DAWN Fridayfax 2004 #24

Ukraine

Explosive church planting

"In 1991, Gregory and Galina Sukhyna planted the Church of Praise in Krivoy Rog, a colourless city with over 1 million inhabitants in South-Eastern Ukraine, dominated by heavy industry," write Steve and Marilyn Hill. The city is infamous for violent crime and drug addiction, and has one of the worst reputations in the nation. In June 2002, the Christian movement had grown to 33 churches in the city; the main church hosted a 3-year Bible School with 75 students, a rehabilitation centre for 35 people, and a programme to feed the poor. Two of the 33 churches were in jails. The most astonishing events, though, have happened in the past two years; it is as though evangelisation and church planting have exploded, because the movement has grown to 400 churches. Many of the new churches are in villages, in which 80% of the Ukrainian population lives. Another 15 churches have been planted in Armenia, 45 in central Asia, 9 in jails, along with others in Moldavia. Gregory has a rule that churches are only planted where none already exist.

Grandmother plants 100 churches

The movement's keys are its social ministry and the clear working of the Holy Spirit. Many reports speak of people freed from violence, drugs and alcohol. There are repeated healings from AIDS and Hepatitis C. Many of the best church planters are graduates of the prison Bible Schools and rehabilitation centres. By far the most successful church planter so far is Galina, a grandmother, who has planted 100 new churches with her team in the past two years!
Source: Steve and Marilyn Hill, harvestnow (at) compuserve.com

Germany

12-year-olds go on the street for God

Over 100 teenagers took part in 'Train Day' in April 2004, organised by the FCJG Youth Fellowship in Lüdenscheid, preparing them for a short-term outreach. One of the aims was for the various teams to pray where the teenagers should go with their weekend rail ticket, to proclaim the Kingdom of God and heal the sick, as in Luke 9:2. One teenager prayed for a girl, whose back problems were healed. Some 12-year-olds reported "First, we asked God where we should travel to. One of us saw the letters 'HA' in his thoughts, the car licence plate for the city Hagen, so we went there. God also gave us the impression to take care of elderly and homeless people. One of the girls had a word for an elderly woman, who was very touched, realising that God knew and understood her needs exactly. We bought sandwiches for four homeless men, who were very surprised that we dared approach them. We then bought another homeless man an ice-cream. When we told him about God's love, he wept..."
Source: www.fcjg.de, Liridona, Besiana, Shiwani, Orshina, Natzascha and Tamsin, all 12 years old.

Germany

No, not the exhaust!

"Following an accident, the insurance expert examined the serious damage to the back of our car," writes Herbert Masuch in 'Salt and Light', a newsletter published by the Partei Bibeltreuer Christen (Bible-believing Christian Party). "Some time ago, I provisionally repaired the broken exhaust myself. 'It's a shame,' I jokingly remarked, 'that the accident didn't damage the exhaust too.' The garage owner whispered 'Let me arrange that...'. He twice 'reminded' the insurance expert to note the damaged exhaust. Both times, I contradicted, saying that the exhaust had not been damaged in the accident. The garage owner and insurance expert said nothing, but must have asked themselves how anyone can be so naive and want to pay the ?1,000 for the repair themselves. Without Jesus, I would have consented to the insurance fraud, rejoicing in my 'luck'. Because of Jesus, the insurance company and their clients, who pay good money for every fraud, profited a little. Imagine what would happen if every insured person, garages and insurance experts let Jesus transform them; perhaps the politicians would then not have to worry so much about the expensive courts, prisons and armies."
Source: Herbert Masuch, Licht und Salz, www.pbc.de

Brazil

Will there soon be Christian footballers in the Iraq League?

Thomas Krallmann, a German missionary with a Brazilian wife, sees a new wave of missionaries coming from the 3rd-world nations. "In 2001, 15.6% of the Brazilian population were born-again Christians - that's 25.6 million people. Some denominations are growing by 25% per year. Almost every Brazilian family has at least one Christian. Christians are permanently visible in Brazilian society, in the countless churches, but also in business. A daily newspaper recently published a 10-page report about independent churches, without once accusing them of being sects. Hundreds of thousands of children are growing up with Christian values, who find it normal to evangelise others without warning, as my wife does, while I cringe inside. Brazilians are also readily accepted abroad because they are almost supernaturally kind. What if every thousand Christians would send out one missionary? That would release 26,400 Brazilians into the mission field. Imagine Brazilian Christians as players in the Iraqi League. Unrealistic? Not at all!"
Source: Thomas Krallmann in Globe Europe News, www.globeeurope.org

This Web version of the DAWN Fridayfax is maintained by the Jesus Fellowship Church (Jesus Army) as a service to the Christian church. Please visit our web pages which feature the e-zine Streetpaper and its special Revival section.