DAWN Fridayfax 1998 #40

News from India, USA, UK, Myanmar, Caucasus

In this issue:
India: Dead raised in hospital
USA: Black and white churches to merge
England: Over 8,000 people "get right with God"
Myanmar (Burma): 52-year-old sterile ex-witch gives birth
Caucasus: "God is doing something wonderful"

India: Dead raised in hospital

We received the following report from a reliable source: "A 4th-grade girl was recently bitten by a venomous snake, and died in hospital despite the doctor's best efforts to keep her alive. The staff left the dead girl's room. A few minutes later, two Christians from a church in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, heard what had happened and went into the room. They prayed for half an hour, calling on Jesus to restore the girl's life. The girl started to breathe, and her life returned. They quickly called the doctor, who was naturally perplexed by what had happened; he removed the venom from the wound on the girl's leg. The girl is now completely healthy. The news spread not only in the local church, but also throughout the hospital."

Prayer prevents a large hospital bill

The report continues: "In the Lak valley in northern India, a poor family brought their seriously ill little daughter to the local hospital. The doctors had no idea what to do, and wanted to send the girl to the nearest city for treatment, and told the father that it could cost US$7,000. Sam Chand, the girl's father, was in a desperate situation, because he, like most others in India, had no health insurance. After hearing of his need, the staff of a local mission agency went to the hospital to pray for the girl. God performed a miracle: she is now healthy and has returned home."

Source: name and address withheld for security reasons

USA: Black and white churches merge

The mainly black Faith Assembly Christian Fellowship and the mainly white New Harvest Fellowship in Battle Creek, Michigan, will merge on 1 November 1998. Bishop Eugene McCoy, pastor of the Faith Assembly, and Larry Silvermann, pastor of the New Harvest Fellowship, sensed their unity immediately. "We realized that our visions for the town are very similar, and that there was no sense in doing all the work twice." The local newspaper put the news on the front page with the headline "Church merger is a lesson for the town". "We believe," says Silvermann, "that this merger is a sign of what God is doing. The new name will be Faith Assembly International Christian Fellowship. Of course, it is clear that there will be problems during the merger, but we also known that God's love will overcome."

Source: Revival Fire Digest

England: Over 8,000 people "get right with God"

Over 1,500 people recently attended a "Sowing the Seeds of Revival" meeting in Westminster, London. Although the meeting was aimed at Christians, there were surprising conversions: some nurses, few of whom had any Christian background, had come in two cars after hearing of the meetings. At the end "all these nurses came forward to make it clear that they wanted to live for Jesus from now on," according to a report by Pioneers, a network of evangelical churches in Britain. "17 months ago the 'Sowing the Seeds of Revival' meetings were started," Gerald Coates, initiator of the meetings, comments "in order for people to worship in Westminster, to pray for revival and to get right with God. The aims have been met beyond our wildest expectations!" Since the start of the meetings, 85,000 people have attended, with over 8,000 making a response to God. "Many dustbins have been filled with illegal drugs, weapons, Masonic jewelry and clothing, massive amounts of pornography, and personal mementos often relating to adulterous relationships, promiscuity and even crime. One evening, a 22-year-old man came forward with four large boxes of pornographic material. "I've been sinning privately for 4 years, now I want to repent publicly," he said. Miguel Escobar, one of the leaders of "the second largest single church in the world", spoke there from 30 September to 2 October 1998, to bring some of the South American revival to Westminster. During the meeting "dozens of people were again on their faces and knees, getting right with God."

Source: Pioneers office, tel (+44) (0) 1932-232345

Myanmar: 52-year-old sterile ex-witch gives birth

In her area, the woman had been known as a witch for a long some. As she watched the Jesus film in her own language, she began to understand that the magical forces with which she worked could not compare with that which God had to offer. She decided to become a Christian and was baptised, but God had greater plans for her. All her life, she had wanted a child, but was sterile. She prayed to Jesus, and became pregnant soon after. She gave birth to a healthy son, even though she was already 52 years old. Inspired by what happened to her, 17 other members of her family have also decided to become Christians.

Source: Frontiers Missions Network and Bulletin of Youth With A Mission

Caucasus: "God is doing something wonderful!"

A unique event took place in the Caucasus region in autumn 1998 as a large number of new Christians met, most of whom are ex-Muslims from 12 Islamic people groups in the area. Most of the 49 ethno-linguistic people groups in the Caucasus region are controlled by an Islamic reform movement which takes its inspiration from a Saudi Arabian fanatic Muslim group known as Wahabbis. "I never imagined that there are so many of us," said one participant. "Look at how many tribes we come from! God is doing something wonderful here in Caucasus!" Among other things, the Christians celebrated communion together.

Source: name and address withheld for security reasons.

This Web version of the DAWN Fridayfax is maintained by the Jesus Fellowship Church (Jesus Army) as a service to the Christian church. Please visit our web pages which feature the e-zine Streetpaper and its special Revival section.

Text © DAWN Europe. Redistribution is explicitly allowed as long as the copyright remains intact with the text. Editor: Wolfgang Simson. The Fridayfax is also available by email. These web pages are copyright © 1998 Jesus Fellowship Church (Jesus Army) in this form. Webmaster: John Campbell