DAWN Fridayfax 2001 #39

News from Egypt and Kosovo

In this issue:
Egypt: "Evangelical festival" leads to thousands of conversions
Kosovo: Converted Muslim leads Mullah to Christ

Egypt

"Evangelical festival" leads to thousands of conversions

Those who know Egypt will hardly believe the following report which we recently received from one of the leaders of the Evangelical Alliance. Checks revealed the report to be accurate: Bayadiya, a medium-sized Egyptian city, experienced one of the greatest evangelistic breakthroughs in the nation's history: at least 7,500 people (some sources mention up to 15,000) have decided to follow Jesus.

Cancellation starts revival

"The idea came during a weekend for church planters, musicians and young artists: why not hold an 'evangelical celebration' similar to those held over 40 times each year by the Coptic Orthodox church to honor saints? They planned a large celebration for all Evangelically-oriented groups. The youths were excited, and immediately started writing songs and sketches," reports one of the initiators. Bayadiya, a predominantly Christian town near Minyas, was selected as the venue. 30,000 of Bayadiya's inhabitants are 'Christians', although only 1,000 attend the services in the town's six churches. Five of the six churches were prepared to cooperate, so prayer and preparations began. Despite initially granting permission, the police banned the event - one day before it was supposed to take place! All the tents had to be taken down. The Christians didn't give up: instead of inviting the people to the celebration, they went to the people on the street, in the churches and in their homes. They performed the sketches on the back of a truck which drove around the town, stopping at strategic spots. Hundreds and thousands of people saw the sketches, heard "Sunday School", took part in puppet theatres, listened to music groups and even received prayer in coffee houses.

Strong reaction to 'weak sermon'

Thousands of people - conservative estimates speak of 7,500, some up to 15,000 - of all age groups, and including visitors from the surrounding villages, experienced a spiritual rebirth, according to the report. A gang leader gave his life to Jesus after seeing the Jesus film, and led six others of his gang to the Lord. A number of people experienced physical healing, to which they testified on video; many were freed from demons, and whole houses and streets decided to follow Jesus. Young people saw how God performed miracles through them, and how hundreds of Christians an non-Christians reacted to the supposedly weak sermons. Several criminals and even murderers were deeply touched, and repented in tears. "It was as in the early days of the church," says one of the organizers.

Harvest strategy: plant new churches

Fifty leading members of Bayadiya's churches are have their hands full with continuing the revival. 25 new "Street meetings" (fellowships) meet every week, some with up to four parallel meetings. Many people have asked to be allowed to start Christian meetings in houses. The followup work is centered on planting churches; some 80 of which are planned in the coming months. A public Christian festival is planned to be held every two months. The 350 Christians who took part in the celebration are totally changed, having experienced a paradigm change in their ministry, and returned to their churches refreshed in spirit.
Source: 5 of 6 churches in Bayadiya, personally known to the Friday Fax editor. (Names and addresses withheld.)

Kosovo

Converted Muslim leads Mullah to Christ

"Klaus Püblichshuisen and Werner and Edith Sperling recently visited Germany missionaries Günter and Therese Weber in Pristina, Kosovo," according to a report in the newsletter of German mission agency "Globe Europe". While there, they met Rahman, in whose 'house' - slightly repaired after being ruined in the war, with two occupable rooms for his family of seven - a church meets. Rahman and his family used to be Muslims, and Rahman describes himself as having been "a terrible, criminal person" before the war. While fleeing to Albania, he heard about Jesus Christ, decided to follow him and was baptized. On his return, his parents and siblings were disquieted by the changes in his life, and sent him to a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist declared him sane, so his family demanded that he go to a Mullah to become completely normal again. Rahman went to the 82-year-old Mullah, and told him about Jesus, with the result that the old man also gave his life to Jesus. "Rahman now travels as an evangelist in his area, telling the people of God's love through Jesus," the report concludes.
Source: Globe Europe, fax +49-2852-94208, www.globeeurope.org

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 © 2001 Jesus Fellowship Church (Jesus Army) in this form. Webmaster: John Campbell