Exloring Life Eternal

Western Sahara - We pray that you would help the Christian Church in the Western Sahara to grow in maturity.

Egypt – Pray for protection of those who chose to follow Jesus Christ in this precious nation.

UAE - We pray particularly that you would raise up good leaders and teachers so that the Christian Church in the UAE can continue to grow.

Morocco - We praise you, LORD, for the way in which you are at work in Morocco, and that many have received you as Savior in their lives.

Iraq - Pray for daily strength for each Christian, especially those living amidst the threat of violence and crime.

Israel - Pray that expatriate Christians present in this nation as migrant workers would be wisely intentional in making Jesus Christ known.

Tajikistan – Father, we give thanks that the number of Christian Believers has grown in this country over recent years. We pray that though few in number they might be a great light to this nation and lead many more to you.

Djibouti - We remember the Christian Church in Djibouti and ask, LORD, that you would strengthen its members as they seek to follow you in this Islamic state.

<><

WINDOW INTERNATIONAL NETWORK
PO Box 49127
Colorado Springs, CO 80949-9127
email: win@win1040.com
phone: (719) 522-1040
web: http://www.win1040.com

UK: HARD FACTS
*100,000 children a year run away from broken homes.
*41% of all children born in the UK are to unmarried couples.
*The UK has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europe.
*Over the last 35 years, an average of 1 abortion has been legally carried out every three minutes, 80% funded by the National Health Service.
*Each year 140,000 people attempt suicide and 4,000 children every day call the Childline.
*24 million anti-depressant prescription items are issued each year.
*Regular annual drug users: 5 million use cannabis, 3.4 million ecstasy, 2 million amphetamines and cocaine.
*British Telecom blocks 20,000 attempts per day of people trying to watch pornographic acts with children on the internet.
*Program sex scenes on British TV have increased 300% in the last 5 years.
*At peak times, 8 out of 10 admissions to Emergency Rooms are a result of drinking, costing the UK £12 billion a year.
*60 million acts of crime take place annually.
*380,000 people are living on British streets.
REPORTED IN AUSTRALIAN PRAYER NETWORK NEWSLETTER, compiled from various sources]

ISRAEL TO RECEIVE CHRISTIAN TV STATION
Daystar Television Network announced a new contract allowing them to become the first TV channel to broadcast 100 percent Christian programming into every home in Israel. Daystar, which owns and operates 50 US television stations, is excited about the opportunity. President Marcus D. Lamb commented on the pioneering project saying, "Up until now, it has either been illegal, impossible, or impractical. The message of the Gospel will now be going into every home in Israel 24 hours per day, seven days per week. This is a moment in time that we will always remember." The contract came after a year of negotiations and a six-month trial period featuring popular shows "Celebration" and "The Joni Show." Daystar's global purpose is to reach as many people with the good news of the Gospel through an extensive blend of interdenominational and multi-cultural programming. [ASSIST, 9 May '06]


200,000 IMPRISONED NORTH KOREAN CHRISTIANS
Rev. Carl Moeller, president of the persecution watchdog group Open Doors USA, says an estimated 200,000 Christians are imprisoned in North Korean labor camps where many face torture and execution. Escapees testified in April at congressional hearings and demonstrations in Washington as part of North Korea Freedom Week. The goal was to appeal for prayer and international pressure on the communist regime. For the fourth year in a row, Open Doors has ranked North Korea as the worst violator of religious rights in the world. Moeller calls it "one large concentration camp with the entire population trapped in a nightmare that doesn't end." [AGAPE, 28
April'06/Associated Press]

TOP RELIGIOUS PERSECUTORS
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has released its 2006 report naming the world's most severe persecutors of religious followers. The U.S. State Department uses the panel's recommendations to establish "counties of particular concern" (CPCs) in the area of religious freedom. Retained from last year's list of CPCs are Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Vietnam. Additionally, the panel repeated recommendation that Pakistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan be designated CPCs, despite Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's refusal to include those countries in a State Department report in November. A "watch
list" of additional religious persecutors included Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia and Nigeria. The panel continues to analyze reports from India, Russia and Sri Lanka as well. [BAPTIST PRESS, HCJB 12 May '06]

