Down Time: Due to numerous scheduled maintenance events and unscheduled interruptions, the Pneuma Foundation website was down for several days in November and December 2006. There also may have been an interruption in our reception of email in November and early December. If you attempted to communicate with us and have not received a response back, please send your request along again and Member Services will make every effort to expedite your request.

New Featured Online Articles

Numerous articles are available on the Online Articles index. http://www.pneumafoundation.org/web_article_archive.jsp
Book Review: Mark L. Cartledge, Practical Theology: Charismatic and Empirical Perspectives (Carlisle, Cumbria, UK: Paternoster Press, 2003). Reviewed by Mike J. Knowles in the Spring 2005 issue of the Pneuma Review and now available online. Added January 8, 2007. http://www.pneumafoundation.org/article.jsp?article=article_0075.xml
Web Exclusive Review Essay: "On Fire and Up to Date" An extended review of Amos Yong, The Spirit Poured Out on All Flesh: Pentecostalism and the Possibility of Global Theology (Baker Academic, 2005). Reviewed by Tony Richie. Added to the In Depth Resources index on November 6, 2006. http://www.pneumafoundation.org/article.jsp?article=article_0073.xml
Web Exclusive Review Essay: "Power from on High to bear the fruits of the Spirit?" A review of Amos Yong, The Spirit Poured Out on All Flesh: Pentecostalism and the Possibility of Global Theology (Baker Academic, 2005). Reviewed by Rony M. Reyes. Added to the In Depth Resources index on November 13, 2006. http://www.pneumafoundation.org/article.jsp?article=article_0074.xml
Dony Donev has revised his paper: "The Story of the Bulgarian Bible: Brief Chronological Overview (AD 863-2004)." This article is available on the In Depth Resources index: http://www.pneumafoundation.org/resources/in_depth.jsp
New Bulgarian Language department: Thanks to the work of translator Alexandrina S., there are now three Bulgarian-language articles available on the Pneuma Foundation website. The first papers to appear are chapters from Craig S. Keener's course on biblical interpretation (which was also printed in the PNEUMA REVIEW as "Rightly Understanding God's Word" with most chapters now available online, or the entire course as one document).
- Bible Interpretation Course: Bible Background, Part 2, by Professor Craig S. Keener. More examples of using cultural background. This is Part 2 of 2 of "Bible Background," translated into the Bulgarian language by Alexandrina S. Added November 1, 2006 (size: 261KB). http://www.pneumafoundation.org/resources/articles/RUGW_BibleBackground2_Bulgarian.pdf | Available in English: http://www.pneumafoundation.org/article.jsp?article=BibleBackground2-CKeener.xml
- Bible Interpretation Course: Context of Genre, by Professor Craig S. Keener. This is chapters 7-10, "Context of Genre," translated into the Bulgarian language by Alexandrina S. Added November 1, 2006 (size: 1161KB). http://www.pneumafoundation.org/resources/articles/RUGW_ContextOfGenre_Bulgarian.pdf
- Bible Interpretation Course: Whole Book Context, Part 1, by Professor Craig S. Keener. What can the overall context tell us about how to read each book of the Bible? This is Part 1 of 2 of "Whole Book Context," translated into the Bulgarian language by Alexandrina S. Added June 4, 2004. (size: 252KB). http://www.pneumafoundation.org/resources/articles/RUGW_WholeBookContext1_Bulgarian.pdf | Available in English: http://www.pneumafoundation.org/article.jsp?article=hermeneutics-keener-wholebook1.xml
To find other chapters from "Rightly Understanding God's Word" as they appeared in the PNEUMA REVIEW, visit the journal's list of online articles: http://www.pneumafoundation.org/article_archive.jsp. To download the entire course, visit the Download Resources page. http://www.pneumafoundation.org/resources/downloads.jsp

New Links and Content Worth Noticing

The Pneuma Foundation is pleased to add content to our website as a resource to our members and friends around the world. We also add links to content that we are not able to republish ourselves, but may be of interest. Here are some examples of links added recently to "Links to Articles & Books" www.pneumafoundation.org/links_articles.jsp and from "Links to Study Resources" www.pneumafoundation.org/links_study.jsp
The largest list of Pentecostal/charismatic Bible Schools available online anywhere. http://www.pneumafoundation.org/links_schools.jsp
Add your school: http://www.pneumafoundation.org/links.jsp#link
"The Church's Great Malfunctions" by Miroslav Volf. "We should be our own fiercest critics, doing so out of the deep beauty and goodness of our faith" (Christianity Today, October 2006). http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/october/52.108.html
"Praying in Tongues for Healing" by Francis MacNutt. http://www.kingdomrain.net/content/view/16/28/
Find other articles by Francis MacNutt on KingdomRain.net. http://www.kingdomrain.net/content/blogcategory/15/27/

