DAWN Fridayfax 2002 #41

Tanzania

Football coach A

Many people have heard of the Centurion Cornelius in Acts 10, but how many have heard of football coach A.? "He is just as God-fearing and full of good works as Cornelius," writes missions agency AVC. "He is a sports coach at an international school in Tanzania. For the past two years, he's trained around 70 12- to 16-year-old boys every afternoon. More than half of them are orphans, others are more or less street kids. A. is a Muslim, and he aimed to use football to teach the boys discipline, and educate them if possible. He soon realised that they needed more, so he invited a Koran teacher. The teacher's first question - how much he would be paid - angered A. so much that he cancelled the invitation, and invited Christian missionary Tabea, who now visits the football pitch every Tuesday and Saturday to teach about Jesus. A. and some of the boys were soon saved, and someone is saved almost every week. A. has also taken six of the children in to his home, giving them a roof over their heads and regular meals."

Power encounter in Tanzanian

One of A.'s football teams recently reached the final. It was widely known that their opponents had gone to a witch doctor, and they said "We've put a curse on you, and will win." The Christian boys answered courageously: "We've prayed to the living God, and today we'll see who is stronger." They won 3:1. The trophy was a white goat, which Tabea takes care of at the mission.
Source: AVC, Fax (+49)-6043-8136; e-mail: avcnidda@t-online.de

Germany

When the internist prays

Dr. Harald Fauser is an internist in Landshut, Bavaria. "I increasingly offer to pray for my patients in my practice, with encouraging results - healings, as well as miracles in other crises such as financial and relationship problems, joblessness, mobbing and so on. Luke 10 tells of how Jesus sends out his disciples to bring people peace - only then should they speak about the Kingdom of God. In my experience, people are then much more open for the Gospel, because they have experienced God's intervention. One woman came into my practice suffering from heavy pain in her right arm. The diagnosis revealed no form of physical illness, but when I asked about the situation in her life, she told me about her complicated marriage. I sensed God prompting me to tell her that the symptoms would vanish if she would forgive her husband. In prayer, she put her husband in God's hands, and experienced a strong touch from God. The pain remained, though, until I commanded it to leave in Jesus' name. She was healed immediately, and has suffered no more pain since then."
Source: Dr. Fauser, in: Voice 4/2002, (FGBMF magazine)

USA

Christian churches: Prophylactic against psychological and alcohol problems

"Sociologists from Harvard and Yale Universities have discovered that regular participation in church life significantly reduces the chances of drug abuse and alcoholism. Churchgoers have only half as many psychological problems, and 71% fewer alcohol problems. That may be a good reason for health insurance companies to recognise churches as prophylactic institutions."
Source: Prof. Wolfgang Ockenfels, German sociologist

England

Soldiers become incredibly rich

"Almost 600 soldiers have become Christians since the start of 2002," writes Compass magazine. In the Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire, Europe's largest military garrison, both Army Chaplains and SASRA staff (The Soldiers' and Airmen's Scripture Readers Association) serve. One of the SASRA staff reports "I entered a room in which the soldiers were complaining that someone had stolen money. 'I'm sorry to hear that,' I said, 'and I can't change it, but I can make you incredibly rich, and show you how to gain riches which cannot be stolen.' 'Tell us, Sir,' they told me. I sat on the ground and explained the Gospel according to the Bible. Before I could give them the chance to give their lives to Jesus, they were already on their knees."
Source: Compass, www.pioneer.org.uk

Worldwide

Professional musicians confess Christ

A growing number of professional violinists, cellists, pianists, brass players, opera singers and other classical musicians are confessing Christ. That fact was publicised at the annual conference of Crescendo, an international Christian musicians' body, held in Strasbourg from 27-29 September 2002. Crescendo unites over 1,000 Christian musicians from 30 nations. "Central and Eastern European nations are the main source of growth," says pastor Beat Rink, leader of the international Crescendo office in Basle, Switzerland.
Source: www.crescendo.org

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