Billy Graham's Crusade in New York

Saturday, June 25

“God loves everyone here tonight,” said Billy Graham to a crowd of more than 80,000 Saturday evening at Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The second day of meetings for the Greater New York Billy Graham Crusade saw more than 92,000 people in attendance, including 12,000 at the morning’s Kidz Gig. By the end of the evening, more than 4,400 had made decisions for Christ as Lord and Savior, with the majority being young people under the age of 25.

Both events of the day were youth-focused, as games and a live-action drama featuring Bibleman took place at the morning meeting and the “Concert of Hope” including Christian artists Jars of Clay, Nicole C. Mullen, and Tree 63 occurred Saturday night.

The week of the Crusade has seen much activity from Christian teens, as groups from around the country came to New York to participate in street ministry—sharing Christ with passersby, volunteering in soup kitchens and churches, and inviting people to the Crusade. More than 2,000 teens covered the city, visiting nearly every corner from Harlem to Times Square. Thousands of spiritual conversations took place as these bold young people took the Gospel throughout the city, and hundreds of thousands of invitations were passed out on the streets.

Platform guests at the evening meeting included New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former President Bill Clinton, who each shared brief remarks, and New York senators Hilary Clinton and Chuck Schumer.

Mr. Graham spoke of the Rich Young Man from Mark 10:17-27, who came to Jesus with a troubled heart and spiritual questions. “He did a lot of things right,” said Mr. Graham. “He asked the right questions, he came at the right time.” But when Jesus challenged him to change the way he was living, he “did the wrong thing.”

Full story here

Ailing Billy Graham launches his last US crusade

By SHAWN MCCARTHY

Saturday, June 25, 2005

NEW YORK -- At 86 and in ill health, Billy Graham has come full circle in bringing his world-renowned Christian crusade back to the city he once condemned as "a stronghold of Satan" but which launched him into national prominence. ...

Billy Graham
Full story here
And also here

Classic Devotional

God Meant It Unto Good
by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman


"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God" (Rom. 8:28).

How wide is this assertion of the Apostle Paul! He does not say, "We know that some things," or "most things," or "joyous things," but "ALL things." From the minutest to the most momentous; from the humblest event in daily providence to the great crisis hours in grace.

And all things "work'--they are working; not all things have worked, or shall work; but it is a present operation.

At this very moment, when some voice may be saying, "Thy judgments are a great deep," the angels above, who are watching the development of the great plan, are with folded wings exclaiming, "The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works." (Ps. 145:17)

And then all things "work together." It is a beautiful blending. Many different colors, in themselves raw and unsightly, are required in order to weave the harmonious pattern.

Many separate tones and notes of music, even discords and dissonances, are required to make up the harmonious anthem.

Many separate wheels and joints are required to make the piece of machinery. Take a thread separately, or a note separately, or a wheel or a tooth of a wheel separately, and there may be neither use nor beauty discernible.

But complete the web, combine the notes, put together the separate parts of steel and iron, and you see how perfect and symmetrical is the result. Here is the lesson for faith: "What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter." --Macduff

In one thousand trials it is not five hundred of them that work for the believer's good, but nine hundred and ninety-nine of them, and one beside. --George Mueller

"GOD MEANT IT UNTO GOOD" (Gen. 50:20).

"God meant it unto good"--O blest assurance,
Falling like sunshine all across life's way,
Touching with Heaven's gold earth's darkest storm clouds,
Bringing fresh peace and comfort day by day.

'Twas not by chance the hands of faithless brethren
Sold Joseph captive to a foreign land;
Nor was it chance which, after years of suffering,
Brought him before the monarch's throne to stand.

One Eye all-seeing saw the need of thousands,
And planned to meet it through that one lone soul;
And through the weary days of prison bondage
Was working towards the great and glorious goal.

As yet the end was hidden from the captive,
The iron entered even to his soul;
His eye could scan the present path of sorrow,
Not yet his gaze might rest upon the whole.

Faith failed not through those long, dark days of waiting,
His trust in God was recompensed at last,
The moment came when God led forth his servant
To succour many, all his sufferings past.

