DAWN Fridayfax 1998 #36

News from Nicaragua, USA, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Worldwide

In this issue:
In Nicaragua, even the children preach
277 nations: Blessitt takes cross to them all
USA: Religion protects youth from drugs
Afghanistan: Preparations for one-time openness
Pakistan: Rain stops during evangelistic event

In Nicaragua, even children preach

Three 12-year-old boys who recently attended a child care group run by the Assemblies of God in Managua, now regularly preach in revival meetings in Christian churches, according to a report. One of the children already has his own weekly radio programme. "We believe in the power of God to save. There are people in our country who need salvation," says the boy. "God gives us the courage to preach, so we do." "Imagine asking a boy what he will do during his holidays, and receiving the reply 'I'm going to preach in revival meetings'!" says the AoG's Byron Klaus.

Source: Religion Today, 15 September 1998

277 countries: Blessitt carried the cross to them all

Arthur Blessitt has achieved his goal of carrying the cross to every nation.

Since 1967, 57-year-old Blessitt has carried his 4 meter long wooden cross through 277 countries, islands and territories, according to the news agency Ecumenical News International. He was able to visit North Korea, his last country, on 1 September. In his 30-year pilgrimage, he covered 32,580 miles by foot, was once in front of a firing squad, and was arrested 24 times. He crossed 49 countries in a state of war, and walked through Poland with 70,000 other people. Billy Graham joined him on one stretch of his journey, and Pope John Paul II invited him to Rome. Blessitt has naturally been entered in the Guinness Book of Records for his 'longest journey by foot in the world'.

Source: Ecumenical News International

USA: Religion protects youths from drug addiction

Youths who regularly take part in religious events such as church services are much less likely to take illegal drugs, and smoke and drink less, according to a study published by Columbia University's "National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse" on 1 September 1998. Only 13% of the teenagers between 12 and 17 years old who attended church services 4 or more times per month smoked marihuana, compared with 39% of those who attended church less than once per month; only 8% of children who regularly attend church smoke, compared with 22% of non-churchgoers; only 19% of churchgoers had drunk alcohol in the previous month, compared to 32% of the non-churchgoers. Joseph Califanio, President of the research institute and ex-Health Minister, says "Religion is a key factor in teaching our children moral values, and giving them the ability to say 'No' to illegal drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. This gives America's ministers an important role. It also means that parents who take their children to church at an early age have a strong influence on whether their children become addicted to drugs or other substances in future." "This result stands to reason, because Religion has a certain culture-preserving function," says the Baptist Drug Advisor Barrett Duke. The study also shows that children who consider religion important tend to listen more to their parents' advice in important questions than to friends, who have more influence on children who do not value religion.

Source: Baptist Press

Afghanistan: Preparations for a one-time openness

"God does nothing before telling his servants, the prophets," says Amos chapter 3. Erich Reber, a prophetically gifted Swiss, recently saw a 'vision': "Trucks filled mainly with young men drove through mountainous country to Afghanistan. The sides of the trucks could be opened, and when they arrived, the youths jumped out to take the villages for Jesus. It was like the invasion of Brittany during World War 2. It will be like a spiritual lightning strike; the opportunity and openness will last only for a short time. Healings will play an important role in this movement, which will spread like wildfire. It will not start in Kabul, the capital, but in small villages." Reber understands this as a call to Christians all over the world to prepare for a short evangelistic opening in Afghanistan. "Christians," he says, "should be ready, so that they do not miss this historic opportunity. Now is the time for mobilisation, and Christians would be well advised to send observers in now."

Source: Erich Reber

Pakistan: Rain stopped during an evangelistic event

During Spring this year, an event unique in Northern Pakistan took place: up to 2,500 people per evening took part in evangelistic events in a city known for Muslim terrorism and a large number of Christian martyrs. The event was led by English Christians Dave Kitchen and Paul Randerson. Unusual about the event was that both Afghani and Pakistani Muslims took part, and many showed a desire to become Christians. Rain threatened to stop the events on a number of occasions. Once, shortly before the message, it again started to rain. The Christians prayed that the rain would stop, and eye witnesses report that it did. Over 300 people expressed a desire to become Christians that evening.

Source: Dave Kitchen, Paul Randerson

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