Exloring Life Eternal

Thank you for your prayers on the behalf of two workers who were hoping to move closer to the downtown area of their city in order to be closer to their work and the people with whom they are building relationships and sharing. They were able to move last month to a new apartment, and are very pleased with their new location. Thank the Lord for His provision and ask that He will guard and protect them as they live and work among the lost.

BOOK - A GUIDE TO MISSIONS NETWORKING AND PARTNERSHIP
from: visionSynergy <info@visionsynergy.net>

"Well Connected: Releasing Power and Restoring Hope"
By Phill Butler

Phill Butler's new book is a practical guide to inspire and inform those who want to help God's people work together - in their neighborhoods or around the world. It addresses the theory, theology, and practice of networking, which help mission organizations and churches realize Jesus' vision that “they may all be one ... so that the world will know you have sent me” (John 17:21).

"This is a book that many of us have been awaiting for a long
time. I know of no one whom the Lord has used more effectively
in launching ministry partnerships than Phill Butler. Phill writes
from a deep reservoir of experience as he has been used of God
to launch literally scores of significant ministry partnerships
around the world. No one is better equipped than Phill to provide
this significant book for all of us to not only read, but to
be led of the Holy Spirit to put the principles into practice
wherever we minister." - Paul Cedar, Chairman of the Mission
America Coalition

Ordering information: Waynesboro, GA: Authentic Media, 2006,
352 pages. Available for US$15.95 plus shipping and handling
from ConnectBook.net (http://www.connectedbook.net) or write
to Power of Connecting <info@powerofconnecting>.

EDITOR’S NOTE: We can’t say enough good things about Phill Butler
and the ministries he has launched and inspired. Get a taste
for yourself through several chapters of this book posted at
ConnectedBook.net (http://www.connectedbook.net).

Collective wisdom on this topic from the staff of Interdev was also published in a paperback book by Ernie Addicott. “Body Matters: A Guide to Partnership in Christian Mission” is available from Interdev Partnership Associates (IPA) for US$10 plus shipping and handling.

To learn more, contact IPA (http://aaraujo@ipassociates.org).

Both these books are also available from William Carey Library
(http://williamcareylibrary.gospelcom.net).

RESOURCES FOR GLOBAL PRAYER

“Look at the nations and watch – and be utterly amazed. For I
am going to do something in your days that you would not believe,
even if you were told.” Habakkuk 1:5

The next Global Day of Prayer is Pentecost Sunday, June 4, 2006.
http://www.globaldayofprayer.com
Are you ready? Millions of Christians are expected to pray for the ten days preceding Pentecost as well. An useful guide has been published by Waymakers:
http://www.waymakers.org

Other resources and details are also available at GDOP USA:
http://www.gdopusa.com

This day of prayer coincides with the launch of an even more
extensive prayer campaign, an unprecedented year-long prayer
focus on the world’s least-reached peoples:

Ethne' - http://www.ethne.net
[See below!]

Global Prayer Digest - http://www.global-prayer-digest.org

Joshua Project - http://www.joshuaproject.net

... and others are teaming up to provide information to fuel this effort, which will last from June 2006 through May 2007. We expect united prayer will open doors and fuel effective outreach efforts throughout the earth!

Each month will be dedicated to prayer for one of 12 regions:

June 2006: South Pacific
July 2006: Southeast Asia
August 2006: Northeast Asia
September 2006: South Asia
October 2006: Central Asia
November 2006: Middle East and North Africa
December 2006: East and South Africa
January 2007: West and Central Africa
February 2007: Eastern Europe and Eurasia
March 2007: Western Europe
April 2007: Central and South America
May 2007: North America and the Caribbean

A map is available here:
http://www.joshuaproject.net/ethne globalregion.php

Ethne' has produced a DVD with video testimonies and videos highlighting each world region and its prayer needs. They are currently finalizing global distribution channels. “Other
resources will be available through the Ethne site and are being uploaded now as quickly as possible. You are given permission to duplicate and distribute as much as possible,” write the Ethne staff.

Write to request further information:
prayer (at) ethne (dot) net

VIDEO CD - 2005 GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER DOCUMENTARY
from: Marc van der Woude <info@joelnews.org>, Joel News (http://www.joelnews.org)

Last year the Global Day of Prayer (GDOP) united 200 million
people in 150 nations in what has been labeled ‘the biggest prayer
gathering ever.’ From Fiji in the east to Hawaii in the west,
the whole world was covered with non-stop prayer and worship.
In thousands of stadiums, church buildings, squares, desert tents,
living rooms, and even prisons, believers poured out their hearts
to God.

The touching documentaries of this Global Day of Prayer and the
years of prayer that preceded it, have now been captured on one
CD. People who saw the _Transformations_ video series (from The
Sentinel Group) (http://www.sentinelgroup.org/vsg2001.asp), which
showed how united prayer transforms nations, will certainly appreciate
this high-quality video CD compiled by the South African GDOP
team. This is a great tool to encourage churches and prayer groups
and to mobilize Christians to pray.

This English-language CD can be played on any PC or notebook
computer. Besides the video material, the CD also contains manuals,
articles, and promotional materials for the upcoming Global Day
of Prayer on June 4, 2006, and the 10 days of prayer and fasting
that will precede this event. Make a free-will offering and
request your copy from Joel Ministries (http://www.joelnews.org/promo/gdopcd.htm#order)
or send an e-mail <info@joelnews.org>.

MALAYSIA - COURTS FACE CHALLENGE OF CHRISTIAN CONVERSIONS
from: Compass Direct (http://www.compassdirect.org) - April
26, 2006

On April 13 [Malaysia's] Federal Court granted permission to
Lina Joy, a Malaysian Muslim convert to Christianity, to appeal
the government’s refusal to remove her Muslim status from her
identity card.

The ground-breaking decision came after lower courts – the High
Court and the Court of Appeal – repeatedly dismissed her application.
Besides religious rights for Joy, at issue is whether Islamic
courts have the sole right to handle cases of Muslims who leave
their religion.

Joy, previously known as Azlina binti Jailani, became a Christian
in 1990 and was baptized in 1998. The NRD refused to change her
religious status and insisted that Joy obtain an order from the
Islamic law (sharia) court stating that she had become an apostate.

Full story here (http://www.compassdirect.org/en/newslongen.php?idelement=4332).