DAWN Fridayfax 1995 #15

News from Uruguay, Belgium, Switzerland

Spiritual Warfare In Uruguay

Uruguay, once considered for many years a cemetery for missionaries because of the apathy of the people toward any spiritual things and where 33 percent of the population claimed to be atheist, is now turning 180 degrees, unfortunately, toward a dismal spiritual reality.

One of every seven Uruguayans participates in Afro-Brazilian religions. These cults have resulted in a massive cultural expression that designates the month of February to worship and honour Lemanja on the entire coast of Montevideo, said an article published in Guambia magazine.

The article cites that 450 thousand Uruguayans were practising Lemanja by 1991. The author of the article, Maria P. de Gramuglia conducted a study about this phenomenon and discovered the following facts:

Approximately 60 out of every 100 Uruguayans participate in the rituals. These represent labourers, housewives, students and professional.
Most recently these cults have extended to the middle and upper classes, but it is in the poor sectors where they are multiplying speedily, especially in those terreiros (territories) consecrated to the African gods. These African cults are attracting people under 50 like a magnet. A census revealed that 64 percent of the people attending umbandistas temples were between the ages of 26 to 50. Of this group, 65 percent had primary education, 26 percent secondary, and 8 percent post-secondary education.
Between 1975 and 1985 the umbandismo reached young people between 15 and 25 years old.

The worship of Lemanja or Yemanja is rooted in an Afro-Brazilian cult that is a mix between umbandismo, witchcraft, Catholicism and spiritism. Lemanja is considered by her followers as the mother of the water and queen of the seas, maker of the gods of the war, storms, harvest, lightening, rain, iron, roads and hunting. She is the best known god of the African pantheon and the nymph of the Ogun river. She receives offerings of cooked corn, rice, sheep and legs of white hens. She detests the colour red and lives in the deep waters of the seas, and is characterised as a good dancer.

One of the reasons, Maria says that Lemanja has thousand of followers, is because the sect focuses on the here and now, contrary to traditional religions that focus on eternity. They present themselves as guides and offer support for any solution that daily life brings, including health, family problems and an effective life. In the midst of this phenomenon, since 1991, God has raised a group of Christian pastors and lay people that have committed to going to the beaches of Montevideo every February to confront the people with the Gospel and expose the darkness with the light of the Gospel. It is much like when Elisha confronted the prophets of Baal in The Old Testament.

The first encounter was in 1991 when a group of pastors decided to spend the night during the rituals of Lemanja. That night the pastors formed a small group and with a small speaker start to shout out very loudly in song and praise where the followers were conducting their rituals. People in the Lemanja side started to feel interested and curious about this loud group singing about Jesus and about His once and sufficient sacrifice that He made for all the human race.

Pastors drew a line in the sand and prayed to the Lord so that any person that chose to cross that line could be freed and saved by the power of the Lord. Almost all night they were carrying on people that fell down after they crossed the line. That night many people came to know the Lord in a supernatural experience. This, of course, angered the leaders of Lemanja. They began to target these pastors and sent sacrificed animals to their churches and homes. The life of many of them were threatened. But the pastors did not give up!

By 1992, priests of Lemanja recieved permission from the city government to raise a statue of Lemanja. Not only was permission granted, they financed it as well! Last year, the group of pastors gathered again to continue the spiritual war against Lemanja. Though they had the same experience of the past years, a powerful thing happened that confused the priests, the people, the media and I believe the same demons!

The last day of the festival of Lemanja was celebrated on the beach and after midnight, people sent their offering to Lemanja leaving their offerings in the water so that the sea would receive the offering. The pastors prayed that God would change the direction of the sea so it would not receive the offerings. By five in the morning all the offerings that were sent to Lemanja ended up on the beach! The media reported that something very unusual had happened. When the media interviewed the priests they said that Lemanja was very upset and they blamed the pastors for this.

Source: Bernardo Salcedo, Dawn Ministries, Colorado Springs, USA

Brussels: Pregnancy tests and paintbrushes

Generation X, as the Americans call the generation born between 1961 and 1981, is going through hard times in Belgium. A huge number of young women were sexually abused. More than half had working mothers, and many feel that they were sacrificed on the altar of their parents careers. Therese Hofmann, leader of a Christian youth movement, says, "They are disappointed, but searching for meaning for their lives and for valuable relationships in which they can feel safe."

In Brussels, Belgium's capital, a Christian centre which Hofmann leads is now trying to address Generation X's problems by offering friendship, conversation, pregnancy tests and simple practical assistance, for example in renovating apartments. Since the centre "Living Alternative" was opened last March, 200 women and girls have come for the pregnancy test alone.

"The unconditional assistance offered by the centre has touched many people and saved the lives of many babies. We have experienced," says Jan Piet de Visser, YWAM's national director, "that an entire family was changed and restored."

Source, and information about how to start such a centre: YWAM, Therese Hofmann, Fax (32) 2-7325236

Switzerland: "Pastors" and "Nuns" evangelise carnival-goers

Several young Christians from Baden/Wettingen (Switzerland) used this years Fasnacht (a traditional carnival) as an opportunity to evangelise. Disguised as pastors and nuns, they mingled with the carnival-goers. They offered to pray and bless everyone who spoke to them, an offer which 30 people accepted.

One was so moved that he wanted to know more about Jesus and decided on the spot to follow him. Contact with other people was also made. André W. about his involvement: "We did it all with pure motives. For that reason, prayer in advance was so important. All in all, it was worth it."

Source: Reinhold Scharnowski, FAX (41) 33-337364

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