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Reports from Around the World

Sri Lanka: Press Release and Call to Prayer
The National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka expresses its shock and dismay at the events unfolded in the last few days, turning Sri Lanka into a "killing field." The massacre of unarmed civilians who were taking refuge at an IDP Camp and the subsequent assassination of the Hon. Member of Parliament and Human Rights activist Mr. Nadarajah Raviraj in the very heart of the high security capital, Colombo sent shock waves through the nation.
These are not isolated incidents but the culmination of a violent culture which has been prevalent in Sri Lanka in recent times. The killing of minority community politicians, human rights activists, journalists, and the silencing of other democratic voices has become a trend in our society. If this dangerous trend is not arrested immediately, the people of this nation will lose faith in the democracy and the justice system. The perpetrators of these violent acts move freely with impunity while there is a total absence of the rule of law in the land.
While we condemn the acts of violence of all parties, we call upon the Government of Sri Lanka to act justly and righteously to enforce law and order and bring to book the perpetrators of these murders.
From the murder of the Hon. Member of Parliament Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham on the 24th December 2005 at Christmas Mass, to that of the Hon MP Mr. Raviraj on the 8th November 2006, dozens of others have paid with their lives, and yet no one has been brought to account for these dastardly acts.
We call upon every right thinking citizen of this nation to stand up, be counted and let their voice be heard, to put a stop to these barbaric acts so that we can once again stand tall as a nation.
May God grant us grace and strength to transform our nation, so that we might see justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream.
"Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a disgrace to any people" (Proverbs 14: 34)
Source: National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka, 13th November 2006.
Special Thanks to Pastor Emmanuel for sending this to the Pneuma Informer. Visit his ministry website: www.nazarenemission.org

Ethiopia: Rising violence against Christians alarms mission group
(MNN) - A 300-strong Muslim mob recently murdered six Christians in Ethiopia's Agaro Province. Voice of the Martyrs Canada's Glenn Penner says this is not an isolated incident. They are in a very dangerous situation in western Ethiopia today, as defined by the rise in violence against Christians. "We're having situations where young Christians are being told 'you will convert or die.' These are situations we did not find in Ethiopia, even a year ago. We would see violence, we would see beatings, we would see churches burned down, but we weren't seeing people getting killed as much." Penner says the oppression is getting more severe as evangelicals find themselves pressed between Muslims and the Orthodox church. "This is taking place in very remote parts of Ethiopia. Sometimes it's taking up to a couple weeks for us to get any sort of reports out. To provide assistance to these Christians is very difficult. It's very dangerous. Thankfully, we do have staff in the country. They are Ethiopians; they are able to go into the community."
Source: Mission Network News, 8 December, 2006. Full story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/9339

Azusa Celebration in Asia
Rev. Billy Wilson, his wife Lisa, and a ministry team, which included Dr. David Roebuck, Director of the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center, Dr. Eddie Hyatt, Editor of Fire on the Earth, and Dr. Sue Hyatt, co-founder of Hyatt International Ministries and Hyatt Press, completed several days of ministry in Indonesia - the first International Azusa Street Centennial follow-up event.
Azusa Asia Indonesia held September 29-30 was a grand occasion in Jakarta as Pentecostals from across the nation gathered for a history-making moment. The main event held Saturday, September 30, at the national stadium was attended by more than 70,000 people. The celebration included over 2,000 children in costume, a 1,000-voice choir, a helicopter entrance displaying the theme, lighting of a huge flame that burned throughout the evening, and much more. What an amazing Kingdom moment for the nation of Indonesia.
Rev. Wilson commented, "As I ministered during the evening program and extended an invitation for participants to receive salvation. Several thousand stood and prayed to receive the Lord as Savior. This was the largest one-time harvest ever in my ministry. I was very grateful and humbled to be involved."
Source: Center for Spiritual Renewal, Email Update Dec. 1, 2006 www.spiritualrenewal.net