RESOURCES:
BRIGHT IDEAS for getting kids into missions:
http://www.wycliffe.org/catalog/BrightIdeas/home.htm

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH MINISTRY site to equip leaders:
http://www.reach-out.org

PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS:
Recent headlines and media resources, updated almost daily:
http://www.christianmonitor.org/

************************************************************
NEWS BYTES is compiled monthly by Debbie Meroff of OM News & Information [OMNI] in London, England. Material may be freely copied and circulated. Items do not necessarily reflect OM position and questions should be directed to the original news source. Html version can be found on www.om.org. Please do not hit "reply" to this email as subscriptions are automated. For a free e-mail subscription send a message to:
newsbytes-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

WEST BANK CENTER DESTROYED
Armed militants firebombed the Living Stones Christian student centre on the West Bank community of Bir Beit on February 28, leaving the spray-painted warning to "Get out of here." No one was injured. The Palestinian Bible Society bookshop in Gaza also suffered damage from small pipe bombs and was temporarily closed after death threats to staff. Christians continue to have a positive attitude but ask others to pray. Bible Society Director Labib Mandanat says the tiny Christian community associated with the Bible Society in Gaza has impacted Muslims with the love of Christ. "Out of this chaos, God has brought good."
[CHRISTIAN POST 12 March '06]


LITERATURE MINISTRY CONTINUES IN IRAQ DESPITE VIOLENCE
As violence in Iraq continues to escalate, Open Doors remains committed to
carrying out its ministry in the country. Last year staff distributed 20,000 Arabic children's Bibles, set up 12 libraries for adults and children in churches nationwide, translated six children's booklets and produced a special music cassette. This year copies of the handbook, "Counseling Youth," as well as a newly published daily devotional called "One Year Through the Bible" and the "Chronicles of Narnia" series will be distributed throughout the country. Open Doors will also produce and print 40 brochures and leaflets concerning medical issues, opening opportunities to build bridges between Muslims and Christians. [HCJB/OPEN DOORS 27 Feb.'06]


CHRISTIAN SITES A 'HIT' IN MIDDLE EAST
A boom in Christian websites is occurring in the Middle East. According to the Strategic Resource Group (SRG), these websites are receiving nearly 9 million hits per month and more than 2,000 Arabic Bibles are downloaded from the internet each month. One Christian organisation that hosts chat rooms for Arabic-speaking visitors estimates that more than 42,000 people visit these Christian sites every day. More than half of the population in the Middle East is 25-years-old or under and most have easy access to computers, either in their homes or in public venues such as internet cafes and schools. [ASSIST 9 Feb.'06]
Go to: http://www.srginc.org
Go to: http://www.assistnews.org

PERSECUTION LIST
Open Doors' annual "World Watch" list of 50 countries where Christians are subjected to the most persecution puts North Korea in first place, followed by Saudia Arabia, Iran, Somalia, Maldives, Bhutan, Vietnam, Yemen, Laos and China. Open Doors President Carl Moeller contends that the communist government of North Korea has detained more political and religious prisoners than any country in the world. In addition to North Korea, countries with communist governments include Vietnam, Laos and China. Islamic-dominated countries are Saudi Arabia, Iran, Somalia, Maldives and Yemen. 70 expatriate Christians in Saudi Arabia were arrested in 2005 during worship in private homes, in what has been called this country's largest crackdown on Christians in a decade. Iran moved from number 5 to number 3 after the election of a hard-line conservative president. [OPEN DOORS]
http://www.opendoorsusa.org


