DAWN Fridayfax 2003 #27

World

"Beginning of birthpains" in insurance language

In Matthew 24:5-8, Jesus describes wars, famines, plagues and earthquakes signifying the "beginning of birthpains". The Munich Re, a major insurance company, recently published a report about the unusual concentration of extreme storms and floods in 2002. Their statistics of natural disasters compares the decade from 1993-2002 with the 1960s; the number of 'major events' around the globe increased to 2.6 times as many (from 27 to 70), and the economic damage - accounting for inflation - to 7.3 times as much, from US$ 75.5 billion to US$ 550.9 billion.

Natural disasters across the decades
Decade	1950s	60s	70s	80s	90s
Number	20	27	47	63	91
Economic damage (US$ billion)	42.1	75.5	138.4	213.9	659.9

Natural disasters are considered 'major' when they significantly exceed the region's ability to cope, requiring inter-regional or international assistance. One of the main reasons is the growing concentration of people and valuables in endangered cities or urban areas, according to the report.
Source: Munich Re, www.munichre.com

Iraq

"In the trenches, there are no atheists"

"Hundreds of US soldiers turned to Christ and were baptised during the Iraq war," reports Charisma Magazine. "When soldiers see friends die in battle, they are confronted with their own mortality," say US chaplains, "and then start to ask about God. In the trenches, there are no atheists..."
Source: Charisma

India

"The poor devil"

Victor Choudhrie, the doctor turned church planter, tells of around eighty women who were trained for saturation church planting in central India last month. "They were teenagers, pupils, housewives, grandmothers, educated and illiterate, but they all wanted to plant churches. In the midst of the seminar, something very unusual happened: one young woman was attacked by an obviously demonic spirit, and suffered a form of epileptic fit. The women around here were alert, and used to dealing with demonised people. The poor devil had bitten off more than he could chew, and had to leave within only a few minutes. The young woman was completely unharmed."
Source: Victor Choudhrie, victor_btl@sancharnet.in

USA

Are scientists the new evangelists?

When Hugh Ross wants a chance to explain the Gospel to the person next to him on a flight, he introduces himself as an astronomer. If he wants to be left alone, he's an evangelist. "The person often stands up to look for another seat," he says, amused. Ross, who used to perform research at the California Institute of Technology, uses scientific facts to explain the Gospel to those segments of society who turn off at the mention of God. He links scientific discoveries with the statements in the Bible, and it is exactly this down-to-earth approach which gets him heard. He has spoken at over 200 Universities and sold over 250,000 books. "Many scientists listen to what he has to say, and those to take the time to hear his arguments are generally very impressed," says Guillermo Gonzales, Assistant Professor for Astrophysics at Iowa State University. The web site www.reasons.org contains detailed discussions about evolution and creation and a Kids' Corner - information for children looking for an alternative to atheistic Darwinism.
Source: Charisma (USA) and www.reasons.org

Germany

Prayer prevents 16 suicides

Three youths committed suicide by jumping from the 78 meter high Göltzschtalbrücke at the end of August 2001, starting a sad series of suicides in eastern Germany's Vogtland region. More and more people jumped, in a form of 'suicide tourism'. The bridge became known as 'Death Bridge', according to the Bild newspaper. In August 2002, local Christians started praying against this obviously demonic trend. They prayed non-stop for five months that the bridge would no longer be a place where people sought death. "The Christians also prayed for the Police and border guards performing their difficult jobs, and that God would position angels to prevent people jumping... Between May and September 2002, sixteen people wanted to put an end to their life by jumping from the bridge - but were unable! Many of them said 'I had made up my mind to jump, but for some reason, I couldn't do it!' In August 2002, another two people jumped, probably Satanists, but the local Christians were not discouraged. More people joined for prayer on the bridge than in the churches," report Thomas and Uta Hascher from Reichenbach's Jesus Church.
Source: Josua Bote (Joshua News) missionswerkjosua@t-online.de

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