DAWN Fridayfax 1996 #36

DAWN News from USA, India, Ghana, Uganda, Zimbabwe

USA: From witches' cauldron to mission centre by townhall decree

"Only 15 years ago," according to Colorado Springs missionary and ex-businessman Mike Steele, "Colorado Springs was full of witches' centres, occult activity and spiritists seeking to communicate with spirits on the lonely peaks of the Rocky Mountains. The increase in spiritist activity was so great that the Colorado Springs City Council decided to do something about it. One of the protocols of their meeting contains a statement which is rather unusual for Western local politicians: "The spiritual darkness in Colorado Springs is probably connected with the presence of demonic powers."

This diagnosis is followed by a logical suggestion for treatment: "If the problem is in essence spiritual, so must be the solution." The council could not think of anything except strengthening the position of the enemy of their supposed enemies: "If Satan is the Head Demon, Jesus Christ is his opposite number," they said, and hence decided to deliberately offer financial incentives to encourage Christian organisations and mission agencies to move to their town in the hope that "the presence of Christ will drive away the clouds of darkness."

Mike Steele: "The rest is history. An increasing number of Christian organisations accepted the invitation. Since then, not only have the churches grown significantly, but there are now almost 100 Christian organisations in the town. Most of those organisations, such as Global Mapping, AD2000, DAWN Ministries, Every Home Crusade etc., concentrate on plans for world evangelisation."

Source: Mike Steele, FAX (1)-719-548-7475

India: pharmacist healed of Leukaemia

Sunder, a pharmacist in Madras, India, grew up as a Brahman and knew nothing of Jesus Christ. At the age of 30, he was diagnosed as suffering from Leukaemia. The doctors saw no hope of recovery, and Sunder was soon unable to leave his bed. Shortly before his expected death, he had an unusual experience: he saw his two white angels carry his spirit out of his body on a sort of stretcher and place him on a table. Lying there, he could see nothing other than a very bright light, and heard a voice say "I am Jesus." That was all. Immediately, he felt his spirit return to his body.

He sat upright in his hospital bed and astonished his relatives by proclaiming "Jesus is Lord!" and starting to remove all the needles and pipes from his body. The doctors and his relatives assumed he was delirious and had lost his mind. Sunder, however, insisted that he was healthy and wanted to go home, so the doctors, unable to do anything else, tested his blood again. To their complete surprise, they found no more indications of Leukaemia and could do nothing but release him from hospital.

Sunder then decided to become a Christian, married a Christian woman and now lives with his two small children south of Madras. He has not had any relapse since the event and continues to work in a pharmacy.

Source: Sadhu Chellappa, 15 Sivakami Puram, 1st Cross Street, BBC Enclave, Block H House B, Madras 600041, India

Ghana: hundreds of churches founded in previously unreached people groups

In 1993, Christian leaders in Ghana met to discuss how they could cooperate to systematically plant a Christian church in every village and area in which none yet existed. Ross Campbell, a missionary from New Zealand who was in Ghana, reports that around 400 churches could be planted in some previously unreached people groups in southern Ghana in the last 3 years.

Source: Ross Campbell, Johan Combrinck, AFNET FAX (1)-408-249-7774

Uganda: where there's a vision...

Uganda's Full Gospel Church of God reports that they are experiencing rapid growth. In the 7 years since pastor Joseph Kagorama took over the church, it has grown from 340 to 32,000 members. Reports also say that the church has planted dozens of daughter churches. The secret? "A man with a clear vision," according to pastor Peter Thomas. Pastor Joseph invested most of his $350 monthly pay in planting new churches.

Source: Pastor Peter Thomas, Johan Combrinck, AFNET, FAX (1)-408-249-7774

Zimbabwe: Cooperative evangelisation movement on course A study conducted recently in Zimbabwe shows that 2,000 churches have been planted in the country since the 1992 planning conference "Target 2000" in Harare. 400 of the country's Christian leaders met and agreed to work towards doubling the number of evangelical churches from around 10,000 in 1992 to 20,000 in the year 2000. "The developments to date," according to AFNET (Africa Network) coordinator Johan Combrinck, "show that the churches are on the way to achieving their high aim." Source: "Target 2,000", Richmond Chiundiza, Johan Combrinck FAX (1) 408-249-7774, e-mail 100076.2414@compuserve.com

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