DAWN Fridayfax 1997 #13

DAWN News from South Africa, Burkino Faso, Europe, Malawi, India

South Africa: Evangelistic strategies for the African nations

A total of 9 tracks meet for the "Global Consultation on World Evangelism" taking place from 30th June to 5 July 1997 in Pretoria, South Africa, under the AD2000 banner. The conference organisers tell us that they have so far received confirmation that people from 71 countries will be attending. One track will be focusing on "church planting", led by Ross Campbell and South African coordinator Dr. Johan Combrinck, who is President of the mission organisation 'Africa Network Evangelism Task' (AFNET). AFNET is based on the DAWN strategy. The aim of the consultation is to encourage broad-based national evangelistic initiatives in each African country, with three aims:-
1. A church-planting initiative for the least-reached people groups (so-called Joshua Project Peoples);
2. A significant contribution to world mission, particularly in the 10/40 window;
3. A saturation church planting strategy with the aim of planting an active church within easy cultural and geographical reach of every person.
Some of the participants include Tockunboh Adeyemo, General Secretary of the Evangelical Alliance UK in Africa, Judy Mbugua, one of Africa's leading Christian women, and Bayo Faumunore, Executive Secretary of the "Evangelism and Mission Department of Association of Evangelicals in Africa".
Source: David Robinson; Dr. Johan Combrinck, AD2000 office for GCOWE '97; fax (27)-12-343-1167

Burkina Faso: 150 missionary couples sent out each year

The days have passed, in which the West sent out missionaries. "Mission from everywhere to everywhere" is the reality today. Burkina Faso's Jean Baptist Swadrago sends out 150 missionary couples each year, many of whom work in the almost unreached Sahel zone.
Source: David Robinson; Dr. Johan Combrinck, AD2000 office for GCOWE '97; fax (27)-12-343-1167

Europe: fasting and reevangelising the continent

Marcos Barros has one mission: he came to Europe from his native Brazil to experience revival here too. He believes that there is a direct relationship between fasting and revival. When he suggested a 40-day fast in England, 110 churches signed up in a very short period. Even now in the preparation phase, there are many reports of physical healings and conversions (see information at http://www.nwnet.co.uk/gonations). It has now been decided to hold the fast immediately following the March for Jesus, which will take place on Saturday 17th May 1997 in a number of countries. All European churches are now called upon to join the 40-day fast for Europe. The fast begins on 18th May 1997 and lasts for 40 days (6 weeks). Every participating church will pray and fast for 6 other European churches. Barros explains "this does not mean that every member of the church has to fast for 40 days, but rather that every person can take part; some fast every Saturday, some three days in a row, some stop eating solid food, some stop eating anything at all, some 'fast' from television. It is simply important that someone in the church is fasting on each of the 40 days." Any church can join the fast before 11th May by sending the name and address of the church and a list of between 5 and 10 prayer points to marcos@gonations.nwnet.co.uk (e-mail).
Source: Marcos Barros and Ron Kernahan, European Prayer Link, e-mail 100612.1353@compuserve.com

Malawi: when children can't sleep

Elisabeth Schassberge, a missionary in Malawi, reports: "One day, a 4-year-old child was brought to me; a pastor thought it was possessed. I wanted to check for myself, and soon found out that a cow appeared every night in the child's bedroom and knocked against the bed. The child was not possessed by a demon, just tormented and frightened. The following week, we visited the family. Standing in the room where the demonic manifestations took place, we told the demon to leave in Jesus' name. Since then, the child has had peace."
Source: Elisabeth Schassberge, Malawi, e-mail 100517.1235@compuserve.com

India: mass evangelisation and church-planting

P.P. Job, Indian director of "Tortured for Christ", an organisation which cares for persecuted Christians and distributes literature, has discovered another talent: evangelisation. "It's my hobby," he says. "Other people collect stamps or take part in some sport, but I organise evangelistic meetings." Job soon recognised that traditional methods are often have no long-term fruit and contribute little to church growth. He organised an evangelistic meeting in the twin towns of Hyderabad and Secundarabad from 7-9 March 1997, regularly attended by over 100,000 people. During the meetings, he not only called on people to follow Christ, but also encouraged them to follow the Biblical model of starting a house church in their own home. 37,000 people declared interest in starting some form of house church.
Source: Dr. P.P. Job, New Delhi, fax (91)-11-6855334; Shalem Raj, CONS India, Madras

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