Earthquake in Haiti

A major earthquake measuring 7.0 on the richter scale hit the carribean nation of Haiti at 16:53 local time (12:52 GMT) on Tuesday 12th January 2010, just 15km (10 miles) south-west of Port-au-Prince. 

Tens of thousands are feared dead and up to three million affected.

Aid groups say there is a race against time to find survivors under the rubble of the collapsed buildings – the first priority of the rescue effort.

Heavy lifting gear and sniffer dogs are desperately needed to seek out trapped victims, with medicine, food and water also in short supply.

Following this major disaster in Haiti, AoG Incare has launched a relief appeal in partnership will Convoy of Hope for the distribution of aid.
 
Cheques should be made payable to AoG Incare, marked Haiti Appeal and sent to: Assemblies of God Inc, PO Box 7634, Nottingham, NG11 6ZY, UK.

Further Attacks on Church Property in Malaysia

Another Christian church has been attacked in Malaysia – the ninth such incident since Friday.

No one was injured in the attack on an evangelical church, but buildings were damaged by what appear to have been home-made petrol bombs.

The attacks have been triggered by a High Court ruling last month that overturned a government ban on non-Muslims using the word “Allah”.

Under the slogan “One Malaysia”, the government has made racial harmony a central policy. Its commitment to that policy is now being severely tested.

Metro Tabernacle

Metro Tabernacle Bombed

The Metro Tabernacle Assemblies of God Church in Desa Melawati, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia has been fire-bombed in an attack that gutted it’s administrative offices located on the ground floor of its three floor complex.

A witness spotted four people on two motorcycles breaking the glass front of the church and throwing an incendiary object inside before fleeing, according to Kuala Lumpur police chief Mohamad Sabtu Osman.

He said police have found a wrench, empty gasoline can and two scorched motorcycle helmets at the church, which is located in Desa Melawati, a suburb in Kuala Lumpur.

The King, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, expressed his wish for all Malaysians to remain calm and to respect all places of worship, following the attacks which follow a controversial high court decision on the use of the word “Allah” by other religions.

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, said he viewed the matter seriously as these actions could jeopardise harmony, adding that the Government would take all possible action to prevent such incidents from recurring.

At the same time, Najib has directed the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan to beef up security and surveillance at places of worship.

“We must not allow the peace and the understanding that we have among Malaysians of various ethnic backgrounds and faiths be threatened by anyone or any parties.”

Oral Roberts 1918-2009

Oral Roberts, founder and chancellor of Oral Roberts University, passed away on December 15 at the age of 91. His departure is mourned by the ORU family, including the students, faculty, staff, alumni, and supporters who embraced his philosophy of whole-person education.

Born in 1918 in rural Oklahoma, Roberts was a preacher’s kid who initially rejected his father’s faith. At the age of 17, however, he was struck down with tuberculosis. A subsequent miraculous healing led to his conversion, and a call on his life from God himself to “take My healing power to your generation.”

Carrying out that call took him from small churches to tent meetings to international crusades, and from radio and television to books and letters he wrote to the thousands who partnered with his ministry. The capstone of his life’s work was the founding of ORU in 1963. “Raise up your students to hear My voice,” God told Roberts, “to go where My light is seen dim, My voice is heard small, and My healing power is not known, even to the uttermost bounds of the earth. Their work will exceed yours, and in this I am well pleased.”

As Roberts often said, “Success without a successor is failure.” The graduates of ORU, he believed, would carry on the work of his healing ministry, “until Jesus comes again.”

Dr. Mark Rutland, who was inaugurated as the third president of ORU in September, had this to say about Roberts:

“Chancellor Roberts was one of the brilliant spiritual lights of the 20th century and a giant of the Christian faith. At the core of his legacy is a great university that bears his name. Like millions worldwide, I am mourning his passing and am grateful for his visionary life and contributions.”

Trustees Board Chair Mart Green said, “Chancellor Oral Roberts was a true disciple of Christ and his contributions to the kingdom of God will live on for many years to come. Just 10 days from Christmas, we know Oral will celebrate the birth of Christ with his heavenly father. The Oral Roberts University family grieves his loss yet celebrates the legacy he leaves behind.”

