www.joelnews.nl

JOEL-NEWS-INTERNATIONAL-487 * 15 OCTOBER 2004 * WWW.JOELNEWS.ORG

IN THIS EDITION:

JN487-1. TYPICALLY GOD: The story behind 30,000 new believers daily
JN487-2. PRAYER FOCUS: Presidential elections in America
JN487-3. NEWS: Evangelism most effective among kids
JN487-4. WEBLOG: Rick Joyner on Europe
JN487-5. RESOURCE: Organic church planting
JN487-6. RESOURCE: Streams of living water

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JN487-1. TYPICALLY GOD: The story behind 30,000 new believers daily

"Many people around the globe have heard that China is experiencing a huge revival," writes missions agency Asia Harvest. "Some report 30,000 conversions every day. However, only few understand that the seeds for this great revival were laid by the blood of thousands of martyrs who paid a very high price to live for the Gospel. During the Boxer Rebellion, for example, over 30,000 Christians were killed. Could the 30,000 who are now saved every day be God's reaction?

According to observers of the Chinese church, the Boxer Rebellion just over 100 years ago was one of the formative periods in Chinese Christianity. In the summer of 1900, 188 foreign missionaries and 32,000 Christians were slaughtered, simply for being Christians. They were accused of being the lackeys of Western imperialists. One eye-witness wrote: "Wild mobs raged through the cities of northern China, plundering and torching churches and homes. They were led by bare-chested fanatics calling themselves Boxers, wielding long carved swords, demanding the heads and hearts of Christians and missionaries." George Ernest Morrison, a London Times reporter in Beijing, wrote: "When darkness fell, one could hear the most awful screams from the city, absolutely demonic and unforgettable. The Boxers screams of 'Sha kuei-tzu' ('kill the Devils') mixed with the screams of their victims and the moans of the dying. They massacred the local Christians, burning them alive in their houses."

In their book 'By Their Blood', James and Marti Hefley write that the worst massacres happened in the northern province Shanxi. The pregnant Lizzie Atwater and six other missionaries were hacked to death by policemen. Most missionaries decided to remain at their posts and endure whatever happened instead of fleeing to safety in the embassies in Beijing and Shanghai. Many Christians in the Provincial capital Taiyuan were forced to kneel and drink the blood of the many decapitated foreigners. For every foreign missionary killed in 1900, almost 200 Chinese Christians suffered the same fate. One Chinese man who initially denied Christ later repented, telling the Boxer leaders: "I cannot do anything other than believe in Christ, even if you kill me for it. I will continue to believe in and follow Him." He was beaten to death, and his heart was removed and put on display in the Mayor's office.

It was exactly this resoluteness and willingness to suffer that made many non-Christians stop to think. That was the seed which lodged in their hearts, causing them to wonder about the reason for the martyrs' incredible passion. And when they, or later their children, sought, they found it - Christ."

LINK: http://www.asiaharvest.org

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JN487-2. PRAYER FOCUS: Presidential elections in America

Just days before the Nov. 2 elections for the U.S. presidency, tens of thousands of Christians are expected to converge at the Mall in Washington D.C. later this month for an 18-hour prayer and fasting gathering for the nation. Scheduled for Oct. 22, America for Jesus (AFJ) will attract Christians from various denominations and regions who are concerned with the direction the country is heading, said John Gimenez, organizer of the event. More than 100 influential Christian leaders, including the National Association of Evangelicals, joined in.

Earlier this month Charisma magazine launched the Intercessory Prayer Initiative with the aim to recruit "a national army of prayer warriors who are willing to go to the front lines of today's spiritual battle, in order to see God's strategies and answers released into our nation and world as a result of our prayer."

Dr. Victor Choudrie, a church leader from India, announced that he and his team will raise one million intercessors in India to pray with the Americans "that only those candidates will be elected, who will help to usher the kingdom of God."

Let's focus special prayer on the U.S. presidential elections. Pray that believers will pray and vote for their values and not be apathetic. Pray that whatever the outcome, Christ will be exalted and his righteousness spring forth.

LINK: http://www.americaforjesus.org
LINK: http://www.prayerinitiative.com

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JN487-3. NEWS: Evangelism most effective among kids

Nearly half (43%) of all Americans who call themselves a 'born again Christian' accept Jesus Christ as their Savior before reaching the age of 13, and two out of three (64%) made that commitment to Christ before their 18th birthday. One out of eight (13%) made their profession of faith while 18 to 21 years old. Less than one out of every four (23%) embraced Christ after their twenty-first birthday. This is the outcome of a new study from The Barna Research Group, based on interviews with 992 born again Christians nationwide.

The survey data show that Catholics who become born again are even more likely than Protestants to do so before reaching high school. Barna also researched the means through which children, teenagers and young adults come to Christ, and how their faith is being expressed and valued later in life. He also noted some interesting differences between Hispanics and whites and blacks. As expected, personal relationships, are still the primary factor in evangelism, with a majority of salvation decisions coming in direct response to an invitation given by a family member or friend.

According to Barna "families, churches and parachurch ministries must recognize that the primary window of opportunity for effectively reaching people with the good news of Jesus' death and resurrection is during the pre-teen years. It is during those years that people develop their frames of reference for the remainder of their life - especially theologically and morally. Consistently explaining and modeling truth principles for young people is the most critical factor in their spiritual development."

LINK: http://www.barna.org

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JN487-4. WEBLOG: Rick Joyner on Europe

Joel News publisher Marc van der Woude keeps a weblog in which he reflects on God, the Church and daily life. This week he comments on Rick Joyner's recently published prophetic article on Europe titled 'Seeds of World War Three'.

"I recognise a number of Joyner's observations, but also feel a bit mixed about this word. Yes, Europe is deceiving herself with her political moralism, very much like America is deceiving herself with her patriotism and political pragmatism. Although we can and should learn from any perspective, I have to say I've read better articles from Rick Joyner. Prophecy is not the same as political and social analysis."

LINK: http://marcsmessages.typepad.com/mm/2004/10/rick_joyner_on_.html

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JN487-5. RESOURCE: Organic church planting

Church Multiplication Associates set up a website on 'organic church planting'. It's about applying natural and biblical principles for starting churches out in the good soil of lost peoples so that the churches emerge (super)naturally and reproduce. Organic churches are usually small reproductive churches that have a strong core value of multiplying new churches rather than growing larger. These churches meet wherever life happens - houses, offices, campuses, bars, restaurants, coffee houses and even parking lots.

LINK: http://www.cmaresources.org

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JN487-6. RESOURCE: Streams of living water

"God is inviting us to go on a journey into his heart and into the good life made available through Jesus," writes Richard Foster, founder of the spiritual formation and renewal movement Renovaré. He encourages Christians to develop a healthy balance in life by incorporating the six practices (or spiritual disciplines) seen in Jesus' life and the history of the Church. These are:

- contemplative: the prayer-filled life;
- holiness: the virtuous life;
- charismatic: the Spirit-empowered life;
- social justice: the compassionate life;
- evangelical: the Word-centered life;
- incarnational: the sacramental life.

LINK: http://www.renovare.org

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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.

Editor: Marc van der Woude. You can contact the editorial office at joel-news@xs4all.nl.

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