DAWN Fridayfax 2002 #34

Germany

Deggendorf alive

"Almost 6,000 households in the Bavarian town Deggendorf were reached with the Gospel, Christians were the talk of the town. We prayed for over 100 people, and 140 were saved. People were healed, and the attendance of the participating churches grew by 32. The press and TV reports were positive," summarizes Helmut Klaes, one of the leaders of "Christus Centrum Oberbayern". What had happened?

Setting signs of love

Together with Suzette Hattingh of 'Voice of the City', almost all of Deggendorf's churches joined in events during April and May 2002. For two weeks, 211 teams totalling 500 members were active in the town, praying and prayer walking, but also "loving their neighbours", for example by giving out 3,000 roses. A surprising number of people accepted prayer, and some were moved to tears by such a display of love, according to the organisers' report.

Hand on his shoulder

"One man told us that he hesitated before entering the evangelisation tent, asking God for a sign whether to go in. In answer, he clearly felt a hand on his shoulder, and went in. During the altar call, he felt a click in his deaf ear, and could suddenly hear again. He gave his life to Jesus."

Will God change everything?

During the preparations for the project, which continues in the form of healing services and other activities in the town, Josef Schneider, an elder in one of the churches sensed God speaking to him: "Within two years, I will change everything around you. Nothing will be as it was, but it will cost you everything."
Source: H. Klaes and others, CCO, Ruselstr. 82, 94469 Deggendorf, Germany

Bhutan

New life on the roof of the world

Despite a limited number of tourists - 3,000 - allowed into the nation each year, Bhutan is still a closed society with a strictly monarchic government. It gained independence from Britain in 1949. Political discussions are forbidden, as was television until 1999. There is no newspaper, only a weekly report published and controlled by the government. In 1999, the nation had a population 657,000, but it is estimated that a further 125,000 Bhutanese refugees live in India and Nepal. Around 42% of the population are literate, but less than 40 people are known to have completed a university degree, according to information on www.bhutan4christ.com. The main people group are the Ngalung, often known as Drukpas, and Buddhism is the dominant religion. "Christianity has been persecuted for a long time. Mr. Philip Sharma was imprisoned for his Christian faith, and only released after Hilfsaktion Märtyrerkirche (HMK, 'Help for the persecuted church') paid a fee in 1994. In 1970, there were no known Christians in Bhutan, but now there are over 2,000," reports PP Job, leader of HMK in New Delhi. "It is not easy to spread the Gospel, because the punishment for converting is imprisonment. Christians' children have no right to education, and church buildings are forbidden, so house churches are the only way that believers can gather and share their faith."

Underground growth

"In 1999, a local team was able to plant the first 'Nehemia Church', which has already grown to six churches with 200 adult and 100 child members. The zeal of the evangelists who look after the churches is impressive," says Daniel Hofer of the missions agency AVC. "One of them visits a new house church every week, walking 25 miles. We have now bought him a motorcycle. All Christian work in Bhutan takes place underground, watched carefully by the government, which often sends spies, or interrogate our staff."
Source: PP Job (HMK India), AVC Hilfswerk, Fax (+41) 32 355 4248

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