AUSTRALIAN   PRAYER   NETWORK   NEWSLETTER

* CHURCHES FLATTENED AS EARTHQUAKE HITS NORTH EAST BURMA
* CHURCHES IN JAPAN RECOVER AS ECUMENICAL SPIRIT SHINES
* ABSTINENCE INCREASES SEXUAL COUNTER REVOLUTION
* CHURCHES A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS FOR LIBYA
* CHRISTIAN PROTESTORS ATTACKED BY EGYPTIAN ARMY
* SYRIA: PROTESTORS KILLED
* RESCUING PROSTITUTES AND PROMOTING VIRTUE IN NIGERIA
* DOCTORS CONCEDE MEDICINE ALONE CANNOT DEAL WITH MODERN
DISEASES
* DAVID WILKERSON DIES IN CAR
CRASH

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CHURCHES FLATTENED
AS EARTHQUAKE HITS NORTH EAST BURMA
A church collapsed during an evening meeting, killing 25 members and
injuring 50 others, during a series of powerful earthquakes that hit
north east Burma (Myanmar) last month. It was one of 10 churches and
over 100 other buildings destroyed. Some reports  put the death toll
at over 100 with more than 150 injured when three earthquakes
measuring between 5.4 and 7.0 in magnitude struck the region
popularly known as the Golden Triangle, bordering Laos and northern
Thailand.
Tearfund said partner agencies responded in the area of the epicentre
in Keng Tung, a Burmese town 70 miles north of Chiang Rai in
Thailand. Tearfund said they described the area as hilly and thickly
populated and said that local people had fled their homes in panic.
Scott Coates, Director of Mekong Minority Foundation (MMF) said “We
have never experienced such earthquakes before. People rushed out;
they panicked. They didn’t know what to do.” The area is reported to
have suffered serious damage with bridges having collapsed making
some places difficult to reach.
Local sources said that Tanlay, a Shan ethnic minority town, was
completely destroyed. Coates said that local churches have been at
the forefront of the relief response. “Baptist churches  in the
affected region had been  best placed to bring relief and hope to the
people  affected,” he said. It’s reported that tremors were felt in
Bangkok, central Burma, parts of Laos and as far away as the
Vietnamese capital Hanoi, leading to the evacuation of tall buildings
and offices. Numerous aftershocks were reported.
Tearfund said it is making emergency funds available to support MMF
and other partners. They undertook immediate relief such as temporary
shelter, food rations and meeting of basic medical needs – as well as
looking at longer-term support for the region. This will include
working with communities to reduce the risks when facing further
earthquakes and other disasters. Tearfund is a Christian relief and
development agency building a global network of local churches to
help eradicate poverty.
Source: ASSIST News
Service
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CHURCHES IN JAPAN
RECOVER AS ECUMENICAL SPIRIT SHINES
Candles were lit in the chapel of the Ecumenical Centre in memory of
those who were killed by the tsunami and those who now struggle to
recover. As recovery efforts in Japan continue, the full impact of
the earthquake and tsunami   continues to be felt by some of the World
Council of Churches (WCC) member churches there. At the same time
prayers, letters of solidarity and, in some cases, monetary support
are coming in from the  Christian community in Asia as well as around
the world.
In a letter sent  to the churches in Japan, the Rev. Dr Olav Fykse
Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, expressed
the  ¢â‚¬Å“dismay and sorrow ¢â‚¬  of the world wide church community. Rev. Dong
Sung Kim, responsible for regional relations with Asia at the WCC
said   ¢â‚¬Å“The tragedy has brought together WCC member churches in Japan
as they respond jointly to the needs in the disaster area.”  ¢â‚¬Å“The show
of support from churches in Asia as well as Europe and around the
world is also part of what it means to be the Christian community, ¢â‚¬ 
Kim said.
This same support was shown during earlier natural disasters in
Pakistan and New Zealand:  ¢â‚¬Å“But it is an important sign of the
vitality of the Christian community in the region, showing solidarity
with brothers and sisters in need, ¢â‚¬  Kim said. In his letter, Tveit
recognized the potential for a nuclear catastrophe and said,  ¢â‚¬Å“The
more recent news of radioactive contamination in food has heightened
the apprehension and concern as the fragile web of life in which we
live is endangered. ¢â‚¬ 
In a report  from Teruki Takada, staff member of the Commission on
Ecumenical Ministries for the United Church of Christ in Japan, it
was said that some churches in Japan still have members missing,
others are hosting refugees and in one case a group of pastors was
part of an emotional reunion. Few of the churches in the earthquake
and tsunami region have been left untouched by the tragedy. Some
remain damaged by the tsunami, while in others cleanup has begun,
according to Takada ¢â‚¬â„¢s report.
