DAWN Fridayfax 1996 #31

DAWN News from USA, Islamic World, Russia

Behind the scenes in Atlanta

A number of Christian mission organisations were active behind the scenes in Atlanta. 4,500 young people were involved in Youth With A Mission's projects alone; in total, around 11,000 Christians came from some 100 nations to evangelise in Atlanta. According to YWAM leader Lynn Green, 1,500 came from Korea alone. YWAMers had some special experiences:

High-yield Gatorade: A number of YWAM's evangelists had a hard time because of the temperatures in Atlanta. According to the project leader, Matthew Nocas, and local prayer coordinator Laverne Campbell, a particular wonder happened: a doctor found that the level in the 1-gallon (3.8 litre) 'mega-bottle' of Gatorade, an American thirst-quenching drink, was simply not decreasing as he handed cups out to thirsty people. In all, between 50 and 100 people received a drink before the level started to drop.
"Do you have Jesus?": A visitor from Hawaii arrived at Atlanta's airport and went straight to YWAM's information stand, where he asked one of the staff "Do you have Jesus?". According to the report, he was saved on the spot. His mother told him on her death bed "I'd like you to get to know Jesus".
A prostitute is saved: A prostitute went to one of the YWAM's staff and asked "Can you pray for me? I can't find anyone who wants to. I'm a prostitute, and was raped last night. I'm also 4 months pregnant, and my pimp wants to kill me." She collapsed as they prayed for her, and apparently decided to become a Christian on the spot. The YWAMers arranged a safe place for her where she could eat and live.

Source: Matthew and Lea Nocas, Project directors, Tel. (+1)-770-455-0870; 71501.2111@compuserve.com

Moslems inspired by the 'Reconciliation March'

Lynn Green, head of Youth With A Mission in Harpenden, England and one of the initiators of the 'Reconciliation Walk' following the route of the Crusades, reports that the march is making good progress. "Our message is well received wherever we go," he says. "An Imam who received the team in his mosque in Cologne had promised to send the message to 350 associated mosques. When we again visited him, he told us that he had sent it to 600 others. One YWAM member was in a park in Vienna, Austria, where between 3,000 and 4,000 Moslems were meeting. She heard a speaker saying 'On the first Sunday in April, Christians visited our mosque in Cologne to ask for forgiveness for the Crusades. The time has come for us to also admit and ask forgiveness for our historical mistakes.'"

Source: YWAM, Lynn Green

Russia: prayer stops hasty communists

Members of an evangelical church in Cherloc, Siberia, had to run the gauntlet of strong attacks from the nationalist organisation ROD (Russian Peoples United). The church had been planted by YWAM and a church in Omsk during a two-month evangelistic mission. One member of the team remained in Russia to help build up the church. According to the pastor, many communists assumed that the July Presidential elections between Zyuganov and Yeltsin would be decided in their favour, and started putting their supposedly certain victory into practise before the elections. The church was attacked and labelled as a sect on local television, and local officials had been bribed to close the church, which asked for prayer for their situation. We then received the following report: "Following prayer by many Christians all over the world, the situation began to change. One member of the ROD started shooting in his own office, which gave rise to appropriate headlines in the newspapers. Another member, owner of a large oil refinery, was convicted of channelling money from his company to the ROD in order to promote his own aims. The organisation also used blackmail to gain control of the local TV station, which is now back in the hands of its rightful owners. One newspaper brought the headline 'God's anger against the ROD'."

The church leadership says that the situation brought greater unity amongst its members. Around 25 of them have started praying beneath the most important road bridge leading into the town; the police, local Mafia and many passers-by have asked them what they are doing, to which they reply "We're praying for our town."

Source:YWAM Eintroa (Norway), fax (+47) 724-91861; ywam.eintroa@interlink.no

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