"It was not you but God, that sent me hither,"
Witnessed triumphant faith in after days;
"God meant it unto good," no "second causes"
Mingled their discord with his song of praise.

"God means it unto good" for thee, beloved,
The God of Joseph is the same today;
His love permits afflictions strange and bitter,
His hand is guiding through the unknown way.

Thy Lord, who sees the end from the beginning,
Hath purposes for thee of love untold.
Then place thy hand in His and follow fearless,
Till thou the riches of His grace behold.

There, when thou standest in the Home of Glory,
And all life's path ties open to thy gaze,
Thine eyes shall see the hand which now thou trustest,
And magnify His love through endless days.
--Freda Hanbury Allen

• This classic devotional is the unabridged edition of Streams in the Desert. This first edition was published in 1925 and the wording is preserved as originally written. Connotations of words may have changed over the years and are not meant to be offensive.
source: Streams in the Desert

"What is the Gospel ?"

Have you ever tried to define or explain in simple terms what is "the gospel" of Jesus Christ ?

What exactly is the "gospel" ?

Here is part of the explanation from someone who had asked himself this question many years ago:

The Gospel is not just any word about Jesus or any word Jesus spoke. It is a very specific thing. The Gospel can be summed up in one little phrase: "The forgiveness of sins." In other words, if you have the forgiveness of sins, you have the Gospel. If you do not have the forgiveness of sins, you do not have the Gospel. This may seem like a simplistic concept to many who read this, and indeed it should have an air of sweet simplicity. However in our modern evangelicalism, the Gospel has been obscured and expanded to mean things that stand apart from the forgiveness of sins.

(The full article can be viewed at source :Faith Oasis )

Nigeria's war on Christians

FAITH UNDER FIRE

Nigeria's war on Christians
Islamic law brings death, suffering to non-Muslims
Posted: June 11, 2005
1:00 a.m. Eastern
© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com

More than 10,000 Christians have been killed since 1999, the year Islamic "Sharia law" was introduced in Nigeria, according to Voice of the Martyrs, a group that aids the persecuted church around the world.

Nearly 1,000 homes and churches have been burned down by Muslim radicals – with a wink and a nod from a government that doesn't recognize the rights of non-Muslims.

The war on Christians began in 1999 when Alhaji Ahmed Sani assumed the office of governor in Nigeria's Zamfara state. Just five months later, he introduced Sharia law. Soon 11 other northern Nigerian states, all with Muslim majorities, followed Zamfara's lead and implemented some form of the harsh Islamic legal code.

Sharia is based on the Quran and Hadith, the Islamic sacred book and teachings. It imposes a strict code of conduct on the population. For example, if an individual is convicted of stealing, the punishment is amputation of his hand. In the case of adultery, the punishment is death by stoning. "If you go around villages, you will see people missing one hand or one foot," explained Rev. Obiora Ike. "Do you think that’s the result of an illness? That is the result of Sharia Law."

Christians in the country say the imposition of Sharia law has resulted in a wave of violence and attacks against them, their homes, churches and villages as the militants wage jihad, or holy war, against them.

Sharia law permits violent attacks against non-Muslims and the killing of former Muslims who have converted to Christianity or other faiths. The destruction of churches and the prohibition of new church constructions are considered legitimate actions.

Recently, before a large crowd, the Zamfara state government recently held a five-year anniversary to celebrate the implementation of Sharia. Governor Ahmad Sani recalled why Sharia was introduced into the state: to satisfy the desire of the people for governance by the "laws of Allah … to cleanse society of social and moral vices like alcoholism, gambling, theft, armed robbery, prostitution, bribery, corruption and deceit."

Muslim zealots are being financed by Saudis who want to Islamicize the entire African continent.

The implementation of Sharia has been blamed for the vast violence and deaths occurring not just in Zamfara state, where it was first implemented, but in other states as well.