Lesotho: Missionary aviators provide hope and help with HIV/AIDS in Africa
(MNN) - Millions of people are infected with HIV/AIDS in Africa. President of Mission Aviation Fellowship, Kevin Swanson, says Lesotho is a country especially hard hit. Since MAF has such an impact there, they are doing something about it. "We have been training national Christian nurses from Lesotho to go in and do AIDS education in these villages because so much of the spread of AIDS in Africa comes from ignorance." Swanson says they teach them about sexual purity, how to prevent the disease and how to care for AIDS patients. Swanson says, however, that MAF is sharing the Gospel. "You can teach people, you can educate people, but if their hearts really don't change the likelihood of anything significantly transformational is very, very slim." Swanson says the program is working. People are coming to Christ and are attending churches. However, staff and funding are needed. "As we have more resources we can extend this to other parts of the country."
Source: Mission Network News, 8 December, 2006. Full story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/9360

Cambodia: Gospel spreads among former Khmer Rouge
Anlong Veng, a remote town near the Thai border, was the final stronghold of the notorious Khmer Rouge under Pol Pot's genocidal regime. The town is still highly populated by former Khmer Rouge members. Greatly hated and feared by the rest of Cambodian society, these former Khmer Rouge have retreated to the jungles.
Yet due to the faith and steadfast prayers of native Cambodian missionaries, the area was opened to the gospel in 1999, beginning with the conversion of several key Khmer Rouge military leaders. Eight churches have now been planted in Anlong Veng. Another large church and guesthouse are scheduled to open in February 2007.
The indigenous ministry spearheading this gospel movement has also established a children's home that cares for the orphans of deceased members of the Khmer Rouge. It is estimated that between 300 and 400 orphans now exist in the jungles of Anlong Veng. In addition, a feeding program serves three meals a day to 120 children. With Christian Aid's help, 230 tons of rice was distributed during one year.
Source: Missions Insider (December 20, 2006) www.christianaid.org

Middle East: Jesus is being presented
(MNN) - As tensions continue to mount between Muslims and Christians around the world, one ministry is excited. Book of Hope International's Rob Hoskins says recently the President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, recently prayed for the annihilation of Christianity. He says many Christians feel powerless to doing anything in situations like these. "Although we hear all these stories about how Islam is encroaching, what we're really seeing happen is we're seeing spiritual breakthroughs and Jesus being presented to more Muslim children and youth than in the history of mankind." Book of Hope plans to distribute five-million Books of Hope, but they want to expand. "We have tremendous opportunities in several languages. One is the (Persian) language for Iran where the church is really in desperate need of children's and youth materials and so the church has approached us, asking us if we could please translate our Book of Hope into the (Persian) language."
Source: Mission Network News, November 28, 2006. Full story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/9321

Bhutan: Leadership change sparks hope for ministry
(MNN) - Bhutan's king unexpectedly stepped down in December, sparking hope that freedom of religion will finally come. Gospel For Asia's President KP Yohannan says Bhutan is a closed country, but hopes the crown prince will hold a different view on Christians. Right now, it's illegal for a Buddhist to become a Christian and church buildings are forbidden. In spite of the oppression, GFA missionaries are at work. The people are receptive to the Gospel and many have become believers.
Source: Mission Network News, December 26, 2006. Full story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/9413

News and Headlines
Visit links.jsp for Current News and Links

Belief in UK: Children do not know who Jesus is (The Times). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2381668_1,00.html
China: 300 Christians Protest Government Land Seizure (ASSIST News Service). http://www.crosswalk.com/news/religiontoday/1443113.html
India: "Jesus Only Way to Stop Radical Islam, Former Muslim Says" (AgapePress). http://www.crosswalk.com/news/religiontoday/1443431.html
National Association of Evangelicals Sifts Through Ashes of Haggard Scandal Leaders are distancing group from its former president. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/novemberweb-only/145-22.0.html
British religious intolerance: British airline sends employee home for wearing crucifix. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/december/4.13.html
Libya: Evidence says medics did not infect children with HIV http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/africa/12/06/Libya.AIDS.ap/index.html | Dony Donev writes (Dec. 22): "Four Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor have been held prisoners since the year 1999 on charges that they intentionally spread HIV to more than 400 children at a hospital in Benghazi. Although evidence has repeatedly proven their innocence, the Libyan court confirmed a guilty verdict this week sentencing them to death. We were impressed by the Holy Spirit to travel to Libya and provide pastoral care for the prisoners during this holiday season. Please ask your congregations, family and friends to pray for this urgent need. We welcome your assistance through organizational and personal connections. Sincerely, Dr. Dony & Kathryn Donev, Cup & Cross Ministries"
Iraq: "Iraqi - and Christian - in America" Christians in Iraq are a persecuted minority, which means hard times for their families abroad (CBS Evening News). http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/02/eveningnews/main2324423.shtml

