AUSTRALIAN PRAYER NETWORK NEWSLETTER

YOUTH REVIVE JAPAN’S DYING CHURCH

TRIPOLI CHRISTIANS SAFE AND PRAYING

MARRIAGE DOES MATTER UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FINDS

AMERICANS BELIEVE MANY PATHS TO ETERNAL LIFE

PRAYER ALERT FOR SYRIA

THE CHURCH IN SYRIA IS LIVING IN IT’S GOLDEN AGE

THOUSANDS LINE UP FOR FREE DENTAL WORK AT GEORGIA CHURCH

POLICE CREDIT MIRACULOUS TURN AROUND IN DRUG WAR TO PRAYER

YOUTH REVIVE JAPAN’S DYING CHURCH

Whether they’re in church or standing on a street corner, the members of Grace Tokyo Church loudly sing their songs of praise. The congregation’s young people are part of a new youth movement that many Japanese Christians hope will revive Japan’s churches. Philippines native Glen Nabarrete, who serves as the head pastor at Grace Tokyo, was born and raised in Hawaii. He and his family answered God’s call to Japan in 1992. “I believe in this church,” Nabarrete said about Grace Tokyo. “One of the things we have that a lot of Japanese churches don’t have is a lot of joy and a lot of laughter,”he said.

Nabarrete continued “I think that’s one quality that God wants to bring to this nation. There is the reality of joy in serving God. And we also cater to young people,” he added. “We let the young people step up, do preaching. Young people love it, they want to participate for the growth of the church.” The youth go out of their way to spread God’s love, singing gospel songs on the street, even when reprimanded by the police. “The idea is just praise and worship on the street and let God move and touch people’s lives. Someone stands near; we talk to them and invite them to church,” Grace Tokyo youth leader Gerwin Echegoyen said.

“When I first moved in 1992, church growth was very small,” Nabarrete said.”Our church at Yokohama Grace Bible Church was about 30 people in 10 years.So for us Tokyo Bible, two years with 60 people is phenomenal. God has been gracious to us here.” The young Christians hope that through their involvement, Japan’s older churches can be made young again — and other dying churches can be reborn. The church in Japan is getting smaller everyday. The average Japanese church has 30 people and many have less than 10members. Church historian Masakazu Suzuki says traditional churches are dying out.

“After the war, a lot of American GI’s who served in Japan, later came back to Japan as missionaries. So, after the war, the Japanese churches grew a lot,” Suzuki said. “Now after 50, 60 years, a lot of pastors are getting older, facing retirement,” he said. “Also many members are getting older too.” Like most Christians, Suzuki believes God is using the recent disasters to open the hearts of the Japanese people. There have been more than 1,200 aftershocks since the March 11 earthquake and there could be more, but Christians here are praying for another kind of aftershock and that is the spiritual awakening of the Japanese people.

Businessman Yuto Matsumoto saw how the power of God restored his marriage after a divorce. His Christian daughter visited him in New York where he moved, and took him to watch the film “Passion of the Christ”. Later, back in Japan, she took him to the church their family had been attending since converting to Christianity. “During the preaching, I couldn’t stop crying.” Matsumoto recalled. “After the service, I went to Pastor Scott and asked him how to become a Christian. I accepted Jesus as Lord. It was the beginning of my new life.” Two years ago, Matsumoto re-married Takako, his ex-wife. They now have a harmonious relationship with Christ at the centre of their marriage.

Source: CBNnews.

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TRIPOLI CHRISTIANS SAFE AND PRAYING

While a defiant Moammar Gadhafi assured “martyrdom or victory” in the battle against the “aggressors” in Libya, Christians in Tripoli met in prayer for the country and the future of Christians throughout the northern African nation. The Open Doors country coordinator for Libya, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “Every day around noon, a part of the small Christian community gathers to encourage each other.” Open Doors estimates the numberof indigenous Libyan Christians is around 150. However, prior to the start of the revolution, the expatriate Christian community was believed to be approximately 180,000.

