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JOEL-NEWS-INTERNATIONAL-434 * 24 MARCH 2003 * WWW.JOELNEWS.ORG

IN THIS EDITION:

JN434-1. TYPICALLY GOD: Angels protect mission station
JN434-2. PRAYER FOCUS: Constitution for European Union
JN434-3. NEWS BRIEF: Soldiers in Iraq turn to God
JN434-4. NEWS BRIEF: Biggest evangelistic outreach in Europe
JN434-5. KINGDOM DEVELOPMENT: Reformation of finances
JN434-6. RESOURCE: Youth Arise in Australia and South Pacific

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ANSWER TO PRAYER - Every week Joel News publishes a strategic prayer focus. The Lord often answers the prayers of his people in a special way. This time Phil Davies of the Sporting Marvels project in Wales reports back.
LINK: http://www.joelnews.nl/answerstoprayer.htm.
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JN434-1. TYPICALLY GOD: Angels protect mission station

Hans and Martina Schuhwerk, missionary pilots in Papua New Guinea, write: "A while ago, security at our mission station was a real problem. Again and again, cars full of armed men drove in and threatened people. One day, they decided to steal our finances, reckoning on a large sum. They had already boasted about the booty they would bring home before leaving their villages. In the evening, though, they went home frustrated at their lack of success. They tried several times to carry out their plan, and always failed. Angry, they told people that the office was protected by huge guards, and that they didn't dare to try to steal anything. However, we never posted guards! They must have seen angels blocking the way."

Source: Friday Fax

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JN434-2. PRAYER FOCUS: Constitution for European Union

The European Convention, set up on 28 February 2002, is preparing a fundamental reform of EU policies and institutions that should lead to the adoption of a new EU Treaty or an EU Constitution in 2004. The Convention should produce a blueprint for an EU Constitution in June 2003. Then, an Intergovernmental Conference of EU Member States will be convened to adopt the Constitution. The Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi would like the new treaty to be concluded under his presidency at the Rome Summit in 2003.

This month the Convention planned two extra sessions to deal with the huge amount of amendments (over 1,000), dealing with such controversial issues as the mention of religion and God, and the word 'federal' in the future EU Constitution.

This Constitution is very important for the future of Europe. Let's pray that it will reflect God's principles for life, and that the Holy Spirit will direct the political leaders involved in the Convention.

LINK: http://makeashorterlink.com/?H2E252FC3 (EU documents)
LINK: http://www.pnpmi.com (prayer for European Union)

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JN434-3. NEWS BRIEF: Soldiers in Iraq turn to God

Many American soldiers are reportedly seeking to find peace with God, as the United States launched its long-awaited war against Iraq last week. According to The Christian Science Monitor, armed forces personnel stationed in Kuwait, near the Iraqi border, "are turning to prayer to deal with the fear of death and of the unknown, anguish over the possibility of killing others, and the sheer stress of the war effort."

Calling it 'spiritual battle proofing', Paul Yacovone, Army chaplain of the 3rd Infantry Division, said he hopes to instill soldiers a lifeline to God that can pull them through the confusion and horror of the battlefield. He encouraged troops to pick up "rapid-deployment kits" in Ziploc bags, which contain camouflaged copies of the New Testament. Col. Douglas Carver, a chaplain in Camp New Jersey, Kuwait, said his 90-day supply of Bibles was just about gone, hours before the war officially started.

After a Protestant service last week in a Kuwaiti base close to the Iraqi border, Albert Martinez, a Marine from Sunnyvale, Calif., was baptized in his uniform by a Baptist chaplain in a makeshift baptismal pool built from sandbags and plastic sheeting.

LINK: http://www.charismanews.com/a.pl?ArticleID=7403

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JN434-4. NEWS BRIEF: Biggest evangelistic outreach in Europe

The biggest evangelistic outreach in Europe this year was launched from Essen, Germany, on Sunday, March 16. For one week ProChrist meetings were transmitted live via satellite to 1,304 venues in 17 countries. The German organizers estimate that more than 1.5 million people will attend the local meetings. ProChrist is backed by a coalition of Christians from mainline and evangelical churches. At the end of the first meeting 3,000 came forward to profess a new found faith in Jesus Christ.

LINK: http://www.prochrist.de

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JN434-5. KINGDOM DEVELOPMENT: Reformation of finances

A growing number of Evangelical Christians question the financial practice of churches where through a system of tithes and offerings most of the resources are used for 'maintenance' (pastors, programs and church buildings). How about the poor and 'apostolic' ministry (reaching the unreached) they ask. Have we been interpreting what the Bible says about finances correctly? Shouldn't we call for a reformation of finances in today's Church and a return to justice? Joel News collected the most outspoken articles on this subject.

Mission Frontiers: strategic giving
LINK: http://www.missionfrontiers.org/2001/03/200103.htm

Apostles, widows and finances
LINK: http://www.house2house.tv/issues/issue6/trueapostles.shtml

Beyond tithes and offerings: a closer look at traditional giving and its impact on Christian responsibility
LINK: http://www.ontimepub.com

SheepComics: the 10 percent solution
LINK: http://www.sheepcomics.com/strips/percent/percent.htm

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JN434-6. RESOURCE: Youth Arise in Australia and South Pacific

Youth Arise is a growing prayer movement in Australia and the South Pacific, drawing thousands of young people. Youth Arise is currently spreading to Nepal, Kenya, Ghana, Libya, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu and PNG.

LINK: http://www.youtharise.com

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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, Alex ten Cate and Marc van der Woude. You can contact the editorial office at joel-news@xs4all.nl.

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