Earlier this year Muslim militants announced a death sentence on five Christian students expelled from Abubaker Tafawa Balewa University and the Federal Polytechnic in state of Bauchi, in November 2004, for sharing the gospel with Muslim students. Muslims in the schools complained that the Christian students blasphemed the prophet Mohammed.

The families of two of the students, Hanatu Haruna Alkali and Abraham Adamu Misal, were attacked Jan. 26, when militants went to their family homes located in the state of Gombe, in northern Nigeria, with the intent to kill them. Reportedly, Muslim militants have attacked Hanatu's family's house several times, and the family fears for their lives.

Rev. Oludare Aliu, national coordinator of the students' ministry of the Evangelical Church of West Africa, said: "Muslim militants went to Gombe to … kill Hanatu, but fortunately, she was not at home at the time. The family was held at gunpoint. Hanatu's father happens to be a former military officer. He wrestled with the militants and was able to disarm one of them who had a gun. While he was fighting them, one of the militants stabbed Hanatu's mother with a knife. She has been treated for the wounds."

Hanatu is now in hiding. Militants also attacked Abraham Adamu Misal’s family. He escaped and is in hiding.

On March 17, in the Nigerian state of Benue, a Christian student, Ngumalen Atser, was raped and poisoned to death by two Muslim men. This incident escalated tension between Muslims and Christians, which led to Muslim militants attacking the villages of Chilakera and Imbufu April 10. Seventeen people, mostly Christians, died.

According to a Compass Direct report on this situation, "Community leaders in Nigeria – both Muslim and Christian – blame the escalating violence on social tensions produced by the implementation of Islamic law in a dozen northern states of Nigeria."

The meeting place of Word of Faith Ministries in the state of Kaduna was burned to the ground that same day – April 10, for the fourth time in five years. However, members of the church have rebuilt every time. No arrests have been made in connection to the arson.

Read full article here

(Humour) - Don't take Life too seriously !

1. Save the whales. Collect the whole set.

2. A day without sunshine is like – NIGHT.

3. On the other hand, you have different fingers.

4. I just got lost in thought. It wasn’t familiar territory.

5. 42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.

6. 99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name.

7. I feel like I’m diagonally parked in a parallel universe.

8. Honk if you love peace and quiet.

9. Remember. Half the people you know are below average.

10. He who laughs last thinks slowest.

11. Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.

12. The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

13. I drive WAY too fast to worry about cholesterol.

14. Support bacteria. They are the only culture some people have.

15. Monday is an awful way to spend 1/7th of your week.

16. A clear conscience is usually a sign of a bad memory.

17. Change is inevitable – except from vending machines.

18. Get a new car for your spouse – it will be a GREAT trade!

19. Plan to be spontaneous – tomorrow.

20. Always strive to be modest – and be PROUD of it!

21. If you think nobody cares, try missing a couple payments.

22. How many of you believe in psycho-kinesis? Raise my hand!

23. OK, so what’s the speed of dark?

24. How do you tell when you are out of invisible ink?

25. If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something. (Murphy’s Corollary 34)

26. When everything is coming your way, you are in the wrong lane.

27. Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off NOW!

28. Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don’t have any film.

29. If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?

30. How much deeper would the ocean be if there were no sponges?

31. Eagles may soar, but weasels do not get sucked into jet engines.

32. What happens if you get scared half to death twice?

33. I used to have an open mind, but my brains kept falling out.

34. I couldn’t repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder.

35. Why do psychics have to ask you for your name?

36. Inside every old person is a younger person who is wondering what happened.

37. Just remember. If the world didn’t suck, we would all fall off.

38. Light travels faster than sound, which is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

39. Give a person a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach that person to use the Internet and they won’t bother you for weeks.

40. [If you have one like the previous 39's, then forward it to me and I will add it here !]

Global Breakthrough meeting on 20 - 24 June 2005

An Apostolic and Prophetic Ministry that seeks to take you to touch
God for yourself and to take the breakthroughs that God has for you!

