THE CHURCH IN THE MIDDLE-EAST IS ALIVE AND ADVANCING FORCEFULLY IN THE NAME OF JESUS

Source: Arabic Christian Television Sources

This is an edited version of an article authored by an executive of one of the Arabic Christian Channels in the Middle-East. Name has been withheld for security reasons.

For 14 centuries, Islam has been holding its people hostage through a religion based on fear and manipulation, with some of its adherents attacking, threatening and even killing any one who dares to stand in their way. Islam is trying to convince the world that it is a religion of truth, love and peace, something that is not supported by its own teaching. Now after 14 centuries of propaganda and attacks, Islam is trembling to its core.

About 5 years ago, as I went into a week of fasting and prayer, the Lord gave me a vision to pioneer an apostolic non-compromising Arab Christian television station. We went by the vision that the Lord showed us and with the partnership of another ministry two Arabic Christian channels were launched as inspired by the vision the Lord showed me.  This was so encouraging and challenging to many that a third one came into existence and the couple of existing stations changed their strategy to become more direct and bold.

While the Middle-East was busy being entangled in the political and military situation in Iraq, before realizing what had happened, the whole of the Arab world was hit by the sudden phenomena of Arabic 24/7 Christian television stations! And for the first time ever, Arab Christians are being strengthened and equipped and Muslims all over the Arab world are hearing what Jesus really said. No one would have ever thought that in the Arab world, a region where Muslims form 97.5% of the population, there would be more Arabic Christian television stations than there is Muslim ones. In fact, we know that there are now millions of Muslims who have converted to Jesus. That is why Islam is trembling.

Something worth mentioning is the amazing program of a Coptic evangelical priest, Fr Zakariah Botross.  God has raised him as the apostle for reaching Muslims. His program has become one of the most controversial programs in the Middle-East and about to become one of the most popular. For that man of God uses the Koran and Islamic books to disprove the claims of Islam and of its prophet Muhammad.  He goes on to prove from Islamic books that the Koran and not the Bible, is full of controversies and mistakes.  He ends up his program by leading viewers to Christ. His program is having such a major impact that in some North African countries television receivers are running out. People searching for the evil man who is insulting (in their view), exposing and blaspheming their religion, end up watching the rest of the programs on the Christian channel. And great testimonies of salvation, healing and deliverance are occurring everywhere on a daily basis.   We need to pray for this man of God for there is today 25 million dollars on his head.

If you would like to read about this amazing man of God, his life and mission, get your copy of a soon to be released book entitled, 'Defying Death : Zakariah Botross,­ Apostle to Islam' at Koorong Books or you can order online at: http://www.cityharvest.org.au/shop

For a long time, Islamic Arab media has been deliberately turning a blind eye to Arabic Christian television on the basis that if they attack them in the media, they will become more popular. Therefore, Muslim leaders are in a vicious circle not knowing what to do with this phenomenon of Arabic Christian stations. Just recently, there has been a shift in the atmosphere as Arabic Islamic media is unable to stay quiet any longer and are launching attacks against the Christian channels.

By being attacked by Islamic Media, the Arabic Christian channels are becoming more popular however it is bound also to make persecution more frequent and martyrdom inescapable. In the last couple of years two Iranian Christian channels have emerged for the first time. Just a few weeks ago; the first Turkish Christian Channel emerged. I believe that the emergence of the first Turkish Christian Channel was one of the reasons behind the recent martyrdom of three ministers which made international headlines. Alongside the coming revival in the Middle-East, unfortunately, martyrdom is bound to happen as well.  This has always been the case with revivals, especially in crucial region changing revivals.

What happened in the early church is exactly what happened during the reformation. Same cruelty, similar methods...and unfortunately, this is about to happen in our region. That is why I am currently producing a drama program called 'Martyrs'. In this history/drama program, I cover the stories of the martyrs throughout history as inspired by several books. I believe that just as the martyrs of reformation were inspired by the martyrs of the early church, we pray that Christian ministers and Muslim converts facing persecution and martyrdom, shall be encouraged and inspired by this program. 

NEW SURVEY SAYS BRITISH YOUTH ARE WILLING TO HEAR ABOUT CHRISTIANITY

Source: Assist News Service

British young people, aged between 18 and 24, are more open to faith-based dialogues than any other age group in the United Kingdom, a recent survey by Premier Media Group revealed. According to the survey, Christians came out on top of the poll; with 74 percent of 18-24 year olds willing to listen to them talk about their own faith.

The results also revealed 63 percent of young adults were willing to listen to Jews and despite recent political unrest, 62 percent were willing to listen to Muslims talk about their religion. Hindus also registered positively in the poll at 61 percent. While over 71 percent of young adults were willing to listen to agnostics, only 56 percent were willing to listen to atheists, the lowest rating in the survey alongside Buddhists.

