"IF MY PEOPLE..."
(II CHRON. 7:14)
In this famous passage of Scripture, God responds to King Solomon's prayer at
the dedication of the temple. He tells Solomon that when He shuts up the
heavens and there is no rain, if God's people who are called by His name humble
themselves in prayer, seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways, then He
will forgive their sins and heal their land.
Here in Romania the spring rains came all at once, melting the snow and
causing the worst flooding in more than 50 years. Now the floods have
dried up and been replaced by drought! The farmers are desperate. If
the rains don't come soon to break this oppressive heat wave (yesterday it was
104 degrees F), the crops that weren't destroyed by the floods will be burned up
by the heat.
Local elections were held last week but there were so many candidates and so
many political parties that there were very few candidates who actually got a
majority of the votes. So run off elections will be held next week between
the two candidates with the most votes. Whoever wins won't be able to
improve the economy if the rains don't come soon.
Romania is being forced to her knees both economically and politically.
That is good because only on our knees at the feet of Jesus can we find hope in
the midst of a hopeless situation. People who had put their confidence in
"democracy" and "capitalism" are turning back to God as the
only answer for Romania.
Pastors and other Christian leaders are coming together across denominational
lines both here in Timisoara and also in Bucharest, the capital. They are
praying and seeking the face of God, realizing that only He can heal this land.
The churches are recognizing that religion is not enough. Only a sweeping
revival can root out years of corruption in government and compromise in the
church. Only a vibrant personal relationship with Jesus Christ can keep
the young people from the temptations that surround them on every side.
On Good Friday, more than 1,000 Believers from many different churches and
denominations came together to praise, worship, and seek God in prayer from 9
P.M. until midnight. It was such a blessing that a second prayer rally is
planned for July.
Church Triumphant is networking with the ministry Deborah Arise Europe
Shirley Clear from England who was here in April will be returning later in
June. On July 1 we will again gather the Christian women in Timisoara and
the surrounding villages together to pray for the children and young people of
this nation, that God will raise up an army of young people whose hearts are on
fire to serve Him and to take this Gospel of salvation to the ends of the Earth.
Deborah Arise Europe has only one purpose - to challenge women to rise up like
Deborah in the Book of Judges and intercede for the next generation, that they
will become the Army of the Lord to fulfill the Great Commission. Barbara
has been asked to help coordinate this effort in Romania, setting up meetings in
Timisoara and other major cities across the nation.
Those who have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches all
agree that Satan has declared all out war against our young people around the
world. Those he has not already destroyed through abortion and AIDS, he is
trying to kill through violence and drugs in the schools and on the streets in
the West, through famines, or through wars across Africa, the Balkans, and even
the islands of the sea like Indonesia. We can stand by helplessly and
wring our hands or we can rise up in faith through prayer and say "Enough
is enough."
Here in Romania, the Church is coming together in repentance and faith
saying, "God, if You don't heal our land, we have no hope left."
God is hearing and answering prayer by stirring up a greater hunger and thirst
for Him and by pouring out a desire to seek Him regardless of the cost.
Such a heart cry is the fertile soil that brings forth genuine revival.
Here in Timisoara, the first class has completed the discipleship training
program at Logos Bible School and we have commissioned them as laborers in God's
harvest fields. As we have taken them into the villages to minister, they
have grown in their commitment to the Lord. They have seen God confirming
His Word as they apply the Biblical principles we have been teaching them.
It is one thing to read how Jesus healed the multitudes. It is quite
another to pray for a man leaning on his cane in the morning and see him leave
his cane hanging on the church door when he comes back to church that evening!
It is easy to read how Jesus came to heal the broken hearted but when you see
Him actually healing the broken hearted and restoring hope to those who are
discouraged, it makes God's Word come alive with life transforming power.
We praise God for what He is doing in the lives of these 12 young people who
have completed their training as disciples and are actually going out to make a
difference in their world. Some are already teaching Bible in the public
schools. Others are teaching Sunday school, leading worship teams, or
taking ministry teams into other villages to reach out to the lost and to
encourage the Body of Christ.
With the completion of the school year, God is sending us back to America to
minister to the needs at home. One of the things we feel God is saying is
the need to raise up an army of prayer warriors in America as well. For
this reason, we have been in contact with June Richards, the founder of Deborah
Arise Europe, about establishing a Deborah Arise America to coordinate prayer at
the local level for the young people of America who face the same level of
temptation as the young people of Romania but without the foundation of a solid
family structure or a culture that still teaches respect for authority.
America's young people are in desperate need of prayer. If God can use us
to help raise an umbrella of prayer over America, it will be a summer well
spent.
Is our work finished in Romania? No, there is still much that needs to
be done. An army needs training, equipping, correction, and encouragement.
The work is not done but it is expanding and we need your help to be able to
support these young people as they go forth to take revival to the nations.
Enough is enough. It is time for all out war against the enemy. The
souls of an entire generation are at stake. Help us gather the resources
to win the battle. Your prayers and your financial support do make a
difference - a difference that will count for eternity. Thank you and may
God bless you richly.
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