'Sharpening your spiritual senses!' will help you to learn to increase your
awareness, sensitivity and sharpness in your walk with God. God has not
called us to walk ignorantly and carelessly but rather in clarity,
sharpness, accuracy and precision! Have you ever spoken to people whom
some of them give you a kind of blank or blurry look? They have no direction
in life and don't seem to know what is happening to them. If in the natural
they can't see, in the spiritual neither can they see. All things are
parallel. That which is natural can affect the spiritual and therefore, God
has to take us to look into His spiritual insights through the revelation of
His Word in order for us to come into the place where we start to see
sharply and hear accurately from God.

'My people are destroyed because of lack of knowledge' - Hosea 4:6.
To be ignorant, uninformed and blur in life means you do not know your
authority as a child of God and what God has given you. Sharpening your
spiritual senses will help you and will deliver you from walking in suspicion
and ignorance! God wants to awaken His people to know and to have their
spiritual senses sharpened! Hebrews 5:14

SHARPENING YOUR SPIRITUAL SENSES!
Date: JUNE 20 - 24, 2005 (Monday to Friday)
Time: 8.00pm - 11.00pm
Venue: Global Breakthrough
No. 54-1 (1st floor)
Jalan Mega Mendung
Off Jalan Klang Lama
58200, K.L.
(Above INSETT hair saloon )

For more inquires, contact:

Pastor Lydia Chee 012-3159717
Pastor Joseph Lam 012-5257135

Negara Ku

Negara Ku


Negara ku
Tanah tumpahnya darahku,
Rakyat hidup
bersatu dan maju,
Rahmat bahagia
Tuhan kurniakan,
Raja kita
selamat bertahta,
Rahmat bahagia
Tuhan kurniakan.
Raja kita
selamat bertakhta.
To hear [click] here

(English Translation)

My country, my native land.
The people living united and progressive,
May God bestow blessing and happiness.
May our Ruler have a successful reign.
May God bestow blessing and happiness.
May our Ruler have a successful reign.

Words by: Tunku Abdul Rahman
Music by: Pierre Jean de Beranger
In use since: 1957

Sejahtera MALAYSIA

Sejahtera MALAYSIA

Puji dan syukur pada Ilahi

Anugerah Nya tiada terhingga

Kedamaian, kemakmuran

Malaysiaku bahagia

Dengan tekad untuk berjaya

Berbakti pada nusa dan bangsa

Kami junjung cita-cita luhur

Perpaduan seluruh negeri

Setia, sekata, sehati, sejiwa

Menghadapi cabaran

Kami setia, kami sedia

Berkorban untuk negara

Bersemarak Malaysia tercinta

Kibarkan panji kebesarannya

Kami rela menjaga nama mu

Sejahtera MALAYSIA.

Setia


Demi negara yang tercinta,
dicurahkan bakti penuh setia,
Demi raja yang disanjung tinggi,
kesetiaan tak berbelah bagi.

Kepada pemimpin, kepada rakyat,
khidmat diberi penuh taat,
Sama bekerja, sama berusaha,
setia berkhidmat untuk semua,

Rela berkorban apa saja.
Amanah bangsa tetap dijaga.
Kami berikrar penuh setia
untuk agama, bangsa dan negara.

From The Guardian - June 9, 2005

Indonesia faces new mega-tsunami

David Adam, science correspondent
Thursday June 9, 2005
The Guardian

Another catastrophic giant earthquake similar to the one that caused carnage across the Indian Ocean on Boxing Day last year is lurking off Indonesia, say scientists.

Recent seismic activity in the region has piled dangerous levels of stress onto a section of the Sunda trench fault zone west of Sumatra. This makes a large earthquake there far more likely and could trigger another devastating tsunami.

The warning comes from a team of seismologists at the University of Ulster in Coleraine. Professor John McCloskey, who led the research, said: "This is a very scary event we're concerned about. The potential for a devastating tsunami from it is significant and real. I hope it doesn't happen, but the indications are really strong that it will, maybe even soon."