BACKPACKER'S MAGAZINE (HEBREW)
A 12 page, full colour, glossy magazine is filling a unique gap in reaching out to Israeli young people. 7,000 copies of the 4th edition of "Lo B Mikre," which means Not By Chance, has hit the streets this March. The magazine bears the subheading 'The alternative magazine for different life,' and includes personal testimonies, comics and articles about current topics like the DaVinci Code and Santo Daime cult that is gaining popularity in Israel.
Go To: http://www.lo-bemikre.co.il/]


RESOURCES:
A helpful website for news and prayer about ISRAEL, or for those who want to explore the Jewish roots of Christianity: www.saltshakers.com

The following article reveals a major chink in the thinking processes of some in government:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20060220-121022-8852r.htm

A. This was the same sort of error that led to the downfall of Judah after Hezekiah's time.
B. The bin-Ladin family has construction companies in the UAE.
C. Which is more important: money or integrity?

I have friends in the UAE.
I desire the Good News to spread in the UAE.

However, just as I believe an expansionist policy is wrong for the USA (ie. it is wrong to build a USA empire in Muslim countries), it is also wrong for other countries to control major USA ports in this way. It is both unwise politically, internationally, historically, & ultimately economically.

Unless the USA government wishes to cede a certain portion of seats in Congress & certain offices in the White House & the Supreme Court to foreign governments, this seems foolish to me.

It is like spreading sand over our eyes.

The UAE government cannot grow legitimate vegetables in their deserts & now a UAE agency is being asked to control the USA ports?

I suppose that it is about as likely that Tel Aviv will become a popular destination to homosexuals & actively seek them out.

Oh ... that is already happening according to a story I read this past weekend.

Alas!


Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a reproach to any people.

Debbie Meroff
Reply-To: newsbytes-owner@yahoogroups.com
N E W S * B Y T E S - February 2006
*************************************************
A Free Service of OPERATION MOBILISATION NEWS & INFORMATION*

TEL AVIV: GAY CAPITAL?
Israel tourism officials have announced that they plan on turning Tel Aviv into the gay capital of the world. "Tel Aviv and gay people are a perfect fit," said an official with the Israel Hotel Association (IHA). The idea was born when IHA Director-General Eli Ziv visited London to participate in the 2005 World Travel Market exhibition and met with representatives of the homo-lesbian travel industry. "We are drafting plans to encourage gay tourism from Germany, England and Holland," said Ziv. Tourism Ministry Director-General Eli Cohen said he would offer any financial assistance necessary. Tel Aviv hosts the largest Gay Pride Parade in Israel, drawing up to 100,000 people. [Ynetnews.com]

"YEAR OF THE FAMILY"
At its annual Partnership Conference in Cyprus, SAT-7, the Arabic Christian satellite TV channel in the Middle East and North Africa, announced the launch of the "2006 Year of the Family" Campaign. The campaign will include special programs on SAT-7, book distributions and seminars in churches with the aim of strengthening families. SAT-7 is sponsoring the event in association with local churches and Bible Societies in the Middle East. The slogan is "Together we can shape the future!" SAT-7 is also aiming to raise awareness of the needs of the disabled in the Arab world, and expanding programming for youth. [www.sat7.org/]

IRAQI CHURCHES BOMBED
A spate of car bombs exploded outside churches in Iraq on Sunday 29th January in what appears to have been a coordinated attack. The explosions occurred within a half hour period, apparently chosen to coincide with the time at which Christians would be going to church. Two churches in the northern city of Kirkuk and at least two others in the capital Baghdad were targeted. At least three people, including a 13-year-old boy, were killed and an estimated 16-20 people injured. According to some reports as many as 7 churches were bombed. On the same day, Christian students at Mosul University were beaten up by Muslim students. Many Iraqi Christians believe the events were retaliation for the Danish cartoons of Mohammed. [BARNABAS FUND 2 Feb.'06]

FIRST-EVER TURKISH CHRISTIAN SATELLITE TV CHANNEL
A broad coalition of sending organisations and Turkish local churches are pooling resources to start TURK-7 TV, the country's first Christian satellite TV channel. Programs were scheduled to begin airing in January on the same frequency as SAT-7, the successful Christian TV broadcasters for the Arab-speaking world. Initially TURK-7 will be on for 2 hours each Tuesday and Thursday, but it is hoped the channel will eventually have 24/7 programming. Follow-up (audience relations) will be an important part of the effort. Says one leading Turkish pastor, "Television is a very effective method for communicating across the entire nation. The most exciting thing is that TURK-7 is helping Turks to proclaim Christian truths to their own people, in their own language". [www.sat7.org/ ]

BIBLE GROUPS IN ETHIOPIA
Starting at zero four years ago, Ethiopia's capital Addis Adaba now has 185 Bible listening groups meeting regularly to listen to audio cassettes of the Bible and talk about the Scriptures. The groups are part of the Bible Society's "Faith comes by hearing" project. "Many participants have told us how listening to God's Word has changed their lives," states the project director. He says the people come together for fellowship and nourishment from the Scriptures. [BIBLE SOCIETY, EN 1/06]

YOUNG PEOPLE JAILED FOR READING BIBLE
Eritrean military authorities have jailed 75 Protestant Christians at the Sawa Military Training Camp for "reading Bibles and praying during their free time," local sources in the small East Africa nation confirmed. Most of the newly arrested evangelicals, 37 of them women, are student youths doing their compulsory national military service at Sawa, a remote center near Eritrea's mountainous western border with Sudan. The young conscripts had not attempted to conduct a Christian meeting or transgressed any other military law. Muslim conscripts are allowed to have their own copy of the Quran and pray 5 times a day. Since May 2002, the repressive regime of President Isaias Afwerki has closed down all independent evangelical churches and refused to allow their members to meet anywhere for worship. [COMPASS 2 Feb.'06]

RESPONSE TO CHRISTIAN RADIO IN INDONESIA TRIPLES
The coast of Indonesia is being rebuilt after the December 2004 tsunami, although survivors are still dealing emotionally and spiritually with their loss. A new radio station was launched in November by Back to the Bible in North Sumatra, one of the worst-hit areas. The station was launched through relief funds that came into Back to the Bible after the tsunami hit. Several programs are being aired, including a live call-in program. In the future, Aceh-language programming will be added to reach the hard-hit and spiritually needy area of Banda Aceh. The message of hope is resonating with listeners, many of whom write asking difficult questions. Response has nearly tripled since November. [MNN 2 Feb.'06]

INCREASE IN MISSION INTEREST BY STUDENTS
Jerry Rankin of the USA's Southern Baptist International Mission Board says more and more students are showing interest in missions. In 2001 and 2002, the board has seen more candidates than they have ever had in their history, with over 1,000 missionaries dispatched to fields in each of those years. "Even though we have a higher number of retirements," he said, "we're seeing the highest [number] of missionary appointments." This past year, over 3,000 people applied as candidates to be apprentice missionaries, expressing a sense of call to missions. And "these are candidates for our long-term service, accentuated Rankin, "not our short-term service." [CHRISTIAN POST 6 Feb.'06]

USA [TRADITIONAL] CHURCHES LOSING ATTRACTION [YET HUNGER REMAINS]
A growing number of Americans no longer view a local church as their primary religious meeting place. A study by the Barna Group shows that new forms of religious experience, such as house churches, marketplace ministries, and cyberchurches, are becoming the norm for millions. Discontent with traditional churches, changes in lifestyle and a desire to get closer to God have spurred a megashift. 2/3 of adults have internet access and the internet now serves as the foundation for faith experiences for more than 1 in 10 adults, although most also use it in tandem with another form of corporate religious experience. [RELIGION TODAY]

SHOCKWAVE! [PERSECUTED CHURCH]
For the fifth year, a prayer initiative organised by Open Doors International's youth branch, "Underground," will involve thousands of youths worldwide in praying for persecuted Christians. The March 3-5 event kicks off in New Zealand and travels across all time zones, both online and in other creative ways such as all-night events or prayer breakfasts. For more information in various languages or to obtain resources visit:
http://www.odshockwave.org/

RESOURCES:
TO ENCOURAGE CHRISTIAN WORKERS, especially those working in difficult or dangerous places, a new 15 minute daily radio program produced by Trans World Radio. For details see www.memcarebyradio.com Audio of programs also available on the web.