Source: World Council of
Churches
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ABSTINENCE
INCREASES SEXUAL COUNTER REVOLUTION
A new study shows the number of young people abstaining from
pre-marital sex has risen from 22 to 28% in just six years. Another
study shows the most promiscuous people are also the most depressed,
while those who practice sexual restraint are  the
happiest.  Christians are fighting back against a sex-saturated
culture. An Abstinence Awareness Week was recently held in
Washington, DC where Tara White, author of the book Don’t Curse Your
Wedding Bed Before You Say I Do was the featured speaker. White
shared lessons learnt from her own  experience with promiscuity.

White said. “If I had  known then the things that I know now
concerning sex, marriage and relationships I would have made some
different choices.  We must  tell young people abstinence outside of
marriage will make them happier and more fulfilled, no matter what
the secular culture preaches. In this culture, 1 out of 4 young
people get a sexually-transmitted disease. In parts of  Washington,
82% of all births are to single mothers. Richard Urban, one of
the  organisers of  the DC event, says statistics show kids will listen
if their parents preach an abstinence message. ”
Author Gerard Henry said “We have to  increasing the message about
purity and the value and beauty of marriage.  If it starts with mum
and dad first, the child will want to emulate that.” Young people who
abstain will find they are far from alone.  In DC, 42% of high
schoolers have never had sex, twice as many as those who responded
two decades ago. Derrick Cuffie is a proud 28 year-old virgin, and
said it hasn’t cost him anything that really matters. “You may  lose  a
friend or two, but  true friends will always help and support you and
what you stand for,” Cuffie said.
“You are a spiritual being, not just a sexual being.  Constant worship
and chasing after God will feed that spiritual being” said Rev.
Michael Faulkner of New Horizon Church in New York City. “I can
exercise my free will to abstain from my sexual lusts,” he
added.  “Studies show that girls experimenting with sex are two to
three times more likely to be depressed than those who don’t. Also,
sexually-active kids are more likely to drink, smoke, do drugs, get
suspended and get arrested. Outside of marriage, sex can hurt rather
than enhance lives” Faulkner said.
Source: CBN
News
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CHURCHES A LIGHT
IN THE DARKNESS FOR LIBYA
An unknown number of civilians have been  killed in the fight between
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and opposition forces. According to
Reuters, the situation is growing increasingly grave for Libyan
civilians. Many people are living off canned food and rainwater tanks
and have virtually no access to communications or electricity. U.N.
sanctioned attacks have added to the fighting, but it is unclear how
long they will remain. Many are beginning to suspect that the
conflict may be slow in ending. Libyan civilians are frightened and
increasingly desperate.
SAT-7, a satellite television service for Christians in the Middle
East and North Africa, is doing its part to encourage them in the
name of Christ. “We want to show the church in
action,  responding,  praying, and  doing things to bring God’s hope and
love in these kinds of situations,” explains David Harder,
Communications Manager for SAT-7. “We are allowing the Arab church in
the region, through  our satellite television programs, to speak into
the situation about their hopes  and how followers of Jesus should
react to these kinds of things.” said Harper.
SAT-7 consistently calls all of its viewers to prayer for Libya and
for the believers who have been isolated there. SAT-7 is in touch
with churches who are responding  on the ground.  Several churches are
helping Libyan civilians at the Tunisian and Egyptian borders. The
violence and uncertainty occurring in Libya are frightening, but
SAT-7 is providing hope to those who are able to access it, along
with a vital call for prayer. SAT-7 boasts 9 to 10 million
viewers–an enormous potential for prayer.  Please pray  for a quick
and just resolution for the situation in Libya  and throughout the
region.
Source: Mission Network
News
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CHRISTIAN
PROTESTORS ATTACKED BY EGYPTIAN ARMY
Christian protestors  staging a 9 day sit-in calling for the
rebuilding of a church torched by Islamists have come under attack by
the Egyptian army.  Demonstrators were  shot at and struck with
electric batons outside the state television headquarters in downtown
Cairo. 15 suffered injuries, including broken limbs, head wounds and
burns. The assault happened 2 hours before an agreed suspension of
the sit-in. Representatives of the demonstrators had met with  Prime
Minister Essam Sharaf and members of the military council the
previous afternoon to discuss their demands.
The army had said it would rebuild the church in Soul. The
demonstrators agreed to suspend the sit-in to give the government
time to fulfil its pledges. Around 500 people were still at the site
when military forces smashed the demonstration in the early morning
hours.  One of the organizers said the soldiers cut the wire fences
and started running towards the people, shouting the Islamic war cry
“Allahu Akhbar” (“god is great.”)   Earlier thousands of Christians
took to the streets of Cairo  in protest over the attack on the
village of Soul, 30km from the capital.
