DAWN Fridayfax 2000 #19

Cambodia

'The unknown God, who hung on the cross' rescued a whole village

"For 20 years, the inhabitants of a Cambodian village worshipped 'The God who hung on a cross' - without knowing Jesus," reports pastor David Em. The village in Khampong Thom province was controlled by the Khmer Rouge, but the people have since readily accepted the gospel, almost as though they had been waiting for it. An old woman told Em that God protected the people from being massacred with 1.7 million others in the 1970's. They were forced to dig their own graves while soldiers prepared to execute them. Desperate, they called on all the gods which came to mind to help them. Some prayed to Buddha, some to other gods, and the old woman prayed to 'the God who hung on a cross'. As they cowered on the ground, waiting for the shots, they saw a vision of the cross, then heard a voice telling them that they would be saved: 'None but I can save you,' it said. When they opened their eyes, the soldiers had vanished. Since that time, they have prayed to the God who rescued them, but they knew nothing about Christ until Em preached to them. "They now know Jesus by name and have started a church. The old woman is so happy; she had waited for this day for 20 years."
Source: Advance, Foursquare Gospel Church

Uganda

"Walter's Jesus, don't kill me!"

The Far East Broadcasting Co. reports that a Ugandan witch doctor has become a Christian. The man had warned Walter Karanya, an engineer who started a church among his staff, not to talk about Christ any longer. One day, the witch doctor burst into one of the services, his eyes wide open, shouting "Walter's Jesus, don't kill me!" When Karanya asked him why he was so afraid, he said "I and my followers hated this church. I told them to use their power to destroy you." "I know," said Karanya, "but we are still here." "Why is your power stronger than mine, and why haven't you and your God killed me?" the witch doctor asked. Karanya told him that his God is the God who created the universe and loves all people, and explained the Gospel to him. The witch doctor became a Christian, changed his name to John, burned all his instruments and was baptised a few days later.
Source: FEBC

Irian Jaya

Bandits become Christians

Evangelist and Bible teacher William Lerrick told us of a journey in Irian Jaya, Indonesia: "In the last week of March this year, we held a seminar in the middle of the bush, 2½ hours from Jayapura. On the return journey, we were held up by a number of young men demanding money. They told us that they would destroy our vehicles if we did not pay. We opened the window and gave them some money. One of the others in the car asked one of the men 'Do you go to church?' 'Where are you from?' was his astonished reply. 'From a seminar about the Kingdom of God,' she told him. 'Why don't you hold the seminar here. Then we can be freed from our drinking,' he replied. As he said that, I got out of the car, called him to me and asked 'Do you want to be freed from drinking?' 'Yes,' he said. 'Do you know that you are a sinner?' 'Yes'. 'That you need forgiveness?' 'Yes'. I then told him about what happened on the cross, and asked 'Do you accept that for yourself? Do you want to be freed? Then let's pray!' He knelt of his own accord in the middle of the road. I knelt with him and started to pray. He gave his life to Jesus. I sensed that he was under curses from ancestors and other gods, so proclaimed freedom in Jesus' name, breaking curses back to the third generation. His deliverance was visible; his body relaxed noticeably. We stood up together. He was a little ashamed of what he had done in the middle of he road, but bowed his head and hugged me. When we were done, one of the others was waiting to pray with me too. We left the bush with joy - two bandits had found Jesus!"
Source: William Lerrick, fax (+49)-7745-5739

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