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JOEL-NEWS-INTERNATIONAL-437 * 7 APRIL 2003 * WWW.JOELNEWS.ORG

IN THIS EDITION:

JN437-1. TYPICALLY GOD: Prayer opens village to the Gospel
JN437-2. NEWS BRIEF: Catholic nations in Europe uniting in prayer
JN437-3. NEWS BRIEF: European 'wells of prayer' spring up again
JN437-4. NEWS BRIEF: 24-7 in Indonesia
JN437-5. NEWS BRIEF: Hispanic churches in USA growing rapidly
JN437-6. NEWS BRIEF: Jewish call to repentance cautiously welcomed

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POLICY - Information about Joel News' editorial policy in relation to prophecies and copyrights is available at http://www.joelnews.org/editorialpolicy.htm.
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JN437-1. TYPICALLY GOD: Prayer opens village to the Gospel

More than a month ago, angry men severely beat and nearly strangled Gospel For Asia (GFA) native missionary Titus for trying to show a film on the life of Jesus to an unreached village in Jharkhand, India. But this has not stopped the Gospel from going forth. Just days after the incident, Titus bravely returned to try to get back the confiscated film equipment.

What happened next is unbelievable. After several meetings, the village committee returned the film equipment unconditionally and in good shape. The very men who said they wanted to crush Titus into powder are now eager to see the film on the life of Jesus. "Now, there is no opposition for our work in that village," writes a GFA field leader. "It happened because of the prayers of thousands who sincerely persevered in prayer for this situation. We believe and pray for a strong and thriving church in that village." Titus still suffers bodily pain from his beatings and is unable to ride his bicycle for long distances. But this has not stopped him from joyfully continuing his ministry to the unreached.

Source: Intercessors Network

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JN437-2. NEWS BRIEF: Catholic nations in Europe uniting in prayer

The European Prayer Link reports that a national youth prayer movement was started in Italy at the end of March. About 300 young people signed up for this 'prayer army'. In Spain many churches linked up to pray for the evangelisation of the nation. A 24-hour prayer chain is being promoted from March to September, to pray for each region of Spain and the evangelistic events taking place. In Madrid, prayer vigils are being held every last Friday of the month to pray for the city. In Belgium leaders and intercessors united in 'Pray4Belgium', a national prayer effort from 11 to 18 May (election day).

Source: EPL

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JN437-3. NEWS BRIEF: European 'wells of prayer' spring up again

Youth with a Mission just launched a year of non-stop prayer, involving all their bases in Western Europe. Young missionaries will be praying for an entire, unbroken year, linked together by the 24-7 matrix of 24-7prayer.com. Carl Tinnion, who is coordinating the year of prayer, writes: "This is a huge undertaking but one that we feel sure will turn our work upside down for Jesus. This could be a moment when the Moravian anointing of prayer and missions, which began in Europe 300 years ago and spread out to touch the whole world, comes home to roost with one of the world's largest missions agencies."

LINK: http://www.ywamconnect.com/sites/we24-7prayer

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JN437-4. NEWS BRIEF: 24-7 in Indonesia

Non-stop youth prayer movement 24-7prayer.com reports: "Prayer rooms spring up in some strange places, like schools, hospitals, police stations, airplanes, a sauna and even a brewery! Bases and offices are now resourcing people to pray 24-7 in Australia, the UK, Canada, Sweden, Germany, Spain and Japan. Newest kid on the block is Indonesia - the largest Muslim country in the world. In Indonesia a stadium prayer event is planned for May 16. More than 80,000 Christians will gather in Jakarta to pray unitedly for transformation. They will be encouraged to take 24-7 prayer back to their churches.

Source: 24-7prayer.com

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JN437-5. NEWS BRIEF: Hispanic churches in USA growing rapidly

Hispanics - Spanish-speaking immigrants in the USA are experiencing an awakening, reports the American Charisma magazine. Of the 40 million Hispanics (almost as many as the African American population), some 9 million describe themselves as 'evangelical'; of those, 70% consider themselves Pentecostal. The Hispanics are the fastest-growing ethnic group in the USA. "I see revival coming from the other side of the southern US border," says Jesse Miranda, Professor at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa. "Christian Hispanics no longer meet in dilapidated sheds in the wrong part of town; they are forming megachurches" such as the Templo Calvario Assembly of God in Santa Ana (6,000 members), the Adonai Christian Center in Queens, New York (which grew since 1988 from 60 to 1,900) and the Iglesia de Restauración Elim, a Pentecostal church in Los Angeles (4,200 members). Most of the growth of the evangelically-oriented churches is from people switching from the Catholic church.

Source: Charisma News Service

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JN437-6. NEWS BRIEF: Jewish call to repentance cautiously welcomed

Leaders in the Messianic Jewish community are cautiously welcoming a controversial move that is challenging Jews to repent for their historic sins. Although they recognize some might find the idea of a people who have suffered so much persecution asking forgiveness for their own wrongs hard to swallow, they say such an initiative could release God's blessing in a new way.

LINK: http://www.charismanews.com/a.pl?ArticleID=7331

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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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