Charisma Staff


U.S.

Racecar Evangelism Revs Up

Charisma Staff

Ministries to the unique NASCAR culture of hot cars, cold beer and public prayer are on the riseInform-RacecarEvangelism

When you think about  motorsports, what comes to mind are probably images of beer-drinking Bubbas, tattooed fanatics and the occasional death-defying crash. But more and more, Jesus is in the mix.

Unless you’ve been to the race track, you may not know NASCAR is the only professional sport that still launches with a prayer, usually in the name of Jesus, over the public address system. Lately, more ministries are moving to preach the gospel and make disciples by sponsoring drivers as they race their souped up cars around famed NASCAR and IndyCar tracks.

Indeed, from pre-race prayer meetings to behind-the-scenes testimonies to live television exposure, evangelicals are reaching men (and women) who are watching drivers speed around circles at up to 200 miles per hour.

U.S.

Dino Loses Big To Floods

Charisma Staff

Despite personal loss, gospel piano legend focuses on helping others after disasterInform-DinoLoses

Dino Kartsonakis received a prophetic word about a new beginning with “water, lots of water,” but the Grammy award-winning gospel pianist never dreamed it would come in the wake of a history-making flood in southeast Missouri.

Kartsonakis’ home in Hollister, Mo., was buried under 13 feet of water in April. In a flash, he lost his grand pianos and a lifetime of musical awards, archives, photographs, clothing and family heirlooms. The keepsakes that healing evangelist Kathryn Kuhlman gave him during the time he played piano for her ministry were also destroyed.

A homeless Kartsonakis now is sounding the “last days” trumpet—and proclaiming the power of God—as he turns his focus toward helping others who have lost so much in the deluge of natural disasters this year.

World

Haiti’s Healing Revival

Charisma Staff

Physical, spiritual and emotional healing are occurring where Voodoo and poverty have been the normInform-Haiti

Eighteen months after a horrific earthquake left a path of death and destruction, Haiti has emerged from the rubble a new nation. Pastor Rene Joseph, founder of Loving Hands Ministry of Haiti, believes wholeheartedly that Haiti’s healing is underway—and the spiritual awakening that began after the earthquake is rapidly spreading.

Loving Hands Ministry is a Christian, international, nonprofit relief organization with headquarters in Florida and Haiti. Founded in 1987, the ministry delivers food, medicine, clothing and other necessities to those who lack these essentials due to famine, poverty or natural disaster. Last year the ministry shipped more than 6,000 meals each month to children and families in Haiti.

In his 25 years of ministry, Joseph has also planted 35 churches and three orphanages. He and his wife, Dorentia, pastor a large church in downtown Port-au-Prince. The church holds 2,500 people but has outgrown its capacity since the earthquake. Plans are under way to repair quake damage and construct a larger sanctuary.


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