A public memorial service for Chancellor Oral Roberts will be held at the ORU Mabee Center, in Tulsa, Okla. on Monday, December 21st at 2:00 p.m.

Letter concerning Samuel Attard Montalto

Dear Friends,

Isaiah 57:1-2

Jeremiah 17:7

1Thess 4:13-18

These scriptures have been an enormous strength and encouragement to us at this time.

It has taken a while to sit down and write to you since Samuel went home to be with the Lord on 15^th November. Firstly, thank you so very much for your prayers and for the support we have felt from the movement. World Ministries, Southern European director, Kevin Foster flew out at once to be with us and to be present during the funeral and afterwards. We have also been exceedingly grateful also to have Alan and Flo Jeffs from NLCC Rotherham who could empathise with our loss having lost their daughter Elizabeth who was 17 years old, 35 years ago. We were also supported wonderfully with having John Edwards from Croydon and his wife Doris and son Nathanael fly out to be us and support us. We also want to thank those of you who have helped with monetary gifts to cover funeral expenses. Thank you!

Samuel was 16 ½ years old. He was our only son. We have three daughters, Rebekah, Hannah, and Abigail. He was a healthy young man who loved the Lord. On Sunday 15^th whilst playing hide and seek with his friends on the flat roof of a block of flats he mistook the other side of a low wall around a utility shaft to be a solid roof. The legal requirement in Malta is for the wall to be a minimum of 4 feet which this wasn’t. I was called by a pastor informing me that Samuel had been involved in an accident. I immediately left the house crying out to God all the way to where the accident occurred. Upon arrival the police informed me that it had been fatal. May I never have to live through such a moment again! I had to break the news firstly to Abigail who had also been playing hide and seek and had seen Samuel lying at the bottom of the shaft. That was hard! We called out to the Lord and wept and wept but the grace of God was there. I then had to call my wife and girls in the UK. Linda had been in the UK since the 27^th October as we wanted to give time to helping Hannah in the early preparations for her wedding next summer. They had to know from myself before anybody else would inform them. With amazing help from Hannah’s fiancée’s family and in Rebekah’s case from IBTI they were able to fly out early the following morning. Linda’s parents and nephew made it out the following day. Linda’s dad in China was unable to exit the country.

On the Tuesday morning I awoke about 5.00a.m. with my mind tormented. I went downstairs to pray and the word I had from the Lord was to give Him thanks! For 2 ½ hours I did so though it was hard, but during that time a thought came to me which has also come to a few other in prayer. It was that the Lord took Samuel at the top and not at the bottom! Apparently, when he went over the wall, the other children just heard a gasp like a quick inhalation and that was it, nothing else. This same thought little Abigail also had that same morning on awakening! Another word I received from the Lord that was very strong, especially when you just want to ask why did this have to happen was simply, “Trust Me”. We have wept much, we are feeling the pain of his untimely death, but we are thanking God for his life and trusting the Lord and we have experienced an enormous amount of grace.

The funeral was on Thursday 19^th November. It was a celebration of Samuel’s life. The evangelical community have been marvellous. John Grech, one of our elders, worked with my sister in organising the whole funeral. John and another pastor received favour from the Curia in Malta to use the chapel at the main cemetery on the island. That was a miracle! Some three hundred or so people attended including all my Catholic family, as well as Samuel’s class and Abigail’s class with their teachers. Pat Stevenson gave an excellent sermon, Hannah and my mother spoke with enormous faith and all praised the Lord. Also, Samuel’s best friend Gilmour from his school gave thanks for Samuel’s spiritual leadership. There was an awesome sense of God’s presence and nobody at any time felt hopeless and downcast like so often happens at funerals in the island. Most of those who attended the funeral all then gathered at Palm Springs church, just walking distance away for food and refreshments, which our care team served tirelessly to our family and friends. The church was not big enough, and most were out in the street.

