Disclaimer: Articles and links, as well as the source articles linked to, do not necessarily reflect the opinion of ConnectingwithYou! Our thanks mainly to Dan Wooding and ASSIST News Service link: www.assistnews.net

TUALATIN, OREGAN
Terrorist bomb survivor offers hope through true stories of tough times

Dan Wooding, ASSIST Ministries, brings a good news report…

Jeanette Chaffee on a plane 17,000 feet up was jolted awake by what felt like a gunshot inches from her head. The plane lurched wildly. Shrapnel flew, and smoke surrounded her. Cables dangled near the now-open ceiling. Oxygen masks dropped. She yanked at her mask, but it would not budge.

In her book Extravagant Graces: 23 Inspiring Stories of Facing Impossible Odds (WestBow Press), she shares her harrowing experience on TWA Flight 840, Chaffee inspires readers to trust in God during tough times by sharing the true stories of world-renowned musicians, missionaries, athletes, and speakers who survived the most distressing personal trials and sometimes tragedies – in their lives with help from the Lord.

‘I looked through my exclusive interviews with people like Shirley Dobson, Anne Graham Lotz, Don Richardson, Elisabeth Elliot, the Happy Days singers, and Stephen Arterburn. I realised the common theme was real people challenged by situations including the deaths of family members by murder and cancer, drug addiction, and the loss of home and possessions, and how these people were able to face these impossible odds with God’s power,’ Jeanette Chaffee (left) said.

On that day in April 1986 – 29 years ago – Jeanette Chaffee survived the TWA Flight 840 midair explosion of a terrorist bomb less than fourteen feet from her. It is the only time in history passengers have survived after a bomb exploded aboard a commercial plane in the air.

‘While I had slept on the plane, there had been a Greek woman within arm’s reach. Neither a nearby passenger nor I ever saw her again after the blast, and the airline had no record of her,’ the author said. ‘That’s when I believed. God had sent a guardian angel to protect the plane from disintegrating.’

Trans World Airlines Flight 840 was a regularly scheduled flight from Los Angeles to Cairo via New York City, Rome, and Athens. About 20 minutes before landing in Athens, a bomb hidden underneath seat 10F was detonated while it was over Argos, Greece, blasting a hole in the plane’s starboard side. Four American passengers, including a nine-month-old infant, were ejected through the hole to their deaths below. Seven others on the aircraft were injured by shrapnel as the cabin suffered a rapid decompression. The remaining 110 passengers survived the incident as pilot Richard ‘Pete’ Petersen made an emergency landing.

Jeanette Chaffee survived the TWA Flight 840 midair explosion of a terrorist bomb less than fourteen feet from her. Recognised as a gifted communicator, Jeanette changes lives by offering God’s hope to audiences going through their most difficult personal challenges. Link: http://jeanettechaffee.com.

BAGHDAD
Iraq violence: Islamic state ‘behind Baghdad attacks’

Dan Wooding also reports that Islamic State (IS) militants have said they were behind a spate of bomb attacks in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, which killed at least 28 people.

In a statement posted on social media, IS described Sunday night’s bombings as the ‘pounce of the monotheists on the chests of the apostates.’
The BBC is reporting that several of the blasts were carried out by suicide bombers in Shia areas of the capital, adding, ‘The series of attacks was one of the worst to hit Baghdad in recent weeks. There have been fears IS would step up its bombings campaign during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.’

 

Debris from the blasts

A car bomb in the northern Shaab district on Sunday July 12 killed at least 10 people, and a suicide bomber struck at a nearby market, claiming more lives. Another car bomb exploded in the Bunouk district killing at least nine people. Scores of others were wounded in the attacks, medics said.

IS has occupied parts of Iraq and is battling government forces in the north and west of the country. The government, the BBC added, announced on Monday that it had begun a long-awaited, large-scale military offensive to dislodge IS from Anbar province. Meanwhile, the UN has said that about 15,000 civilians have been killed in Iraq since the start of 2014.