See other news to pray and praise God about in the Prayer Requests department below.

Report the News
We are looking for stories about what God is doing in the world, reports about the persecution of Christians, and information about significant trends and ministry opportunities. If you have a news item to report, please send an email to the PNEUMA INFORMER. http://www.pneumafoundation.org/contactus.jsp

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Resources You Can Use

Dallas Seminary Professor Defends the New Testament
Radio talk show host Kerby Anderson interviewed Dr. Daniel B. Wallace November 27 on Point of View Radio. The interview covered relevant topics from Reinventing Jesus: What The Da Vinci Code and Other Novel Speculations Don't Tell You, the book Dr. Wallace co-authored with J. Ed Komoszewski and M. James Sawyer. Issues discussed in the book and during the interview were the reliability of New Testament manuscripts, the reliability of the Canon, and the reliability of texts affirming Deity of Christ.
Daniel B. Wallace (Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary) is professor of New Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary, director of the Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts, and senior New Testament editor of the NET Bible. He has written Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics: An Exegetical Syntax of the New Testament.
To hear the entire two-hour interview, visit: http://audio.ncfr.net/download/11272006.mp3
Source: From the November 28, 2006 Press Release from Kregel Publications

Ephesians Group Study Booklet for Download
SOON Ministries have published a 32-page group study booklet on Ephesians. Written in easy-English, it is primarily for the non-Western world.
Download it in PDF or Publisher formats, and print out as many copies as you need.
http://www.soon.org.uk/ephesians.php
Source: Web Evangelism Newsletter December (i) 06

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Articles from the Winter 2007 issue of the PNEUMA REVIEW

The PNEUMA REVIEW is a quarterly printed journal of ministry resources and theology for Pentecostal and charismatic ministries and leaders. For more information about the PNEUMA REVIEW, and to learn how to subscribe, please visit: Introducing the PNEUMA REVIEW. www.pneumafoundation.org/intro_pr.jsp

Buy the PNEUMA REVIEW online at Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000D8CY9
Write a review online for the PNEUMA REVIEW!

Back issues of the Pneuma Review
Issues currently available for direct purchase online:

Summer 2006 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000IGEEPS
Fall 2006 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000LVNSW0

For a full index of the contents of all Pneuma Review issues, visit: http://www.pneumafoundation.org/pr_archive.jsp. More back issues will be added soon.

From "Personal Prophecy: How Much Can We Trust It?" by Eddie L. Hyatt

It seems that almost everyone has an amusing or thought-provoking anecdote about an encounter with personal prophecy. For example, a prophet once exhorted me that I no longer had to be concerned about my unsaved little brother. God had revealed to him, he said, that my little brother would be saved and there was no need for any concern. In private, I shared with this "prophet" that I had not been concerned about my little brother because I did not have a little brother. Obviously embarrassed, he replied, "I will have to be more careful."

The above experience highlighted for me the potential danger of personal prophecy gone awry. An equal danger, however, is when the Church reacts to such extremes and rejects or discourages personal prophecy altogether. In 1 Thess. 5:19-20, Paul gives clear instructions in this regard. Do not quench the Spirit, he says, and Do not despise prophecies (NKJV). In vs. 21 Paul then balances the former two verses by saying, Test all things; hold fast what is good (NKJV). Paul's approach to prophecy may be described as "openness without naivete and discernment without judgmentalism."

In Paul's instruction on prophecy throughout his letters, several key guidelines emerge that are particularly relevant to personal prophecy: (1) It is given as the Spirit wills; (2) It is given for confirming and encouraging; (3) It is given as a free gift of grace; and (4) It is given to glorify Christ.

. . .

