AUSTRALIAN PRAYER NETWORK NEWSLETTER November 16, 2009

* EVANGELISM TO BE MADE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE IN RUSSIA

* ABORTION CLINIC DIRECTOR RESIGNS AFTER WATCHING ABORTION ULTRASOUND

* CHRISTIAN DOCTORS TELL OF MIRACLES AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

* ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CHURCH PRESSURED TO CLOSE SERVICES IN TEHRAN

* NORTH KOREA PRISONS HOLD 150,000 POLITICAL PRISONERS

* CHILDHOOD EXPOSURE TO VIOLENT MEDIA PRODUCES VIOLENT ADULTS RESEARCH FINDS

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EVANGELISM TO BE MADE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE IN RUSSIA

Legislation introduced this month threatens to make evangelism nearly impossible in Russia. “Only religious groups registered for at least 15 years will be allowed to engage in evangelistic or missionary activity,” says Bob Provost of Slavic Gospel Association. “If an overseas church were to send a youth group over to help with a summer camp (which happens a lot), or if they were to send over a music group to help with evangelistic activity, it would not be allowed. The legislation also outlaws local churches from missionary activity within hospitals, orphanages, or homes for the aged.

Under the new legislation children will be prohibited from attending religious activities without specific permission of a parent or guardian. This would devastate ministry opportunities. “The single greatest evangelistic opportunity that the Church has today comes at Christmas time when they’re able to hold Christmas events and invite children from the community,” explains Provost. “Parents and grandparents often accompany their children to these meetings and find out that the lies that they’ve been hearing via the media or in the schools against evangelical Christianity are not true.” The legislation also forbids any “offers of material, social and other benefits,” leaving the range of prohibited activity almost completely open-ended. Anyone convicted under the proposed legislation (offering food to the poor, sharing the Gospel with a child, evangelizing on a short-term trip etc.) could be fined up to $500 USD. The Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists (RUECB) has responded to the legislation, but it does not appear as though the government is willing to change it.

Provost suggests that the legislation may be being enacted in defence of the Orthodox Church in Russia. Although the Baptist Church is not growing astronomically in Russia, it is growing and may well be considered a threat. “It’s evident that president Putin, when he came into power, put the government’s arm around the Orthodox Church again in order to unify the country,” says Provost. As a result, “Any religion that starts to get in the way of the Orthodox Church is going to be considered a threat, and steps taken to remove it.”

Amid all of the concern, the Church continues to grow in Russia. “605 men have been set apart and are ready to be sent as missionaries all over the former Soviet Union. Provost says “Nine out of ten communities are still waiting for a Gospel witness presence. In other words, nine out of ten communities have never had a Bible teaching church.” The RUECB is asking churches in Russia to fast and pray that the legislation would not be passed in any of the stages toward its becoming law. Please pray with them.

Source: Intercessors Network

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ABORTION CLINIC DIRECTOR RESIGNS AFTER WATCHING ABORTION ULTRASOUND

The director of a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in Bryan, Texas has resigned after watching an ultrasound video of a child being killed by abortion. “I just thought, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’ It was just like a flash that hit me and I thought, ‘that’s it,’” said Abby Johnson in an interview with a local TV news network. Johnson had held her position with the Clinic for eight years, and worked as its director for two. She began to feel uncomfortable with the business philosophy of the clinic, when the owners told her to try to bring more abortions in the door to offset the economic downturn.

“The money wasn’t in family planning, nor prevention, the money was in abortion and I had a problem with that,” said Johnson. But the turning point was when she witnessed an actual ultrasound image of an abortion being performed. “I feel so pure in heart. I don’t have this burden of guilt on me anymore,” said Johnson. Johnson resigned during the Coalition for Life sixth annual 40 Days for Life campaign, held as part of a national prayer and fasting campaign against abortion and she has since joined up with the campaign to begin praying near her old workplace.

“This is the most amazing thing we have ever experienced in Coalition for Life” said director Shawn Carney. 40 Days for Life national director David Bereit said that Johnson’s “amazing conversion demonstrates the importance of a constant, peaceful prayer presence in front of abortion facilities. Since 2004, we’ve prayed that abortion workers would come to see what abortion really is, and would leave the deadly business. In this case our prayers have been answered,” said Bereit. “We are so proud of Abby’s courage in leaving the industry.”

The story is receiving broad attention. Planned Parenthood reacted with legal action on Friday by filing for a temporary restraining order, seeking to prevent Johnson and the Coalition for Life from disclosing confidential information. “We regret being forced to turn to the courts to protect the safety and confidentiality of our clients and staff; however, in this instance it is absolutely necessary,” said Planned Parenthood in a statement. A hearing for the restraining order has been set for November 10.

Johnson is one of eight abortion industry workers who left their jobs during the fifth coordinated 40 Days for Life campaign that has now concluded in 212 cities. She was the highest-ranking of the eight. Others who quit their clinic jobs included nurses, office staffers and security personnel. In addition, a Planned Parenthood abortion facility in Kalispell, Montana announced that it will close its doors on November 20, citing a decline in business as the reason for the closure. That clinic was the site of a 40 Days for Life prayer vigil this past spring.

Source: LifeSiteNews.com

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CHRISTIAN DOCTORS TELL OF MIRACLES AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

Some 400 doctors and medical professionals from 30 different countries attended the 6th International Christian Medical Conference held in Kiev recently. Organized by the World Christian Doctors Network (WCDN), the conference attracted doctors and medical professionals who all believe in the power of prayer to heal. But they also believe that miracles should be provable and so several of them brought their medical data which was printed out in a book and also shown on a screen and then took questions from their peers.

