www.joelnews.nl

JOEL-NEWS-INTERNATIONAL-483 * 17 AUGUST 2004 * WWW.JOELNEWS.ORG

IN THIS EDITION:

JN483-1. TYPICALLY GOD: The church and the chain saw
JN483-2. PRAYER FOCUS: Breakthrough in North Korea
JN483-3. NEWS: Drugs destroyed in Fiji revival
JN483-4. WEBLOG: That none should perish
JN483-5. RESOURCE: One Heart for the Nation

---
DONATION - Help us serve the Christian community with high-quality news reports about what God is doing worldwide. Check out the options at http://www.joelnews.org/donation.htm.
---

JN483-1. TYPICALLY GOD: The church and the chain saw

In order to follow Jesus and serve their community unconstrained by institutionalized religion, a group of Christians in New Zealand dismantled their church building. Wayne Jacobson reports: "As they walked in that day to the main meeting room they asked where they should begin. They all looked at each other and in the same moment said 'the pulpit!' With relish they sawed it in half, kept going across the stage and eventually dismantled the entire building and hauled it away to the trash heap."

In the nearly twenty years since, they have thrived in God's life together as his people in the community. It has not been easy, nor has it been without challenge, but many of them talked of how their relationship with God really began to grow when they removed the crutch the institution had become. Not having everything planned out for them anymore, they had to listen to God and do the things he put on their heart. They saw their fellowship with each other grow and became available to unbelievers in ways they never had when they were so busy maintaining their structure.

They saw some amazing doors open in the community. One man from the village was talking to one of the former leaders and said, "I feel like I can really talk to you now." By removing the baggage from the gospel that had alienated so many people, they found a new openness to share the gospel with others. True life is found in giving up, not in holding on, as we follow wherever God leads us.

LINK: http://www.openheaven.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/000341.html

---

JN483-2. PRAYER FOCUS: Breakthrough in North Korea

This week we pray for North Korea that is experiencing a present day holocaust. More than two million of North Korea's 22 million people have been purposefully starved to death by their president, Kim Jong-il. North Korea currently holds at least 200,000 of its citizens (including children) in political concentration camps. It is estimated that about 400,000 prisoners have died horrible deaths in these camps since they were established in 1972.

The Scriptures say, "This is the kind of fast day I'm after: to break the chains of injustice." (The Message, Isaiah 58:6)

Let's cry out to God for justice in North Korea. He hears, he stands, and he's ready to act. God is rallying men like Moses and women like Deborah who will hold the keys of his government and declare to North Korea's Pharaoh, "Let God's people go that they might worship Him."

LINK: http://www.nkfreedom.org

---

JN483-3. NEWS: Drugs destroyed in Fiji revival

Several years ago a revival broke out on the Fiji islands in the Pacific, as a result of united prayer and public reconciliation and repentance between tribes and churches. Lyle Shelton reports that one of the latest fruits of the revival is the voluntary destruction of millions of dollars worth of marijuana plants.

Nine farmers from the Draubuta Village destroyed their crop of 13,864 plants and 6,000 seedlings. With the help of a team of Christians, the villagers filled up the village green with plants. The farmers publicly repented and asked for forgiveness of the chiefs and elders. This was followed by burning of the marijuana plants and prayer from the Christian team to break bondages on the community as a result of this sin.

After farmers on Fiji's second largest island of Vanua Levu followed suit, the Attorney-General Qoriniasi Bale praised the drug destruction efforts in Parliament. The Fiji Sun reported that the farmers agreed to destroy their crops "after they were approached by local chiefs and a church pastor".

In another revival incident, this time at Nataleira Village, eight witch-doctors confessed publicly at a church meeting. This followed a foot washing ceremony involving Catholic, Methodist and Assemblies of God people. "This brought great release in people's lives," one observer said. "Artefacts were burned, the freedom in the people was unbelievable."

LINK: http://www.oneheart.com.au/art.asp?id=378

---

JN483-4. WEBLOG: That none should perish

Joel News publisher Marc van der Woude keeps a weblog in which he reflects on God, the Church and daily life. This week he read Ed Silvoso's 'That none should perish', an insightful and balanced book on how to reach whole cities (or areas) with the gospel. Silvoso stresses that breakthrough prayer, unity among leaders, evangelism and church planting have to be combined into one strategic approach.

LINK: http://marcsmessages.typepad.com/mm/2004/08/that_none_shoul.html

---

JN483-5. RESOURCE: One Heart for the Nation

One and half year ago Christian leaders in Australia united in a new network called 'One Heart for the Nation'. Their mission is to encourage the Church in Australia to discover and fulfill her God-given destiny. A free newsletter is being published five times per year with short articles about united prayer, church unity and encouraging stories of how Christian leaders in Australian towns and cities are working together.

LINK: http://www.oneheart.com.au

---

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.