__________

Eddie L. Hyatt, D.Min. (Regent University), is the founder and president of Hyatt International Ministries in Dallas, Texas. He is the author of 2000 Years of Charismatic Christianity which traces Pentecostal/charismatic movements and phenomena from the Day of Pentecost to the present time. www.eddiehyatt.com

Read the rest of this article in the Winter 2007 issue of the PNEUMA REVIEW www.pneumafoundation.org/intro_pr.jsp

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From "The Purpose of Signs and Wonders in the New Testament: What Terms for Miraculous Power Denote and Their Relationship to the Gospel" by Gary S. Greig

Part 1 of 2. From the series, The Power of the Cross: The Biblical Place of Healing and Gift-Based Ministry in Proclaiming the Gospel

The year is 1906. A young sixteen year old girl named Henrietta Mears, living in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has just had a painful accident. She somehow "jabbed a hat pin into the pupil of an eye. Her doctors could do nothing for the condition and predicted possible blindness for her." [1] Henrietta's family, which attends the First Baptist Church of Minneapolis, asks a close friend named Mr. Ingersoll, an elder in a local Presbyterian church, to come pray for Henrietta's eye in accordance with James 5:14-16. In response to their prayers, God graciously heals Henrietta's vision:

Henrietta had no doubt that the God who had made her could also heal her eye. Specialists who later examined the eye agreed there was indeed a hole in the pupil and shook their heads in amazement that she could see anything out of it. That she was, in fact, seeing could not be explained except that God had stretched forth His hand and healed her eye--even though the hole remained. Henrietta learned from this experience and from her mother to accept all Scripture at face value. For God to touch her body simply meant taking Him at His word.[2]

Henrietta Mears went on to be used greatly by God as Director of Christian Education and College Teacher at Hollywood Presbyterian Church, Hollywood, California. She founded Gospel Light Publications and Forest Home Christian Conference Center in the San Bernardino mountains of southern California. She influenced the ministries and lives of such great evangelical leaders as Bill Bright, who founded Campus Crusade for Christ, and Billy Graham, who called her "one of the greatest Christians I have ever known."[3] Towards the end of her life Henrietta sought all the gifts of the Spirit for her life and Christian work: "I have enjoyed spiritual gifts, ... I have had the Spirit's presence. But now I want every thing that He has for me. I want all the gifts."[4]

Can cases of healing through prayer in Christ's name like that of Henrietta Mears be called a "sign" or a "wonder" in the biblical sense? On many occasions my wife and I (and many in our church, a Presbyterian church) have seen God touch and restore people in similar ways through prayer. My wife and I share the following personal accounts, because we wish to avoid the questions of exaggeration and distortion which third person accounts inevitably pose: we personally witnessed what is recounted in the following paragraphs. We do not wish to suggest that our faith is focused on spiritual gifts and healing. Our focus is on Christ and the work of His Cross. We understand the gifts, as I Peter 4:10-11 suggests, simply as some of His tools available to all believers[5] to do His work of evangelism, discipleship, service, and encouragement so that "God may be praised through Jesus Christ" (I Pet. 4:11).

When he was four years old, my own son underwent two painful and traumatic surgeries in the spring of 1991 to correct a congenital defect which he had at birth. That summer the condition had not healed as expected and the specialist who had performed the first two surgeries predicted my son would need a third surgery in the early fall. After persistent prayer by my wife and me and the elders of our church, God touched and healed our son of the condition. The specialist told us that my son's condition had reversed itself and that this was "highly unusual" in cases like my son's. My son never had a third surgery and continues to this day without any further need of medical attention for his former condition.

On many occasions my wife and I have also seen God give supernatural insight in prayer to accomplish His purposes. In late February, 1992, my wife was praying with a woman named Carolyn at a monthly church meeting. Carolyn did not know me or my wife well. She knew nothing of our personal lives at the time nor that we had a four year old son and a one and a half year old daughter. Carolyn also did not know that my wife was concerned that she was not spending enough quality time with our son, who at that time had a language-processing deficiency. My wife did not know that Carolyn had been unemployed for six months and had finally gotten a job that very day.