The attack on Christians by  a  Muslim mob of about 4,000 resulted in
deadly clashes. Thirteen people were killed and 140 wounded.
Witnesses have since said that they saw people being killed by the
army, who were firing shots apparently to control the riots.
Meanwhile, Christians gathered outside the TV headquarters calling
for the rebuilding of the church as well as an end to government
persecution and discrimination. They want churches closed by the
state to be opened, and fair, balanced coverage on state television.

Source: ASSIST News
Service
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SYRIA: PROTESTORS
KILLED
On Good Friday security forces in Syria shot and killed more than 100
demonstrators. The following day, police gunned down at least 12
people as they participated in a funeral procession for those killed
the previous day. All this happened   the day after President al-Assad
ended 48 years of emergency rule. Two members of the government
resigned in order to protest the crackdown. One international
observer noted, “This revolution was bound to come to Syria. …It
was in Syria where the terrorist state, the way we know it in the
Arab world, basically took shape in the ’70s.”
PRAY FOR:
* the Lord to continue His work in Syria, accomplishing His plans and
purposes. Pray for the door to be open to the Gospel during this time
of unrest and insecurity. Pray for the people of Syria to be
protected. Ask the Lord to bring a peaceful resolution to the current
dispute.
* the leadership void to be filled with godly men and women who fear
the Lord and walk in integrity and righteousness. Pray for Christians
to be called upon to take government positions and for them to carry
out their duties as representatives of Christ. Pray for Christians in
Syria to be strong and courageous. Pray for the Lord to give them
boldness and use them to proclaim Jesus Christ.
* the salvation of President al-Assad and other key members of the
government. Pray for them to be responsive to the needs and desires
of the people and not lust after power. Pray for the spirits striving
to seize control of this nation to be exposed and defeated. Pray for
terrorist organizations, other governments (such as Iran) and groups
like the Muslim Brotherhood to be kept from gaining a foothold in
Syria. Ask the Lord to reveal all secret plots.
Source: Windows International
Network
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RESCUING
PROSTITUTES AND PROMOTING VIRTUE IN NIGERIA
In 1995, a Nigerian woman felt called to begin a ministry to help
prostitutes leave the sex trade and rehabilitate their lives. The
work that she did among the prostitutes resulted in the creation of
Nigeria’s Virgin’s Pride Network. Foundress Nkechi Odebiyi relates in
an article on the website of the organization that the inspiration to
form the group came to her while at a spiritual retreat in 2008,
where she realized that the best way to keep young girls away from
prostitution was to help them understand the value of protecting
their virginity until marriage.
Virgin’s Pride  encourages the young girls to keep their virginity
with pride based on the love and fear of God. Most times ignorance,
lack of proper and strong moral upbringing are the base on which
prostitution thrives.”  Virgin’s Pride Network works, “To breed a new
generation of women of high moral integrity, character, substance and
purity, who can hold their heads high in an increasingly morally
depraved society, and still be a positive reference. To encourage
strong family ties where value and spirituality will be inculcated
into the children for a happier world.”
Source: Intercessors
Network
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DOCTORS CONCEDE
MEDICINE ALONE CANNOT DEAL WITH MODERN DISEASES
Christian doctors and medical professionals from over 38 nations
gathered  for  an International Medical Conference have concluded that
“medicine alone cannot deal with some of today’s worst illnesses and
that ‘spiritual healing’ is the remedy needed in the 21st century.”
The Conference examined actual case studies of miracles that were
presented by various respected doctors as well as some patients. The
cases, ranged from a man being raised from the dead to a detached
retina being healed, and a woman  healed after being incapacitated
when she was kicked by a horse.
“Doctors are the most credible people to testify to God’s healing
powers,” said one Doctor from Honduras. “We need to realize that
miracles are far more contagious than any disease. In addition to the
help that medical science has to offer we have the complete help,
which only the Saviour brings, the help He won on the cross when He,
for our sake, won the victory over  everything our adversary tries to
put on us. As believers it is our responsibility, in addition to
providing medical or surgical aid, to bring them the complete help,
which only the Saviour can bring. We must be bold in this.
Source: Intercessors
Network
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DAVID WILKERSON
DIES IN CAR CRASH
The Rev. David Wilkerson, founding pastor of Times Square Church in
New York and author of the well-known book The Cross and the
Switchblade has been killed  in a car accident. He was 79.  Wilkerson
was driving  in Texas, when his car swerved to the opposite side of
the road and  collided head on with a tractor trailer. The  tractor
driver saw the car and unsuccessfully tried to move out of the way
according to Police.  It is unclear what caused Wilkerson to veer from
his lane. His wife Gwen who was with him was  rushed to  hospital,
along with the truck driver. Their condition at time of writing is
unknown.
Source: CNN News