Full story: http://www.guardian.co.uk/tsunami

From: Our Daily Bread

June 8, 2005

A Crooked Generation

Read:Philippians 2:12-16
Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless . . . in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. —Philippians 2:14-15

You could call today's generation "crooked and perverse," just as Paul described his own generation in Philippians 2:15. Even Moses would have understood what Paul was talking about, for he said of Israel, "They have corrupted themselves; they are not His children, because of their blemish: a perverse and crooked generation" (Deuteronomy 32:5).

Crookedness refers to the means by which people accomplish their objectives—doing whatever it takes to get what they want. Shortcuts to success are applauded. Some even boast about how they circumvent the law.

Perversion refers to the way people distort the truth. For example, I heard about three teenagers who wanted to end their stay in a youth hostel long before their expected departure. They angrily insisted that the manager return their nonrefundable deposit. When he finally gave in and the three teens were on their way out, they exclaimed to the hostel's other guests that they had been forced to leave.

We may sometimes get hurt by the crooked behavior and distorted thinking of people. But we are called to be "blameless and harmless" and to "shine as lights in the world" (Philippians 2:15).

Let's show the world a different way of living. —Albert Lee

We are called with a holy calling

The light of the world to be,

To lift up the lamp of the Savior

That others His light may see. —Anon.

The straight and narrow way is God's way for a crooked generation.

extracted from: Our Daily Bread

Henry Cheah's Praise & Prayer Letter

Bolivia: Cajón 736, Cochabamba, Bolivia. Email: payyachan@yahoo.com
Singapore: SIM East Asia Ltd; 116 Lavender Street, #04-09 Pek Chuan Bldg. Singapore 338730
Malaysia: SIM East Asia (M); 9 Jalan 1, Kaw 16, Berkeley Town Center 41300, Klang, Selangor, Malaysia
UK: SIM UK; Wetheringsett Manor, Wetheringsett, Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 5QX
USA: SIM USA; PO Box 7900, Charlotte, NC 28241-7900
Canada: SIM Canada; 10 Huntingdale Blvd; Scarborough, ON M1W 2SF


Dear precious saints,

Some of the more major events that took place since my last prayer letter were:

MARCH – Spoke in an old but new church, old in term of years but new in term of missions. I believe that this is another potential church for missions in the days to come. I was invited to give a basic missionary message because the church had no idea about doing missions overseas let alone heard of the “10/40 windows”. Pray for the “Iglesia Alto Pagador”.

APRIL – I had the privilege of having Neal Pirolo stayed over at my house when he came and do some missions seminar here in Cochabamba. Neal is the author of the book “Serving As Senders” which has been translated into many languages of the world. Also helped him translate some of his meetings in different churches and places.

MAY – Played host to the director for Latin America of Frontiers. Again many lives were challenged as needs were presented to those who came for the seminar.

The church from La Paz again invited me for their annual mission conference as one of the main speakers and I not only had the opportunity to speak about missions but also shared the Lord with some who haven’t heard about the Gospel before, prayed for others in one social event and managed to get a key contact to follow up for the Lord in Cochabamba. An encouraging note about this mission conference is that there are many who came from different denominations and a good number of them were exposed for the very first time in the area of missions. I would say many, if not all were so blessed and as a result I had a number of invitations to speak in the different churches in La Paz. The last day I gave a missionary challenge in the church and many came forward to be prayed for. It was a new group of people that wasn’t in the conference itself.

It was a relief to return to Cochabamba because a day after, the social situation in La Paz was anything but “Paz” (peace in Spanish). Roads were all blocked up and smoke started to rise from burning tires, etc. The days ahead for Bolivia don’t look too good because once again we are up with social confrontations and unrests.



Living by God’s mercy and grace

Henry

Update from Henry in Bolivia !

The following is an update from a Malaysian serving with SIM in Bolivia. Henry Cheah, from Penang, has been a missionary there for the past eighteen years. Earlier he had spent a couple of years with Operation Mobilisation. Please uphold this brother and his ministry in prayer.

God Bless.

Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2005 19:00:48 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Henry Cheah"
Subject: henry´s news

Dear folks,

Peace and greetings! I am enclosing my prayer and newsletter. Besides I appreciate prayers for me and the country as we are going through another social and political unrest. Roads being blocked, shops and market places starting to close down due to the dangerous situation, food supplies running out because of the blockages, petrol stations running out of gas, etc.etc. It sounds like war and in a way it is. People against the government and against each other!

In all this I have peace as I know that He who calls me is faithful. Also your prayers will move the Hands who move the world and this nation and for that I can rest assured in Him.

In the Sovereign Lord,

Henry

To read Henry's Praise & Prayer - 2005 in Full here

Update from India - Missing pastor found dead

Message from India, Hyderabad…..

-----Original Message-----
From: lata lincoln [mailto:fcmlata@yahoo.co.in]
Sent: Saturday, June 04, 2005 12:00 AM
To: gphilip@in.twrsa.org; balbero busmate; vincent anne; Ruth; singapore c/o terry; T W
Subject: this is news in the local news paper

Missing pastor found dead

Hyderabad, June 2:

Pastor K. Isaac Raj of Rock Church, who went missing on May 24, was found murdered at Errakunta in Shaikpet on Thursday morning. His highly-decomposed body was found among the bushes, tied up with ropes in a gunny bag. The Cyberabad police control room was tipped off by an anonymous caller about a body lying in the bushes of Shaikpet on Wednesday midnight.

Cyberabad police immediately alerted Golconda police who traced out the body. After finding that the address of a tailor from Dargah was printed on his shirt, the Golconda cops informed the Raidurgam police of the matter. A case relating to the disappearance of the pastor had already been registered by the Raidurgam police.

The body was identified by Isaac’s wife, Mrs Satyaveni, and his son Satya Prakash, at the Osmania General Hospital mortuary in the afternoon. Golconda police suspect that he was killed about a week ago. Isaac, a native of Ankapuram village of East Godavari district, had been escorted from his house at Prasanth Hills in Dargah on the night of May 24, by a person who claimed to be Vinod from Toli Chowki.

He told the pastor’s relatives that he was taking Isaac for a prayer meeting in Toli Chowki. This is the second time a pastor has been killed in the city in the last few weeks. Earlier, a preacher, K. Daniel, 28, who went missing from his house at Kumarwadi in Asifnagar on May 19, was found murdered in the bushes in Pedda Shapur a few days later.

Golkonda is my postal address where we have joyland and office and church and Asifnagar is where my school is .Pray for my neighbourhood

Abraham and Lata Lincoln

For perishing souls

Prayers

Five-Finger Prayers

Read:James 5:13-18

Pray for one another. —James 5:16

Prayer is a conversation with God, not a formula. Yet sometimes we might need to use a "method" to freshen up our prayer time. We can pray the Psalms or other Scriptures (such as The Lord's Prayer), or use the ACTS method (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication). I recently came across this "Five-Finger Prayer" to use as a guide when praying for others:

When you fold your hands, the thumb is nearest you. So begin by praying for those closest to you—your loved ones (Philippians 1:3-5).

The index finger is the pointer. Pray for those who teach—Bible teachers and preachers, and those who teach children (1 Thessalonians 5:25).

The next finger is the tallest. It reminds you to pray for those in authority over you—national and local leaders, and your supervisor at work (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

The fourth finger is usually the weakest. Pray for those who are in trouble or who are suffering (James 5:13-16).

Then comes your little finger. It reminds you of your smallness in relation to God's greatness. Ask Him to supply your needs (Philippians 4:6,19).

Whatever method you use, just talk with your Father. He wants to hear what's on your heart. —Anne Cetas

Our prayers ascend to heaven's throne
Regardless of the form we use;
Our Father always hears His own
Regardless of the words we choose. —D. De Haan


It's not the words we pray that matter, it's the condition of our heart.

extracted from Our Daily Bread dated 02 June, 2005

Update from India

From India, Hyderabad

-----Original Message-----
From: lata lincoln [mailto:fcmlata@yahoo.co.in]
Sent: Friday, June 03, 2005 12:01 AM
To: coRuth vbs; vincent anne; Ruth; hope; singapore c/o terry; terryholderread@insightbb.com

Subject: the missing pastor's deadbody found

Dear friends and prayer team

This evening in the city of Hyderabad the moments are so tensed for the Ministers of the gospel. The dead body of the missing pastor Mr. Isaac Raj was just found on the shores of a lake packed in a gunny bag. The killing is almost similar to the killing of another pastor 12 days ago. The police is yet clueless about this.

