Story number 1 for 23 Jan 2001

(Philippines)–We begin today in the Philippines where President Joseph Estrada was ousted from office by what some are calling a people’s revolution. Thousands of people demanded Estrada’s resignation after his impeachment trial was suspended. Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (MAH-kah-pah-GUHL ah-ROY-oh) has replaced Estrada. Far East Broadcasting Company’s Jonathon Mortiz believes prayer kept violence to a minimum. “While the revolution was happening, the continuous top of the hour prayer in our ten stations in the Philippines were happening. And, we do believe that God really intervened in what happened in our country.” Mortiz says FEBC is using this political instability to share the Gospel. He is concerned that it will have some impact on the Muslim south. “The instability itself will make really the Muslims in the south fight against their Christian brothers majority in the north.” However, Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered peace talks in order to avoid such conflict.