DAWN Fridayfax 2001 #30

Israel

Soldiers take oath on the New Testament

"A growing number of soldiers in the Israeli Defence Force swear their loyalty to Israel on the basis of the New Testament instead of the Tanach (Old Testament)," according to a Caspari Study Center report on April 12, 2001. In January, 92 of 436 new immigrant soldiers took their oath on the New Testament.
Source: Caspari Views, www.caspari.com , quoting Kol HaBira

Zimbabwe

God's timing for missionary strategy

"It really was God's timing" to plant 10,000 new churches in Zimbabwe, according to Dawn missionary Ted Olson. In the mid-1980's, the nation's Christian leaders decided to cooperate in a large missionary coalition. "Of the tens of thousands who declared interest in Jesus during evangelistic crusades, very few could be integrated into churches," said one of the leaders. Years of tent meetings and large-scale evangelistic crusades, which were far less effective than many people expected, had tired and perplexed the Christians. The excitement following independence was also not enough to cause the church to grow on its own. The Christians realised that a common proactive strategy was required, and the idea that multiplying new churches was necessary in addition to planning evangelistic campaigns fell on fertile ground: the "Target 2000" strategy was born. In 1992, a target of planting 10,000 new churches by the end of the year 2000 was set, and has been reached; Zimbabwe, with its 12 million inhabitants, now has over 20,000 Christian churches, or one for every 600 of the population. A plan for "reaching the lesser- and least-reached areas" in the next ten years will be worked out during a conference from 3-7 September 2001. "The rapid growth of the Church in a nation plagued by massive political woes, corruption and a failed economy, is an ongoing reality, and an encouraging example for other nations," says Olson.
Source: www.dawnministries.org

Latin America

Cities are the key

After 16 years working as a strategic advisor in every nation in South and Central America, Berna Salcedo has come to the conclusion that the continent's 600 most important towns and cities are the key to reaching the population with the gospel. "Cities are a microcosmos of the nation. Where they lead, the nation will soon follow," he says. Between eighty and ninety percent of the Latin American population live in only 600 towns and cities, and the degree of urbanisation is enormous. Christian leaders are excited about 'city strategies', having seen the success of national missionary strategies in 21 countries. 'Strategic regionalisation' is a key for nations such as Brazil, where there are some 40,000 villages without a church in the Amazon area alone. "City strategies also mean that it's no longer about spreading denominational churches," says Salcedo. "In the meantime, we have seen the dynamic reality of house churches, which are spreading rapidly in Latin American cities. This development has enormous potential."
Source: Berna Salcedo, www.dawnministries.org

USA

Ruairi's bike

In July, Mission agency OC held a holiday Bible school for 60 children, during which they challenged the children to collect money for missionary work in southern Africa. One day, Ruairi, one of the boys, brought his coffee jar full of coins. He had been saving for months for a trick bike, and now wanted to donate everything - around $100. His parents, who had been out of work for some time, warned him that they could not replace the money, but Ruairi was not deterred, and wanted to donate it all. That very day, his mother saw exactly the bike Ruairi wanted for sale second hand in the newspaper, for $25, and was able to earn $26 by coaching two extra pupils. Ruairi, having donated his savings, had his dearly-wanted bike sooner than if he had saved for it himself. It is better to give than receive!
Source: www.oci.org

Spain

Prayer cuts Ibiza's crime rate

Ibiza's Chief of Police issued the following press release on 18 July: "Crime has gone down considerably since the 24-7 Team has been in Ibiza praying, especially alcohol related crime. This is despite the fact that the numbers on the island are constant."
Source: www.24-7prayer.com

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