"France 2006," 40 DAYS OF PRAYER & FASTING DAYS FOR FRANCE, will take place from March 1st to April 9th. Prayer guides, promotional leaflets, and a new DVD called "God in France" can be ordered online. See www.objectiffrance.org

KIDS OF COURAGE website helps kids, parents and teachers link up with
mission prayer and projects worldwide: http://www.linkingup.com/

EZINE FOR MOBILIZERS "Missions Catalyst" by Caleb Project is a weekly
bulletin designed to inspire and equip Christians worldwide to be a voice
for strategic ministry.
See http://tinyurl.com/ar8ac
email info@cproject.com

==========

NEWS BYTES is compiled monthly by Debbie Meroff of OM News & Information
[OMNI] in London, England. Material may be freely copied and circulated.
Items do not necessarily reflect OM position and questions should be
directed to the original news source. Html version can be found on
www.om.org. Please do not hit "reply" to this email as subscriptions are
automated. For a free e-mail subscription send a message to:
newsbytes-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
To unsubscribe write: newsbytes-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

As I post this, I remember that Hosea recorded the word of the Lord: out of Egypt I will call My Son. This was later fullfilled in the life of Jesus (see Matthew 2).

=====
EGYPT: GLAD TIDINGS FROM CAIRO
Charisma Online (http://www.charismanow.com)
December 16, 2005
By J. Lee Grady

... Normally I wake up to the sound of an alarm clock at 6 a.m. But today, long before that hour, I was jarred out of a deep sleep by the sound of a Muslim cleric singing his prayers over a loudspeaker near my apartment on the Nile River. ... [O]ne of the world’s oldest Christian communities is rooted here. These Christians have lived in the shadow of Islam for centuries, enduring persecution and discrimination. But I am happy to announce that the Egyptian church is headed toward its finest hour.

... “God is showing us that he loves the Arab people,” my new friend explained. Egypt’s Christians are holding fast to a promise from the prophet Isaiah, who predicted hundreds of years ago that spiritual renewal would sweep from Egypt to the other nations of the Middle East.

“In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth.”
(Isaiah 19:23-24, NIV)

... when you visit this region you realize more is happening under the surface than what we hear about in Western media reports. God is on the move. ... Arab Christians feel neglected and abandoned by many of us in the West. They don’t understand why some Western Christians seem to show favoritism toward Jews, especially when the Israeli government has at times persecuted and harassed Arab believers in the Palestinian territories. +

Egyptian Christians love all lost people, this leader told me. “But our love for the Jewish people should not cause us to love any other group of people less.” During my December visit to Cairo, just a week before Christmas, I was reminded that Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus to Egypt to hide him from King Herod (see Matthew 2:13-15). ...

Source (http://www.charismanow.com/12-16-05). (Please visit this link to read the full article from which this was excerpted.)

====
+ [This is particularly an issue when Christians are unjustly biased towards those who are Jews according to the flesh while they neglect to show kindness to God's chosen people who have faith, whether Jews or Arabs or from other ethnic backgrounds in Israel or elsewhere. The issue is: will we look to politics or will we seek for the presence of God.]

Israel, Middle East

Leader: Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
Dominant Religion: Judaism
Christians: 1-2%
Persecution Ranking: Not Ranked

Israel's population of about six million is very diverse. Ethnically, roughly 79% are Jewish, 20% Arab, and 1% other people groups. Consequently, church fellowships worship in many languages, including Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, Amharic (the primary language of Ethiopia) and English. Some use more than one language in a service. Christians, especially priests, are frequently harassed by the ultra-Orthodox-Jewish community.