Neither my wife nor Carolyn shared these personal details with each other before they prayed together. As they prayed and asked the Lord to guide their time of prayer, Carolyn saw a picture of a backyard with two children, a boy and a girl, playing on a swing-set and in a wooden-sided sandbox (the only two items which our backyard has). Carolyn sensed God saying that "everything is alright with the children because God is watching over them." At the same time, my wife saw a picture of the beach and the ocean which she did not understand. It just so happened that Carolyn had had the job interview that day at a Ventura beach. Carolyn shared that God had provided her with a job that day "at the beach." My wife and Carolyn thanked the Lord for this encouraging witness of His provision and protection in both their lives (Mat. 6:8; Phil. 4:5b-7).

In late September, 1992, I took a cab from the Los Angeles International airport to nearby Santa Monica and was praying for the cab driver, a middle-aged man, and for an opportunity to share Christ with him. Three thoughts flashed through my mind as I prayed: that he was Russian, that he was Jewish, and that he had a daughter whom he dearly loved (I saw a picture in my mind of a young five year old girl with him). The first fact I could have inferred from his name, Boris. The last two facts I could not have known naturally (his last name was not typically Jewish but Russian). I shared these insights with him and found out they were all true--he was Jewish and had only one child, a daughter about five years old whom he loved very much. Then I told him about Jesus, who revealed those insights, who knew every detail of his life, and who, as Israel's Messiah, loved him enough to die for his sins. Though he did not receive Christ as Savior at that moment, he was grateful for what I said and for my prayer for him and his family. And I was grateful that the Lord demonstrated His presence and His love for this man in a way I could not have done by myself.

Can "ordinary" healing or words of knowledge[6] (insights from God) or spiritual gifts of these types be called "signs and wonders" in the sense in which the New Testament uses the phrase? What do "signs and wonders" refer to in the New Testament and what are their function and purpose? Are ongoing "signs and wonders" to be expected in evangelism and ministry in the Church today? Some evangelicals say "no," claiming to argue from biblical and linguistic grounds.

The following study will focus on "signs, wonders, and miracles" attributed to God in the New Testament and will not consider in detail counterfeit signs and wonders worked by Satan in the last days which are mentioned in Mat. 24:24; Mk. 13:22; II Thes. 2:9; Rev. 13:13; Rev. 16:14; Rev. 19:20. (For discussion of counterfeit miracles, see Wayne Grudem's chapter in this book, objection no. 23, "How do we know that spiritual gifts today aren't just demonic counterfeits designed to lead people astray?" Editor's Note: Part 4 of Wayne Grudem's chapter "Should Christians Expect Miracles Today? Objections and Answers from the Bible" was printed in the Fall 2000 issue of the Pneuma Review. This article is also available online at: http://www.pneumafoundation.org/article.jsp?article=/WGrudem-Miracles4.xml) The fact that there will be "counterfeit miracles, signs, and wonders" (II Thes. 2:9) worked by Satan in the last days suggests that there will also be genuine miracles, signs, and wonders worked by God as well (cf. Rev. 11:3-13).

. . .

__________

Gary S. Greig (as of 1993) is Senior Editor of Gospel Light Publications, Ventura, California, and is Adjunct Assistant Professor of Hebrew, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California, USA. He received a B.A. (Archaeology and Egyptology, 1983) from the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel, did graduate study in the School of Theology at Fuller Seminary (1982-1983), Pasadena, California, and received an M.A. and Ph.D. (Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, 1990) from the University of Chicago, Oriental Institute. He has published articles in scholarly publications and journals. He is an elder in Community Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), Ventura, California.

Endnotes appear in the full issue. Read the rest of this article in the Winter 2007 issue of the PNEUMA REVIEW www.pneumafoundation.org/intro_pr.jsp

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Responses from Readers

A question about Reincarnation
My name is Rolf and I'm from Canoas, Brazil. I'm from a Partners in Harvest fellowship: www.comunidadevinde.com.br
My personal ministry is with teaching. I was searching for articles about inner healing and I found that William De Arteaga, author of Quenching the Spirit (which I have) believes (or believed) in reincarnation (he wrote a book about this in the 80's). Another article says that Agnes Sanford also believed in something like that.
Could you send me information about this? What do you think about this subject?
Glod bless you,
—Rolf F.

Response:

Thank you for writing, Brother F.
I sent along your question to William De Arteaga and he responded:

The quick answer is that I no longer affirm anything I said in Past Life Visions (1983). Someday, like St. Augustine in his old age, I may write an article called "retractions and reconsiderations."
Sealed Orders shows that Agnes Sanford believed in the pre-existent spirit, which is actually biblical, but only now coming into orthodox consciousness. There is nothing in her writings indicating she believed in the doctrine of reincarnation, on the contrary she would often call it a "dreary doctrine."

