AUSTRALIAN PRAYER NETWORK NEWSLETTER
* CHINA REACHES AN OFFICIAL FIGURE OF 130 MILLION
CHRISTIANS
* REPORT ON ASIAN REGIONAL PRAYER SUMMIT
* KIWIS STAND UNITED IN PRAYER AT SOLEMN ASSEMBLY
* INCREASING NUMBER OF DOCTORS IN THE UK REFUSING TO PERFORM
ABORTIONS
* AFRICAN CLERIC SAYS CHURCH HAS A PROPHETIC ROLE AND MUST
NOT REMAIN SILENT
* MILITANT BUDDHISTS SEEK TO ELIMINATE CHRISTIANITY IN
LAOS
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CHINA REACHES AN
OFFICIAL FIGURE OF 130 MILLION CHRISTIANS
China's top religious official Yie Xiaowen has rejected decades of
ambivalence toward religion by declaring that "religion is one of the
important social forces from which China draws strength." He also
admitted that the number of Christians in China has reached 130
million, including some 20 million Catholics!
The Chinese government has intentionally understated the number of
Christians for decades in a futile effort to downplay the continued
miraculous growth and impact of the church. House church believers
have never been recognized or counted. This announcement through the
official Chinese news agency is significant. Dr. Bob Fu, President
of China Aid Association, writing about this latest official
revelation said, "The unprecedented growth has happened under
ceaseless persecution. We pray that China will realize true religious
freedom soon."
All across China evangelistic outreaches are touching the lives of
thousands of people. New converts have an ever-growing need for
Bibles to strengthen and guide them. Amity Press has printed 40
million Bibles since its inception. Many other agencies are printing
Bibles for China and circulating them through the house churches
where the need is so urgent. A Chinese Christian said that reading
the Bible is like eating rice. You have to do it every day!"
There are some urgent challenges confronting the Church in China
today: With the lessening of persecution in many places, and the
rising income and prosperity of the nation, many Chinese leaders are
calling for renewed vigilance against the inroads of materialism and
the fatal spiritual devastation that results from comfort and ease.
Another urgent need is for trained workers to disciple the estimated
7-10,000 new converts a day! Without disciplining, these new converts
are subject to deception by the ever-present cults, both home-grown
and foreign.
The third request is for more Bibles. Although Bibles are permitted
to be printed in China by Amity Press, the 2 million they are able to
print each year does not begin to meet the urgent demand. At present
the government does not look with favour on Bibles being imported or
even printed within the country except by this one approved outlet at
Amity Press. There are many pastors and leaders in prison because
they were involved in printing and distributing Bibles that were
printed in Hong Kong or other unapproved locations.
A new phenomenon is quietly developing on the university campuses
across the nation. The astounding growth of Christianity has begun to
penetrate many of the largest and most prestigious campuses of the
nation. There are now more than 30 vibrant Christian fellowships
meeting openly on campuses and being led by professors and student
leaders. These are the new "house churches" of China that are
sprouting up all over the country. This has great promise for the
future of the nation as more and more future leaders pledge their
allegiance to Jesus Christ.
One of the most impressive ministries going on in China today is the
training of a host of cross-cultural workers to carry the gospel from
China through the Muslim countries of the 10/40 Window back to
Jerusalem. It has been frequently reported that the Chinese Church
desires to raise up 100,000 such workers. It is actually happening
quietly and without fanfare in many training centres both inside and
outside China. If you are called to pray for China visit
http://www.churchinchina.com/
This website is a great source
of information. There are twelve sections with pertinent and
challenging information, making it one of the most comprehensive web
sites for China news and information.
Source: Evangelism Explosion
International
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REPORT ON ASIAN
REGIONAL PRAYER SUMMIT
Key leaders of prayer ministries from most of the countries of South
Asia gathered in the city of Siliguri just to the north of Calcutta,
India. Encouraging reports were given of wonderful breakthroughs
through prayer but also agonizing news of continued turmoil,
suffering and need in this heavily populated region of the world.
In India, a national network now links many Christian leaders and
ministries for increasingly well organized, informed, united prayer.
Large numbers are coming to Christ with churches and house
fellowships being multiplied in most parts of the country. Bihar,
once the most corrupt and backward of all India's states, has moved
to the number three spot in development with new roads and
infrastructure being added and progress being made in removing
corruption. It is no accident that a strong prayer network has united
Christ's people to pray in this state over the last few years. 4500
believers recently met there to fast and pray in over 100 degree
heat.
Nepal is now no longer a Hindu kingdom. It has become a democratic
nation. Bangladesh has a "good government" after much prayer by many
churches. 30 prayer conferences held this year have brought
intercessors together across the nation of Bangladesh. After hearing
such reports, one participant joyfully declared, "This is God's time
for South Asia!"
There were however also reports about some heart-breaking situations.
Sri Lanka needs a prayer breakthrough as conflict worsens between the
Tamil Tiger rebels and the Sinhalese-dominated government.
Afghanistan and Pakistan have growing movements of Islamic radicals
that have brought violence, instability and lack of security to these
nations.
