| JOEL-NEWS-INTERNATIONAL-432 * 6 MARCH 2003 * WWW.JOELNEWS.ORG IN THIS EDITION: JN432-1. TYPICALLY GOD: God's Slam Dunk JN432-2. PRAYER FOCUS: World Day of Prayer, March 7 JN432-3. PRAYER FOCUS: Christians in Iraq JN432-4. NEWS BRIEF: Conversions along with persecution in India JN432-5. RESOURCE: The good news about generations X and Y JN432-6. RESOURCE: Addiction to internet pornography --- DONATE - Your donation helps us to serve the Christian community with high-quality news reports about what God is doing worldwide. Use our fast, easy and safe donation page: http://www.joelnews.nl/donation.htm. --- JN432-1. TYPICALLY GOD: God's Slam Dunk What does it mean to 'be the Church' outside of the traditional box? The following report by Mike Lyons is a good example: A 'slam dunk' is a demonstration that a player not only is competent in his game, but goes above and beyond, sailing through the stratosphere, driving home the end purpose of the game. Not only doing the right thing, but doing it in such a way that spectators are driven to their feet in ovation, and rookies are inspired to press forward even harder. Have you ever wondered what a slam dunk would be like for the church? We have them, and we need to hear about them more often. But be prepared, God's slam dunks might look different from what you might expect. The key verse for a slam dunk is: "But if anybody obeys his Word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in Him: whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did." (1 John 2:5-6) I knew something supernatural was happening when two families announced they were ready to leave the comfort of a large and diverse house church, and plant a new one. As we sat around the dinner table last week catching up on what God was doing with this new church, I heard the slam dunk, actually two slam dunks. And yes, I went to my feet in ovation! Slam Dunk #1 Christin was asking God to use her and show her who, in her network of influence, God was calling her to. It became clear as she learned one of her co-workers (we'll call her Julie) was feeling really down because it was her birthday. Christin found that Julie had no family, few friends and had never had a birthday party! The thought of yet another lonely birthday only reminded her of how alone she was. So... what did this new church do? They threw a birthday party for Christins friend! Slam dunk! No strings, no gospel presentations... just being Christ's body for another. (Remember: Jesus did a lot of significant things at parties.) Slam Dunk #2 It should be no surprise that Julie called Christin the following week and wanted to come to be with her new friends for Church (Julie does not yet know Jesus... just His body). Well, that morning as the small band of five gathered in the living room as the Church, the phone rang. It was Julie, in tears. She was not going to make it as she could not get her frozen garage door to open. And she really wanted to be with her new friends. What did the Church do? They jumped into their cars, drove 25 minutes to the next town and met as the Church at Julie's house. Not before fixing her frozen garage door though. LINK: http://www.house2house.tv --- JN432-2. PRAYER FOCUS: World Day of Prayer, March 7 On March 7 women from around the world will join together to observe the World Day of Prayer. The origin of World Day of Prayer, an international movement of Christian women, dates back to the 19th century when Christian women of the United States and Canada initiated personal prayer for women's involvement in missions. In 1926, they shared the day of prayer concept with women in many countries, and the response worldwide was enthusiastic. The next year, the call to a world day of prayer for missions became global. "Doors [previously] closed in specific areas of the world have been opened because people felt burdened to pray," said Cary Tidwell, U.S. Assemblies of God World Missions administrator, noting several new countries recently opened as mission fields. "This [development] is directly related to the church focusing on missions and praying specifically." The World Day of Prayer is held annually on the first Friday of March, and this year's theme is 'Holy Spirit, Fill Us'. LINK: http://www.worlddayofprayer.net --- JN432-3. PRAYER FOCUS: Christians in Iraq The Assyrian Universal Alliance is sponsoring a Worldwide Day of Prayer for the Christians of Iraq, on March 9. Prayer is especially requested for protection. LINK: http://www.anglicanmedia.com.au/news/archives/000613.php#more --- JN432-4. NEWS BRIEF: Conversions along with persecution in India The increasing antagonism towards Christians isn't stopping the spread of the Gospel in India. Pastor John Meador just returned from Andhra Pradesh, traveling with AMG International. Meador says equipping national pastors was the original focus. "But when we got there we discovered that they had expanded it to a Gospel meeting kind of format. A total of about 8,000 people came to hear about Jesus. We spent lots of time trying to dissuade them from making a decision if they were not ready to forsake all other gods. Still one thousand people made professions of faith." Meador says pastors and evangelists in India need prayer. "One night we had about 400 evangelists in a meeting and we polled them to find out how many of them actually had suffered any kind of physical persecution. And 25 to 30 percent of those pastors said, 'yes, I've got scars. I've had actual bloodshed take place because I'm preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.'" Source: Mission Network News --- JN432-5. RESOURCE: The good news about generations X and Y "Watch out, promiscuity! Out of the way, relativism!" Christianity Today editor Agnieszka Tennant held an interview with Colleen Carroll on her book 'The New Faithful: Why Young Adults Are Embracing Christian Orthodoxy'. Carroll says: "this may be one of the first generations where faith is such a conscious choice of the individual instead of something embedded in their family." So maybe all the bad things you heard about X and Y weren't all true after all. LINK: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2002/009/3.40.html --- JN432-6. RESOURCE: Addiction to internet pornography Recent research shows that over 30 percent of men in ministry is to some extent addicted to internet pornography. Are you addicted? Do this test to determine if you're addicted to online pornography. The website also offers plenty of articles on the subject. LINK: http://www.pureintimacy.org/online1/primary_test.html --- 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, Alex ten Cate and Marc van der Woude. You can contact the editorial office at joel-news@xs4all.nl. Joel News International is distributed weekly by e-mail on the basis of an annual donation. For more information see http://www.joelnews.org/donation-jni.htm#options. Has this bulletin been forwarded to you? Then subscribe directly by sending an empty e-mail to: subscribe-joel-news-international@xc.org. |
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