DAWN Fridayfax 1996 #12

DAWN News from Cambodia, Norway, India, Belgium, Liberia

Angel in Cambodia

During the "Catch the fire" conference in Cambodia in December 1995, "many of the Cambodian Christians saw angels", according to the Basileia Vineyard church in Bern, Switzerland. Mike Hudgins, one of the speakers at the conference, remarked that "this is often an indication of particular activity in the spiritual world." Missionaries report that at the start of the year, the political situation in the country was very bad: King Sihanouk and the first Prime Minister were out of the country as the second Prime Minister, Hun Sen, appeared daily on television speaking for hours against Americans, French and foreigners in general.

Many Christians commented that "Hun Sen spoke in the spirit of Pol Pot". The evangelistic work of the Swiss evangelical church in Cambodia is remarkable: "5 years ago, five people prayed for God's leading in a hotel room in Bangkok. The next day, they met a Cambodian who opened the way for them to contact the government in such a way that they met the president of the Communist country three days later. He gave them permission to evangelise throughout the country and to send workers to Cambodia.

A broad church and social work began, led by an indigenous Christian, Sophal Ung, which has experienced many miracles, including a person being raised from the dead. Today, the fellowship in Pnom Penh has over 300 members, and around 20 churches have been planted in the provinces, each with between 20 and 100 members."

Source: Basileia Bern, Fax (+41) 31-3331519

A Viking converts - 1000 years on

In 995, over 1000 years ago, a Norwegian Viking prince came to England intending to burn villages and steal the women - but ended up doing nothing of the sort. He turned to Jesus in England and returned to Norway with the mission of challenging his country to become Christians.

1000 years later, Norway's churches are again taking up this call, for example with "Time for Faith", a long-term project organised by the Lausanne Movement. But that is not all: the British are again assisting the Norwegians in their mission.

Dr. George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury (Church of England), will probably be the main speaker at a national DAWN evangelisation congress from 2-4 September 1996 in Stavanger which will consider the long-term strategic re-evangelisation of Norway.
More from Norway

Norway: Lutheran bishops plan to plant churches

At least 3 of the Norwegian Lutheran Church's bishops already have concrete plans for planting churches in Europe's once most Christian country. Of the 70-80 percent of the population who once regularly attended church, only 10 percent remain. Bjorn Bue, bishop of Stavanger, plans to plant another 10 churches in his diocese alone. The churches will have a predominantly regional character.

Source: Bjorn Bue, Stavanger; Wolfgang Fernandez, DAWN, Fax (+44) 1734-412953

India: "Crying about the sin of the caste mentality"

Around 4,000 pastors and church leaders "repented for the sin of the caste mentality after a speech by 'Promise Keepers' founder Bill McCartney". "Two hours of weeping and crying" followed pastor Wellington Boone's call to repent during the 5-day conference in Visakhapatnam, India, according to the report.

The conference was a part of the Indian evangelist K. Anand Paul's plan to train 100,000 Christians in order "to plant 1.4 million new churches in the Asian part of the 10/40 window - in the next 5 years."

Source: NIRR 18 March 1996

Belgium: "Read for your life!"

The "first serious attempt at evangelising Belgian Flanders in 400 years" will start in the next few days, according to the "New Christian Herald". 12 Belgian churches from various denominations, together with the Belgian Evangelical Mission will start a concerted evangelistic action in St. Niklaas, northern Belgium, on 30 March, with the aim of reaching 750,000 people in 320,000 households.

Source: Jack Murray, New Christian Herald eps@XC.Org

Liberia: Politicians encourage Christian counselling

In west African Liberia, a country torn by war, "many Christians have again started to pray, and have experienced dramatic deliverances", according to the British mission agency WEC. "Soldiers repented of terrible deeds, and in some places a revival is starting amidst the misery."

Christine Norman, daughter of the ex-president Talbot, has invited "Freedom in Christ Ministries", led by Neil Anderson, for a conference in Liberia. The conference, led by Joe Wasmond (FICM), was attended by over 100 people from government circles, as well as other political and religious leaders.

According to the attendee's analysis, the reasons for the civil war are "immorality and demon worship". Following the conference, 30 people expressed their desire to follow Christ from then on. Liberia's previous interim President, Amos Sawyer, said "This is exactly what our country needs!" and promised to encourage more Christian counselling conferences in the country.

Source: WEC, Fax (+44) 1753-882470

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