Peter Kerridge, Chief Executive of the Christian media group, Premier, believes the lack of young adults interested in discussing atheism can been attributed to a change in cultural awareness and acceptance of major religions in the media. "From footballers to reality TV contestants, people are talking openly and positively about their faith through the media." Kerridge commented. "The result of this includes young adults being more open to explore their own faith as well as being willing to share new found beliefs with others."

Kerridge, credited the interest in Christianity of young adults to steadily growing mission projects across the Church. "We have seen that spirituality and faith still play an important part in British culture. Within the Christian community, you need only to look at initiatives like the Alpha Course and Soul Survivor to know that young adults are reaching out and finding resources and support in the Church."

HUSBAND PROCLAIMS WIFE'S MIRACULOUS HEALING ON BILLBOARDS

Source: The Church Report

Ron Tripodo has placed massive billboards on some of Atlanta, Georgia's most travelled highways proclaiming the miracle of his wife's recovery from a "death coma," the result of a rare virus called Herpes simplex encephalitis. The billboards, which show his wife Patsy smiling, are not meant to be evangelistic. They simply read "Jesus healed my wife: Patsysmiracle.com."

"I put them up as a way to say thank you to God for healing my wife," said Tripodo, a born-again Christian who attends Cobb Vineyard Church. Patsy,  who is close to 100 percent back to normal, said: "I didn't really care that my face was up there. So many people have prayed for me. It's amazing." To read her full testimony, visit the website: http://www.patsysmiracle.com/.

Darryl Kaelin, medical director of Shepherd Centre's acquired brain injury program said, "Patsy's case was very unusual. I've maybe seen a couple dozen cases in 10 years, and very few as bad as Patsy. It's usually pretty catastrophic...Her recovery is remarkable. Whether it's a miracle of science or faith, or all of the above, is sometimes difficult to distinguish. But I will say this: Ron's faith that Patsy was going to be healed never wavered. And now, medically speaking, I see no reason to suspect Patsy's condition will worsen again."

So far, there has been quite a response to the billboards. Now, the Tripodo's pray for the people who contact them with similar stories, "just like people we didn't know were praying for for us."

DOCTORS GATHER IN MIAMI TO SHARE AND EXAMINE SUPERNATURAL DIVINE MIRACLES

Source: ASSIST Ministries

Hundreds of Christian doctors from around the world gathered this past week in Miami, Florida, to examine the topic of supernatural healing from "the Great Physician." They are part of the World Christian Doctors Network (WCDN) who met for their 4th International Medical Conference with the theme of "Spirituality and Medicine." Attendees heard a series of talks given by doctors a variety of subjects including case studies of miracle healings of "incurable" illnesses resulting from the prayer of faith.

Dr. Joonha Hwang, President of WCDN, and a South Korea physician, explained how the organization came into being. "Two thirds of medical schools in the United States, including Harvard and Johns Hopkins, offer courses on spirituality and faith in their curriculums, largely because patients are demanding more spiritual care," he said. "According to a Newsweek poll, 84 percent of Americans believe that prayer  can have a positive effect on a person's recovery from illness."

A group of Christian medical doctors decided to form WCDN to tackle the issues on spirituality, with the main intention to influence and equip Christian doctors by proclaiming the Gospel principally through the healing ministry." Dr. Hwang added, "During the walk of Jesus here on earth, a major strategy He used to proclaim His Lordship was to heal the sick. It is our role as His expert witnesses to testify to the works of healing by the Power of God with verified medical data."

For more information on the World Christian Doctors Network, go to www.wcdn.org.

HINDU CHAPLAIN PRAYS TO NEARLY EMPTY SENATE

Source: CNS News

Rajan Zed, the first Hindu chaplain to open the Senate with prayer, did so to a nearly empty Senate chamber last week. The only officials present were Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who sponsored Zed's request to lead the invocation, and Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma. Three Christian protestors were removed from the U.S. Senate chamber's observation gallery during the prayer. Though it was the first time a Hindu was invited to conduct a Senate invocation, the tradition of having a Christian lead the prayer was actually broken during the previous administration, when a Muslim delivered the prayer in 1993. According to a recent report, Former Navy Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt who is known for praying "in Jesus Name," was recently denied permission to pray in the Senate by the Senate

CONVICTED ARSONIST'S PARENTS GO TO BURNED CHURCH AND RECEIVE GOD'S FORGIVENESS AND LOV

Source: Tuscaloosa News

Hope and healing were the order of the day at Galilee Baptist Church (now housed in a trailer), where Kim and Mike Cloyd, parents of convicted church arsonist Matthew Cloyd, visited recently. The black congregation "sang and hugged the Cloyds and gave thanks for God's love in a two-hour service before the Rev. Bob Little led a tour of the new church building being constructed a few hundred yards away."

The Cloyds shared of their desire to see each of the nine churches that their son burned last year and asked for their forgiveness. "I know your hearts were broken the night your church was burned," Kim Cloyd said. "But we love our son. We will not leave his side."

Observers attending the service were quoted as saying they were overwhelmed by the sense of forgiveness and love in the congregation towards the Cloyds.