The Pneuma Foundation does not believe that reincarnation is a biblical teaching, on the contrary we find the Bible saying that "it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment" (Heb 9:27 NKJV). Many of the editors and writers for the publications of the Pneuma Foundation may disagree with the concept of the pre-existent spirit of man.
Thank you again for writing and bringing up this important question. In the love of the Father,
Raul Mock
Executive Editor, Pneuma Review

"Agnes Sanford: Apostle of Healing, and First Theologian of the Charismatic Renewal" Part 1 and 2, by William L. De Arteaga, appeared respectively in the Spring 2006 and Summer 2006 issues of the Pneuma Review.

Have a comment for us? Contact Us http://www.pneumafoundation.org/contactus.jsp

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Prayer Requests

War imminent in the Horn of Africa: Somalia's Islamic Courts Union (ICU) has a vision not only to unite Somalia as one Islamic State, but to establish an Islamic Caliphate over a 'Greater Somalia' comprising all lands inhabited by ethnic Somalis, as well as eastern Ethiopia and north-eastern Kenya, countries that are predominantly Christian. The stage is being set for a massive regional war and Islamic jihad. The ICU is receiving support from Eritrea as well as several Islamic regimes and jihadist groups. Because it cannot seriously challenge the mighty Ethiopian army, it will rely on terrorism, attacking 'soft targets' including churches, Christians and Christian ministries. As Islamic zeal and belligerence rise across the region, persecution and killings of Christians in Muslim-dominated areas is increasing.
Please pray for God to protect his people, frustrate the ways of the wicked (Psalm 146:9) and build his Church.
Source: World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin - RLP 404 | Horn of Africa: War and Jihad Imminent

The Pneuma Foundation is in need of your prayers for increased effectiveness and financial support. Gifts to the Foundation were considerably lower in 2006 than in previous years. Because of our commitment to avoid debt, this means that new ministry efforts must remain on hold until finances become available. The executive committee is very excited about how a number of new friends are submitting articles and reviews and volunteering to help. Those that have been giving of their finances and their time are most appreciated. Please pray that God would continue to expand this ministry and use it to spread the word about the power, love, and forgiveness found only in Jesus our Messiah.
Thank you for your support in prayer and financially.

Pray for the church in Turkmenistan: (MNN) - Many people, including Christians, are wondering about the future of Turkmenistan, following the sudden death of its long time President and dictator Saparumurat Niyazov (sahper-mah-raht nyah-zahv). Niyazov died of a heart attack on December 22. Turkmenistan ranks 13th on Open Doors World Watch list of nations that persecute Christians. Slavic Gospel Association's Joel Griffith. "It remains to be seen exactly what's going to be happening in Turkmenistan. When you look at the former Soviet Union and all those countries that made that up, Turkmenistan is probably the most oppressive toward evangelical churches in all of the Commonwealth of Independent States." Because of that, the evangelical church is small. Griffith says prayer is needed. "Pray for God's protection over them during this time. Pray that there would be an orderly transition of power and pray that it would be favorable to the churches there. Pray for the further progress of the Gospel there.
Source: Mission Network News for 22 December, 2006. Full story: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/9408

Serious Clash Threatens Peace in South Sudan: From 1983 to January 2005 the predominantly Christian peoples of Southern Sudan suffered immensely under the violent Islamic jihad of the Islamist Government of Sudan (GoS). The Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in January 2005 is not being implemented. Most seriously, clashes are occurring between Southern Sudan's army and GoS-sponsored militias. Malakal in Southern Sudan is oil rich.
Recently a GoS-sponsored militia provoked a clash that escalated into a significant military confrontation that left around 300 dead and 500 wounded. Islamists in Khartoum have always opposed peace on ideological grounds and the GoS is hungry for the south's oil.
After 21 years of suffering and loss, the Southern Sudanese dread the prospect of a return to war. Please pray for peace and deliverance from evil.
Source: World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin - RLP 408 | Southern Sudan: Serious Clash Threatens Peace

