Charisma Magazine

A charismatic evangelist is spotlighting what he describes as the world's "largest numerical revival" in a new documentary that premiers Friday.

1040, hosted by minister and musician Jaeson Ma, explores the spread of Christianity throughout Asia, where the church has grown at an unprecedented rate in recent decades.

Photo: Jaeson Ma traveled throughout Asia to film the 1040 documentary.

Speakers at a recent prophecy conference proclaimed that this is "the rapture generation" as they warned of a looming one-world government and attacks on Israel that could hasten end-times events.

"The last pages of your Bible read like the front pages of your paper," said conference host Rod Parsley in a dramatic video introduction that included footage of recent earthquakes and other natural disasters. "You are here because you've been chosen to live in this final hour."

Opponents of President Obama's health reform plan are putting forth a last-ditch effort to derail the proposal Congress has been urged to pass through an expedited reconciliation process this month.

The Family Research Council (FRC) on Tuesday issued an urgent call for its supporters to sign a petition calling on representatives in the House to oppose what the group calls a "government takeover of health care." Focus on the Family Action launched a lobbying campaign over health care reform Wednesday.

Suspected Islamic militants armed with guns and grenades stormed the offices of a Christian relief and development organization in northwest Pakistan today, killing six aid workers and wounding seven others.

The gunmen besieged the offices of international humanitarian organization World Vision near Oghi, about 50 miles north of Islamabad in Mansehra district of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP). Police and World Vision's regional spokesman said the Pakistani staff members, including two women, were killed after up to 15 gunmen arrived in pick-up trucks and began firing.

Some Christians are cautiously optimistic that religious freedom will not wane under Ukraine's new president, Viktor Yanukovych, a pro-Russia leader defeated in 2004 as a result of the Orange Revolution democracy protests.

"We are convinced that ... Yanukovych will protect freedom of religion and contribute to the development of [the] evangelical Protestant churches of Ukraine," Vladimir Shushkevich, a charismatic Christian and member of Ukraine's parliament, told Ukraine media. "We are full of hope and belief that efficient and effective reforms of the new president will return Ukraine the chance to be a worthy member of the European community and the Christian world."

Photo: Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych