Russia: Moscow Church spearheads revival
In a land where the Russian Orthodox Church dominates, an evangelical charismatic church is creating spiritual waves. ’The Protestant movement is growing very strongly,’ said Rick Renner, senior pastor of Moscow Good News Church. Renner and his wife Denise moved their family to what is now the former Soviet Union. Nine years later, in September 2000, they started Moscow Good News Church in the Russian capital city. Moscow church is approximately 3,500 people in regular attendance. That's big for Russia, where most Protestant churches attract less than a thousand people to each of their congregations. While the goal is to reach a broad section of those living in Moscow, the church puts a special emphasis on reaching the upper class. ‘Specifically, a part of our vision is to reach a higher class of people,’ Renner said. That's because ‘they need God, too, and there aren't many churches that they can actually feel comfortable in,’ he explained.
Praise: God for the continued growth of the Good News Church. (2Cor.9:8)
More: http://www.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=36238&PN=1&TPN=1
Russia: Moscow Church spearheads revival
In a land where the Russian Orthodox Church dominates, an evangelical charismatic church is creating spiritual waves. ’The Protestant movement is growing very strongly,’ said Rick Renner, senior pastor of Moscow Good News Church. Renner and his wife Denise moved their family to what is now the former Soviet Union. Nine years later, in September 2000, they started Moscow Good News Church in the Russian capital city. Moscow church is approximately 3,500 people in regular attendance. That's big for Russia, where most Protestant churches attract less than a thousand people to each of their congregations. While the goal is to reach a broad section of those living in Moscow, the church puts a special emphasis on reaching the upper class. ‘Specifically, a part of our vision is to reach a higher class of people,’ Renner said. That's because ‘they need God, too, and there aren't many churches that they can actually feel comfortable in,’ he explained.
Praise: God for the continued growth of the Good News Church. (2Cor.9:8)
More: http://www.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=36238&PN=1&TPN=1
Saudi Arabia: House Church Christians jailed
Two Indian Christians, members of a thriving Pentecostal house church, in Saudi Arabia, have been moved from pre-trial detention to a prison in the Saudi capital Ryadh where they are ‘forbidden to pray or read the Bible’ and ‘suffer of a lack of food and medical attention,’ an elder of the church has told Worthy News and its news partner BosNewsLife. Vasantha Sekhar Vara, 28, and Nese Yohan, 31, who are members of the ‘Rejoice in the Church of the Lord’ congregation, were initially detained in January and received 45-days of ‘pre-trial detention’ on charges of ‘proselytizing’, said the church elder speaking from Riyadh in a telephone interview. ‘They were later moved from the police station to a notorious central jail in Ryadh without a trial,' he added. He said it was not known when and if the trial will start. Pray: for Yohan and Vara that God would strengthen them in their ordeal and pray for an early release. (2Ch.19:9a) More: http://www.worthynews.com/10176-saudi-arabia-jails-house-church-christians-exclusive
Lebanon church reaches all across Arab world
Amid political upheavals, protests, and the radical religiosity, the Gospel is moving forward in the Middle East, thanks in no small part to one devoted church. The Free Evangelical Church of Beirut has been shining brighter and brighter light into the Arab world since pastor Joseph took a job there in 1994. The church's first mission was to establish a home for girls whose parents were either killed or unable to care for them as a result of the 15-year civil war in Lebanon. Pastor Joseph felt that God was calling him to move forward with the Gospel not just in Beirut, Lebanon, but throughout the Middle East. An African man was the first to leave the FECB in order to minister to another nation. He ventured back to his home country with the support of the church. Another church member relocated to a nearby nation to teach theology and evangelize non-believers. Further members followed the trend in becoming Church planters.
Pray: that the influence of FECB would continue and lead to many more church plants. (Ex.15:17)
More: http://www.mnnonline.org/article/15612
China: Fear prompts China’s Easter crackdown
The days leading up to Easter are always a sombre time for Christians. But this year in Beijing, many believers have the added concern of not knowing if or where they’ll be allowed to celebrate the holiest day of the year on the Christian calendar. Nearly 50 members of one of Beijing’s largest Protestant house churches, including its two pastors, were detained and hundreds of police were deployed in a commercial district in the northwest of the city in order to prevent the congregation from holding an outdoor Palm Sunday service. The leaders of the Shouwang church said they would nonetheless try again next week – Easter Sunday – unless they are given permission to celebrate the Communion service indoors at their usual premises. The church, which has about 1,000 followers, said it was forced to hold the services outside after being evicted from the restaurant where they gathered every Sunday for more than a year. (See also Prayer Alert 14-2011) Pray: for the many millions of believers across China as they seek to celebrate Easter that they would be blessed to be a blessing. (Ps.145:7) More: http://www.chinaaid.org/2011/04/fears-of-uprisings-prompt-chinas-easter.html#more
Vietnam: Authorities in Hanoi thwart Easter celebrations
Authorities in Vietnam prevented much-anticipated public Easter celebrations in Hanoi planned for Friday and Saturday (April 15-16) after giving a verbal promise to organizers that the events would proceed. An inter-church organizing committee had submitted a request for permission well in advance and had made elaborate preparations for the special events featuring renowned evangelist Luis Palau. The organizers said they were disappointed but not entirely surprised by the Communist government’s action. ‘The authorities have clearly demonstrated to the world what we experience regularly – that their promises, whether verbal or written, cannot be trusted,’ said one church leader who requested anonymity. Asked to speculate on the reasons for the government’s ultimate refusal, another key church leader said, ‘I don’t know why, but it almost seems as if the government is deliberately damaging its own reputation.’
