DAWN Fridayfax 1996 #19

DAWN News from Lebanon, England, Cyprus and Nepal

Spiritual openness in Lebanon

According to conservative estimates, over 10% of Lebanon's population had to leave their houses because of the battles during the past weeks. International diplomatic and aid efforts were hesitant, but according to OM's Trevor Gregory, "This cannot be said of the Christian churches in Lebanon. The current situation has brought the churches and ministry organisations closer together to serve the refugees. One organisation interrupted all of its own programmes and is focusing on assisting refugees. "Operation Mercy" alone is helping 2000 people each day, by distributing blankets, food and sanitary items. Workers in the aid programme report that the people are very open for the gospel and that there are more and more opportunities to speak and pray with people."

Source: Trevor Gregory, 100616.657@compuserve.com

Methodists on fire

Rachel Hickson was one of the 25 permanent intercessors during the 1995 "Challenge 2000" conference in Nottingham, England. During a prayer time led by Faith Forster (Ichthus, London), a red flag was passed around, "representing the fire of the Holy Spirit", according to one of those present. Rachel was the last to receive the flag and took it up to the podium, where she gave it to a man she did not know.

As she did so, she felt that she had received a prophetic word for him: "God wants to reignite the fire in the Methodists, and many pastors and evangelists will be again touched by God." The man, Graham Horsley, represented the English Methodist church at the conference. During the Methodists' recent Easter conference in April 1996, the reaction was like a revival as Horsley called the around 2,000 pastors and leaders present to allow themselves to be equipped for evangelisation and church planting. He now leads a group in the Methodist church aiming to plant 600 new churches by 2020.

Source: Wolfgang Fernandez and others. Fax (+44) 118-9412953

Christian television for the Middle East

On Friday, 31st May 1996, a new Arab-language TV programme will be transmitted for the first time. The programme, called "SAT-7" will be transmitted from wide-beam transponder 37 (11.575 GHz, vertical Polaritat, Eutelsat) between 12:30 and 14:30 Central European Time. Many Middle Eastern church leaders support SAT-7, which is operated by a private non-profit organisation based in Cyprus.

The programme is planned to consist of a one-hour 'magazine', a family programme and a Christian film. Following a one-year trial period, SAT-7 plans to transmit daily. The aim is to provide a unique alternative to other television programmes available in the Middle East, to strengthen the faith of the region's Christians and to support traditional family values.

Source and info: SAT-7, Fax (357) 2-361040, Post: P.O. Box 6760, CY-1647 Nicosia, Cyprus

Acts 2 in Nepal

A small YWAM team visited Nepal and Bangladesh from 24 March to 13 April 1996. During their evangelism, they experienced phenomena which, according to their report, "The team had never experienced on this scale. During one evening meeting, the team offered to pray for their listeners, including many children from the surrounding villages. Many of the children were touched by the Holy Spirit and fell to the ground, where they had wonderful visions of a garden, the cross and Jesus. Some even had adventures in which they were part of the scene. One girl, for example, saw Jesus coming from heaven and giving her new clothes before inviting her to walk with him in a garden.

Another girl fell down and began to sing. "In our team," according to one of the members, "there was a Nepalese student who had studied in Korea. He told us that the girl was singing 'Jesus loves me' in Korean. Later, the girl, who was completely illiterate and had never attended school, started to sing the same song in English.

"The events attracted many more children and adults the next day, many of whom were Hindus. Everyone wanted prayer, and many fell down, cried, repented of their sins or saw visions, then excitedly told their friends and family what had happened, encouraging them to also go to the prayer meetings. Many people had questions which reminded us of Acts 2."

Source: Herman Arentsen, 100306.3556@compuserve.com

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