DAWN Fridayfax 2002 #19

El Salvador

Prayer makes the most dangerous city harmless

"For a long time, San Marcos was El Salvador's most dangerous city," writes Amaury Braga, Latin American coordinator for the Dawn Movement. "With a crime rate of 80%, it was a centre for drug dealers, witch doctors, kidnappers and alcoholics. All the banks closed because they had been raided so often. Around two years ago, God used a young Christian leader to start a strong prayer movement which mobilised almost all Christians to pray for the city, even though some denominations did not want to take part. Only one year later, the violent crime rate sank from 80% to 10%, and in January 2002, the national police declared San Marcos completely free of violence. As a result, all Christian churches have grown rapidly - even those of denominations which did not join in prayer. Today, all Christians want to work together. The mayor and other city officials became Christians, and two banks have re-opened, even with cash machines. Two witch doctors who had declared war on the pastors and were not prepared to repent have died. Important drug dealers have turned to Christ and bars have closed. Instead of ceasing prayer, the Christians are now motivated to pray on until God's purposes with the city have been fulfilled," writes Braga, who just returned from the city.
Source: Amaury Braga, Dawn Ministries, Colorado Springs, USA; e-mail Amaurydawn@aol.com

Columbia

45,000 pray through the night

"Despite facing great challenges, many Christians in Columbia are determined 'to continue taking land' and to see God's aims are achieved," according to a report from Cali. Ruth Ruibal, widow of assassinated pastor Julio Ruibal known from the first Transformation video, writes: "We recently held our eighth Easter prayer night. It was absolutely unbelievable. This time of year is normally dry, but it had rained every day for two weeks. The prayer night started at 8pm on a rainy day, which kept many away. We started by praying that the rain stop and the clouds vanish; it immediately stopped raining, the clouds parted and the stadium was filled with the light of a beautiful full moon. Some 45,000 participated in the prayer night, which lasted until the early morning hours."

The mayor joins in prayer

"A government representative and Cali's mayor spoke, both saying that Christ in people's hearts is the answer to the needs of today's society. The mayor proclaimed that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and he and his wife remained in the stadium for the rest of the prayer night. The pastors invited us as a widowed family onto the stage, reminding everyone of the covenant of unity made at Julio's funeral. Together, we renewed the covenant before God, so that God's aims for our city, nation and continent can be reached." Ruibal also asked people to pray for the nation and its finances, saying "He who controls the rain can also control the finances." That day, CNN reported that an attempt on the President's life had been foiled: a large bomb detonated as he drove past, but he remained unharmed.
Source: Ruth Ruibal, via e-mail: transformation@associate.com

Holland

Could 10 days change the nation?

Christians in Holland are calling for a global intercession campaign for their nation from 9th-18th May (between Ascension and Pentecost). "Christian prayer groups and movements throughout the world are asked to join in prayer and fasting for a change of the spiritual atmosphere in Holland," writes Marc van der Woude, an intercession leader in Utrecht. One of the aims is the erection of 500 prayer altars - places in which Christians young and old unite for God's plans for the nation. "The Netherlands," he writes, "has caused headlines around the world with its progressive social policy: in the past 8 years, the Liberal Socialist government has legalised euthanasia, soft drugs, prostitution and homosexual marriages. On the 17th April, the government surprisingly resigned. The Parliamentary elections on May 15th (in the middle of the prayer time) are expected to be a political landslide. The nation is in a moral and spiritual vacuum, with many calling for integrity and honesty in political leaders. The '10 days for Holland' will be the largest prayer project ever started in and for the Netherlands." Uganda's Christians are sending special prayer teams who will pray throughout the nation. Anyone wishing to take part can register at www.10dagenvoornederland.nl.
Source: Marc van der Woude, e-mail mvdwoude@xs4all.nl

"Seven days without prayer makes one weak"
seen in Marc van der Woude's office, Holland

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