Taken From http://f4misyel.blogspot.com/
By John BeitaChristian Post ReporterTue, Jun. 02 2009 09:39 AM
EDTUnprecedented numbers of people including young Muslims have embraced Christ as their personal Saviour in a three-day crusade held recently in Indonesia.
The crusade held by Asia for Jesus Indonesia was “attended by over 60,000 people, with 4158 people finding new life in Christ, and 1252 were baptized,” at the former military airport of Surabaya city May 14-16, according to The Gospel Herald online newspaper.
This important gathering was also electrified by the presence of American-born Taiwan superstar Vanness Wu, who now puts Christ first in his life; along with him are Taiwanese Christian artists Sien Vanessa, and the Joshua Band, who “had attracted a maximum number of non-Christians to the crusade.” The crusade also featured praise and worship performances by these influential Taiwanese Christian artists.
“Most Muslim families are hesitant to allow their children to participate in a Christian gatherings, but when their parents heard that their children are going to Vanness Wu’s concert then they did not insist,” the online paper said.
On the first night,around 500 people were baptized besides the stage and the numbers kept growing.At the crusade Vanness Wu wore a t-shirt that showed “God is better than sex” and gave his testimony of how he used to be far away from God because of sexual lusts but after he repented he felt that he has received a new life.< /br>“All of these are God’s mercy.” Wu testified.That night, he kneeled on the stage for two hours while worship God and he didn’t get up until his spiritual mentor Pastor Jaeson Ma finished delivering the sermon.
Hosted by Rev. Jusuf Soetanto, head of Gereja Mawar Sharon denomination and senior pastor of Mawar Sharon Church, the event used the title “Army of God”, around 200 church pastors and leaders from Hong Kong, Canada, Malaysia, United States, Singapore, Mainland China, Brunei, and Taiwan were invited to participate in the festivity of evangelism.
Sien Vanessa: Seeing Miracles in FaithAnother popular Taiwanese artiste Sien Vanessa also testified of the power of prayers and the practice of faith.
“Two hours prior to the event opened, it was raining cats and dogs. All of the dancers, musicians in the backstage all knelt down to pray and miraculously the rain stopped within ten minutes.” Not only did Vanessa personally witness God, but the backstage Muslim workers also shouted that ‘God is the true God.”
God’s power exceeds what we can ever ask or imagine. Most of the participants of the crusade are in middle-schools and high-schools, and they are mostly non-Chinese and Muslims, which is a great breakthrough.
Taiwan’s Younghe City Gospel Center pastor was greatly encouraged at this crusade. He saw how God is using the young people greatly, and he also announced by faith that Younghe City shall become the city in Taiwan with the highest Christian population proportion.Taipei Bread of Life Church Senior Pastor Rev. Nathanael Chow invited a pastoral team consisting of 200 people from various churches in Taiwan and the overseas Bread of Life churches.
Testifying about the crusade, Taipei Bread of Life Church Rev. Yi Hu testified in tears, “I see a pure church, like the church of Christ. Rev. Philip and his co-workers also do not seek for their own benefits, but with the heart of love for the souls, they see the value of each person.”
Rev. Philip Mantofa of Indonesia thanked the co-working pastors from Taiwan and hoped that the spirit of unity of the Taiwan churches can be brought to Indonesia, allowing Asia for Jesus to continue the gift of promoting cross-generational unity, so it can become the salt and the light for Jesus in Asia.
Indonesia is majority Muslim nation, who comprises about 86.1 percent of the population; Protestants account for 5.7 percent, Roman Catholics 3 percent, Hindus 1.8 percent, and others 3.4 percent, according the CIA World Factbook.
Ian Hwang and Luke Leung of The Gospel Herald contributed to this reportcredit: honeybums@kcifc_philippines
On 30 Jan 09,MOE sent my mum the sms saying Christina Lian Shi,you are posted to Nanyang poly,Hospitality and resort management(C67) under 2009 JAE.It was around 7.15am in the morning,when my mum woke me up and showed me this sms.I cant denied that i was disappointed.I thought i got a chance to get into NY JC.My L1R5 was 13,minus 1 cca bonus point is 12 and i opted for the CLEP which gave me 2 bonus pts.So that means i got 10 pts.After that,i tried to sleep but couldnt.So i woke up like 20 min later to do the online appeal for NY JC.(To show my sincerity, I have to act fast.)Before that day,I keep praying and telling God that no matter where I am posted to,I will trust in Him that He has the best plans for me.However,I cant help being disappointed.I started listening to worship songs and i cried.
I cried not because i could not get into NY JC but because I was sorry for not doing the things I have promised God that I will.Some questions that went through my mind were:
How many times have I say i will go to the ends of the earth for you God,but I didnt?
How many times have I gave excuses for not spending TAWG with you?
How many times have I thought of posting sth to shout Your fame but failed to do so?
How many times....
I felt so sorry for not walking closely with God each and every day of my life and yet have doubts about God's existence.And yet want God to answer my prayers.
I cried knowing that God never fails me ,knowing that He will forgive me despite the times i failed Him,He never stop loving me.I felt so sorry and was touched by His love for me.
God was always there for me,be it happy or sad times.
How great is His love for us,beyond men's understanding.
So now I have appealled to NY JC and is intending to appeal to tampines jc and catholic Jc.
All I need is to trust God, that whatever school He place me in,it is to prosper and make me grow.
I love you God and I know you have the best plans for me.The same as you put me into Mayflower Secondary School,where i overcomed part of my stage fright,height phobia and how you sent Valerie to invite me to church.
Thank you Lord!
1) Our Problem: Separation from God
God created us in His own image to have abundant (meaningful) life. He did not make us robots to automatically love and obey him, but he gave us a will and a freedom of choice.
We chose to disobey God and go our own willful way. We still make this choice today. This results in separation from God.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)
"...your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you so that he will not hear." (Isaiah 59:2)
On our own, there's no way we can attain the perfection needed to bridge the gap to God. Through the ages, individuals have tried many ways...without success.
Good works won't do it...or religion...or money...or morality...or philosophy...
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." (Proverbs 14:12)
2) God's Remedy: The Cross
Jesus Christ is the only answer to this problem. He died on the cross and rose from the grave, paying the penalty for our sin and bridging the gap between God and people.
"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God..."
(I Peter 3:18)
"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ." (I Timothy 2:5)
"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
(Romans 5:8)
3) Our Response
Believing means trust and commitment - acknowledging our sinfulness, trusting Christ's forgiveness and letting Him control our life. Eternal, abundant life is a gift for us to receive.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." (John 5:24)
Is there any reason why you shouldn't cross over to God's side and be certain of eternal life?
If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins and you want to receive Christ today,
Please pray:
Dear Lord Jesus,
I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now invite you to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as the Lord and Savior of my life.
In Your name. Amen.
Taken from http://www.navigators.org/us/resources/illustrations/items/The%20Bridge%20to%20Life
And I wish all of you a Merry Christmas !!!
Animated version of the biblical Christmas story