JOEL NEWS INTERNATIONAL 628  |  5 FEBRUARY 2008 IN THIS EDITION: 1. Russia: finding Christ in the terminal 2. Hawaii: businessman commits 51% of profits to transformation 3. Kenya: simple churches spread amidst continuing violence 1. Russia: finding Christ in the terminal In Steven Spielberg's movie 'The Terminal', an eastern immigrant called Victor (Tom Hanks) finds himself stranded in JFK airport, and takes up temporary residence there. Something similar happened in Moscow ariport recently, where missionaries Brian and Ingrid met a woman called Elizabeth. Elizabeth was forced to live at the airport, having had her passport and ticket stolen. They shared Jesus with her and asked two Canadian friends to look her up as they would also travel through Moscow airport. Steve and Marilyn Hill, the Canadian friends, relate: "We did so and began to take her food, Bibles and books. Elizabeth has been living in the airport since September of 2006, but is not complaining. She views this has her time to encounter God and learn about Jesus. We have baptized her at the airport by placing her under her blankets and raising her up to newness of life in the resurrected Christ. Last time through Moscow we also baptized a young man that Elizabeth led to Christ in the airport! He was from Eritrea and would probably face jail time on being returned to his country. The authorities almost had to drag him away from Elizabeth. He was pleading with them for more time with her so he could learn more about Jesus!" "Today we talked with Elizabeth and learned that she has spent the last three days sharing with a man from Sudan. He has been so hungry for more of Jesus that he has refused to use the meal tickets he has been given, as this would take too much time away from his personal Jesus seminar. Elizabeth is rejoicing over God using her to 'send missionaries to the nations' from Moscow airport!" Source: Steve and Marilyn Hill 2. Hawaii: businessman commits 51% of profits to transformation A conference just hosted by Transformation Hawaii, a local branch of the International Transformation Network, brought together leaders from churches, business, government, education, sport, and Hawaiian cultural affairs to share and promote a vision of radical Christian transformation in Hawaii. Keynote speaker Ed Silvoso laid out this vision in terms of five paradigms: 1. We are called to disciple nations, not just individuals. (Matt. 28:18-20) 2. The marketplace, which is the heart of the nation, has been redeemed and now needs to be reclaimed. (Luke 19:10) 3. Every Christian is a minister, and labor is worship. (1 Tim. 2:1-8; Acts 20:34-35) 4. We are called to take the Kingdom of God to where the gates of hell are for Jesus to build His church. (Matt. 16:18) 5. Nation transformation must be tangible and the premier social indicator is the elimination of systemic poverty. (Gal. 2:10) Key 'points of inception' or gateways for transformation are: business, education, the church, government, sports, the family, and local culture. Speakers in each of these areas described how the vision of nation transformation is being realized in practical ways in Hawaii.  Prominent among these is Francis Oda, who is active both in the pulpit and the marketplace, as senior pastor of New Life Church in Honolulu, and chairman of Group 70 architects. His plans include a new company which will dedicate 51% of profits towards the elimination of poverty in Hawaii.  Source: Charles Bagwell, ITN 3. Kenya: simple churches spread amidst continuing violence John White of the House2House network reports that "scores of simple churches have been planted by the Kenyans in their own country and in surrounding countries." But last December widespread violence broke out in Kenya as the result of the disputed presidential election. Thousands have been killed, hundreds of thousands have lost their homes. White reports that many of the simple church planters have been deeply affected. One of them, Isaac Cheduke, reports: "So far since you left us I and my wife Colleta had managed to teach and multiply our Nakuru house church membership to thirty houses which has a total number of 100 people. From these houses being the meeting points, people were being mentored to go and begin more house churches and continue multiplying in other surrounding areas." "It's unfortunate for us that in our process of the Good News spreading calamity has befallen us. All of us are displaced and our houses looted from, our businesses closed down, our women and girls raped, our members killed. Right now as I speak we need to bury ten of our members killed in this violence. Some of us have received death threats, but in the camp where we are, we have learned to stick together as a family. We pray together, read and discuss the word, sing praise and worship songs. We share our experiences and put all our trust in God. Ten families have now joined us right in this camp." House2House is currently mobilizing help for the simple church networks in Kenya. Sources: John White, Greg Strand, Isaac Cheduke C O L O P H O N The book of Acts is still happening today! Joel News International offers a weekly high-quality selection of the most inspiring stories on the advance of God's Kingdom in six continents. Joel News International inspires thousands of active Christians in over 120 nations. More information: http://www.joelnews.org/frontpage.htm.  Joel News International is published on the basis of an annual donation. Did you receive this copy from a friend? Sign up yourself and receive Joel News International for a full year in your mailbox: http://www.joelnews.org/subscribe.htm. 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