Dr Irene Jacovou, an MD from Brisbane, presented evidence for the healing of a 64-year-old retired school principal from skin cancer. She then testified of her own experience revealing three miracles she had experienced. She said she had been healed from two forms of cancer, including breast cancer, and then she dropped a bombshell. “I once suffered cardiac arrest and was ‘dead’ for 45 minutes,” she said. “A miracle occurred and I was brought back to life. After a short time I was back at work with no damage whatsoever to my brain, and able to work again as a doctor.”

Delegates to the conference were welcomed by Dr. Yoon-Seok Chae, a South Korean surgeon, who is also president of the WCDN. “The same miracles, signs and wonders performed 2,000 years ago are still taking place today,” he asserted in his talk. He went on to say, “The WCDN was organized to medically analyse divine healing cases, clarify the data before and after the healing and testify with the data that God is alive and the Bible is authentic.” Rev. Dr. Vitaliy Fishberg, who now practices in New York City spoke on the topic, “Spiritual Secrets of Divine Healing.”

Dr. Fishberg said, “Despite the advancement of medicine many people are still suffering from diseases many of which are incurable. “But there is one way where every kind of disease can be healed…that is when you meet Almighty God. He can heal any kind of diseases that cannot be cured with science and medicines.” At the end of the first day a time of prayer was held for the healing of sick doctors. Many were prayed for and are expected to share with others about their own personal miracle. Next year’s conference is scheduled for Rome in Italy.

Source: ASSIST News Service

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ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CHURCH PRESSURED TO CLOSE SERVICES IN TEHRAN

The leaders of the Central Assemblies of God Church in Tehran, have announced that Friday worship services will no longer take place and only two Sunday services will be conducted in future. The Church has been conducting 2 worship services each Friday afternoon in what represented the largest formal public gathering of Iranian Christians inside Iran, It has been under extreme pressure from the Ministry of Information to shut down its Friday meetings. The decision to close the Friday services was made in the best interest of the membership of the church.

The announcement of the termination of the Friday services was received with shock and surprise. Rev. Soorik, the overseer of the AOG Churches in Iran who made the announcement, has been under ongoing pressure from the officials of the Ministry of Information to close down the church on Fridays, the official day of worship in Iran when most people do not work. The Revolutionary Guards had demanded the closure of the church by October 31, 2009, or they would close it for good by force. The decision to close the Friday services was therefore made to protect the members.

The Assemblies of God Church of Tehran was founded by several Godly men and women many years before the Islamic revolution. This church continued its ministry after the victory of the Islamic Revolution and several pastors were martyred by extremist and fanatic elements within the regime. So far no reasons for the closure of the Assemblies of God Church have been given by any government official. However it demonstrates the intention of the government with regard to the Iranian Christian communities within Iran.

Source: Intercessors Network

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NORTH KOREA PRISONS HOLD 150,000 POLITICAL PRISONERS

North Korea still runs six prison camps holding 154,000 political prisoners, according to a South Korean parliamentarian Yoon Sang-hyun. He said inmates worked more than 10 hours a day on only 200g of food, and are denied medical care. Mr Yoon said he was basing his claims on a South Korean government report. North Korea denies claims it abuses human rights. But human rights groups and North Korean refugees describe blatant, widespread and ongoing violations of basic rights in the Stalinist country.

In his statement to the National Assembly, Mr Yoon said North Korea used to operate 10 labour camps holding some 200,000 people in the 1990s, but had closed four under international pressure. But he said six large camps were still going, holding dissidents, those who had attempted to flee the country, the losers in political power struggles, and ordinary North Koreans accused of being disrespectful towards the leadership. The political prisoners are held in separate prisons from common criminals Mr Yoon said.

“North Korea perpetrates various crimes against humanity, including public executions, tortures or rapes, against those who try to escape,” Mr Yoon was quoted as saying. Observers say that over recent years South Korea has often been reluctant to highlight evidence of rights abuses in its northern neighbour for fear of jeopardising attempts at rapprochement. But South Korea’s conservative President Lee Myung-bak pledged to be more openly critical of the North’s authoritarian regime when he took office last year.

Source: Intercessors Network

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CHILDHOOD EXPOSURE TO VIOLENT MEDIA PRODUCES VIOLENT ADULTS RESEARCH FINDS

According to a new study released from the University of Michigan, children’s repeated exposure to violent television and video games is the strongest predictor of violence in adulthood. The study supports what has been long suspected: viewing violent “entertainment” and participating in “virtual violence” have profoundly serious implications for society. Specific findings in the study include:

* The amount of violence children watch on television when they are young predicts how violently they will behave in adulthood, showing an even stronger influence on aggressive behaviour than living in poverty, engaging in substance abuse, or having an abusive parent.

* Men in their early 20s who were heavy viewers of violent TV shows between the ages of six to nine were twice as likely as other men to push, grab or shove their spouses. They were also three times as likely to be convicted of criminal behaviour. Playing violent video games changes brain function, desensitizing chronic players to actual violence.

* Women who were high-volume users of violent shows as young children were more than twice as likely as other women to have thrown something at their spouses and more than four times as likely as other young women to have punched, beaten or choked another adult.

Source: DeMossNewsPond.com

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