www.joelnews.nl

JOEL-NEWS-INTERNATIONAL-436 * 7 APRIL 2003 * WWW.JOELNEWS.ORG

IN THIS EDITION:

JN436-1. TYPICALLY GOD: American POW's rescued
JN436-2. PRAYER FOCUS: 50 days of prayer for Israel and Muslim world
JN436-3. NEWS BRIEF: Iraqi Christians find strength under bombardment
JN436-4. NEWS BRIEF: 'Season of Repentance' urged over war
JN436-5. RESOURCE: Weighty questions about the war in Iraq

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IRAQ: The war in Iraq is drawing a lot of attention at the moment. Because we don't want other news to be pushed out, we will publish TWO editions this week, one about Iraq and another with our regular prayer and revival news.
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QUOTE: "When praying, don't give God instructions - just report for duty."
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JN436-1. TYPICALLY GOD: American POW's rescued

Two truck drivers, captured and paraded on television by Iraqi militiamen, have described the moment they were freed by British soldiers as a miracle. The two men were contracted to deliver food to US troops in Iraq, but they got separated from their convoy and were ambushed by around 20 Iraqi guerrilla fighters. They were held captive for 10 days, during which they were beaten and blindfolded.

Mr Kamau, 37, told reporter Nick Parker of The Sun: "I was sure we were going to die. I remember seeing a man with his finger on the pin of a grenade as they argued about whether they would kill us or not. David and I are both Christians and I said 'We must pray together for a miracle.' So we prayed and 30 minutes later the door swung open and there were two British soldiers standing there." They were tipped off that the pair were being held in a disused school in Al Zubayr, southern Iraq. "God must have given them the power to save us. It really was a miracle that they came."

LINK: http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-12278178,00.html

Family and friends of 19-year-old Army private Jessica Lynch, who was missing in action in Iraq for nine days, are crediting God with her dramatic rescue. They say Jessica was found alive and safe, partly due to the prayers of people from her tiny West Virginia town.

LINK: http://www.charismanews.com/online/articledisplay.pl?ArticleID=7426

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JN436-2. PRAYER FOCUS: 50 days of prayer for Israel and Muslim world

Tom Hess of the Jerusalem House of Prayer for All Nations is calling for a 50-day Jubilee Fast for Israel, the Arab Middle East and Indonesia, starting April 2nd, 2003 to May 21st, 2003. Prayer requests:

1. Pray that through the fuller shakings in the Middle East fuller salvation would be released to prepare the way for Isa. 19:23-25 to be fulfilled.
2. Pray for the fullness of the breakthroughs as we prepare for the 13th All Middle East Convocation of Jewish and Arab leaders, May 12th-15th, 2003. We expect 120 leaders.
3. Indonesia will also have a National Prayer Convocation on the same days, May 12th-16th, we are also standing with them for fullness of revival and for national transformation for Indonesia.
4. Through the shakings pray for the protection of Israeli and Arab believers living in Israel and throughout the Arab Middle East that the results of the war will do the most possible to advance/prepare the way for God¹s Peace Plan of salvation to be extended throughout the Middle East.
5. That Israel and believers worldwide will stand with God's covenant with the land and people of Israel.

Source: Jerusalem House of Prayer for All Nations

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JN436-3. NEWS BRIEF: Iraqi Christians find strength under bombardment

"Your prayers for us have made a difference and continue to lift our spirits," say Christians in Iraq even as they experience the bombardment of coalition forces. "The morale among people we have spoken to is higher than we expected," said a Christian in contact with the church in Iraq. "On Sunday, some of our friends went to church in the morning. During the Lord's Prayer, as they finished the words 'and deliver us from evil,' they heard a terrible explosion not far away. They know that God is with them, protecting and encouraging them."

One man said that at the beginning of the conflict, everyone in the congregation was feeling drained and worn down with fear, but as they felt God speaking to them, telling them to be encouragers for others, their strength returned, and they now feel stronger than they did before the war started.

Source: Compass Direct

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JN436-4. NEWS BRIEF: 'Season of Repentance' urged over war

Church and ministry leaders in the United States are calling for a nationwide 'season of repentance and prayer', as the war in Iraq reaches a critical phase. They want pastors to organize special prayer evenings seeking a spiritual awakening here and in the Middle East, protection for American servicemen and women, and salvation and relief aid for Iraqi citizens. Among the groups backing the appeal are the Mission America Coalition, the Global Pastors Network, Intercessors for America, Youth With A Mission and the Assemblies of God.

Their Operation United Prayer statement says that "the church is basically silent" in the war, and after a "largely lackluster response" to the 9/11 attacks "we now stand at another God-ordained moment for the American Church and the nation to repent of our sins and unite in prayer for forgiveness and divine help."

Source: Charisma News Service

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JN436-5. RESOURCE: Weighty questions about the war in Iraq

Last week Christian leaders in the Netherlands gathered to talk about the war in Iraq. Jeff Fountain, director of YWAM Europe, reports back and offers a focus for prayer.

LINK: http://www.ywameurope.org/news/word/readWord.asp

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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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