DAWN Fridayfax 1997 #16

DAWN News from Israel, USA, Malawi, Worldwide

Israel: Apocalyptic cow

In its edition on April 10 1997, the Jerusalem Post reports that "leading rabbinical authorities have confirmed that a 'red cow' has been born." Journalist Sue Fishkoff reports that 'red cows' are extremely rare: "This is the first red cow that has been born to Jewish farmers since the time of the temple, 2000 years ago." The Old Testament mentions a 'red heifer' in Numbers 19. "Many in Israel," the report continues, "believe that the birth of a red cow is a sure sign that the Messiah is soon to arrive. Other signs which are currently also believed to be significant are the Hale-Bopp comet and the unusual amount of rain which has fallen, promising a good harvest in Israel."
Source: Shmuel Ben Eliezer, The Jewish Press, 28.3.1997, Tel. (+1)-718-330-1100; e-mail: JPEditor@aol.com

Only 3,700 unreached people groups remaining

Justin Long, editor of the World Christian Encyclopedia, reports that there are only 3,700 remaining unreached people groups. David B. Barrett, president of the Global Evangelisation Movement, a mission research organisation which follows the development of world mission, has divided the world into three groups: the 'A world', the 'non-evangelised' world, consists of 3,700 people groups; the 'B world', the 'evangelised non-Christians', consists of 2,900 people groups, and the 'C world', the 'Christian' world, consists of 5,700 people groups. The exact details, according to Long, will be contained in the soon to be published second edition of the voluminous World Christian Encyclopedia. Long also mentions the 'Joshua Project 2000' in connection with the unreached people groups; this initiative is part of the AD2000 movement, and has the aim of "starting at least one church-planting pioneer movement with 100 or more Christians in one or more multiplying churches within every ethno-linguistic people group with more than 10,000 members by 31 December 2000", with which it will reach 1,739 of the 3,700 as-yet-unreached people groups.
Source: Justin D. Long, Managing Editor, Global Evangelization Movement, USA. Homepage: http://www.gem-werc.org,

USA: WindoWatchman II

CIN, the Christian Information Network, announced last week the long-awaited publication of the so-called "WindoWatchman II". According to CIN, the book contains "exciting reports from the prayer journeys made by groups taking part in the 'Praying through the Window II' initiative in October 1996." The 432-page book contains reports of experiences in the 10/40 Window, pictures, a brief history of the countries and a map showing the 100 so-called 'Gateway Cities'. It can be ordered for US$14.99 plus postage from: Christian Information Network, 11025 State Hwy 83, Colorado Springs, CO 80921, USA, including a cheque (check, for the Americans out there :-)) or credit card details.
Source and info: CIN, (In the USA, call toll-free to 1-888-PRAY-104). Fax: (1)-719-548-9000. E-mail 73422.3471@compuserve.com

Malawi: when the pastor doesn't say everything

"We were called to go to a child which we were told was seriously ill," says missionary Elisabeth Schassberge from Malawi". "We quickly realised that a number of family members were ill. After giving them some medical advice and praying for them, we left their house. A pastor in our mission team said to me 'God showed me a picture during the prayer time which seems to mean that the family is involved in witchcraft.' I asked him why he had not mentioned it before; he had been afraid to speak of the experience. We returned to the house and it turned out that the family had recently visited a witch doctor. They recognised that it was a sin against God, and burned the witch doctor's medicine in front of us."
Source: Elisabeth Schassberge, Malawi, e-mail 100517.1235@compuserve.com

USA: almost 15 million pray and fast for America

Alice Smith of the AD2000 and Beyond movement's prayer track reports that 14,892,484 people (as of the start of April 1997) have registered their willingness to fast and pray for America. Their aim: "Praying America back to God". Around 300,000 Christians from outside the USA also want to take part, says Smith. "This really is a historic moment for our nation," she says. "Over 46 denominations have joined hands for this prayer initiative, and many of them have never before worked together. I believe that God is calling Christians to take their place, and people in America are hearing his voice."
Source: Alice Smith, Fax (+1)-281-855-6540, e-mail: alicesmith@juno.com

Correction

Despite our best efforts to verify reports in the DAWN Friday Fax directly at their source, we unfortunately sometime receive reports which we must correct, when we receive more accurate information. On this occasion, we have received information from Rev. Susanta Patra in Calcutta telling us that our statement that the city's 6,000 rickshaws would be banned from the streets is not correct. Only Calcutta's rickshaw drivers will be able to decide whether that is good or bad news... Thanks in any case to Susanta Patra for the correction.

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