It says that it recorded at least 44,136 civilian casualties (14,947 killed and 29,189 wounded) as a result of ‘non-international armed conflict in Iraq.’ The report says the figure, which runs up to the end of April 2015, only takes account of verifiable casualties and that the real toll may be much higher.

ORANGE COUNTY, CA
New worldwide Christian television network takes off flying!

 

Pamela Christian, Special to ASSIST reports a Holy Spirit faith venture…

When the Lord spoke to Bishop Andrew Bills‘ heart letting him know he wanted Andrew to launch a worldwide Christian television network, The bishop’s first response, understandably was, ‘But Lord I don’t have any money to take on a task like that.’ Then, Bishop Andrew explains, the Lord replied, ‘But you have me.’ Given his long-hard-won relationship with God the Father through faith in Jesus, his next response was simply, ‘Okay Father, I will.’

This exchange took place September 2014. Bishop Bills had only two small hand-held, high definition cameras, one tripod, and a handful of people he knew he could call on. By the time I met him and the meager crew, early June 2015, the network was already broadcasting online with confirmed viewers in over 65 countries. The same day we met, the Lord spoke to him again, encouraging him to ask me to be part of the team.

Considering the prophetic word spoken over me for the work that I would do, when he asked, I needed little time to pray before I responded with an enthusiastic ‘Yes!’ With a God-given chance to help launch this major undertaking I jumped in completely, only to find that we were all helping to build the plane while we were flying it! ‘Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…’ (Zech 4:10a – NLT).

The ‘plane’ is The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network (HSBN.TV) now broadcasting in over 80 countries worldwide with plans to include satellite broadcasting very soon. Bishop Andrew has produced eight premier programs with more underway and has secured the license to broadcast many well-known trusted ministers and programs.

HSBN.TV vision for is ‘We are led by the Holy Spirit of God to reach the lost, disciple the saints, edify believers and equip the churches through the usage of media. This ministry endeavors to reach every household to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ so that all people may believe in him by calling on his name to be saved.’ Already being in over 80 countries is evidence that we will fulfil our God-given mandate.

The entire program line-up to be biblically based, family-friendly shows, available 24 hours a day seven days a week. Our Saturday lineup (which translates to another day in other parts of the world) is entirely for children. We’re delighted to be the premier broadcaster of several original shows both for children and adult viewers.

Bishop Bills has developed an innovative new model for programmers. With a mandate from the Lord of the type programs he wants broadcast, the high cost of television production is being beat down to allow those who might never have dreamed of developing their own program, to actually do so. Costs and revenues are shared by both programmers and the Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network creating a true partnership concerning costs and revenues thereby increasing ability to promote the message.

Even though we are still operating with interns and volunteers, Bishop Andrew as the co-pilot of this plane (the Lord is the pilot!), is flying us into new horizons including our first-ever live fund-raising Telethon to be produced before a studio audience, September this year, in Orange County. Christian celebrities, praise and worship bands, preachers and teachers, Christian entertainers, magicians, and comedians are all being contacted now to be a part of this exciting event.

The team, or crew, has been growing impressively too. God has spoken to Bishop Bills concerning specific individuals, each of whom immediately caught the vision and bring to the mix an amazing array of talent and experience, without redundancy. Truly the Lord is orchestrating us as we jointly build this plane!

HSBN.TV has a dedicated staff ready to respond to prayer requests, questions and comments. HSBN.TV enthusiasts can reach us through any of four ways: www.HSBN.TV /email: info@hsbn.tv / PO Box 6811, Orange, CA, 92863, USA.

For over twenty years Award-winning author, speaker and media host Pamela Christian has been helping people in matters of faith.   Link: www.pamelachristianministries.com
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AUKLAND, NZ
The anathema of entertainment

 

Andrew Strom, Revival School Moderator quotes A W Tozer in his latest blog …

‘In our day we must be dramatic about everything. We don´t want God to work unless he can make a theatrical production of it. We want him to come dressed in costumes with a beard and with a staff. We want Him to play a part according to our ideas. Some of us even demand that he provide a colorful setting and fireworks as well!