2 days ago in a news paper there was a claim from anti Christian forum about the killing of the first pastor. These are organised killings to cause fear in the hearts of those who are fearlessly preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The second incident happened much closer to Light House [the body is found where my grand daughter goes to school] where our main office and falls into the neighbouring police limits and it is just within 5 miles distance.

The body of Pastor Isaac Raj is sent for post mortem. The church in Hyderabad needs special prayers in this hour. She needs special grace from God Almighty to go through this situation. The Pastors and evangelists especially those who are leading small congregations around the city need special grace, a very special grace from God the Father.

Thank you very much for praying for us

Abraham and Lata Lincoln
For perishing souls

See earlier post: Letter from India

A new soul added to the Kingdom today !

Halelujah !

This afternoon( June 02, 2005), four of us (Lydia, Oscar, Sunny & myself) went to Hospital University Kebangsaan Malaysia to pray for two men who were warded there.

At about 1 pm we were at the bedside of Cheong, who is in his mid thirties and Lydia started to encourage him and share with him to trust in Jesus Christ for his healing. He is warded for kidney failure and a kidney dialysis machine was by his bedside.

After some time of sharing with him, he indicated that he wanted to invite Jesus Christ into his life. We then join him in prayer as Lydia led him in asking Jesus into his life. Praise the Lord !!!


(L-R: Sunny, Lydia, Oscar & Cheong)

Please pray for this new believer that the Lord will watch over him as he grows in the faith and that he be healed from all his sicknesses.

Next we moved on to pray for another man who is in the ICU. The name of that man is Tan Cheng Piow, who is in coma as a result of an operation on his stomach.

Although he was unconcious, we prayed for him after getting the permission from the nurses on duty to let us. His son, in his late twenties, was there to visit his father when we were there.

Please uphold these two men in prayer.

God Bless.

Fast & Pray for Malaysia !

Fast & Pray for our Nation!

Prayer is important for our nation, for all nations exist for the glory of God.

While fasting, John Knox prayed, "Give me Scotland or I will perish."

When the national day of prayer and fasting was designated, Abraham Lincoln charged all Americans "to observe and keep that day according to their several creeds and modes of worship, in all humility and with all religious solemnity, to the end that the united prayer of the nation may ascend to the Throne of Grace and bring down plentiful blessings upon our Country."

The biblical illustration of fasting and praying for the nation is best represented by Daniel’s example in chapter 9 where he gives his "attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes" (9:3).

"Everything about nations is intended to provide an arena, a way in which God's glory and His goodness can be unveiled," says Max Lucado. Therefore, the importance of talking to God about our nation cannot be overlooked. Just as a single prayer can make a difference, how much more so when thousands of people join in prayer nation-wide. For the prayers of all saints are not simply powerful weapons against evil forces, but rather God’s glory and His mighty work might be manifested through the believers.

It is time to seek the Lord, until He comes to rain righteousness on our nation. As we stand in the gap for our land, we will see greater transformation of churches, communities and the nation.

"First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour" (1 Tim. 2:1-3).

Therefore, NECF Malaysia invites you to partnership with us in prayer for all ‘Lighting up Our Nation’ events.