Bhutan asked for prayer for the breaking down of spiritual
strongholds gripping the people, monks and government and for the
multiplication of house churches. The situation in Burma was reported
on with the request that people pray that the military regime will
give way to democracy and freedom for its people.
One of the highlights of the Summit were the several orphan girls who
came to pray for the leaders. These poor, rural girls have become
powerful intercessors and mighty agents of His transformation. Could
it be that part of the prophecy of Joel quoted by Peter in Acts 2 is
being fulfilled in our time through the rise of the Children in
Prayer movement?
Source: John Robb - International Prayer
Council
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KIWIS STAND UNITED
IN PRAYER AT SOLEMN ASSEMBLY
Some 125 people drawn from the different regions of New Zealand
gathered in Wellington New Zealand for that nation's recently held
Solemn Assembly. Organiser Adrian Watts said he was delighted with
the number that attended. "I had visualized 300, but when I thought
about it, 120 was also symbolic, as that was the number who waited
for the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room at Pentecost. Mr. Watts said
those who came had a real heart to pray for the nation. The event was
held in Wellington, it being the seat of Government for New Zealand.
The group spent time praying over a number of issues, including Maori
issues and the abortion situation in New Zealand.
Intercessors for New Zealand co-ordinator Brian Caughley said the
event was perhaps the beginning of a new move. "I was very encouraged
particularly by the vision of little fires of prayer springing up all
over the nation," he said. "That is where I see this going." Mr.
Caughley added that he was concerned about the absence of pastors and
church leaders at the Solemn Assembly. "I wondered if we have lost
contact with church leadership," he said, adding that he hoped many
more would attend future events. Mr. Watts said he already had people
asking him when the next assembly would be held.
Mr. Watts concurs with Mr. Caughley that the establishment of small
local prayer events are probably what will happen next. "For years I
had a wrong view of revival," he said. "I thought God would come down
and everyone would fall on their faces. Now I see it as something God
will do that we won't expect. It will involve individual people being
released, one by one, into their purpose in God - person by person,
street by street. I don't think revival in New Zealand will be
cantered on any one ministry or event."
Source: Challenge Weekly, New
Zealand
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INCREASING NUMBER
OF DOCTORS IN THE UK REFUSING TO PERFORM ABORTIONS
An increasing number of doctors in the U.K. are refusing to carry out
abortions, with The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
saying there has been a big rise in the number of doctors who are
"conscientious objectors."
Josephine Quintavalle, of the pro-life group Alive and Kicking, is
quoted as saying: "We welcome this development. There is sensitivity
in this country that there are too many abortions, and this obviously
will impact doctors. We should be working together to make abortions
rare."
Julia Millington of the Pro-Life Alliance agreed, saying: "We have
been hearing for some time now that young doctors, in particular, do
not want to work in this field. Those choosing to go into medicine
presumably do so because they want to cure sickness and disease, not
end the lives of innocent human beings."
Source: BBC
News
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AFRICAN CLERIC
SAYS CHURCH HAS A PROPHETIC ROLE AND MUST NOT REMAIN
SILENT
Zimbabwean Roman Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube has not forgotten the
massacres of the 1980s when 20,000 people were killed. With this in
mind, President Robert Mugabe's crackdown in Zimbabwe, has made the
Archbishop ready to give up his life to save his country.
"The Church has a prophetic role to speak the truth when no-one else
dares to," the Archbishop said. "Many people in my nation are too
depressed to go on living. Mugabe is mad for power and he will cling
to it even if it means destroying the economy and Zimbabwe. Mugabe is
an evil man, a bully and a murderer. I will not be bullied or bought
by him. I accept that it may mean that I lose my life."
As a young priest, Ncube witnessed the suffering surrounding
the massacres in the 1980's and was desperate to speak out, but his
church superiors stopped him, and now he is "determined not to watch
in silence again."
Source:
BBC
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MILITANT BUDDHISTS
SEEK TO ELIMINATE CHRISTIANITY IN LAOS
Officials in a remote village in the Asian nation's central region
are seeking to evict Christians who refuse to renounce their faith.
Nakoon Christians have been worshiping underground in fear of arrest
and imprisonment. After learning that authorities had recognized
Christianity, the 46 Christians in 10 families in Nakoon village
began to be open in their Christian meetings. Community leaders
however are now pressuring the Christians to abandon their religion
or leave the village.
Reports are also coming out of Laos that government agents are
arresting Christian believers who are never heard from again. Two
Christian men were taken from their farms in southern Laos and
imprisoned. People close to the families said no charges were filed
and no information had been released about the health or location of
the men. In north-central Laos police arrested a man. His wife and
12-year-old son were not allowed to speak with him before he was
taken away. Efforts to locate him have been unsuccessful.
Additionally, other Christians arrested in similar incidents were
never found alive.
Source: 10/40 Window Prayer
Network
http://www.ausprayernet.org.au/
--
Shalom/Salaam/Pax! Rowland Croucher
http://jmm.aaa.net.au/
(20,000 articles 4000 humor)
Blogs - http://rowlandsblogs.blogspot.com/
Justice for Dawn Rowan - http://dawnrowansaga.blogspot.com/
Funny Jokes and Pics - http://funnyjokesnpics.blogspot.com/
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