| JOEL-NEWS-INTERNATIONAL-486 * 8 OCTOBER 2004 * WWW.JOELNEWS.ORG IN THIS EDITION: JN486-1. TYPICALLY GOD: 'Spiritual readings' draw hundreds to Jesus JN486-2. PRAYER FOCUS: Lausanne Forum on World Evangelization JN486-3. WEBLOG: Developments in Portugal and Spain JN486-4. RESOURCE: Simple Church JN486-5. RESOURCE: SMS is the message JN486-6. RESOURCE: The power of connecting --- JN486-1. TYPICALLY GOD: 'Spiritual readings' draw hundreds to Jesus A non-denominational group of Canadian Christians discovered that a prophetic word can change a life forever. The group set up an 'Angels Booth' at trade shows and fairs in Edmonton and Calgary with the theme 'Free Spiritual Readings'. The basic idea was that visitors of the fair could receive a prophetic word as the Christians prayed for them, and so experience that God cares for them. This way of 'prophetic evangelism' has proven to be quite successful. Coordinators Lorne and Rita Silverstein report that in July 2004 1626 people received Jesus at the 10-day Klondike Days fair in Edmonton, Alberta. "Many of them filled out follow-up cards with phone numbers, and a good number of them joined an Alpha course. Many people were touched, especially the 12-18 year olds. Some youth came back to give thanks and brought evidence that God has been working in their lives." Many visitors came in groups and were seated together at a table to receive Jesus. Some brought their friends the next day to get saved. Three generations of Sikhs accepted the Lord together, grandparents, parents, and grandchildren. The organisation is overseen by a dozen churches and pastors from the region. LINK: http://www.openheaven.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/000353.html --- JN486-2. PRAYER FOCUS: Lausanne Forum on World Evangelization Last week 1700 Christian leaders from 127 nations took part in the Lausanne Forum on World Evangelization in Pattaya, Thailand. This key strategy consultation on the challenges of world missions was held for the third time (first one was in Lausanne in 1974, second one in Manilla in 1989). The organisation asks prayer for the 31 Issue Groups who have to present their findings and action plans, and for effective follow-on and implementation as the participants return home and stay in contact with one another. This week the International Prayer Council also holds a global leadership consultation in Thailand, ending October 9. Let's pray for them as they make important decisions regarding their part in the international prayer movement. Pray for God's guidance, anointing, unity and especially for His glory to be revealed. LINK: http://www.gospelcom.net/lcwe/2004/index.htm --- JN486-3. WEBLOG: Developments in Portugal and Spain Joel News publisher Marc van der Woude keeps a weblog in which he reflects on God, the Church and daily life. This week he reports on a recent trip to Portugal and Spain. In Portugal the churches boldly adopted a long-term DAWN strategy to plant 2,700 new churches before the year 2015. In Spain the global roundtable of the 24-7prayer movement showed there is a multiplication of prayer rooms in many nations, and also a strong interest in so-called 'boiler rooms': permanent prayer rooms which are also places of community, pilgrimage, training and social action. LINK: http://marcsmessages.typepad.com/mm/2004/09/index.html (scroll to 20-24 September and 28 September-2 October) --- JN486-4. RESOURCE: Simple Church Dawn Ministries set up a website on 'simple church' models, a way of doing and being church that is so simple that any believer can work with it. It's the kind of church that is described in the New Testament, that is based on family-life and a desire to extend the Kingdom of God. A church that listens to God, follows his leading and obeys his commands. According to Dawn Ministries this is one of the keys to saturation church planting because only that which is simple can multiply rapidly and organically. They also invented an acronym, BELLS, to walk through the concept of 'simple church': B is for Blessing, E for Eating, L for Listening, L for Learning, S for Signs and Wonders. LINK: http://www.dawnministries.org/regions/nam/simplechurch/index.html --- JN486-5. RESOURCE: SMS is the message Church planting consultant Andrew Jones writes about Mobile to Screen technology. Phone messages can now appear in your church meeting. Imagine a prayer meeting in a room with people around the world texting in short prayers from their phones. People in the pews can add their 2 cents to the message and it gets shown on the screen. Jones humorously remarks that most common SMS's to make the big screen will probably be: "Amen, preacher" (Baptist SMS) "Help him, Jesus!" (Pentecostal SMS) "More, Lord" (Toronto Vineyard SMS) "The Hebrew text says otherwise" (Seminary Geek SMS) "Grey BMW - your lights are on" (Willow Creek SMS) "Little Jonny just crapped his pants" (Sunday School Teacher SMS) LINK: http://makeashorterlink.com/?H33D15B79 --- JN486-6. RESOURCE: The power of connecting 'The Power of Connecting' is the title of a new Kingdom collaboration resource site, and offers inspiring ways for God's people to work together. How to develop durable networks and partnerships to reach and serve your neighborhood or around the world? LINK: http://www.powerofconnecting.com/index.htm --- 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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