Prayer Items:

1. 40-day Fast & Prayer "Turn to Our Father in Heaven" (22 Jul – 30 Aug) – wholehearted participation, fervent in prayer, united in one heart and spirit.
2. National Conferences for smooth operation and effectiveness in all aspects of administrative works.
   English-speaking National Conference (25-27 Aug)
   Chinese-speaking National Conference (23-25 Aug)
   Bahasa-speaking National Conference (29-31 Aug)
3. Conference speakers: wisdom, insight and discerning God’s purpose for Malaysia.
   Pr Peter Tsukahira & Pr Djohan Handojo (English)
   Rev Dr Xiao Wan (Chinese)
   Rev Rachmat T. Manullang (Bahasa)
4. Children’s intercession workshop (26-27 Aug)
   Speakers: Mr Jeffrey & Irene Chew, Eunice Wong
5. Conference participants: greater desire in seeking God, love for the nation, compassion for the lost.
6. Merdeka Prayer Rallies in all major cities/towns (29-31 Aug)
   Klang Valley: 28 Aug 7:30pm (venue: PGRM, Cheras).
7. NECF staff – for grace, strength, wisdom and unity
   

Course of action:

Sign up for the round-the-clock prayer (http://www.necf.org.my/)
Sign up for conferences and encourage your friends to do so
Take part in the Merdeka Prayer Rally of your towns and bring your friends

source: http://www.necf.org.my

Prayer Requests from Malaysia

May-June 2005 NECF Prayer Digest

Bahasa Bibles

Since April 24, 2003, the Home Affairs Ministry has detained a load of 1,000 Bahasa Indonesia Bibles at the Port Klang customs. The bibles were imported by The Bible Society Malaysia from Lembaga Alkitab Indonesia, Jakarta. Since then, many letters have passed between the Society and the Ministry.

Two organisations have also attempted to help secure the release of the bibles. They are the Christian Federation Malaysia – the umbrella body comprising NECF Malaysia, Council of Churches of Malaysia, and the Catholic Church of Malaysia – and the MCCBCHS (Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism). CFM leaders have personally raised the matter with the Deputy Minister of Internal Security and the Prime Minister’s Political Secretary, among other cabinet ministers. Ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Bernard Dompok and Datuk Maximus Ongkili – both who are Christians – are also assisting in the matter.

It appears that all avenues that require human effort have been made. We are now to wait and pray, as we have prayed unceasingly ever since the bibles were put away in a warehouse. Pray for the physical condition of the 1,000 Bibles, that they will be preserved and protected against "moth and rust". Pray too for the government, ministers and public servants to be sensible to religious freedom in this country, and to continue to stand for what is right and just.

Young criminals

The Government is concerned about the large number of young criminals in the country and fears the situation may jeopardise national security, according to a recent newspaper report. Over 5,500 juveniles were arrested last year for 3,658 criminal cases, of which 24 were murders involving nine students. Most of them were aged between 16 and 18 and were caught mainly for petty theft and stealing motorcycles. This is disturbing as crimes are being committed by youths and this may pose a threat to national security, said Internal Security Deputy Minister Chia Kwang Chye. Please continue to pray for our youths. Pray for all youth organisations – whether religious or non-religious, government or non-government – to implement effective programmes to help our young people.

Education

The Government is trying to make national schools more attractive to the non-Malays, many of whom attend Chinese and Tamil schools at primary level. Newspapers recently reported that 90 percent Chinese attend Chinese (national-type) schools.

There is still a sense of suspicion among the various communities where school is concerned. Besides the perception of lower quality education provided by national schools, non-Malays also fear the emphasis on Islam is an attempt to ‘Islamise’ their children. The generally smaller number of non-Malay teachers in school adds to non-Malay parents’ apprehension. The small percentage of non-Malays attending national schools greatly affects the government’s social integration efforts.

Racial polarisation is a major concern that demands our most passionate intercession. Please pray for effective measures to overcome, or at least minimise, the problem. The National Service programme, despite all the criticisms, is nevertheless a start towards racial integration. Pray for our policy makers whose decisions will affect the future of our millions of children.

Corruption

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has warned against corruption being a culture in Malaysia. He cautioned that if corruption became rampant, there would be no turning back "because everybody, from the bottom to the top, will be corrupt". Please continue to pray for our Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi, that he will press on in his battle against this insidious evil. Pray too for the Inspector-General of Police who is battling corruption within the police force. Pray for these two leaders’ protection, and for God to appoint honest men and women to leadership positions in the government.