Since the funeral we have been reaching out to Samuels’ friends. They began to attend church with him some time ago and a month before Samuel went home all three of his friends came to the front of the church and gave their lives to the Lord. Since his going home two more youngsters have started to attend church and we are also reaching out to them.

There is very much more to say especially concerning the fact that some youngsters have turned back to God from their backsliding. Pastor Larry led six people to Christ last week and Linda and I have both had numerous opportunities to witness to many because of Samuel’s testimony. Due to the article in the local newspaper many in this nation have been moved by a realisation of a living hope. In addition, a lot of relational healing between people in the Christian body in Malta has also occurred with repentance and asking for forgiveness.

Please forgive us from those of you who receive a Christmas card from us each year as we are unable to do so this year. We wish you all a very blessed and peaceful Christmas.

Again many thanks for all your love and prayers.   

Nick, Linda, Rebekah, Hannah and Abigail

Hands of Hope in Cambodia

Joyce Meyer Ministries in Cambodia

National Anthem of Cambodia

Monarchy in Cambodia

King

Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy, i.e. the King reigns but does not rule, in similar fashion to Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. The King is officially the Head of State and is the symbol of unity and “eternity” of the nation, as defined by Cambodia’s constitution.

From September 24, 1993 through October 7, 2004, Norodom Sihanouk reigned as King, after having previously served in a number of offices (including King) since 1941. Under the Constitution, the King has no political power, but as Norodom Sihanouk was revered in the country, his word often carried much influence in the government. For example, in February 2004, he issued a proclamation stating that since Cambodia is a “liberal democracy,” the Kingdom should allow gay marriage. While such views aren’t prevalent in Cambodia, his word was respected by his subjects. The King, often irritated over the conflicts in his government, several times threatened to abdicate unless the political factions in the government got along. This put pressure on the government to solve their differences. This influence of the King was often used to help mediate differences in government.

After the abdication of King Norodom Sihanouk in 2004, he was succeeded by his son Norodom Sihamoni. While the retired King is highly revered in his country for dedicating his lifetime to Cambodia, the current King has spent most of his life abroad in France. Thus, it remains to be seen whether the new King’s views will be as highly respected as his father’s.

Although in the Khmer language there are many words meaning “king”, the word officially used in Khmer (as found in the 1993 Cambodian Constitution) is preahmâhaksat (Khmer regular script: ), which literally means: preah- (“sacred”, cognate of the Indian word Brahmin) -mâha- (from Sanskrit, meaning “great”, cognate with “maha-” in maharaja) -ksat (“warrior, ruler”, cognate of the Indian word Kshatriya).

On the occasion of HM King Norodom Sihanouk’s retirement in September 2004, the Cambodian National Assembly coined a new word for the retired king: preahmâhaviraksat (Khmer regular script: ), where vira comes from Sanskrit vīra, meaning “brave or eminent man, hero, chief”, cognate of Latin vir, viris, English virile. Preahmâhaviraksat is translated in English as “King-Father” (French: Roi-Père), although the word “father” does not appear in the Khmer noun.

As preahmâhaviraksat, Norodom Sihanouk retains many of the prerogatives he formerly held as preahmâhaksat and is a highly respected and listened-to figure. Thus, in effect, Cambodia can be described as a country with two Kings: the one who is the Head of State, the preahmâhaksat Norodom Sihamoni, and the one who is not the Head of State, the preahmâhaviraksat Norodom Sihanouk.

Succession to the Throne

Unlike most monarchies, Cambodia’s monarchy isn’t necessarily hereditary and the King is not allowed to select his own heir. Instead, a new King is chosen by a Royal Council of the Throne, consisting of the president of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister, the Chiefs of the orders of Mohanikay and Thammayut, and the First and Second Vice-President of the Assembly. The Royal Council meets within a week of the King’s death or abdication and selects a new King from a pool of candidates with royal blood.

It has been suggested that Cambodia’s ability to peacefully appoint a new King shows that Cambodia’s government has stabilized incredibly from the situation the country was in during the 1970s.