Pray: for the Church in Vietnam that despite the set-backs it will bring glory to God by its actions. (Ps.86:9)
More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/vietnam/article_110895.html
Pakistan: Christians under increasing pressure
Bibles are being desecrated, churches attacked and human rights advocates threatened in Pakistan as Islamic extremists intensify pressure on the Christian community. Christians have faced persecution in Pakistan for years but the climate has deteriorated in recent months particularly since the burning of a Koran at the church of Florida by pastor Terry Jones last month. Last Saturday, the Sarhadi Lutheran Church in Mardan was targeted in a bomb attack. It is believed that Islamic militants planted the bomb. Despite people being present at the church at the time, no one was killed or injured in the explosion. The church’s pastor, the Rev Ghulam Shad, said: ‘It appears that the militants only wanted to demolish the church, but not to injure any of our people’. When asked by the news service about the church’s attitude towards the perpetrators, he answered: ‘All we can do is to pray for them as we are taught by our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (See also Prayer Alert 14-2011) Pray: again for the believers who are persecuted for their faith that God will protect them. (Ps.12:5) More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christians.under.increasing.pressure.in.pakistan/27837.htm
India: Orissa group hauled into court for turning to Christ
Six recently baptised Christians were arrested in northern Orissa State after Hindu activists accused them of converting to Christianity 'illegally'. The six ethnic minority Christians, who had recently joined Good Shepherd Ministries in Mayurbhanj district, appeared in court but were released on bail, according to Release partner All India Christian Council (AICC). Their pastor, Mannuel Mahapatra, was also arrested and accused of forcible conversion. Hindu extremists frequently level accusations of forcible conversion at pastors – but allegations against those who are converted are less common. The state of Orissa has implemented anti-conversion legislation and its Freedom of Religion Act bans religious conversions without the prior permission of local police and a district magistrate. In Karnataka state, nine members of the New India Church of God in Mysore were arrested last Sunday after Hindu extremists stormed the church. Attacks on individual Christians in Karnataka also continue. Four Christians were beaten and charged with 'outraging religious feelings' after distributing pamphlets.
Pray: for the Church in Orissa and the new believers that God will empower them and protect them from the hand of the enemy. (Pr.2:8)
Nigeria: Riots break out in the north following election
Riots erupted across northern Nigeria on Monday as President Goodluck Jonathan secured a decisive win in the country's presidential poll, which observers have described as the fairest in decades. Deadly rioting erupted across Nigeria's largely Muslim north on Monday as youths torched churches and homes in anger at President Goodluck Jonathan's election victory. Observers have called the poll the fairest in decades in Africa's most populous nation. But supporters of the defeated Mr Buhari accuse the ruling party of rigging and rejected the results. The results show how polarised the country is, with Buhari sweeping the north and Jonathan winning the largely Christian south. Jonathan had nearly 23 million votes to just over 12 million for Buhari. The Nigerian Red Cross said churches, mosques and homes had been burned in rioting across the north and many people had been killed, but it was impossible to give a toll for now. Pray: against this violence in the north and pray that the peoples and religious groups will find ways of living together in peace. (Nu.6:26) More: http://www.france24.com/en/20110418-north-riots-over-goodluck-jonathan-election-victory-nigeria
God is not done with Britain yet
There may be chaos in our lives and in the nation too, but Christians serve a God who can bring order out of that chaos and use what little we give to bring about big changes. That was the message from Gavin Calver to thousands of Christians at Spring Harvest last Friday. Calver spoke honestly about the challenges of leading a ministry when so many people in Britain are turning away from Christianity. ‘But we as a church need to start hoping, believing and praying for more because I am not prepared to accept the recent state. I read that in two generations time the church will be considered in the past tense in this nation. That is not going to happen. God is not done with this island yet. He can breathe life into nothing.’ Calver suggested that the church start really believing that the Christian faith is all about life, rather than accepting decline as inevitable.
Pray: for the Church to respond by confidently proclaiming the Gospel and working for revival. (Phl.1:14)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/gavin.calver.god.is.not.done.with.britain.yet/27835-2.htm