DAWN Fridayfax 2003 #33

Solomon Islands

Revival in the Pacific

During a visit to the Solomon Islands in the southern Pacific, Rev. Dr. Geoff Waugh witnessed signs of revival. The following is an extract from his report: "For the past few months, the Government has been unable to pay many teachers, policemen and officials as the result of ethnic tensions, violence and financial problems. Many of the affected people have simply remained at home, thus hindering the course of justice and allowing the crime rate to rise. The crisis also led to a breakthrough - many people sought God for answers. In 2003, signs of revival could be seen particularly in Western District and many Christian churches in Honiara, the capital.

Youths experience the Holy Spirit

At the end of April 2003, for example, many children and youth in Marovo Lagoon experienced the Holy Spirit in a special way; many were filled with the Spirit, many lives changed. They started meeting around 5pm, singing, giving testimony and receiving visions from God. One policeman commented that the crime rate sank, and previous gang leaders now regularly attended the church services and prayer meetings. I was on the nearby island of Munda with Rev. Fred Alizeru in July 2003. Early that month, the Holy Spirit fell on children and youth gathered to worship and pray for hours. They meet every evening from 5:30pm until late. I encouraged them to also see their school as a missions field, to pray there with their friends, and not separate themselves. The revival has spread since Easter 2003 in Seghe and Marovo Lagoon, and is reaching ever more adults, who repent and seek more from God. The spectrum of visible results is broad:

Changed lives

Many youth who were regularly in trouble with the police because of drug and alcohol abuse are now sober, on fire for God, and visit the services and prayer meetings every day. Adults publicly end long conflicts.

Long worship times

These regularly include prophetic words and actions. One Sunday, some 200 children and youth led services with 1,000 participants. Many children have visions of Jesus smiling at them during the worship times, crying over hard hearts, or of angels or hell. They have also seen Jesus standing with one foot in heaven and one foot on the earth, declaring his authority in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18). One boy prophesied for 90 minutes.

Revelations

Many youth receive words of knowledge, particularly about hidden magic items or amulets. Jesus wants no rivals! Children repeatedly show their parents where they have hidden such things! If an adult would do that, there would be problems, but the parents are obviously able to accept this from their children. One boy spoke with the police, telling them that a man had been falsely accused of stealing a chainsaw, and named the true thief through prophetic revelation. Many adults are now eager to learn more about revival, now that it has begun. Many spiritual leaders on New Georgia and Honiara attend study courses and use the material to preach in the Solomon Islands' towns and villages."
Source: Geoff Waugh, email gmwaugh@bigpond.com. Postal address PO Box 1081, Kenmore, Queensland. 4069, Australia. http://www.renewaljournal.com

Korea

Are conversions in jail real?

"Years ago, 'Every Home for Christ'-founder Jack McAlister stood in front of 1,201 prisoners in an infamous jail near Inchon, South Korea. He was there for a graduation ceremony, to present every inmate with a certificate for completing a four-part Bible correspondence course. There they sat, hundreds of prisoners, on the concrete floor, faces aglow as they sang a Christian song which they had just learned. Commandant Lee, the Buddhist head of the jail, said 'I have never in my life seen so many people reading the Bible to learn from Jesus Christ.' The prisoners came to faith in Christ through systematic evangelism from cell to cell. Since then, EHC has visited over 6 million prisoners, of which over 120,000 have completed a Bible correspondence course and started to follow Jesus. But are such conversions real? Indoh Park, a Colonel in the North Korean Army, was sentenced to death as a political prisoner. He was the first in Inchon to receive the certificate. Following his conversion in his cell, he wrote to the Korean missions office: 'All my life, I was afraid of what came after death. Since accepting Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, I am no longer afraid of my death sentence. I can say that I am truly happy. I will continue to read the Bible until I lose my life and can be with Jesus.' His last appeal for grace to South Korea's Supreme Court was rejected; Indoh Park was hanged. But everyone who knew him knew that he had been transformed. He is now with Jesus."
Source: 'Destined for the Gallows' by Dick Eastman, President, EHC International, http://www.ehc.org

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