Lebanon (MNN): Upheaval creates new paths to outreach. The tensions in Lebanon are palpable. An HCJB World Radio medical missions team just returned from work in south Lebanon. 'Sheila' says their work was timely. "Clinics and local health centers were closed. Healthcare professionals had left the area. At the time we were there, people were actually coming back to that area. The role that we fulfilled during the time that we were there was really just walk-in clinic basis and really taking care of people's chronic health needs. What we actually found was that a lot of people who came to our clinics really just wanted to talk." Sheila notes the outcome of the conflict in Lebanon may result in an even more evangelical church. "This has really been a wake-up call for them to reach out to their neighbors. Many of them had been evacuated to Beirut. Many of them had rubbed shoulders with some of their Muslim neighbors that normally they would not have contact with. They realized that as they were all in it together, that they were just the same as everybody else."
Source: http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/9346

The faculty of Northwestern Theological Seminary asks for our prayers: "Please pray for our seminary, that God would bless us as we reach out all over the country. Please pray for: Students' educational development; Branch teachers and their families; New curriculum of Seminary; Financial needs of Seminary." Reference Number: 90027062

Tajikistan: Religious intolerance needs to be halted : Some 97 per cent of Tajikistan's seven million people are Sunni Muslims. Christianity is amongst the religious minorities, and Protestant Christians are about 0.02 per cent of the population.
Though Tajikistan is officially secular, the government strongly supports Sunni Islam. Religious minorities are persecuted or heavily restricted, especially in their outreach to the ethnic Tajik population. When ethnic Tajiks become Christians their Islamic families and community ostracize them. Please pray for them. Since July 2005 the activities of the churches have been increasingly controlled. Earlier in 2006 a new law was proposed that would severely restrict the churches and stop the activities of non-registered religious bodies. Getting registration for a church in Tajikistan is very difficult now but under the draft law it would be almost impossible. Please pray that it will be dropped.
Source: World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin - RLP 395 "Tajikistan: Religious intolerance needs to be halted"

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Praise Reports

We praise and thank God for the release of kidnapped Chaldean priest Fr Al-Bazy, and pray for the safe return of Fr Samy Abdulahad who was kidnapped in Baghdad on 4 December. We grieve the loss of Presbyterian elder Munthir (69) who was kidnapped in Mosul and executed by Islamic militants on 29 November. May God protect and preserve his Church in Iraq so it is refined and not consumed by this fire, not only for its own sake but for the sake of the nation.
Source: World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin - RLP 407 "Iraq Update; Shiite Ascendancy Threatens Region"

Pastor/scholar Tony Richie writes: "I'm preaching what's turned out to be a 3-week revival (so far, as of Dec. 13) near Newport, TN at the Indian Creek Church of God. We have had several saved and Spirit baptized, and have seen incredible miracles of deliverance and healing too. God's power is being manifest. Praise the Lord!" Tony Richie is a regular contributor to the PNEUMA REVIEW.

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Condolences

Condolences to the family of Pastor Herb VanderLugt. who went home to be with the Lord on December 2, 2006. Herb began working for RBC Ministries (Radio Bible Class) in 1967 and pastored many churches in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area. Pneuma Foundation Executive Director Raul Mock has said of Pastor VanderLugt: "Although Herb could not be called a charismatic, from personal conversations I had with him I know that his published positions against the contemporary ministry of the Holy Spirit (at least as expressed in Pentecostal/charismatic churches) had softened a great deal. He had seen miraculous healings, even though he saw that many who prayed for miracles did not receive them. I will miss speaking with him, always amazed at his deep care for people and his breadth of knowledge. For an octogenarian Baptist preacher, he was refreshingly progressive and always encouraging you to know God and His Word more."

Condolences to the family of Jim Montgomery, a man God used to encourage missionary efforts around the world. James Harney Montgomery, Jr. went home to be with the Lord on October 29, 2006. He was the founder, with his wife Lyn, of DAWN Ministries (Disciple A Whole Nation).

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Congratulations

Congratulations to Dr. Wonsuk Ma on his December 8 installment as the Director of the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies. Dr. Ma and his wife, Dr. Julie Ma, served many years as Korean missionaries to the Philippines where they have been leading Pentecostal/charismatic theologians and instructors. Wonsuk Ma has also contributed articles to the Pneuma Review. Thank you for your service to the Church, Brother Ma! http://www.ocms.ac.uk/detail.php?id=847

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