Large numbers of migrant workers left Libya after the revolt that started Feb. 15, but a small number of foreign Christians remain in Libya. “Recently a group of Christians from Tripoli shared with me that they are doing well and said the atmosphere is okay,” the Open Doors worker said.” Also, the church is still in good condition and undamaged despite fighting in the capital.” About the personal safety of the Christians, the coordinator said: “Believers from African origin are not going outside the city for their own safety, but otherwise everyone is safe.”

The country coordinator added: “Getting in touch with Christians in Tripoli is not easy. Phone service is off and on or not answered, but since Internet access has returned to Tripoli I expect communication opportunities will improve.” Concerning the future of the Church, the Open Doors worker noted:”The situation will change, that is for sure, but will Christians gain from the change? Will there be more religious freedom under a new administration? No one knows. The government will be Islamic, but the question remains howstrict it will be and how strong fundamentalist influences will be shaping the new Libya.

“Seeing the disorder of the rebels, it remains to be seen if Libya stays united. It is very much a tribal society and may even split into the two or three original provinces-Fezzan, Tripolitania and Cyrenaica, the latter we know as Cyrene from the Bible.” The Open Doors worker says that prayer by Christians inside and outside of Libya is vital as the rebels attempt to take control of the government. “No matter what the geographical and governmental future of the country, pray that local Libyan Christians find safe opportunities to meet with each other and have fellowship that will help the Church to plant roots deep into Libyan society. Please pray for the Christians there,” the worker said.

Source: Open Doors USA

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MARRIAGE DOES MATTER UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FINDS

For most of the latter half of the 20th century – as explained in numerous clinical, academic and popular accounts – divorce posed the greatest threat to family stability and related child well-being. That is no longer the case, according to new research recently released showing that the rise of cohabiting households with children is a greater threat to the quality and stability of children’s lives, and the main reason that family instability continues to increase for the nation’s children overall.

The new report, “Why Marriage Matters: Thirty Conclusions from the Social Sciences,” was co-sponsored by the Centre for Marriage and Families at the Institute for American Values and the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia (U.Va). Chaired by National Marriage Project director W. Bradford Wilcox, a sociologist in U.Va.’s College of Arts & Sciences, the report is co-authored by 18 family scholars from leading institutions, including U.Va., the University of California at Berkeley, Brookings Institution, University of Chicago, Penn State, University of Minnesota, University of Texas at Austin, and the Urban Institute.

According to Wilcox, the report’s lead author, “In a striking turn of events, the divorce rate for married couples with children has returned almost to the levels we saw before the divorce revolution kicked in during the 1970s. Nevertheless, family instability is on the rise for American children as a whole. “This is mainly because more couples are having children in cohabiting unions, which are very unstable. This report also indicates that children in cohabiting households are more likely to suffer from a range of emotional and social problems – drug use, depression and dropping out of high school – compared to children in intact, married families.”

Based on the new data now available, the authors of “Why Marriage Matters” offer three conclusions regarding marriage and families in America today:

(1) The intact, biological, married family remains the gold standard for family life in the United States. Children are most likely to thrive – economically, socially and psychologically – in this family form.

(2) Marriage is an important public good, associated with a range of economic, health, educational and safety benefits that help local, state and federal governments serve the common good.

(3) The benefits of marriage extend to poor, working-class and minority communities, despite the fact that marriage has weakened in these communities in the last four decades.

Source: University of Virginia

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AMERICANS BELIEVE MANY PATHS TO ETERNAL LIFE

A study on faith in America reveals that Americans overwhelmingly believe in God. More than nine in ten Americans say God or a universal spirit exists. But surprisingly most Americans don’t believe their religion is the only way to eternal life. It appears that most Americans either don’t know the fundamental teachings of their own faith, or they dismiss them – a finding that came as a surprise to some. “I didn’t think it would be that high” said John Green of the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. The Pew Forum Religious Survey shows that ninety-two per cent of Americans say they believe in God, but they have different views on who – or what – God is.”

