| JOEL-NEWS-INTERNATIONAL-471 * 26 MARCH 2004 * WWW.JOELNEWS.ORG IN THIS EDITION: JN471-1. TYPICALLY GOD: "What do you have that I don't?" JN471-2. PRAYER FOCUS: Comfort and salvation in Spain JN471-3. NEWS: Continent of Africa uniting in prayer JN471-4. NEWS: Passion movie brings in 2,500 new members JN471-5. NEWS: Planting churches by adopting children JN471-6. WEBLOG: Exploring the contemplative life --- PASSION - http://www.passionofchrist.nl DAILY NEWS - http://www.passionofchrist.nl/blog.htm --- BATTLE OF EUROPE - http://www.joelnews.org/prayer.htm --- JN471-1. TYPICALLY GOD: "What do you have that I don't?" Catholic priest Stephan Schmidt was on a routine visit to the hospital. An 87-year-old woman from his parish was dying, and wanted to see him again. She thanked him for his sermons, through which she had reached the decision to give her life to Christ three years earlier. "I know where my journey takes me," she said. She died three days later. Witnesses report that her death was peaceful, and that she was looking forward to seeing heaven. "Jesus, Jesus!" were here last words - "her sermon in death", as Schmidt says. A few days later, Schmidt's telephone rang; one of the clinic's doctors called, because he had never seen anyone die so peacefully. "What did this woman have which I do not?" he asked. "I can tell you exactly what it was," said Schmidt, inviting the doctor to a church service in the area. During the service, which included prayer for the sick, the doctor was himself healed, to his great surprise. The service, the healing and his conversation with Schmidt made such an impression on him that he decided to give his life to Jesus while driving back home with Schmidt. He was in such a hurry to do it that he stopped on the side of the road with his warning lights on. Suddenly, a Police car pulled up behind them. The officers checked the car and their papers, and asked what they were doing on the verge of the road so late. "Praying!" they answered. The Police were suspicious, so tested Schmidt and the doctor for alcohol - the result was of course negative. Before they left, the doctor told one of the policemen, "Young man, I hope you too will someday experience something as wonderful as I have this evening!" A few days later, Schmidt's telephone rang again. This time, it was the policeman, who asked "Listen, what did the doctor have which I do not?" "I can tell you exactly," said Schmidt, and invited him to the next service. The policeman came, along with his girlfriend. "It is amazing what repercussions a peaceful death in Jesus can have!" says Schmidt. Source: Friday Fax --- JN471-2. PRAYER FOCUS: Comfort and salvation in Spain Christian leaders in Madrid request prayer for Spain as the nation is slowly recovering from the terrorist bombings of March 11. "Let's pray for peace, forgiveness, hope and conversions, not only among the assassins, but also among the family members and friends that have lost loved ones." Evangelicals are running prayer stands in the train stations that have been affected by the bombings, to offer a word of comfort, spoken or written, to the people that come to put candles or pray for the victims. The Salvation Army also did a wonderful job. From the very first moment they were in Atocha with blankets and help for the wounded. When the authorities saw the service they were providing, they gave them freedom to help in whatever way they could. The question that most people ask is 'Where is God in all of this?' Different initiatives are being prepared to take advantage of the premier showing of 'The Passion of Christ' on April 2, as an appropriate moment to let people know that so much passion and suffering has it's redemptive purpose. Let's pray for this timely initiative as well. Source: Conference for the Evangelization of Spain --- JN471-3. NEWS: Continent of Africa uniting in prayer On May 2, 2004, all 58 nations and islands linked to the continent of Africa will meet for prayer in well over 950 stadiums and other big venues throughout the continent. This was reported to Joel News by Benny Mostert, director of the South African prayer movement NUPSA. It all started three years ago when a business man in Cape Town, South Africa, saw the Transformations video. He called together the pastors in Cape Town and challenged them to bring their people for a day of prayer and repentance in the city's Newlands Rugby Stadium. On 21 March, 2001, some 45,000 people came to the stadium for four hours of prayer and worship. Since then, amongst other things, the crime in the city has dropped with more than 45%. In 2002 it started to spread throughout the