DAWN Fridayfax 2003 #9

Iran

Time of harvest starting?

A time of harvest is beginning in Iran, amid persecution: Christians have died as martyrs, been tortured and imprisoned. The leader of one underground church, for example, was hung up by his arms and tortured with electric shocks. However, many Iranians are experiencing Jesus supernaturally. Many - according to some Christians who have visited the nation - have dreams in which Jesus speaks to them personally, or visions. According to the leader of one underground church, "it is difficult to find leaders I can trust. I can only trust people who have already been imprisoned once and did not give away any information." The following are some recent reports; the names have of course been changed.

Raised from the dead

Amir, a building worker, fell 15m (around 50 feet) from the fifth floor while working. He was rushed to hospital, but the nurses could only pronounce him dead. Christians prayed for him; the severe wounds were healed, and he returned to life. He is now well, and a witness of God's power who leads many to Jesus.

Why Mullahs respect the Bible

Rumana is 21 years old. She studied Islam for five years, including at a school where the religious leaders (Mullahs) are trained. Someone gave her a Bible, and she chose to follow Jesus. She dreamed of Jesus, as have many others, and testified about him to the Mullahs - for which she was imprisoned. In jail, she also told others about Jesus. The guard beat her, and put her on death row. Through Rumana's testimony, another inmate imprisoned for life chose to follow Jesus, and now sees it as her job to lead other prisoners to Jesus. After a few weeks, the prison guard who had beaten her also decided to follow Jesus. Rumana was called before the officials, who joked about being able to decide how much longer she would have to remain in jail. She replied "God alone decides, not you..." She was released after four months. Following her release, she gave Bibles to two Mullahs, who ridiculed it - but died within the week. Now, many Mullahs in Iran treat the Bible with great care and respect.

Healing and salvation

Ored has been a Christian for three years. He, his brother and sisters chose to follow Jesus after seeing their invalid cousin healed through prayer.

He who gives his life for his friends...

Police planted opium in the apartment where believers met for prayer, aiming to imprison one of the Christians - the punishment for possession of drugs is harsh. Ahmed, one of the other Christians, claimed to be guilty himself, and was arrested in place of the police's original target. He was imprisoned, tortured and almost killed.
Source: name and address withheld.

Switzerland

Clowns reach hearts without words

"I almost collided with a woman, and grasped the opportunity to tell her in mime that she had a wonderful smile. Her lips began to quiver, and the next thing I knew, we were hugging each other, and she was crying like a baby. I pointed to heaven, formed a heart in the air with my hands, and held it out to her. She nodded, and said 'I know, I know' amid tears." Global Action Team's Caroline Bergagard is speaking of an attempt to bring people closed to God through mime artistry. "Our idea was to dress up as clowns and use mime to tell people that God loves them. God used that to show me people as he sees them, and instead of talking to them myself, I could talk more with God about them," she says.
Source: OM News 1/2003, e-mail

An Islamic nation

Persistent prayer for neighbourhoods pays off

For four years, an Operation Mobilisation staff member prayed for a particular neighbourhood on his way to work every day in an Islamic country. One day, after moving to another Islamic nation, he met a man who had given his life to Jesus. The man came from exactly the neighbourhood for which the OM staff member had prayed.
Source: OM News 1/2003, e-mail

South Africa

God guards against muggers

"The crime rate in Durban, South Africa, is very high, so the entire crew of OM's ship Doulos were warned to only leave the ship in large groups. One of our short-term staff didn't hear the warning, and walked alone in the harbour area one evening," say Irene and Andy Juliff. "He was attacked by a gang and robbed. They even wanted his clothes. He silently cried out to God for help. Suddenly, one of the gang asked him if he were a Christian. He told them that he was, and that he worked on the Doulos. The gang gave him everything back, apologised, and accompanied him back to the ship, so that nothing would happen to him on the way!"
Source: OM News 1/2003, e-mail

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