‘Then there are some among us these days who have to depend upon truckloads of gadgets to get their religion going, and I am tempted to ask: What will they do when they don´t have the help of the trappings and gadgets? The truck can´t come along where they are going!

‘For there are millions who cannot live without amusement; life without some form of entertainment for them is simply intolerable; they look forward to the blessed relief afforded by professional entertainers and other forms of psychological narcotics as a dope addict looks to his daily shot of heroin. Without them they could not summon courage to face existence.

‘We now demand glamour and fast flowing dramatic action. A generation of Christians reared among push buttons and automatic machines are impatient of slower and less direct methods of reaching their goals. We have been trying to apply machine-age methods to our relations with God. We read our chapter, have our short devotions and rush away, hoping to make up for our deep inward bankruptcy by attending another gospel meeting or listening to another thrilling story told by a religious adventurer lately returned from afar.

‘The tragic results of this spirit are all about us: shallow loves, hollow religious philosophies, the preponderance of the element of fun in gospel meetings, the glorification of men, trust in religious externalities, quasi-religious fellowships, salesmanship methods, the mistaking of dynamic personality for the power of the Spirit.

‘These and such as these are the symptoms of an evil disease, a deep and serious malady of the soul.’
Recommended links: http://www.revivalschool.com /prophetic@revivalschool.com
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NEPAL
Incredible response touches 650 families in 13 villages

Jossy Chacko, Empart founder, delightfully reports…

The global response to the earthquake tragedy in Nepal has been wonderful. The giving from Empart partners has been overwhelming. We are so thankful for all your generous gifts!

Empart leaders formed three teams to focus on 13 remote villages where other agencies had not reached or had discriminated against believers when help was given. These are areas where Empart workers have been living and working and already have established relationships with community leaders.

 

 

 

Help already given

• The Empart team was able to provide aid and relief to 650 families in the 13 villages – that’s 2700 people, with necessary food, water, warm clothes and other emergency needs.
• We also gave cash gifts to families who did not receive any immediate help from others. Approximately $100 was given to each of 167 families.
• Plastic tarps and other essentials were also given to 167 families.
• We assisted in the burial of the bodies of 17 families.
• Medical aid was provided to 47 people and we helped to pay their medical bills.
• 115 people who suffered the most and have received no other help have been ‘adopted’ by Empart. We will continue to provide ongoing help to them.

‘We were very scared; there was no way we could find anything, everything was buried in the rubble. We were praying to the Lord to send us some help. He heard our prayers and sent the Empart team. We are very thankful to Empart for distributing these provisions. This is a great help, as we had no money to buy and prepare meals. Thank you!’ is typical of the responses we received.

Earthquake impact on Empart work
• One Empart worker was killed
• One student in our Transformation Centres (TC) was seriously injured with multiple broken bones
• 42 workers directly impacted – homes destroyed and other major losses
• Many believers in our churches lost homes and suffered greatly
• One TC building was seriously damaged and is no longer able to be used
• 49 Empart churches were significantly damaged
• 3 of our church planters each lost their mother
• 1 church planter lost his brother.

Next steps
Unfortunately now that the media has moved on to other things, the focus and attention from Nepal is disappearing. However, as a local church-based mission we can’t ignore and forget their suffering. I met with key Empart leaders and the Nepal team to discuss the longer term approach for giving aid. Together we prayerfully agreed to the following priorities:
• Provide shelters and supplies for the immediate Monsoon Season
• Get the children back to school
• Repair and rebuild damaged homes – cost approximately $300 per home
• Build 115 new homes – cost $900 each
• Build new facilities – new transformation centre and children’s and widow’s home

You can help rebuild Nepal

These beautiful people are in such desperate need. Together we can walk each step of the way with our brothers and sisters, helping with recovery and rebuilding.

You can continue to help our brothers and sisters in Nepal. In eternity you will be so glad you did!

Links: https://au.empart.org/NepalRebuild#NextSteps  / Contact Regina: Int 613 9723 9989