Israel's government also has an uneasy relationship with Christian organizations. A visa policy change in 2004 excluded their professional and administrative staff from being able to acquire a religious visa. This affected many churches and Christian ministries, and one Catholic hospital was threatened with closure. Several thousand ethnically Jewish people choose to believe Jesus as the Messiah, often referred to as Messianic Believers. For some, this causes little, if any, problems. For others it can be very serious. Some who have settled in Israel risk having their citizenship revoked, leaving them stateless and extremely vulnerable, because their claim to be Jewish is undermined.

<+><
Prayer points:

= Pray for improvements in relationships between traditional churches and the Israeli government.

= Pray that Christians harassed by some ultra-orthodox Jews will respond with wisdom, love, and courage.

= "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem" (Psalm 122:6). May it become truly the city of peace that God intends it to be.

<+><
Dear LORD Jesus, the Holy One of God, we thank You that You once walked in the land of Israel. Strengthen those who call on Your name to live in keeping with Your example. Grant them courage when harassed and the wisdom to confront injustice with wisdom, tact, and clarity. Dear Prince of Peace, strengthen all who work for true peace in this land of conflict.

Sources: LifeAgape International, Barnabus Fund, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Forum 18 News Service, Jubilee Campaign, Middle East Concern, Open Doors International, Voice of the Martyrs USA, and 3P Ministries.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Copyright © 2005, Window International Network. All rights reserved."

Many of us have heard of the recent evacuation of 9,000 zealous Jewish setters from the Gaza Strip who were then relocated in Israel. We did not hear about the need to pray for the only evangelical church in the Gaza Strip, the Gaza Baptist Church of Pastor Hana Massad. It has received threats from the Muslim fundamentalists and is currently being guarded by armed security. Pray for a view of God being greater than their difficult circumstances. Pastor Massad through the organization he founded called Christian Mission to Gaza is providing the practical needs for 300-500 Palestinians, 99% who are Muslim each month.

For more information look in Goggle for “Gaza Baptist Church or an
article in Christianity Today

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/008/13.25.html or contact the

Bethlehem Bible College
http://www.bethlehembiblecollege.edu/

Below is a letter that was shared with some friends about why I believe the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is a message of Peace:

Dear Brother _____,

Yes, I am quite familiar with the fact that Islam is by nature a religion
that is hostile to God & no-one can ever please God by the methods which it
espouses. It has much form of godliness, but no real power. I also am 100%
aware that Islam teaches, in essence, that the best way to win in this world
& the next is to be violent. I believe Islam is false when compared to
Christ & the cross.

However, my point was to clarify that I (& others?) preach & practice
"Christ & Him crucified." We will not see Muslims come to Christ just
because we return tit-for-tat with swords or bombs or laws. Nor because we
do nice & courteous things to Muslims. Rather, because we preach the Risen
Lord & are willing to follow Him to the cross.

The weapons of our warfare are not carnal. If all muslims were miraculously
redeemed & then secure in Christ, would they then continue to wage war
against non-Muslims simply because _they_ were from a Muslim background? I
sure hope not. In otherwords, the dragon may deceive & satan may use lies,
but he will ultimately lie dead at the foot of the cross.

Our security is not in national boundaries either. The Lord is our Defense.
The name of the Lord defines who we are as a people. (I am under the
distinct impression that there are members of this forum & the Body of
Christ from political states other than the USA, correct?)

I am not advocating that all people from the West evacuate the Middle East.
Quite the opposite. We need to send more there who will go in the Lord's
name. Nor do I advocate/endorse the opintion that the USA stop supporting
Israel/mediating in the regional conflict. That seems both unwise & useless
to me. Though, the USA is a straw reed compared to the Man who suffered
outside the gates of Jerusalem.

Pray for me to be a better communicator & listener, my friend.

Peace in the name of Jesus,
Mert Hershberger
PTAP@srginc.org
S.E. Michigan

<>< + ><>

Real nice expression of a wonderful Christian faith / walk!
N.