country: eight stadiums were involved with some 160,000 people coming. In 2003 the whole thing moved into Africa. In South Africa 77 stadiums were used for prayer meetings and another 62 in 28 African countries. Some 700,000 people were praying in the stadiums with another 5 million linked through radio and television. This year on May 2 there will be prayer meetings in all 58 nations and islands linked to the continent of Africa. With still 40 days to go, already over 950 venues/stadiums have been registered. This does not include 13 nations where people will not be able to gather in stadiums, but will meet in house groups, churches and other venues. In South Africa alone thus far 250 stadiums have been registered. "We want to call on Africans all over the world to have a prayer meeting in the city or town where they are living right now and to join us in prayer for Africa," says Mostert. "A 10-minute prayer is available that will be prayed all over Africa at 15:00 h, GMT+2. This prayer can be e-mailed to people interested. It is available on the website www.transformationafrica.com in 13 languages used in Africa." "We have confirmation from groups in the UK, Canada, New Zealand, Belgium, Sweden and other places that will join us in prayer for Africa. All this is helping to prepare the way for the Global Day of Prayer on 15 May 2005, Pentecost Sunday. Source: Joel News --- JN471-4. NEWS: Passion movie brings in 2,500 new members Rick Warren reports that the Saddleback Church gained 2,500 new members in the few days after the release of Mel Gibson's movie 'The Passion of the Christ'. Warren, along with other pastors in the USA, held church services in rented cinemas. Many visitors remained weeping in their seats, and needed to talk. Robby Dobbs of the Second Baptist Church in Houston speaks of 'hundreds of conversions'. The church had not only reserved several thousand cinema tickets, but also started a series of three sermons about Christ, titled 'Who, Why, What?' Churches in other nations are picking up on this style of evangelism. In Essen, Germany, the owners of Germany's largest cinema allowed churches to speak for 20 minutes after each showing. Christian Alliance groups in various cities are planning how they can evangelize with the movie, reports Swiss missiologist Marco Gmür. Source: Friday Fax --- JN471-5. NEWS: Planting churches by adopting children An American couple has planted more than 5,000 churches in Mozambique, while ministering to thousands of AIDS orphans in the African nation. Rolland and Heidi Baker say they've come to know the love of God more keenly through the suffering orphans they minister to daily. Since starting Iris Ministries in 1995, the Bakers say they have seen the lame walk, the blind receive sight, the deaf gain hearing and even the dead raised to life. Explosive church growth of approximately 5,000 churches across Mozambique and into the neighboring nations of Malawi and South Africa, as well as 14 other countries has reportedly accompanied these miraculous signs and wonders. "There's such desperation for Jesus in these countries," she says. "We go to where there aren't any other churches, into the darkness." The Bakers, who have two children of their own, hope to see every pastor they train adopt between one and 10 orphans so they can demonstrate the fatherly love of God to the children. "We take such delight in training these pastors, in seeing their hearts set free from their life's disappointments and seeing them filled to overflowing with God's love," Rolland Baker says. "That love can't help but spill over to the children they adopt." Missiologist and researcher Justin Long says the power of the Bakers' strategy is its potential to multiply the ministry's impact. "The test will be whether their spiritual children do the same thing," Long says. "Success could be 2,000 little 'Iris Ministries,' each started by an orphan cared for by the Bakers, each in turn raising up a few thousand spiritual children of their own. That would have a profound impact." Source: Charisma News Service --- JN471-6. WEBLOG: Exploring the contemplative life Joel News publisher Marc van der Woude keeps a weblog in which he reflects on God, the Church and daily life. This week he explores the contemplative life with Henri Nouwen. "Discipline is the human effort to create the space in which God can be generous and give you what you need." LINK: http://marcsmessages.typepad.com/mm/2004/03/exploring_the_c.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. Editor: 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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