demons are invited to extend their rule over a certain area. And not just Europe: 100 US cities are targeted within the next 18 months.

The full report can be retrieved by sending an e-mail to lyris@xc.org with only this command in the body of your mail:

get joel-news-international bos-wheat-and-tares

Source: Joel News

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JN414-5. RESOURCE: Forty trends back to simplicity

Robert Fitts rethinks the nature and function of the Church and lists forty trends back to simplicity, like:

- From bringing people to church to bringing church to people.
- From church houses to house churches (simplify to multiply).
- From hierarchy to servant leaders (those who wash feet).
- From denominations to Spirit-led networks.
- From fear of stealing sheep to fear of possessing sheep.
- From building my kingdom to building His kingdom.
- From dependence on programs to dependence on prayer.

LINK: http://makeashorterlink.com/?T2FA32622

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COLOPHON

Joel News International is a leading special interest bulletin on prayer, church growth and revival. We offer a keen selection of the most encouraging news reports, the most challenging developments and the best resources from over 100 reliable sources in six continents. Joel News International is a great help and time-saver for thousands of Christian leaders and intercessors in over 120 nations.

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