DAWN Fridayfax 1996 #20

DAWN News from Sudan, Algeria, England, Bosnia and Nigeria

Sudan: great openness for the gospel

The government led by General Al-Bashir intends to systematically turn Sudan into a Moslem country, but according to church leaders, the great openness for the gospel in northern Sudan is continuing. Simply after showings of the Jesus film, which 3.21 million people saw in Sudan last year, 1.62 million - slightly over 50% - showed great interest in Christianity. Most churches are growing and, following a pastors' conference in May 1996, have decided to work together more closely in systematically evangelising the country.

Source: Name and address withheld.
More from Sudan

Sudan: Moslem Imam converts

An Islamic teacher and priest (Imam) in Sudan told us that he converted to Christianity at the end of 1995. He told us nobody in the community has yet challenged his decision "because they all know me and are well aware that I understand Islam very well; they realise that I must have good reasons for converting." Following his example, other Moslems have also converted, and he has been leading another group of Moslems who want to learn more about Christianity. "The principle is amazing," he said. "Before my conversion, people recognised me as an Islamic Imam, now, after my conversion, I still have the same position, except I am a Christian Imam."

Source: Name and address withheld

First Christians among the Sahrawis

In 1975, the old Spanish colony of Western Sahara was invaded by the Moroccan army, which now controls 90% of the area. Only 40,000 members of the Sahrawi, the local population, came under Moroccan government; the other 150,000 fled to Algeria, where they live in refugee camps. In 1995, at the AD 2000 conference in Korea, a Spanish team lead by Paco Garcia decided to "spiritually adopt" the Sahrawis and take responsibility for evangelising this previously unreached people group. A missionary was sent out shortly afterwards, who recently reported that the first Sahrawi had been baptised and that two others had been saved - the first known Sahrawi Christians.

Source: Paco Garcia, FAX (34) 56-535951

England: Pastor healed of a nervous breakdown

The pastor of one of Britain's largest Methodist churches suffered a nervous breakdown out of the blue on 12th December 1995. Extended treatment brought no relief to the man, who is in his mid 50's. On the Thursday after Easter 1996, his doctor finally advised him to take early retirement, which was a great disappointment to the church members. But then things started to change. First, the pastor had a dream: "I saw myself climbing up a steep slope, but I kept slipping back on the wet ground. Halfway up I saw a ledge on which a number of people were standing. Whenever I reached them, they would push me back down - I simply could not pass them. Suddenly, I felt as though I was being supported, and managed to reach the ledge and pass the apparently powerless people on my way to reaching the top. There I heard a voice telling me 'I have healed you'." It was 5 a.m., so the pastor got out of bed, sat in the garden for an hour, made himself some tea, examined himself and then told his wife of what he had experienced. The doctor is puzzled, and the pastor has resumed his duties in the church, which was very happy to have him back.

Source: Name and address withheld

The gospel among Moslems in Bosnia

According to a member of staff at the mission agency 'Frontiers', a new Christian church in Sarajevo has grown from 5 to 40 members in the last 10 months. The report says that over half of the believers come from a Moslem background. In the 90% Moslem industrial town Tuzla in northeastern Bosnia, 300 Moslems visited events during an evangelistic week organised by a small church.

Source: Frontiers, FAX (41) 71-8585758

Nigeria: driving without petrol

We have received the following report from Nigeria: "Our driver told us 'Every night, people are killed here.' As he said this, our car stopped: we had run out of petrol! The driver repeated 'This is a very dangerous place!' Two women walked past and said to each other 'They'll be killed if they stay here all night!' As I heard this, I called to God: 'God, please help us and protect us.' Suddenly, our driver said 'The engine works again!' The car started and we drove 35 miles without any petrol. I said 'God really does the impossible!' As soon as we were outside the danger zone, the car stopped again, this time very close to a filling station. However, it was a Friday, when all Nigerian filling stations are closed. For some reason, though, this one was open. I'm convinced that God heard and answered my prayer."

Source: S. Jones, Nigeria, from: SOON, Willington, Derby DE65 6BN, UK

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