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JOEL-NEWS-INTERNATIONAL-425 * 14 JANUARY 2003 * WWW.JOELNEWS.ORG

IN THIS EDITION:

JN425-1. TYPICALLY GOD: Healed by turning on the tele
JN425-2. PRAYER FOCUS: Archbishops Summit in Latvia
JN425-3. NEWS BRIEF: 'Homeland Security' Prayer Initiative
JN425-4. NEWS BRIEF: 24-hour prayer in Russia
JN425-5. RESOURCE: Seven contradictions in the American Church
JN425-6. RESOURCE: World Prayer Team

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QUOTE: A Harvard study reveals that couples who 1) read the Bible together regularly; 2) pray together regularly; and 3) attend church together regularly have a divorce rate of 1 in 1287 -- that's less than 1/10 of 1%. (http://www.marriages.net)
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JN425-1. TYPICALLY GOD: Healed by turning on the tele

Dorothea and Erich Reber, a young Swiss couple, visited the USA in Autumn 2002. Dorothea was pregnant, so they were both worried when she started suffering strong stomach pains after drinking something. She was unable to eat for days, and then had a severe migraine. Her condition deteriorated, and they were about to go to hospital when Erich suddenly had the impression that he should switch the TV on. "At first, I wondered what my wife would say when I told her that God told me to switch on the TV at midnight! But I did it," he says. "We saw a well-known TV evangelist," says Dorothea, "and the first person he prayed for stood up out of his wheelchair - but I thought 'not everyone in a wheelchair is paralysed'. After my first critical thought, the evangelist suddenly turned to the camera, saying 'A woman called Dorothea is watching! You're watching the programme for the first time. You have severe stomach pains and a migraine. God will now touch you and heal you!' And so it was - the pains left me that night, and I could eat again," she says.

Source: Friday Fax

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JN425-2. PRAYER FOCUS: Archbishops Summit in Latvia

Today and tomorrow the Catholic and Lutheran archbishops, the Baptist bishop and other senior church leaders of Latvia will gather for 40 hours of prayer and fellowship. 12 praise and intercession teams are giving back-up to the event. Over the past few years substantial unity has grown between church leaders in Latvia, and more and more the Church is able to take a clear stand on strategic issues, also speaking into the political field. But this is not an easy process - the enemy is trying to disturb communication and unity.

Please pray for this important prayer summit, that the Lord will have His way with the participants. Pray for strong unity among the church leaders and for protection and wisdom for Levi Graudins, the brother who facilitates the prayer summit.

Source: Joel News

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JN425-3. NEWS BRIEF: 'Homeland Security' Prayer Initiative

Prayer movements across the United States are rallying support for a major prayer effort intended to keep the country safe from terrorist attack. The Homeland Security Prayer Initiative urges Christians to unite in 91 days of concerted prayer, through April 1. Launched by Ministry to the Nations (MN), the effort has been endorsed by a wide range of groups, including Intercessors for America, Aglow International, the Messianic Jewish Alliance and Global Advance.

"Since the tragic events of 9/11, the increase of terrorist activity worldwide and the possibility of war, it's time for the church in the United States and beyond to sound the alarm," said MN founder Jim Goll, a former pastor who teaches internationally on prayer and prophetic ministry. The aim is to "call forth a Holy Spirit Border Patrol Guard of angelic protection all around the entrances of our nation -- our seaports, airports, landmarks, large public gatherings, waterways and sources, military installations," he added.

LINK: http://makeashorterlink.com/?J49A21413

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JN425-4. NEWS BRIEF: 24-hour prayer in Russia

"God's will for his Church is to become a house of prayer for all nations. And like there is a non-stop 24-hour worship and prayer 'movement' before God's throne, we believe God wants to have similar altars of worship, praise and prayer in every nation of the earth," writes Marek Slansky of the 'Russian House of Prayer'. "There are already more than 130 nations in which 24-hour prayer movements have been started. On 1 January 2003 also Russia will launch non-stop prayer. We challenged the Russian churches of our Association to choose one day per month to fast and pray, and then divide that day into one-hour prayer slots, so every hour someone is praying. We believe that the prayer chain will please our Lord and will prepare our churches for a new outpouring of His Spirit, and our cities and nation for revival."

Source: Russian House of Prayer

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JN425-5. RESOURCE: Seven contradictions in the American Church

Researcher George Barna presents some of the key findings from his 2002 studies. "In looking over all of the studies we've released, one theme seemed to run through many of them: contradiction," says Barna. The seven contradictions he wrote about in this report include:

- The Commitment Contradicion. Barna suggests that many Americans may have fallen in love with faith rather than the object of their faith. "It's much less demanding to be devoted to the idea of faith than to invest yourself in a true relationship with the living God."

- The Truth Deception. Almost everyone in America believes that truth exists. However, a large majority of both adults and teenagers, Christian and non-Christian, contends that there is no absolute moral truth. More than two out of three adults and more than four out of five teenagers argue that truth is always relative to the individual and the circumstances.

- The Deception of Effective Leadership. Most pastors are content with the way things are going in their ministry and think they are doing an excellent job. "However," says Barna, "the research reveals that few congregants have a biblical worldview, half the people the pastors minister to are not spiritually secure or developed, kids are fleeing from the church in record numbers, most of the people who attend worship services admit they did not connect with God, the divorce rate among Christians is no different than that of non-Christians, only 2% of the pastors themselves can identify God's vision for their ministry or church, and the average congregant spends more time watching television in one day than he spends in all spiritual pursuits combined for an entire week."

LINK: http://makeashorterlink.com/?U27B32413

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JN425-6. RESOURCE: World Prayer Team

The World Prayer Center in Colorado Springs launched a new initiative: the World Prayer Team, made up of thousands of believers around the world, will take up the burdens of thousands of others who send in their requests. The use of real-time internet technology will ensure that prayers are offered immediately, as soon as the need is entered on the website. Confidentiality will be ensured for people who must remain anonymous because of religious or family persecution.

LINK: http://www.worldprayerteam.org

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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.

Editors: Branko Bjelajac, Adriaan van der Hoeven and Marc van der Woude. You can contact the editorial office at joel-news@xs4all.nl.

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