Of the 35,000 people surveyed, 70 per cent said there are many paths to eternal life. Even among evangelical churchgoers, 57 per cent shared that view. And while 74 per cent of Americans believe in life after death, only 59 per cent believe in hell. One sociologist said, “The survey shows religion in America is, indeed, 3,000 miles wide and only three inches deep.” The study also showed a link between political beliefs and attendance at worship services. People who go to services regularly tend to be more traditional in their religious views and have a more conservative political outlook.

Source: Intercessors Network

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PRAYER ALERT FOR SYRIA

Pro-democracy protests begun in Syria in March 2011 are continuing despite fierce government opposition. President Bashar al-Assad has responded by killing an estimated 2,000 of his own citizens. Thousands more have been arrested and tortured. International leaders are calling for al-Assad to step down. President al-Assad has employed the military in his attempts to put down protests and crush the most serious threat to his family’s 40-year rule. He has repeatedly rejected calls by international leaders to step down and claims the demonstrations are “foreign-inspired plots”, warning that military intervention by Western governments would be a mistake.

Please pray for:

* the Lord to intervene in this nation, bringing an immediate end to the slaughter of Syrian citizens. Pray for the Lord to bring healing to this nation – politically and emotionally. Pray for the strongholds of Islam to be demolished and for Muslims to hear and respond positively to the Gospel.

* the salvation of President al-Assad and other officials in the government. Pray for a peaceful transition of power. Ask the Lord to raise up leaders who will serve with integrity and the fear of the Lord.

* a multitude of Syrian men, women, and children to put their faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour, Lord, and the only Son of the Living God and for God’s kingdom to come to Syria in power.

Source: Windows International Network

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THE CHURCH IN SYRIA IS LIVING IN IT’S GOLDEN AGE

The Christian history of Syria dates back to biblical times. Following his conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul established the first organized Christian church at Antioch in ancient Syria and John the Baptist’s head is said to be located in Syria’s Omayyad mosque, which was a church at one time. Today Christians make up 10 per cent of Syria’s population and have the freedom to worship openly. “We are proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ everywhere in Syria. The Church today in Syria is living in it’s Golden Age,”said Ibrahim Samara, pastor of a church in Damascus.

“We see a hunger for God among the youth. And many families are expressing openness to the message of Christ” Samara continued. “Obviously, we have to use some wisdom and discernment in how to best share Christ,” he said. “We especially have to avoid talking negatively about other religions. We believe that we are living in the end times and that Christ’s return is very imminent. God is giving an opportunity to the people in the Middle East to turn to him.”

Source: Christian Broadcasting Network

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THOUSANDS LINE UP FOR FREE DENTAL WORK AT GEORGIA CHURCH

The First Baptist Church of Woodstock utilized the gifting of volunteers and reached out to the community recently by offering free dental services for their community. The two-day clinic was sponsored by the Georgia Dental Association and its Foundation for Oral Health and multiple thousands waited in huge lines to be treated. According to reports there were 100 dental chairs set up at the church, along with 300 dentists, hygienists, oral surgeons and endodontists, and more than 1,600 volunteers. Many of those who received dental care had similar stories: no dental insurance, little money, and previous unfinished dental work.

Said Dr. Richard Smith, who practices in Atlanta: “A lot of these people are in pain, they have infections, they’re missing front teeth – there’s a huge need just to get people back to work. Mothers can’t take care of their children, fathers can’t earn a living – we’ve got to help them. A bunch of us started looking around and realized that with this economy we had to do something. We are not responsible for the problem that’s there, but we’re the only ones who can fix it.” Some people were so appreciative of the free work that they sat in their chairs during treatment and cried.

Source: Atlanta Journal – Constitution

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POLICE CREDIT MIRACULOUS TURN AROUND IN DRUG WAR TO PRAYER

The Scott County Sheriff’s Department believes there is a connection between prayer and meth lab busts since community prayer services began several months ago. “We have seen a 600 per cent increase in drug arrests, specifically with meth, since we have had the prayer vigil…we have used every tool that we could to slow down the drug problem that we have here, and prayer has been the answer,” said Chief Deputy Ronnie Phillips.

Source: WBIR News

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